# Sign Regulations in Willowick, Ohio

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Willowick, Ohio (OH)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/ohio/willowick
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-11
- **Source:** [amlegal municipal code](https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/willowick/latest/willowick_oh/0-0-0-27861)

## At a glance

Willowick, Ohio regulates 22 sign types across 5 zoning districts. Ground Signs in the Apartment District, Retail District zoning district are capped at 6 feet tall, 40 square feet, and 12 feet wide, with a Minimum setback of 10 feet from the edge of the public right-of-way setback (Sec. 1349.08(b)(3)). Most commercial signs in Willowick require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (5 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Mixed Use District | 4 | 6 feet | 40 square feet | — |
| Single-family District, Multi-family District | 5 | 6 feet | 50 square feet per street frontage | — |
| Apartment District, Retail District | 10 | 6 feet | 40 square feet | — |
| Industrial District | 8 | 25 feet | 40 square feet | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 4 | — | — | — |

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

### Single-family District, Multi-family District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Nameplate | — | 2 square feet | — | Not less than 10 feet from any lot line | One per dwelling | Not less than 10 feet from any lot line | — | 1349.07(a) |
| Bulletin Board | — | — | — | — | One | On the premises of a public or semipublic institution | — | 1349.07(b) |
| Real Estate Sign - For Sale or To Rent | 6 feet | 7 square feet per face | — | — | One per dwelling or lot | On the premises | — | 1349.07(c)(1) |
| Subdivision Development Sign | — | 50 square feet per street frontage | — | Not less than 50 feet from any occupied residence | One per street frontage | Not less than 50 feet from any occupied residence | — | 1349.07(c)(2) |
| Development Sign | 5 feet | 25 square feet | — | — | One per development | On the premises | — | 1349.07(c)(3) |

### Apartment District, Retail District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Nameplate | — | 2 square feet | — | — | — | On the same lot as the profession or service | — | 1349.08(a)(2) |
| Bulletin Board | — | — | — | — | — | On the same lot as the profession or service | — | 1349.08(a)(1) |
| Business Sign | — | — | — | — | — | On the same lot as the business or service | — | 1349.08(a)(3) |
| Real Estate and Development Sign | — | — | — | — | — | On the same lot on which the real estate business is conducted | — | 1349.08(a)(4) |
| Directional Sign | — | 4 square feet | — | — | — | On any lot in a retail district | — | 1349.08(a)(5) |
| Projecting Sign | — | — | — | Not less than 5 feet from a side lot line or party wall | One per establishment or store unit | Projecting from a building | — | 1349.08(b)(2) |
| Ground Sign | 6 feet | 40 square feet | 12 feet | Minimum setback of 10 feet from the edge of the public right-of-way | One per owned lot | On the same lot as the real estate, business, service or other use | — | 1349.08(b)(3) |
| Temporary Sign | — | 40 square feet | — | — | — | On the same lot as the real estate, business, service or other use | — | 1349.08(b)(4) |

### Industrial District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Real Estate and Development Sign | — | — | — | — | — | On the same lot as the establishment or use | — | 1349.09(a)(1) |
| Directional Sign | — | — | — | — | — | In the industrial district | — | 1349.09(a)(2) |
| Industrial Sign | — | — | — | — | — | On the same lot as the establishment or use | — | 1349.09(a)(3) |
| Flat or Wall Sign | — | — | — | — | — | In the industrial district | — | 1349.09(b)(1) |
| Projecting Sign | — | — | — | — | — | In the industrial district | — | 1349.09(b)(1) |
| Pole Sign | 25 feet | 40 square feet | — | — | — | On the same lot as the building or use | — | 1349.09(b)(3) |
| Ground Sign | — | 40 square feet | — | Not less than 25 feet from the right-of-way line | One per establishment | On the same lot as the building or use | — | 1349.09(b)(2) |
| Temporary Sign | — | — | — | — | — | On the same lot as the building or use | — | 1349.09(b)(4) |

## Prohibited signs in Willowick

- No person shall place, maintain, or display upon or in view of any highway any unauthorized sign, signal, marking, or device which purports to be, is an imitation of, or resembles a traffic-control device or railroad sign or signal.
- No person shall place or maintain, nor shall any public authority permit, upon any highway any traffic sign or signal bearing thereon any commercial advertising.
- It shall be unlawful for any person to display upon any sign or other advertising structure any obscene, indecent or immoral matter.
- No person, firm or corporation shall place on or suspend from any building or other structure or on the real estate any advertising object or structure other than a sign as defined, regulated and prescribed by this chapter.
- No person, firm or corporation which owns, leases, operates or manages any real property within the City shall erect, construct or maintain or permit to be erected, constructed, or maintained, any sign in violation of the provisions of this chapter.

## Signs exempt from permit in Willowick

- The display of official public notices, the flag, emblem or insignia of a political unit shall not be governed by the provisions of these regulations.
- Christmas display lighting shall not be restricted by the foregoing regulations.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- The Planning Commission may grant a conditional use permit for the erection of roof signs as provided for in this chapter.
- Application for permits to erect, place, paint or alter a sign shall be made by the owner or lessee of the property upon which a sign is proposed and submitted on forms required by the Building Inspector.

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

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