# Sign Regulations in Marlow, Oklahoma

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Marlow, Oklahoma (OK)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/oklahoma/marlow
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-20

## At a glance

Marlow, Oklahoma regulates 26 sign types across 6 zoning districts. Freestanding Signs in the Nonresidential Zoning Districts, Commercial Zoned Areas, Industrial Zoned Areas, Office Districts, Commercial Districts, Industrial Districts, Commercial Zoning Districts, Industrial Zoning Districts zoning district are capped at 20 ft (30 ft with additional setback as described) tall and Up to 500 sq ft for multiple users (4+), up to 300 sq ft for single user., with a 10' from highway; additional as per sign type. setback (Sec. 10-5-4 C1,C3,C5,C6,C8,C11,C12,C13). Most commercial signs in Marlow require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (6 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Nonresidential Zoning Districts, Commercial Zoned Areas, Industrial Zoned Areas, Office Districts, Commercial Districts, Industrial Districts, Commercial Zoning Districts, Industrial Zoning Districts | 8 | 20 ft (30 ft with additional setback as described) | Up to 500 sq ft for multiple users (4+), up to 300 sq ft for single user. | — |
| Downtown Overlay (DT), Broadway Overlay (BW) Zone Districts | 2 | Not to exceed height of parapet; exception to allow minimum of 3' sign if parapet under 3' | — | — |
| Planned Unit Developments (PUD) | 1 | — | — | — |
| Agricultural Zoned Areas, Agricultural Zoning Districts | 2 | 8 ft | 32 sq ft | — |
| Residential Districts, Residentially Zoned District, Designated Residential Development District, Residential Zoning Districts | 8 | 8 ft | 32 sq ft | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 7 | — | 16 sq ft | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 6 zones)

### Nonresidential Zoning Districts, Commercial Zoned Areas, Industrial Zoned Areas, Office Districts, Commercial Districts, Industrial Districts, Commercial Zoning Districts, Industrial Zoning Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign | 20 ft (30 ft with additional setback as described) | Up to 500 sq ft for multiple users (4+), up to 300 sq ft for single user. | — | 10' from highway; additional as per sign type. | See formula for area per lot frontage; limited generally by frontage and aggregate area. | Setback 10 ft from state highway; may not project into/on public right-of-way. Not within 50 ft of residential district except directional or BW zone signs. Must not be within 25 ft of intersection sight triangle. Preexisting signs must comply if new placed. | — | 10-5-4 C1,C3,C5,C6,C8,C11,C12,C13 |
| Wall Sign | Not to exceed height of building parapet except where parapet under 3', can extend to allow 3' sign height. | Per wall length formula | — | As per wall location; see other restrictions. | Limited by formula; aggregate area applies. | Must not be within 50' of residential district (except directional or BW zone or as stated). Not within 25' of intersection sight triangle. | — | 10-5-4 C3,C6,C13a |
| Projecting Sign | — | — | — | — | Limited by frontage/sign separation requirements. | DT/BW: may extend over ROW if at least 8' vertical clearance and not past sidewalk. General: Not within 50' of residential except as noted. No sign within intersection sight triangle. | — | 10-5-4 C1,C3,C5,C13 |
| Banner, Temporary, Mobile, Inflatable or Promotional Business Sign | Per C5 (20' standard, 30' with extra setback) | 40 sq ft | — | 1:1 horizontal:vertical. | Max 1 per lot of record at a time. | Set back 1' per 1' of height from property line; not in sight triangle or required parking/loading areas; not within public right of way; not within 25' of intersection sight triangle. | — | 10-5-4 E1-E4 |
| Convenience Store Light Pole Mounted Sign | Mounted 3'-10' above ground | 15 sq ft | — | — | One per direction of store frontage. | Mounted to on-site non-city light pole along each direction of store frontage on major street/highway. | — | 10-5-4 E5 |
| Convenience Store Fuel Island Canopy Column Sign | — | 3 sq ft | — | — | — | Mounted to fuel island canopy columns with permanent bracket at convenience store. | — | 10-5-4 E6 |
| Temporary Real Estate Sign | — | 32 sq ft | — | — | — | — | — | 10-5-4 C9b |
| Temporary Construction Sign | — | 200 sq ft | — | — | — | Displayed along arterial street frontage. | — | 10-5-4 C9c |

### Residential Districts, Residentially Zoned District, Designated Residential Development District, Residential Zoning Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| All Signs (General Restriction) | 8 ft | 32 sq ft | — | — | — | — | — | 10-5-4 D1 |
| Wall Sign (Subdivision Entrance) | 8 ft | 32 sq ft | — | 25' from intersection of arterial ROW if in median. | 1 per entrance side | Per entrance to subdivision where intersecting arterial or other subdivision. | — | 10-5-4 D3 |
| Freestanding Sign (Institutional Use) | 8 ft | 32 sq ft | — | — | — | On lots used for institutional (education, religious, charitable) uses. | — | 10-5-4 D2 |
| Freestanding Sign (Subdivision Entrance) | 8 ft | 32 sq ft | — | 25' from intersection of arterial ROW if in median. | 1 per entrance side | Per entrance to subdivision where intersecting arterial or other subdivision. | — | 10-5-4 D3 |
| Temporary Construction Sign (Subdivision) | 8 ft | — | — | — | 1 per perimeter street | On each perimeter street leading to interior development. | — | 10-5-4 D4 |
| Temporary Construction Sign (Residential) | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | 1 per residence | One per residence, not in ROW, utility easement, or sight triangle. | — | 10-5-4 D5 |
| Temporary Real Estate Sign | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | — | Placed upon property for sale/rent. | — | 10-5-4 C9b |
| First Amendment Sign | 6 ft | 16 sq ft | — | — | — | Physically attached to wall of house or placed in yard at resident's actual residence. | — | 10-5-4 C10b |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Nameplate | — | 4 sq ft | — | — | 1 per building | Attached to face of building wall. | — | 10-5-4 C9a |
| Temporary Election Sign | — | 16 sq ft | — | — | — | Erected up to 45 days before, removed within 7 days after election. | — | 10-5-4 C9h |
| Direction (Entrance/Exit) Sign | — | 4 sq ft | — | — | — | — | — | 10-5-4 C9n |
| Warning/Instructional (Government/Utility) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 10-5-4 C9f, C10c |
| Tablet (Historic/Memorial) | — | — | — | — | — | Built into wall of a building/structure. | — | 10-5-4 C9e |
| Street Address Number (Curb) | — | — | — | — | — | Painted on curb at owner discretion. | — | 10-5-4 C9m |
| Sign Label (Equipment) | — | 15 sq in | — | — | — | On equipment or structure. | — | 10-5-4 C9l |

## Prohibited signs in Marlow

- No sign shall be erected, constructed, placed, or projected into or over any public right-of-way, except where specifically permitted in designated overlay districts.
- No flashing, twinkling, or animated sign shall be located within twenty feet of the proposed street right-of-way line or within two hundred feet of a designated residential development district.
- No sign containing facsimiles of traffic control devices of any sort shall be located within one hundred feet of the intersection of two or more public streets.
- No revolving red or blue lights shall be allowed.
- No sign containing light shall exceed an illumination of seventy footcandles as measured at a two foot distance from the source of illumination.
- Off-premises advertising signs shall not be permitted, except as specifically provided.
- Signs within public utility easements and unused portions of platted alleys are prohibited, except for franchise contract holders and under specified conditions.
- No sign, nor any portion or support thereof, shall be placed within a drainage easement or drainage area without written approval of the City Engineer.
- No sign shall be located within twenty five feet of the point of intersection of the ultimate right-of-way of two or more public streets, or the intersection of a public street right-of-way and a private street or driveway, or within the median of a divided driveway for twenty five feet from entrance.
- No person shall place, maintain, or display upon or in view of any highway, an unauthorized sign, signal, marking or device which imitates, resembles, or could be mistaken for an official 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, signal or device bearing any commercial advertising.
- No sign may be constructed or erected within the City without first receiving a sign permit from the City Administrator, except for registered, temporary election, and temporary real estate signs of six square feet or less.
- No mobile sign shall be placed unless properly anchored as specified.
- No sign shall be installed except by licensed sign contractors and in accordance with locations and plans submitted and approved at the time of application.
- No sign for a home occupation is allowed in any residential neighborhood.

## Signs exempt from permit in Marlow

- One nameplate attached to the face of a building wall, not exceeding four square feet in surface area.
- Temporary real estate signs on properties for sale or rent, not exceeding six square feet in residential zones, or thirty two square feet in agricultural, commercial, and industrial zones.
- Temporary construction signs, displayed along arterial street frontages, not exceeding one-half square foot per each linear foot of arterial street frontage, with minimum thirty two square feet and maximum two hundred square feet display area.
- Signs not visible from a public street.
- Tablets built into the wall of a building or structure for inscriptions, memorials or similar historic or dedicatory purposes.
- Signs of warning, directive, or instructional in nature erected by any unit of government or franchised utility.
- Legal notices required by law to be posted.
- Temporary election signs for political campaigning, if erected not more than forty five days prior to an election and removed within seven days after the election, not exceeding sixteen square feet of display surface area.
- Signs painted or posted on the surface of any window, when display surface area of the sign covers no more than twenty five percent of the window.
- Signs located inside a building and oriented to be primarily visible from inside the building only, or located more than fifteen inches from the window.
- Signs erected by private parties of a warning, directive or instructional nature not exceeding three square feet, including entrance, exit and restroom signs.
- Signs attached by the manufacturer as labels of commodities.
- Signs on accessory equipment or structures to identify manufacturer, make or model, limited to fifteen square inches per piece of equipment or structure.
- Street address numbers painted on the curb at the owner's discretion.
- Directional signs less than four square feet.
- Individuals exercising First Amendment rights under the U.S. Constitution or Oklahoma Constitution shall not be required to obtain permits for signs that are not advertisements for commerce and are physically located on their actual residence or carried by the individual, provided the sign does not block any public way and does not exceed sixteen square feet or six feet in height.
- Standard public signs placed by any governmental entity are exempt from the regulations.
- Previously approved signs (prior to the ordinance or annexation) may continue to exist and receive ordinary maintenance unless discontinued for six months or damaged/destroyed over 50% of value.
- Signs temporary or permanent, mounted to convenience store fuel island pumps, fuel island canopy columns (mounted with permanent type mounting bracket and not to exceed 3 square feet), placed on pallets of displayed products at the base of the fuel island canopy columns, or on the entry sidewalk at the store front, are permitted and exempt from fees.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Applications for sign permits must include a scaled drawing (site plan) of the property showing sign location and distances from property lines, structures, easements, and driveways.
- Site plans showing a sign placed in a utility easement must include a note stating: 'Sign owner(s) assume all liability and replacement responsibilities for any damage to signs placed in utility easements.'
- All signs must be installed according to the locations and plans submitted at permit application and subsequently approved by the City.
- In Planned Unit Developments (PUD), signs may be governed by a specific plan that may modify general requirements, as established by PUD terms.
- Permitted use of a sign by a business on its own premises shall not be altered to any other use without first applying for and receiving a new permit.

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

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