# Sign Regulations in Oneonta, Alabama

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Oneonta, Alabama (AL)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/alabama/oneonta
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-08
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/AL/Oneonta/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=CD_ORD_CH14ALBE_S14-17SIRE)

## At a glance

Oneonta, Alabama regulates 23 sign types across 8 zoning districts. Ground Sign (Single Occupancy Parcel, Free-Standing)s in the B-1 zoning district zoning district are capped at 35 ft tall and 150 sq ft, with a 15 ft from property line setback (Sec. Sec. 6.1). Most commercial signs in Oneonta require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (8 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 4 | 25-40 ft (depending on location) | 252 sq ft | — |
| Residential zoning district | 7 | 10 ft | 48 sq ft | — |
| Planned residential districts | 1 | 10 ft | 32 sq ft | — |
| O-1 office building district | 5 | 8 ft above front wall of building; not more than 45 ft above ground | 100 sq ft per sign | — |
| B-1 zoning district | 8 | 35 ft | 150 sq ft | — |
| B-2 zoning district, B-3 zoning district | 10 | 35 ft | 252 sq ft | — |
| M-1 zoning district, M-2 zoning district | 8 | 40 ft | 252 sq ft | — |
| AG zoning district | 2 | — | — | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 8 zones)

### B-1 zoning district

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Ground Sign (Single Occupancy Parcel, Free-Standing) | 35 ft | 150 sq ft | — | 15 ft from property line | 1 per street frontage | Minimum 15 ft from property line; not on public right-of-way; minimum clearance 10 ft from ground to lowest point; max 35 ft above ground | — | Sec. 6.1 |
| Pole Mounted Sign (Multiple Occupancy Parcel) | 35 ft | 150 sq ft per sign; max 300 sq ft total for parcel | — | 15 ft from property line | Based on frontage | Minimum 15 ft from property line; not on public right-of-way; minimum clearance 10 ft from ground to lowest point | — | Sec. 6.1 |
| Pylon Sign (On-Premise) | 15 ft | 48 sq ft | — | 15 ft from property line | — | Not less than 15 ft from property line; not on public right-of-way | — | Sec. 6.2 |
| Wall or Mansard Sign | — | — | — | — | 1 per street frontage | On building wall; additional non-illuminated wall sign allowed for rear entrance up to 10 sq ft | — | Sec. 6.3A |
| Projecting Sign | — | 16 sq ft | — | — | 1 per wall | Wall of business, not public right-of-way; min clearance 10 ft from ground to lowest point | — | Sec. 6.3B |
| Roof Sign | 8 ft above front wall, 45 ft max above ground | 50 sq ft | — | — | — | Roof | — | Sec. 6.3C |
| Marquee/Canopy/Awning Sign | — | 10 sq ft | — | — | — | On marquee, canopy, or awning | — | Sec. 6.3D |
| Portable Sign | — | 100 sq ft | — | 20 ft from pavement edge; at least 10 ft from property line; not within 35 ft of intersection | — | Minimum 20 ft from pavement edge; not closer than 10 ft from property line; not within 35 ft of intersection; not on public right-of-way | — | Sec. 6.3E, Sec. 3.0 |

### B-2 zoning district, B-3 zoning district

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Ground Sign (Single Occupancy Parcel, Free-Standing) | 35 ft | 150 sq ft | — | 15 ft from property line | 1 per street frontage | Minimum 15 ft from property line; not on public right-of-way; minimum clearance 10 ft from ground to lowest point; max 35 ft above ground | — | Sec. 6.1 |
| Pole Mounted Sign (Multiple Occupancy Parcel) | 35 ft | 150 sq ft per sign; max 300 sq ft total for parcel | — | 15 ft from property line | Based on frontage | Minimum 15 ft from property line; not on public right-of-way; minimum clearance 10 ft from ground to lowest point | — | Sec. 6.1 |
| Pylon Sign (On-Premise) | 15 ft | 48 sq ft | — | 15 ft from property line | — | Not less than 15 ft from property line; not on public right-of-way | — | Sec. 6.2 |
| Projecting Sign | — | 16 sq ft | — | — | 1 per wall | Wall of business, not public right-of-way; min clearance 10 ft from ground to lowest point | — | Sec. 6.3B |
| Roof Sign | 8 ft above front wall, 45 ft max above ground | 50 sq ft | — | — | — | Roof | — | Sec. 6.3C |
| Portable Sign | — | 100 sq ft | — | 20 ft from pavement edge; at least 10 ft from property line; not within 35 ft of intersection | — | Minimum 20 ft from pavement edge; not closer than 10 ft from property line; not within 35 ft of intersection; not on public right-of-way | — | Sec. 6.3E, Sec. 3.0 |
| Billboard | 25-40 ft | 252 sq ft | — | 20 ft from front/15 ft side/rear lot line | — | See section 2.0/city limits and state highways | — | Sec. 6.3F & 2.0 |
| Electronic Message Display (On Pole/Pylon Sign Only) | — | 45 sq ft (of installed sign area) | — | — | 1 per parcel | Only on pole or pylon sign; only on US Hwy 231 & AL 75 Traffic Corridors | — | Sec. 6.3G.1-.7 |

### M-1 zoning district, M-2 zoning district

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Ground Sign (Permanent, On-Premise) | 40 ft | 150 sq ft | — | 15 ft from property line | — | Not less than 15 ft from property line; not on public right-of-way | — | Sec. 7.1 |
| Pylon Sign (On-Premise) | 15 ft | 60 sq ft | — | 15 ft from property line | — | Not less than 15 ft from property line; not on public right-of-way | — | Sec. 7.2 |
| Wall or Mansard Sign | — | — | — | — | 1 per street frontage | On building wall; additional non-illuminated wall sign for rear entrance up to 10 sq ft | — | Sec. 7.3A |
| Projecting Sign | — | 16 sq ft | — | — | 1 per wall | On building wall; not into right-of-way | — | Sec. 7.3B |
| Roof Sign | 8 ft above front wall, 45 ft max above ground | 50 sq ft | — | — | — | Roof | — | Sec. 7.3C |
| Marquee/Canopy/Awning Sign | — | 10 sq ft | — | — | — | On marquee, canopy, or awning | — | Sec. 7.3D |
| Portable Sign | — | 100 sq ft | — | 20 ft from pavement edge; 10 ft from property line; not within 35 ft of intersection | — | Minimum 20 ft from pavement edge; not less than 10 ft from property line; not within 35 ft of intersection; not on public right-of-way | — | Sec. 7.4, 3.0 |
| Billboard | 25-40 ft | 252 sq ft | — | 20 ft from front/15 ft side/rear lot line | — | See section 2.0/city limits and state highways | — | Sec. 7.5 & 2.0 |

## Prohibited signs in Oneonta

- No sign shall be erected or maintained at any location where by reason of its position, working, illumination, shape, symbol, color, form or character, it may obstruct, impair, obscure, interfere with the view of or may be confused with any authorized traffic sign, signal or device or interfere with, mislead, confuse or disrupt traffic flow or traffic safety.
- Signs incorporating any noisy mechanical device (whistles, horns, noise makers, sirens or any other noisy audible devices) are expressly prohibited within the City of Oneonta.
- No sign of any type or foundation or support thereof shall be placed in a public right-of-way.
- No signs having flashing, traveling or animated illumination shall be permitted in any zoning district of the city except for permanent signs located in commercial districts giving public service information such as, but not limited to: time, date, temperature, news or weather.
- All portable and temporary signs shall be set back at least twenty (20) feet from the pavement edge of a public street or road; and, in no case shall such signs be closer than ten (10) feet from the property line. No portable or temporary sign of any type shall be permitted within thirty-five (35) feet of an intersection of the pavement edge lines of two (2) public streets or roads or of the edge of pavement line of a public street or road and the right-of-way line of a railroad.
- No illuminated sign, other than a permanent subdivision identification sign, shall be permitted within fifty (50) feet of any residential zoning district of the City.
- The area around all signs shall be kept clean and free of trash and all vegetation, unless such is a part of the landscaping associated with the sign. In this case, such shall be well maintained.
- It shall be the responsibility of the sign owner/lessor or property owner to maintain all signs in a safe and proper operating manner at all times.
- No person shall park any vehicle or trailer on a public street or public parking area for the sole purpose of advertising.
- No permanent freestanding/pole mounted or ground sign of any type shall be permitted within thirty-five (35) feet of the intersection of the pavement edge line of two (2) public roads, unless the same is mounted at a height of at least ten (10) feet from ground level at the base of the sign and upon poles or other means of support which is adequately designed and constructed to support said sign.
- No sign shall occupy any portion of a required parking space or aisle.
- All signs shall conform with the Standard Building Code or as amended, which provides a comprehensive set of construction standards for signs. These specifications include wind loads, vibration resistance, seismic loads, acceptable stresses and electrical wiring and components.
- No sign may be erected, altered, relocated, enlarged or converted without a permit unless specifically exempted.
- No person may, for the purpose of increasing or enhancing the visibility of any sign, damage, trim, destroy or remove any trees, shrubs or other vegetation within the right-of-way (unless express written authorization is obtained from the agency having jurisdiction of the right-of-way) or on any area where landscaping is required by city zoning regulations.
- Abandoned signs are prohibited and shall be removed by the owner of the sign or owner of the premises.

## Signs exempt from permit in Oneonta

- Permanent or temporary signs required to be posted by law.
- Permanent or temporary warning signs and no trespassing signs (no 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 giving information concerning the location or use of accessory off-street parking facilities or loading and unloading facilities.
- Permanent or temporary signs required for the control of vehicular or pedestrian traffic.
- Temporary holiday signs, banners, displays and decorations, subject to established city policy.
- Routine sign maintenance and repair, including the changing of copy on changeable copy signs.
- Decorative flags and bunting for citywide celebrations, conventions and commemorations, when authorized by the city for a specified time period.
- One (1) construction sign per street frontage located on property where building is actually in progress under a current building permit, with restrictions on size, illumination, setback, content, and removal before certificate of occupancy.
- Flags, banners or insignias of governmental, religious, charitable or fraternal organizations, subject to established city policy.
- Integral decorative or architectural features of buildings, except letters, trademarks or moving parts.
- Directory signs located inside the building they will serve.
- Signs not exceeding three (3) square feet in area and bearing only property numbers, post office box numbers or names of the occupants of the premises to which the sign pertains.
- Window signs located in commercial zoning districts, which identify or advertise activities, services, goods or products available within the building and which collectively cover twenty (20) percent or less of the window glass surface area.
- Temporary political campaign posters, provided that they do not create traffic hazards as a result of poor or improper placement, are removed within 24 hours after the event, are not illuminated, and no snipe signs are allowed.
- Signs which advertise yard sales or garage sales, provided they do not obstruct vision, are removed within 24 hours after sale, do not exceed four (4) square feet, are not illuminated, and no snipe signs are allowed.
- Temporary, non-illuminated signs, located in residential and agricultural zoning districts, not to exceed four (4) square feet in sign area, pertaining to agricultural products raised on the premises (no snipe signs allowed).
- Temporary, non-illuminated real estate signs, used to offer for sale, lease or rent the property upon which signs are located (no snipe signs allowed).
- Fuel price information signs, in any district in which gasoline sales are permitted and signs advertising the price of fuel sold from a dispenser located on the premises, including logos and advertising signs attached to or painted onto the fuel dispensers themselves.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A dimensional sketch of the sign and a plot plan, including a legal description, showing the location of each sign on the lot and the setback(s) from the property line(s), is required as part of the sign permit application (Sec 10.0.B.4).
- A complete description of the sign(s) to be erected, including type, method of illumination, dimensions, height, etc., is required for the sign permit application.
- Other details sufficient for the inspections department to determine compliance with requirements of the article may be requested, which may include a building elevation, survey and method of installation or other drawing or documentation satisfactory to assess compliance with all applicable codes.
- No explicit mention of a master sign plan or required variance meeting, but appeals of permit denial may be brought before the zoning board of adjustment.
- Permits are required unless the sign is specifically exempted under the ordinance.

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

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