# Sign Regulations in Port Clinton, Ohio

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Port Clinton, Ohio (OH)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/ohio/port-clinton
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-11
- **Source:** [amlegal municipal code](https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/portclinton/latest/portclinton_oh/0-0-0-22098)

## At a glance

Port Clinton, Ohio regulates 10 sign types across 11 zoning districts. Business Signs in the General Business District zoning district are capped at 30 ft. tall and 100 sq. ft., with a 5 ft. from road right-of-way setback (Sec. 1147.03(d)(3)).

## Sign rules by zoning district (11 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Residential Districts | 3 | 8 ft. | 32 sq. ft. | — |
| Institutional, Governmental, and Open Space District | 1 | 15 ft. | 64 sq. ft. | — |
| Local Business District | 5 | 20 ft. | 40 inches wide by 30 inches high | — |
| General Business District | 6 | 40 ft. | 200 sq. ft. | — |
| Accommodation Business District | 6 | 40 ft. | 200 sq. ft. | — |
| Central Business District | 7 | 40 ft. | 200 sq. ft. | — |
| Waterfront Business District | 6 | 40 ft. | 200 sq. ft. | — |
| Professional Business District | 6 | 40 ft. | 200 sq. ft. | — |
| Light Manufacturing District | 5 | 35 ft. | 100 sq. ft. | — |
| Heavy Manufacturing District | 5 | 35 ft. | 100 sq. ft. | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 3 | 8 ft. | 32 sq. ft. | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 11 zones)

### General Business District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Nameplate | — | 2 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per dwelling | On each dwelling | — | 1147.03(d)(1) |
| Freestanding Sign | — | 32 sq. ft. | — | 20 ft. from road right-of-way | 1 | Multi-family residences and residential developments | — | 1147.03(d)(2) |
| Business Sign | 30 ft. | 100 sq. ft. | — | 5 ft. from road right-of-way | 1 | Each business use | — | 1147.03(d)(3) |
| Shopping Plaza Sign | 40 ft. | 200 sq. ft. | — | 10 ft. from road right-of-way | 1 | Shopping plaza, mall, or multi-tenant building | — | 1147.03(d)(4) |
| Freestanding Sign or Bulletin Board | 15 ft. | 24 sq. ft. | — | 10 ft. from road right-of-way | 1 | Non-business and non-residential use | — | 1147.03(d)(5) |
| A Frame Sign | — | 40 inches wide by 30 inches high | — | — | 1 | Directly in front of business | — | 1147.03(d)(6) |

### Accommodation Business District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Nameplate | — | 2 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per dwelling | On each dwelling | — | 1147.03(e)(1) |
| Freestanding Sign | — | 32 sq. ft. | — | 20 ft. from road right-of-way | 1 | Multi-family residences and residential developments | — | 1147.03(e)(2) |
| Business Sign | 30 ft. | 100 sq. ft. | — | 5 ft. from road right-of-way | 1 | Each business use | — | 1147.03(e)(3) |
| Shopping Plaza Sign | 40 ft. | 200 sq. ft. | — | 10 ft. from road right-of-way | 1 | Shopping plaza, mall, or multi-tenant building | — | 1147.03(e)(4) |
| Freestanding Sign or Bulletin Board | 15 ft. | 24 sq. ft. | — | 10 ft. from road right-of-way | 1 | Non-business and non-residential use | — | 1147.03(e)(5) |
| A Frame Sign | — | 40 inches wide by 30 inches high | — | — | 1 | Directly in front of business | — | 1147.03(e)(6) |

### Central Business District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Nameplate | — | 2 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per dwelling | On each dwelling | — | 1147.03(f)(1) |
| Freestanding Sign | — | 32 sq. ft. | — | 20 ft. from road right-of-way | 1 | Multi-family residences and residential developments | — | 1147.03(f)(2) |
| Business Sign | 30 ft. | 100 sq. ft. | — | 5 ft. from road right-of-way | 1 | Each business use | — | 1147.03(f)(3) |
| Shopping Plaza Sign | 40 ft. | 200 sq. ft. | — | 10 ft. from road right-of-way | 1 | Shopping plaza, mall, or multi-tenant building | — | 1147.03(f)(4) |
| Freestanding Sign or Bulletin Board | 15 ft. | 24 sq. ft. | — | 10 ft. from road right-of-way | 1 | Non-business and non-residential use | — | 1147.03(f)(5) |
| Directional Sign | — | — | — | — | 1 per business | Street intersections | — | 1147.03(f)(6) |
| A Frame Sign | — | 40 inches wide by 30 inches high | — | — | 1 | Directly in front of business | — | 1147.03(f)(7) |

## Prohibited signs in Port Clinton

- No sign shall be erected or maintained at any location where it may obstruct, impair, obscure, interfere with the view of or be confused with any authorized traffic control signal, sign, or device.
- No sign shall contain or make use of any phrase, symbol, shape, form, or character in such a manner as to interfere with, mislead, or confuse moving traffic.
- Only signs pertaining to the primary use of the property may be located on that property. No sign pertaining to a business located elsewhere shall be permitted on the property.
- Any illuminated sign or lighting device shall employ only light emitting a light of constant intensity and no sign shall be illuminated by or contain flashing, intermittent, rotating, or moving light or lights.
- No projecting sign shall be erected or maintained from the front or face of a building where the nearest edge of the sign extends a distance of more than two (2) feet from the front or face of the building.
- No portable or temporary sign shall be placed on the front or face of a building or on any premises except for temporary signs not exceeding twenty-four (24) square feet in area announcing special public or institutional events or forty-eight (48) square feet for the erection of a building.
- No sign or part thereof shall contain or consist of banners, posters, pennants, ribbons, streamers, spinners, or other similar moving devices.
- No sign erected, placed, stored, or maintained in the window of a building, visible from any public or private street or highway shall occupy more than forty (40) percent of the window surface.
- No sign shall be placed in any public right-of-way except publicly owned signs such as traffic control signs and directional signs.
- No advertising sign shall be attached to or supported by a tree, utility pole, trash receptacle, bench, vending machine, or public shelter.
- No sign shall be placed on the roof of any building if it exceeds the height limits for signs in the district in which the sign is to be placed.
- No off-premise sign which advertises goods, products, services, or facilities not sold on the premises on which the sign is installed or which directs persons to a different location from where the sign is installed shall be permitted.

## Signs exempt from permit in Port Clinton

- Holiday display lighting is exempted from the requirement of constant intensity lighting.
- Signs established by any governmental agency are permitted in any district.
- Works of art, commemorative tablets, public plaza recognitions and similar types of civic projects where individuals or companies are recognized for their contributions are permitted.
- Political signs are permitted in all zoning districts and do not require zoning clearance or permit.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- No sign shall be placed or erected without first applying for and obtaining a sign permit from the City of Port Clinton Safety-Service Director.

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

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