# Sign Regulations in Gardendale, Alabama

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Gardendale, Alabama (AL)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/alabama/gardendale
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-08
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/al/gardendale/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=PTIILAUSDE_CH111ZO_ARTXSIRE)

## At a glance

Gardendale, Alabama regulates 14 sign types across 7 zoning districts. Freestanding Sign (Subdivision or Residential Identification)s in the A-1 Agricultural District zoning district are capped at Not specified, but generally not to exceed heights in Sec. 111-316 Table 1 for most districts. In C-1: 35 ft on arterial, 25 ft on collector, 15 ft on local street. tall and 48 sq ft, with a At least 15 ft from right-of-way. setback (Sec. Sec. 111-315(c)(1); 111-314). Most commercial signs in Gardendale require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (7 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 1 | — | — | — |
| A-1 Agricultural District | 2 | Not specified, but generally not to exceed heights in Sec. 111-316 Table 1 for most districts. In C-1: 35 ft on arterial, 25 ft on collector, 15 ft on local street. | 48 sq ft | — |
| E-1 Single-Family Residential District (Estate), R-1 Single-Family Residential District, R-2 Single-Family Residential District, R-3A Manufactured Home Subdivision District, R-3B Manufactured Home Park District, R-4 Multi-Family Residential District, RT-4 Townhouse Residential District, RG Garden Home Residential District | 3 | Not specified, generally 6–8 ft is typical for monuments (in absence of stricter rules), but must be outside visibility triangle. | 48 sq ft per entrance (single family/duplex); multifamily: 12 sq ft per 50 units or 48 sq ft max | — |
| Inst-1 Institutional District, Inst-2 Institutional District, Inst-3 Institutional District | 2 | 30 ft (arterial), 20 ft (collector), 15 ft (local street) | 150 sq ft or 25% of façade area (whichever is less) for wall. 16 sq ft (projecting sign). | — |
| CP Preferred Commercial District, C-1 Neighborhood Shopping District (Commercial), C-2 Community Business District (Commercial), C-3 General Business District | 5 | CP, C-1: 35 ft (arterial) / 25 ft (collector) / 15 ft (local); C-2, C-3: 40 ft (arterial), 30 ft (collector), 20 ft (local) | 150 sq ft or 25% of façade area (whichever is less) | — |
| I-1 Light Industrial District, I-2 General Industrial District, I-3-S Strip Mining District | 2 | 40 ft (arterial), 30 ft (collector), 20 ft (local street) | 150 sq ft | — |
| PUD Planned Unit Development District | 1 | — | Generally, conforms to article X; may be further limited by council. No billboards allowed. Reference compatible sign size/height/locational requirements of article X. | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 7 zones)

### A-1 Agricultural District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign (Subdivision or Residential Identification) | Not specified, but generally not to exceed heights in Sec. 111-316 Table 1 for most districts. In C-1: 35 ft on arterial, 25 ft on collector, 15 ft on local street. | 48 sq ft | — | At least 15 ft from right-of-way. | 1 per entrance for up to 50 dwelling units; 1 per each 50 dwelling units thereafter. | At entrance to subdivision/residential development, no closer than 15 ft to right-of-way and must be on private/common property. | — | Sec. 111-315(c)(1); 111-314 |
| Temporary Sign (Sale of produce/property, development, etc) | Not to exceed 5 ft (for yard/premises signs). Up to 8 ft for temporary banners per temporary sign allowance. | 32 sq ft (residential development), 6.5 sq ft (other temporary commercial, e.g., sale of property) | — | Should be at least 2 ft from right-of-way. | See above. | On-premises, not within right-of-way. | — | Sec. 111-315(b)(2), (c)(2) |

### E-1 Single-Family Residential District (Estate), R-1 Single-Family Residential District, R-2 Single-Family Residential District, R-3A Manufactured Home Subdivision District, R-3B Manufactured Home Park District, R-4 Multi-Family Residential District, RT-4 Townhouse Residential District, RG Garden Home Residential District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Address Sign | — | 3 sq ft | — | — | 1 per premises | On building or mailbox. | — | Sec. 111-315(b)(1), 111-313(b)(1) |
| Temporary Sign (Commercial activity/sale/lease or event) | 5 ft (for temporary yard signs) | 6.5 sq ft per sign, total (max 2 signs per premises) | — | At least 2 ft from right-of-way. | 2 maximum at one time | On property; not in right-of-way. | — | Sec. 111-315(b)(2) |
| Freestanding Sign (Residential Development Identification) | Not specified, generally 6–8 ft is typical for monuments (in absence of stricter rules), but must be outside visibility triangle. | 48 sq ft per entrance (single family/duplex); multifamily: 12 sq ft per 50 units or 48 sq ft max | — | At least 15 ft from right-of-way. | 1 per entrance for every 50 units (see code). | Entrance to development, minimum 15 ft from right-of-way. | — | Sec. 111-315(c)(1) |

### CP Preferred Commercial District, C-1 Neighborhood Shopping District (Commercial), C-2 Community Business District (Commercial), C-3 General Business District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign | CP, C-1: 35 ft (arterial) / 25 ft (collector) / 15 ft (local); C-2, C-3: 40 ft (arterial), 30 ft (collector), 20 ft (local) | CP, C-1: 100 sq ft \| C-2, C-3: 150 sq ft (Individual user); Integrated centers can have larger sign per Table 2 | — | 15 ft from edge of pavement, 50 ft from sign on abutting property. | 1 per street frontage per premises (or per Table 2 for centers of sufficient size) | Min 15 ft from street pavement; min 50 ft from other freestanding signs on adjacent properties. | — | Sec. 111-316 Table 1/2 |
| Wall or Mansard Sign | — | 150 sq ft or 25% of façade area (whichever is less) | — | — | 1 per façade, plus one awning/canopy/marquee sign per façade | On building façade. | — | Sec. 111-316 Table 1 |
| Projecting Sign | — | 16 sq ft | — | — | 1 per façade. | On building façade, min 10 ft above grade. | — | Sec. 111-316 Table 1 |
| Awning, Canopy, or Marquee Sign | — | 25% of surface area of awning/canopy/marquee | — | — | 1 per façade | Flat against surface; min 8 ft vertical clearance above walkways. | — | Sec. 111-316 Table 1 |
| Window Signs | — | 20% of glass area per window | — | — | No limit specified, subject to 20% max coverage. | Inside window glass (facing outward). | — | Sec. 111-316(3) |

## Prohibited signs in Gardendale

- No sign or portion of a sign shall be located closer than two feet to a public right-of-way except as specifically permitted.
- No sign shall be placed in or interfere in any way with motorist visibility at the intersection of a street with another street, alley or driveway.
- No illuminated sign, other than a permanent subdivision identification sign, shall be permitted within 50 feet of any residential district.
- No sign shall occupy any portion of a parking space or aisle.
- All signs must comply with the city building code. Signs not governed by the city building code under its terms are not affected by this standard.
- No person may damage, trim, destroy or remove any trees, shrubs or other vegetation within any right-of-way or on any required landscaping to improve sign visibility except with express written authorization from the agency having jurisdiction.
- It is unlawful to erect, cause to be erected, maintain or cause to be maintained, any sign not expressly authorized by, or exempted from, the sign regulations.
- Prohibited sign types in all districts include: signs that obstruct, impair, obscure or interfere with traffic signs/signals/devices; signs that emit audible sound, odor, or visible matter; signs or structures that interfere with fire escapes, emergency exits, standpipes, or block light/ventilation below legal minimums; flashing, traveling, or animated illumination except as permitted for electronic changeable copy signs; any signs or supports within a public street right-of-way except as specified; snipe signs (except as otherwise permitted); inflatable/tethered balloon/twirling signs (except as expressly permitted); vehicle- or trailer-mounted signs parked/visible from public right-of-way and not used in regular business; portable and temporary signs (except as expressly permitted under temporary sign provisions).
- No sign shall be erected or maintained in such a manner that it constitutes a safety hazard, public nuisance, or is not kept in a good state of repair.
- All unlawful signs, abandoned signs, and signs erected without a permit shall be subject to removal by the city, with costs recoverable from the owner.
- No more than one principal free-standing sign is allowed per premises/street frontage in each district (except as permitted for integrated business centers).
- No billboard (off-premises sign) shall be erected closer than 100 feet to any residential district.
- No off-premises sign shall have flashing, traveling, animated or intermittent illumination or electronic moving messages.
- No portable or temporary signs are permitted in residential districts, except where specifically allowed for certain temporary on-premise activities.

## Signs exempt from permit in Gardendale

- Routine sign maintenance (painting, cleaning, repair, not involving structural changes), changing copy on changeable copy signs (with certain limitations), installation of exempt signs or exempt window signs do not require a permit but must still comply with all other regulations.
- The following sign types are generally exempt from sign permit requirements and are not counted toward sign area/number limits, subject to other standards: Address signs (up to 3 sq ft, only E-911 address and occupant name, no commercial message); Incidental signs under 4 sq ft and <4 ft high; Memorial signs/tablets (up to 6 sq ft, permanently inlaid, not separately illuminated); Noncommercial flags (flags/banners/insignias of governmental/religious/charitable/fraternal orgs, max 4 per premises, no commercial message); Noncommercial signs (each occupied lot permitted an aggregate 15 sq ft of noncommercial signage, no illumination, max 6.5 sq ft per sign, max 5 ft high); Property management signs (if incorporated into permitted sign or as permitted under other exemptions, but not as additional sign);
- The following signs are exempt from permit requirements and provisions of the sign article: Interior signs not legible from the public right-of-way or other property; Signs under 4 sq ft and <4 ft high, not lighted, not legible from public right-of-way/off-premises; Official signs; Stadium scoreboards/signs intended to be viewed from within a stadium; Temporary holiday decorations (no commercial message); Signs erected/authorized by the city for citywide events;
- Signs required by law or court order, signs conforming to the manual on uniform traffic control devices, utility right-of-way signs (with no commercial messages), transit schedules/route signs (franchisee), are exempt from permit requirements, and may deviate from strict size/location standards if the law or order so requires.
- Window signs in nonresidential districts that collectively cover 20% or less of window glass do not require a permit.
- Installation and maintenance of official municipal, state, or federal signs are fully exempt.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A master signage plan is required for shopping centers (integrated business centers): 'The number, location, height and design of all shopping center signage shall be coordinated through a master signage plan submitted as part of a site plan review.' (Sec. 111-244.4)
- For Planned Unit Developments (PUDs), a signage plan must be presented for approval as part of the master development plan. All signs for a PUD must be coordinated through a common comprehensive signage plan for the PUD (Sec. 111-171.e.5). Approval is by the Commission and Council.
- Permit is required for erection or alteration of any sign unless specifically exempt. Application forms, scaled drawings and details are required. Design Review Board approval may be required as part of the process (Sec. 111-318).
- All permanent residential identification signs (e.g. for subdivisions or multifamily developments) must be reviewed and permitted per code; wall signs at entrances are allowed, and replacement of temporary signs with permanent ID signs is stipulated.
- Application for sign permit denials may be appealed to the Zoning Board of Adjustment (ZBA) (Sec. 111-318.c.2).
- Landscape plan (Sec. 111-349) may require sign locations and must be submitted with zoning/site plan/variance/building/sign permit applications for new construction if the development involves vehicular areas, screening, or buffers.
- In nonresidential integrated business centers (i.e., shopping centers etc.), all freestanding signage must be coordinated in design, materials, and colors, and allowed sign areas/numbers are defined in Table 2 of Sec. 111-316.
- Any sign whose permit is denied may only be erected following approval via variance by the ZBA, following the application and public notice process.

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

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