# Sign Regulations in Daphne, Alabama

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

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

## At a glance

Daphne, Alabama regulates 28 sign types across 12 zoning districts. Three-Dimensional Logo or Emblem Signs in the Single-Family Residential (R-1), Single-Family Residential (R-2), Single-Family Residential (R-3, R-6(D,G)), Multi-Family Residential (R-4, R-7(A,M,T)), Mobile Home Residential (R-5), Residential District, Mobile Home Park, Mobile Home Subdivision zoning district are capped at 4 ft. tall, 16 sq. ft., and 4 ft. pedestal/base width wide, with a Min 15 ft from property line setback (Sec. Sec 33-10(b)(4)). Most commercial signs in Daphne require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (12 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 12 | 42 in | ≤ 144 sq. ft. | — |
| Single-Family Residential (R-1), Single-Family Residential (R-2), Single-Family Residential (R-3, R-6(D,G)), Multi-Family Residential (R-4, R-7(A,M,T)), Mobile Home Residential (R-5), Residential District, Mobile Home Park, Mobile Home Subdivision | 3 | 21 ft. | 50 sq. ft. per face, 2 faces | — |
| Local Business (B-1), Limited Local Business District (B-1(a)) | 3 | 21 ft. | 350 sq. ft. | — |
| General Business (B-2), Professional Business (B-3), Commercial/Industrial (C/I), General Business (Shopping Center) (B-2), Business Districts | 6 | 21 ft. (B-2, C/I), 10 ft. (B-3) | 350 sq. ft. | — |
| Industrial District | 1 | 21 ft. | 50 sq. ft. | — |
| Business Park, Office Park, Commercial Park | 2 | 15 ft. | 50 sq. ft. | — |
| Planned Unit Development | 1 | 21 ft. | 50 sq. ft. per face, 2 faces | — |
| Retail Shopping Center | 3 | 21 ft. | 350 sq. ft. | — |
| Mixed Use Zone District | 1 | 21 ft. | 50 sq. ft. | — |
| Olde Towne Daphne Overlay | 1 | — | — | — |
| Municipal Facility | 1 | 15 ft. | 50 sq. ft. | — |
| Public Entities (Daphne Civic Center, Recreation, and Library Complex, schools of the Baldwin County School System) | 1 | 10 ft. | 50 sq. ft. (overall) | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 12 zones)

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Political Sign (Residential Districts) | 4 ft. | 4 sq. ft. | — | — | 2 per lot | Private property only | — | Sec 33-5(g), Sec 33-6(a)(d) |
| Political Sign (Business, Commercial, Industrial Districts) | 8 ft. | 16 sq. ft. | — | — | 2 per lot | Private property only | — | Sec 33-5(g), Sec 33-6(a)(d) |
| Directional Sign | 42 in | 2 sq. ft. | — | — | Not specified, but intent is for small quantity | On private property | — | Sec 33-5(i)(1) |
| Directional Sign (POA Neighborhood Interior) | 42 in | 6 sq. ft. | — | — | — | Interior along rights-of-way in neighborhoods | — | Sec 33-5(i)(2) |
| Professional/Announcement/Occupational Sign | — | 5 sq. ft. (combined if two signs) | — | — | 1 wall; and/or 1 outdoor advertising; max combined area 5 sq. ft. | Flat wall mounted or outdoor advertising for premises without a permitted sign | — | Sec 33-5(k) |
| A-frame Sandwich Board Sign | — | 25 sq. ft. (total for both faces) | — | — | 1 per allowed entrance | Within 20 ft of primary entrance (single-tenant); within 5 ft of individual entry (multi-tenant, with individual exterior entries) | — | Sec 33-5(o)(3) |
| Decorative Street Banner | — | — | 30 in | — | 1 per light standard | 1 per light standard, on-premises, private property (not on street right-of-way except by City) | — | Sec 33-5(q) |
| Advertising Package (Retail/Commercial Holiday) | 3-D inflatable: max 50 ft | Banner 16 sq. ft. per street frontage; one inflatable 3-D item | — | — | Up to 3 types of items per holiday package | On premises | — | Sec 33-5(o)(4)(ii) |

### Single-Family Residential (R-1), Single-Family Residential (R-2), Single-Family Residential (R-3, R-6(D,G)), Multi-Family Residential (R-4, R-7(A,M,T)), Mobile Home Residential (R-5), Residential District, Mobile Home Park, Mobile Home Subdivision

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign (Residential) | 6 ft. | 6 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per premises | On premises | — | Sec 33-11 |
| Name Indication Sign (Subdivision/Complex/Residential Development) | 21 ft. | 50 sq. ft. per face, 2 faces | — | — | 1 per street frontage | Perpendicular to each city street frontage to be served | — | Sec 33-10(b)(2) |
| Three-Dimensional Logo or Emblem Sign | 4 ft. | 16 sq. ft. | 4 ft. pedestal/base width | Min 15 ft from property line | 1 per frontage | Perpendicular to each street frontage to be served; not for multi-tenant or shopping center | — | Sec 33-10(b)(4) |

### General Business (B-2), Professional Business (B-3), Commercial/Industrial (C/I), General Business (Shopping Center) (B-2), Business Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign | 21 ft. (B-2, C/I), 10 ft. (B-3) | 50 sq. ft. (B-2, C/I), 30 sq. ft. (B-3) | — | — | 1 per street frontage (2 if premises > 1000 ft frontage for B-2) | On premises; per street frontage | — | Sec 33-11 |
| Freestanding Sign (Shopping Center Main) | 21 ft. | 150 sq. ft. | 15 ft. | — | 1 per street frontage | Perpendicular to each street frontage | — | Sec 33-10(b)(3) |
| Freestanding Sign (Shopping Center Secondary) | 21 ft. | 50 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per street frontage not supporting main sign | Perpendicular to each street frontage not supporting the larger sign | — | Sec 33-10(b)(3) |
| Wall Sign | — | 350 sq. ft. | — | — | — | Building wall | — | Sec 33-10(c) |
| Menu Type Sign (Drive-Thru Service) | 8 ft. | 40 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per drive-thru window | Drive-thru window | — | Sec 33-10(d) |
| Gasoline/Fuel Pricing Sign | — | 12 sq. ft. | — | — | Not specified | Any business or industrial district | — | Sec 33-10(f) |

## Prohibited signs in Daphne

- No sign shall be erected, constructed, posted, painted, altered, maintained, or relocated until a permit has been issued by the code enforcement officer, unless excepted.
- All signs which are electrically illuminated require a separate electrical permit and inspection.
- Any permitted sign is subject to the size and height limitations imposed by this Ordinance for the district where it is located.
- 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 so as to materially impede the view of any street or highway intersection.
- No outdoor advertising sign shall be erected, relocated or maintained so as to prevent free ingress/egress from any door, window, or fire escape.
- Signs are prohibited in all districts if erected or painted upon a sloped roof, fence, tree, stand pipe, fire escape, or utility pole, except for small ID plates.
- Signs which prominently display the word 'Stop' or 'Danger', or which are copies/imitation of official traffic control signs are prohibited.
- Signs with intermittent illuminations (flashing signs) are prohibited, with exceptions for traffic control, public information signs, or those with changes less than 12 times per hour.
- Prohibited sign types include: portable signs, bench signs, snipe signs, ladder-type signs, sign walkers, and sandwich signs (except permitted A-frame sandwich boards).
- Signs that produce sound, noise, cause interference with communication transmissions, produce or reflect motion pictures, emit visible smoke, vapor, particles, odor, are animated, or produce rotation, motion, or movement are prohibited.
- Billboards and off-premises signs are prohibited.
- Signs attached to or painted on vehicles parked adjacent to or on public right-of-way/public parking for the principal purpose of advertising are prohibited.
- Any illuminated tubing or strings of lights that outline property lines, sales areas, architectural features, etc., are prohibited (except for temporary holiday/community displays).
- Electronic signs are generally prohibited except as specifically permitted.

## Signs exempt from permit in Daphne

- Official traffic signs or sign structures, or municipal information signs and provisional warning signs or sign structures, when erected or required by a governmental agency.
- Any sign on a truck, bus, or other vehicle used in the normal course of business for transportation and not for sole purpose of advertising, except when the vehicle is offered for sale.
- Weather flags for providing information on weather conditions: one set per premises.
- Certain commercial and residential real estate signs, under specific size, height, and placement conditions.
- Real estate builder/subdivision directional signage within prescribed limits.
- Upon securing a building permit, new construction signs, construction site identification signs, and 'Coming Soon' signs within specified limits.
- Political signs are exempt from permit requirements but must comply with other rules.
- National flags, flags of political subdivisions, and flags of bona fide civic, charitable, fraternal, and welfare organizations, when displayed from one flag staff per premises in accord with US Flag Display Practice.
- Non-advertising directional signs or symbols (e.g., entrance, exit, caution) up to 2 sq ft and 42 inches in height, and POA interior directional signs as specified.
- Memorial signs and historical markers constructed of incombustible materials, after city council approval.
- One professional, announcement, or occupational sign, non-directly illuminated and wall-mounted, and/or one outdoor advertising sign for a premises/business (if without a permanent sign), not to exceed 5 sq ft.
- Signs incorporated on machinery or equipment advertising only the product/service dispensed, not exceeding 2 sq ft.
- Indoor signage or window signs identifying/advertising activities/goods/services, collectively covering no more than 20% of front window glass area.
- One business/professional identification sign under marquee/canopy, max 6 sq ft, with required vertical clearance.
- Small promotional tents (equal to or less than 144 sq ft) are exempt from permitting requirements.
- Decorative street banners placed on private property, meeting specified criteria.
- Temporary promotional signs (on-premises signs with commercial message, including banners, etc.) in compliance with placement and usage restrictions.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Drawings and specifications as necessary to advise the code enforcement officer of location, size, construction, materials, illumination, and mounting must be submitted with the permit application.
- A landscape plan designed by a qualified professional must be submitted to the Department of Community Development for any electronic/digital sign permit; disapproval of the landscape plan may result in disapproval of the sign permit or delay.
- Approval of the planning commission is required for certain property owners association signs, name indication signs, interstate corridor signs, and commercial/retail development interior street signs.
- For promotional banners, tents, or inflatables >144 sq ft, a plot plan showing proposed location and distances from property lines/right-of-way must accompany the permit application.
- Informational/directional signs in business/office parks require prior licensing approval from the code enforcement officer and may be subject to city council review.
- In special cases, a variance may be permitted by the board of zoning adjustment for erection of nonconforming signs.
- No mention of a comprehensive master sign plan requirement or city-wide sign plan submission for developments, but multiple sign types require site-specific plans and, for some, appear to require planning commission approval.

## 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 12 zoning districts in Daphne — every sign type, every field — are available with a free PermitPal account: https://app.permitpal.io/?address=Daphne+AL&override=true&utm_source=landing&utm_medium=city-page&utm_campaign=city-daphne

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