# Sign Regulations in Mountain Brook, Alabama

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Mountain Brook, Alabama (AL)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/alabama/mountain-brook
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-08
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/AL/Mountain_Brook/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=PTIILADERE_CH121SI)

## At a glance

Mountain Brook, Alabama regulates 37 sign types across 5 zoning districts. Ground Sign (General, Within Villages)s in the Traditional villages zoning district are capped at 6 ft tall and 15 sq ft, with a 3 ft from property lines/curb/public sidewalk, whichever is more restrictive setback (Sec. Sec. 121-10(2)g,i). Most commercial signs in Mountain Brook require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (5 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Traditional villages | 29 | 36 in | 100 sq ft | — |
| Community shopping district | 8 | 10 ft | 120 sq ft | — |
| Office park district | 5 | 10 ft | 120 sq ft | — |
| CS zoning district | 1 | — | — | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 4 | — | See specific incidental sign type | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 5 zones)

### Traditional villages

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Bulletin Board | 6 ft | 24 sq ft | — | — | 1 | — | — | Sec. 121-10(2)b |
| Facade Sign (Front) | — | 16 inches vertical (letters/logos/symbols) | — | — | 1 per facade per premises | Front facade, sign band above primary entrance. | — | Sec. 121-10(2)f |
| Ground Sign (General, Within Villages) | 6 ft | 15 sq ft | — | 3 ft from property lines/curb/public sidewalk, whichever is more restrictive | 1 | — | — | Sec. 121-10(2)g,i |
| Projecting Sign | Not above window sill of 2nd story nor more than 3 ft above facade of one-story building | — | — | At least 2 ft from curb, at least 7 ft vertical clearance | 1 | Attached at right angle to exterior, within 2 ft of curb and 7 ft vertical clearance. | — | Sec. 121-10(2)j |
| Suspended Sign | — | — | — | At least 2 ft from curb, 8 ft vertical clearance | 1 | Must have at least 2 ft horizontal from curb and 8 ft vertical clearance. | — | Sec. 121-10(2)k |
| Temporary Sign - Banner (New Business) | — | 20 sq ft | — | — | 1 | Facade or window. | — | Sec. 121-8(1) |
| Temporary Sign - Special Event Banner/Sign | — | 20 sq ft | — | — | 1 per street frontage | Facade, window, or on poles (not roof); not in public right-of-way. | — | Sec. 121-8(2) |
| Temporary Sign - Sandwich Board | 36 in | — | 24 in | Must allow for 5 ft unobstructed sidewalk. | 1 | On sidewalk within business frontage. | — | Sec. 121-8(5) |

### Community shopping district

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Aggregate Display Area | — | 120 sq ft | — | — | — | Primary facade that faces street | — | Sec. 121-10(1)e |
| Awning Sign | — | — | — | Awning must be at least 2 ft from curb. | — | Flat against surface of awning; awning extends no closer than 2 ft horizontal from curb line or 7 ft vertical above surface below. | — | Sec. 121-10(2)a |
| Bulletin Board | 6 ft | 24 sq ft | — | — | 1 | — | — | Sec. 121-10(2)b |
| Directory Sign | — | — | — | — | 1 | Can be ground, suspended, facade, or window sign; subject to master sign plan and sign type conditions. | — | Sec. 121-10(2)c |
| Door Sign | — | Ten percent of door area | — | — | — | On or in door/window that is part of a door. | — | Sec. 121-10(2)d |
| Facade Sign | — | — | — | — | 1 per facade per premises | Above primary public entrance. | — | Sec. 121-10(2)e |
| Ground Sign (Outside Villages) | 10 ft | 48 sq ft | — | 10 ft from all property lines | 1 | — | — | Sec. 121-10(2)h |
| Window Sign | — | 20% of window area | — | — | — | Inside/outside of window. | — | Sec. 121-10(2)l |

### Office park district

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Aggregate Display Area | — | 120 sq ft | — | — | — | Front facade of building | — | Sec. 121-10(1)f |
| Awning Sign | — | — | — | Awning must be at least 2 ft from curb. | — | Flat against surface of awning; awning extends no closer than 2 ft horizontal from curb line or 7 ft vertical above surface below. | — | Sec. 121-10(2)a |
| Facade Sign | — | — | — | — | 1 per facade per premises | Above primary public entrance. | — | Sec. 121-10(2)e |
| Ground Sign (Outside Villages) | 10 ft | 48 sq ft | — | 10 ft from all property lines | 1 | — | — | Sec. 121-10(2)h |
| Window Sign | — | 20% of window area | — | — | — | Inside/outside of window. | — | Sec. 121-10(2)l |

## Prohibited signs in Mountain Brook

- No sign shall be erected, displayed, maintained, or altered in the city unless it is in compliance with the chapter.
- It is unlawful to erect, display, materially alter, or relocate any sign unless such sign is in compliance with this chapter, and a permit for such sign has been issued by the building inspections superintendent, and the required permit fee has been paid, unless a permit is not required under this chapter.
- It is unlawful for the building inspections superintendent to issue a sign permit until satisfactory completion of the design review process as required under this chapter.
- All signs must comply with the building code, electrical code, and all other applicable codes and ordinances of the city.
- No sign shall exceed the height limit for buildings established in chapter 129 of this Code for the district in which it is located.
- No sign shall be erected, displayed, or maintained so as to obstruct or interfere with any fire escape, required exit, window, door, ventilation opening, or any opening required for building code compliance.
- No sign, other than an official sign, shall be placed in a public right-of-way or project into a public right-of-way, or be attached to private property placed in a public right-of-way except as expressly provided in the chapter.
- Any sign so placed in violation of right-of-way restrictions shall be forfeited to the public and subject to confiscation and destruction.
- Devices illuminating signs must not cause direct glare into windows of adjacent properties or into the eyes of passing motorists.
- Animated, blinking, flashing, or otherwise intermittently illuminated signs are prohibited.
- Any sign visible from a public right-of-way that simulates or imitates in color, lettering, content, or design any traffic sign or signal is prohibited.
- Any sign or device designed to attract attention of the public through motion is prohibited.
- Signs painted on or attached to utility poles, columns, benches, sidewalks, trees, rocks, or other natural features are prohibited.
- Any sign erected, painted, enlarged, or structurally altered in violation of any provision of the chapter is prohibited.
- Any sign determined to be dangerous due to not being securely affixed is prohibited.
- Any sign that has deteriorated or been damaged where reconstruction or restoration exceeds 50% of its depreciated value is prohibited.
- Any sign identifying a business or use no longer occupying the premises is prohibited.
- Any sign whose content is obscene, incites violence, or is otherwise without First Amendment protection is prohibited.
- Any internally illuminated sign in the three traditional villages is prohibited.
- Neon signs are prohibited unless custom designed and approved.
- Certain cabinet, can, or box signs with acrylic faces are prohibited unless constructed to specific opaque/background standards.
- Paper flyers, posters, or hand-made signs in storefront windows/doors are prohibited except as permitted under temporary sign provisions.
- Sandwich boards are prohibited except as allowed in subsection 121-8(5).
- Portable signs mounted on wheels are prohibited.
- Any sign blocking the public view of city art, monuments, or signage is prohibited.
- Roof signs are prohibited.

## Signs exempt from permit in Mountain Brook

- Required signs, official signs, residential signs, permitted temporary signs, and permitted incidental signs shall not require a sign permit or payment of a sign permit fee but shall meet all other provisions of this chapter and the City Code.
- Any sign permitted by this chapter may contain, in lieu of any other message or copy, any lawful noncommercial message that does not direct attention to a business operated for profit, or to a product, commodity or service for sale or lease, or to any other commercial interest or activity, provided the sign complies with size, height, area, and other requirements.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A permit is required for any sign unless exempted (e.g., required, official, residential, permitted temporary, or incidental signs).
- A permit will not be issued until satisfactory completion of the design review process by the village design review committee.
- A master sign plan is required for any development site containing an existing or proposed office park, shopping center, building, or group of buildings that contains multiple businesses or institutions or other arrangement of multiple nonresidential uses.
- If a master sign plan was not approved as part of a master development plan during zoning or rezoning, it shall be subject to approval by the village design review committee prior to application for any sign within its boundaries.
- All sign permit applications pertaining to development sites with multiple businesses (covered by a master sign plan) shall be reviewed in light of such approved master sign plans.
- Applications for a sign permit must include a copy of the approved master sign plan, if applicable.
- Each sign permit application is reviewed first by the zoning officer for completeness and then forwarded to the village design review committee for public meeting and final approval.
- Any variance from sign regulations must be applied for and reviewed by the village design review committee in a public meeting.

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

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