Columbus, OH Sign Regulations: Garage Sale Signs (2026)
Key Facts
- Max sign size
- 4 sq. ft., no permit
- Sale frequency cap
- Twice a year, 4 days each
- Right-of-way placement
- Prohibited, per Chapter 902
- Governing code section
- C.C. § 3375.09(C)
Summary
Columbus lets residents post an on-premise garage or yard sale sign up to four square feet without a zoning permit, but the sale itself is capped at two events a year, four days at a time.
A temporary, nonilluminated, on-premise sign with a graphic area of 10 square feet or less, subject to the display limitations for maximum size, height, and display period as contained in C.C. 3376.10 or C.C. 3377.28, or a yard sale or garage sale sign, with a maximum graphic area of four square feet, in compliance with C.C. 3375.14(B).D.A street address not larger than ten square feet in aggregate graphic area. Where larger than ten square feet, such graphic shall be considered an on-premise sign subject to the applicable provisions of this Graphics Code.E.A self-contained electrical graphic, exterior or interior, with a maximum graphic area of ten square feet, where connected to an approved outlet located no more than six feet from said graphic. (Ord. 1900-98 § 5; Ord. No. 1200-2017, § 15, 6-12-2017)
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 85 | Form Based Code: ?).
Full Breakdown
City Code § 3375.09(C) exempts an on-premise yard or garage sale sign up to four square feet from the certificate of zoning clearance and installation-permit process that applies to most exterior signs. The sale itself is separately capped under § 3390.02(C): a residential, commercial, or industrial lot may host a garage or yard sale only twice a year, four days at a time, so a compliant sign only needs to go up for that window. Garage-sale signs still can't go in the public right-of-way, § 3375.13(E) bars placing any sign or graphic there, including telephone poles, medians, and tree lawns, per Chapter 902.
Violations & Fines
Installing a sign larger than four square feet, running a sale more than twice a year or past four days, or posting in the public right-of-way can draw code-enforcement citations and removal by the city.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit for a garage sale sign in Columbus?
How many days can I run a garage sale in Columbus?
Can I put my garage sale sign on a utility pole or street median?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Columbus
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