How Olathe Handles Sign Regulations: A Practical Guide
Olathe maintains 127 local ordinances across all categories, and 4 of those deal specifically with sign regulations. Here is a breakdown of what the city actually requires, what is prohibited, and where Olathe falls on the strict-to-permissive spectrum compared to other cities.
Window Signs
In Olathe's Downtown District, a permanent window sign can cover only 10% of the window's area, or up to 20% if the business skips a wall sign, and only one sign per window.
Key details: Coverage cap: 10% of window area. Cap without wall sign: 20% of window area. Signs per window: One permanent sign. Applies in: Downtown (D) District.
Exceeding the window-sign coverage cap is a UDO offense: up to a $500 fine or six months in jail per offense, with each day of noncompliance a separate violation (§ 18.70.030.F).
Digital Billboards
Olathe bans new billboards citywide and blocks existing nonconforming billboards from adding digital faces, extra illumination or moving panels under the sign code.
Key details: New billboards: Prohibited citywide. Digital face conversion: Barred on existing billboards. Video/electronic signs: Prohibited outright. Existing billboard status: Legal nonconforming only.
Adding a digital face to a billboard or building a new one is a UDO offense: up to a $500 fine or six months in jail per offense, plus permit revocation and removal, with each day a separate violation (§ 18.70.030.F).
Compared to other cities, Olathe takes a harder line on digital billboards. The enforcement and penalty structure reflects that.
Garage Sale Signs
Olathe caps garage-sale signs at four square feet with up to two faces, allows them only at the site of the sale, and requires no sign permit, under the UDO's temporary-sign rules for the AG, R-1, and R-2 districts.
Key details: Max size: 4 square feet per sign. Max faces: 2 per sign. Placement: only at the sale site. Permit: none required.
A garage sale sign that's oversized or posted somewhere other than the sale site falls outside the UDO's no-permit exemption, and the City can remove it under the ordinance's temporary-sign and enforcement provisions.
Olathe is more permissive than most cities when it comes to garage sale signs. That said, there are still limits.
Political Signs
Olathe caps yard signs, including election signs, at two per lot in AG, R-1 and R-2 districts, each no larger than six square feet per face and six feet tall.
Key details: Max signs (AG/R-1/R-2): 2 at a time. Max size per face: 6 square feet. Max height: 6 feet. Removal deadline: 5 days after election.
Exceeding the yard-sign count or size limit is a UDO offense: up to a $500 fine or six months in jail per offense, with each day of noncompliance a separate violation (§ 18.70.030.F).
The Bottom Line
Olathe's sign regulations rules are a mixed bag. Some areas are strict, others are relaxed, and the details matter. The best approach is to check the specific rule that applies to your situation rather than assuming Olathe is broadly strict or permissive.
Keep in mind that Olathe can amend these rules at any council meeting. For the most current version of any rule mentioned here, check the specific ordinance page, where we track updates as they happen.