# Sign Regulations in Birmingham, Alabama

Sign permit rules, size and height limits, setbacks, and ordinance citations for Birmingham, Alabama, compiled by PermitPal from the jurisdiction's published municipal code.

- **Jurisdiction:** Birmingham, Alabama (AL)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/alabama/birmingham
- **Data last verified:** 2025-03-31
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/AL/Birmingham/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=PT1THCOGEOR_TIT12LIRE_CH19TOVEIMSE_ARTCOPRE_DIV2SIRE)

## At a glance

Birmingham, Alabama regulates 4 sign types across 2 zoning districts. Off-premises Signs in the B-3 Community Business Districts zoning district are capped at 40 feet tall, 800 square feet, and 50 feet wide, with a Minimum spacing of 1,000 linear feet on the same side of the street; 500 linear feet on opposite sides. setback (Sec. Ord. No. 97-21, 2-18-1997). Most commercial signs in Birmingham require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (2 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| B-3 Community Business Districts | 2 | 50 feet | 800 square feet | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 2 | — | — | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements

### B-3 Community Business Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Off-premises Sign | 40 feet | 800 square feet | 50 feet | Minimum spacing of 1,000 linear feet on the same side of the street; 500 linear feet on opposite sides. | — | Not permitted on top of any building or rooftop. | — | Ord. No. 97-21, 2-18-1997 |
| On-premises Sign | 50 feet | 672 square feet | — | — | Determined based on maximum square footage allowance. | Not within 15 feet of any residential zone boundary. | — | Ord. No. 97-21, 2-18-1997 |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Directly upon, but no higher than, the building wall. | — | Ord. No. 97-21, 2-18-1997 |
| Portable Sign | — | — | — | — | One per business establishment. | — | — | Ord. No. 97-21, 2-18-1997 |

## Prohibited signs in Birmingham

- It shall be unlawful for any person to suspend any flag, banner, streamer, cloth, placard, notice, poster, sign, advertisement, festoon or other matter or device from that portion of any wire, cable or other facility which may now or hereafter exist above the roadway of any street of the city.
- It shall be unlawful for any person to take down, alter, injure or deface any sign or marker indicating the name of any street.
- Signs shall not be erected or maintained which imitate, resemble, obscure or otherwise physically interfere with any official traffic sign, signal or device, nor obstruct or physically interfere with the driver's view of approaching, merging or intersecting traffic.
- Signs shall not be erected or maintained which are structurally unsafe or in substantial disrepair.
- It shall be unlawful to use a vehicle or trailer as a sign in circumvention of this section.
- No illuminated or highly reflective signs, including their structures, shall be erected or maintained which are not effectively shielded so as to prevent beams or rays of light from being directed at any portion of the street or roadways, or from shining on or into residential buildings or otherwise adversely affecting surrounding or facing premises; or which adversely affect the safe operation of motor vehicles by reason of light intensity or brilliance which cause glare or otherwise impair the vision of the driver of the motor vehicle.

## Signs exempt from permit in Birmingham

- Bulletin boards and identification signs for public, charitable, educational or religious institutions located on the premises of said institutions and not exceeding 24 square feet in total area.
- One construction sign per street frontage located on property where building is actually in progress under a valid building permit, which may include the names of persons and firms performing services, labor, or supplying materials to the premises and not exceeding 24 square feet.
- Flags or insignias of a governmental, religious, charitable, or fraternal organization, except when displayed in connection with a commercial promotion.
- Decorative flags and bunting for celebrations, conventions, and commemorations for a prescribed period of time when authorized by the city council.
- One occupational sign or one professional name plate for each premises, denoting only the name, street, number and business of an occupant in a commercial building or public institutional building. Each occupational sign or professional name plate shall not exceed six square feet in area.
- Political signs.
- Window signs which identify or advertise activities, services, goods, or products available within the building, and which collectively cover 20 percent or less of the window glass surface area.
- Fuel price informational signs advertising the price of motor vehicle fuel provided that only one fuel price informational sign shall be permitted per fuel pump which sign shall be limited in size to an area of 216 square inches, shall be affixed directly and firmly to the fuel pump and shall be stationary.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Application for a permit shall be made to the department of planning, engineering and permits and shall be accompanied by such drawings, plans, specifications, and engineering designs as may be necessary to fully advise and acquaint the department personnel with the proposed sign and sign location and be accompanied with the deed, lease or other agreement by which the applicant has the right to erect, use or maintain the proposed sign at that location.

## Full detail

Complete sign requirements for Birmingham, including every field PermitPal tracks for each sign type, are available with a free PermitPal account: https://app.permitpal.io/?address=Birmingham+AL&override=true&utm_source=landing&utm_medium=city-page&utm_campaign=city-birmingham

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