Olathe, KS Sign Regulations: Window Signs (2026)
Key Facts
- 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
Summary
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.
No more than one (1) permanent window sign is allowed per window. Window signs must not exceed ten (10) percent of the window area so that visibility into and out of the window is not obscured, except that window signs may be as large as twenty (20) percent of each window area if no wall sign is provided.
Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: current through Ordinance 26-39, passed July 21, 2026).
Full Breakdown
The UDO's Downtown (D) District sign rules cap window signage separately from other sign types. Under § 18.50.190.K.7, only one permanent window sign is allowed per window, and its coverage can't exceed 10 percent of the window area so views into and out of the storefront stay open. That cap rises to 20 percent per window only where the business has no wall sign. Sign copy is capped at 8 inches tall and must be applied to the interior glazing or hung inside: vinyl lettering is barred, though silk-screening, back-painting, metal leafing or sandblasting are allowed.
Violations & Fines
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).
Frequently Asked Questions
How much of my storefront window can a sign cover in downtown Olathe?
Can I use vinyl lettering for a window sign?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Olathe
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Window Signs in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Johnson County handle window signs.