Administration.
Indianapolis-Marion County Revised Code § 744-903
in effectSec. 744-903. - Administration.
A. Consent of property owner.
1. No sign or sign structure shall be placed on private or public property without the expressed written consent of the owner, owner's representative, holder, lessee, agent, trustee, or other party controlling the use of such property.
2. No sign, other than signs placed by agencies of government with appropriate jurisdiction, or a sign whose placement is authorized by such agencies, shall be located, used, or maintained on or over a public property or public right-of-way, except as specifically authorized by this chapter and, if applicable, any requisite encroachment license. No sign may be installed, used, or maintained on or over a drainage or utility easement, except as specifically authorized by the entity granted the easement.
B. Required permits. Any sign not exempted from the requirements of obtaining an Improvement Location Permit (ILP) as noted in Section 744-903(E) shall be required to obtain an ILP.
Furthermore, any sign not identified as a permitted sign type in Section 744-906 is prohibited.
This provision shall not be construed to require an ILP for the changing of a sign face on a sign for which an ILP has previously been issued, except that an ILP is required for the changing of a sign face from a static face to a digital display.
This provision shall not be construed to require an ILP for the maintenance of a sign (Refer to Sign Definitions - Section 744-902) for which an ILP has previously been issued, provided that the maintenance or change of parts or copy of a sign does not alter the surface area, height, or otherwise render the sign nonconforming, or increase the existing degree of nonconformity, with the standards of the Ordinance.
C. Signs within designated historic districts. The following regulations shall pertain to primary and secondary signs in all districts. Any primary or secondary sign erected on a building or lot located within a federally designated historic district or locally designated historic district—as established by, and under the jurisdiction of, the Indianapolis Historic Preservation Commission (IHPC)—shall be exempt from the provisions of this chapter.
The type, number, area, height, illumination and location of such signs located within such locally designated historic districts shall be as determined by the IHPC. The specific standards and requirements for on-premises signs shall be as set forth in and specified by the grant of a Certificate of Appropriateness following all procedures set forth by the IHPC.
D. Regional Center Guidelines and Approvals. Any primary or secondary sign erected on a building or lot located within the Regional Center shall be subject to the standards and requirements for on-premises signs as set forth in the Regional Center Guidelines and follow all procedures required for approval by the Administrator.
E. Signs that may be erected without a permit. The following signs may be erected and maintained without a permit or fee, provided that such signs comply with all standards applicable to that type of sign.
1. Signs on municipal bus shelters or benches.
2. Yard signs.
3. Non-commercial flags, non-commercial banners or other similar non-commercial emblems that are suspended entirely over private property. See definitions of flag, banner, and commercial flag.
4. Parking structure signs which are not oriented to a right-of-way.
5. Signs within or on railway property or railway easement for the operation of such railway.
6. Window signs.
7. Pedestrian signs.
8. Sign that is integrated into or on a coin-operated machine, vending machine, or fuel pump that is related to its intended purpose.
9. Public signs.
10. Address signs.
11. Signs permitted on undeveloped lots.
F. Features that are not considered a sign. The following features are not considered a sign and not regulated by this Chapter 744, Article IX.
1. Tombstones in a cemetery or graveyard are not considered signs.
2. A work of art is considered a sign if it contains a business name, brand name or business logo other than the creator's signature or mark, unless it constitutes a sponsorship element no larger than 5% of the size of the work.
3. Outlining by illumination of structural/architectural elements of buildings in any commercial, industrial or mixed-use district shall not be considered a sign. Such building outline lighting shall not flash or be animated or be located within 600 feet of any Protected District unless visibly obstructed from view from within that District; but in no instance may it be located within 400 feet of such a District.
G. Prohibited signs. The following signs are prohibited in all zoning districts:
1. Signs in the public right-of-way. No sign or sign structure may be placed on or in the right-of- way of an alley or a street including those posted on utility poles or street signs, with the exception of public signs and signs associated with an approved outdoor café. Where applicable, an encroachment license from the proper governmental agency shall be obtained prior to the placement of the sign.
2. Signs which interfere with public signs or traffic devices in the following manner.
a. No sign or sign structure shall be permitted which attempts or appears to attempt to regulate the movement of traffic or which interferes with or obstructs the view of, or can be confused with, imitates, or resembles any official traffic sign, signal, or device. No rotating beam, beacon or flashing illumination resembling any emergency light shall be used in connection with any sign display.
b. No sign shall be permitted which obstructs a driver's view of any traffic or roadway sign, signal, device or interfere with the clear sight visibility area as defined in Section 744-902.
3. Signs painted on, attached to, or maintained upon trees, rocks or other natural features, are prohibited.
4. Banners. Banners are prohibited except in one or more of the following circumstances. Exceptions:
a. Temporary banners in compliance with Section 744-910.
b. Banners on utility poles in compliance with Section 744-909(B).
c. Non-commercial banners suspended entirely over private property.
d. Banners that are attached securely to the wall of a building on all four corners shall be considered and regulated as wall signs.
5. Portable signs are prohibited.
6. Roof signs are prohibited.
7. Vehicle signs: Signs placed on vehicles parked on public or private property are prohibited where the primary purpose of the vehicle in that location is to display the sign. Prohibited signs do not include those placed on vehicles parked for the purpose of lawfully making deliveries or sales and service calls. Prohibited signs do not include standard advertising or identification practices where such signs or advertising devices are painted on or permanently attached to business or commercial vehicles such as buses or cabs.
8. Audio components: Signs that produce or utilize sound are prohibited with the exception of sound speakers that are components of drive-thru signs and that are components of gasoline pump islands are prohibited.
9. Off-premises signs in any location not expressly permitted by Section 744.911. This limitation does not apply to the content of noncommercial messages.
Computations:
1. Computation of area of freestanding signs. The area of a sign face of a freestanding sign is computed by means of the smallest rectangle that encompasses the message area.
[image omitted; see the official code]
Sign Diagram B - Sign Area for Freestanding Sign
2. Computation of area of signs on landscape walls or fences. If the sign is located on a fence or landscape wall, that is in compliance, only the area of the actual sign itself shall be calculated in determining the maximum sign area, not the fence or landscape wall itself. (Refer to Sign Diagram C for illustrative guidance to computation methods).
[image omitted; see the official code]
Sign Diagram C - Sign Area for Wall Sign
3. Computation of area of canopy signs. On canopies, the computation of the sign copy area shall be limited only to the area of the canopy plane that contains the graphics or sign.
[image omitted; see the official code]
Sign Diagram D - Sign Area for Canopy Sign
4. Computation of area of multi-sided signs. Multi-sided signs shall be computed by the measurement of one of the sign faces provided that the faces are back to back or no greater than 15 degrees or 42 inches apart, whichever is greater. (Refer to Sign Diagram E for illustrative guidance to computation methods).
[image omitted; see the official code]
Sign Diagram E - Two Sided Sign
5. Computation of area of building signs. The sign area for building signs shall be computed by adding together the sign area of each sign face measured individually.
6. Exceptions to number and area computations.
a. Address. The area of the sign devoted to the site or building's street number required to comply with Title II, Sections 431-307 and 431-309 of the Revised Code is not included in the calculation of the sign area.
b. Heritage signs. The area of a designated heritage sign is not counted toward the total primary and secondary sign area permitted. If the heritage sign is an existing freestanding sign, the sign is considered one of the freestanding signs permitted, however the sign area and height standards may be waived upon designation.
7. Computation of height. The height of a sign shall be computed as the distance from the base of the sign or sign structure at grade level to the top of the highest attached component of the sign structure.
[image omitted; see the official code]
Sign Diagram F - Sign Heights
8. Measurement to Protected District. The measurement shall be the shortest distance between the closest edge of the sign to the zoning line of the Protected District (Refer to Sign Diagram G).
[image omitted; see the official code]
Sign Diagram G - Measuring Distance to Protected District
(G.O. 10, 2019, § 1)
Source: Consolidated City of Indianapolis and Marion County, Revised Code (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/in/indianapolis_-_marion_county/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=TITIIIPUHEWE_CH744DEST_ARTIX2018RESIRE_S744-903ADFetched: 10/27/2026