# Sign Regulations in Oxford, Alabama

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Oxford, Alabama (AL)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/alabama/oxford
- **Data last verified:** 2025-03-31
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/AL/Oxford/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=COOR_APXAZOOROX_ART9SIRE)

## At a glance

Oxford, Alabama regulates 8 sign types across 3 zoning districts. Freestanding Signs in the Nonresidential District (ASC, GB, CBD, NSC, INST, M-1, M-2) zoning district are capped at 30 ft for ASC, GB, M-1 & M-2; 15 ft for CBD, NSC, INST tall and 100 sf for ASC, 150 sf for GB, 100 sf for CBD, 50 sf for NSC, 100 sf for INST, 150 sf for M-1 & M-2, with a No closer than 50 ft from a sign on an abutting property setback (Sec. Section 9.06 - Signs Permitted in Nonresidential Districts, 1.a). Most commercial signs in Oxford 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 | 8 ft if freestanding | 200 sf or permitted copy area, whichever is less | — |
| Residential District (AG-1, E-1, R-1, R-2, R-3, GH, TH) | 4 | 4 ft | 48 sf for single-family, 12 sf per 50 units for multifamily | — |
| Nonresidential District (ASC, GB, CBD, NSC, INST, M-1, M-2) | 5 | 30 ft for ASC, GB, M-1 & M-2; 15 ft for CBD, NSC, INST | 200 sf or permitted copy area, whichever is less | — |

## 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 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign | — | — | — | — | — | No closer than 2 ft to a public right-of-way | — | Section 9.03 - General Regulations, 1.a, 1.c |
| Attached Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Attached to building facade | — | Section 9.06 - Signs Permitted in Nonresidential Districts, 2.b |
| Temporary Sign | 8 ft if freestanding | — | — | — | 1 per premises | Not in public right-of-way | — | Section 9.06 - Signs Permitted in Nonresidential Districts, 5.a |
| Electronic Changeable Copy Sign | — | 200 sf or permitted copy area, whichever is less | — | 100 ft if changeable copy area up to 20 sf, 200 ft if 21—100 sf, 500 ft if greater than 100 sf | — | — | — | Section 9.06 - Signs Permitted in Nonresidential Districts, 4.a |

### Residential District (AG-1, E-1, R-1, R-2, R-3, GH, TH)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Address Sign | — | 3 sf | — | — | 1 per residential premises | On residential premises | — | Section 9.05 - Signs Permitted in Residential and Agricultural Districts, 1.a |
| Temporary Sign | 4 ft | 6.5 sf aggregate | — | — | Up to 2 per occupied lot | On residential premises | — | Section 9.05 - Signs Permitted in Residential and Agricultural Districts, 1.b |
| Residential Identification Sign | — | 48 sf for single-family, 12 sf per 50 units for multifamily | — | — | 1 per principal entrance | At principal entrance to residential development | — | Section 9.05 - Signs Permitted in Residential and Agricultural Districts, 2.a |
| Temporary Residential Identification Sign | — | 32 sf | — | — | 1 for 50 or fewer lots, up to 2 for larger developments | At principal entrance to residential development | — | Section 9.05 - Signs Permitted in Residential and Agricultural Districts, 2.b |

### Nonresidential District (ASC, GB, CBD, NSC, INST, M-1, M-2)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign | 30 ft for ASC, GB, M-1 & M-2; 15 ft for CBD, NSC, INST | 100 sf for ASC, 150 sf for GB, 100 sf for CBD, 50 sf for NSC, 100 sf for INST, 150 sf for M-1 & M-2 | — | No closer than 50 ft from a sign on an abutting property | 1 per street frontage | No closer than 15 ft to edge of pavement | — | Section 9.06 - Signs Permitted in Nonresidential Districts, 1.a |
| Attached Sign | — | 150 sf or 25% of facade area for Wall Sign, 16 sf for Projecting Sign, 25% of surface area for Awning or Canopy Sign | — | — | 1 wall or projecting sign per facade + 1 awning or canopy sign per facade | On building facade | — | Section 9.06 - Signs Permitted in Nonresidential Districts, 2.a |
| Window Sign | — | 20% of window glass area | — | — | — | On window | — | Section 9.06 - Signs Permitted in Nonresidential Districts, 3 |
| Electronic Changeable Copy Sign | — | 200 sf or permitted copy area, whichever is less | — | 100 ft if changeable copy area up to 20 sf, 200 ft if 21—100 sf, 500 ft if greater than 100 sf | — | — | — | Section 9.06 - Signs Permitted in Nonresidential Districts, 4.a |
| Temporary Sign | 8 ft if freestanding | Size allowed for permanent sign | — | — | 1 per premises | Not in public right-of-way | — | Section 9.06 - Signs Permitted in Nonresidential Districts, 5.a |

## Prohibited signs in Oxford

- No person shall place or affix any political advertisement, political notice, political poster or similar article to any public lamp post, public utility pole, public shade tree, public property, public right-of-way or upon any public structure or public building in the city except as may be authorized or required by law.
- No sign or portion of a sign may be located closer than two ft to a public right-of-way except as otherwise provided for Projecting Signs.
- No sign may interfere in any way with motorist visibility at the intersection of a street with another street, alley or driveway.
- No illuminated sign, other than a permanent Residential Identification Sign, is permitted within 50 ft of any residential district.
- No sign may occupy any portion of a required parking space or aisle.
- No person may, for the purpose of improving the visibility of any sign, damage, trim, destroy or remove any landscaping required by this Ordinance or trees or other vegetation within any right-of-way.
- Any sign that may obstruct, impair, obscure or 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 that emit audible sound, odor, or visible matter such as smoke or steam.
- Signs or sign structures that interfere with free use of any fire escape, emergency exit, or standpipes, or that obstruct any window to such an extent that light or ventilation is reduced to a point below that required by any applicable regulation.
- Flashing signs.
- Any sign or support thereof placed in or that interferes with, a public street right-of-way except as otherwise permitted.
- Snipe signs.
- Portable signs.

## Signs exempt from permit in Oxford

- Routine sign maintenance, including painting, repainting, cleaning and repair not involving structural changes.
- The changing of copy on Changeable Copy Signs provided there are no structural changes or change in the primary light source.
- Installation of signs permitted in all districts; signs exempt from these regulations; and signs subject to other standards.
- Installation and changing of window signs.
- Address Sign, not exceeding three sf in area and bearing the E-911 address of the premises.
- Temporary Signs, in accordance with the requirements.
- Incidental Signs, whether freestanding or attached, less than four sf in area and less than four ft in height.
- Memorial Signs. Signs or tablets, names of buildings and date of erection, when cut into any masonry surface or inlaid so as to be part of the building, provided that no such sign may exceed six sf in area and may not be separately illuminated.
- Non-commercial Flags. Flags, banners or insignias of a governmental, religious, charitable or fraternal organization that include no commercial message.
- Non-commercial Signs. Each occupied lot is permitted an aggregate sign area of 15 sf for non-commercial speech, which may not be illuminated, may not exceed six and one-half sf in area per sign and may not exceed five ft in height.
- Any sign, other than a window sign, located inside a building, structure or enclosed space and not legible from the public right-of-way or from another private or public property.
- Any sign with less than four sf in area and less than four ft in height (if freestanding), that is not separately lighted and that is not legible from the public right-of-way or from another private or public property.
- Official signs.
- Stadium signs, including scoreboards and incidental advertising signs intended to be viewed only from within a stadium.
- Decorations containing no commercial message.
- Signs affixed to vehicles.
- Signs authorized by the City for public events.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Off-premise Signs may be permitted only in the ASC, GB, M-1 and M-2 Districts upon review and approval by the Commission.
- Application for Permit must be made to the Building Official, together with a permit fee, and accompanied by such information as needed to assure compliance with this Article and all other applicable laws and regulations.
- Appeal may be taken to the Board of Adjustment upon denial of a sign permit, subject to all procedures outlined in Article 12 Board of Adjustment.

## Full detail

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

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