# Sign Regulations in Fultondale, Alabama

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Fultondale, Alabama (AL)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/alabama/fultondale
- **Data last verified:** 2025-11-03
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/al/fultondale/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=COOR_CH46ZO_ARTVIIISIRE)

## At a glance

Fultondale, Alabama regulates 40 sign types across 11 zoning districts. Nameplate Signs in the Residential Districts (R) zoning district are capped at 1 sq ft, with a Within 12 ft of foundation and within building lines; not in side yard (Sec. 113-409.G.iv.f–g) setback (Sec. Sec. 113-409.G.i.a.1; Sec. 113-409.G.iv.d–g). Most commercial signs in Fultondale require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (11 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Residential Districts (R) | 9 | — | 20 sq ft | — |
| Residential Districts (R-3, R-4) | 1 | — | 20 sq ft | — |
| Business Districts (A, A-1, B, B-1) | 12 | Clearance ≥ 15 ft | 8 sq ft | — |
| Business Districts (B-2) | 5 | 14 ft to top of sign (from ground at building frontage); second-floor businesses up to 22 ft | — | — |
| Business Districts (C) | 6 | 14 ft to top of sign (from ground at building frontage); second-floor businesses may be up to 22 ft | — | — |
| Planned Retail Districts (PR) | 2 | 15 ft | 75 sq ft per side | — |
| Planned Retail Districts (PR, Redevelopment Area) | 3 | 35 ft | 400 sq ft per side | — |
| Manufacturing districts | 1 | — | — | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 6 | No ground or wall sign higher than the building height for the zone, or 40 ft, whichever is less | Lettering area ≤ 50 sq ft | — |

_2 additional zoning districts are covered in PermitPal (free account)._

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 11 zones)

### Residential Districts (R)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Nameplate Sign | — | 1 sq ft | — | Within 12 ft of foundation and within building lines; not in side yard (Sec. 113-409.G.iv.f–g) | 1 per residence | At residence; in residential districts signs must be within 12 ft of the foundation and within the building lines; no side yard placement | — | Sec. 113-409.G.i.a.1; Sec. 113-409.G.iv.d–g |
| Professional Sign - Option 1 (In lieu of Nameplate) | — | 1.5 sq ft | — | Within 12 ft of foundation; within building lines; not on side yard | 1 (replaces nameplate) | At residence; must be within 12 ft of foundation and within building lines; no side yard | — | Sec. 113-409.G.i.a.2; Sec. 113-409.G.iv.a,f–g |
| Temporary Real Estate Sign (Residential) | — | 4 sq ft | — | Within 12 ft of foundation; within building lines; not on side yard | 1 (corner lot: 1 additional if lot > 0.5 acre) | On premises; in residential districts must be within 12 ft of foundation and within building lines; not in side yard | — | Sec. 113-409.G.i.a.3; Sec. 113-409.C.iii; Sec. 113-409.G.iv.f–g |
| Bulletin Board (Place of Worship/School/Clinic/Public or Semipublic Institution) | — | 20 sq ft | — | Within 12 ft of foundation; within building lines; not on side yard | 1 | At institution site; residential districts require placement within 12 ft of foundation and within building lines; no side yard | — | Sec. 113-409.G.i.a.4; Sec. 113-409.G.iv.f–g |
| Sample House Sign (Major Subdivision) | — | 4 sq ft | — | Within 12 ft of foundation; within building lines; not on side yard | 1 | At sample house in major subdivision; within 12 ft of foundation and within building lines; not in side yard | — | Sec. 113-409.G.i.a.5; Sec. 113-409.G.iv.f–g |
| Freestanding Sign (Multifamily > 4 Dwelling Units) | — | 8 sq ft | — | Within 12 ft of foundation; within building lines; not on side yard | 1 | Freestanding at multifamily project; must be within 12 ft of foundation and within building lines; not on side yard | — | Sec. 113-409.G.i.a.6; Sec. 113-409.G.iv.f–g |
| Temporary Contractor/Mechanic/Artisan Sign (Per Trade) | — | 4 sq ft per sign | — | Within 12 ft of foundation; within building lines; not on side yard | 1 per trade | On premises where work is performed; in residential districts must be within 12 ft of foundation and within building lines; not on side yard | — | Sec. 113-409.G.i.a.7; Sec. 113-409.G.iv.f–g |
| Directional Sign (Residential) | — | 1 sq ft | — | Within 12 ft of foundation; within building lines; not on side yard | — | On premises; within 12 ft of foundation and within building lines; not on side yard | — | Sec. 113-409.G.i.a.8; Sec. 113-409.G.iv.f–g |

### Business Districts (A, A-1, B, B-1)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign (Required - Name/Product) | 4 ft | — | — | Minimum 12 ft from front lot line; 45° placement at corners if at the corner | 1 required per establishment for name/product | Within front yard(s), not closer than 12 ft to front lot line; may be perpendicular or parallel to front lot line; on corner lots, at a 45° angle if at the corner | — | Sec. 113-409.G.ii (opening clause); Sec. 113-409.G.ii.f; Sec. 113-409.H.vii |
| Wall Sign (Business Name) | 14 ft to top of sign (from ground at building frontage); second-floor businesses may be up to 22 ft | — | ≤ 80% of store width | — | 1 per facade (corner lots: up to 2, one per street frontage) | Attached to facade | — | Sec. 113-409.G.ii.b; Sec. 113-409.G.v.a–d,f; Sec. 113-409.H.vii; Sec. 113-409.F.iii |
| Directory Sign (Multiple Establishments Not Obvious) | — | — | — | ≥ 12 ft from front lot line | — | Within front yard(s) allowed; not closer than 12 ft to front lot line | — | Sec. 113-409.G.ii.c; Sec. 113-409.H.vii |
| Special Convenience Signs | — | 1 sq ft per sign | — | — | 1 per sign type | — | — | Sec. 113-409.G.v.i |
| Temporary Real Estate Sign (Business Districts) | — | 8 sq ft | — | — | 1 | — | — | Sec. 113-409.G.v.k |
| Awning (Front Facade) | Clearance ≥ 8 ft | — | — | — | 1 | Front facade of building | — | Sec. 113-409.G.v.l; Sec. 113-409.H.vi |
| Canopy (Principal Entrance) / Stressed Fabric Canopy | Clearance ≥ 8 ft; stressed fabric canopy vertical dimension ≤ 4 ft | — | — | — | 1 canopy (only if no awning on front facade) | Principal entrance/front facade | — | Sec. 113-409.G.v.m–n; Sec. 113-409.H.vi |
| Second-Floor Business Window Sign | Top of sign may exceed 14 ft but cannot exceed 22 ft | — | — | — | 1 | Second-floor window | — | Sec. 113-409.G.v.f |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Monument Sign (General - Nonresidential Uses) | 5 ft to top of sign (measured from surrounding ground) | 40 sq ft | — | — | 1 monument sign per every 2 driveways | On sites with a minimum of 6 parking spaces, for nonresidential uses in all zones | — | Sec. 113-409.O.i–v |
| Pole Mounted Sign (General - Nonresidential Uses) | ≤ 20 ft to top of sign | Lettering area ≤ 50 sq ft | — | — | 1 per project/property | Nonresidential uses in all zones | — | Sec. 113-409.P.i–iii; Sec. 113-409.H.vii |
| All Ground/Wall Signs - Height Limit (General) | No ground or wall sign higher than the building height for the zone, or 40 ft, whichever is less | — | — | — | — | All zones | — | Sec. 113-409.H.i |
| Roof Signs - Projection/Height Limit (General) | No roof sign may extend higher than 35 ft above the roof at the point of mounting | — | — | — | — | All zones | — | Sec. 113-409.H.ii |
| Awnings/Canopies/Marquees - Clearance (General) | Awnings/Canopies: clearance ≥ 8 ft; Marquees: clearance ≥ 15 ft | — | — | — | — | All zones | — | Sec. 113-409.H.vi |
| Illuminated/Indirectly Illuminated Signs - Shielding and No Intermittent Lighting | — | — | — | — | — | All zones | — | Sec. 113-409.H.vii |

## Prohibited signs in Fultondale

- Flashing, fluttering, or animated signs are prohibited borough-wide, except for time and/or temperature signs in commercial or manufacturing districts and flashing/animated signs for hotels with 200 or more rooms.
- Signs with lighting or control mechanisms that cause radio or television interference are prohibited.
- No sign may obstruct or be attached to any fire escape, window, door, or opening used for egress/ingress, or to any standpipe, nor may any sign obstruct passage by vehicular or pedestrian traffic on any public or quasi-public right-of-way.
- Signs that are of such form, shape, or character as to confuse or dangerously distract motorists are prohibited.
- Signs or markings on obstructing railroad overpasses are prohibited, except for authorized traffic warning signs, markings, or devices.
- Using a series of two or more signs or units placed in line or parallel to carry a single message split across the signs is prohibited.
- Signs that simulate authorized traffic directional or warning signs are prohibited.
- Portable signs are prohibited anywhere in the borough.
- Revolving, rotating, gyrating, undulating, or vibrating signs are prohibited.
- Temporary signs may not be affixed to the glass of display windows or doors.
- No sign may be illuminated by lighting of intermittent or varying intensity.
- Signs may not contain indecent or immoral content, libelous, defamatory, or sacrilegious language, or urge, advocate, or glorify unlawful activity.
- No ground or wall sign may have its highest section higher than the building height limit for the zone or 40 feet, whichever is less; wall signs may not project above the wall to which they are attached.
- No roof sign may project beyond the building walls (except supporting arms) or extend higher than 35 feet above the roof at the point of mounting.

## Signs exempt from permit in Fultondale

- Public notices of any governmental unit are exempt from this chapter.
- Temporary political campaign signs are exempt if they do not exceed 8 square feet, are not maintained for more than 45 days, and are removed within 3 days after the election; on residential properties they must be placed within 12 feet of the residence’s foundation, within building lines, and not encroach on adjacent properties.
- Temporary real estate signs (non-portable, non-illuminated) stating property for sale or lease are exempt if they do not exceed 4 square feet and are removed within 10 days after the premises are sold or leased.
- Portable signs are exempt when being transported to a location for permanent erection and safely secured to the transporting vehicle.
- Portable signs used by the State of New Jersey, County of Camden, Borough of Audubon, or by utility, telephone, or railroad companies for public safety are exempt.
- Portable signs located inside any building or structure are exempt.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- No master sign plan or formal sign plan requirement is specified in the provided text.

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

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