City of Shawnee

Signs

Basic information regarding signs in the City of Shawnee is provided below. The City requires a Sign Permit Application prior to the installation of any signage and restrictions apply. Additional information may be obtained from Shawnee Municipal Code Chapter 17.05 Sign Code and the Planning Division.

The City adopted a new Sign Code as of January 10, 2022. The modifications addressed key Federal and State regulatory issues related to signs, protects free speech, is more user-friendly, incorporates best practices, and ensures consistency with the City’s long-range plans, policies and the City’s Zoning Regulations. Click the button below to view a summary of the key changes in the new Sign Code.

 

 

Monument Signs
  • One monument sign per street frontage is allowed for shopping centers and freestanding buildings that are not in shopping centers.
  • Monument signs may be up to 7 feet in height, and the sign face may be up to 50 square feet in area. The must have a solid appearance that is at least as wide as the width of the sign face.
  • See Sign Code Section 17.05.060 for additional monument sign size and number allowances for multi-tenant developments.
  • The outer edge of a monument sign may be placed on the property line. Landscaping extending a minimum of 3 feet on all sides of the sign base must be placed around monument signs, and the signs must be within a yard area, or within a curbed landscaped area in the parking lot.
  • A site plan of the entire lot is required for permitting.
  • The permit fee for a monument sign is $75.
  • The permit fee for a tenant panel in a shopping center monument sign is $25.
  • Subdivision signs do not require a permit.
Attached Signs (wall, awnings & canopies)
  • Each business is allowed one wall sign for each street frontage, as well as on an exterior wall facing a parking area or driveway with a public entrance. 
  • A wall sign may not exceed 7% of the area of the store façade on which it is placed.
  • Signs on free-standing canopies may cover up to 10% of the canopy face. One sign may be displayed on each frontage.
  • Signs on attached canopies or awnings may be placed in lieu of a wall sign. The location and size standards as the same as a wall sign.
  • A wall sign must be located flat against the wall of the building, not to extend more than 18 inches from the wall. Projecting signs are however permitted in the Townsquare Zoning District.
  • Dimensioned or scalable building elevation drawings are required for permitting.
  • The permit fee for attached permanent signs are $75.
Window Signs
  • Signs may be placed on a window provided they do not include flashing or blinking lights or cover more than 50% per windowpane or per window if there are not separate panes.
  • No permit us required for window signs.
Temporary Signs
  • The number and size of temporary signs allowed is based on where they are located within each property (either within 5 feet of the property line or beyond 5 feet from the property line).
  •  All properties can have 1, 4 square foot sign located within 5 feet of the property line. The sign cannot be taller than 4 feet.
  • All properties can have up to 5 temporary signs per acre at one time when setback from the property line more than 5 feet. Size varies by location as follows:
    • Temporary signs can be up to 6 square feet in area and no taller than 7 feet in Single Family areas.
    • Temporary signs can be up 20 square feet in area and no taller than 7 feet for properties within Agricultural, Residential High Rise, and the Downtown areas.
    • Temporary signs in Commercial areas (outside of Downtown) can be up to 32 square feet and no taller than 12 feet.
    • Temporary signs in Industrial areas can be up to 32 square feet and one up to 300 square feet. Signs up 32 square feet can be no taller than 8 feet and signs up to 300 square feet can be no taller than 15 feet.

 

  • Permits are required for temporary signs in non-residential areas.
  • Temporary signs can only be displayed for 90 days per calendar year no matter where the property is located in Shawnee. The length and price of these permits are as follows:
    • 3 days -- No Fees
    • 7 days -- No Fees
    • 15 days -- No Fees
    • 30 days -- $35
    • 60 days -- $70
    • 90 days -- $100
Prohibited Signs
  • Abandoned signs
  • Billboards
  • Digital Billboards
  • Moving Signs
  • Pole Signs
  • Portable Signs
  • Roof Signs
  • Signs in the right-of-way
  • Snipe Signs
  • Vehicles used primarily as a sign

Sign Diagrams