Topeka, KS Sign Regulations: Window Signs (2026)
Key Facts
- Commercial districts
- 50% of window area
- Residential (R/M-1/M-1a/RR-1)
- 8 sq ft cap
- M-2/M-3 residential uses
- 5% / 25 sq ft max
- Sign permit
- Not required
- Governing chapter
- TMC 18.10.150(a)
Summary
Topeka caps window signage at 50 percent of window area in commercial and industrial districts and just 20 percent elsewhere, with a flat eight-square-foot limit for homes in residential districts, and no sign permit is required.
(2) Standards. Window signs are permitted in all districts subject to the following standards: (i) In C-2, C-3, C-4, I-1, I-2, X-1, X-2, X-3, D-1, and D-3 districts window signs in the aggregate shall constitute no more than 50 percent of the area of all windows for each tenant and for each side of the building on which the window signs are located. (ii) For residential uses in the R, M-1, M-1a, and RR-1 districts the aggregate of all window signs shall not exceed eight square feet on each side of the building.
Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: current through Ordinance 20671, passed July 14, 2026).
Full Breakdown
TMC 18.10.150(a)(2) sets window-sign coverage by district: in C-2, C-3, C-4, I-1, I-2, X-1 through X-3, and D-1/D-3, window signs may cover up to 50 percent of the window area per tenant per side of the building. Residential uses in R, M-1, M-1a, and RR-1 are capped at eight square feet total per side, while residential uses in M-2/M-3 get five percent of window area with no single sign over 25 square feet. All other districts and nonresidential uses in R, M-1, M-1a, and OS-1 get 20 percent. Per TMC 18.10.070(b)(6), no sign permit is required for a window sign.
Violations & Fines
A noncompliant window sign draws a TMC 18.10.060 notice of violation, 30 days to correct it, then a $50-per-day administrative penalty plus possible criminal prosecution under TMC 1.10.070; each day of continued violation is a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit for a window sign in Topeka?
How much of my storefront window can I cover with signs?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Topeka
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