# Sign Regulations in Stillwater, Oklahoma

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Stillwater, Oklahoma (OK)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/oklahoma/stillwater
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-08
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/OK/Stillwater/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=PTIISTCO_CH23LADECO_ARTVIISI)

## At a glance

Stillwater, Oklahoma regulates 24 sign types across 10 zoning districts. Nameplate Signs in the RSL Large Lot Single-Family Residential District, RSS Small Lot Single-Family Residential District, RT Two-Family Residential District zoning district are capped at 10 feet tall and 2 square feet, with a 10 feet from all property lines setback (Sec. Sec. 23-195(a)(1), (b)(1), (c)(1), (d), (f)). Most commercial signs in Stillwater require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (10 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 6 | — | 40 square feet | — |
| RSL Large Lot Single-Family Residential District, RSS Small Lot Single-Family Residential District, RT Two-Family Residential District | 8 | 10 feet | 100 square feet | — |
| RM Multifamily Residential District (RM) | 11 | 10 feet | 100 square feet | — |
| O Office District (O) | 5 | 25 feet | 200 square feet | — |
| CS Commercial Shopping District (CS) | 7 | 30 feet | 220 square feet | — |
| CB Commercial Business District (CB) | 6 | — | 200 square feet | — |
| CG Commercial General District (CG) | 6 | 35 feet | 200 square feet | — |
| IL Light Industrial District (IL), IG General Industrial District (IG) | 4 | 35 feet | 300 square feet | — |
| A Agriculture District (A), P Public District (P) | 4 | 50 feet | 200 square feet | — |
| U District (U) | 1 | — | — | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 10 zones)

### RSL Large Lot Single-Family Residential District, RSS Small Lot Single-Family Residential District, RT Two-Family Residential District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Nameplate Sign | 10 feet | 2 square feet | — | 10 feet from all property lines | 1 per parcel | — | — | Sec. 23-195(a)(1), (b)(1), (c)(1), (d), (f) |
| Building Sign | 10 feet | 3 square feet | — | 10 feet from all property lines | 1 per parcel | — | — | Sec. 23-195(a)(2), (b)(1), (c)(2), (d), (f) |
| Real Estate Sign | 10 feet | 6 square feet per face | — | 10 feet from all property lines | 1 per firm | — | — | Sec. 23-195(a)(3), (b)(2), (c)(3), (d), (f) |
| Construction Sign | 10 feet | 6 square feet | — | 10 feet from all property lines | 1 per firm | — | — | Sec. 23-195(a)(4), (b)(2), (c)(4), (d), (f) |
| Bulletin Board Sign for Public/Charitable/Religious Institutions | 10 feet | — | — | 10 feet from all property lines | 1 per parcel | — | — | Sec. 23-195(a)(5), (b)(1), (d), (f) |
| Home Occupation Sign | 10 feet | 2 square feet | — | 10 feet from all property lines | 1 per parcel | — | — | Sec. 23-195(a)(6), (b)(3), (c)(5), (d), (f) |
| Subdivision Sign | 10 feet | 40 square feet | — | 10 feet from all property lines | 1 per entrance | Entrance of subdivision | — | Sec. 23-195(a)(7), (b)(4), (c)(6), (d), (f) |
| Development Sign | 10 feet | 100 square feet | — | 10 feet from all property lines | 1 per development | Within development/development boundary/final plat | — | Sec. 23-195(a)(8), (b)(5), (c)(7), (d), (f) |

### RM Multifamily Residential District (RM)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Nameplate Sign | 10 feet | 2 square feet | — | 10 feet from all property lines | 1 per parcel | — | — | Sec. 23-196(a)(1), (b)(1), (c)(1), (d), (f) |
| Building Sign | 10 feet | 3 square feet | — | 10 feet from all property lines | 1 per parcel | — | — | Sec. 23-196(a)(2), (b)(1), (c)(2), (d), (f) |
| Real Estate Sign | 10 feet | 6 square feet per face | — | 10 feet from all property lines | 1 per firm | — | — | Sec. 23-196(a)(3), (b)(4), (c)(5), (d), (f) |
| Construction Sign | 10 feet | 6 square feet | — | 10 feet from all property lines | 1 per firm | — | — | Sec. 23-196(a)(4), (b)(4), (c)(6), (d), (f) |
| Monument Sign | 10 feet | 48 square feet | — | 10 feet from all property lines | 1 per parcel or per frontage for corners | — | — | Sec. 23-196(a)(6), (b)(2)(3), (c)(4), (d), (f) |
| Wall Sign | 10 feet | 25 square feet | — | 10 feet from all property lines | 1 per parcel | — | — | Sec. 23-196(a)(7), (b)(2), (c)(3), (d), (f) |
| Subdivision Sign | 10 feet | 40 square feet | — | 10 feet from all property lines | 1 per entrance | At subdivision entrance | — | Sec. 23-196(a)(10), (d) |
| Development Sign | 10 feet | 100 square feet | — | 10 feet from all property lines | 1 per development | Within development/development boundary/final plat | — | Sec. 23-196(c)(9), (d) |

### CS Commercial Shopping District (CS)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Monument Sign | 30 feet | 220 square feet | — | 10 feet | 1 per parcel per street frontage | One per parcel per street frontage | — | Sec. 23-198(c)(1), (d)(1), (e), (g) |
| Pole Sign | 30 feet | 200 square feet | — | 10 feet | 1 per parcel per street frontage | One per parcel per street frontage | — | Sec. 23-198(c)(1), (d)(1), (e), (g) |
| Wall Sign | 30 feet | 200 square feet | — | — | 1 per side or per business | One per side of structure. If multiple businesses share wall, one per business. | — | Sec. 23-198(c)(2)a, (d)(1), (e), (g) |
| Wall Sign (Rear Wall) | 30 feet | 40 square feet | — | — | — | Rear wall facing public right-of-way | — | Sec. 23-198(d)(2), (e), (g) |
| Gasoline Island Canopy Sign - Canopy Fascia | Below canopy | — | — | — | Maximum 2 per canopy fascia | On canopy fascia | — | Sec. 23-198(c)(3)a, (d)(3)a |
| Gasoline Island Canopy Sign - Spanner Boards/Sign Boards | Below canopy | 50 square feet (total per canopy, double-faced) | — | — | — | On or between canopy support poles below canopy | — | Sec. 23-198(c)(3)b, (d)(3)b |
| Electronic Message Center Sign | 30 feet | — | — | 10 feet | — | — | — | Sec. 23-198(b), (e), (g); 23-186(m) |

## Prohibited signs in Stillwater

- No sign shall block any required driveway.
- No sign shall be attached to a tree or utility pole whether on public or private property.
- No sign shall be maintained at any location where by reason of its position, size, shape, lighting, or color, it may obstruct, impair, obscure, interfere with the view of, or be confused with any traffic control signs, signal or device, or where it may interfere with, mislead or confuse traffic.
- No temporary ground sign shall be located or placed within the boundaries of any state-owned right-of-way.
- No temporary ground sign shall be located or placed on any city-owned property.
- No temporary ground sign shall be located or placed within the boundaries of any city-owned right-of-way, unless the temporary sign is placed by the owner of the property underlying such right-of-way and provided said sign is not prohibited by any other provision of this Code or constitutes a traffic hazard. The foregoing exception shall not authorize the placement of a temporary sign on such city-owned right-of-way without the permission of the property owner.
- No person shall erect or maintain, on any premises, any sign in violation of the provisions of this article.
- Signs must be constructed in accordance with applicable building and electrical codes.
- Signs shall be shaded wherever necessary to avoid casting bright light upon property located in any residential district or park.
- Nuisance signs (those that constitute a traffic or safety hazard or are temporary ground signs located or placed in violation of sign placement rules) are public nuisances and may be removed by the city without notice.
- No sign shall project over a public right-of-way.
- No sign permit shall be issued unless the sign complies with the regulations of this article.

## Signs exempt from permit in Stillwater

- Official flags or emblems of a governmental entity permanently displayed on city-owned property or a political, civic, philanthropic, educational or religious organization, permanently displayed on other publicly controlled or private property.
- Traffic signs or similar regulatory devices, legal notices, warnings at railroad crossings, and other instructional or regulatory signs having to do with health, safety, hazard, or parking.
- Memorial signs and tablets displayed on private property.
- Address numerals and other signs required to be maintained by law or governmental order, rule, or regulation, provided that the content and size of the signs do not exceed the requirements of such law, order, rule or regulation.
- Small permanent signs, not exceeding five square feet each in area, displayed on private property for the convenience of the public, limited to signs to identify entrance and exit drives, parking areas, one-way drives, restrooms, freight entrances, accepted credit cards, self-serve pumps, automatic teller machines, teller or drive-up windows, and similar informational signs, provided no more than 30 percent of the surface area is devoted to a business name or logo, and provided it is located in a manner so as not to cause a traffic hazard.
- Scoreboards and signs in athletic stadiums/ballfields.
- Political or campaign signs, unless such sign is constructed as a temporary ground sign as defined in section 23-185.
- Holiday lights, signs and decorations, provided such are on display on a temporary basis during the appropriate season.
- All signs located in the U district, not located on a public right-of-way.
- Exterior menu signs for drive-through and drive-in restaurants.
- Changing of the advertising copy or message on an existing approved changeable copy sign, electronic graphic display sign, electronic changeable copy sign or directory sign: changing the face of an existing approved permanent sign, provided there are no alterations to the structure or gross surface area of the sign; painting, repainting, cleaning or other normal maintenance; repair of a sign, provided there are no alterations to the structure or gross surface area of the sign.
- A sign located on the interior of a building, provided it is not visible from a public or private street.
- Nameplate signs not exceeding two square feet in gross surface area accessory to a single-family or two-family dwelling.
- Building signs not exceeding three square feet in gross surface area and are permanently attached to the building.
- Real estate or construction signs in all districts, provided the signs are located outside of the boundaries of any public right-of-way on the lot or parcel that is being offered for lease or sale or that is being built upon. No more than one sign per seller shall be allowed. Such signs shall be removed upon the lease or sale of the property, or the completion of construction, whichever is applicable.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- There is no mention of a sign master plan requirement, required sign plan, or required variance meeting for signs in the provided ordinance text.
- Permit requirements for signs are set forth in Sec. 23-203; a permit is required before most signs (except those specifically exempted) can be erected, altered, or expanded.
- Certain sign types (e.g., electronic message center signs in the O zoning district or in CS, CB, CG districts adjacent to residential) require a specific use permit rather than a general permit, but there is no reference to a master sign plan or sign plan submittal for multi-tenant or commercial centers.

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

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