# Sign Regulations in Yellow Springs, Ohio

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Yellow Springs, Ohio (OH)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/ohio/yellow-springs
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-11
- **Source:** [amlegal municipal code](https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/yellowsprings/latest/yellowsprings_oh/0-0-0-5546)

## At a glance

Yellow Springs, Ohio regulates 12 sign types across 9 zoning districts. Ground/Free-Standing Signs in the B-1 zoning district are capped at 6 feet tall and 32 square feet (Sec. 1266.03(a) Type A).

## Sign rules by zoning district (9 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 3 | 10 feet | 32 square feet | — |
| B-1 | 5 | 6 feet | 48 square feet | — |
| B-2 | 5 | 6 feet | 48 square feet | — |
| Residential District (R-A, R-B, R-C) | 5 | 8 feet | 48 square feet | — |
| E-1 | 3 | 6 feet | 64 square feet | — |
| I-1 | 4 | 6 feet | 64 square feet | — |
| I-2 | 3 | 6 feet | 64 square feet | — |
| Conservation | 2 | 6 feet | 12 square feet | — |
| C | 2 | 6 feet | 12 square feet | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 9 zones)

### B-1

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Ground/Free-Standing Sign | 6 feet | 32 square feet | — | — | One per street frontage | Minimum 10 feet from front lot line and minimum 10 feet from all other lot lines | — | 1266.03(a) Type A |
| Wall Sign | — | 25 square feet | — | — | One per street frontage | Mounted flat against the wall | — | 1266.03(b) Type B |
| Awning/Canopy/Projecting Sign | — | 8 square feet | — | — | One per business | Projecting out from building wall not more than three feet | — | 1266.03(g) Type G |
| Marquee Sign | — | 48 square feet | — | — | One per business | Projecting out from building wall not more than six feet | — | 1266.03(h) Type H |
| Window Sign | — | 25 percent coverage of the window | — | — | — | Within the window | — | 1266.03(i) Type I |

### B-2

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Ground/Free-Standing Sign | 6 feet | 32 square feet | — | — | One per street frontage | Minimum 10 feet from front lot line and minimum 10 feet from all other lot lines | — | 1266.03(a) Type A |
| Wall Sign | — | 25 square feet | — | — | One per street frontage | Mounted flat against the wall | — | 1266.03(b) Type B |
| Gateway Sign | 6 feet | 24 square feet | — | — | One per street frontage | Minimum 15 feet from all lot lines | — | 1266.03(c) Type C |
| Business Center Sign | 6 feet | 48 square feet | — | — | One per property | Minimum ten feet from front lot line, minimum 25 feet from all other property lines | — | 1266.03(f) Type F |
| Window Sign | — | 25 percent coverage of the window | — | — | — | Within the window | — | 1266.03(i) Type I |

### Residential District (R-A, R-B, R-C)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Ground/Free-Standing Sign | 6 feet | 24 square feet | — | — | One per street frontage | Minimum 10 feet from front lot line and minimum 10 feet from all other lot lines | — | 1266.03(a) Type A |
| Wall Sign | — | 12 square feet | — | — | One per street frontage | Mounted flat against the wall | — | 1266.03(b) Type B |
| Gateway Sign | 6 feet | 24 square feet | — | — | One per street frontage | Minimum 15 feet from all lot lines | — | 1266.03(c) Type C |
| Development Sign | 8 feet | 48 square feet | — | — | One non-illuminated | Minimum ten feet from all property lines | — | 1266.03(d) Type D |
| Home Occupation Sign | — | 2 square feet | — | — | One non-illuminated | If a ground sign is utilized it must be setback from the front lot line a minimum of ten feet | — | 1266.03(e) Type E |

## Prohibited signs in Yellow Springs

- Signs shall not be placed in, upon or over any public right-of-way, alley, or other place, except as may be otherwise permitted by the Village Manager or Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT).
- A light pole, utility pole, tree, fence or other supporting member shall not be used for the placement of any sign, except as may be specifically permitted by this chapter.
- A sign shall not be erected in any location where it may interfere with, obstruct the view of, or be confused with any authorized traffic sign, signal, or device, or constitute a nuisance per se.
- No sign shall be placed in a manner as to obstruct any fire escape, any required exit, door or window or any ventilation system or other operational necessities of a building.
- A sign attached to a building shall not be placed in any location that would cause significant architectural features of a building to be covered, hidden or obscured.
- A wall sign shall not extend past the edge of the wall to which it is affixed and no wall sign shall extend above the roof line of a building.
- A sign and its supporting mechanism shall not extend beyond any lot lines of the property on which it is located.
- All signs shall be stationary and shall pertain only to the business or activity conducted on the premises, except for permitted community special event signs.
- Any vehicle which, in the opinion of the Zoning Administrator, has the intended function of serving as a sign shall conform to the provisions of Section 1266.04(f).
- Signs not specifically allowed under this chapter, unless exempt per Section 1266.05, are prohibited in the Village.
- Balloons, balloon signs, strings of light bulbs, pennants, streamers, banners or flags, except banners or flags specifically permitted by the Village Manager related to permitted events, are prohibited.
- Any sign, including window signs, employing flashing, moving or oscillating lights, excluding time-temperature signs, is prohibited.
- Internally illuminated signs, with the exception of permitted internally illuminated signs that comply with the applicable regulations, are prohibited.
- Roof signs are prohibited.
- Pole signs are prohibited.
- Off-premises signs, except for community special event signs, are prohibited.
- Billboard signs are prohibited.
- Portable trailer signs are prohibited.
- The use of vehicles, trailers or similar movable structures as signs is prohibited when the vehicle, trailer or similar movable structure is parked on public or private property within 50 feet of any property line abutting a public street, except for specific exceptions.

## Signs exempt from permit in Yellow Springs

- Address signs with numeral height no greater than six inches for residences and 18 inches for businesses and other nonresidential uses.
- Barber poles meeting specific height and placement requirements.
- Bulletin boards not over 20 square feet in area for public, charitable, or religious institutions.
- Device signs on gas pumps or ice containers indicating only the contents, not exceeding three square feet in area.
- Directional signs used to direct traffic entering or leaving business establishments or shopping centers, not exceeding two square feet in area and three feet in height.
- Employment signs soliciting employees for the place of business where posted, with a maximum area of six square feet.
- Flags or insignia of any nation, state, local government, community organization or educational institution.
- Garage and estate sale signs announcing the sale of household goods, with specific size and placement restrictions.
- Historic markers including plaques or signs describing a property's designation as a historical site or structure.
- Incidental signs indicating acceptance of credit cards, the location of restrooms, restrictions on smoking and building entrances.
- Interior signs located completely within an enclosed building and not visible from outside.
- Memorial signs or tablets not exceeding two square feet in area.
- Murals not containing any logos, product or service representations, with specific conditions.
- Nameplates identifying the occupants of the building and/or their profession, not exceeding two square feet in area.
- Political signs dealing with candidates or issues appearing on a ballot, with specific placement and timing restrictions.
- Real estate signs advertising the real estate upon which the sign is located as being for sale, rent or lease, with specific size and placement restrictions.
- Real estate open house signs with specific size, placement, and timing restrictions.
- Religious symbols incorporated into the architecture on places of worship or structures owned and operated by religious organizations.
- Residential contractor signs identifying the contractor performing major home repairs or remodeling, with specific size and timing restrictions.
- Scoreboards used in conjunction with a legally established sports field, not exceeding specific height and area limits.
- Signs on vehicles while operated and used for transport in the normal course of a business.
- Traffic control signs conforming to the requirements of the Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices.
- Warning signs such as no trespassing, warning of electrical currents or animals, not exceeding two square feet in area.
- Temporary window signs not obscuring more than 25% of the window area.

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

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