# Sign Regulations in Mobile, Alabama

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Mobile, Alabama (AL)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/alabama/mobile
- **Data last verified:** 2026-04-30
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/al/mobile/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=COMOALVOII_CH64UNDECO_ART4USRE_S64-4-14SI)

## At a glance

Mobile, Alabama regulates 55 sign types across 11 zoning districts. Sandwich Board Signs in the Downtown Development District (DDD) (T-5.1; T-5.2) zoning district are capped at 3 ft tall, 6 sq ft per face typical, and 2 ft wide (Sec. Appendix A, Table A-11.1 (1); Sec. 11(A)(8)). Most commercial signs in Mobile require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (11 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 10 | 36 inches (3 ft) | 35 sq ft per side | — |
| Historic Districts | 13 | Maximum 8 ft overall height | Up to 64 sq ft per tenant, subject to 1.5 sq ft per linear foot of primary building wall | — |
| Transitional Business (T-B) (Single establishment on single-building site) | 4 | 5 ft | Up to 100 sq ft | — |
| Transitional Business (T-B) (Multiple establishments on a single building site) | 4 | 5 ft | Up to 100 sq ft per tenant | — |
| Commercial and industrial districts (Single establishment on a building site); Neighborhood Business (B-2); Community Business (B-3); Office Distribution (B-5); Light Industry (I-1); Heavy Industry (I-2) — Single Establishment | 10 | 100 ft | Up to 350 sq ft | — |
| Commercial and industrial districts (Multiple establishments on a single building site); Neighborhood Business (B-2); Community Business (B-3); Office Distribution (B-5); Light Industry (I-1); Heavy Industry (I-2) — Multiple Establishments | 11 | 50 ft | 1,050 sq ft (single sign) | — |
| Downtown Development District (DDD) (T-3) | 3 | 6 ft high on wall; 4 ft high on mailbox | 5 sq ft | — |
| Downtown Development District (DDD) (T-4) | 16 | 10 ft overall (including mount) | 32 sq ft | — |
| Downtown Development District (DDD) (T-5.1; T-5.2) | 18 | 15 ft | 32 sq ft | — |
| Downtown Development District (DDD) (T-6) | 18 | 15 ft | 32 sq ft | — |
| Downtown Development District (DDD) (SD-WH) | 18 | 15 ft | 32 sq ft | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 11 zones)

### Downtown Development District (DDD) (T-5.1; T-5.2)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Sandwich Board Sign | 3 ft | 6 sq ft per face typical | 2 ft | — | 1 per business | In front of business; may encroach into ROW | — | Appendix A, Table A-11.1 (1); Sec. 11(A)(8) |
| Diagonal Corner Sign | 15 ft | — | 3 ft | — | 1 per building | Building corners | — | Appendix A, Table A-11.1 (2); Sec. 11(A)(4) |
| Upper Building (Storefront Frieze/Upper Storefront) | 3 ft (8 ft on specified Claiborne St segment) | — | Building length | — | 1 per building | Frieze or upper portion of storefront | — | Appendix A, Table A-11.1 (5); Sec. 11(A)(4) |
| Hanging Blade Sign | — | 10 sq ft per face | — | Maintain ≥8 ft clearance if projection >1 ft | 1 per business | Projecting from building; may encroach into ROW | — | Appendix A, Table A-11.1 (6); Sec. 11(A)(7)-(8) |
| Monument Sign | 6 ft | 25 sq ft per face; total 50 sq ft | 8 ft | — | 1 per site | On-site; may encroach into ROW | — | Appendix A, Table A-11.1 (14); Sec. 11(A)(8) |
| Free-Standing/Pole Sign | 8 ft | 20 sq ft per face; total 40 sq ft | 5 ft | — | 1 per site | On-site; may encroach into ROW | — | Appendix A, Table A-11.1 (15); Sec. 11(A)(8) |
| Banners | 4 ft (banner height) | 32 sq ft | 8 ft (banner length) | — | 1 per site per occurrence | On building; may encroach into ROW | — | Appendix A, Table A-11.1 (16); Sec. 11(A)(10); Sec. 64-4-14(M) |
| Parking Lot Identification Sign | 10 ft | 6 sq ft | 3 ft | — | 1 per driveway | At parking lot driveways | — | Appendix A, Sec. 11(A)(3); Table A-11.1 (17) |

### Downtown Development District (DDD) (T-6)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Sandwich Board Sign | 3 ft | 6 sq ft per face typical | 2 ft | — | 1 per business | In front of business; may encroach into ROW | — | Appendix A, Table A-11.1 (1); Sec. 11(A)(8) |
| Diagonal Corner Sign | 15 ft | — | 3 ft | — | 1 per building | Building corners | — | Appendix A, Table A-11.1 (2); Sec. 11(A)(4) |
| Upper Building (Storefront Frieze/Upper Storefront) | 3 ft (8 ft on specified Claiborne St segment) | — | Building length | — | 1 per building | Frieze or upper portion of storefront | — | Appendix A, Table A-11.1 (5); Sec. 11(A)(4) |
| Hanging Blade Sign | — | 10 sq ft per face | — | Maintain ≥8 ft clearance if projection >1 ft | 1 per business | Projecting from building; may encroach into ROW | — | Appendix A, Table A-11.1 (6); Sec. 11(A)(7)-(8) |
| Monument Sign | 6 ft | 25 sq ft per face; total 50 sq ft | 8 ft | — | 1 per site | On-site; may encroach into ROW | — | Appendix A, Table A-11.1 (14); Sec. 11(A)(8) |
| Free-Standing/Pole Sign | 8 ft | 20 sq ft per face; total 40 sq ft | 5 ft | — | 1 per site | On-site; may encroach into ROW | — | Appendix A, Table A-11.1 (15); Sec. 11(A)(8) |
| Banners | 4 ft (banner height) | 32 sq ft | 8 ft (banner length) | — | 1 per site per occurrence | On building; may encroach into ROW | — | Appendix A, Table A-11.1 (16); Sec. 11(A)(10); Sec. 64-4-14(M) |
| Parking Lot Identification Sign | 10 ft | 6 sq ft | 3 ft | — | 1 per driveway | At parking lot driveways | — | Appendix A, Sec. 11(A)(3); Table A-11.1 (17) |

### Downtown Development District (DDD) (SD-WH)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Sandwich Board Sign | 3 ft | 6 sq ft per face typical | 2 ft | — | 1 per business | In front of business; may encroach into ROW | — | Appendix A, Table A-11.1 (1); Sec. 11(A)(8) |
| Diagonal Corner Sign | 15 ft | — | 3 ft | — | 1 per building | Building corners | — | Appendix A, Table A-11.1 (2); Sec. 11(A)(4) |
| Upper Building (Storefront Frieze/Upper Storefront) | 3 ft (8 ft on specified Claiborne St segment) | — | Building length | — | 1 per building | Frieze or upper portion of storefront | — | Appendix A, Table A-11.1 (5); Sec. 11(A)(4) |
| Hanging Blade Sign | — | 10 sq ft per face | — | Maintain ≥8 ft clearance if projection >1 ft | 1 per business | Projecting from building; may encroach into ROW | — | Appendix A, Table A-11.1 (6); Sec. 11(A)(7)-(8) |
| Monument Sign | 6 ft | 25 sq ft per face; total 50 sq ft | 8 ft | — | 1 per site | On-site; may encroach into ROW | — | Appendix A, Table A-11.1 (14); Sec. 11(A)(8) |
| Free-Standing/Pole Sign | 8 ft | 20 sq ft per face; total 40 sq ft | 5 ft | — | 1 per site | On-site; may encroach into ROW | — | Appendix A, Table A-11.1 (15); Sec. 11(A)(8) |
| Banners | 4 ft (banner height) | 32 sq ft | 8 ft (banner length) | — | 1 per site per occurrence | On building; may encroach into ROW | — | Appendix A, Table A-11.1 (16); Sec. 11(A)(10); Sec. 64-4-14(M) |
| Parking Lot Identification Sign | 10 ft | 6 sq ft | 3 ft | — | 1 per driveway | At parking lot driveways | — | Appendix A, Sec. 11(A)(3); Table A-11.1 (17) |

## Prohibited signs in Mobile

- Abandoned signs are prohibited; an abandoned sign and its above-ground support structure must be removed, and no new sign permits will be approved for the property until all abandoned signs are removed.
- No sign shall obstruct vision between 3 feet and 8 feet above street level; signs over 10 feet high may not be within 18 inches of the right-of-way or within 8 feet of a side property line adjacent to a single-family residence.
- Any sign projecting into or over a public right-of-way may not project more than 12 inches from the building front and must maintain at least 9 feet of clearance above grade.
- Signs imitating or resembling official traffic signs/signals, or that could mislead/confuse drivers, are prohibited.
- Signs employing intense flashing, strobe, blinking, pulsating, or moving lights that impair vision or interfere with drivers are prohibited; computerized message signs are allowed only if compliant with ordinance requirements.
- Signs employing motion that obstructs/interferes with a driver’s view of traffic or traffic control devices are prohibited.
- Sign lighting casting intense illumination onto residential premises in a way incompatible with residential character is prohibited.
- Roof-mounted signs are prohibited to the extent any portion of the sign extends above the building facade/parapet.
- Portable trailer signs are prohibited.
- Anchored flying paraphernalia is prohibited.
- Signs attached to public utility poles are prohibited.
- Any trailer sign with copy being towed or transported is prohibited.
- Bus bench signs are prohibited.
- Signs not clean and in good repair are prohibited.
- Signs not securely fixed to a substantial structure are prohibited.
- Signs that attempt to regulate, warn, or direct traffic or that imitate official traffic control devices are prohibited.
- Signs erected/maintained on trees or painted/drawn on rocks or other natural features are prohibited.
- Signs that block free ingress/egress from any door, window, or fire escape, or that are attached to a standpipe or fire escape, are prohibited.
- Stacked off‑premise signs are prohibited.
- Wind-activated signs are prohibited.
- Electronic or digital signs and flashing signs are prohibited unless they meet the citywide conditions (e.g., prohibited in Historic Districts; minimum 300 feet from residential zoning; automatic brightness controls and brightness limits; default freeze on malfunction; manufacturer certification at permit).
- Nonconforming signs may not be changed to or replaced with another nonconforming sign, structurally altered to extend life, expanded, relocated, re-established after more than 75% damage, or modified to increase nonconformity.
- Illegal signs (installed/erected/maintained in violation of the code or applicable building codes) are prohibited.
- Moving vehicle signage prohibitions: digital/electronic or moving/rotating vehicle signs; trailer signs; vehicles whose sole/primary purpose is advertising; and stationary vehicles with advertising parked within 25 feet of a street are prohibited.

## Signs exempt from permit in Mobile

- Official notices issued by any court, public agency, or officer (no permit required).
- Signs up to 1 square foot showing property numbers, occupant names, or other noncommercial premises identification (no permit required).
- Flags and insignia of any government, except when displayed in connection with commercial promotion (no permit required).
- Integral decorative or architectural features of buildings, excluding letters, trademarks, moving parts, or moving lights (not treated as signs; no permit required).
- Most indoor signs do not require a sign permit; permanent mall corridor signs must comply with the ordinance and are not exempt.
- Signs whose predominant purpose is to display time and temperature or public service announcements (no permit required).
- On-site directional/traffic signs on private property with no advertising matter, up to 20 sq ft each (40 sq ft each for hospitals/health care facilities) (no permit required).
- Temporary interior window signs for sales/promotions that are clearly temporary (no permit required).
- Gasoline pump signs providing required information and tradenames, limited to 3 sq ft per face and 6 sq ft aggregate per pump (no permit required).
- Oil rack signs limited to 3 sq ft per face and 6 sq ft aggregate per rack (no permit required).
- Gasoline price signs: one per on‑premise frontage (max two per premises), up to 12 sq ft per face and 24 sq ft aggregate; max 5 feet tall if freestanding; if attached to a permanent freestanding sign, must meet freestanding sign standards (no permit required).
- Contractors’/craftsmen’s signs pertaining to on-site development/construction and real estate for-sale/for-lease signs on the subject property (no permit required).
- Essential safety/warning signs necessary to prevent property damage or ensure health, welfare, and safety; no limits on number or size (no permit required).
- Temporary signs (including mobile/portable) for charitable or nonprofit special events allowed up to 7 days per location per 6 months (no permit required).
- Moving vehicle signage allowed without permit in the following cases: public transportation vehicles (including full wraps); delivery/service/repair vehicles integral to business operations; personal or dealer-loaned vehicles for special events (no full wraps); taxi roof signs up to 18 inches above roof; personal mobility equipment signage up to 32 inches by 32 inches within the Henry Aaron Loop.
- Building graphics (murals/art) with no copy, symbols, or references to products/services are not considered signs and are exempt; if they include copy/symbols/references they are treated as wall signs.
- Political campaign signs are permitted in all districts when placed only on private property, removed within 7 days after the election/referendum, sized up to 4 sq ft per face in residential areas and 32 sq ft per face in commercial areas, and set back at least 10 feet from any street or public right‑of‑way.
- Government traffic or public notification signage installed, maintained, or directed by governmental agencies is exempt from the electronic/digital sign restrictions.

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

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