# Sign Regulations in West Chester Township, Ohio

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

- **Jurisdiction:** West Chester Township, Ohio (OH)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/ohio/west-chester-township
- **Data last verified:** 2025-11-05
- **Source:** [other municipal code](https://www.westchesteroh.org/home/showpublisheddocument/14967/638830014244270000)

## At a glance

West Chester Township, Ohio regulates 22 sign types across 8 zoning districts. Freestanding Signs in the Office District (O) zoning district are capped at 10 ft tall and 0.5 sq. ft. per lineal foot of lot frontage or 80 sq. ft., whichever is less, with a 10 ft from all rights-of-way; 15 ft from side property lines; 50 ft from another freestanding sign setback (Sec. Section 9.07.C, table (O, B-1, B-2, CBD, M, and Special Use Districts); Section 9.07.C.1.a–b; Section 9.07.C.3.a–b). Most commercial signs in West Chester Township require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (8 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 3 | — | Counts toward permitted display area of the host sign | — |
| Agricultural District (A-1) | 5 | 10 ft (6 ft for properties under construction) | 32 sq. ft. (36 sq. ft. for properties under construction) | — |
| Suburban Residence District (R-1, R-1A), Single-Family Residence District (R-2), Residential Planned Unit Development (R-PUD - Single Family) | 3 | 6 ft | 20 sq. ft. (per sign) | — |
| Transitional Residence District (R-3), Multiple-Family District (R-4), Residential Planned Unit Development (R-PUD - Multi-Family) | 4 | 6 ft | 20 sq. ft. | — |
| Office District (O) | 7 | 16 ft | 120 sq. ft. | — |
| Neighborhood Business District (B-1), General Business District (B-2), Central Business District (CBD), Commercial Planned Unit Development (C-PUD) | 11 | 16 ft | 120 sq. ft. | — |
| Industrial District (M), Industrial Planned Unit Development (I-PUD) | 7 | 16 ft | 120 sq. ft. | — |
| Special Purpose Planned Unit Development (SP-PUD) | 10 | 16 ft | 120 sq. ft. | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 8 zones)

### Office District (O)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | — | Equal to 1 sq. ft. per 1 ft of building frontage | — | — | — | On building wall(s) with building frontage or, by allocation, on walls without frontage provided total area does not exceed allowed maximum | — | Section 9.07.B, table (O, B-1, B-2, CBD, M, and Special Use Districts); Section 9.07.B.1; Section 9.07.B.3.a–c |
| Freestanding Sign | 10 ft | 0.5 sq. ft. per lineal foot of lot frontage or 80 sq. ft., whichever is less | — | 10 ft from all rights-of-way; 15 ft from side property lines; 50 ft from another freestanding sign | 1 per lot frontage | Outside corner visibility triangle; outside rights-of-way | — | Section 9.07.C, table (O, B-1, B-2, CBD, M, and Special Use Districts); Section 9.07.C.1.a–b; Section 9.07.C.3.a–b |
| Multi-Tenant Development Sign | 16 ft | 120 sq. ft. | — | 10 ft from rights-of-way; 15 ft from side property lines; 50 ft from another freestanding sign | 1 | Outside rights-of-way; subject to freestanding sign setbacks | — | Section 9.07.D (Table 9.07-4 and items 1–5) |
| Directional Signs | 4 ft | 6 sq. ft. | — | 10 ft from all property lines | N/A | On-site only; minimum setback from all property lines | — | Section 9.07.F (Directional Signs table) |
| Window Signs | — | 20% of window area or 100 sq. ft., whichever is less | — | — | N/A | Affixed to interior or exterior window surface; if interior, regulated only when content faces outward | — | Section 9.07.H (Table 9.07-8 and items 1–5) |
| Murals | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Section 9.07.J |
| Temporary Signs (Non-Residential) | 10 ft (6 ft for properties under construction) | 32 sq. ft. (36 sq. ft. for properties under construction) | — | 10 ft from right-of-way and all property lines | 2 per lot at one time | Minimum 10 ft from right-of-way and all property lines; if placed on a sidewalk (A-Frame), maintain minimum 4-ft pedestrian clearance | — | Section 9.07.K.2 (Permits; Non-Residential); Section 9.07.K.2 (Duration); Section 9.07.K.f (Installation Requirements); Section 9.07.K.g (Setbacks) |

### Neighborhood Business District (B-1), General Business District (B-2), Central Business District (CBD), Commercial Planned Unit Development (C-PUD)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign | 10 ft | 0.5 sq. ft. per lineal foot of lot frontage or 80 sq. ft., whichever is less | — | 10 ft from all rights-of-way; 15 ft from side property lines; 50 ft from another freestanding sign | 1 per lot frontage | Outside corner visibility triangle; outside rights-of-way | — | Section 9.07.C, table (O, B-1, B-2, CBD, M, and Special Use Districts); Section 9.07.C.1.a–b; Section 9.07.C.3.a–b |
| Multi-Tenant Development Sign | 16 ft | 120 sq. ft. | — | 10 ft from rights-of-way; 15 ft from side property lines; 50 ft from another freestanding sign | 1 | Outside rights-of-way; subject to freestanding sign setbacks | — | Section 9.07.D (Table 9.07-4 and items 1–5) |
| Signs for Drive-Through Uses – Menu/Order Boards | 8 ft | 48 sq. ft. (per sign) | — | 10 ft from all rights-of-way; 15 ft from side property lines; 50 ft from another freestanding sign | 2 per drive-through lane | Adjacent to drive-through lanes | — | Section 9.07.E, table and items 1–2 |
| Signs for Pick-Up Windows | 8 ft | 48 sq. ft. (per sign) | — | 10 ft from all rights-of-way; 15 ft from side property lines; 50 ft from another freestanding sign | 1 per pick-up lane | Adjacent to pick-up lanes | — | Section 9.07.E, table and item 3 |
| Directional Signs | 4 ft | 6 sq. ft. | — | 10 ft from all property lines | N/A | On-site only; minimum setback from all property lines | — | Section 9.07.F (Directional Signs table) |
| Projecting Signs | — | 9 sq. ft. | — | 10 ft from all property lines | 1 per use | Attached to building wall or canopy; projects approximately 90 degrees from wall/canopy; minimum 10 ft setback from all property lines | — | Section 9.07.G (table and items 1–3) |
| Window Signs | — | 20% of window area or 100 sq. ft., whichever is less | — | — | N/A | Affixed to interior or exterior window surface; if interior, regulated only when content faces outward | — | Section 9.07.H (Table 9.07-8 and items 1–5) |
| Temporary Signs (Non-Residential) | 10 ft (6 ft for properties under construction) | 32 sq. ft. (36 sq. ft. for properties under construction) | — | 10 ft from right-of-way and all property lines | 2 per lot at one time | Minimum 10 ft from right-of-way and all property lines; if placed on a sidewalk (A-Frame), maintain minimum 4-ft pedestrian clearance | — | Section 9.07.K.2 (Permits; Non-Residential); Section 9.07.K.2 (Duration); Section 9.07.K.f (Installation Requirements); Section 9.07.K.g (Setbacks) |

### Special Purpose Planned Unit Development (SP-PUD)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | — | Equal to 1 sq. ft. per 1 ft of building frontage | — | — | — | On building wall(s) with building frontage or, by allocation, on walls without frontage provided total area does not exceed allowed maximum | — | Section 9.07.B, table (O, B-1, B-2, CBD, M, and Special Use Districts); Section 9.07.B.1; Section 9.07.B.3.a–c |
| Freestanding Sign | 10 ft | 0.5 sq. ft. per lineal foot of lot frontage or 80 sq. ft., whichever is less | — | 10 ft from all rights-of-way; 15 ft from side property lines; 50 ft from another freestanding sign | 1 per lot frontage | Outside corner visibility triangle; outside rights-of-way | — | Section 9.07.C, table (O, B-1, B-2, CBD, M, and Special Use Districts); Section 9.07.C.1.a–b; Section 9.07.C.3.a–b |
| Multi-Tenant Development Sign | 16 ft | 120 sq. ft. | — | 10 ft from rights-of-way; 15 ft from side property lines; 50 ft from another freestanding sign | 1 | Outside rights-of-way; subject to freestanding sign setbacks | — | Section 9.07.D (Table 9.07-4 and items 1–5) |
| Signs for Drive-Through Uses – Menu/Order Boards | 8 ft | 48 sq. ft. (per sign) | — | 10 ft from all rights-of-way; 15 ft from side property lines; 50 ft from another freestanding sign | 2 per drive-through lane | Adjacent to drive-through lanes | — | Section 9.07.E, table and items 1–2 |
| Signs for Pick-Up Windows | 8 ft | 48 sq. ft. (per sign) | — | 10 ft from all rights-of-way; 15 ft from side property lines; 50 ft from another freestanding sign | 1 per pick-up lane | Adjacent to pick-up lanes | — | Section 9.07.E, table and item 3 |
| Directional Signs | 4 ft | 6 sq. ft. | — | 10 ft from all property lines | N/A | On-site only; minimum setback from all property lines | — | Section 9.07.F (Directional Signs table) |
| Window Signs | — | 20% of window area or 100 sq. ft., whichever is less | — | — | N/A | Affixed to interior or exterior window surface; if interior, regulated only when content faces outward | — | Section 9.07.H (Table 9.07-8 and items 1–5) |
| Temporary Signs (Non-Residential) | 10 ft (6 ft for properties under construction) | 32 sq. ft. (36 sq. ft. for properties under construction) | — | 10 ft from right-of-way and all property lines | 2 per lot at one time | Minimum 10 ft from right-of-way and all property lines; if placed on a sidewalk (A-Frame), maintain minimum 4-ft pedestrian clearance | — | Section 9.07.K.2 (Permits; Non-Residential); Section 9.07.K.2 (Duration); Section 9.07.K.f (Installation Requirements); Section 9.07.K.g (Setbacks) |

## Prohibited signs in West Chester Township

- Promotional balloons filled with helium, gas, air, or any other gaseous material, whether suspended from or affixed to a structure, vehicle, or the ground
- Pole signs and pylon signs
- Roof signs; signs shall not be located upon or mounted to the roof of a structure or extend above the roof of the structure to which the sign is mounted
- Billboards, except as permitted by the Ohio Revised Code
- Signs within the right-of-way, unless exempted per Section 9.03.C
- Signs applied to trees, utility poles, fences, supporting structures for street signs or other governmental signs, bus shelters, benches, trash receptacles, newspaper vending machines or boxes, or any other portable or temporary supporting device
- No sign may be erected in a manner that obstructs free and clear vision to any public thoroughfare or traffic flow along a designated parking lot aisleway

## Signs exempt from permit in West Chester Township

- Governmental signs for identification, control of traffic and other regulatory purposes; street signs; warning signs; railroad crossing signs; and signs of public utility companies for identification or public safety
- Flags, emblems, insignia, and signs of any governmental agency or political subdivision
- Signs within a stadium, theater, building, arena, or other structure that are viewable only by persons within that structure
- Signs not visible from the public right-of-way, as determined by the Community Development Director
- Message or copy changes and repositioning of existing panels on permitted signs using manual message boards, electronic changeable copy, menu boards, bulletin boards, marquees, or similar signage types do not require a Zoning Certificate
- Temporary signs do not require a zoning certificate

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A Zoning Certificate is required before most signs are located, erected, constructed, reconstructed, enlarged, structurally modified, or used, unless specifically exempted
- Reader boards and electronic message boards require approval of a Conditional Use Permit
- Manual or electronic changeable copy on freestanding signs requires approval of a Conditional Use Permit
- Manual or electronic changeable copy on multi-tenant development signs requires approval of a Conditional Use Permit
- Murals require a public hearing and approval by the Board of Zoning Appeals
- Nonconforming signs must be issued a Legal Nonconforming Structure Certificate; relocation, replacement, or alteration in size or structure (except toward compliance) terminates nonconforming status

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

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