Vanderburgh County, IN Home Business: Signage Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- Vanderburgh County Code § 17.16.040(A)(2)(e)
- Maximum sign size
- Two square feet
- Mounting
- Flush-mounted on the residence only
- Allowed content
- Name and title of resident(s) only
- First-offense penalty
- Up to $500 civil fine
Summary
A home occupation in unincorporated Vanderburgh County may display only one sign, capped at two square feet, showing the resident's name and title, and it must be flush-mounted to the house rather than freestanding or projecting.
e. Maximum two square-foot sign which denotes name and title of resident(s) only, such sign must be flush-mounted on the residence,
Full Breakdown
040(A)(2)(e) of the County Zoning Code sets the sign allowance for a home occupation operated as an accessory use in the R-1 Residential district: a maximum two square-foot sign that denotes the name and title of the resident(s) only, and the sign must be flush-mounted on the residence itself. That rules out pole signs, yard signs, sandwich boards, or anything mounted away from the house wall, and it limits the sign's content to identifying who lives and works there rather than advertising products, prices, or services.
060(A)(2), so the two square-foot flush-mounted limit applies across the county's core residential zones, not just R-1. 040(A)(2): the business must stay inside the dwelling, cannot exceed 25 percent of the floor area, cannot have an outside entrance built for it, and cannot display goods visible from outside, so the sign is the only exterior signal a home-based business is allowed to show the street. Because Title 17 is the County Zoning Code administered by the joint Evansville-Vanderburgh Area Plan Commission, this two square-foot limit governs unincorporated Vanderburgh County; a home business inside Evansville's city limits falls under the parallel city sign standards in the city's own zoning title.
Violations & Fines
An oversized, freestanding, or content-noncompliant home occupation sign is enforced as a County Zoning Code violation under Section 17.36.150. The Area Plan Commission issues a Notice of Ordinance Violation, and a first offense carries a civil penalty of up to $500, rising to $1,000 for a second violation within 12 months, $2,500 for a third, $5,000 for a fourth, and $7,500 for any further violation, with each day of noncompliance treated as a separate offense and penalties owed to the County Treasurer within 30 days.
Frequently Asked Questions
How big can my home business sign be in Vanderburgh County?
Can I put a yard sign out for my home-based business?
Does the two square-foot sign limit apply outside the R-1 district?
What is the penalty for an oversized home business sign?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Vanderburgh County
Compare Vanderburgh County to another location·View the Indiana home business overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.