# Sign Regulations in Painesville, Ohio

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Painesville, Ohio (OH)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/ohio/painesville
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-11
- **Source:** [amlegal municipal code](https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/painesville/latest/painesville_oh/0-0-0-36147)

## At a glance

Painesville, Ohio regulates 10 sign types across 3 zoning districts. Freestanding Signs in the Residential District (S-1, R-1, R1-60, R-2, B-1) zoning district are capped at 4 feet tall and 4 square feet, with a 5 feet from street right-of-way, 10 feet from interior lot line setback (Sec. 1127.10(f)). Most commercial signs in Painesville require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (3 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Residential District (S-1, R-1, R1-60, R-2, B-1) | 4 | 4 feet | 12 square feet | — |
| Non-residential District (B-1, B-2, B-3, DD, M-1, M-2) | 7 | 8 feet | 200 square feet | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 3 | 4 feet | 24 square feet total area | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements

### Residential District (S-1, R-1, R1-60, R-2, B-1)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign | 4 feet | 4 square feet | — | 5 feet from street right-of-way, 10 feet from interior lot line | One per dwelling unit | Set back 5 feet from street right-of-way and 10 feet from interior lot line | — | 1127.10(f) |
| Wall Sign | — | 4 square feet | — | — | One per dwelling unit | On dwelling unit | — | 1127.10(a)(2) |
| Temporary Freestanding Sign | 4 feet | 12 square feet | — | 10 feet from street right-of-way, 10 feet from interior lot line | One per property | During active construction authorized by a building permit | — | 1127.10(e) |
| Temporary Sign | 4 feet | 6 square feet | — | 10 feet from street right-of-way, 10 feet from interior lot line | One per property | On property actively marketed for sale or lease | — | 1127.10(h)(1) |

### Non-residential District (B-1, B-2, B-3, DD, M-1, M-2)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | — | 200 square feet | — | — | One per premises | On premises | — | 1127.11(a) |
| Freestanding Sign | 8 feet | 50 square feet per face, 100 square feet per sign | — | 5 feet from street right-of-way or interior lot line, 10 feet from residential lot line | One per lot with main building | On lot with main building | — | 1127.11(b) |
| Electronic Message Center (EMC) Sign | — | 40% of allowable sign area per face | — | Minimum 30 feet from intersection of public streets | One per lot in B-2 Zoning District | In B-2 Zoning District | — | 1127.11(c) |
| Projecting Sign | — | 12 square feet per face, 24 square feet per sign | 4 feet | — | One per main building | On main building | — | 1127.11(d) |
| Awning and Canopy Sign | — | 25% of total area of awning or canopy | — | — | One per awning or canopy | On awning or canopy parallel to wall of main building | — | 1127.11(e) |
| Window Sign | — | 25% of total area of windows or doors of ground floor | — | — | Two per ground floor | On ground floor of primary building frontage | — | 1127.11(f) |
| Temporary Freestanding Sign | 6 feet | 16 square feet | — | 5 feet from street right-of-way or interior lot line, 10 feet from residential lot line | One per property | During active construction authorized by a building permit | — | 1127.11(b)(4) |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Temporary Sign | 4 feet | 24 square feet total area | — | 10 feet from street right-of-way, 10 feet from interior lot line | Four per parcel | On any parcel | — | 1127.10(h)(2) |
| Incidental Wall Sign | — | 1 square foot | — | — | Two per lot | On wall | — | 1127.05(b) |
| Incidental Freestanding Sign | 4 feet | 3 square feet | — | — | Two per lot | On lot | — | 1127.05(c) |

## Prohibited signs in Painesville

- Portable or moveable signs or devices except as a temporary sign.
- Billboards.
- Signs that revolve, rotate, whirl, spin, flash or otherwise make use of motion to attract attention.
- Roof signs or signs extending above the parapet line.
- Any sign that may interfere with, obstruct the view of, or be confused with any authorized traffic control device.
- Any sign attached to natural vegetation.
- Any sign that shows evidence of inadequate maintenance or deterioration.
- No sign shall be erected within the area of any sight triangle unless it is three feet in height or less.
- Any permanent sign placed upon or projecting over any public land, street, sidewalk or other public right-of-way.
- No sign shall be erected, maintained or permitted to remain so as to obstruct any window, door, fire escape, balcony, platform, stairway, ladder, lighting system or traffic control lights.

## Signs exempt from permit in Painesville

- Flags, emblems, notices and insignia of any governmental agency.
- Signs conforming to the Ohio Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices and other government signs for traffic control, public safety and other regulatory purposes.
- Temporary signs as regulated in Sections 1127.10(f) and 1127.11(g).
- Incidental wall signs provided that such sign is not illuminated.
- Incidental freestanding signs limited to two per lot and may be illuminated.
- Cornerstones, building plaques or other similar architectural elements permanently incorporated into a building and not exceeding two square feet in total area.
- Sign copy which is an integral part of the original construction of vending machines, fuel pumps, automatic teller machines or similar devices.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- The Planning Commission may approve a comprehensive sign plan as a conditional use to establish sign regulations separate from the provisions of this chapter for a designated area of the City.
- Comprehensive sign plans may be used for multiple signs for either a single building or a group of related buildings to ensure that all the signage is displayed in a coordinated fashion.
- A comprehensive sign plan shall be observed by the persons affected in lieu of compliance with the affected provisions of this chapter.
- An application for a comprehensive sign plan shall include all information and materials required for conditional use permits set forth in Section 1111.09.

## Full detail

Complete sign requirements for Painesville, including every field PermitPal tracks for each sign type, are available with a free PermitPal account: https://app.permitpal.io/?address=Painesville+OH&override=true&utm_source=landing&utm_medium=city-page&utm_campaign=city-painesville

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