# Sign Regulations in Moody, Alabama

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

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

## At a glance

Moody, Alabama regulates 23 sign types across 10 zoning districts. Freestanding Pole-Mounted Signs in the O-1 Office Building District zoning district are capped at 30 ft tall and 100 sq ft, with a No closer than property line. setback (Sec. § 5.00(A)). Most commercial signs in Moody require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (10 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 2 | — | 3 sq ft | — |
| Residential zone districts | 7 | — | 48 sq ft | — |
| Planned residential districts | 1 | — | — | — |
| O-1 Office Building District | 9 | 40% of signable wall area | 100 sq ft | — |
| B-1 Neighborhood Shopping District | 9 | 35 ft | 100 sq ft | — |
| B-2 General Business District | 9 | 40 ft | 150 sq ft | — |
| B-3 Tourist Commercial District | 11 | 75 ft | 150 sq ft | — |
| I-1 Light Industrial District, I-2 Heavy Industrial District | 5 | 40 ft | 150 sq ft | — |
| AG-1 Agricultural District | 2 | — | — | — |
| Interstate district | 1 | — | — | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 10 zones)

### O-1 Office Building District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Pole-Mounted Sign | 30 ft | 100 sq ft | — | No closer than property line. | 1 per street frontage | One per street frontage of a lot. | — | § 5.00(A) |
| Ground Sign | — | 48 sq ft | — | No closer than property line. | 1 per street frontage | One per street frontage of a lot. | — | § 5.00(B) |
| Wall or Fascia Sign | — | — | — | — | 1 per business per street frontage | One per business per street frontage. On building wall. | — | § 5.00(C)(1) |
| Projecting Sign | — | 16 sq ft | — | — | 1 per street frontage | Attached to wall of establishment it serves. | — | § 5.00(C)(2) |
| Roof Sign | 40% of signable wall area | — | — | — | 1 per street frontage per establishment | Within selected signable area on mansard/penthouse/architectural roof element. | — | § 5.00(C)(3) |
| Unified Business Center Identification - Freestanding Pole or Ground Sign | — | — | — | — | 1 per center | One per center. Used for name of center. | — | § 5.00(D),(E) |
| Wall or Fascia Sign (Unified Business Center Establishment) | — | — | — | — | 1 per establishment per street frontage | Each establishment in center. | — | § 5.00(D)(2),E(2) |
| Portable Sign | — | 50 sq ft | — | 20 ft from pavement; 10 ft from property line; not within 35 ft of intersections. | — | Subject to §3.00; 20 ft from edge of pavement, at least 10 ft from property line, not within 35 ft of intersections. | — | § 5.00(E)(4), § 3.00 |

### B-1 Neighborhood Shopping District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Pole-Mounted Sign | 35 ft | 100 sq ft | — | Not closer than property line. | 1 per street frontage | One per street frontage of a lot. | — | § 6.00(A) |
| Ground Sign | 15 ft | 48 sq ft | — | Not closer than property line. | 1 per street frontage | One per street frontage of a lot. | — | § 6.00(B) |
| Wall or Fascia Sign | — | — | — | — | 1 per business per street frontage | One per business per street frontage. On building wall. | — | § 6.00(C)(1) |
| Projecting Sign | — | 16 sq ft | — | — | — | Attached to wall of establishment. | — | § 6.00(C)(2) |
| Roof Sign | 6 ft (vertical dim. of signable wall area), 40% of area | — | — | — | 1 per street frontage per establishment | On mansard/penthouse/roof element in selected signable wall area. | — | § 6.00(C)(3) |
| Unified Business Center Identification - Freestanding Pole or Ground Sign | — | — | — | — | 1 per center | One per center. | — | § 6.00(D)(2) |
| Wall or Fascia Sign (Unified Business Center Establishment) | — | — | — | — | 1 per establishment per street frontage | Each establishment in center. | — | § 6.00(D)(2) |
| Portable Sign | — | 50 sq ft | — | 20 ft from street; 10 ft from property line; not within 35 ft of intersection. | — | Subject to § 3.00; 20 ft from edge of pavement, 10 ft from property line, not within 35 ft of intersection. | — | § 6.00(D)(3), § 3.00 |

### B-3 Tourist Commercial District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Pole-Mounted Sign | 40 ft | 150 sq ft | — | — | 1 per street frontage | One per street frontage. | — | § 8.00(A) |
| Ground Sign | 15 ft | 48 sq ft | — | — | 1 per street frontage | One per street frontage. | — | § 8.00(B) |
| Freestanding Pole-Mounted Sign (Within 1900 ft of I-20) | 75 ft | 150 sq ft | — | — | 1 per street frontage | Within 1,900 ft of I-20 right-of-way. | — | § 8.00(C) |
| Wall or Fascia Sign | — | — | — | — | 1 per business per street frontage | One per business per street frontage, on building wall. | — | § 8.00(D)(1) |
| Projecting Sign | — | 16 sq ft | — | — | — | Attached to wall of establishment. | — | § 8.00(D)(2) |
| Roof Sign | 6 ft (vertical dim. of signable wall area), 40% of area | — | — | — | 1 per street frontage per establishment | Mansard/penthouse/architectural roof element. | — | § 8.00(D)(3) |
| Unified Business Center Identification - Freestanding Pole or Ground Sign | — | — | — | — | 1 per center | One per center. | — | § 8.00(E)(2) |
| Portable Sign | — | 50 sq ft | — | 20 ft from edge of pavement; 10 ft from property line; not within 35 ft of intersection. | — | See § 3.00; 20 ft from edge of pavement, at least 10 ft from property line, not within 35 ft of intersection. | — | § 8.00(E)(4), § 3.00 |

## Prohibited signs in Moody

- No sign shall be erected or maintained at any location where, by reason of its position, wording, illumination, shape, symbol, color, form or character, it may obstruct, impair, obscure or interfere with the view or be mistaken for an authorized traffic sign, signal, or device.
- No sign shall interfere with, mislead, confuse or disrupt traffic flow or traffic safety.
- Signs incorporating any noisy mechanical device (whistles, horns, noisemakers, sirens, or any noisy audible devices) are expressly prohibited within the City.
- No sign of any type or foundation or support thereof shall be placed in a public street or its right-of-way.
- No sign with flashing, traveling or animated illumination shall be permitted in any zone district, except for permanent signs in commercial districts providing public service information such as time, date, temperature, news or weather.
- All portable and temporary signs must be set back at least 20 feet from the pavement edge of a public street or road and no closer than ten feet from the property line; not permitted within 35 feet of an intersection; not permitted within 35 feet of street/railroad intersection.
- No illuminated sign, other than a permanent subdivision identification sign, shall be permitted within 50 feet of any residential zone district.
- The area around all signs must be kept clean and free of trash and all vegetation, unless part of landscaping associated with the sign, which must be well maintained.
- All signs must be maintained in a safe and proper operating manner at all times.
- No person shall park any vehicle or trailer on a public street or parking area for the sole purpose of advertising.
- Snipe signs, feather signs, and air dancers are not permitted in any district except as may be authorized by city ordinance.
- Roof signs are prohibited except as provided by regulation.
- Plasma signs are prohibited.
- Portable signs are prohibited.
- No sign shall occupy any portion of a parking space or aisle.
- All signs must conform with the Standard Building Code, chapter 22, as amended.
- No sign may be built, constructed, modified, or mounted prior to approval by the City of Moody planning commission or the Building Inspector and the chairperson of the commission.
- No future construction of permanent pole-mounted signs shall be permitted in commercial zoned areas, except in the 'interstate district'.
- Abandoned signs (signs on vacant property for four months or more, or signs for events/purposes which no longer apply) are prohibited and must be removed.
- All signs for businesses or establishments no longer in operation must be removed within 90 days of disuse.
- No person may damage, trim, destroy or remove any trees, shrubs, or vegetation in any right-of-way or landscaping area to increase sign visibility, unless authorized in writing.
- Any sign installed or placed on a public right-of-way, except as allowed, is subject to confiscation and the owner is liable for removal and disposal costs.

## Signs exempt from permit in Moody

- Permanent or temporary signs required to be posted by law.
- Permanent or temporary WARNING and NO TRESPASSING signs (excluding snipe signs).
- Permanent or temporary signs established by, or by order of, any government agency or official body.
- Signs indicating the location of bus stops, taxi stands and similar transportation facilities.
- Signs providing information concerning the location or use of accessory off-street facilities and/or loading or unloading facilities.
- Permanent or temporary signs required for the control of vehicular or pedestrian traffic.
- Temporary holiday signs, banners, displays and decorations.
- Routine sign maintenance and repair, including changeable copy signs.
- Decorative flags and bunting for city-wide celebrations, conventions, and commemorations, when authorized by the city for a specified time period.
- One construction sign per street frontage, located on the property, allowed where building is in progress under a current building permit, not to exceed 32 square feet, non-illuminated, to be removed before a certificate of occupancy.
- Flags, banners or insignias of a governmental, religious, charitable or fraternal organization.
- Integral, decorative or architectural features of buildings, except letters, trademarks, or moving parts.
- Directory signs located inside the buildings they serve.
- Signs not exceeding three square feet in area and bearing only property numbers, post office box numbers or names of the occupants of the premises.
- Window signs located in commercial zone districts, advertising activities, services, goods or products available within the building, with a total area of 20 percent or less of the window glass surface area.
- Political campaign posters and signs (with permit), not creating traffic hazards, non-illuminated, and removed within 72 hours after the relevant event. (Snipe signs not allowed.)
- Temporary, non-illuminated signs in residential and agricultural districts not exceeding four square feet in sign area, pertaining to agricultural products raised on the premises. (Snipe signs not allowed.)
- Temporary, non-illuminated real estate signs offering the sale, lease, or rent of the property on which located. (Snipe signs not allowed.)

## Sign plan & submission notes

- The City of Moody planning commission or the Building Inspector and the chairperson of the commission must approve any sign prior to construction or modification; upon approval, a permit is issued by the city's building inspector.
- Each sign permit application must include a scaled drawing of the sign and a plot plan showing the location of each sign on the lot.
- Architectural harmony and unity of sign type, color scheme, size, and illumination are required within unified business centers and shopping centers and must be coordinated and compatible with the architecture of the center; this typically requires a coordinated sign plan.
- Signs permitted in planned residential districts shall be determined during the site plan review process.
- If a permit is denied, the applicant may appeal to the zoning board of adjustments.
- Except where explicitly exempted, all signs require a permit issued by the building inspector.
- Whether exempt or not, illuminated signs require an electrical permit.
- All signs within 660 feet of a highway right-of-way must file an application with the State of Alabama Highway Department per the Highway Beautification Act.

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

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