Sign Regulations in Porter County, IN (2026)
4 rules for unincorporated Porter County, Indiana.
Verified from official government sources
Political Signs
Porter County lets residents post political signs without a permit under UDO § 5.46 SI-01(O), but caps them at six feet tall and 32 square feet, bars any lighting, limits display to 30 days before an election with removal within 10 days after, and still enforces the code's prohibited-location rules.
Porter County Political Sign Placement Rules
Light RestrictionsPorter County UDO § 5.46, SI-01(O): Sign; General, Political Signs
O. Political Signs: 1. Freedom of Speech: Political signs are considered noncommercial, freedom of speech signs. 2. Timing: Political signs may be erected thirty (30) days prior to an election and should be removed within ten (10) days after the election. 3. Lighting: Political signs shall not be lighted. 4. Location: Political signs are subject to the requirements of §D: Prohibited Locations. ...
Garage Sale Signs
Porter County treats a garage sale sign as a "standard temporary sign" under UDO section 5.47 (SI-02), capping it at 5 square feet per side, 4 feet tall, and requiring it come down within 7 days after the sale ends. No sign permit is required if you follow the standards.
Porter County Garage Sale Sign Rules
Some RestrictionsPorter County Unified Development Ordinance § 5.47 (SI-02: Sign; Single-family Residential), subsection B.1
B. Temporary Sign Standards: Temporary signs shall be permitted as follows: 1. Standard Temporary Signs: The following standards apply to standard temporary signs: a. Area: The sign area for a standard temporary sign shall not exceed five (5) square feet per side. b. Maximum Height: Any standard temporary sign shall not exceed four (4) feet above the ground. c. Maximum Number: One (1) standard ...
Digital Billboards
Porter County's Unified Development Ordinance flatly bars electronic and lighted text on the changeable-copy signs it permits: Section 5.49 SI-04(A)(1)(g) allows manually placed changeable copy on a wall or ground sign but states outright that electronically placed text or lighted text is not allowed. Countywide, Section 5.46 SI-01(E)(1) separately prohibits any sign with blinking, flashing, or color-changing lights.
Porter County Bars Electronic Message Sign Text
Heavy RestrictionsPorter County Unified Development Ordinance § 5.49 SI-04(A)(1)(g)
g. Changeable Copy: Changeable copy is permitted as a part of a permanent wall and/or ground sign as follows: i. Prerequisite: Any changeable copy sign shall be integrated into a wall or ground sign. When integrated, the combined sign area shall not exceed the maximum allowable square footage for that type of sign. ii. Area: The changeable copy sign area shall not exceed eighty percent (80%) of...
Window Signs
Porter County's Unified Development Ordinance caps permanent window signs in its Office and Institutional, Moderate Intensity Commercial, and Industrial districts at twenty square feet or thirty percent of the window's glass area, whichever is smaller, standing no taller than five feet. Only one window sign is allowed per building facade, capped at three per building, and each one needs a Sign Permit.
Porter County Window Sign Size and Number Limits
Some RestrictionsPorter County Unified Development Ordinance § 5.49 SI-04(A)(1)(f)
f. Window Signs: The following standards apply to permanent window signs: i. Area: Any single window sign shall not exceed twenty (20) square feet in area or thirty percent (30%) of the window's glass area, whichever is less. ii. Maximum Height: Any single window sign shall not exceed five (5) feet in height. iii. Maximum Number: One (1) window sign is permitted on each facade; maximum of three...
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