# Sign Regulations in Hartselle, Alabama

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Hartselle, Alabama (AL)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/alabama/hartselle
- **Data last verified:** 2025-03-31
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/AL/Hartselle/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=PTIICOOR_APXAZO_ART2.5SI_S27SIRE)

## At a glance

Hartselle, Alabama regulates 11 sign types across 5 zoning districts. Permanent Freestanding Signs in the Residential Zone (R) zoning district are capped at 10 feet tall, 60 SF, and 10 feet wide (Sec. Sec. 27.12(a)(2)). Most commercial signs in Hartselle require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (5 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Business and Industrial Zones | 6 | 30 - 35 feet | 200 - 400 SF | — |
| Residential Zone (R) | 3 | 10 feet | 60 SF | — |
| Agricultural Zone (AG) | 3 | 10 feet | 60 SF | — |
| Central Business District | 1 | 4 feet | 6 SF | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 2 | 10 feet | 32 SF | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 5 zones)

### Business and Industrial Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Building Sign | Top of wall | 40 - 200 SF | — | — | 2 | On building | — | Sec. 27.12(b)(1) |
| Freestanding Sign | 30 - 35 feet | 30 - 240 SF | — | — | 1 | On lot | — | Sec. 27.12(b)(1) |
| Multi-tenant Locator Sign | 30 - 35 feet | 200 - 400 SF | — | — | 1 | On lot | — | Sec. 27.12(b)(3) |
| Vacant Lot Sign | 30 feet | 30 SF | — | — | 1 | On lot | — | Sec. 27.12(b)(4) |
| Menu Sign | 8 feet | 32 SF | — | — | 1 per travel lane | Near drive-up ordering or service lane | — | Sec. 27.12(b)(5) |
| Fueling Structure Sign | — | Based on roof area of open structure | — | — | Based on roof area of open structure | On freestanding or attached open structure | — | Sec. 27.12(b)(6) |

### Residential Zone (R)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Development Sign | 8 feet | 24 SF | — | — | 2 per entrance | At development entrance | — | Sec. 27.12(a)(1) |
| Boulevard Sign | 4 feet | 24 SF | — | — | 1 per entrance | At development entrance | — | Sec. 27.12(a)(1) |
| Permanent Freestanding Sign | 10 feet | 60 SF | 10 feet | — | 1 | On lot with assembly occupancy building or public facility | — | Sec. 27.12(a)(2) |

### Agricultural Zone (AG)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Development Sign | 8 feet | 24 SF | — | — | 2 per entrance | At development entrance | — | Sec. 27.12(a)(1) |
| Boulevard Sign | 4 feet | 24 SF | — | — | 1 per entrance | At development entrance | — | Sec. 27.12(a)(1) |
| Permanent Freestanding Sign | 10 feet | 60 SF | 10 feet | — | 1 | On lot with assembly occupancy building or public facility | — | Sec. 27.12(a)(2) |

## Prohibited signs in Hartselle

- Signs located in or encroaching upon the public right-of-way or public easements, except for governmental signs, signage related to a public event sanctioned by the Hartselle City Council, signage allowed on awnings or sidewalks within the Central Business District, and boulevard signs meeting specific standards.
- Vehicle and/or trailer signs.
- Inflatable signs, except for inflatable play structures at businesses or events, and small inflatable décor on residential or agricultural lots.
- Beacons and searchlights.
- Building signs mounted to a roof or protruding above a roof, except for canopy signs not protruding above the roof.
- Animated signs.
- Circulars, flyers, or handbills.
- Signs erected, painted, or affixed to trees, rocks, natural features, utility poles, or existing street or traffic signs and posts.
- Signs imitating traffic or emergency signals.
- Signs not conforming to the general provisions of section 27.11.
- Banners made of material other than defined.
- Temporary signs, except as specifically permitted in section 27.9.
- Abandoned signs.
- Internally illuminated residential or apartment development signs.
- Permanent signs, except as specifically permitted in section 27.12.
- Double-faced signs, except as defined.
- Signs displaying pornographic, obscene, profane, or unlawful messages and/or images.

## Signs exempt from permit in Hartselle

- Permanent signs not exceeding two square feet in face area.
- Official signs or notices issued by any court or public agency or office.
- Historical markers.
- Changing of copy on a permitted reader board or marquee.
- Face changes to existing signs utilizing the existing rigid framework.
- Maintenance to signs as defined.
- Temporary signs.
- Window signs.
- Balloons and inflatable signs not prohibited.
- Street numbering affixed to the building and/or permitted permanent sign, not exceeding the minimum size or quantity necessary for reasonable visibility from the street by emergency response personnel.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A sign permit is required for all signs, except as specifically exempted in section 27.8.
- The applicant shall appear in person to the City of Hartselle Building Director and provide pertinent information to ascertain conformity.
- Drawings including dimensions, overall height, total square footage, property lines, setbacks, existing signs and structures, and a general description of the sign type to be erected are required.

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

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