# Sign Regulations in El Reno, Oklahoma

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

- **Jurisdiction:** El Reno, Oklahoma (OK)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/oklahoma/el-reno
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-21
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/14795187#14795187)

## At a glance

El Reno, Oklahoma regulates 34 sign types across 7 zoning districts. Special Event Signs in the General Regulations For All Zones zoning district are capped at 7 ft tall and 32 sq ft per sign face (Sec. § 361-23D(5)(a)).

## Sign rules by zoning district (7 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 14 | 7 ft | 80% of window/glass area | — |
| Agricultural zoning districts (A-1, A-2) | 8 | 15 ft | 500 sq ft | — |
| Residential zoning districts (R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4) | 8 | 15 ft | 80 sq ft | — |
| Commercial Office Zoning District (CO) | 5 | 20 ft or height of principal building, whichever is lower | 80 sq ft | — |
| Commercial zoning districts (CC, CR, CAR, CSC, CBD) | 7 | Max structure height allowed by zoning district (CBD: 35 ft or height of principal building, whichever higher) | 80 sq ft (aggregate for all off-premises ads on lot) | — |
| I-40 Sign Overlay District (commercial and industrial zones within overlay) | 1 | 70 ft | 600 sq ft per sign face | — |
| Industrial Zoning Districts (I-1, I-2) | 5 | 40 ft (two stacked faces per side); 29 ft (single face per side); 20 ft max to bottom of lowest display | 162 sq ft per display face (max two stacked per side) | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 7 zones)

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Special Event Sign | 7 ft | 32 sq ft per sign face | — | — | 1 | — | — | § 361-23D(5)(a) |
| Special Event Directory Sign | 4 ft | 16 sq ft per sign face | — | — | — | — | — | § 361-23D(5)(b) |
| Rear Entrance Sign | — | 12 sq ft | — | — | — | Wall mounted at rear entrance | — | § 361-23D(5)(c) |
| Ingress/Egress Sign | — | 4 sq ft per sign face | — | — | 1 per ingress/egress | At each point of ingress and egress | — | § 361-23D(5)(d) |
| Permanent Interior Window Identification Sign | — | 80% of window/glass area | — | — | — | Inside window | — | § 361-23D(5)(e) |
| Temporary Window Sign | — | 20% of window/glass area | — | — | — | Inside window | — | § 361-23D(5)(f) |
| Project/Real Estate Sign (Special districts) | — | 32 sq ft per sign face | — | — | 1 | On premises being developed | — | § 361-23D(5)(g) |
| Future Location Sign (Special districts) | 7 ft | 32 sq ft per sign face | — | — | 1 | On property for future occupancy | — | § 361-23D(5)(h) |

### Agricultural zoning districts (A-1, A-2)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Business Sign (Agricultural) | — | 16 sq ft | — | — | 1 per street frontage | — | — | § 361-23E(2)(a)&(b)&(c) |
| Real Estate Sign | — | 12 sq ft | — | — | 1 | — | — | § 361-23E(3)(a) |
| Subdivision Lot Sales Sign | 15 ft | 80 sq ft | — | — | 1 per street frontage | On development | — | § 361-23E(3)(b)[1]-[4] |
| Subdivision Entrance Sign | — | — | — | — | — | At entrance to subdivision | — | § 361-23E(3)(c) |
| Home Occupation Nameplate | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | 1 | Attached to main structure | — | § 361-23E(4) |
| Institutional/Educational/Religious Sign | 15 ft | 80 sq ft | — | — | — | — | — | § 361-23E(5)(a) |
| Institutional/Educational/Religious Event Sign | 15 ft | 40 sq ft | — | — | 1 | — | — | § 361-23E(5)(b) |
| Off-Premises Advertising Sign | — | 500 sq ft | — | 100 ft from property line, or 50 ft if adjacent is agricultural | 1 every 2,000 ft | Public roadway, every 2,000 ft, not within street right-of-way | — | § 361-23E(6) |

### Residential zoning districts (R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Real Estate Sign | — | 16 sq ft | — | — | 1 per street frontage | — | — | § 361-23F(2)(a)&(b) |
| Subdivision Lot Sales Sign | 15 ft | 80 sq ft | — | — | 1 per street frontage | Within subdivision | — | § 361-23F(2)(c)[1]-[4] |
| Subdivision Entrance Sign | — | — | — | — | — | At entrance to subdivision | — | § 361-23F(2)(d) |
| Home Occupation Nameplate | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | 1 | — | — | § 361-23F(3) |
| Institutional/Educational/Religious Sign | 15 ft | 80 sq ft | — | — | — | — | — | § 361-23F(4)(a) |
| Institutional/Educational/Religious Event Sign | 15 ft | 40 sq ft | — | — | 1 per street frontage | — | — | § 361-23F(4)(b) |
| Project/Real Estate Sign (Development) | — | 32 sq ft per sign face | — | — | 1 | On premises being developed | — | § 361-23F(5) |
| Future Location Sign (Development) | 7 ft | 32 sq ft per sign face | — | — | 1 | On property for future occupancy | — | § 361-23F(6) |

## Prohibited signs in El Reno

- Any installation performed in violation of this chapter.
- Any sign that is structurally unsafe or constitutes a hazard to safety or health by reason of inadequate maintenance or dilapidation.
- Any sign that is abandoned. 'Abandonment' is defined as one that is representing a business or activity that is no longer conducted upon the premises where the sign is located and has not conducted business for more than 90 days.
- Signs not permanently affixed to any structure.
- Any sign that in any way obstructs the view of, may be confused with, or purports to be an official traffic sign, signal, or other device or any official sign.
- Strings of exterior light bulbs used in connection with open display sales, other than traditional holiday decorations, which may be activated 30 days before the holiday and must be deactivated no less than 30 days after the holiday.
- Trailer signs and portable signs not in conformance with the Building Code.
- Any sign or structure in the right-of-way or on City property without proper permission.
- It is unlawful to display any sign, emblem, badge, flag, or device which, in its common acceptance, is insulting, profane, or abusive to the citizens of the City, and which is calculated, or of which the natural consequence is, to cause a breach of the peace or an assault.
- Portable signs or sandwich signs located in the public right-of-way are prohibited.
- Spinner signs are prohibited.
- Illuminated architectural canopy signs are prohibited.
- Marquee signs are prohibited.
- Roof signs are prohibited.
- Moving signs and signs with moving parts are prohibited.
- Super graphic signs are prohibited.

## Signs exempt from permit in El Reno

- Signs to serve governmental functions for the United States, State of Oklahoma and City of El Reno.
- Flags, provided that the flags are not used to attract attention for commercial purposes.
- Seasonal/Holiday signs, provided that erection shall not occur prior to 30 days before the holiday and removal shall take place no less than 30 days after the holiday.
- Political signs, provided such signs are not erected more than 30 days prior to election and all are removed within five days after the election to which the sign pertains.
- Certain special event signs, special event directory signs, rear entrance signs, ingress/egress signs, permanent interior window signs (not exceeding 80% of window/glass area), other temporary window signs (not exceeding 20% of window/glass area), project/real estate signs, future location signs, city way-finding signs, and murals are allowed in all zoning districts without permits, subject to specific conditions outlined in the ordinance.
- Any sign required by law, or required or recommended by a government agency or utility company, is allowed in addition to other authorized signs.
- Any sign identifying that the premises are protected by a security company is allowed in addition to other authorized signs, limited to 30 square inches.
- Any ideological, political, or other noncommercial message may be placed on any sign permitted by the ordinance.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Unless otherwise exempt by this chapter, permits shall be required for any new sign and for structural or electrical modifications or repairs to existing signs. Message changes in changeable copy signs or minor electrical repairs do not require a sign permit.
- The City of El Reno will provide sign permit application forms, which must be completed prior to City review.
- Any animated sign requires the approval of the Public Works Director and the Municipal Planning Commission.
- Any freestanding sign must have a detailed illustration of its footing and frame structure. Additional documents and sealed plans may be required to validate its structural integrity.
- Permit applications for off-premises signs that abut federal or state highways must also be accompanied by proper licenses or permits.

## 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 7 zoning districts in El Reno — every sign type, every field — are available with a free PermitPal account: https://app.permitpal.io/?address=El+Reno+OK&override=true&utm_source=landing&utm_medium=city-page&utm_campaign=city-el-reno

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