# Sign Regulations in Norman, Oklahoma

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Norman, Oklahoma (OK)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/oklahoma/norman
- **Data last verified:** 2026-04-27
- **Source:** [other municipal code](https://norman.municipalcodeonline.com/book?type=ordinances#name=ARTICLE_28-V_DISTRICT_SIGN_REGULATIONS)

## At a glance

Norman, Oklahoma regulates 35 sign types across 6 zoning districts. Ground Signs in the Industrial (I-1, I-2) zoning district are capped at 25 ft at setback; +1 ft per 6 ft behind up to 35 ft tall and Up to 100 sq ft/side (200 total), with a 0 ft setback (Sec. NCC 28-504(b)(1)). Most commercial signs in Norman require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (6 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 12 | ≤42 in above ground | ≤60 sq ft/side (special exception); or ≤32 sq ft (administrative, single-faced) or ≤32 sq ft total (two signs) | — |
| Industrial (I-1, I-2) | 17 | 25 ft at setback; +1 ft per 6 ft behind up to 35 ft | Up to 1000 sq ft | — |
| Commercial (C-1, C-2, C-3, T-C, M-1, C-R) | 20 | 25 ft at setback; +1 ft per 6 ft behind up to 35 ft | Up to 400 sq ft | — |
| Office (C-O, R-O, O-1) | 10 | ≤15 ft | ≤100 sq ft/lot | — |
| Medium Density Residential (R-2, RM-2, R-3, RM-4, RM-6) | 11 | ≤15 ft | ≤100 sq ft/lot | — |
| Low Density Residential (R-1, R-1-A, RE, A-1, A-2, PL) | 8 | 8 ft | 32 sq ft/side (32 total)/lot | — |

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

### Industrial (I-1, I-2)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Ground Sign | 25 ft at setback; +1 ft per 6 ft behind up to 35 ft | Up to 100 sq ft/side (200 total) | — | 0 ft | 1-2 per frontage | At setback line | — | NCC 28-504(b)(1) |
| Wall Sign | Min 8 ft above walkway/15 ft alley; max eave/rafter line | Up to 1000 sq ft | — | 0 ft | Per frontage | Vertical building surface/architectural projections | — | NCC 28-504(b)(2) |
| Projecting Sign | Min 10 ft walkway/15 ft alley; max eave/rafter | 100 sq ft/side (200 total) | — | 0 ft | 1 per frontage/business | If front ≤4 ft ROW | — | NCC 28-504(b)(3) |
| Suspended Sign | Min 8 ft walkway; max marquee/canopy soffit | 20 sq ft/side | — | 0 ft | 1 per frontage/business | Under architectural projections | — | NCC 28-504(b)(4) |
| Directional Sign | ≤8 ft | ≤4 sq ft/face (8 total) | — | Per zone | Per curb cut +1 | On lot | — | NCC 28-504(b)(6) |
| Joint Identification Ground Sign | 25 ft at setback; +1 ft per 6 ft behind up to 35 ft | <250 ft: ≤400 total; ≥250: ≤600 total (additional to other signs) | — | 0 ft | 1-2 per frontage | At setback | — | NCC 28-504(b)(7) |
| Construction Sign | ≤10 ft | ≤48 sq ft/side (≤10 acres); ≤100 sq ft/side (>10 acres) | — | Per zone | 1 per frontage | On property | — | NCC 28-504(b)(8)(a) |
| Real Estate Sign | 10 ft | 32 sq ft/side (64 total) | — | Per zone | 1 per frontage | On premises | — | NCC 28-504(b)(8)(b) |

### Commercial (C-1, C-2, C-3, T-C, M-1, C-R)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Ground Sign | 25 ft at setback; +1 ft per 6 ft behind up to 35 ft | Up to 60 sq ft/side (120 total) | — | 0 ft (C-2,C-3,C-1 abutting C-2 non-res); 25 ft (CR,TC,M-1,C-1 otherwise) | 1 per frontage | At setback | — | NCC 28-505(b)(1) |
| Wall Sign | Min 8 ft walkway/15 alley; max eave/rafter; ≤25 ft above grade | Up to 400 sq ft | — | Per general | Per frontage | Vertical surface/projections | — | NCC 28-505(b)(2) |
| Projecting Sign | Min 10 ft walkway/15 alley; max eave/rafter | <150 ft lot: ≤200 one side total; ≥150: ≤320 total | — | Per general | 1 per frontage/business | If front ≤4 ft ROW | — | NCC 28-505(b)(3) |
| Suspended Sign | Min 8 ft walkway; max soffit | 5 sq ft/side | — | Per general | 1 per frontage/business | Under projections | — | NCC 28-505(b)(5) |
| Directional Sign | ≤8 ft | ≤4 sq ft/face (8 total) | — | Per zone | Per curb cut +1 | On lot | — | NCC 28-505(b)(7) |
| Joint Identification Ground Sign | 25 ft setback; +1/6 ft behind up to 35 | <150 ft: ≤400; 150-300: ≤520; >300: ≤1040 (additional to others) | — | Per general | 1 per frontage | At setback | — | NCC 28-505(b)(8) |
| Construction Sign | ≤10 ft | <5 acres: ≤32/side (64 total); 5-10: ≤64 total (32/side); >10: ≤100/side (no riders); res ≤5 units: 6/side (12 total)/unit | — | Per zone | 1 per frontage | On property | — | NCC 28-505(b)(10)(a) |
| Other Temporary Sign | Per zone | ≤100 sq ft/lot | — | Per zone | ≤2/frontage | Premises | — | NCC 28-505(b)(10)(d) |

### Medium Density Residential (R-2, RM-2, R-3, RM-4, RM-6)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Ground Sign | 6 ft setback; +1 ft per 10 ft behind up to 12 ft | ≤26 total | — | 25 ft | 1 per frontage | At setback | — | NCC 28-507(b)(1) |
| Wall Sign | Min 8 ft walkway/15 alley; max eave/rafter | 20 sq ft total | — | 25 ft | 1 per frontage | Vertical/projections | — | NCC 28-507(b)(2) |
| Real Estate Sign | 6 ft | 6 sq ft/side (12 total) | — | 25 ft | 1 per frontage | Premises | — | NCC 28-507(b)(8)(a) |
| Model Home Sign | 6 ft | 6 sq ft/side (12 total)/lot | — | 25 ft | 1/model | Lot | — | NCC 28-507(b)(8)(b) |
| Open House Sign | 6 ft | 6 sq ft/side (12 total)/lot | — | 25 ft | 1/open house | Lot | — | NCC 28-507(b)(8)(c) |
| Other Temporary Sign | Per zone | ≤100 sq ft/lot | — | 25 ft | ≤2/frontage | Premises | — | NCC 28-507(b)(8)(d) |
| Wind Sign | — | Balloons ≤6 ft dia | — | 25 ft | — | Premises | — | NCC 28-507(b)(10) |
| Feather Flag | ≤15 ft | ≤32 sq ft/face | — | 25 ft | ≤2/frontage | Premises | — | NCC 28-507(b)(15) |

## Prohibited signs in Norman

- Signs with visible moving, revolving, flashing, blinking, rotating parts or visible mechanical movement of any description, except for time-temperature-date signs.
- Signs with optical illusion of movement by means of a design which presents a pattern capable of reversible perspective, giving the illusion of motion or changing of copy, except for electronic digital signs as regulated by this chapter.
- Animated signs.
- Flares as herein defined.
- Strings of light bulbs, greater than four watts per bulb, used in connection with commercial premises for commercial purposes, other than traditional holiday decorations.
- Wind signs, as herein defined, except for wind signs which are otherwise permitted in other sections of this Code.
- Signs which incorporate projected images or emit any sound which is intended to attract attention.
- Any sign (together with its supporting structure) now or hereafter existing which, 90 days or more after the premises have been vacated, advertises an activity, business, product or service no longer produced or conducted upon the premises upon which such sign is located.
- Any sign which is installed or erected in or projects into or over any public right-of-way, except in the case of a sign for which a permit has been issued in conformance with the requirements of this chapter.
- Signs attached or otherwise applied to trees or utility poles.
- Signs not permanently affixed or attached to the ground or to any structure, including A-frame type signs, except for real estate signs attached to posts driven into the ground, window signs and temporary barriers.
- Portable trailer signs.
- Any sign or sign structure which: (a) Is structurally unsafe; (b) Constitutes a hazard to safety or health by reason of inadequate maintenance or dilapidation; (c) Is not kept in good repair; (d) Is abandoned; or (e) Is capable of causing electrical shocks to persons likely to come in contact with it.
- Any sign or sign structure which: (a) In any way obstructs the view of, may be confused with, or purports to be an official traffic sign, signal or device or any other official sign; (b) Uses words, phrases, symbols or characters implying the existence of danger or the need for stopping or maneuvering of a motor vehicle; (c) Creates in any other way an unsafe distraction for motor vehicle operators; or (d) Obstructs the view of motor vehicle operators entering a public roadway from any parking area, service drive, private driveway, alley or other thoroughfare.
- Any sign which obstructs free ingress to or egress from a required door, window, fire escape or other required exit way.
- Illegal nonconforming signs, as defined herein.
- Roof signs.

## Signs exempt from permit in Norman

- Signs which are not visible beyond the boundaries of the lot or parcel upon which they are located or from any public right-of-way, except that such signs shall be subject to the safety regulations of the building code and the electric code of the City.
- Official governmental notices and notices posted by governmental officers in the performance of their duties, governmental signs to control traffic or for other regulatory purposes, or to identify streets, or to warn of danger.
- The flag, pennant or insignia of any nation, organization of nations, State, County or City, any religious, civic, fraternal organization, or any educational institution. Additionally, one corporate name or logo-bearing flag not exceeding 24 square feet in size will be permitted.
- Temporary decorations or displays, when such are clearly incidental to and are customarily and commonly associated with any national, local or religious holiday or celebration.
- Temporary or permanent signs erected by public utility companies or construction companies to warn of danger or hazardous conditions, including signs indicating the presence of underground cables, gas lines and similar devices.
- Merchandise, pictures or models of products or services which are incorporated as an integral part of a window display.
- Signs displayed on trucks, buses, trailers or other vehicles which are being operated or stored in the normal course of a business, such as signs indicating the name of the owner or business which are located on moving vans, delivery trucks, rental trucks and trailers and the like, provided that the primary purpose of such vehicles is not for the display of signs, and, provided that they are parked or stored in areas appropriate to their use as vehicles.
- Directional signs located in the street right-of-way; provided such signs are approved by the Director of Public Works or his designee.
- Political signs may be placed within the right-of-way (the area between the property line and the curb or edge of the public street) in front of or along the side of any single-family dwelling, provided that the permission of the property owner has been obtained and such signs are no wider than 30 inches or taller than 20 inches in height. Political signs may not be placed in the right-of-way abutting the rear or side yard of the dwelling when that portion of the lot abuts a section line road or an arterial roadway. If the dwelling has a fence or wall along the rear or side of the lot which separates the dwelling from the arterial or section line road, no sign may be placed either on or outside of that fence adjacent to the roadway.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Sign permit applications require submission of plans, specifications, site plan, elevation drawings, precise location of the proposed sign, caption of the proposed sign, structural details, and other pertinent data (NCC 28-206).
- In Planned Unit Developments, signs must conform to all regulations of this chapter, including those specifically exempted as part of the site development plan approval (NCC 28-409).
- Special exceptions and variances for signs, including for buildings that constitute signs, permanent identification signs, and certain freestanding signs, are reviewed and approved by the Board of Adjustment (NCC 28-901, 28-904, 28-905).
- Joint identification signs for developments such as shopping centers and industrial parks may require collective identification as part of the sign design (implied in NCC 28-504 and 28-505).

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

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