Sign Regulations in Cullman, Alabama
Cullman, Alabama has specific sign regulations covering 23 sign types across 5 zoning districts. Regulated sign types include Projecting Sign, Canopy/Marquee Sign, Temporary Banner (Exterior). Height restrictions apply. Permits are required for most commercial signs. Use PermitPal to get instant access to the complete regulations.
Data last verified: April 27, 2026
Sign Regulation Overview for Cullman, Alabama
Sample Sign Requirements in Cullman
| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Setback |
|---|---|---|---|
| Projecting Sign | — | 24 sq ft | — |
| Attached Sign (General Limits for Any Attached/Wall Sign) | Top of sign may not exceed the roofline height of the building. | — | — |
| Temporary Banner (Exterior) | — | 32 sq ft | May not be placed on public right-of-way. |
* Sample data shown. Actual requirements may vary by zone. Use PermitPal for complete, location-specific regulations.
PermitPal Coverage for CullmanFull Coverage
Sign Types Covered
23
- Projecting Sign
- Canopy/Marquee Sign
- Temporary Banner (Exterior)
- Temporary Real Estate Sign (Nonresidential Lot)
- +2 more types
Zoning Districts
5
Different zoning districts with specific sign regulations
Data Includes
- Permit requirements
- Height restrictions
- Illumination rules
Official Resources for Cullman
Other Cities in Alabama
Frequently Asked Questions
In Cullman, wall signs can be up to Top of sign may not exceed the roofline height of the building.. Height limits vary by zoning district and sign type. Use PermitPal to get exact requirements for your specific location.
To get a sign permit in Cullman, submit an application to the local building or planning department with sign dimensions, location, and design specifications. Our data confirms permits are required for most commercial signs. Processing typically takes 1-4 weeks. PermitPal helps you identify specific requirements and prepare complete applications.
In Cullman, regulated sign types include Projecting Sign, Canopy/Marquee Sign, Temporary Banner (Exterior), Temporary Real Estate Sign (Nonresidential Lot), and 2 more types. Most commercial signs require permits. Temporary signs and certain small signs may be exempt. Use PermitPal for specific exemptions.
Sign setback requirements in Cullman vary by zone and sign type, typically ranging from 5-15 feet from property lines. Use PermitPal for specific setback requirements at your location.
Digital and LED signs in Cullman are regulated with specific requirements for brightness, animation, and message duration. Cullman has documented illumination rules in our database. Use PermitPal to see the exact requirements for electronic message centers.
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Cullman, Alabama Sign Rules at a Glance
Cullman, Alabama regulates 23 sign types across 5 zoning districts. Billboard Sign (Along I-65 within 660 ft)s in the B-1 Neighborhood Shopping District zoning district are capped at Sign face height max 14 ft; bottom of billboard must be at least 25 ft above grade tall, 672 sq ft per facing, and 50 ft (sign face width) wide, with a General spacing from traffic control devices required; building mounting prohibited. setback (Sec. Sec. 62-150(1)(a) (interstate siting), 62-150(2) (size), 62-150(3) (lighting), 62-150(4)(b) (I-65 spacing), 62-150(1)(c)–(d) (engineer and approvals)). Most commercial signs in Cullman require a permit.
Detailed Sign Ordinance Requirements for Cullman, Alabama
Sign Rules by Zoning District in Cullman (5 zones)
| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| General Regulations For All Zones | 14 | Top of sign may not exceed the roofline height of the building. | 32 sq ft | — |
| Residential Districts (R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4) | 6 | — | 120 sq ft per sign | — |
| Non-Residential Districts (B-1, B-2, B-3, CBD, INST, E-1, M-1, M-2, M-1-P, AG-1, AG-2) | 10 | Top of attached sign may not exceed roofline height | 32 sq ft | — |
| B-1 Neighborhood Shopping District | 13 | Sign face height max 14 ft; bottom of billboard must be at least 25 ft above grade | 672 sq ft per facing | — |
| B-2 General Business District | 13 | Sign face height max 14 ft; bottom of billboard must be at least 25 ft above grade | 672 sq ft per facing | — |
Zone-by-Zone Sign Requirements in Cullman(sample of 3 of 5 zones)
General Regulations For All Zones
| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Premium Details(Illumination, Size Formula, Permit Requirements, Additional Requirements — available with a free PermitPal account) | Ordinance Citation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temporary Banner (Exterior) | — | 32 sq ft | — | May not be placed on public right-of-way. | 1 per address | On-premises (at the address of the event); not on public right-of-way. | — | Unlock | Sec. 62-149(a), (b) |
| Temporary Real Estate Sign (Residential Lot) | — | 9 sq ft | — | Not in ROW/medians/public easements; must maintain traffic visibility. | — | On the lot being sold/leased/rented. | — | Unlock | Sec. 62-149(c) |
| Temporary Real Estate Sign (Nonresidential Lot) | — | 32 sq ft | — | Not in ROW/medians/public easements; maintain traffic visibility. | — | On the nonresidential lot being sold/leased/rented. | — | Unlock | Sec. 62-149(c) |
| Temporary Political Sign (Residential Lot) | — | 9 sq ft | — | Not in ROW/medians/public easements; respect visibility triangles. | — | On a residential lot (private property). | — | Unlock | Sec. 62-149(e), (a) |
| Temporary Political Sign (Nonresidential Lot) | — | 32 sq ft | — | Not in ROW/medians/public easements; respect visibility triangles. | — | On a nonresidential lot (private property). | — | Unlock | Sec. 62-149(e), (a) |
| Temporary Construction Site Identification Sign | — | 32 sq ft per sign | — | — | Up to 2 per street frontage | On the site where building is in progress, per street frontage. | — | Unlock | Sec. 62-149(d) |
| Temporary Garage or Yard Sale Sign - Option 1 (General Prohibition Exception) | — | 2 sq ft | — | Not in the public right-of-way. | 1 per sale | On the lot where the sale is taking place (yard). | — | Unlock | Sec. 62-147(a)(1); Sec. 62-4(b) |
| Temporary Garage or Yard Sale Sign - Option 2 (Temporary Sign Standard) | — | 9 sq ft | — | Not in ROW/medians/public easements; not on public street/private drives; not on poles/signs. | — | On the residential lot where the sale will occur. | — | Unlock | Sec. 62-149(f); Sec. 62-4(b); Sec. 62-147(a)(1) |
B-1 Neighborhood Shopping District
| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Premium Details(Illumination, Size Formula, Permit Requirements, Additional Requirements — available with a free PermitPal account) | Ordinance Citation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Billboard Sign (Along I-65 within 660 ft) | Sign face height max 14 ft; bottom of billboard must be at least 25 ft above grade | 672 sq ft per facing | 50 ft (sign face width) | General spacing from traffic control devices required; building mounting prohibited. | — | Within 660 ft of the nearest edge of the Interstate (I-65) ROW in the B-1 district. | — | Unlock | Sec. 62-150(1)(a) (interstate siting), 62-150(2) (size), 62-150(3) (lighting), 62-150(4)(b) (I-65 spacing), 62-150(1)(c)–(d) (engineer and approvals) |
| Billboard Sign (On Certain State Highways: 69, 278, 31, 157) | Sign face height max 14 ft; minimum 25 ft ground clearance to bottom of billboard | 672 sq ft per facing | 50 ft (sign face width) | Minimum 10 ft from any property line; not within 2,000-ft radius of the intersection of Highways 31 and 278. | — | Along Hwy 69, 278, 31, or 157 within the B-1 district limits. | — | Unlock | Sec. 62-150(1)(a)–(b) (location and on-premise limitation), 62-150(1)(a)1–3 (state highway conditions), 62-150(2) (size), 62-150(3) (lighting), 62-150(4)(a), (c) (spacing/safety) |
| Billboard Sign (On-Premise/Not For Hire) | Sign face height max 14 ft; minimum 25 ft ground clearance recommended/applicable by analogy where permitted | Up to 672 sq ft per facing (if treated as billboard per Sec. 62-150(2)) | 50 ft (sign face width) | Where applicable, at least 10 ft from property lines per state-highway condition; general spacing/safety rules apply. | — | On or immediately adjacent to the premises of the advertised business, within B-1. | — | Unlock | Sec. 62-150(1)(b); Sec. 62-150(2)–(4) |
| Wall Sign (Individual Business) | Top of attached sign may not exceed roofline height | As allowed by formula; no separate per-sign cap specified | — | — | — | On building walls of non-residential uses. | — | Unlock | Sec. 62-144(f), (l)–(n); Sec. 62-143(a)–(b); Sec. 62-146(a) |
| Freestanding/Ground/Monument Sign (Individual Business) | — | As allowed by formula; no separate per-sign cap specified | — | If sign area exceeds 50 sq ft, it may not be within 10 ft of any property line or street ROW. | — | Permitted on non-residential lots; may be placed within the required front yard/setback area of the place of business advertised (subject to all regulations). | — | Unlock | Sec. 62-144(e)–(f); Sec. 62-142(a); Sec. 62-147(a)(5) |
| Shopping Center Entrance Locator Sign | — | 2 sq ft per linear foot of building face | — | — | Additional locator sign(s) at each entrance | At the entrance(s) to a shopping center development. | — | Unlock | Sec. 62-144(g) |
| Temporary Banner (Exterior) | — | 32 sq ft | — | Not in ROW/medians/public property. | 1 per address | On the site where the event occurs. | — | Unlock | Sec. 62-149(a), (b) |
| Temporary Real Estate Sign (Nonresidential Lot) | — | 32 sq ft | — | Not in ROW/medians/public easements; maintain visibility. | — | On the nonresidential lot being sold/leased/rented. | — | Unlock | Sec. 62-149(c) |
B-2 General Business District
| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Premium Details(Illumination, Size Formula, Permit Requirements, Additional Requirements — available with a free PermitPal account) | Ordinance Citation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Billboard Sign (Along I-65 within 660 ft) | Sign face height max 14 ft; bottom of billboard must be at least 25 ft above grade | 672 sq ft per facing | 50 ft (sign face width) | General spacing/safety from traffic control devices; building-mounted billboards prohibited. | — | Within 660 ft of the nearest edge of the Interstate (I-65) ROW in the B-2 district. | — | Unlock | Sec. 62-150(1)(a), 62-150(2), 62-150(3), 62-150(4)(b), 62-150(1)(c)–(d) |
| Billboard Sign (On Certain State Highways: 69, 278, 31, 157) | Sign face height max 14 ft; minimum 25 ft ground clearance to bottom of billboard | 672 sq ft per facing | 50 ft (sign face width) | Minimum 10 ft from any property line; not within 2,000-ft radius of the intersection of Highways 31 and 278. | — | Along Hwy 69, 278, 31, or 157 within the B-2 district limits. | — | Unlock | Sec. 62-150(1)(a)–(b), 62-150(1)(a)1–3, 62-150(2), 62-150(3), 62-150(4)(a), (c) |
| Billboard Sign (On-Premise/Not For Hire) | Sign face height max 14 ft; minimum 25 ft ground clearance recommended/applicable by analogy where permitted | Up to 672 sq ft per facing (billboard standard) | 50 ft (sign face width) | Where applicable, at least 10 ft from property lines per state-highway condition; general spacing/safety rules apply. | — | On or immediately adjacent to the premises of the advertised business, within B-2. | — | Unlock | Sec. 62-150(1)(b); Sec. 62-150(2)–(4) |
| Wall Sign (Individual Business) | Top of attached sign may not exceed roofline height | As allowed by formula; no separate per-sign cap specified | — | — | — | On building walls of non-residential uses. | — | Unlock | Sec. 62-144(f), (l)–(n); Sec. 62-143(a)–(b); Sec. 62-146(a) |
| Freestanding/Ground/Monument Sign (Individual Business) | — | As allowed by formula; no separate per-sign cap specified | — | If sign area exceeds 50 sq ft, it may not be within 10 ft of any property line or street ROW. | — | Permitted on non-residential lots; may be placed within the required front yard/setback area of the place of business advertised (subject to all regulations). | — | Unlock | Sec. 62-144(e)–(f); Sec. 62-142(a); Sec. 62-147(a)(5) |
| Shopping Center Entrance Locator Sign | — | 2 sq ft per linear foot of building face | — | — | Additional locator sign(s) at each entrance | At the entrance(s) to a shopping center development. | — | Unlock | Sec. 62-144(g) |
| Temporary Banner (Exterior) | — | 32 sq ft | — | Not in ROW/medians/public property. | 1 per address | On the site where the event occurs. | — | Unlock | Sec. 62-149(a), (b) |
| Temporary Real Estate Sign (Nonresidential Lot) | — | 32 sq ft | — | Not in ROW/medians/public easements; maintain visibility. | — | On the nonresidential lot being sold/leased/rented. | — | Unlock | Sec. 62-149(c) |
PermitPal covers all 5 zoning districts in Cullman — full sign requirements for every zone, plus illumination rules, size formulas, and permit requirements for every sign type — with a free account.
See all 5 zones for Cullman — start freeProhibited Signs in Cullman
- No sign may obstruct any window, door, fire escape, stairway, or other opening intended for light, air, ingress, or egress.
- No sign may be erected between four and ten feet above ground where it would obstruct the vision of drivers on any street, road, highway, driveway, or alley, and no sign may impede the view at any street or highway intersection.
- No sign, canopy, awning, marquee, or similar structure may be placed so as to create a traffic hazard by obscuring views.
- No sign may imitate or resemble any official traffic sign, signal, or device.
- Red, amber, or green lights are prohibited near traffic signals if they could be mistaken for the signal.
- Maintaining abandoned, structurally unsafe, or dangerous signs is prohibited; such signs must be removed or made safe when ordered by the building official.
- Electrical wiring or cable serving a sign may not be laid on the surface of the ground, street, parking lot, or sidewalk.
- No sign may incorporate a bare incandescent bulb over 20 watts unless used as a shielded, indirect light source.
- Signs illuminated by flashing, intermittent, or moving lights are prohibited, except for displays giving public information such as time, date, temperature, weather, or news.
- Portable signs, including signs mounted on trailers, are prohibited citywide and no variance or special exception may authorize them; vehicles displaying a sign may not be parked outside an enclosed building for longer than 90 minutes.
- Yard sale or similar off-premises signs are prohibited; only one on-premises sign up to two square feet is allowed at the site of the sale.
- Signs on public rights-of-way are prohibited except those erected or permitted by city, county, or state officials.
- No sign may be attached to utility poles, trees, street signposts, or to any permitted sign or its support.
- No sign may obstruct any sidewalk, driveway, alley, or street.
- No sign exceeding 50 square feet may be placed within ten feet of any property line or any street right-of-way.
- Any sign deemed unsafe by the building official due to its nature or location is prohibited.
- Bench-type signs on city or state rights-of-way are prohibited.
- Animated or motion signs (blinking, chasing, flashing, moving, revolving, or rotating effects) are prohibited, except for displays of time or temperature and signs that change characters, letters, or illustrations without altering the sign or billboard.
Exempt Signs in Cullman
- Any authorized sign may carry a noncommercial message in lieu of any other message without additional approval or permit, unless electrical or structural changes are required.
- No sign permit is required for repairing, cleaning, touch-up painting, bulb replacement, and other normal maintenance that prolongs the life of a sign (structural integrity improvements still require a permit).
- No sign permit is required to change the logo or name on any sign face.
- No sign permit is required for signs measuring seven square feet or less in area.
- Exceptions to the flashing/motion lighting ban: displays giving public information (time, date, temperature, weather, or news) may use flashing/intermittent/moving lights; signs that change characters, letters, or illustrations manually or electronically (including barber poles) are allowed without altering the sign or billboard.
Sign Plan & Submission Notes for Cullman
- A sign permit is required for all signs unless explicitly exempted.
- Permit applications must include: property owner, location, present use, zoning district; site plan showing the sign’s location relative to property lines and existing signs/structures; complete structural specifications (footings, anchoring, supports) compliant with city building-related codes; and any additional information needed to determine compliance.
- Signs exceeding 60 square feet or any sign over 20 feet in height must be designed and sealed by a professional engineer registered in Alabama.
- Outdoor advertising signs within 660 feet of the right-of-way of an Interstate or Federal Aid Primary System highway require a state permit from the Alabama Department of Transportation (Highway Beautification Act).
- Billboards require complete plans and specifications designed and sealed by an Alabama-registered professional engineer and documented approvals from the Department of Transportation and the landowner prior to city approval.
- No variance or special exception may be granted for portable signs.
- No master sign plan requirement is stated in the provided text.
Source: municode municipal code