# Sign Regulations in Napoleon, Ohio

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Napoleon, Ohio (OH)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/ohio/napoleon
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-11
- **Source:** [amlegal municipal code](https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/napolean/latest/napoleon_oh/0-0-0-19869)

## At a glance

Napoleon, Ohio regulates 11 sign types across 5 zoning districts. Subdivision Identification Signs in the Residential Zones zoning district are capped at 6 feet tall and 48 square feet, with a 15 feet from any public right-of-way setback (Sec. 1335.15(a)(2)).

## Sign rules by zoning district (5 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 2 | — | — | — |
| Residential Zones | 5 | 6 feet | 48 square feet | — |
| Commercial Zones (C-1, C-2, C-3, C-4) | 5 | 25 feet | 40 square feet | — |
| Industrial Zones | 3 | 25 feet | — | — |
| Highway Commercial Zone (C-5) | 2 | 75 feet | 350 square feet | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 5 zones)

### Residential Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Subdivision Identification Sign | 6 feet | 48 square feet | — | 15 feet from any public right-of-way | 1 per street frontage | Per street frontage, neighborhood, subdivision, or development | — | 1335.15(a)(2) |
| Identification Sign | 6 feet | 36 square feet | — | 15 feet from any public right-of-way | 1 per entrance | Per entrance to apartment or condominium complex | — | 1335.15(a)(3) |
| Freestanding Sign | 6 feet | 48 square feet | — | 15 feet from any public right-of-way | 1 per premises | For permitted nonresidential uses, including churches and synagogues | — | 1335.15(a)(4) |
| Wall Sign | 6 feet | 48 square feet | — | 15 feet from any public right-of-way | 1 per premises | For permitted nonresidential uses, including churches and synagogues | — | 1335.15(a)(4) |
| Temporary Special Event Sign | 6 feet | 48 square feet | — | 15 feet from any public right-of-way | 1 per premises | Per premises | — | 1335.15(a)(5) |

### Commercial Zones (C-1, C-2, C-3, C-4)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign | 25 feet | — | — | 10 feet from the public right-of-way | 1 per street frontage | Per street frontage | — | 1335.16(a)(2) |
| Wall Sign | — | — | — | — | 1 per building elevation | Attached to a building | — | 1335.16(a)(3) |
| Electric Awning Sign | — | — | — | — | 1 per building elevation | Attached to a building | — | 1335.16(a)(3) |
| Portable Sign | — | 40 square feet | — | 10 feet from the public right-of-way | 1 per premises | Per premises | — | 1335.16(b)(4) |
| Sidewalk Sign | — | 6 square feet | — | — | 1 per business | On or along the sidewalk area | — | 1335.16(b)(3) |

### Industrial Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign | 25 feet | — | — | 10 feet from the public right-of-way | 1 per street frontage | Per street frontage | — | 1335.17(b) |
| Wall Sign | — | — | — | — | 1 per building elevation | Attached to a building | — | 1335.17(c) |
| Electric Awning Sign | — | — | — | — | 1 per building elevation | Attached to a building | — | 1335.17(c) |

## Prohibited signs in Napoleon

- Abandoned signs
- Banners, pennants, festoons, except when used as temporary special event signs when in conformance with this Sign Code
- Signs imitating or resembling official traffic or government signs or signals
- Snipe signs or signs attached to trees, telephone poles, public benches, streetlights, or placed on any public property or upon, within or over public right-of-way, except that 'temporary and easily removable signs 1st Amendment signs' are permitted upon the public right-of-way so long as there is no obstruction to traffic or safety hazard and so long as removed and replaced every twenty-four hours
- Signs placed on vehicles or trailers which are parked or located for the primary purpose of displaying said sign
- Billboards, except as provided in Section 1335.18
- Sidewalk signs except as provided in Section 1335.16(b)(4)
- Signs placed without a permit when a permit is required
- Signs not otherwise in conformance with this Sign Code
- Signs that violate the clear view zone
- Signs that are placed in a manner that does not meet the objectives of this Sign Code as found in Section 1335.02
- Illuminated signs that are obtrusive as to unreasonably interfere with the quiet enjoyment of another’s real property or distract the motoring traffic so as to create a safety hazard
- Signs that are animated by means of flashing, scintillating, blinking or traveling lights or any other means not providing constant illumination
- Projecting signs

## Signs exempt from permit in Napoleon

- One attached building nameplate per occupancy, not to exceed two square feet of sign area
- Temporary and easily removable signs 1st Amendment signs
- Public signs or notices, or any sign relating to an emergency
- Nonilluminated window signs
- Nonilluminated yard signs
- Illuminated signs in other than residential zones

## Sign plan & submission notes

- When requesting a permit, the applicant may apply to the Administrator for a variance from certain requirements of this Sign Code.

## 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 5 zoning districts in Napoleon — every sign type, every field — are available with a free PermitPal account: https://app.permitpal.io/?address=Napoleon+OH&override=true&utm_source=landing&utm_medium=city-page&utm_campaign=city-napoleon

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