# Sign Regulations in Urbana, Ohio

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Urbana, Ohio (OH)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/ohio/urbana
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-11
- **Source:** [amlegal municipal code](https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/urbana/latest/urbana_oh/0-0-0-9381)

## At a glance

Urbana, Ohio regulates 8 sign types across 5 zoning districts. Permanent Freestanding Signs in the General Regulations For All Zones zoning district are capped at 15 ft tall and 100 sq ft, with a 8 ft from R-O-W, 20 ft from other party line setback (Sec. Appendix A: Signs, Table 1137.98(A)(1)). Most commercial signs in Urbana require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (5 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Overlay Districts | 1 | 42 inches | 6 sq ft | — |
| Planned Unit Developments (PUD) | 1 | — | — | — |
| Corridor Overlay District | 1 | 42 inches | 6 sq ft | — |
| City Center Heritage Overlay District | 1 | 42 inches | 6 sq ft | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 6 | 15 ft | 100 sq ft | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 5 zones)

### Overlay Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Sandwich Board Sign | 42 inches | 6 sq ft | — | — | One per business | No further than 10 feet from the front door or attached patio area | — | 1137.11(b) |

### Corridor Overlay District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Sandwich Board Sign | 42 inches | 6 sq ft | — | — | One per business | No further than 10 feet from the front door or attached patio area | — | 1137.11(b) |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Permanent Freestanding Sign | 15 ft | 100 sq ft | — | 8 ft from R-O-W, 20 ft from other party line | One per lot | Minimum setback of 8 ft from R-O-W and 20 ft from other party line | — | Appendix A: Signs, Table 1137.98(A)(1) |
| Ground Sign | 10 ft | 90 sq ft | — | 8 ft from R-O-W, 20 ft from other party line | One per lot | Minimum setback of 8 ft from R-O-W and 20 ft from other party line | — | Appendix A: Signs, Table 1137.98(A)(1) |
| Wall Sign | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Appendix A: Signs, Table 1137.98(A)(1) |
| Window Sign | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Appendix A: Signs, Table 1137.98(A)(1) |
| Temporary Sign | 6 ft | 32 sq ft per face | — | 8 ft from R-O-W, 20 ft from other party line | One per event | Minimum setback of 8 ft from R-O-W and 20 ft from other party line | — | Appendix A: Signs, Table 1137.98(A)(1) |
| Banner | 6 ft | 60 sq ft | — | 8 ft from R-O-W, 20 ft from other party line | One per event | Minimum setback of 8 ft from R-O-W and 20 ft from other party line | — | Appendix A: Signs, Table 1137.98(A)(1) |

## Prohibited signs in Urbana

- Any sign not expressly permitted by this chapter shall be prohibited.
- Abandoned signs; banners, pennants, festoons, streamers, spinners; searchlights; signs imitating or resembling official traffic or government signs/signals; snipe signs are prohibited.
- Signs attached to trees, telephone poles, public benches, streetlights or placed on any public property or public right of way are prohibited.
- Signs placed on vehicles or trailers which are parked or located for the primary purpose of displaying such sign are prohibited.
- Off premise signs or billboards are prohibited.

## Signs exempt from permit in Urbana

- Permanent signs used by civic organizations, places of worship, schools, and universities.
- Construction signs (as permitted by zones).
- Holiday decorations.
- Nameplates of one square foot or less.
- Political signs.
- Public signs or notices, or any sign relating to an emergency.
- Real estate signs (as permitted by zones).
- Window signs (as permitted by zones).

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A Master Signage Plan shall be required for the development of any single-use building on individual lots which requires more than one sign permit.
- A comprehensive signage plan shall be required for any development which proposes more than one building, multiple tenant buildings, and/or the proposed subdivision and sale of outlots.
- A sign permit will not be issued for any sign that is part of a master or comprehensive signage plan until such plan is approved by Planning Commission.

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

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