# Sign Regulations in Montgomery, Alabama

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Montgomery, Alabama (AL)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/alabama/montgomery
- **Data last verified:** 2026-01-14
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/al/montgomery/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=COOR_CH24SI)

## At a glance

Montgomery, Alabama regulates 6 sign types across 3 zoning districts. Outdoor Advertising Sign (Billboard) (Adjacent to Interstate/Primary Highways)s in the Central business districts (B-1-a, B-1-b); Business district (single stores) (B-2); Highway commercial district (B-3); Planned commercial (local) (B-4); Planned commercial (community) (B-5); Light industry (M-1); Industrial park (planned area) (M-2); General industry (M-3) zoning district are capped at Sign face: 30 ft max height; Sign structure height: On interstates/freeways/major arterials, 50 ft maximum or 30 ft above grade of the highway oriented to, whichever is greater (variance possible by Board of Adjustment). On primary highways within city limits, height governed by the zoning district (variance possible). tall, 1,200 sq ft per sign face (aggregate per facing not to exceed 1,200 sq ft if two signs used facing the same direction), and 60 ft maximum length wide (Sec. Art. IX, Sec. 1(c)(4); Sec. 2(b), (h); Sec. 3(a)–(e) (size, lighting, spacing, height, general)). Most commercial signs in Montgomery require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (3 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 4 | — | — | — |
| Designated entertainment districts | 1 | — | — | — |
| Central business districts (B-1-a, B-1-b); Business district (single stores) (B-2); Highway commercial district (B-3); Planned commercial (local) (B-4); Planned commercial (community) (B-5); Light industry (M-1); Industrial park (planned area) (M-2); General industry (M-3) | 1 | Sign face: 30 ft max height; Sign structure height: On interstates/freeways/major arterials, 50 ft maximum or 30 ft above grade of the highway oriented to, whichever is greater (variance possible by Board of Adjustment). On primary highways within city limits, height governed by the zoning district (variance possible). | 1,200 sq ft per sign face (aggregate per facing not to exceed 1,200 sq ft if two signs used facing the same direction) | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Political Signs | — | — | — | — | — | Not permitted in public rights-of-way or on city properties. Must be at least 30 feet from polling place entrances on election day. May be placed at polling locations no more than 36 hours prior to opening. May be placed no earlier than 8 weeks prior to an election. Must be removed 10 days after an election (or 10 days after runoff election, if applicable). | — | Sec. 24-8(a)–(h) |
| Directional and Other Official Signs (Adjacent to Interstate/Primary Highways) | — | — | — | — | — | Adjacent to and within 660 feet of the nearest edge of right-of-way of interstate or primary highways (measured horizontally along a line normal to the centerline). | — | Art. IX, Sec. 1(c)(1); Sec. 2(b)–(h) (definitions) |
| On-Premise Sale or Lease Sign (Adjacent to Interstate/Primary Highways) | — | — | — | — | — | On the property being advertised; visible from an interstate or primary highway within 660 feet of ROW. | — | Art. IX, Sec. 1(c)(2); Sec. 2(b), (h) |
| On-Premise Sign Advertising Activities on the Property (Adjacent to Interstate/Primary Highways) | — | — | — | — | — | On the property on which the advertised activities are conducted; visible from an interstate or primary highway within 660 feet of ROW. | — | Art. IX, Sec. 1(c)(3); Sec. 2(b), (h) |

### Designated entertainment districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Portable Sign (Entertainment District Public Property) | — | — | — | — | — | On public property within designated entertainment districts (e.g., city street right-of-way). Portable sign means any on-premise sign not affixed to real property such that removal would cause serious injury or material damage. | — | Sec. 24-1(a)–(b) (including definition of portable sign) |

### Central business districts (B-1-a, B-1-b); Business district (single stores) (B-2); Highway commercial district (B-3); Planned commercial (local) (B-4); Planned commercial (community) (B-5); Light industry (M-1); Industrial park (planned area) (M-2); General industry (M-3)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Outdoor Advertising Sign (Billboard) (Adjacent to Interstate/Primary Highways) | Sign face: 30 ft max height; Sign structure height: On interstates/freeways/major arterials, 50 ft maximum or 30 ft above grade of the highway oriented to, whichever is greater (variance possible by Board of Adjustment). On primary highways within city limits, height governed by the zoning district (variance possible). | 1,200 sq ft per sign face (aggregate per facing not to exceed 1,200 sq ft if two signs used facing the same direction) | 60 ft maximum length | — | One or two signs per facing allowed; double-faced, back-to-back, or V-type structures permitted; aggregate per facing ≤ 1,200 sq ft. | In areas zoned commercial, industrial, or business, adjacent to (within 660 ft of) federal interstate or primary highways. | — | Art. IX, Sec. 1(c)(4); Sec. 2(b), (h); Sec. 3(a)–(e) (size, lighting, spacing, height, general) |

## Prohibited signs in Montgomery

- No signs are permitted on public property (including city street rights-of-way and utility poles) except portable signs specifically permitted in designated entertainment districts
- It is unlawful to place any sign around Court Square Fountain, including on the fountain, its fence, or any part thereof
- It is unlawful to post, paste, or attach any signboard, bill, advertisement, or other paper to utility poles, fire alarm poles, any tree on city streets, or any fixed object on city-owned property
- It is unlawful to attach any bill, advertising matter, or other paper to any veranda or the front of any building in the city
- Owners or occupants may not permit fences, houses, stores, walls, or verandas on their premises to have showbills or advertising posters pasted, hung, or attached
- It is unlawful to tear down, deface, or destroy advertising signs or bulletins without consent of the sign owner or the property owner where the signs are displayed
- It is unlawful to take down, deface, or carry away any signboard, plate, or card indicating the name, occupation, or business of any person

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Portable signs in designated entertainment districts require a city-issued permit; applications are filed with the City Department of Development and permit guidelines are available from the city clerk or the department website
- A variance from the board of adjustment is required to exceed sign height limits for outdoor advertising structures along interstate/freeway/major arterial highways and primary highways
- The board of adjustment may allow outdoor advertising signs to continue beyond standard nonconforming use/structure discontinuance periods
- No master sign plan or citywide sign plan requirement is specified in the provided text; development plans are required for certain zoning districts for general development but are not sign-specific

## Full detail

Complete sign requirements for Montgomery, including every field PermitPal tracks for each sign type, are available with a free PermitPal account: https://app.permitpal.io/?address=Montgomery+AL&override=true&utm_source=landing&utm_medium=city-page&utm_campaign=city-montgomery

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