Shawnee County, KS Sign Regulations: Freeway-Facing Signs (2026)
Key Facts
- Standard C-2 sign height
- 35 feet
- Height near interstate interchange
- 55 feet
- Qualifying radius
- 700 feet from interchange centerline
- Max sign face area
- 200 sq ft (C-2)
- Permit required
- Yes, from county zoning administrator
Summary
Shawnee County lets advertising signs in its C-2 commercial district grow from 35 feet to 55 feet tall when they sit within 700 feet of an interstate highway interchange, so a business courting freeway traffic can build almost 60% taller than an ordinary C-2 sign.
(5) Advertising signs (in the "C-2" district) relating to either the name of the business or products sold therein. Such signs shall not contain more than 200 square feet per single sign face, and shall not exceed a height of 35 feet; provided, however, that where such signs are within a 700 foot radius of the intersection of the centerline of an interstate highway with any major street or thoroughfare, as designated on the current adopted transportation plan, such signs shall not exceed a height of 55 feet.
Full Breakdown
The county's Zoning Regulations (Article XXXI, Sign Regulations) cap ordinary C-2 district advertising signs at 200 square feet per face and 35 feet in height under Sec. 01(b)(5). The same subsection carves out a specific exception for freeway proximity: any C-2 advertising sign within a 700-foot radius of the intersection of the centerline of an interstate highway with a major street or thoroughfare shown on the county's adopted transportation plan may rise to 55 feet, matching the height allowed for C-3 and C-4 district signs and for I-district industrial signs under Sec.
01(c)(4). A sign permit from the county zoning administrator is required before any sign is erected, enlarged, reconstructed or otherwise altered (Sec. 00), and the article states plainly that the sign type permitted by district is non-appealable, so a business cannot argue for a taller sign outside the 700-foot radius or in a district that does not allow it. The 200-square-foot face-area cap applies regardless of height, meaning the freeway exception only affects how tall the pole or structure may be, not how large the sign face can be.
Property owners planning a sign near I-70 or another interstate interchange in unincorporated Shawnee County need to measure the 700-foot radius from the actual centerline intersection, not the property line, since the regulation ties the bonus height to that specific reference point on the county's transportation plan.
Violations & Fines
Erecting, enlarging or altering a sign without first obtaining a sign permit from the county zoning administrator violates Sec. 31.00. Because sign-type determinations under Article XXXI are non-appealable, a sign built taller than 35 feet outside the qualifying 700-foot radius, or exceeding the 200-square-foot face limit, is a zoning violation subject to code enforcement and removal or modification at the owner's expense.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall can a C-2 advertising sign be near an interstate in Shawnee County?
Does the freeway exception also raise the allowed sign area?
Can I appeal if my property is just outside the 700-foot radius?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Shawnee County
Compare Shawnee County to another location·View the Kansas sign regulations overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.