# Sign Regulations in Madison, Alabama

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Madison, Alabama (AL)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/alabama/madison
- **Data last verified:** 2026-02-02
- **Source:** [other municipal code](https://www.madisonal.gov/DocumentCenter/View/11365/Zoning-Ordinance-October-2024?bidId=#page=147)

## At a glance

Madison, Alabama regulates 40 sign types across 14 zoning districts. Driveway Signs in the Community Business District (B-2) zoning district are capped at 30 inches tall and 4 sq ft, with a ≥5 ft from all lot lines; ≤25 ft from driveway or internal intersection. setback (Sec. 7-11-7(a), (c)-(f)). Most commercial signs in Madison require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (14 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 4 | 6 ft (unless otherwise in 7-12-4). | Up to 25% of window area; one window EMC up to 2 sq ft (subject to EMC rules and district limitations). | — |
| Agricultural and Residential Districts (AG, R-1, R-1A, R-1B, R-2, RZ, R-3, R-3A, R-4, RC-1, RC-2) | 10 | Bottom clearance ≥8 ft | Max 50% coverage of any individual awning/canopy/marquee face | — |
| Neighborhood Business District (B-1) | 11 | 35 ft (measured from I-565 roadbed elevation to top of sign structure) | 300 sq ft | — |
| Community Business District (B-2) | 15 | 35 ft (from I-565 roadbed) or 65 ft (if entirely within 1,000 ft of overpass center point, measured from base grade) | 300 sq ft | — |
| General Business District (B-3) | 15 | 35 ft (from I-565 roadbed) or 65 ft (if within 1,000 ft of overpass center point, measured from base grade) | 300 sq ft | — |
| Medical Center District (MC) | 15 | 35 ft (from I-565 roadbed) or 65 ft (if within 1,000 ft of overpass center point, measured from base grade) | 300 sq ft | — |
| S-1 District | 14 | 35 ft (from I-565 roadbed) or 65 ft (if within 1,000 ft of overpass center point, measured from base grade) | 300 sq ft | — |
| Restricted Industrial District (M-1) | 14 | 35 ft (from I-565 roadbed) or 65 ft (if within 1,000 ft of overpass center point, measured from base grade) | 300 sq ft | — |
| General Industrial District (M-2) | 14 | 35 ft (from I-565 roadbed) or 65 ft (if within 1,000 ft of overpass center point, measured from base grade) | 300 sq ft | — |
| Urban Center District (UC) | 14 | 35 ft (from I-565 roadbed) or 65 ft (if within 1,000 ft of overpass center point, measured from base grade) | 300 sq ft | — |
| Traditional Neighborhood Development (TND) | 11 | 35 ft (from I-565 roadbed) or 65 ft (if within 1,000 ft of overpass center point, measured from base grade) | 300 sq ft | — |
| MU District | 11 | 35 ft (from I-565 roadbed) or 65 ft (if within 1,000 ft of overpass center point, measured from base grade) | 300 sq ft | — |
| PUD District | 11 | 35 ft (from I-565 roadbed) or 65 ft (if within 1,000 ft of overpass center point, measured from base grade) | 300 sq ft | — |
| Historical District (HIS) | 6 | Clearance ≥8 ft over sidewalk; ≥16 ft over driveway | ≤50% of each awning/canopy/marquee face | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 14 zones)

### Community Business District (B-2)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Monument Sign (0–100 ft lot frontage) | 10 ft | 40 sq ft | 12 ft | — | Per street frontage (non-aggregable) | Per street frontage; landscaped area ≥ sign area. | — | 7-11-6(d), (f)-(g) Table 1 |
| Freestanding Monument Sign (101–250 ft lot frontage) | 10 ft | 70 sq ft | 12 ft | — | Per street frontage (non-aggregable) | Per street frontage; landscaped area ≥ sign area. | — | 7-11-6(d), (f)-(g) Table 1 |
| Freestanding Monument Sign (251+ ft lot frontage) | 10 ft | 100 sq ft | 12 ft | — | Per street frontage (non-aggregable) | Per street frontage; landscaped area ≥ sign area. | — | 7-11-6(d), (f)-(g) Table 1 |
| Electronic Message Center (EMC) on Monument Sign | — | EMC portion within allowed monument sign area; only one monument sign may contain an EMC. | — | ≥350 ft from any residential lot line. | Max 1 EMC monument sign per lot | On a permanent monument sign on qualifying lot. | — | 7-11-6(i)1-11 |
| Interstate Pole Sign (backs to I-565) | 35 ft (from I-565 roadbed) or 65 ft (if entirely within 1,000 ft of overpass center point, measured from base grade) | 300 sq ft | — | — | Max 1 pole sign per lot | Lot backing to I-565 ROW. | — | 7-11-6(h)(A)-(E); 7-11-6(a) |
| Driveway Sign | 30 inches | 4 sq ft | — | ≥5 ft from all lot lines; ≤25 ft from driveway or internal intersection. | Max 1 per driveway or internal intersection | Within 25 ft of driveway entrance or internal intersection; not set back more than 25 ft; set back at least 5 ft from all lot lines. | — | 7-11-7(a), (c)-(f) |
| Wall Sign | Clearance ≥8 ft over sidewalk; ≥16 ft over driveway | Counts toward building aggregate | Projection ≤24 inches | — | No numeric limit (aggregate area limits apply) | On façade wall; painted, mounted, or on raceway. | — | 7-11-5(f)1-8 |
| Projecting Sign | Bottom clearance ≥8 ft over sidewalk; ≥16 ft over driveway | 6 sq ft | Projection ≤4 ft; ≥6 inches clearance from façade; ≤2 ft from curb line | — | Max 1 (projecting or hanging) per tenant per street frontage | Perpendicular to building façade. | — | 7-11-5(i)1-12 |

### General Business District (B-3)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Monument Sign (0–100 ft lot frontage) | 15 ft | 55 sq ft | 15 ft | — | Per street frontage (non-aggregable) | Per street frontage; landscaped area ≥ sign area. | — | 7-11-6(d), (f)-(g) Table 1 |
| Freestanding Monument Sign (101–250 ft lot frontage) | 15 ft | 105 sq ft | 15 ft | — | Per street frontage (non-aggregable) | Per street frontage; landscaped area ≥ sign area. | — | 7-11-6(d), (f)-(g) Table 1 |
| Freestanding Monument Sign (251+ ft lot frontage) | 15 ft | 155 sq ft | 15 ft | — | Per street frontage (non-aggregable) | Per street frontage; landscaped area ≥ sign area. | — | 7-11-6(d), (f)-(g) Table 1 |
| Electronic Message Center (EMC) on Monument Sign | — | EMC portion within allowed monument sign area; only one monument sign may contain an EMC. | — | ≥350 ft from residential lot line. | Max 1 EMC monument sign per lot | On permanent monument sign on qualifying lot. | — | 7-11-6(i)1-11 |
| Interstate Pole Sign (backs to I-565) | 35 ft (from I-565 roadbed) or 65 ft (if within 1,000 ft of overpass center point, measured from base grade) | 300 sq ft | — | — | Max 1 pole sign per lot | Lot backing to I-565 ROW. | — | 7-11-6(h)(A)-(E); 7-11-6(a) |
| Driveway Sign | 30 inches | 4 sq ft | — | ≥5 ft from all lot lines; ≤25 ft from driveway/intersection. | Max 1 per driveway or internal intersection | Within 25 ft of driveway entrance or internal intersection; set back ≥5 ft from all lot lines. | — | 7-11-7(a), (c)-(f) |
| Wall Sign | Clearance ≥8 ft over sidewalk; ≥16 ft over driveway | Counts toward building aggregate | Projection ≤24 inches | — | No numeric limit (aggregate area limits apply) | On façade wall; painted, mounted, or on raceway. | — | 7-11-5(f)1-8 |
| Projecting Sign | Bottom clearance ≥8 ft over sidewalk; ≥16 ft over driveway | 6 sq ft | Projection ≤4 ft; ≥6 inches clearance from façade; ≤2 ft from curb line | — | Max 1 (projecting or hanging) per tenant per street frontage | Perpendicular to building façade. | — | 7-11-5(i)1-12 |

### Medical Center District (MC)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Monument Sign (0–100 ft lot frontage) | 6 ft | 20 sq ft | 6 ft | — | Per street frontage (non-aggregable) | Per street frontage; landscaped area ≥ sign area. | — | 7-11-6(d), (f)-(g) Table 1 |
| Freestanding Monument Sign (101–250 ft lot frontage) | 6 ft | 30 sq ft | 6 ft | — | Per street frontage (non-aggregable) | Per street frontage; landscaped area ≥ sign area. | — | 7-11-6(d), (f)-(g) Table 1 |
| Freestanding Monument Sign (251+ ft lot frontage) | 6 ft | 40 sq ft | 6 ft | — | Per street frontage (non-aggregable) | Per street frontage; landscaped area ≥ sign area. | — | 7-11-6(d), (f)-(g) Table 1 |
| Electronic Message Center (EMC) on Monument Sign | — | EMC portion within allowed monument sign area; only one monument sign may contain an EMC. | — | ≥350 ft from any residential lot line. | Max 1 EMC monument sign per lot | On permanent monument sign on qualifying lot. | — | 7-11-6(i)1-11 |
| Interstate Pole Sign (backs to I-565) | 35 ft (from I-565 roadbed) or 65 ft (if within 1,000 ft of overpass center point, measured from base grade) | 300 sq ft | — | — | Max 1 pole sign per lot | Lot backing to I-565 ROW. | — | 7-11-6(h)(A)-(E); 7-11-6(a) |
| Driveway Sign | 30 inches | 4 sq ft | — | ≥5 ft from all lot lines; ≤25 ft from driveway/intersection. | Max 1 per driveway or internal intersection | Within 25 ft of driveway entrance or internal intersection; set back ≥5 ft from all lot lines. | — | 7-11-7(a), (c)-(f) |
| Wall Sign | Clearance ≥8 ft over sidewalk; ≥16 ft over driveway | Counts toward building aggregate | Projection ≤24 inches | — | No numeric limit (aggregate area limits apply) | On façade wall; painted, mounted, or on raceway. | — | 7-11-5(f)1-8 |
| Projecting Sign | Bottom clearance ≥8 ft over sidewalk; ≥16 ft over driveway | 6 sq ft | Projection ≤4 ft; ≥6 inches clearance from façade; ≤2 ft from curb line | — | Max 1 (projecting or hanging) per tenant per street frontage | Perpendicular to building façade. | — | 7-11-5(i)1-12 |

## Prohibited signs in Madison

- Any sign that copies or imitates official government traffic/control signs
- Billboard signs, except replacement of pre-1999 billboards per Section 7-7-5
- Windblown devices, except pole-mounted banner signs
- Signs with revolving, rotating, spinning, or motion elements to attract attention (excluding allowed changeable copy signs)
- Signs with moving or flashing lights, except electronic message centers meeting Section 7-11-6i
- Beacons, spotlights, and searchlights, except for emergency purposes
- Pennants or streamers
- Signs applied to trees, bus shelters, utility poles, benches, trash receptacles, newspaper vending boxes, or other unapproved structures, or placed in the public right-of-way
- Signs that obstruct or substantially interfere with windows, doors, fire escapes, stairways, ladders, or openings intended for light, air, ingress, or egress
- Any sign located in a public right-of-way except as expressly allowed in Section 7-8-6
- Signs not securely affixed permanently to the ground or an approved supporting structure unless specifically permitted as temporary
- Signs mounted such that more than 15% of their height extends above a roofline
- Signs mounted on top of a roof
- Portable signs
- Vehicle signs used primarily for advertising (e.g., inoperable, lacking current licensing, altered vehicle design, or parked continuously to function as signage); exception for a driver's primary vehicle at their residence
- Balloon signs or air-activated graphics
- Any sign not specifically allowed by this article
- No sign placement without consent of the property owner or their agent
- No sign may be located so as to impair traffic visibility or line-of-sight, or conflict with vision clearance requirements
- No sign may obstruct fire ingress/egress, interfere with traffic, or resemble/imitate official traffic or parking signals
- Sign illumination that creates glare, shines into motorists’ or pedestrians’ field of vision, spills onto adjacent property/right-of-way, or causes reasonable objection in adjacent residential districts is prohibited
- Sign lighting that obstructs traffic control or other public signs is prohibited

## Signs exempt from permit in Madison

- Interior signage not visible from outside a building (window-visible signs are regulated as window signs)
- Interior signs within stadiums, open-air theaters, outdoor shopping centers, arenas, or similar uses that are not visible from a public right-of-way or adjacent property and viewable only by persons within; structures with signs visible from the right-of-way are subject to this article
- Signs on umbrellas or similar private patio furniture/seating located outside the right-of-way and complying with other applicable standards
- Signs on vehicles used in the normal course of business for transportation, and vehicle signage required by state or federal law
- Government or approved transit agency signs installed or required under the MUTCD
- Warning or traffic safety signs required by public utility providers
- Seasonal holiday lighting, signs, or decorations that are not intended to be permanent and contain no advertising
- Court-ordered or public duty signs/notices (must be removed no later than seven days after they are no longer required)
- Street address number signs up to six square feet (must comply with adopted fire and building codes)
- Sign face changes without altering the sign structure, area, height, or cabinet (e.g., face replacement or repainting)
- Certain temporary signs as established in Section 7-12
- Changes of copy on signs with changeable copy, including electronic message centers
- General maintenance, painting/repainting with the same colors and sign face, cleaning, and other normal maintenance of a legal, conforming sign (structural or electrical repairs still require permits)

## Sign plan & submission notes

- All signs require a sign permit unless specifically exempt; some signs may also require a building permit
- Certificate of Appropriateness from the Historic Preservation Commission is required before sign permits can be issued for permanent signs on individually designated historic properties or within historic districts (temporary signs are exempt from COA)
- A Master Sign Plan may be submitted for mixed-use developments larger than 25 acres or with buildings totaling more than 300,000 square feet; Planning Director may allow submission for smaller projects that are stand-alone mixed-use with a residential component, part of a larger planned development with a master sign plan, or part of a proposed PUD, TND, UC, or MU district
- The 10-business-day sign permit processing timeline does not begin until any required Site Plan, Certificate of Appropriateness, or Master Sign Plan has been approved
- Master Sign Plans must be approved by the Planning Commission and may allow more than one freestanding sign per frontage and increases to maximum height/area; they may include up to a 25% increase in maximum building sign area
- Master Sign Plan applications must include scaled plans showing site inclusion, sign locations, dimensions/areas, building elevation details for building signs, samples/photos of sign materials and colors, and illumination information
- No building or other permits for sign construction may be issued unless the sign complies with an approved Master Sign Plan; any amendment to an approved Master Sign Plan must follow the same review process
- Sign permit time limits may be altered if an alternative time limit is approved as part of a Master Sign Plan
- In MU, PUD, UC, or TND districts, permanent sign standards may be modified through the district’s approval process or a Master Sign Plan
- Sign Code Exception: The Planning Director may approve up to a 10% increase in permitted sign height or area; applicant must provide mailed notice to adjacent property owners/tenants at least 10 business days before sign permit submittal and demonstrate findings of compatibility, minimal exception, no self-created hardship, no adverse effects, and no traffic visibility hazards

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

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