# Sign Regulations in Greenville, Alabama

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Greenville, Alabama (AL)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/alabama/greenville
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-08
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/AL/Greenville/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=COOR_CH5BU_ARTVSIOUDIHA)

## At a glance

Greenville, Alabama regulates 23 sign types across 8 zoning districts. Freestanding Sign (Single Occupant)s in the C2 (General Commercial) zoning district are capped at 20 ft tall and 40 sq ft per 250 ft, with a 10 ft from pavement or roadway edge setback (Sec. Sec. 5-88(2)a Single Occupant). Most commercial signs in Greenville require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (8 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Residential Districts (including RTH zones and residential P.U.D.'s) | 8 | — | 32 sq ft per abutting street (freestanding/monument); building signs: 10% of wall face | — |
| Commercial Districts (including commercial P.U.D.'s and commercial areas of residential P.U.D.'s), C1 (Neighborhood Commercial) | 7 | 20 ft | 200 sq ft per wall face | — |
| C2 (General Commercial) | 9 | 20 ft | 200 sq ft per wall face | — |
| Downtown Overlay Zone | 6 | 20 ft | 200 sq ft per wall face | — |
| C3 (Highway Commercial), Highway Commercial District | 9 | 35 ft | 200 sq ft per wall face | — |
| Interstate Overlay Zone | 2 | 35 ft | 256 sq ft | — |
| Industrial Districts, M1 (Light Industrial), M2 (General Industrial) | 8 | 35 ft | 200 sq ft per wall face | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 5 | — | 20% of window area | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 8 zones)

### C2 (General Commercial)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign (Single Occupant) | 20 ft | 40 sq ft per 250 ft | — | 10 ft from pavement or roadway edge | 1 per abutting street | On-premise; must setback 10 ft from pavement/roadway edge; cannot project on or over right-of-way | — | Sec. 5-88(2)a Single Occupant |
| Freestanding Sign (Multiple Occupants) | 20 ft | 64 sq ft per 250 ft | — | 10 ft from pavement or roadway edge | See restrictions | On-premise; must setback 10 ft from pavement/roadway edge; cannot project on or over right-of-way | — | Sec. 5-88(2)a Multiple Occupants |
| Building Sign (Wall Sign) | — | 200 sq ft per wall face | — | — | Unlimited (per area formula) | On building; attached flush with wall face | — | Sec. 5-88(2)b |
| Projecting Sign | — | 48 sq ft | 48 in projection from building face | — | Not specified | Attached to wall | — | Sec. 5-88(2)c |
| Development Entrance Sign | — | 20 sq ft per face; 40 sq ft total at entrance (2 signs max) | — | — | 2 per entrance | At entrance | — | Sec. 5-88(2)e |
| Church Bulletin Board/Identification/Directional Sign | — | 24 sq ft | — | — | One per abutting street | On church property | — | Sec. 5-88(2)f |
| Construction Site Identification Sign (Temporary) | — | 36 sq ft | — | — | 2 per abutting street | On active construction sites | — | Sec. 5-88(2)g |
| Real Estate Sign (Temporary, Non-Illuminated) | — | 32 sq ft | — | — | 2 per abutting street | On property being offered | — | Sec. 5-88(2)h |

### C3 (Highway Commercial), Highway Commercial District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign (Single Occupant) | 35 ft | — | — | 10 ft from pavement or roadway edge | 1 per abutting street (+1 in interstate overlay, see requirements) | On-premise; must setback 10 ft from pavement/roadway edge; cannot project on or over right-of-way | — | Sec. 5-88(4)a Single Occupant |
| Freestanding Sign (Multiple Occupants) | 35 ft | — | — | 10 ft from pavement or roadway edge | See restrictions | On-premise; must setback 10 ft from pavement/roadway edge; cannot project on or over right-of-way | — | Sec. 5-88(4)a Multiple Occupants |
| Building Sign (Wall Sign) | — | 200 sq ft per wall face | — | — | Unlimited (per area formula) | On building; attached flush with wall face | — | Sec. 5-88(4)b |
| Projecting Sign | — | 48 sq ft | 48 in projection from building face | — | Not specified | Attached to wall | — | Sec. 5-88(4)c |
| Development Entrance Sign | — | 20 sq ft per face; 40 sq ft total at entrance (2 signs max) | — | — | 2 per entrance | At entrance | — | Sec. 5-88(4)e |
| Church Bulletin Board/Identification/Directional Sign | — | 24 sq ft | — | — | One per abutting street | On church property | — | Sec. 5-88(4)f |
| Construction Site Identification Sign (Temporary) | — | 36 sq ft | — | — | 2 per abutting street | On active construction sites | — | Sec. 5-88(4)g |
| Real Estate Sign (Temporary, Non-Illuminated) | — | 32 sq ft | — | — | 2 per abutting street | On property being offered | — | Sec. 5-88(4)h |

### Industrial Districts, M1 (Light Industrial), M2 (General Industrial)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign (Single Occupant) | 35 ft | — | — | 10 ft from pavement or roadway edge | 1 per abutting street (+1 in interstate overlay, see requirements) | On-premise; must setback 10 ft from pavement/roadway edge; cannot project on or over right-of-way | — | Sec. 5-89(1)a Single Occupant |
| Freestanding Sign (Multiple Occupants) | 35 ft | — | — | 10 ft from pavement or roadway edge | See restrictions | On-premise; must setback 10 ft from pavement/roadway edge; cannot project on or over right-of-way | — | Sec. 5-89(1)a Multiple Occupants |
| Building Sign (Wall Sign) | — | 200 sq ft per wall face | — | — | Unlimited (per area formula) | On building; attached flush with wall face | — | Sec. 5-89(1)b |
| Projecting Sign | — | 48 sq ft | 48 in projection from building face | — | Not specified | Attached to wall | — | Sec. 5-89(1)c |
| Development Entrance Sign | — | 20 sq ft per face; 40 sq ft total at entrance (2 signs max) | — | — | 2 per entrance | At entrance | — | Sec. 5-89(1)d |
| Church Bulletin Board/Identification/Directional Sign | — | 24 sq ft | — | — | One per abutting street | On church property | — | Sec. 5-89(1)e |
| Construction Site Identification Sign (Temporary) | — | 36 sq ft | — | — | 2 per abutting street | On active construction sites | — | Sec. 5-89(1)f |
| Real Estate Sign (Temporary, Non-Illuminated) | — | 32 sq ft | — | — | 2 per abutting street | On property being offered | — | Sec. 5-89(1)g |

## Prohibited signs in Greenville

- No sign shall be located so that it substantially interferes with the view or vision necessary for motorists to proceed safely through intersections or to enter or exit from public streets or private roads and parking areas.
- Signs incorporating any noisy mechanical device are expressly prohibited.
- Signs that revolve or are animated or that utilize movement or apparent movement to attract the attention of the public are prohibited. (Exception: signs indicating the time, date, community events, or weather conditions.)
- No sign may be erected so that by its location, color, size, shape, nature, or message it would tend to obstruct the view of or be confused with official traffic signs or other signs erected by governmental agencies.
- Signs located within the public right-of-way except those erected by or on behalf of a governmental body or public utility are prohibited.
- Signs posted on any utility pole, tree, rock, road sign, or other existing feature not intended to support such sign are prohibited.
- No person may, for the purpose of increasing or enhancing the visibility of any sign, damage, trim, destroy or remove any trees, shrubs, or other vegetation within any right-of-way, or any area where landscaping is required by the landscaping ordinance (1999-02) of the City of Greenville except as allowed for off premise advertising along interstate highways.
- Signs shall not be attached to or painted onto a vehicle parked on a public street, parking lot or thoroughfare for the sole purpose of advertising.
- Signs that obstruct ingress or egress to any window, door, fire escape, stairway, ladder, or opening intended to provide light, air, ingress, or egress for any room or building as required by law or code are prohibited.
- Signs that are not expressly permitted by this article are prohibited.
- Illuminated tubing or strings of lights that outline property lines, sales areas, roof lines, doors, windows, or similar areas are prohibited. (Exception: does not apply to temporary signs and displays erected in connection with observance of legal holidays.)
- No sign or outdoor display lighted in accordance with this section shall be located in such a manner as to obscure or interfere with the effectiveness of official traffic signs, signals, or devices, or in such a manner to obstruct or interfere with the view of the driver of any motor or other vehicle traveling upon any public road or approaching, merging with, or intersecting into traffic.

## Signs exempt from permit in Greenville

- Signs fixed or mounted directly on or in windows shall not require a permit and shall not count against the signage allocation for the premises, provided that such signs do not cover more than twenty (20) percent of the total window area.
- Signs indicating the time, date, community events, or weather conditions are exempt from the prohibition on animated or revolving signs.
- Illuminated tubing or strings of lights that outline property lines, etc. are allowed as temporary signs and displays erected in connection with observance of legal holidays.
- Signs that constitute an integral part of a vending machine, telephone booth, device that indicates only the time, date, or weather conditions, or similar device whose principal function is not to convey a commercial message are exempt from the prohibition on illuminated signs in residential zones.
- Church bulletin boards may be illuminated in residential districts subject to shielding requirements.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- All signs require a permit unless specifically exempted (such as certain small, incidental, temporary signs and building markers).
- Development entrance signs in all districts require a permit and must receive prior approval by the Planning Commission.
- For commercial and industrial districts, permit approval may be obtained at time of Planning Commission review or by making application to the Department of Building and Planning twenty-four (24) hours prior to erection of said signs.
- All freestanding off-premise signs require a permit; application must be made to the Department of Building and Planning at least twenty-four (24) hours prior to erection.
- Signs at entrances to a residential development or subdivision require a permit and must receive prior approval by the Planning Commission.
- No explicit reference to a master sign plan or required variance meeting 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 8 zoning districts in Greenville — every sign type, every field — are available with a free PermitPal account: https://app.permitpal.io/?address=Greenville+AL&override=true&utm_source=landing&utm_medium=city-page&utm_campaign=city-greenville

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