# Sign Regulations in Fairhope, Alabama

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Fairhope, Alabama (AL)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/alabama/fairhope
- **Data last verified:** 2025-03-31
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/AL/Fairhope/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=COOR_CH18.5SI)

## At a glance

Fairhope, Alabama regulates 13 sign types across 4 zoning districts. Freestanding Signs in the Residential District zoning district are capped at 7 feet tall and 32 square feet (Sec. Sec. 18.5-4(a)(2)). Most commercial signs in Fairhope require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (4 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Residential District | 1 | 7 feet | 32 square feet | — |
| Nonresidential District | 5 | 8 feet | 50 square feet per lot | — |
| Central Business District | 1 | — | 4 feet vertical, 2 feet 6 inches horizontal | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 7 | 8 feet | 16 square feet | — |

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

### Residential District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign | 7 feet | 32 square feet | — | — | Two per entrance | Subdivision, neighborhood, or complex entrance | — | Sec. 18.5-4(a)(2) |

### Nonresidential District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Building Sign | Not higher than building surface | 50 square feet per lot | — | — | One per street frontage | Each street frontage | — | Sec. 18.5-4(b)(1) |
| Freestanding Sign | 8 feet | — | — | — | One per street frontage | Each street frontage | — | Sec. 18.5-4(b)(2) |
| Directory Sign | 8 feet | 10 square feet | — | — | One per lot or building | Multiple-occupancy lots or buildings | — | Sec. 18.5-4(b)(5) |
| Complex Sign | — | 20 square feet | — | — | One per complex | Shopping centers, special activity districts, or campuses | — | Sec. 18.5-4(b)(6) |
| Gasoline Pricing Sign | 5 feet | 12 square feet per sign face | — | — | One per premises | On premises | — | Sec. 18.5-4(b)(7) |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Monument Sign | 8 feet | — | — | — | — | Ground mounted | — | Table 2-1: Sign Types |
| Pole Sign | 8 feet | 16 square feet | — | — | — | Near entrance of a building | — | Table 2-1: Sign Types |
| Incidental Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Site ingress and egress | — | Table 2-1: Sign Types |
| Facade Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Side of a building | — | Table 2-1: Sign Types |
| Hanging Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Under canopy or beside door | — | Table 2-1: Sign Types |
| Window Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Window of a building | — | Table 2-1: Sign Types |
| Awning Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Surface of an awning | — | Table 2-1: Sign Types |

## Prohibited signs in Fairhope

- Any other type of sign not listed is prohibited.
- It shall be unlawful to erect, alter or relocate any sign without first obtaining a sign permit from the planning director.
- Any sign erected or painted upon a sloping roof, fence, tree, standpipe, fire escape, or utility pole.
- Any sign which is a copy or imitation of official traffic control signs.
- Signs, which flash or illuminate intermittently, revolve, and animated signs except time and temperature or public service signs.
- Signs, which emit visible smoke, vapor, particles, or odor.
- Signs with any lighting or control mechanism, which causes radio or television or other communication interference.
- Any sign placed on any public right-of-way, except for an A-frame sign that is permitted in accordance herewith.
- Any sign attached or painted onto a vehicle, trailer, or portable system parked on or adjacent to public right-of-way for the principal purpose of advertising.
- Any tethered inflatable signs or tethered inflatable objects placed for the sole purpose of attracting attention to one's business (such as balloons).
- Any off-site signs.

## Signs exempt from permit in Fairhope

- The changing of advertising copy or message on signs, which are specifically designed for the use of replaceable copy.
- One general identification sign per building entrance such as a nameplate, street number, or occupant identification sign on common entrances, not to exceed six square feet.
- One onsite bulletin board or identification sign for public, charitable, educational or religious use not exceeding thirty-two square feet.
- Symbolic flags or insignias limited to fifty total square feet in area.
- Decorative flags, banners and bunting authorized by the city council for a citywide celebration, conventions or commemorations.
- Memorial signs, tablets or cornerstones, names of buildings and date of erection when consisting of a cut masonry surface or when constructed of bronze or other noncombustible materials.
- Up to four incidental signs or symbols (e.g. entrance, exit, caution, slow, no trespassing) located on and pertaining to a parcel or property not to exceed two square feet in area per sign.
- Identification signs at the entrance drive of residences, estates, farms, ranches, and plantations, which do not exceed two square feet in area.
- Political signs may be placed on private property after the qualifying deadline for the election.
- Temporary off-site directional signs are allowed on the city right-of-way with specific limitations.
- One construction sign per street frontage located on property where construction is actually in progress under a current building permit.
- Temporary signs may be placed on private property for a period no longer than thirty days; one temporary sign allowed per street frontage; no larger than four square feet per sign.
- Window signs which identify or advertise activities, services, goods or products available within the building and which collectively cover twenty percent or less of the window glass surface area.
- Signs incorporated on machinery or equipment at the manufacturer's or distributor's level, which identify or advertise only the product or service dispensed by the machine or equipment, such as signs customarily affixed to vending machines, newspaper racks, telephone booths, and gasoline pumps and do not exceed two square feet per piece of equipment.
- Directional and regulatory signs erected by an agency of government or any lawfully constituted utility.
- One under-canopy sign per business not to exceed three square feet, not lower than eight feet clear above the walkway surface and not illuminated.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Signs with unusual structural features, or as deemed necessary by the planning director, shall be designed, signed and certified by an Alabama registered engineer.
- A sign permit shall become null and void if the sign for which the permit was issued has not been completed within a period of six months after the date of issuance.

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

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