# Sign Regulations in Union Township, Ohio

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Union Township, Ohio (OH)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/ohio/union-township
- **Data last verified:** 2026-04-27
- **Source:** [other municipal code](https://www.utclermont.gov/DocumentCenter/View/2458/Zoning-Resolution-PDF-Amended-02-26pdf)

## At a glance

Union Township, Ohio regulates 29 sign types across 7 zoning districts. Freestanding On-Premises Sign (Single Business Development)s in the Commercial and Industrial Districts (B-1, M-1, PD) zoning district are capped at 12 ft tall and 150 sq ft (cap), with a ≥10 ft from ROW (§910) and ≥15 ft from any adjoining property line or a distance equal to the sign height, whichever is greater (§912) setback (Sec. §907.2 (single business cap, height, number); §903; §902.1-.2). Most commercial signs in Union Township require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (7 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones (ER, R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4, B-1, M-1, PD) | 11 | — | 50 sq ft | — |
| Commercial and Industrial Districts (B-1, M-1, PD) | 8 | 12 ft | 300 sq ft | — |
| Residential Districts (ER, R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4) | 1 | — | 6 sq ft | — |
| Residential Districts — Subdivisions and Entry Monuments (ER, R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4) | 8 | 12 ft | 40 sq ft | — |
| Industrial Districts — Subdivisions and Entry Monuments (M-1) | 3 | 12 ft | 1 sq ft per entrance or transition location | — |
| Office Parks — Entry Monuments (B-1, M-1) | 2 | 12 ft | 1 sq ft per entrance location | — |
| Agricultural Land Uses (no dedicated agricultural zoning district) | 1 | 12 ft | 300 sq ft | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 7 zones)

### General Regulations For All Zones (ER, R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4, B-1, M-1, PD)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Real Estate Sign (Non-Residential Districts) | — | 12 sq ft | — | On-premises setback: ≥10 ft from ROW (§910); and ≥15 ft from any adjoining property line or a distance equal to the sign height, whichever is greater (§912) | — | On the premises being offered for sale, lease, or rental | — | §904.1 (general districts 12 sq ft); §902.1-.2 (illumination); §910, §912 (setbacks) |
| Real Estate Sign (Residential Districts) | — | 6 sq ft | — | On-premises setback: ≥10 ft from ROW (§910); and ≥15 ft from any adjoining property line or a distance equal to the sign height, whichever is greater (§912) | — | On the premises being offered for sale, lease, or rental | — | §904.1 (residential districts limited to 6 sq ft); §902.1-.2; §910, §912 |
| Professional Name Plate | — | 4 sq ft | — | On-premises signs must observe §910 and §912, as applicable | — | On the premises | — | §904.2; §902.1-.2 |
| Occupant Name/Address Plate | — | 2 sq ft | — | On-premises signs must observe §910 and §912, as applicable | — | On the premises | — | §904.3; §902.1-.2 |
| Election Sign | — | — | — | On-premises signs must observe §910 and §912, as applicable | — | On the premises | — | §904.4; §902.1-.2 |
| Institutional Bulletin Board/Sign (Places of Worship, Libraries, Museums, Social Clubs, Societies) | — | 32 sq ft | — | Not less than 10 ft from the ROW (§911) | — | On the premises of the institution | — | §905.1; §911; §903; §902.1-.2 |
| Temporary Event/Construction Sign (Public/Institutional Events; Building/Architect/Builder/Contractor) | — | 50 sq ft | — | On-premises setbacks per §910 and §912 | — | On-premises | — | §905.2; §903; §902; §910–§912 |
| Wall Sign (Nonconforming Use) | — | 12 sq ft | — | — | 1 (only sign permitted for the nonconforming use) | On the same premises as the nonconforming use | — | §908; §903; §902.1-.2 |

### Commercial and Industrial Districts (B-1, M-1, PD)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign (On-Premises) | — | — | — | — | — | On the wall/face of the principal building occupied by the business | — | §907.1 (area, projection); §902.4-.5; §903; §902.1-.2 |
| Freestanding On-Premises Sign (Single Business Development) | 12 ft | 150 sq ft (cap) | — | On-premises setbacks: ≥10 ft from ROW (§910) and ≥15 ft from any adjoining property line or a distance equal to the sign height, whichever is greater (§912) | 1 per street frontage per lot | On-premises, serving the business establishment | — | §907.2 (single business cap, height, number); §903; §902.1-.2 |
| Freestanding On-Premises Sign (Multiple Business Development) | 12 ft | 200 sq ft (cap) | — | On-premises setbacks: ≥10 ft from ROW (§910) and ≥15 ft from any adjoining property line or a distance equal to the sign height, whichever is greater (§912) | 1 per street frontage per lot | On-premises, serving multiple separate uses in a unified development | — | §907.2 (multiple business cap, height, number); §903; §902.1-.2 |
| Freestanding On-Premises Sign (Single Business Development - Lot With Portable Sign) | 12 ft | 100 sq ft (cap when a portable sign is on the lot) | — | On-premises setbacks: ≥10 ft from ROW (§910) and ≥15 ft from any adjoining property line or a distance equal to the sign height, whichever is greater (§912) | 1 per street frontage per lot | On-premises, serving a single business on a lot that also contains a portable sign | — | §907.2 (reduced cap with portable sign); §903; §902.1-.2 |
| Freestanding On-Premises Sign (Multiple Business Development - Lot With Portable Sign) | 12 ft | 150 sq ft (cap when a portable sign is on the lot) | — | On-premises setbacks: ≥10 ft from ROW (§910) and ≥15 ft from any adjoining property line or a distance equal to the sign height, whichever is greater (§912) | 1 per street frontage per lot | On-premises, serving multiple businesses on a lot that also contains a portable sign | — | §907.2 (reduced cap with portable sign); §903; §902.1-.2 |
| Off-Premises Sign (Commercial/Industrial Locations) | 12 ft | 300 sq ft | — | Off-premises setbacks: ≥50 ft from any street ROW, ≥100 ft from any property line, and ≥400 ft from any residential zone or use (§913) | 1 per single location | Off-premises; at a single location within commercial/industrial districts | — | §907.3 (area, height, allowance); §903; §902.1-.2; ORC Ch. 5516 (referenced) |
| Banner or Portable Sign (Temporary) | — | 32 sq ft | — | On-premises setbacks per §910 and §912 | 1 per lot of record | On-premises within commercial/industrial districts | — | §907.4; §902; §910–§912; §903 |
| Search/Beacon Light or Inflatable (Temporary) | — | — | — | On-premises setbacks per §910 and §912 | 1 per lot of record | On-premises within commercial/industrial districts | — | §907.5; §910–§912; §903; §902.1-.2 |

### Residential Districts — Subdivisions and Entry Monuments (ER, R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Entry Monument (Primary Entrance) | 12 ft | — | — | No closer than 10 ft to the right-of-way line (§906.1) | Up to 2 per primary entrance | On-premises at each primary entrance of the residential subdivision | — | §906.1 and §906.3; §902.1-.2 |
| Entry Monument (Subdivision-to-Subdivision Transition Area) | 12 ft (by §906.1 general monument height) | — | — | May be placed to within 2 ft of the right-of-way (§906.2) | 1 per transition area | On-premises in subdivision-to-subdivision transition areas | — | §906.2 (placement), §906.1 (height/materials), §906.3 (copy area); §902.1-.2 |
| Sales Office On-Premise Sign (Temporary) | 6 ft | 25 sq ft | — | To within 5 ft of the right-of-way (§906.4(a)) | 1 per sales office | On-premises at the sales office during new home construction | — | §906.4(a); §902.1-.2 |
| Sales Office Wall Sign (Temporary) | — | 15 sq ft | — | — | 1 per sales office | On the wall at the entrance to the sales office | — | §906.4(b); §902.1-.2 |
| Model Home Off-Premise Directional Sign (Temporary) | 3 ft | 6 sq ft | — | To within 2 ft of the right-of-way (§906.4(c)) | 1 per builder (off-premise directional within the subdivision) | Within the new subdivision (off-premise relative to the model home) | — | §906.4(c); §902.1-.2 |
| Temporary Developer/Home Builder Sign at Primary Entrance (During New Home Construction) | 10 ft | 40 sq ft | — | To within 10 ft of the right-of-way (§906.5) | 1 per primary entrance | On-premises at each primary entrance to the subdivision during new home construction | — | §906.5; §902.1-.2 |
| Entry Monument Branding (Permanent) | — | 1 sq ft per entrance or transition location | — | Same as the associated monument (§906.1-.2) | — | Integrated into an entry monument | — | §906.6 |
| Builder Yard/Directional Signs (Temporary, Weekend Only) | 2 ft above ground from the base | 24 inches x 24 inches (2 ft x 2 ft) | — | — | No more than 1 per location per builder | Within the subdivision under construction; not on public property or in the public right-of-way | — | §906.7; §902.1-.2 |

## Prohibited signs in Union Township

- Illuminated signs must use light of constant intensity; flashing, rotating, intermittent, or moving lights are prohibited. Lighting may not be directed or beamed onto public thoroughfares, highways, sidewalks, or adjacent premises so as to cause glare or a traffic hazard.
- Signs may not use motion (revolving, rotating, whirling, spinning) to attract attention. Exception: on-premises electronic message centers/time and temperature units with only periodic message changes against a solid, colorless background are allowed and must have automatic dimmers and glare screens and meet all other zoning requirements.
- Projecting signs may not extend more than 2 feet from the face of a building.
- Roof signs are prohibited; wall signs that project above the roof line must be screened so the sign appears to be a continuation of the building face.
- Temporary or portable signs are prohibited unless specifically allowed under the temporary sign provisions (Section 905).
- Permanent signs may not contain or consist of banners, posters, pennants, ribbons, streamers, spinners, balloons, or other similar moving or inflatable devices. Strings of lights may not be used for advertising or to attract attention when not part of a sign.
- No sign may be installed, erected, or attached to a fire escape or any door or window giving access to a fire escape.
- No sign may be placed in any public right-of-way except publicly owned signs (e.g., traffic control or directional signs).
- No advertising signs may be attached to or supported by a tree, utility pole, trash receptacle, bench, vending machine, or public shelter.
- No sign may be attached in a manner that interferes with any required ventilation openings.
- No sign may be located on a vacant lot, except for advertising the lot for sale or lease or for danger/trespassing notices, unless otherwise permitted.
- No sign may be located nearer than 8 feet vertically or 4 feet horizontally from any overhead electrical wires, conductors, or guy wires.
- No vehicle or trailer may be parked or stored on a business premises or lot for the purpose of advertising a business, product, service, event, object, location, organization, or the like.

## Signs exempt from permit in Union Township

- Governmental signs (erected/maintained in discharge of a governmental function or required by law/ordinance/regulation) are excluded from the definition of 'sign.'
- Permit not required for signs advertising the sale, lease, or rental of the premises on which they are located, up to 12 sq ft (6 sq ft in residential districts).
- Permit not required for professional nameplates up to 4 sq ft.
- Permit not required for signs denoting the name and address of occupants up to 2 sq ft.
- Permit not required for election signs.
- Permit not required for on-site traffic and parking directional signs on private property that bear no advertising matter.
- Painting, changing of parts, and preventive maintenance to restore or maintain a sign’s original condition are not considered alterations that require a new or amended sign permit.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A sign permit is required for each sign unless specifically exempted (e.g., certain small on-premise signs and election signs).
- Any modification, alteration, or replacement of a permitted sign—or of design elements that formed the basis for its approval—requires a new or amended sign permit; routine maintenance does not.
- Temporary signs in any district require a permit and must meet general requirements and setback standards; they are limited in size and duration (e.g., up to 50 sq ft for certain public/institutional events within stated time limits).
- A registration procedure (with the Planning & Zoning Director) is required for temporary yard/directional signs by active builders in subdivisions; these may only be placed during specified weekend hours.
- No master sign plan, comprehensive sign plan, or variance/design-review requirement for signs is specified in the provided text.

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

---

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