# Sign Regulations in Montevallo, Alabama

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

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

## At a glance

Montevallo, Alabama regulates 12 sign types across 9 zoning districts. Temporary Signs in the General Regulations For All Zones zoning district are capped at 8 feet tall and 32 square feet, with a At least 15 feet from street right-of-way setback (Sec. Sec. 11-120). Most commercial signs in Montevallo require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (9 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 6 | 40 feet (pole) | 60 square feet (per flag) | — |
| Undeveloped parcels | 1 | 10 feet | Maximum 96 square feet total; no sign over 64 square feet | — |
| One-family and two-family residences | 1 | — | 2 square feet | — |
| Subdivisions and farms | 1 | — | 12 square feet | — |
| Commercially developed parcels (NC3) | 2 | 4 feet | 6 square feet | — |
| Commercially developed parcels (UM) | 2 | 4 feet | 10 square feet | — |
| Commercially developed parcels (UC, D2, GTC, GC) | 3 | 4 feet | — | — |
| Commercially developed parcels (HC) | 4 | 20 feet | 90 square feet (per sign) | — |
| Commercially developed parcels (M1) | 4 | 20 feet | 60 square feet (per sign) | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 9 zones)

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Directional Sign | — | 4 square feet | — | — | — | On all parcels, to give directions regarding parking/access drives. | — | Sec. 11-121[1]A |
| Flag | 40 feet (pole) | 60 square feet (per flag) | — | — | 3 per parcel | On any parcel | — | Sec. 11-121[1]B |
| Utility Sign | 3 feet | 0.5 square feet | — | — | — | On public utility sites/locations | — | Sec. 11-121[1]C |
| Temporary Sign | 8 feet | 32 square feet | — | At least 15 feet from street right-of-way | 1 per new/relocated business | On highway commercial parcels only | — | Sec. 11-120 |
| Abandoned Sign | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Sec. 11-124 |
| Nonconforming Sign | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Sec. 11-123 |

### Commercially developed parcels (HC)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Building Sign | — | 90 square feet (per sign) | — | — | Not regulated | On buildings | — | Sec. 11-121[5] Table, footnote ** |
| Monument Sign | 6 feet | 24 square feet | — | — | Not regulated | On site | — | Sec. 11-121[5] Table |
| Projecting Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Projecting from building | — | Sec. 11-121[5] Table |
| Freestanding Sign | 20 feet | 60 square feet | — | — | Not regulated | Freestanding on the parcel | — | Sec. 11-121[5] Table |

### Commercially developed parcels (M1)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Building Sign | — | 60 square feet (per sign) | — | — | Not regulated | On buildings | — | Sec. 11-121[5] Table, footnote *** |
| Monument Sign | 6 feet | 24 square feet | — | — | Not regulated | On site | — | Sec. 11-121[5] Table |
| Projecting Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Projecting from building | — | Sec. 11-121[5] Table |
| Freestanding Sign | 20 feet | 60 square feet | — | — | Not regulated | Freestanding on the parcel | — | Sec. 11-121[5] Table |

## Prohibited signs in Montevallo

- It is unlawful to erect, cause to be erected, maintain or cause to be maintained, any sign not expressly authorized by, or exempted from, these regulations.
- Any sign with a sign face area greater than 200 square feet (18.58 m2) is prohibited.
- Signs that are in violation of the building code or electrical code adopted by City of Montevallo are prohibited.
- Any sign that does or will constitute a safety hazard is prohibited.
- Portable signs are prohibited except as provided for temporary signs.
- Signs with visible moving, revolving, or rotating parts or visible mechanical movement or other apparent visible movement achieved by electrical, electronic, or mechanical means are prohibited, except for traditional barber poles.
- Signs with lights or illuminations that flash, move, rotate, scintillate, blink, flicker or vary in intensity or color are prohibited, except for time and temperature signs.
- Strings of light bulbs used on commercially developed parcels for commercial purposes are prohibited, other than traditional holiday decorations.
- Wind signs consisting of banners, flags, pennants, ribbons, spinners, streamers or captive balloons, or other objects or materials fastened so as to move freely in the wind are prohibited.
- Signs that incorporate projected images, emit any sound intended to attract attention, or involve the use of live animals are prohibited.
- Signs that emit audible sound, odor, or visible matter such as smoke or steam are prohibited.
- Signs or sign structures that interfere in any way with free use of any fire escape, emergency exit, or standpipe, or that obstruct any window to such an extent that light or ventilation is reduced below required levels are prohibited.
- Signs that resemble any official sign or marker erected by any governmental agency, or that by position, shape or color, would conflict with traffic signs or be confused with or conceal a traffic-control device are prohibited.
- Signs that obstruct the vision of pedestrians, cyclists, or motorists traveling on or entering public streets are prohibited.
- Nongovernmental signs that use the words 'stop', 'look', 'danger' or similar words or symbols are prohibited.
- Signs within ten feet of public right-of-way or 100 feet of traffic-control lights with red or green lights that might be confused with traffic control lights are prohibited.
- Signs that are of such intensity or brilliance as to cause glare or impair vision of motorists, cyclists or pedestrians or that are a hazard or nuisance to occupants of nearby property are prohibited.
- Signs that contain any lighting or control mechanism that causes unreasonable interference with radio, television or other communication signals are prohibited.
- Signs painted, pasted, or printed on curbstone, flagstone, pavement, or any sidewalk or street are prohibited, except house numbers and traffic control signs.
- Signs placed upon benches, bus shelters or waste receptacles are prohibited except as may be authorized in writing.
- Signs erected on public property or on private property located on public property (such as private utility poles) other than those erected by a public authority for public purposes or otherwise permitted are prohibited.
- Signs erected over or across any public street are prohibited except as expressly authorized and except governmental signs.
- Roof signs placed above the roof line of a building or on or against a roof slope of less than 45 degrees are prohibited.
- Vehicle signs with a total sign area in excess of ten square feet when the vehicle is parked for more than 60 consecutive minutes within 100 feet of a street right-of-way, is visible from the street right-of-way, and is not regularly used in the conduct of the business advertised are prohibited.
- Any abandoned sign is prohibited and must be removed.
- Illegal signs include: any sign erected or maintained after the effective date inconsistent with these terms; a nonconforming sign erected inconsistent with previous applicable standards; and abandoned signs.

## Signs exempt from permit in Montevallo

- Signs not designed or located to be legible from any street or adjoining property.
- Signs of two square feet or less and with no letters, symbols, logos or designs in excess of two inches in dimension, provided such sign is not otherwise prohibited.
- Signs necessary to promote health, safety and welfare, and other regulatory, statutory, traffic control or directional signs erected on public property with appropriate permission.
- Legal notices and official instruments.
- Decorative flags and bunting for a community-wide celebration, convention, or commemoration when authorized by the City for a prescribed period of time.
- Holiday lights and decorations.
- Merchandise displayed behind storefront windows as long as no part of the display moves or contains flashing lights.
- Memorial signs or tablets, historical markers, name of a building and dates of erection when cut into masonry or constructed of bronze or other noncombustible materials and attached to the building.
- Signs incorporated into machinery or equipment by a manufacturer or distributor which advertise only the product or service dispensed by the machine or equipment (such as vending machine, newspaper rack, telephone booth, gasoline pump signs).
- Advertising and identifying signs located on taxicabs, buses, trailers, trucks, or vehicle bumpers.
- Public warning signs indicating dangers of trespassing, swimming, animals, or similar hazards.
- Works of art that do not constitute advertising.
- Signs carried by a person.

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

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