# Sign Regulations in Toledo, Ohio

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Toledo, Ohio (OH)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/ohio/toledo
- **Data last verified:** 2025-10-28
- **Source:** [amlegal municipal code](https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/toledo/latest/toledo_oh/0-0-0-107101)

## At a glance

Toledo, Ohio regulates 24 sign types across 16 zoning districts. Medium Profile Ground Signs in the CN, CM, CS, CD, IL, Planned Industrial (IP), POS zoning district are capped at 8 ft tall, 60 sq ft sign face area, and 20 ft wide, with a ≥18 ft curb; ≥10 ft entrance/exit drive; ≥10 ft side yard setback (Sec. 1113.0405(A–K); 1113.0403(A–G); 1113.0506(C–F)). Most commercial signs in Toledo require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (16 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| RS, RD, RM, RMH | 7 | 20 ft (lowest to highest point of the sign) | 80 sq ft | — |
| CN, CM, CS, CD, IL, Planned Industrial (IP), POS | 8 | 20 ft | 80 sq ft | — |
| CO, CR, IG, Institutional Campus (IC) | 9 | 20 ft | 90 sq ft sign face area | — |
| CR-SO | 10 | 20 ft | 120 sq ft sign face area | — |
| CD | 8 | 20 ft | 80 sq ft | — |
| IL | 8 | 20 ft | 80 sq ft | — |
| Shopping Center Sign Control Overlay District (-SO) | 2 | 16 ft | 120 sq ft sign face area | — |
| Historic Overlay District (-HO) | 1 | — | — | — |
| Downtown Overlay District (-DOD) | 1 | — | — | — |
| Warehouse District Overlay | 1 | — | — | — |
| Maumee Riverfront Overlay (-MRO) | 1 | — | — | — |
| Old West End | 1 | — | — | — |
| Vistula | 1 | — | — | — |
| Westmoreland | 1 | — | — | — |
| Uptown District | 1 | — | — | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 12 | Residential: 42 in; Non-residential: 6 ft | Ground signs: up to 75% of sign face area may be changeable copy; Building signs: any percent. | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 16 zones)

### CN, CM, CS, CD, IL, Planned Industrial (IP), POS

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | — | Aggregate of all building signs limited by formula. | — | — | Limited by total building sign area allocation. | Attached to building wall; right-of-way encroachment by-right if not attached to ground. | — | 1113.0303; 1113.0304; 1113.0305 |
| Projecting Sign (Midblock) | 16 ft | 60 sq ft | — | ≥2 ft from curb; clear height ≥8 ft | Max 1 per business per frontage. | Projects 90° from wall at midblock. | — | 1113.0306(A–D,H–M) |
| Projecting Sign (Corner) | 20 ft | 80 sq ft | — | ≥2 ft from curb; clear height ≥8 ft | Max 1 per business per frontage. | Projects ~135° following the corner angle. | — | 1113.0306(A,E–M) |
| Awning or Marquee Sign | — | Limited by building sign area allocation. | — | ≥2 ft from curb; clear height ≥8 ft | — | On awning/marquee; right-of-way encroachment permitted by-right unless vertical supports attach to ground. | — | 1113.0307(A–H); 1113.0304(D) |
| Window Sign | — | ≤25% cumulative window area along façade. | — | — | — | Applied to/within windows; area measured by opaque window area created by signage. | — | 1113.0308(A–F); 1113.0303 |
| Low Profile Ground Sign | 3 ft, 6 in (up to 6 ft only if NOT internally illuminated and then curb setback increases) | 35 sq ft sign face area | — | ≥10 ft curb (≥18 ft if >3 ft, 6 in); ≥10 ft entrance/exit drive | Max 1 per premises per right-of-way frontage. | Ground sign on premises with a principal building. | — | 1113.0404(A–H); 1113.0403(A–G); 1113.0506(C–F) |
| Medium Profile Ground Sign | 8 ft | 60 sq ft sign face area | 20 ft | ≥18 ft curb; ≥10 ft entrance/exit drive; ≥10 ft side yard | Max 1 per premises per right-of-way frontage. | Ground sign on premises with a principal building. | — | 1113.0405(A–K); 1113.0403(A–G); 1113.0506(C–F) |
| A-Frame Sign (Sandwich Board) | 3 ft, 6 in | — | 3 ft | — | Max 1 per frontage. | Portable ground sign; right-of-way encroachment permitted by-right; placed only in front of use advertised. | — | 1113.0409(A–I) |

### CO, CR, IG, Institutional Campus (IC)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | — | Aggregate limited by formula. | — | — | Limited by total building sign area. | Attached to building wall; right-of-way encroachment permitted by-right if not attached to ground. | — | 1113.0303; 1113.0304; 1113.0305 |
| Projecting Sign (Midblock) | 16 ft | 60 sq ft | — | ≥2 ft from curb; clear height ≥8 ft | Max 1 per business per frontage. | Projects 90° from wall at midblock. | — | 1113.0306(A–D,H–M) |
| Projecting Sign (Corner) | 20 ft | 80 sq ft | — | ≥2 ft from curb; clear height ≥8 ft | Max 1 per business per frontage. | Projects ~135° following the corner angle. | — | 1113.0306(A,E–M) |
| Awning or Marquee Sign | — | Limited by building sign area allocation. | — | ≥2 ft from curb; clear height ≥8 ft | — | On awning/marquee; right-of-way encroachment permitted by-right unless vertical supports attach to ground. | — | 1113.0307(A–H); 1113.0304(D) |
| Low Profile Ground Sign | 3 ft, 6 in (up to 6 ft only if NOT internally illuminated and then curb setback ≥18 ft) | 35 sq ft sign face area | — | ≥10 ft curb (≥18 ft if >3 ft, 6 in); ≥10 ft entrance/exit drive | Max 1 per premises per right-of-way frontage. | Ground sign on premises with a principal building. | — | 1113.0404(A–H); 1113.0403(A–G); 1113.0506(C–F) |
| Medium Profile Ground Sign | 8 ft | 60 sq ft sign face area | 20 ft | ≥18 ft curb; ≥10 ft entrance/exit drive; ≥10 ft side yard | Max 1 per premises per right-of-way frontage. | Ground sign on premises with a principal building. | — | 1113.0405(A–K); 1113.0403(A–G); 1113.0506(C–F) |
| High Profile Ground Sign | 12 ft | 90 sq ft sign face area | 20 ft | ≥18 ft curb; ≥10 ft entrance/exit drive; ≥10 ft side yard | Max 1 per premises per right-of-way frontage. | Ground sign on premises with a principal building. | — | 1113.0406(A–M); 1113.0403(A–G); 1113.0506(C–F) |
| A-Frame Sign (Sandwich Board) | 3 ft, 6 in | — | 3 ft | — | Max 1 per frontage. | Portable sign in front of use; right-of-way encroachment allowed by-right. | — | 1113.0409(A–I) |

### CR-SO

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | — | Aggregate limited by formula. | — | — | Limited by total building sign area. | Attached to building wall; right-of-way encroachment permitted by-right if not attached to ground. | — | 1113.0303; 1113.0304; 1113.0305; 1113.0411; 1103.0700 (referenced) |
| Projecting Sign (Midblock) | 16 ft | 60 sq ft | — | ≥2 ft from curb; clear height ≥8 ft | Max 1 per business per frontage. | Projects 90° from wall at midblock. | — | 1113.0306(A–D,H–M) |
| Projecting Sign (Corner) | 20 ft | 80 sq ft | — | ≥2 ft from curb; clear height ≥8 ft | Max 1 per business per frontage. | Projects ~135° following the corner angle. | — | 1113.0306(A,E–M) |
| Low Profile Ground Sign | 3 ft, 6 in (up to 6 ft only if NOT internally illuminated and then curb setback ≥18 ft) | 35 sq ft sign face area | — | ≥10 ft curb (≥18 ft if >3 ft, 6 in); ≥10 ft entrance/exit drive | Max 1 per premises per right-of-way frontage. | Ground sign on premises with a principal building. | — | 1113.0404(A–H); 1113.0403(A–G); 1113.0506(C–F) |
| Medium Profile Ground Sign | 8 ft | 60 sq ft sign face area | 20 ft | ≥18 ft curb; ≥10 ft entrance/exit drive; ≥10 ft side yard | Max 1 per premises per right-of-way frontage. | Ground sign on premises with a principal building. | — | 1113.0405(A–K); 1113.0403(A–G); 1113.0506(C–F) |
| High Profile Ground Sign | 12 ft | 90 sq ft sign face area | 20 ft | ≥18 ft curb; ≥10 ft entrance/exit drive; ≥10 ft side yard | Max 1 per premises per right-of-way frontage. | Ground sign on premises with a principal building. | — | 1113.0406(A–M); 1113.0403(A–G); 1113.0506(C–F) |
| Shopping Center Ground Sign | 16 ft | 120 sq ft sign face area | 20 ft | ≥23 ft curb; ≥10 ft entrance/exit drive; ≥10 ft side yard | Max 1 per premises per right-of-way frontage (unless otherwise provided by -SO standards). | Ground sign for multi-tenant shopping center within the Shopping Center Sign Control Overlay. | — | 1113.0407(A–N); 1113.0411; 1103.0700 (referenced) |
| A-Frame Sign (Sandwich Board) | 3 ft, 6 in | — | 3 ft | — | Max 1 per frontage. | Portable sign in front of use; right-of-way encroachment allowed by-right. | — | 1113.0409(A–I) |

## Prohibited signs in Toledo

- Any sign determined by the Division of Transportation to obstruct or hamper the view of motorists, bicyclists, or pedestrians, including: any portion of a sign extending above 3 feet 6 inches within 18 feet of a street curb; illuminated or highly reflective signs or spotlights that hamper visibility; intermittent or flashing lights, strobe-like lighting, blinking or travelling light, projected lighting, changing degrees of light intensity, animation, or any means not providing constant illumination (EMCs must follow their own standards); devices resembling traffic signals, traffic signs, emergency vehicle lights, or emergency warning devices unless otherwise authorized
- Any sign which mechanically moves (excluding otherwise permitted vehicle signs)
- Wind-blown or air-moved signs/decorative elements including inflatable signs, pennant flags, feather flags, and flags that contain copy
- Any sign that interferes with free passage or obstructs any fire escape, window, door, downspout, stairway, ladder, or opening intended for ingress/egress or providing light or air, except as otherwise permitted
- Any sign placed in the public right-of-way without a right-of-way encroachment permit, or placed on curbs, sidewalks, posts, poles, light fixtures, bollards, hydrants, bridges, trees, or other surfaces on public property or over/across any street or public thoroughfare except as otherwise authorized
- Any sign affixed to the outside of buildings, barns, sheds, trees, poles, bollards, fences, or other structures that is not otherwise permitted by the code
- Any sign unlawfully erected or maintained
- Any sign containing graphics depicting nudity or semi-nudity or content that is obscene, profane, slanderous, or pornographic as defined by applicable state/municipal code
- Any sign that emits sound, odor, or matter
- Any sign not expressly permitted by the code
- Vehicles with the primary use of advertising are not permitted; using operable or inoperable vehicles or trailers as stationary advertising displays visible from a street is prohibited

## Signs exempt from permit in Toledo

- Copy changes to approved changeable copy signs and Electronic Message Centers (EMCs) do not require a sign permit
- Repainting, cleaning, and other normal maintenance of a previously permitted sign does not require a sign permit, provided no structural changes are made
- In emergency situations with imminent danger of personal injury or property harm, work may be initiated and completed without first applying for a permit; a permit must be applied for within 48 hours after the first working day when work commenced
- Window signs do not require a sign permit
- A-frame signs do not require a sign permit
- Most special sign types do not require a sign permit unless otherwise stated in the ordinance
- An EMC that only displays numerals in a single color (digital price board) is exempt from the EMC requirements of Sec. 1113.0506
- Internal signs that are internally illuminated or include an EMC are exempt from the EMC graphic standards of Sec. 1113.0506(H) provided they are only illuminated when the business or use is open
- Right-of-way encroachment is permitted by-right for building signs as long as no portion of the sign is attached to the ground (ground-attached building signage requires a Right-of-Way Encroachment Permit)
- A-frame signs are permitted to encroach into the right-of-way by-right, subject to placement and clearance conditions

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Directional sign requirements may be modified or waived by the Planning Director upon approval of a master sign plan for properties within IC (Institutional Campus), IP (Planned Industrial), or CR-SO (Shopping Center Sign Control Overlay)
- Any permit-requiring work to a new or existing sign in a Historic Overlay or an overlay with an Architectural Review Commission (including Old West End, Vistula, Westmoreland, Warehouse District, Uptown District) or any sign on a locally designated Landmark Building must be approved by the appropriate review committee through the Plan Commissions prior to permit approval and construction
- Administrative variances: The Planning Director may vary the requirements of the chapter upon proper application and review if the proposed design offers a unique, one-of-a-kind appearance that meets the stated purpose of the chapter
- Variances and appeals are reviewed by the Board of Zoning Appeals under Sec. 1111.1700; appeals to waive any sign or part of a sign that is prohibited may not be granted

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

---

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