Oklahoma City sign permit requirements

Permit required for permanent signs (ground, pole, wall in commercial, awning/canopy, projecting, etc.). Wall signs in the R district single-/two-family use require NO permit, but wall signs in commercial (C) districts DO require a permit. No permit required for incidental signs.

“A permit from the Director is required before any person: 1. displays, erects, structurally alters or relocates any sign; or 2. removes or demolishes a sign.”

Ground signs (I-High: C-4, C-HC, TP, I-2, I-3): 1 sf per 1 lf of frontage, max varies by street type up to 300 sf fronting a highway (200 sf for C-High). Pole signs (I-High): 1.4 sf per 1 lf, up to 270 sf. Individual/aggregate uses abutting a highway allowed 200 sf regardless of frontage.

“* Individual or aggregate uses abutting a highway are allowed 200 sf regardless of frontage, up to the maximum provided in the applicable district as calculated above.”

Ground signs vary by street type and district: e.g. C-High fronting highway 40', I-High fronting highway 50'; C-Medium fronting highway 30'. Pole signs: C-High highway 36', I-High highway 45'. Lower for neighborhood/main/connector streets.

“Fronting highway 12' 20' 30' 40' 50' 20'”

A canopy, marquee, parapet wall, projecting, or combination sign may project up to 10 feet from the building wall, subject to building code right-of-way encroachment requirements.

“A canopy, marquee, parapet wall, projecting, or combination sign may project up to 10 feet from the building wall, subject to any right-of-way encroachment requirements of the adopted building code.”

25% of available glazing along the street frontage at street level (C, I, and BC districts). 10% in R district.

“Sign area (max. % of available glazing along the street frontage at street level) 10%”

Signs may be internally or externally illuminated and halo lit (allowed in commercial districts). Max illumination over ambient in nonresidential districts is 0.3 footcandles measured at set distances by sign size; daytime max 7,500 nits. No glare toward adjacent properties; no flashing/intermittent lighting except permitted EMDs.

“Nonresidential zoning districts shall have a maximum illumination level of 0.3 footcandles at the distances shown in Table 59-16105.1 below.”

EMDs allowed in commercial districts. Three levels: Level 1 static (min 8 sec display); Level 2 animated w/ movement (min 8 sec); Level 3 animated/video allowed only in I and BC districts. Daytime max 7,500 nits. Level 2 static in C districts; Level 3 not allowed in R or C. Hours 7:00 a.m.-8:00 p.m. in some districts.

“Minimum Display Time 8 seconds 8 seconds --”

Temporary signs: freestanding with wire stakes/T-posts up to 30 days three times per calendar year; with metal/wood frames or temporary wall signs 90 days over one calendar year, or 40 days three times per year. Must display placement date.

“1. Freestanding Signs Mounted with Standard Wire Stakes or T-Posts: 30 days three times during a calendar year. 2. Freestanding Signs Mounted with Metal or Wood Frames, Decorations, or Mounting Methods of Similar Durability, or Temporary Wall Signs: 90 days over one calendar year, or 40 days three times during a calendar year.”

Portable signs (declared a public nuisance); A-frame/sandwich/springer/swinger signs (except in certain design districts); attention-getting devices (except where allowed); signs in right-of-way (except as provided); moving signs; strobe/high-intensity intermittent lights; supergraphics (except BC and DBD); any sign not specifically permitted.

“The following types of signs are prohibited in the City of Oklahoma City: A. Signs Not Enumerated. Any sign not specifically permitted by this Article. B. Signs in Right-of-Way. Signs in the right-of-way are prohibited, except as provided in Section 59-16113”

Code varies materially by 'sign district': R (residential/low intensity), C (commercial/office incl. O-1,O-2,RC,NB,C-CBD,C-1,DBD,DTD), I (heavy commercial & industrial: C-2,C-3,C-4,C-HC,TP,I-1,I-2,I-3), and BC (Bricktown Core). General commercial (C-4 General Commercial) falls in the 'I' (Heavy Commercial and Industrial) sign district. Dimensions also vary by street typology.

“3. Heavy Commercial and Industrial (I) means the following commercial and industrial zoning districts: C-2 (Shopping Center District); C-3 (Community Commercial District); C-4 (General Commercial District); C-HC (Highway Commercial District); TP (Technology Park District); I-1 (Light Industrial District); I-2 (Moderate Industrial District); and I-3 (Heavy Industrial District).”