# Sign Regulations in Smithville, Ohio

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Smithville, Ohio (OH)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/ohio/smithville
- **Data last verified:** 2026-02-02
- **Source:** [amlegal municipal code](https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/smithville/latest/smithville_oh/0-0-0-95482)

## At a glance

Smithville, Ohio regulates 10 sign types across 4 zoning districts. Temporary Sign (Special Event)s in the General Regulations For All Zones zoning district are capped at 3 ft tall, 12 sq ft, and 4 ft wide, with a By zoning district (values not specified in §153.053(G)). setback (Sec. Smithville V.C. §153.053(G), (F), (I)). Most commercial signs in Smithville require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (4 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 9 | 4 ft | 150 sq ft (maximum) | — |
| Residential District (R-1, R-2, R-3) | 8 | 4 ft | 150 sq ft (maximum) | — |
| Central Commercial District (C-1) | 9 | 4 ft | 150 sq ft (maximum) | — |
| Highway Commercial District (C-2), Industrial District (M-1) | 9 | 4 ft | 150 sq ft (maximum) | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 4 zones)

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Outdoor Advertising Sign/Billboard | — | — | — | 50 ft from ROW or at least the required front yard depth, whichever is greater; add 0.5 ft per sq ft over 80 sq ft, capped at 100 ft total; 200 ft minimum from ROWs at specified highway intersections. | — | — | — | Smithville V.C. §153.053(A), (B), (F), (I) |
| Real Estate Sign (Freestanding - Lot width ≤ 100 ft) | — | 12 sq ft (aggregate) | — | From every street lot line: setback (ft) ≥ sign area (sq ft); and not less than the least required front yard depth. | — | On the premises being advertised. | — | Smithville V.C. §153.053(C), (F), (I) |
| Real Estate Sign (Freestanding - Frontage > 100 ft or two+ lots in single ownership) | — | 150 sq ft (maximum) | — | From every street lot line: setback (ft) ≥ sign area (sq ft); and not less than the least required front yard depth. | — | On the premises being advertised. | — | Smithville V.C. §153.053(C), (F), (I) |
| Real Estate Sign (Building-Attached) | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | — | Attached flat against the building being advertised. | — | Smithville V.C. §153.053(C), (F), (I) |
| Institutional Announcement Sign/Bulletin Board (Church/School/Community Center/etc.) | — | 12 sq ft | — | ≥ 12 ft from all street lines when not attached flat to a building. | — | For the institution’s own use at a church, school, community center, or other public/institutional building. | — | Smithville V.C. §153.053(D), (F), (I) |
| Wall Sign (Non-Conforming Use) | — | 20 sq ft (aggregate) | 2 ft (one dimension limit) | — | — | On the same premises as the non-conforming use. | — | Smithville V.C. §153.053(D), (F), (I) |
| Temporary Sign (Special Event) | 3 ft | 12 sq ft | 4 ft | By zoning district (values not specified in §153.053(G)). | — | — | — | Smithville V.C. §153.053(G), (F), (I) |
| Political Sign | 4 ft | 32 sq ft | 8 ft | — | — | — | — | Smithville V.C. §153.053(H), (F), (I) |

### Central Commercial District (C-1)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign (Conforming Business) | — | 60 sq ft per face | — | Furthermost overhang of the sign must be no nearer than 2 ft to the street right-of-way. | 1 per conforming business | On the same property as the main building of the conforming business. | — | Smithville V.C. §153.053(E), (F), (I) |
| Real Estate Sign (Freestanding - Lot width ≤ 100 ft) | — | 12 sq ft (aggregate) | — | From every street lot line: setback (ft) ≥ sign area (sq ft); and not less than the least required front yard depth. | — | On the premises being advertised. | — | Smithville V.C. §153.053(C), (F), (I) |
| Real Estate Sign (Freestanding - Frontage > 100 ft or two+ lots in single ownership) | — | 150 sq ft (maximum) | — | From every street lot line: setback (ft) ≥ sign area (sq ft); and not less than the least required front yard depth. | — | On the premises being advertised. | — | Smithville V.C. §153.053(C), (F), (I) |
| Real Estate Sign (Building-Attached) | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | — | Attached flat against the building being advertised. | — | Smithville V.C. §153.053(C), (F), (I) |
| Institutional Announcement Sign/Bulletin Board (Church/School/Community Center/etc.) | — | 12 sq ft | — | ≥ 12 ft from all street lines when not attached flat to a building. | — | For the institution’s own use at a church, school, community center, or other public/institutional building. | — | Smithville V.C. §153.053(D), (F), (I) |
| Wall Sign (Non-Conforming Use) | — | 20 sq ft (aggregate) | 2 ft (one dimension limit) | — | — | On the same premises as the non-conforming use. | — | Smithville V.C. §153.053(D), (F), (I) |
| Temporary Sign (Special Event) | 3 ft | 12 sq ft | 4 ft | By zoning district (values not specified in §153.053(G)). | — | — | — | Smithville V.C. §153.053(G), (F), (I) |
| Political Sign | 4 ft | 32 sq ft | 8 ft | — | — | — | — | Smithville V.C. §153.053(H), (F), (I) |

### Highway Commercial District (C-2), Industrial District (M-1)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign (Conforming Business) | — | 60 sq ft per face | — | Furthermost overhang of the sign must be no nearer than 10 ft to the street right-of-way. | 1 per conforming business | On the same property as the main building of the conforming business. | — | Smithville V.C. §153.053(E), (F), (I) |
| Real Estate Sign (Freestanding - Lot width ≤ 100 ft) | — | 12 sq ft (aggregate) | — | From every street lot line: setback (ft) ≥ sign area (sq ft); and not less than the least required front yard depth. | — | On the premises being advertised. | — | Smithville V.C. §153.053(C), (F), (I) |
| Real Estate Sign (Freestanding - Frontage > 100 ft or two+ lots in single ownership) | — | 150 sq ft (maximum) | — | From every street lot line: setback (ft) ≥ sign area (sq ft); and not less than the least required front yard depth. | — | On the premises being advertised. | — | Smithville V.C. §153.053(C), (F), (I) |
| Real Estate Sign (Building-Attached) | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | — | Attached flat against the building being advertised. | — | Smithville V.C. §153.053(C), (F), (I) |
| Institutional Announcement Sign/Bulletin Board (Church/School/Community Center/etc.) | — | 12 sq ft | — | ≥ 12 ft from all street lines when not attached flat to a building. | — | For the institution’s own use at a church, school, community center, or other public/institutional building. | — | Smithville V.C. §153.053(D), (F), (I) |
| Wall Sign (Non-Conforming Use) | — | 20 sq ft (aggregate) | 2 ft (one dimension limit) | — | — | On the same premises as the non-conforming use. | — | Smithville V.C. §153.053(D), (F), (I) |
| Temporary Sign (Special Event) | 3 ft | 12 sq ft | 4 ft | By zoning district (values not specified in §153.053(G)). | — | — | — | Smithville V.C. §153.053(G), (F), (I) |
| Political Sign | 4 ft | 32 sq ft | 8 ft | — | — | — | — | Smithville V.C. §153.053(H), (F), (I) |

## Prohibited signs in Smithville

- No sign or advertising structure may be located, placed, or arranged so as to impair traffic visibility at any intersection or at an entrance or exit to any use of any property.
- For any illuminated sign, the light source must not be visible.
- Flashing or blinking lights are not permitted on any sign.
- Illumination of any sign must not create a public or private nuisance for vehicular traffic.
- Illumination of any sign must not disrupt the normal and acceptable tranquility of the neighborhood.
- All signs must be maintained in good appearance and repair.

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

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