# Sign Regulations in Parma Heights, Ohio

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Parma Heights, Ohio (OH)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/ohio/parma-heights
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-11
- **Source:** [amlegal municipal code](https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/parmaheights/latest/parmahts_oh/0-0-0-11628)

## At a glance

Parma Heights, Ohio regulates 16 sign types across 3 zoning districts. Temporary Project Ground Signs in the Commercial District zoning district are capped at 6 feet tall and 32 square feet, with a Not less than 100 feet from the nearest residential lot line and not less than 25 feet from the nearest nonresidential lot and street right-of-way line setback (Sec. 1383.09(c)(6)). Most commercial signs in Parma Heights require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (3 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Residential District | 6 | 8 feet | 30 square feet | — |
| Commercial District | 7 | 6 feet for a single business | 36 square feet | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 4 | 6 feet | 32 square feet | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements

### Residential District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall or Panel Nameplate | — | 2 square feet | — | — | — | On any building | — | 1383.08(a) |
| Permanent Wall, Panel or Ground Identification Sign | 5 feet | 20 square feet | — | Not less than 50 feet from a side lot line and 15 feet from any street right-of-way line | — | Facing each major street | — | 1383.08(a) |
| Directional Ground Sign | 3 feet | 4 square feet | — | Not less than 5 feet from any side lot line and 15 feet from any street right-of-way line | — | On any building or lot | — | 1383.08(b) |
| Real Estate Ground Sign | — | 9 square feet | — | Not less than 25 feet from any side lot line or 10 feet from any street right-of-way line | — | On the premises being advertised | — | 1383.08(c) |
| Subdivision Project Ground Sign | 8 feet | 25 square feet | — | Not less than 25 feet from the nearest street right-of-way or lot line | — | On the parcel being developed | — | 1383.08(d) |
| Permanent Subdivision Identification Ground Sign | 4 feet | 30 square feet | — | Set back at least 10 feet from the street right-of-way line | — | At each entrance to the subdivision or residential development from an arterial or collector street | — | 1383.08(e) |

### Commercial District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall or Panel Sign | — | — | — | — | — | On the building wall | — | 1383.09(c)(1) |
| Ground Sign | 6 feet for a single business | — | — | — | One ground sign per business | At least 5 feet from the street right-of-way line and 10 feet from the nearest edge of any interior drive | — | 1383.09(c)(2) |
| Canopy or Covered Walk Sign | — | 10 square feet | — | — | One per business use | Attached to the soffit or fascia of a canopy or roof over a walkway structural member | — | 1383.09(c)(3) |
| Directional Ground Sign | 3 feet | 4 square feet | — | Not closer than 15 feet from any side lot line or 5 feet from any street right-of-way line | — | Indicating traffic routes and similar information | — | 1383.09(c)(4) |
| Window Sign | — | 15 square feet | — | — | Two permanent window signs per 50 linear feet of glass | On each wall elevation | — | 1383.09(c)(5) |
| Temporary Project Ground Sign | 6 feet | 32 square feet | — | Not less than 100 feet from the nearest residential lot line and not less than 25 feet from the nearest nonresidential lot and street right-of-way line | One per project | On the lot of a proposed building or a building under construction | — | 1383.09(c)(6) |
| Menu Board | 6 feet | 36 square feet | — | — | — | On the lot | — | 1383.09(b)(5) |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Billboard | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1383.22 |
| Pole Sign | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1383.23 |
| Vehicular Sign | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1383.21 |
| Temporary Sign | 6 feet | 32 square feet | — | — | — | Set back at least 5 feet from every right-of-way line, and at least 20 feet from any side or rear lot line | — | 1383.26 |

## Prohibited signs in Parma Heights

- No sign, advertising device or related structure shall be permitted, erected, placed or suffered to remain within, under or over any public way.
- No sign shall be used in any way or for any purpose which may endanger public safety or unreasonably disturb public peace, health or welfare.
- No sign shall be erected so as to obstruct sight lines along any public way, traffic control lights, street name signs at intersections or street sight lines.
- No sign visible from the sight lines along a street shall resemble any highway traffic sign.
- No flashing or moving illumination shall be permitted.
- No sign shall employ any parts or elements which revolve, rotate, whirl, spin or otherwise make use of motion to attract attention.
- No sign shall contain or consist of banners, posters, pennants, ribbons, streamers, spinners or other similar moving devices.
- Vehicular signs are prohibited.
- Billboards shall not be permitted in any zoning district.
- Pole signs shall not be permitted in any zoning district.
- No sign or other advertising structure shall display any obscene matter.
- No sign or other advertising structure shall constitute a hazard to safety or health by reason of inadequate or inappropriate design, construction, repair, or maintenance.
- No sign or other advertising structure shall obstruct free and clear vision within sight triangles at any street or vehicular drive intersection.
- No sign or other advertising structure shall be erected, relocated or maintained so as to prevent free ingress or egress, or block any light or ventilation openings.
- No sign shall be erected or maintained so as to prevent free ingress or egress from a door, window or fire escape, nor shall any sign obscure any other sign which directs attention to an emergency exit, fire extinguisher or other safety device.

## Signs exempt from permit in Parma Heights

- Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to prohibit the erection of duly authorized signs or related structures by the Federal, State, County or local government.
- Signs that are an integral part of the original construction of vending or similar machines, fuel pipes or similar devices are exempt from the permit requirement.
- Cornerstones, dedications, and other similar plaques or architectural elements incorporated into a building are exempt from the permit requirement.
- Signs which are attached to the inside of a window, do not exceed ten square feet in sign area, and do not cover more than 25% of the area of the window pane are exempt from the permit requirement.
- Signs which are an integral part of the historic character of a structure that has been designated an official landmark or historic structure are exempt from the permit requirement.
- Hand-held signs not set on or affixed to the ground are exempt from the permit requirement.
- Temporary signs measuring less than 12 square feet in sign face area are exempt from the permit requirement.
- Monuments and markings within a cemetery are exempt from the permit requirement.
- Any address number, unless larger than six inches in height, is exempt from the permit requirement.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Cases of extreme hardship in the application of the provisions of this chapter shall be referred to the Board of Zoning Appeals for its investigation and decision.
- The Board of Zoning Appeals is authorized to modify the provisions of this chapter to suit particular circumstances.
- Permits for temporary signs may be authorized for a period not exceeding 30 days and may be renewed for additional 30-day periods.
- A variance request may extend the time for permit determination by the Building Inspector.
- Temporary signs may be illuminated by variance issued by the Board of Zoning Appeals.

## Full detail

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

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