The Evansville Common Council on Nov. 10 adopted ordinance G2025-23, revising the city’s sign regulations to align more closely with the county code and to update numeric limits for certain commercial zones. Ron London, director of the Area Planning Commission, told the council the planning commission approved the measure 9–0 and that staff and industry stakeholders met multiple times to reach the current compromise.

Council members highlighted the ordinance’s numeric changes as the most significant updates. Council President noted the maximum area for electronic message signs in commercial zones C1, C2, CO1 and CO2 is reduced from 32 square feet to 18 square feet; the aggregate minimum spacing allowance for signs in those zones was reduced from 300 feet to 200 feet; and the maximum allowance for signs in C2 zones was lowered from 500 to 400. Council members also discussed extending the on-screen message duration on electronic signs from 4 seconds to 8 seconds as part of the changes.

London said the city moved toward the county’s approach in part because the county ordinance had withstood legal scrutiny in past billboard litigation, adding that aligning the two codes helps reduce legal risk. “Several sign companies and council members participated in meetings and ultimately reached a compromise,” he said. Council members who spoke praised the collaborative process and noted ongoing efforts to remove dilapidated signs in the city.

The council adopted G2025-23 by voice and roll call vote (9–0). The ordinance amends sections of the Evansville Municipal Code governing sign definitions and sign standards.