# Sign Regulations in Salem, Ohio

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Salem, Ohio (OH)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/ohio/salem
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-11
- **Source:** [amlegal municipal code](https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/salem/latest/salem_oh/0-0-0-13022)

## At a glance

Salem, Ohio regulates 18 sign types across 8 zoning districts. Post Signs in the RA Residential District zoning district are capped at 6 feet tall and 8 square feet per face, with a No portion of a post sign shall extend closer than ten feet to a lot line. setback (Sec. 1195.05(b)(2)). Most commercial signs in Salem require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (8 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 7 | — | 8 square feet | — |
| Residential Districts | 3 | — | 8 square feet | — |
| RA Residential District | 2 | 6 feet | 24 square feet | — |
| C-3 District | 2 | — | — | — |
| C-1, C-2, C-4, M-1 and M-3 Districts | 8 | 30 feet | 32 square feet | — |
| M-2 District | 1 | 25 feet | 400 square feet | — |
| RS Districts | 2 | — | — | — |
| Commercial and Industrial Districts | 1 | — | — | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 8 zones)

### Residential Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Real Estate Sign | — | 8 square feet | — | — | 1 | Located only upon residential property to which the sign refers. | — | 1195.04(b)(2) |
| Open House Sign | — | 8 square feet | — | — | 1 | Located on private residential property with permission of the property owner. | — | 1195.04(b)(6) |
| Home Occupation Sign | — | 1 square foot | — | — | 1 | Mounted flat against the wall of the dwelling. | — | 1195.04(e) |

### RA Residential District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | — | 24 square feet | — | — | 1 | Attached to the building. | — | 1195.05(b)(1) |
| Post Sign | 6 feet | 8 square feet per face | — | No portion of a post sign shall extend closer than ten feet to a lot line. | 1 | At approved conditional uses per Section 1171.02. | — | 1195.05(b)(2) |

### C-1, C-2, C-4, M-1 and M-3 Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Roof Sign | — | — | — | — | — | On the building or premises. | — | 1195.05(d)(1) |
| Wall Sign | — | — | — | — | — | On the building. | — | 1195.05(d)(2) |
| Projecting Sign | 30 feet | — | — | — | — | On the building. | — | 1195.05(d)(3) |
| Marquee Sign | — | — | — | — | — | On the building. | — | 1195.05(d)(4) |
| Awning Sign | — | — | — | — | — | On the building. | — | 1195.05(d)(5) |
| Free-standing Sign | 30 feet | — | — | No portion of a free-standing sign shall extend closer than ten feet to a lot line. | 1 | On the property. | — | 1195.05(d)(6) |
| Post Sign | 6 feet | 8 square feet per face | — | No portion of a post sign shall extend closer than ten feet to a lot line. | 1 | On the property. | — | 1195.05(d)(7) |
| Ground Sign | 6 feet | 32 square feet | — | No portion of a ground sign shall extend closer than ten feet to a lot line. | 1 | On the property. | — | 1195.05(d)(8) |

## Prohibited signs in Salem

- No sign shall be illuminated by or contain flashing, intermittent, rotating, or moving light or lights.
- No sign shall employ any parts or elements which revolve, rotate, whirl, spin or otherwise make use of motion to attract attention.
- No sign or part thereof shall contain or consist of banners, posters, pennants, ribbons, streamers, spinners or other similar moving devices.
- No sign shall be installed, erected, or attached in any form, shape or manner to a fire escape or any door or window giving access to any fire escape.
- No sign shall be placed in any City right-of-way except City owned signs, such as traffic control signs and directional signs.
- No advertising signs shall be attached to or supported by a tree, utility pole, trash receptacle, bench, vending machine or public shelter.
- Signs and sign structures that project above the building line shall be prohibited with exception of roof signs in approved districts.
- No vehicle or trailer may be parked on a business premises or a lot for the purpose of advertising a business product.
- No sign shall be located on a vacant lot unless used for the purpose of advertising the lot for sale or lease, or for such purpose as the notification of present danger or the prohibition of trespassing.
- Signs not located on the same site as the advertised business shall not be permitted.
- No signs shall be located nearer than eight feet vertically, or four feet horizontally from any overhead electric wires or conductors.
- No sign shall contain words, statements or graphic descriptions of an obscene, indecent or immoral nature.
- Billboards shall not be permitted in the City of Salem, Ohio.
- No sign advertising or promoting an activity, service or product no longer available shall be permitted.

## Signs exempt from permit in Salem

- The repainting, changing of parts during normal preventive maintenance of signs shall not be deemed alterations requiring a sign permit.
- Temporary signs may be displayed in or attached to the inside of show or display windows.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- All new signs or replacement signs in District C-3 must apply for a permit from the Salem Zoning Office. In addition, sign design plans must be submitted and approved by the Design Review Board to ensure standards in the historic district are upheld.
- All new signs or replacement signs in all RS Districts must apply for a permit from the Salem Zoning Office. In addition, sign design plans must be submitted and approved by the Design Review Board to ensure standards in the historic district are upheld, if the RS property is in an historic district.
- No sign permit shall be issued for any sign to be erected or placed within a preservation district or for any sign to be attached to or erected upon any landmark unless a certificate of appropriateness has been issued for that sign.

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

---

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