# Sign Regulations in Citronelle, Alabama

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Citronelle, Alabama (AL)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/alabama/citronelle
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-07
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/AL/Citronelle/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=COOR_APXAZO_ARTXSIRE)

## At a glance

Citronelle, Alabama regulates 21 sign types across 4 zoning districts. Temporary Construction Signs in the General Regulations For All Zones zoning district are capped at 10 ft. tall and 32 sq. ft. (Sec. Sec. 10.4.3). Most commercial signs in Citronelle require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (4 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 17 | 10 ft. | 300 sq. ft. or 20% of front/side area | — |
| R-1, R-2, R-3, Residential District (R-1, R-2, R-3) | 1 | 6 ft. | 6 sq. ft. | — |
| B-1, B-2, Business District (B-1, B-2) | 2 | 21 ft. | 75 sq. ft. per premises | — |
| M-1, M-2, Industrial District (M-1, M-2) | 2 | 21 ft. | 75 sq. ft. per premises | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 4 zones)

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Temporary Construction Sign | 10 ft. | 32 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per street frontage | On premises where construction work is in progress. | — | Sec. 10.4.3 |
| Real Estate Sign | — | 6.5 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per street frontage | On property for sale, lease, or announcing improvements. | — | Sec. 10.4.6 |
| Political Sign (Residential Districts) | 4 ft. | 4 sq. ft. | — | — | — | On private property; not on public right-of-way or property, utility poles, trees, benches, etc. | — | Sec. 10.4.12.a, 10.4.14, 10.4.15 |
| Political Sign (Business/Commercial/Industrial Districts) | 8 ft. | 15 sq. ft. | — | — | — | On private property; not on public right-of-way or property, utility poles, trees, benches, etc. | — | Sec. 10.4.12.b, 10.4.14, 10.4.15 |
| Identification Sign (Public/Charitable/Educational/Religious Institution) | — | 75 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per street frontage | On premises of institution. | — | Sec. 10.4.18 |
| Temporary Sign (Grand Opening/Business Activity/Development) | 10 ft. | 32 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per street frontage | Within confines of development/business. | — | Sec. 10.9 (Note 3) |
| Temporary Business Sign (Start-up/No Permanent Sign) | 10 ft. | 32 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per premises | Premises where business is starting, and no permanent sign exists. | — | Sec. 10.9 (Note 4) |
| Wall Sign (Additional Permit Option for Business/Industrial Districts) | — | 300 sq. ft. or 20% of front/side area | — | — | 1 per front/side wall per eligible premises (option in addition to regular allocation) | Wall, mansard, marquee, or awning of business/industrial premises. | — | Sec. 10.9 (Note 2) |

### B-1, B-2, Business District (B-1, B-2)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Business Sign | 21 ft. | 75 sq. ft. per premises | — | — | 1 per street frontage (B-1 and B-2); B-2: 2 if frontage >1,000 ft | On premises | — | Sec. 10.9 |
| Motor Fuel Pricing Sign | — | 12 sq. ft. | — | — | — | On premises of business selling motor fuel | — | Sec. 10.8.4 |

### M-1, M-2, Industrial District (M-1, M-2)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Industrial Sign | 21 ft. | 75 sq. ft. per premises | — | — | 1 per street frontage | On premises | — | Sec. 10.9 |
| Motor Fuel Pricing Sign | — | 12 sq. ft. | — | — | — | On premises of industrial business selling motor fuel | — | Sec. 10.8.4 |

## Prohibited signs in Citronelle

- No sign, unless herein excepted, shall be erected, constructed, posted, painted, altered, maintained, or relocated, until a permit has been issued by the building inspector.
- Any permitted sign shall be subject to the size and height limitations imposed by this ordinance or the use district in which said sign is located, except as otherwise provided.
- No outdoor advertising sign or sign structure shall be placed upon any street or highway right-of-way except as otherwise provided.
- No outdoor advertising sign or sign structure shall be located in such a manner as to materially impede the view of any street or highway.
- No outdoor advertising sign shall be erected, relocated or maintained so as to prevent free ingress or egress from any door, window or fire escape.
- No portion of any projecting outdoor advertising sign shall be less than eight (8) feet above the level of a sidewalk or other pedestrian thoroughfare, nor less than fifteen (15) feet above the level of a public driveway, alley or street.
- No sign shall be larger than seventy-five (75) square feet, except where the name of a building or firm is attached across the front of a building.
- A sign permit shall be null and void if the sign for which the permit was issued has not been completed and erected within six (6) months from the date of issuance of the permit.
- Any sign erected or painted upon a fence, tree, standpipe, fire escape or utility pole is prohibited, except the manufacturer's or installer's ID plate not to exceed five (5) × eight (8) inches.
- Any sign using the word "Stop" or "Danger" prominently or which is a copy or imitation of official traffic control signs is prohibited, except where such words are part of an attraction title for a theater or similar event.
- Signs with flashing or intermittent illuminations are prohibited, except as required for traffic control.
- Portable signs, snipe signs, sandwich signs, or ladder-type signs are prohibited.
- Permanent signs that produce sound or noise, cause interference with radio, telephone, television or other communication transmissions, produce or reflect motion pictures, or emit visible smoke, vapor, particles, or odor are prohibited.
- Permit holder is responsible for calling for all sign inspections.
- No permits for additional signs shall be issued for any premises on which there are nonconforming signs.
- Erection or maintenance of any sign in violation of this ordinance is a misdemeanor and subject to penalties.

## Signs exempt from permit in Citronelle

- Official traffic signs or sign structures, federal, state, county or municipal information signs and provisional warning signs or sign structures, when erected or required by a governmental agency.
- Changing the copy on a bulletin board, poster board, display encasement, marquee, or changeable copy type sign.
- Temporary nonilluminated signs not more than thirty-two (32) square feet in area, erected in connection with new construction work and displayed on the premises during such time as the actual construction work is in progress, one sign per street frontage, removed upon project completion.
- Any sign on a truck, bus or other vehicle that is used in the normal course of a business for transportation and not for the sole purpose of advertising, except where a vehicle is offered for sale.
- Weather flags for providing information on weather conditions; one set per premises.
- Real estate signs, temporary in nature, nonilluminated, not exceeding six and one-half (6½) square feet, advertising real estate for sale, lease, or rent, or announcing contemplated improvements, one per street frontage.
- Temporary decorative flags, bunting, banners, pennants, streamers, and signs for recognizing holidays, conventions, grand openings, and other commemorative occasions, to be removed as soon as the occasion is over.
- Political signs are exempt from permit requirements but subject to size, location, and time limitations described in section 4.8 through 4.15.
- National flags, flags of political subdivisions of the U.S., and flags of civic, charitable, fraternal, and welfare organizations, when displayed from one flagstaff per premises in accord with U.S. Public Law 623, except when displayed in connection with a commercial promotion.
- Nonadvertising directional signs or symbols (e.g., entrance, exit, caution, slow, no trespassing) on private property not exceeding two (2) square feet.
- One identification sign, with or without bulletin board, per street frontage for public, charitable, educational or religious institutions, located on the premises, not exceeding seventy-five (75) square feet.
- Memorial signs and historical markers, constructed of bronze, stone, or other incombustible material, after approval by the City of Citronelle.
- One professional, announcement, or occupational sign non-directly illuminated and flat wall-mounted, and/or one outdoor advertising sign for privately owned premises or business location, area not exceeding five (5) square feet (for premises without a permitted sign).
- Noncommercial yard or garage sale temporary signs not exceeding eight (8) square feet, erected on private property with date(s) and address, not on public right-of-way, utility pole, tree, etc.; to be removed after sale.
- Signs attached to machinery or equipment advertising only the product or service dispensed, area not exceeding eight (8) square feet.
- Window signs identifying or advertising activities, services, goods, or products available within the building.
- One business or professional identification sign mounted to extend vertically below a marquee or canopy, area not exceeding six (6) square feet and at least nine (9) feet clearance above pedestrian thoroughfare.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- No sign, unless herein excepted, shall be erected, constructed, posted, painted, altered, maintained, or relocated, until a permit has been issued by the building inspector.
- Application for a permit must be filed on prescribed City of Citronelle forms, including required drawings and specifications (location, dimensions, materials, manner of illumination, securing or fastening, number of signs, and the wording to be carried on the sign).
- Electrically illuminated signs require a separate electrical permit and inspection.
- No new off-premises signs or billboards will be permitted in any zone, nor shall a permit be issued for on-premises sign or billboard unless the off-premises sign or billboard is first permanently removed.
- A temporary advertising sign requires a permit for a specified period, subject to renewal if active promotion is shown and maintenance requirements are met.
- The building inspector may remove signs not in compliance or that appear abandoned, after written notice to owner.
- If a sign is nonconforming, changes in use, occupancy, ownership, or repairs/alterations require the replacement or alteration of the sign to bring it into conformance.
- Any sign associated with vacated premises must be removed or altered within three (3) months to remove content related to the former activity.

## Full detail

This page publishes an overview of every zoning district plus a sample of 3 districts in full. Complete zone-by-zone requirements for all 4 zoning districts in Citronelle — every sign type, every field — are available with a free PermitPal account: https://app.permitpal.io/?address=Citronelle+AL&override=true&utm_source=landing&utm_medium=city-page&utm_campaign=city-citronelle

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