# Sign Regulations in Newark, Ohio

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Newark, Ohio (OH)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/ohio/newark
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-11
- **Source:** [amlegal municipal code](https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/newark/latest/newark_oh/0-0-0-34842)

## At a glance

Newark, Ohio regulates 14 sign types across 6 zoning districts. Freestanding Signs in the CD District, AD District, LO District, LB District, DC District zoning district are capped at 5 feet tall and 16 sq. ft., with a Minimum 20 feet setback (Sec. 1294.08(c)(1) and 1294.08(c)(2)). Most commercial signs in Newark require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (6 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| CD District, AD District, LO District, LB District, DC District | 2 | 5 feet | 16 sq. ft. | — |
| R Districts | 2 | 5 feet | 1 sq. ft. | — |
| CSI District, GO District, MB District, LC District | 2 | 8 feet | 32 sq. ft. | — |
| HB District, GB District, GC District, LI District, GI District | 2 | 20 feet | 64 sq. ft. | — |
| PUD District | 2 | Per Planning Commission | Per Planning Commission | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 12 | 6 feet | 90 sq. ft. | — |

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

### CD District, AD District, LO District, LB District, DC District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Building Sign | — | 16 sq. ft. | — | — | One sign per lot | — | — | 1294.08(b)(1)B. |
| Freestanding Sign | 5 feet | 16 sq. ft. | — | Minimum 20 feet | One on-premises freestanding sign per lot | Adjoining a public street | — | 1294.08(c)(1) and 1294.08(c)(2) |

### R Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Building Sign | — | 1 sq. ft. | — | — | One sign per lot | — | — | 1294.08(b)(1)A. |
| Freestanding Sign | 5 feet | 1 sq. ft. | — | Minimum 20 feet | One on-premises freestanding sign per lot | Adjoining a public street | — | 1294.08(c)(1) and 1294.08(c)(2) |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Apartment Complex Sign | 4.5 feet | Varies by number of units | — | Minimum 15 feet | One sign per complex | — | — | 1294.07(c)(1) |
| Awning Sign | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1294.07(c)(2) |
| Directional Sign | 3 feet | 2 sq. ft. | — | — | — | Private property | — | 1294.07(c)(4) |
| Hanging Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Above a private exterior walking surface | — | 1294.07(c)(5) |
| Monument Sign | 5.5 feet | — | — | Minimum 15 feet | — | — | — | 1294.07(c)(7) |
| Roof Sign | — | — | — | — | — | On the roof or parapet of a building | — | 1294.07(c)(9) |
| Subdivision Sign | 6 feet | 90 sq. ft. | — | Minimum 15 feet | One sign per entrance | — | — | 1294.07(c)(11) |
| Wall Sign | — | — | — | — | — | On the exterior of the building | — | 1294.07(c)(13) |

## Prohibited signs in Newark

- No person shall deface any wall or appurtenance in or about subways by posting bills or circulars, by painting or by any other method of defacing.
- No person shall place or cause to be placed any card, sign or poster within a public place by attaching such card, sign or poster to any lawfully constructed facility or structure located within a public place.
- No person shall post bills upon, or in any way deface, telephone, telegraph, electric light or fire alarm poles in the City.
- Signs shall not closely resemble or approximate the shape, form or color of official traffic signs, signals or devices.
- Signs shall not be placed so as to obstruct or interfere with a required doorway, or other required means of ingress or egress.
- Signs shall not be placed so as to obstruct or interfere with the visibility of pedestrian or vehicular traffic on a public right-of-way.
- A sign that is not specifically permitted by this Code is prohibited.

## Signs exempt from permit in Newark

- A sign with only the address of the building or structure.
- A sign not exceeding one square foot of display surface, on a residence building stating the name of the occupant.
- A sign of not more than one square foot on or over a show window or door of a store or business establishment, announcing without display or elaboration, only the name of the proprietor and the nature of his business.
- A sign, not exceeding ten square feet of a display surface, on a public building or institution giving the name and nature of the occupancy and information as to the admission to.
- Window signs.
- The repainting of an existing sign.
- The changing of a sign face without changing the sign face size or shape.
- A sign or graphics on a piece of equipment or machinery, describing the product or contents contained within the piece of equipment or machinery.
- A sign in the public right-of-way which sign shall be approved by the Service Director.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Provide review procedures that enable the city to comprehensively evaluate the appropriateness of any sign to the site, building, and/or surroundings.
- Signs in a PUD District shall be approved by the Planning Commission.
- Roof signs shall be approved by the Board.
- A variable message electronic sign proposed to be located within 100 feet of an R-District shall be approved by the Board.
- An on-premises variable message projection sign shall be approved by the Board.
- A rear lot variable message projection sign shall be approved by the Board.
- An off-premises variable message projection sign shall be approved by the Board.
- The off-premises sign may be replaced with a variable message electronic sign upon approval of the Board.
- A proposed modification to the size, height, shape, type or location of the sign shall be approved by the Board.

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

---

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