# Sign Regulations in Riverside, Ohio

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Riverside, Ohio (OH)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/ohio/riverside
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-08
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/OH/Riverside/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=COORRIOH_PTTHREETRCO_TITONEAD_CH301DE_301.29RASISI)

## At a glance

Riverside, Ohio regulates 24 sign types across 5 zoning districts. Ground/Projecting Signs in the Business, Industrial, or Other Nonresidential Uses, Office and Business District, Business Districts (B-1, B-2), Light Industrial (I-1), Industrial Districts zoning district are capped at 6 ft at minimum setback, add 1 ft for each additional 5 ft of setback (up to 16 ft max) tall and 32 sq ft (face), 64 sq ft (area), with a Outside of public right-of-way; for additional height, 1 ft added per 5 ft additional setback setback (Sec. 1115.09.G.2). Most commercial signs in Riverside require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (5 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 6 | 8 ft above sidewalks; 15 ft above driveways | 12 sq ft | — |
| Residential Districts, Residential Zoning Districts (R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4) | 5 | 6 ft | 15 sq ft | — |
| Multi Family Residential Use | 5 | 6 ft | 32 sq ft (face), 64 sq ft (area) | — |
| Business, Industrial, or Other Nonresidential Uses, Office and Business District, Business Districts (B-1, B-2), Light Industrial (I-1), Industrial Districts | 6 | 6 ft at minimum setback, add 1 ft for each additional 5 ft of setback (up to 16 ft max) | 32 sq ft (face), 64 sq ft (area) | — |
| Undeveloped or Agricultural Land, Agricultural Districts | 2 | 6 ft | 16 sq ft | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 5 zones)

### Residential Districts, Residential Zoning Districts (R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign (Single or Two Family Residential Use) | — | 4 sq ft | — | — | One per dwelling unit | On each dwelling unit | — | 1115.09.F.1.c |
| Ground Sign (Neighborhood Identification) | 6 ft | 15 sq ft | — | — | One per entrance | At entrance to neighborhood, fronting on thoroughfare | — | 1115.09.F.1.b |
| Temporary Ground Sign (Home Sale) | 4 ft | 6 sq ft (sign face), 12 sq ft (sign area) | — | — | — | Outside public right-of-way (not subject to general ground sign setback) | — | 1115.09.F.1.d |
| Temporary Real Estate Sign (Single/Two Family) | 4 ft | 6 sq ft (sign face), 12 sq ft (sign area) | — | — | One per lot frontage | Ground sign | — | 1115.09.D.23.b.2 |
| Temporary Noncommercial Sign (Residential District) | — | 12 sq ft | — | — | — | On private property | — | 1115.09.D.23.c |

### Multi Family Residential Use

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign (Multi Family Residential Use) | — | 4 sq ft | — | — | One per premises, max; split counts as option | — | — | 1115.09.F.2.a, 1115.09.F.2.b |
| Ground Sign (Multi Family Residential Use) | 6 ft | 32 sq ft (face), 64 sq ft (area) | — | — | One per premises (two if split; max area applies total) | At entrance(s) to development, on fence, wall, or mound, landscaped | — | 1115.09.F.2.b |
| Temporary Sign (Multi Family Residential Use) | 6 ft | 12 sq ft (sign face), 24 sq ft (sign area) | — | — | — | — | — | 1115.09.F.2.c |
| Temporary Real Estate Sign (Multi Family Residential Use) | 6 ft | 12 sq ft (frontage ≤ 100 ft), 32 sq ft (frontage > 100 ft), 64 sq ft (frontage ≥ 200 ft) | — | — | One per lot frontage | One per lot frontage; ground sign only | — | 1115.09.D.23.b.3 |
| Temporary Noncommercial Sign (Multi Family Residential Use) | — | 12 sq ft (residential); for nonresidential see relevant zone | — | — | — | On private property | — | 1115.09.D.23.c |

### Business, Industrial, or Other Nonresidential Uses, Office and Business District, Business Districts (B-1, B-2), Light Industrial (I-1), Industrial Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Ground/Projecting Sign | 6 ft at minimum setback, add 1 ft for each additional 5 ft of setback (up to 16 ft max) | 32 sq ft (face), 64 sq ft (area) | — | Outside of public right-of-way; for additional height, 1 ft added per 5 ft additional setback | One per premises | On premises; setback outside right-of-way | — | 1115.09.G.2 |
| Wall Sign (Business, Industrial, Other Nonresidential) | — | 1.5 sq ft per linear ft of building frontage (up to 50 sq ft per sign on multi-tenant buildings) | — | — | Maximum 3 per frontage; 1 per tenant for multi-tenant structures above entrance | On building frontage; for multi-tenant, above primary entrance | — | 1115.09.G.3 |
| Temporary Ground Sign (Business, Industrial, Nonresidential) | 6 ft | 16 sq ft (face), 32 sq ft (area) | — | — | — | — | — | 1115.09.G.5.a |
| Temporary Wall Sign (Business, Industrial, Nonresidential) | — | 16 sq ft | — | — | One per frontage | On building frontage | — | 1115.09.G.5.b |
| Temporary Real Estate Sign (Nonresidential/Undeveloped) | 6 ft | 12 sq ft (≤100 ft frontage), 32 sq ft (>100 ft frontage), 64 sq ft (≥200 ft frontage) | — | — | One per lot frontage | Ground sign only; one per lot frontage | — | 1115.09.D.23.b.3 |
| Temporary Noncommercial Sign (Nonresidential District) | — | 16 sq ft | — | — | — | On private property | — | 1115.09.D.23.c |

## Prohibited signs in Riverside

- Any sign placed in any public right-of-way except publicly owned signs such as traffic control signs and directional signs.
- Any sign or part thereof which is erected within or above a public right-of-way.
- Any sign erected at or near any intersection in such a manner as to obstruct free and clear vision, or where by reason of position, shape, or color, it may interfere with, obstruct the view of, or be confused with any authorized traffic sign, signal or device.
- Any sign making use of the word 'stop', 'look', 'danger', or other word or symbol in such a manner as to interfere with, mislead, or confuse traffic.
- Any sign mounted onto, above, or incorporated into, the roof of any building unless otherwise specifically permitted.
- Any lighter than air or inflatable sign situated on, attached or tethered to a premises, structure, or vehicle. Exception: a balloon up to but not exceeding 24 inches in any dimension on specific residential premises if not displayed in conjunction with any other sign.
- Any sign with visible moving, revolving, rotating parts, visible mechanical movement, non-constant visual image, or appearance of motion.
- Any sign utilizing an artificial illumination device which radiates intensity, beam spread, glare, flashing, blinking or color which interferes with the vision of persons not on the premises.
- Any sign utilizing a fixed or mobile beacon, strobe light, searchlight, signaling light, spotlight or similar device directed above or outside of a premises to attract unusual visual attention.
- Any sign or part thereof utilizing flame as a source of light.
- Any sign utilizing an energized lamp bulb where the bulb's surface is directly visible to persons not on the premises.
- Any sign conveying misleading or unlawful commercial information.
- Any sign conveying visual information that is obscene, indecent, or immoral.
- Any sign mounted on or attached to a vehicle.
- A portable sign.
- Temporary signs in the right-of-way except publicly owned signs such as traffic control signs and directional signs.
- A sign in dangerous or defective condition on any premises.
- No sign shall be located in such a manner as to be primarily viewed from residential property (for business/industrial uses).
- No sign shall incorporate movement or the illusion of movement or incorporate reflective materials creating the illusion of flashing or moving lights (for business, industrial, or nonresidential uses).
- All signs must convey a static, fixed message; message must remain as a constant visual image for at least ten minutes.
- No sign or part thereof shall be illuminated by or contain flashing, intermittent, rotating, or moving lights, or be illuminated in a way that causes glare or reflection that may constitute a traffic hazard or other nuisance.
- Signs visible from streets shall not contain symbols or words, or red and green lights that resemble highway traffic signs or devices.
- No placement of any small cell facility or wireless support structure shall necessitate tree trimming, cause removal of, or otherwise damage any tree located within the City's right-of-way or utility easement; no such facility shall be located within the eventual mature dripline or tree crown of any such tree.

## Signs exempt from permit in Riverside

- Flags (noncommercial), emblems, and insignia of any governmental agency, subdivision, and temporary displays of a patriotic, religious, charitable or civic character, political signs, and real estate signs are exempted from required permitting.
- Temporary real estate signs conforming to section requirements do not require a sign permit.
- Window signs located in a building where a commercial or industrial use is permitted as a principal use, provided not more than 50% of the area of any window is devoted to window signage, are exempt from most provisions except the prohibited sign characteristics.
- A balloon measuring up to but not exceeding 24 inches in any dimension on a residential premises (single, two, three to four family dwelling unit) is exempt provided said balloon is not displayed in conjunction with any other sign as defined by the UDO.
- Temporary noncommercial signs located on private property, within specified size limits, are exempt from permit requirements.
- Publicly owned signs such as traffic control signs and directional signs are exempt from prohibition on sign placement in the public right-of-way.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A Certificate of Zoning Compliance (CZC) must be obtained for erection, construction, relocation, or alteration of any sign unless exempted by the Planning and Program Management Department.
- A sign shall be designed, erected, altered, reconstructed, moved and maintained in accordance with the provisions of Section 1115.09 unless specifically modified by another section of the Ordinance.
- A sign permit is required before a neighborhood identification ground sign may be constructed; plans for all neighborhood identification signs, including location, fences, walls or earth mounds and landscaping, must be submitted for approval.
- Written permission from the Director of Planning and Program Management (DPPM) and a CZC is required before a ground sign may be exchanged for a wall sign for business, industrial, or other nonresidential uses.
- Plans for all ground signs—including all fences, walls, earth mounds, and landscaping—must be submitted for approval for multi-family residential developments wanting to split a ground sign into two signs.
- Sign permits are not required for temporary real estate signs conforming to defined size and use standards.
- If a request is made for a sign plan not meeting standards, a waiver or variance may be required under Chapter 1105 procedures.
- Electronic Message Centers (EMCs) require manufacturer certification as part of a sign permit request to ensure compliance with illumination standards.

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

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