# Sign Regulations in Hoover, Alabama

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Hoover, Alabama (AL)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/alabama/hoover
- **Data last verified:** 2025-11-25
- **Source:** [other municipal code](https://hooveralabama.gov/DocumentCenter/View/9133/Zoning-Ordinance---Amended-April-21-2025?bidId=#page=131)

## At a glance

Hoover, Alabama regulates 57 sign types across 6 zoning districts. Freestanding Sign - Non-Retail >10,000 sfs in the C-2 Community Business District, C-3 General Business District, C-4 Commercial District, I-1 Light Industrial District zoning district are capped at 12 feet tall and 60 square feet, with a Shall not extend beyond property lines; no public hazard, obstruct vision, impair ingress/egress or circulation setback (Sec. §12.07.02). Most commercial signs in Hoover require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (6 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 7 | 10 feet | 32 square feet | — |
| A-1 Agriculture District, Residential Districts (E-1, E-2, R-1, R-2, R-3, R-LSF) | 3 | 10 feet | 48 square feet of copy area | — |
| R-4 Multifamily District, R-T-4 Townhouse District, C-P Preferred Commercial (Office) District | 3 | 12 feet from ground | 50 square feet | — |
| C-1 Neighborhood Shopping District | 9 | 20 feet | 50 square feet | — |
| MXD Mixed Use District | 5 | Not above window sill of second story | — | — |
| C-2 Community Business District, C-3 General Business District, C-4 Commercial District, I-1 Light Industrial District | 31 | 20 feet | 380 square feet | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 6 zones)

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Temporary Sign - Civic, Educational or Religious Event | — | 32 square feet | — | — | 1 | — | — | §12.10.03 A |
| Temporary Sign - New Business | — | 32 square feet | — | — | 1 | — | — | §12.10.03 B |
| Real Estate Sign - On-Premise Residential | — | 4 square feet | — | — | 1 | Entirely within the property | — | §12.10.03 C 1 |
| Real Estate Sign - Off-Premise Residential | — | 2 square feet | — | — | 3 | — | — | §12.10.03 C 2 |
| Real Estate Sign - On-Premise Commercial | — | 32 square feet | — | — | 1 | Entirely within the property | — | §12.10.03 C 3 |
| Real Estate Sign - Off-Premise Commercial | — | 2 square feet | — | — | 1 | — | — | §12.10.03 C 4 |
| Subdivision Identification Sign - Residential | 10 feet | 32 square feet | — | — | 1 | — | — | §12.10.03 C 5 |

### C-1 Neighborhood Shopping District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Building Wall Sign - Freestanding Retail Structure | Top of building wall | 50 square feet | — | — | 1 | On building wall | — | §12.05.01, §12.05.04, Table 12-1 |
| Freestanding Sign - Freestanding Retail Structure <2,400 sf | 16 feet | 20 square feet | — | — | 1 | — | — | §12.05.01, Table 12-1 |
| Freestanding Sign - Freestanding Retail Structure >2,400 sf | 18 feet | 25 square feet | — | — | 1 | — | — | §12.05.01, Table 12-1 |
| Building Wall Sign - Shopping Center Retail <3,000 sf | Top of building wall | 30 square feet | — | — | 1 | On building wall | — | §12.05.01, §12.05.04, Table 12-1 |
| Building Wall Sign - Shopping Center Retail >3,000 sf | Top of building wall | 50 square feet | — | — | 1 | On building wall | — | §12.05.01, §12.05.04, Table 12-1 |
| Locator Sign - Shopping Center <6,000 sf | 16 feet | 30 square feet | — | — | 1 | — | — | §12.05.01, Table 12-1 |
| Locator Sign - Shopping Center 6,000-15,000 sf | 18 feet | 40 square feet | — | — | 1 | — | — | §12.05.01, Table 12-1 |
| Building Wall Sign - Non-Retail | Top of building wall | 20 square feet | — | — | 1 | On building wall | — | §12.05.02, §12.05.03 |

### C-2 Community Business District, C-3 General Business District, C-4 Commercial District, I-1 Light Industrial District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Building Wall Sign - Non-Retail | Top of building wall | 20 square feet | — | — | 1 | On building wall | — | §12.07.01, §12.07.02, §12.07.05, §12.07.06 |
| Freestanding Sign - Non-Retail >10,000 sf | 12 feet | 60 square feet | — | Shall not extend beyond property lines; no public hazard, obstruct vision, impair ingress/egress or circulation | 1 | — | — | §12.07.02 |
| Building Wall Sign - Freestanding Retail <2,800 sf | Top of building wall | 40 square feet | — | — | 1 | On building wall | — | §12.07.04, Table 12-2 |
| Freestanding Sign - Freestanding Retail <2,800 sf | 16 feet | 60 square feet | — | Shall not extend beyond property lines; no public hazard, obstruct vision, impair ingress/egress or circulation | 1 | — | — | §12.07.04, Table 12-2 |
| Building Wall Sign - Freestanding Retail 2,800-15,000 sf | Top of building wall | 40 square feet | — | — | 1 per facing street | On building wall | — | §12.07.04, §12.07.06, Table 12-2 |
| Freestanding Sign - Freestanding Retail 2,800-15,000 sf | 20 feet | 80 square feet | — | Shall not extend beyond property lines; no public hazard, obstruct vision, impair ingress/egress or circulation | 1 | — | — | §12.07.04, Table 12-2 |
| Building Wall Sign - Freestanding Retail 15,000-30,000 sf | Top of building wall | 100 square feet | — | — | 1 per facing street | On building wall | — | §12.07.04, §12.07.06, Table 12-2 |
| Freestanding Sign - Freestanding Retail 15,000-30,000 sf | 20 feet | 100 square feet | — | Shall not extend beyond property lines; no public hazard, obstruct vision, impair ingress/egress or circulation | 1 | — | — | §12.07.04, Table 12-2 |

## Prohibited signs in Hoover

- Signs with messages or graphics that move, scroll, travel, flash, animate or exceed a maximum luminance level at night of 750 candelas per square meter.
- Signs located on public property or public right-of-ways unless otherwise permitted by this Code.
- Miscellaneous signs and posters, banners, pennants, twirling signs, balloons, and unofficial flags.
- Off-premise billboards and signs which direct attention to a business commodity, service, entertainment or attraction sold, offered, or existing elsewhere than upon the same property upon which such sign is displayed.
- Portable signs
- Roof signs
- Vehicle/trailer-mounted signs used for advertising purposes (e.g., parked/stored vehicles with signs visible from street, oversized signs, or in non-parking areas).
- Dilapidated or abandoned signs must be repaired, altered, or removed at the owner's expense.

## Signs exempt from permit in Hoover

- Construction signs, instructional signs, official flags, governmental signs, holiday decorations, interior signs, plaques, public notices, public signs, symbols or insignia, warning signs and signs awarded by the Hoover beautification board.
- Political campaign signs in residential districts (limited to 3 sq ft, 4 ft height, non-illuminated, on improved residential property or maintained right-of-way, removed within 3 days after election).

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A building permit is required for erecting, constructing, enlarging, moving, altering, or converting any sign (except routine maintenance); applications must include detailed drawings and information.
- Permit denials by the Building Official may be appealed to the Board of Adjustment within 30 days for administrative review, which can serve as a variance process for signs.

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

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