# Sign Regulations in Ada, Oklahoma

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Ada, Oklahoma (OK)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/oklahoma/ada
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-07
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/OK/Ada/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=PTIICOOR_CH58PLZODE_ARTVADSI)

## At a glance

Ada, Oklahoma regulates 12 sign types across 3 zoning districts. Home Business Signs in the A-1 General Agricultural District, A-2 Suburban District, R-1 One-Family District, R-2 Two-Family District, R-3-L Low Density Multiple-Family District, R-3 Multiple-Family District, C-1-R Restricted Neighborhood Commercial District, C-O Office Commercial District, C-1 Neighborhood Commercial District, C-2 General Commercial District, I-1 Restricted Light Industrial District, I-2 Light Industrial District, I-3 Heavy Industrial District, PUD Planned Unit Development, AD-1, Arts District-1 District, AD-T, Overlay Arts District Transitional District, AD-R, Arts District Residential District zoning district are capped at 6 feet above ground level (attachment) tall and 2 square feet (Sec. Sec. 58-641(9), 58-648). Most commercial signs in Ada require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (3 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| A-1 General Agricultural District, A-2 Suburban District, R-1 One-Family District, R-2 Two-Family District, R-3-L Low Density Multiple-Family District, R-3 Multiple-Family District, C-1-R Restricted Neighborhood Commercial District, C-O Office Commercial District, C-1 Neighborhood Commercial District, C-2 General Commercial District, I-1 Restricted Light Industrial District, I-2 Light Industrial District, I-3 Heavy Industrial District, PUD Planned Unit Development, AD-1, Arts District-1 District, AD-T, Overlay Arts District Transitional District, AD-R, Arts District Residential District | 10 | 40 feet above street or adjoining ground level | 750 square feet (per sign, unless special permission from inspection department) | — |
| Airport Zones (Approach, Transitional, Horizontal, and Conical Zones) | 1 | Height restrictions by zone: in approach zones: e.g. for runway 36, 34:1 slope outward for each foot upward; for runway 18, 50:1 slope to elevation 150 ft above airport elevation etc., see citation. | — | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 1 | — | — | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements

### A-1 General Agricultural District, A-2 Suburban District, R-1 One-Family District, R-2 Two-Family District, R-3-L Low Density Multiple-Family District, R-3 Multiple-Family District, C-1-R Restricted Neighborhood Commercial District, C-O Office Commercial District, C-1 Neighborhood Commercial District, C-2 General Commercial District, I-1 Restricted Light Industrial District, I-2 Light Industrial District, I-3 Heavy Industrial District, PUD Planned Unit Development, AD-1, Arts District-1 District, AD-T, Overlay Arts District Transitional District, AD-R, Arts District Residential District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | — | 750 square feet (per sign, unless special permission from inspection department) | — | — | — | Must not cover any wall opening; must not project beyond the ends or top of the wall to which attached; cannot extend more than 15 inches beyond the building line; not attached at less than 8 feet above sidewalk or ground; not above roof. | — | Sec. 58-633, 58-663, 58-664, 58-665, 58-635, 58-639, 58-637 |
| Ground Sign | 40 feet above street or adjoining ground level | — | — | Front setback: minimum 8 feet from front property line (in C-1, C-2, I-1, I-2, I-3, possible modification to 25 feet upon approval) | — | Front yard setback minimum 8 feet from front property line. Side and rear setbacks for accessory structures of the district must be observed. | — | Sec. 58-633, 58-649, 58-650 |
| Projecting Sign (Horizontal/Vertical) | — | Horizontal: 50 sq ft/side; Vertical: 100 sq ft/side | — | — | — | Must be >10 feet above sidewalk (or 15 feet above alleys/driveways), max 2 feet from wall, cannot extend nearer curbline than 2 feet; horizontal projecting sign must be wider than tall. | — | Sec. 58-654, 58-655 |
| Roof Sign | No more than 20 ft above roof | 750 square feet (unless special permission) | — | — | — | Must not prevent free passage on roof or interfere with roof openings. If illuminated and >60 sq ft, must have 5 ft separation from outer roof wall, and 5 ft vertical clearance below. | — | Sec. 58-657, 58-658 |
| Temporary Sign | — | 100 square feet max; no dimension to exceed 4 feet unless made of rigid material, signs over 60 sq ft must be rigid. | 4 feet (unless made of rigid material for >60 sq ft signs) | — | — | May not extend more than 4 inches from wall and cannot project over any wall opening. | — | Sec. 58-660, 58-661, 58-662 |
| Home Business Sign | 6 feet above ground level (attachment) | 2 square feet | — | — | One per business | Attached to main or accessory building | — | Sec. 58-641(9), 58-648 |
| Bulletin Board (Religious/Charitable/Institutional) | 12 feet (if 24 sq ft per sec. 58-641(4)) | 12 square feet (R-1 district, per sec. 58-182(7)); 3x4 ft (12 ft²) or up to 24 ft² if not exceeding 12 ft height (per exempt signs sec. 58-641(4)); 40 sq ft (A-2 per sec. 58-157(8)) | — | — | — | Installed on property of the institution served | — | Sec. 58-641(4), 58-182(7), 58-157(8) |
| Marquee Sign | No lower than 9 ft above sidewalk/public thoroughfare | Not specified; sign not to exceed 5 feet height exclusive of name; sign may extend entrance width +5 ft on each side. | No wider than entrance or entrances plus 5 ft each side | — | — | On marquee, complying with placement rules; may not extend beyond 10 inches past edge. | — | Sec. 58-653, 58-651, 58-652 |

### Airport Zones (Approach, Transitional, Horizontal, and Conical Zones)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| All Signs (subject to airport height and visibility restrictions) | Height restrictions by zone: in approach zones: e.g. for runway 36, 34:1 slope outward for each foot upward; for runway 18, 50:1 slope to elevation 150 ft above airport elevation etc., see citation. | — | — | — | — | Permitted only if not in violation of height restrictions by airport zone. No structure (including signs) may exceed airport zone height limitations; applies to ground/structure elevation versus sign height above ground. | — | Secs. 58-901 to 58-913, esp. 58-902, 58-903, 58-904, 58-906 |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Off-Premise Sign (Billboard, General Outdoor Advertising Device) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Sec. 58-666 |

## Prohibited signs in Ada

- No person shall engage in the alteration, construction, enlargement, removal, relocation or repair of any sign or other advertising structure without first obtaining the necessary permits from the inspection department.
- No person shall erect, relocate or maintain a sign which prevents free ingress to or egress from any door, window or fire escape.
- No person shall attach any sign to a standpipe or fire escape.
- No person shall erect any sign or other advertising structure at the intersection of any streets in such a manner as to obstruct free and clear vision; or at any location where by reason of its position, shape or color, it may interfere with, obstruct the view of or be confused with any authorized traffic sign, signal or device; or which makes use of the words 'stop,' 'look,' 'drive-in,' 'danger,' or any other word, phrase, symbol or character in such manner as to interfere with, mislead or confuse traffic.
- No person shall locate any sign in the sight triangle as set forth in the article III of this chapter.
- It is unlawful for any person to maintain any sign which extends over public property which is wholly or partially illuminated by more than 30 footcandles per square foot.
- Any sign now or hereafter existing which for a period of more than a year no longer advertises a bona fide business conducted, or a product sold, shall be taken down and removed by the owner, agent or person having the beneficial use of the building or structure upon which such sign may be found within ten days after written notification from the inspection department.
- All signs and other advertising structures shall be designed and constructed to withstand a wind pressure of not less than 30 pounds per square foot of area and shall be constructed to receive dead loads as required.
- No advertising shall be placed on any awning or canopy, except the name of the owner and business, industry or pursuit conducted within the premises, and only in a space not exceeding eight inches in height on the front and side portions thereof.
- V-shaped signs consisting of two single faced signs erected without a roof or ceiling are not permitted.
- No wall sign shall cover wholly or partially any wall opening, nor project beyond the ends or top of the wall to which it is attached, and any one wall sign shall not exceed an area of 750 square feet, except with special permission of the inspection department.
- No wall sign shall be permitted to extend more than 15 inches beyond the building line and shall not be attached to a wall at a height of less than eight feet above the sidewalk or ground.
- Off-premise signs (including billboards or general outdoor advertising devices, as defined) are prohibited except for certain legal nonconforming signs as specified.
- No sign shall be erected, relocated or maintained so as to prevent free ingress to or egress from any door, window, or fire escape.
- No signs shall be installed in such a manner as to create a traffic hazard or obstruct sight lines at elevations between two feet and seven feet above the crown of the adjacent roadway.

## Signs exempt from permit in Ada

- Real estate signs not exceeding six square feet in area which advertise the sale, rental or lease of the premises upon which the signs are located and will be removed as soon as premises are leased, hired or sold.
- Professional nameplates, not exceeding two square feet in area.
- Signs painted on the exterior surface of a building or structure; provided, however, should those signs have raised borders, letters, characters, decorations or lighting appliances, they shall be subject to the provisions of this article.
- Bulletin boards of an area not exceeding three feet by four feet installed on the property of or servicing any public charitable or religious institution; these are exempt from the payment of a fee if the bulletin board complies with all other provisions. In no event shall such other signs exceed a height of 12 feet or a total area of 24 square feet.
- Signs denoting the architect, engineer or contractor when placed upon work under construction and not exceeding 16 square feet in area.
- Occupational signs denoting only the name and profession of an occupant in a commercial building, public institutional building or dwelling house and not exceeding two square feet in area.
- Memorial signs or tablets, names of buildings and date of erection when put into any masonry surface or when constructed of bronze or other noncombustible materials.
- Traffic or other municipal signs, legal notices, railroad crossing signs, danger and such temporary, emergency or nonadvertising signs as may be approved by the city council.
- Home business signs.
- Rental signs for apartment complexes which do not exceed 40 square feet.
- Temporary bulletin boards or signs not exceeding 20 feet in height and 30 feet in length which are installed solely for the purpose of advertising any subdivision and which will not be for lease or hire. Such bulletin boards and signs shall be removed immediately upon completion of the sale of the sites in the particular subdivision or when it is determined that such sign is not maintained in satisfactory condition.
- The sign review committee may consider and approve exemptions from this article upon request of the inspection department, the applicant, or as it deems advisable.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A permit is required for the alteration, construction, enlargement, removal, relocation or repair of any sign or advertising structure (Sec. 58-633).
- Applications for sign permits may be reviewed and approved by the sign review committee (Sec. 58-634).
- An appeal from the decision of the sign review committee may be made to the city council, and from there to district court (Sec. 58-634).
- Ground sign setback modifications in certain commercial and industrial districts can be granted upon written request of the property owner and approval by three-fourths vote of the planning and zoning commission (Sec. 58-650(d)).
- A permit is required before any construction of a sign or additions or alterations to an existing sign (Sec. 58-633).

## Full detail

Complete sign requirements for Ada, including every field PermitPal tracks for each sign type, are available with a free PermitPal account: https://app.permitpal.io/?address=Ada+OK&override=true&utm_source=landing&utm_medium=city-page&utm_campaign=city-ada

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