# Sign Regulations in Montpelier, Ohio

Sign permit rules, size and height limits, setbacks, and ordinance citations for Montpelier, Ohio, compiled by PermitPal from the jurisdiction's published municipal code.

- **Jurisdiction:** Montpelier, Ohio (OH)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/ohio/montpelier
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-11
- **Source:** [amlegal municipal code](https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/montpelier/latest/montpelier_oh/0-0-0-38698)

## At a glance

Montpelier, Ohio regulates 26 sign types across 6 zoning districts. Development Entry Signs in the Residential District (R-1, R-2, R-3) zoning district are capped at 4 feet tall and 24 square feet, with a 5 feet from street right-of-way setback (Sec. 1171.08(a)(1)). Most commercial signs in Montpelier require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (6 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Residential District (R-1, R-2, R-3) | 6 | 4 feet | 24 square feet | — |
| R-4 Manufactured Housing District | 5 | 4 feet | 24 square feet | — |
| C-3 Central Business District | 6 | 16 feet | 100 square feet | — |
| C-1 Limited Commercial and C-2 Full Commercial Districts | 5 | 25 feet | 100 square feet | — |
| M-1 & M-2 Industrial Districts | 4 | 25 feet | 100 square feet | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 11 | 35 feet | 32 square feet | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 6 zones)

### Residential District (R-1, R-2, R-3)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Development Entry Sign | 4 feet | 24 square feet | — | 5 feet from street right-of-way | 1 per entrance | Each entrance of a subdivision | — | 1171.08(a)(1) |
| Home Occupation Sign | — | 4 square feet | — | — | 1 | Attached to wall | — | 1171.08(a)(2) |
| Accessory Signs | — | 8 square feet | — | — | — | On premises | — | 1171.08(a)(3) |
| Nonresidential Use Sign | — | 24 square feet | — | — | — | On same parcel as use | — | 1171.08(a)(4) |
| Private Traffic and Handicapped Signs | — | 4 square feet | — | — | — | On premises | — | 1171.08(a)(5) |
| Farm and Crop Signs | — | — | — | — | — | On active farms | — | 1171.08(a)(6) |

### C-3 Central Business District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign - Street Side | — | 32 square feet minimum | — | — | 1 per street frontage | Street side of premises | — | 1171.08(c)(1) |
| Freestanding Sign | 16 feet | 32 square feet | — | — | 1 | Lawn or parking facilities | — | 1171.08(c)(2) |
| Wall Sign - Rear or Parking Lot Side | 12 feet | 24 square feet | — | — | 1 | Rear or parking lot side of premises | — | 1171.08(c)(3) |
| Interior Sign | — | 20 square feet | — | — | — | Inside premises | — | 1171.08(c)(4) |
| Canopy or Projecting Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Over public right-of-way | — | 1171.08(c)(5) |
| Marquee Sign | — | 100 square feet | — | — | — | Theaters | — | 1171.08(c)(6) |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Government Signs | — | — | — | — | — | Public right-of-way | — | 1171.06(a) |
| Flags and Banners | 35 feet | 6 feet by 10 feet | — | — | — | Mounted on poles or masts | — | 1171.06(b) |
| House Numbers and Nameplates | — | 4 square feet | — | — | — | On premises | — | 1171.06(c) |
| Private Directional Signs | — | 4 square feet | — | — | — | On private property | — | 1171.06(d) |
| Handicapped Signs | — | 4 square feet | — | — | — | On premises | — | 1171.06(e) |
| Integral Signs | — | — | — | — | — | Integral part of architecture | — | 1171.06(f) |
| Institutional Signs | 4 feet (ground mounted) | 32 square feet | — | — | — | On property of institution | — | 1171.06(g) |
| Temporary Signs, Banners, Flags | 6 feet (residential), 8 feet (commercial/industrial) | 6 square feet (residential), 32 square feet (commercial/industrial) | — | — | — | On premises | — | 1171.06(i) |

## Prohibited signs in Montpelier

- Appendage signs are prohibited throughout the Village of Montpelier.
- Billboards are prohibited in the Village of Montpelier.
- Roof signs are prohibited in the Village.
- Moving signs that revolve or are animated or that utilize movement or apparent movement to attract attention are prohibited.
- Flashing signs which are illuminated by or in any manner incorporate lights that flash, twinkle, move, or give the appearance of movements are prohibited.
- Exterior banners, pennants, spinners, other than a banner or pennant used as a permitted sign under provisions of this Chapter are prohibited.
- Exterior string lights used in connection with a commercial premises, other than holiday decorations, which shall be removed within 15 days after the holiday are prohibited.
- Any sign which is structurally or electrically unsafe is prohibited.
- Any sign erected on a utility pole, directional sign post, or landscaping including trees is prohibited.
- Business signs or sign structures advertising a business conducted or a product sold, which no longer exists or is no longer in business on the premises are considered abandoned and must be removed within 30 days.
- Portable signs and freestanding signs not permanently anchored or secured to either a building or the ground, except real estate 'open house' signs, are prohibited.
- Signs displayed on any vehicle or trailer when the subject vehicle or trailer is parked in such a manner that the obvious intent is to attract attention to a business, service, or commodity on the premises are prohibited.
- Any sign structure or frame no longer supporting or containing a sign must be removed within 30 days of the removal of the message portion of the sign.
- Air-filled or gas-filled balloon signs are prohibited.
- Other signs not expressly permitted shall be prohibited.

## Signs exempt from permit in Montpelier

- Signs erected by or on behalf of or pursuant to the authorization of a government body, including legal notices, informational signs, directional, or regulatory signs are exempt.
- Flags, pennants, banners or insignia of any governmental or nonprofit organization when not displayed in connection with a commercial promotion or as an advertising device are exempt.
- Signs not exceeding four square feet in area and bearing only property numbers, post box numbers, names of occupants of premises, or other identification of premises not having commercial connotations are exempt.
- Signs directing and guiding traffic and parking on private property that do not exceed six square feet each and bear no advertising matter are exempt.
- Handicapped signs not exceeding four square feet each and bearing no advertising matter are exempt.
- Names of buildings, date of erection, monumental citations, commemorative tablets, and the like when carved or inset into stone, concrete, or similar material and made an integral part of the architecture and structure are exempt.
- Signs setting forth the name of any public, charitable, educational, or religious institution, located entirely upon the property of that institution, or in a central area designated by the Village, up to an area of thirty-two square feet are exempt.
- Common household signs such as yard sale, garage sale, rummage sale, for sale, no trespassing, beware of dog, etc., are exempt.
- Temporary signs, banners, flags not specifically regulated in any other section of this ordinance are exempt.
- Traditional displays in connection with the celebration of a national holiday, religious holiday, or a community celebration or event are exempt.
- Signs of a non-commercial nature and in the public interest, erected by, or on the order of, a public officer or body in the performance of their public duty are exempt.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Planning Commission Approval is required for all subdivision/development signs, time/date/or temperature signs, or any type of sign not explicitly defined in this Zoning Ordinance before a permit shall be issued.
- Two copies of the sign plans and specifications for method of construction and attachment to the building or in the ground are required for permit applications.

## Full detail

This page publishes an overview of every zoning district plus a sample of 3 districts in full. Complete zone-by-zone requirements for all 6 zoning districts in Montpelier — every sign type, every field — are available with a free PermitPal account: https://app.permitpal.io/?address=Montpelier+OH&override=true&utm_source=landing&utm_medium=city-page&utm_campaign=city-montpelier

---

PermitPal — AI sign code research. Full HTML page: https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/ohio/montpelier