# Sign Regulations in Springboro, Ohio

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Springboro, Ohio (OH)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/ohio/springboro
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-11
- **Source:** [amlegal municipal code](https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/springboro/latest/springboro_oh/0-0-0-14811)

## At a glance

Springboro, Ohio regulates 6 sign types across 9 zoning districts. Wall Signs in the General Regulations For All Zones zoning district are capped at Not to exceed roofline tall and 500 square feet, with a Not applicable setback (Sec. 1281.09(a)(2)J). Most commercial signs in Springboro require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (9 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 5 | 6 feet | 500 square feet | — |
| Architectural Sign Overlay District | 2 | 6 feet | 20 square feet | — |
| Interstate Sign Overlay District | 1 | 60 feet | 120 square feet | — |
| Residential Zoning Districts | 1 | — | 4 square feet | — |
| Commercial Zoning Districts | 2 | 6 feet | 500 square feet | — |
| Industrial Zoning Districts | 2 | 20 feet | 500 square feet | — |

_3 additional zoning districts are covered in PermitPal (free account)._

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 9 zones)

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | Not to exceed roofline | 500 square feet | — | Not applicable | No maximum number | Attached to building facade | — | 1281.09(a)(2)J |
| Ground Sign | 6 feet | 30 square feet | — | 8 feet from curb | One per street frontage | Commercial Zoning Districts | — | 1281.09(a)(3)B |
| Window Sign | — | 50% of window area | — | Not applicable | No limit | Commercial and Industrial Zoning Districts | — | 1281.09(c) |
| Drive-Through Facility Sign | 6 feet | 36 square feet | — | Not applicable | One per stacking lane | Commercial and Industrial Zoning Districts | — | 1281.09(d) |
| Driveway Sign | 3 feet | 4 square feet | — | 5 feet from lot lines | Two per driveway | Commercial and Industrial Zoning Districts | — | 1281.09(e) |

### Architectural Sign Overlay District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | Not to exceed roofline | 20 square feet | — | Not applicable | No maximum number | Attached to building facade | — | 1281.09(a)(2)J |
| Ground Sign | 6 feet | 20 square feet | — | 4 feet from curb | One per lot | Architectural Sign Overlay District | — | 1281.09(a)(3)B |

### Commercial Zoning Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | Not to exceed roofline | 500 square feet | — | Not applicable | No maximum number | Attached to building facade | — | 1281.09(a)(2)J |
| Ground Sign | 6 feet | 30 square feet | — | 8 feet from curb | One per street frontage | Commercial Zoning Districts | — | 1281.09(a)(3)B |

## Prohibited signs in Springboro

- Any sign that copies or imitates signs installed by the City or any other governmental agencies or falsely purports to have been authorized by the City or other governmental agency.
- Signs that interfere with, obstruct the view of or be similar in appearance to any authorized traffic sign, signal or device.
- Signs that constitute a hazard to safety or health by reason of inadequate or inappropriate design, construction, repair or maintenance.
- Signs that obstruct or interfere with traffic or traffic visibility.
- Windblown devices and signs that flutter with the exception of flags.
- Balloon signs and air-activated signs.
- Three-dimensional signs and multi-faced signs unless two identically sized, flat sign faces are mounted back-to-back with no more than six inches in separation.
- Signs utilizing dayglo colors.
- Signs that employ any parts or elements which revolve, rotate, whirl, spin or otherwise make use of motion to attract attention.
- Signs with moving or flashing lights except as noted in the changeable copy sign section.
- Beacons and searchlights, except for emergency purposes.
- Signs or other structures that advertise a business that has not been in business for six months or more, or advertises a product or service that has not been available on the property for the past six months.
- Pennants and streamers.
- Signs that are applied to trees, bus shelters, utility poles, benches, trash receptacles, newspaper vending machines or boxes, or any other unapproved supporting structure, or otherwise placed in the public right-of-way.
- Signs that obstruct or substantially interfere with any window, door, fire escape, stairway, ladder or opening intended to provide light, air, ingress or egress to any building.
- Signs which are not securely affixed to the ground or otherwise affixed in a permanent manner to an approved supporting structure unless specifically permitted as a temporary sign.
- Roof signs or any signs mounted on or above the roofline of any building or structure except as permitted on canopy signs.
- Portable signs with the exception of sidewalk signs.
- Mobile signs viewed from a public road with the primary purpose of advertising through signage not otherwise allowed by this chapter.
- Any sign not specifically allowed or addressed by this chapter.

## Signs exempt from permit in Springboro

- Signs and/or notices issued by any court, officer or other person in performance of a public duty.
- Signs that are an integral part of the original construction of vending or similar machines, fuel pumps, automated teller machines, or similar devices.
- Any sign that is located completely inside a building that is not visible from the exterior.
- Signs that are located within a stadium, open-air theater, park, arena or other outdoor use that are not visible from a public right-of-way or adjacent property.
- Sign face changes where the sign structure is designed with interchangeable panels and one of the panels is replaced without changing the structure.
- Certain temporary signs as established in Section 1281.10.
- A single wall sign placed on the facade of an individual dwelling unit that is not illuminated and does not exceed four square feet in area.
- Signs that are an integral part of the historic character of a structure that has been designated an official landmark or historic structure.
- Any signs located on umbrellas, seating or similar patio furniture provided they are located outside of the right-of-way.
- Ground signs and markings located completely within the interior of a lot used for a cemetery.
- Any sign on a truck, bus or other vehicle that is used in the normal course of a business for transportation.
- Signs installed or required by a governmental agency.
- Any warning signs or traffic safety signs required by public utility providers.
- Hand-held signs not set on or affixed to the ground.
- No more than four flags located on flagpoles or on wall-mounted posts.
- Any address numbers required by the City of Springboro, Clearcreek Fire District, or U.S. Post Office.
- Changes of copy on signs with changeable copy.
- Any signs, including illuminated signs, or related decorations erected in observance of religious, national or state holidays.
- General maintenance, painting, repainting, cleaning and other normal maintenance and repair of a sign or any sign structure unless a structural change is made.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- All signs shall require the issuance of a sign permit, as established in Section 1281.14, unless otherwise noted.
- The City Planning Commission shall have authority to approve modifications from the provisions of this chapter as part of its comprehensive review and approval of a PUD, if a comprehensive signage plan is submitted by the developer prior to final approval of the planned unit development.

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

---

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