# Sign Regulations in Sandusky, Ohio

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Sandusky, Ohio (OH)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/ohio/sandusky
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-11
- **Source:** [amlegal municipal code](https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/sandusky/latest/sandusky_oh/0-0-0-56147)

## At a glance

Sandusky, Ohio regulates 23 sign types across 6 zoning districts. Billboards in the General Regulations For All Zones zoning district are capped at 300 square feet, with a 30 feet front, 30 feet side, 200 feet from parks, playgrounds, public buildings, or residences setback (Sec. 1143.09(b)). Most commercial signs in Sandusky require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (6 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Public Facilities Districts | 1 | 8.5 feet | 40 square feet | — |
| Residential Districts | 3 | 8.5 feet | 32 square feet | — |
| Business and Commercial Districts | 8 | — | 215 square feet per side | — |
| Manufacturing Districts | 8 | — | 180 square feet per side | — |
| Downtown Design Review District | 2 | — | — | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 12 | 30 feet | 300 square feet | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 6 zones)

### Business and Commercial Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign (25 mph) | — | — | — | — | — | Building wall facing a public right-of-way | — | 1143.08(c)(1) |
| Wall Sign (35 mph, single lane) | — | — | — | — | — | Building wall facing a public right-of-way | — | 1143.08(c)(1) |
| Wall Sign (35 mph, multi lane or 45 mph single lane) | — | — | — | — | — | Building wall facing a public right-of-way | — | 1143.08(c)(1) |
| Wall Sign (45 mph, multi lane or single lane greater than 45 mph) | — | — | — | — | — | Building wall facing a public right-of-way | — | 1143.08(c)(1) |
| Freestanding or Projecting Sign (25 mph) | — | 215 square feet per side | — | — | 1 or 2 depending on lot frontage | — | — | 1143.08(c)(2) |
| Freestanding or Projecting Sign (35 mph, single lane) | — | 215 square feet per side | — | — | 1 or 2 depending on lot frontage | — | — | 1143.08(c)(2) |
| Freestanding or Projecting Sign (35 mph, multi lane or 45 mph single lane) | — | 215 square feet per side | — | — | 1 or 2 depending on lot frontage | — | — | 1143.08(c)(2) |
| Freestanding or Projecting Sign (45 mph, multi lane or single lane greater than 45 mph) | — | 215 square feet per side | — | — | 1 or 2 depending on lot frontage | — | — | 1143.08(c)(2) |

### Manufacturing Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign (25 mph) | — | — | — | — | — | Building wall facing a public right-of-way | — | 1143.08(d)(1) |
| Wall Sign (35 mph, single lane) | — | — | — | — | — | Building wall facing a public right-of-way | — | 1143.08(d)(1) |
| Wall Sign (35 mph, multi lane or 45 mph single lane) | — | — | — | — | — | Building wall facing a public right-of-way | — | 1143.08(d)(1) |
| Wall Sign (45 mph, multi lane or single lane greater than 45 mph) | — | — | — | — | — | Building wall facing a public right-of-way | — | 1143.08(d)(1) |
| Freestanding or Projecting Sign (25 mph) | — | 180 square feet per side | — | — | 1 or 2 depending on lot frontage | — | — | 1143.08(d)(2) |
| Freestanding or Projecting Sign (35 mph, single lane) | — | 180 square feet per side | — | — | 1 or 2 depending on lot frontage | — | — | 1143.08(d)(2) |
| Freestanding or Projecting Sign (35 mph, multi lane or 45 mph single lane) | — | 180 square feet per side | — | — | 1 or 2 depending on lot frontage | — | — | 1143.08(d)(2) |
| Freestanding or Projecting Sign (45 mph, multi lane or single lane greater than 45 mph) | — | 180 square feet per side | — | — | 1 or 2 depending on lot frontage | — | — | 1143.08(d)(2) |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Billboard | — | 300 square feet | — | 30 feet front, 30 feet side, 200 feet from parks, playgrounds, public buildings, or residences | 1 per lot | — | — | 1143.09(b) |
| Development and Construction Sign | — | 6 square feet (residential), 32 square feet (undeveloped subdivision), 64 square feet (business/commercial/manufacturing) | — | 5 feet from front/side lot line (residential), 10 feet from front/side lot line (undeveloped subdivision/business/commercial/manufacturing) | 1 per entrance or street front | — | — | 1143.09(c) |
| Monument Sign | 8.5 feet | — | — | 15 feet or half the required front yard setback, 10 feet from adjacent building, 30 feet from another sign | — | Within required front yard | — | 1143.09(d) |
| Political Sign | 8 feet | 32 square feet per side | — | — | 1 per candidate/issue per site, 2 for corner lots | — | — | 1143.09(e) |
| Portable Sign | — | 32 square feet | — | — | 1 per property | — | — | 1143.09(f) |
| Pylon Sign | 30 feet | — | — | 15 feet from right-of-way | — | — | — | 1143.09(g) |
| Real Estate Sign | — | 6 square feet (residential), 64 square feet (undeveloped subdivision), 32 square feet (non-residential) | — | 5 feet from front/side lot line (residential), 10 feet from front/side lot line (undeveloped subdivision) | 1 per street frontage | — | — | 1143.09(h) |
| Temporary Sign | — | 4 feet in any dimension, 8 feet for banners | — | — | 1 per street frontage | — | — | 1143.09(j) |

## Prohibited signs in Sandusky

- Vehicular signs.
- Search lights, laser lights.
- Flashing lights, projected images or animated signs unless with a conditional use permit.
- Signs located in such a manner as to obstruct or otherwise interfere with an official traffic sign, signal or device, or obstruct or interfere with a driver’s view of approaching, merging or intersecting traffic.
- Signs encroaching upon or overhanging a public right-of-way unless specifically authorized by the City Engineer.
- Signs attached to utility poles, light poles, street trees or other public facility located within the public right-of-way.
- Air activated devices, i.e. balloons, streamers, pinwheels, etc. unless granted zoning clearance as temporarily displayed (no more than 60 days) in a one (1) year period.
- Wall signs located above the ground floor, unless a conditional use permit is granted.

## Signs exempt from permit in Sandusky

- Directional, warning or information signs authorized by federal, state or municipal governments.
- Memorial plaques, building identification signs and building cornerstones when cut or carved into a masonry surface or when made of noncombustible material and made an integral part of the building or structure.
- The flag of a government, or noncommercial institution, such as a school.
- Religious symbols and seasonal decorations within the appropriate public holiday season.
- Street address signs and combination nameplate and street address signs, which do not exceed 3 square feet.
- Public banners approved by the City.
- Private traffic and on-site directional signs.
- ATM’s limited to 8 square feet in area.
- Signs which are an integral part of the historic character of a structure as determined by an agency or body of the governments of the United States, State of Ohio, Erie County or City of Sandusky.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A dimensioned site plan showing the location and size of proposed sign(s) and on-site buildings or other structures must be submitted when applying for zoning clearance.
- For free-standing signs, scaled elevation drawings shall be required.
- Landscaping shall be required and a plan shall be submitted and approved by the Planning Commission for billboards.
- A Certificate of Appropriateness shall be obtained for any new sign an applicant wishes to erect or place within the Downtown Design Review District.

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

---

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