# Sign Regulations in New Paris, Ohio

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

- **Jurisdiction:** New Paris, Ohio (OH)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/ohio/new-paris
- **Data last verified:** 2025-11-22
- **Source:** [amlegal municipal code](https://villageofnewparisohio.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/New-Paris-Zoning-Map-3-14-23.pdf)

## At a glance

New Paris, Ohio regulates 53 sign types across 6 zoning districts. Freestanding Sign - Oversized (Industrial, Office, Institutional uses)s in the General Regulations For All Zones zoning district are capped at 12 ft (industrial or commercial areas) tall and Up to 200 sq ft per sign (area counts toward overall composition and may not exceed 200 sq ft), with a Minimum 50 ft from property line setback (Sec. §1010.01B.3–4). Most commercial signs in New Paris require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (6 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 24 | Up to 50 ft measured from freeway elevation; not to exceed 100 ft measured from base of sign | Total signage (copy area) counts toward total sign area per §1010.01A.3 | — |
| Residential districts (RR, RR-1, SR, UR, PR, PMH, PRD) | 8 | 15 ft above curb level | 75 sq ft | — |
| Office District (OS) | 6 | 10 ft | Counts toward total sign area per §1010.01A.3 | — |
| Commercial districts (B-1, B-2, HS, PC) | 12 | ≤36 ft; may not extend above roof line of any existing building within 500 ft | Display area per face ≤250 sq ft; total sign face including border/trim ≤300 sq ft | — |
| Industrial districts (I, I-1, I-2, POI) | 10 | ≤36 ft; may not extend above roof line of any existing building within 500 ft | Display area per face ≤250 sq ft; total sign face including border/trim ≤300 sq ft | — |
| Agricultural and Floodplain Districts (A, FP) | 7 | ≤36 ft; may not extend above roof line of any existing building within 500 ft | Display area per face ≤250 sq ft; total sign face including border/trim ≤300 sq ft | — |

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

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign - Oversized (Industrial, Office, Institutional uses) | 12 ft (industrial or commercial areas) | Up to 200 sq ft per sign (area counts toward overall composition and may not exceed 200 sq ft) | — | Minimum 50 ft from property line | No explicit limit; oversized signs must be at least 300 ft apart | Must be in a well-landscaped area free from any building or structures for a minimum of 100 ft in all directions | — | §1010.01B.3–4 |
| Freestanding Identification Sign (within 500 ft of Interstate centerline) | Up to 50 ft measured from freeway elevation; not to exceed 100 ft measured from base of sign | 150 sq ft per face per principal business use | — | As required by highway standards; otherwise per district | Limited to one sign per principal business use | Within 500 ft of the centerline of an interstate highway system | — | §1010.01B.5 |
| Service Station Sign - Freestanding | Per freestanding sign height limit of the district in which located | 50 sq ft per face (if only one such sign on the parcel, total sign area may be increased to 75 sq ft) | — | Per district freestanding setback | No explicit numeric limit; if only one is used, it may be up to 75 sq ft | On service station parcel | — | §1010.01B.6.a–b |
| Service Station Signs - Other (Pump, Canopy, Price, Temporary merchandise display) | — | Pump/canopy identifications: 20 sq ft per set of pumps or each side of canopy for “self-service”/“full-service”; Up to two price signs with total aggregate 32 sq ft per site; Temporary merchandise display signs: up to 12 sq ft each, max 4 per site at any one time | — | Traffic directory signs: ≤30 inches height in front or side street yard | Temporary merchandise display signs: max 4 per site at any one time; Price signs: up to two total | On pumps/canopy/islands/merchandise display on service station site | — | §1010.01B.6.d–e |
| Advertising Sign (Off-site Billboard) - Location and Spacing | ≤36 ft from ground level to highest point; may not extend above the roof line of any existing building within 500 ft | Display area per face ≤250 sq ft (exclusive of border/trim); total sign area per face including border/trim ≤300 sq ft | — | ≥50 ft from ultimate arterial ROW; ≥100 ft from ultimate ROW at intersections | Spacing: ≥1,000 ft between signs facing same traffic direction | Permitted only in A, HS, and I Districts; only when oriented to U.S. 40 or to an arterial street or freeway designated by the County Thoroughfare Plan; not within 660 ft from the nearest edge of the right-of-way of I-70 | — | §1010.02A–C |
| Wall Sign (General Standard) | May not extend above roof line of structure | — | — | — | Not explicitly limited; subject to total signage area | On building wall(s); front and/or street-side walls on corner lots | — | §1010.03A–C |
| Projecting Sign (General Standard) | Not higher than top of parapet; 10 ft minimum clearance from bottom of sign to finished grade | Total signage (copy area) counts toward total sign area per §1010.01A.3 | — | At least 2 ft back from public right-of-way; projection from building limited to 4 ft | One projecting sign per street frontage | Along public street frontage; must be 2 ft back from the public right-of-way, including sidewalks | — | §1010.04A–G |
| Canopy and Marquee Signs | Minimum clearance 9 ft from sidewalk for above/face/below canopy copy; Under-canopy: minimum clearance 8 ft | Local commercial zones: canopy sign max copy area 2 sq ft per linear foot (same conditions as §1010.05B) | — | No portion closer than 1 ft to vertical line from curb face | Canopy signs limited to two faces; under-canopy signs not numerically specified | On, above, or below canopy; under-canopy signs mounted nearly at right angles to building face | — | §1010.05A–H |

### Commercial districts (B-1, B-2, HS, PC)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign (B-1) | 10 ft | 32 sq ft per side | — | 10 ft | — | On site | — | §1010.01A.1–3 (OS, PRD, B-1 row) |
| Freestanding Sign (B-2, HS, PC) | 25 ft | 50 sq ft per side | — | 20 ft | — | On site | — | §1010.01A.1–3 (B-2, HS, PC, I-2 row) |
| Projecting Sign (Commercial districts) | Not higher than parapet; min 10 ft clearance | Counts toward total sign area | — | ≥2 ft behind ROW; ≤4 ft projection | 1 per street frontage | Along public street frontage | — | §1010.04A–G |
| Canopy and Marquee Signs | Min 9 ft clearance (above/face/below canopy copy); Under-canopy min 8 ft | Under-canopy: 6 sq ft copy area max; letters up to 9 in | — | ≥1 ft from vertical line at curb face | Canopy signs limited to two faces | On, above, below canopy; under-canopy signs nearly at right angles to building | — | §1010.05A–H |
| Signs on Awnings | Letters on hanging border ≤9 inches high | Emblem/insignia elsewhere on awning ≤8 sq ft | — | — | — | On awning | — | §1010.06A–C |
| Shopping Center Freestanding Sign (Neighborhood Center 20,000–99,999 sq ft) | — | 100 sq ft per face | — | Per district freestanding sign setbacks | 1 | Shopping center frontage (single ownership/unified control; minimum frontage 200 ft) | — | §1009.03C.1.a |
| Shopping Center Freestanding Sign (County Center 100,000–399,999 sq ft) | — | 200 sq ft per face | — | Per district freestanding sign setbacks | 1 | Shopping center frontage (single ownership/unified control; minimum frontage 200 ft) | — | §1009.03C.1.b |
| Advertising Sign (Off-site Billboard) - HS only | ≤36 ft; may not extend above roof line of any existing building within 500 ft | Display area per face ≤250 sq ft; total sign face including border/trim ≤300 sq ft | — | As above | Spacing controls effectively limit density | Only in HS district; oriented to U.S. 40 or arterial/freeway per Thoroughfare Plan; not within 660 ft of I-70 ROW | — | §§1004F; 1010.02A–B |

### Industrial districts (I, I-1, I-2, POI)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign (I-1, POI) | 15 ft | 32 sq ft per side | — | 20 ft | — | On site | — | §1010.01A.1–3 (I-1, POI row) |
| Freestanding Sign (I-2) | 25 ft | 50 sq ft per side | — | 20 ft | — | On site | — | §1010.01A.1–3 (B-2, HS, PC, I-2 row) |
| Projecting Sign | Not higher than parapet; min 10 ft clearance | Counts toward total sign area | — | ≥2 ft behind ROW; ≤4 ft projection | 1 per street frontage | Along public street frontage | — | §1010.04A–G |
| Wall Sign | May not extend above roofline | — | — | — | — | On building walls | — | §1010.03 |
| Industrial Park Identification Sign (Additional) | ≤20 ft above curb level (higher only by special use) | ≤200 sq ft | — | ≥25 ft from front lot line | One additional sign on each frontage | On each frontage of the industrial park (additional to other permitted signs) | — | §1009.04C.1.a–d |
| Canopy and Marquee Signs | Min clearances: 9 ft (above/face/below canopy); 8 ft (under-canopy) | Under-canopy signs ≤6 sq ft; letter height ≤9 in | — | ≥1 ft from vertical line at curb face | Canopy signs limited to two faces | On/above/below canopy; under-canopy | — | §1010.05A–H |
| Signs on Awnings | Letters on hanging border ≤9 inches | Emblem/insignia elsewhere on awning ≤8 sq ft | — | — | — | On awning | — | §1010.06A–C |
| Advertising Sign (Off-site Billboard) - Industrial districts | ≤36 ft; may not extend above roof line of any existing building within 500 ft | Display area per face ≤250 sq ft; total sign face including border/trim ≤300 sq ft | — | As above | Spacing controls effectively limit density | Only in I Districts; oriented to U.S. 40 or arterial/freeway per Thoroughfare Plan; not within 660 ft of I-70 ROW | — | §§1004F; 1010.02A–C |

## Prohibited signs in New Paris

- Any sign located in any manner or place so as to constitute a hazard to traffic (§1004.A).
- Any moving sign or device to attract attention, in whole or in part, that moves or appears to move (fluttering, rotating, etc.), except as permitted for special event signs and business opening signs (§1004.B; exceptions §§1005.B, 1005.F).
- Any flashing sign or device displaying flashing or intermittent lights or changing light intensity, except time/temperature signs with changes on a cycle of at least five seconds (§1004.C).
- Illuminated tubing or strings of lights outlining property lines, open sales areas, roof lines, doors, windows, or wall edges of any building; perimeter-shielded down lighting may be used to illuminate open sales areas (§1004.D).
- Any sign that obstructs or substantially interferes with any window, door, fire escape, stairway, ladder, or opening intended to provide light, air, ingress, or egress (§1004.E).
- Advertising signs (billboards, painted bulletins, poster panels) are prohibited except within the A, HS, and I districts, and in any case are prohibited within 660 feet of the nearest edge of the right-of-way of I-70 (§1004.F).
- Roof signs (§1004.G).
- Bare bulb illuminations (§1004.H).
- Flame as a source of light (§1004.I).
- Any sign attached or applied to trees, bus shelters, benches, trash receptacles, newspaper vending machines, or other unapproved supporting structure, or otherwise placed in the public right-of-way, except as permitted under §1005.B (§1004.J).
- Portable signs: (1) signs painted on or displayed on vehicles or trailers parked in public places and used primarily for advertising; (2) any sign not permanently attached to a building or mounted in the ground that can be transported and indicates a business name, products/services, or prices, including signs composed of movable or temporary letters or numerals; except as permitted under §§1005.B and 1005.F (§1004.K).
- Any sign which is a copy or imitation of an official sign or purports to have official status (§1004.L).
- All temporary signs and banners except as specifically permitted under §§1005.B and 1005.F (§1004.M).
- Any sign located within a public right-of-way, unless permitted by the appropriate agency (§1004.N).
- Any other sign not expressly permitted by this article (§1004.O).
- Abandoned signs are prohibited and must be removed (§1013.02).

## Signs exempt from permit in New Paris

- Signs not visible beyond the boundaries of the lot or parcel or from any public thoroughfare or right-of-way (§1003.A).
- Traffic and other official signs of any public government agency (e.g., railroad crossing, trespassing, danger, service/safety aids) (§1003.B).
- Non-advertising public interest or directional signs authorized by the Board of County Commissioners; maximum two square feet per sign face (§1003.C).
- No trespassing or similar regulatory signs (e.g., no hunting, no fishing) not more than two square feet in area (§1003.D).
- Real estate signs on the property, not extending outside the property line, no more than six square feet per face; limited to one per lot (corner lots may have one per street front) (§1003.E).
- Identification signs mounted flat against a structure, containing no advertising, not exceeding one square foot in area (§1003.F).
- Signs of historical societies containing no advertising, not more than six square feet in area (§1003.G).
- Temporary decorations or displays for traditionally accepted patriotic or religious holidays; not for advertising purposes (§1003.H).
- Signs on a truck, bus, trailer, or other vehicle while operated in the normal course of a business that is not primarily the display of such signs (§1003.I).
- Identification or display of official court or public office notices, or any flag, emblem, or insignia of a nation, political unit, school, or religious group (§1003.J).
- Tablets, grave markers, headstones, statuary, or remembrances of persons or events that are noncommercial in nature (§1003.K).
- Works of fine art not displayed in conjunction with a commercial enterprise that may benefit commercially from such display (§1003.L).
- Neighborhood identification signs/displays (sign, masonry wall, landscaping, etc.) bearing only the neighborhood or tract name (§1003.M).
- Political signs: no permit and no fee required; limited display period and size/height/illumination restrictions apply (§1005.C).
- Permit not required for change of copy on change panel signs, or for repainting, cleaning, and other normal maintenance/repair of a permitted sign, so long as the sign is not modified (§1014.01.B).
- No new permit required for existing permitted, conforming signs unless altered or relocated (§1014.01.C).

## Sign plan & submission notes

- No master sign plan or comprehensive sign plan requirement is stated in this ordinance.
- Permit applications must include clean, legible drawings showing the location and dimensions of the proposed sign and the location of all other existing signs on the same premises; billboard applications must also show all other billboard signs within 1,000 feet (§1014.02.C).
- Signs may be otherwise regulated by conditional use provisions or variances (§1002.A).
- If a sign permit is denied, an appeal may be taken to the Board of Appeals (§1014.03.A).
- Removal orders issued by the Zoning Inspector may be appealed to the Board of Zoning Appeals within 30 days (§1013.03.D).
- Certain industrial park sign height increases may require a special use approval (§1009.04.C.d).

## 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 New Paris — every sign type, every field — are available with a free PermitPal account: https://app.permitpal.io/?address=New+Paris+OH&override=true&utm_source=landing&utm_medium=city-page&utm_campaign=city-new-paris

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