# Sign Regulations in Ozark, Alabama

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

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

## At a glance

Ozark, Alabama regulates 15 sign types across 7 zoning districts. Freestanding Signs in the General Regulations For All Zones zoning district are capped at 35 ft tall and 120 sq. ft., with a 10 ft from any side lot line setback (Sec. Sec. 5: Freestanding signs; Sec. 6: Placement and clearance standards.). Most commercial signs in Ozark require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (7 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 10 | 40 ft | 500 sq. ft. | — |
| B-1 (central business district) | 1 | — | — | — |
| B-4 (highway commercial district) | 1 | 50 ft | Up to 800 sq. ft. | — |
| B-2 (local business district), B-3 (planned shopping center district), I-1 (light industrial district), I-2 (heavy industrial district), I-3 (industrial park district) | 1 | — | — | — |
| Residential Districts | 2 | — | 32 sq. ft. | — |

_2 additional zoning districts are covered in PermitPal (free account)._

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 7 zones)

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | — | — | — | — | — | On exterior of building | — | Sec. 5: Building signs; Sec. 6: Relationship to building features. |
| Freestanding Sign | 35 ft | 120 sq. ft. | — | 10 ft from any side lot line | 1 per parcel; Corner/double lots: 2 (combined max area 200 sq ft); Over 300 ft frontage: 1 additional per 300 ft. | On individual development site; may not project into public right-of-way. | — | Sec. 5: Freestanding signs; Sec. 6: Placement and clearance standards. |
| Freestanding Sign (Motor Vehicle Dealership >300ft Frontage) | 35 ft | 120 sq. ft. per sign | — | 10 ft from any side lot line | 1 per 300 ft of road frontage | On dealership property | — | Sec. 5: Freestanding signs. |
| Shopping Center Freestanding Sign (Gross building area <20,000 sq. ft.) | 35 ft | 150 sq. ft. | — | 10 ft from any side lot line | 1; Corner/double lots: 2 | At shopping center | — | Sec. 5: Shopping center signs. |
| Shopping Center Freestanding Sign (Gross building area 20,000–65,000 sq. ft.) | 35 ft | 250 sq. ft. | — | 10 ft from any side lot line | 1; Corner/double lots: 2 | At shopping center | — | Sec. 5: Shopping center signs. |
| Shopping Center Freestanding Sign (Gross building area >65,000 sq. ft.) | 40 ft | 500 sq. ft. | — | 10 ft from any side lot line | 1; Corner/double lots: 2 | At shopping center | — | Sec. 5: Shopping center signs. |
| Portable Sign | — | 32 sq. ft. | — | — | — | On private property (not right-of-way). | — | Sec. 5: Portable signs. |
| Subdivision Identification Marker | — | 120 sq. ft. | — | — | — | Marking entrance to residential subdivision, office park, or industrial park (within perimeter, not right-of-way). | — | Sec. 5: Subdivision identification marker. |

### B-4 (highway commercial district)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Billboard (B-4) | 50 ft | Up to 800 sq. ft. | — | — | Limited by 500 ft spacing rule | B-4 districts only | — | Sec. 5: Billboards. |

### Residential Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Multi-Family Residential Wall Sign | — | 32 sq. ft. | — | — | One per entrance from public street | At entrance from public street. | — | Sec. 5: Multi-family residential signs. |
| Multi-Family Residential Freestanding Sign | — | 32 sq. ft. | — | — | One per entrance from public street | At entrance from public street. | — | Sec. 5: Multi-family residential signs. |

## Prohibited signs in Ozark

- It is unlawful to erect, maintain, or cause to be maintained, any sign not expressly authorized by, or exempted from, these regulations.
- Any freestanding sign with a face greater than twenty (20) square feet, except as defined in section 5.
- Signs that are in violation of the building code or electrical code adopted by the City of Ozark.
- Yard sale signs within the right-of-way.
- Political signs within the right-of-way.
- Beacons (structures with rotating, strobing, or flashing lights).
- Off-premise signs located on any properties in the highway corridor overlay district, B-4 (highway commercial district), B-1 (central business district), RH (rural holding district), along state highways, residential districts, and any property that is currently being used as residential.
- A sign that, in the opinion of the building official or his designated representative, does or may constitute a safety hazard.
- Any sign which simulates in size, color, lettering or design any traffic sign or signal, or which makes use of words, symbols, or characters in such a manner to interfere with, mislead or confuse pedestrian or vehicular traffic.
- Any signs, other than official traffic control devices, highway identification markers, warning signs, and other official signs, which are erected within the right-of-way of any street or alley.
- Any sign that is erected or maintained outside the right-of-way and according to the director, obstructs the vision of pedestrians, cyclists, or motorists traveling on or entering a street, road, or highway.
- Freestanding signs which project into the public right-of-way.
- Signs consisting of any strobing, rotating, or flashing component as determined by the building official or his designated representative, except for time and temperature displays and traditional barber poles.
- Any sign or sign structure identifying a previous use or activity that has not occupied the site for a period greater than sixty (60) days, does not maintain a current business license or pertains to a time, event or purpose which no longer applies, shall be deemed abandoned.
- Strips or strings of lights outlining property lines, sales area, rooflines, doors, windows, wall edges or other architectural features of a building (except holiday decorations, community decorations, and neon lighting that does not depict wording or logos).
- Signs on public land, including rights-of-way and easements, other than those erected at the direction or with the permission of a public authority.
- Signs that emit audible sound, odor, visible matter such as smoke or steam, or involve the use of live animals.
- Signs or sign structures that interfere in any way 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 provision of these regulations or any other regulation of the City of Ozark.
- Signs that are of such intensity or brilliance as to cause glare or impair the vision of motorists, cyclists, or pedestrians.
- Signs that contain any lighting or control mechanism that causes unreasonable interference with radio, television, or other communication signals.
- Signs placed upon light poles, benches, bus shelters, or waste receptacles except those which identify the use of the object on which they are placed.
- Signs erected on public utility poles, even if they are located on private property other than signs erected by a public authority for public purposes.
- Signs, other than historical markers or those identifying a natural feature, painted on or attached to trees, rocks, or other natural features.
- Signs visible from a public right-of-way that use the word 'stop' or 'danger' or otherwise present or imply the need or requirement of stopping, caution, the existence of danger, or which for any reason are likely to be confused with any sign displayed or authorized by a public authority.
- Any sign mounted to the structural roof or applied to the roof including painted signs.
- Signs projecting above the building roof or parapet line.
- Signs that have become deteriorated or damaged to an extent that the cost of the reconstruction or restoration of such signs is in excess of fifty (50) percent of its replacement value exclusive of foundations.
- Signs lettered or hand painted in a crude or amateurish fashion.
- Signs on any broadcasting or telecommunications tower or any antenna other than appropriate hazard/warning signs.
- Signs identifying a home-based business (home occupation).
- Vehicles or trailers (operable or inoperable), which contain advertising and are not used in the daily conduct of business.

## Signs exempt from permit in Ozark

- Address numbers used for identifying the E-911 address of a property are exempt, provided they are not part of a sign with other commercial or noncommercial messages or images.
- Incidental signs on residential property identifying the house number, street name, and resident's name are exempt.
- Professionally manufactured and properly maintained banners are exempt, if secured to withstand natural elements and not constituting a hazard.
- Temporary community event displays and noncommercial signs associated with school activities, elections, celebrations or commemorations with community significance are exempt if removed within seven (7) days of event completion.
- Construction signs (maximum 3 per site, 32 sq ft each) are exempt, with removal within 14 days of certificate of occupancy, or within 30 days for minor modifications not requiring a CO.
- Development signs at the entrance to a subdivision, office park, or similar development (maximum 32 sq ft, one per entrance), removed when original developer sells all lots.
- Directional signs solely for traffic or pedestrian direction on the property are exempt (no more than 5 sq ft, no advertising other than logo).
- Directory signs (wall-mounted, not legible from street/adjoining property, one per building, max 20 sq ft) are exempt.
- Hazard/prohibition/warning signs, such as 'No Trespassing' or 'No Parking,' are exempt as long as they do not advertise commercially.
- Help wanted signs (max 6 sq ft, one per business, advertising job vacancies for the business on premises) are exempt.
- Temporary holiday decorations are exempt.
- Internal signs not viewable from public right-of-way or adjacent property (e.g., inside ball parks, shopping centers) are exempt.
- Nameplates (non-electrical, max 2 sq ft, identifying name/occupation of occupant of nonresidential property) are exempt.
- Official federal, state, or local government traffic, directional, and informational signs, or notices issued in the performance of a public duty are exempt.
- Official flags (federal, state, local, religious, charitable, fraternal, or civic organization flags/emblems), flown in accordance with U.S. Congressional protocol, are exempt.
- Political signs are exempt, subject to Zoning Ordinance requirements and removal within seven (7) days after the election date.
- Real estate signs indicating property for sale, rent or lease, and temporary directional real estate signs, subject to limitations detailed in the ordinance.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A site plan showing location of any freestanding sign(s), easements, public rights-of-way, property lines, buildings, sight distance triangles, and other signs on the property is required as part of the sign permit application (Section 7 'Submission requirements').
- The main or entrance facade with linear dimension must be provided in the sign permit application.
- Plans and specifications (drawn to scale) for all proposed signs, including dimensions, elevations, supporting structures, maximum/minimum height, illumination details, and inventory of existing signage on the property, are required with every permit application.
- Permit applications must be reviewed for compliance with all relevant regulations before any sign is erected, altered, relocated, or changed, unless exempt.
- Prorating of allowable building signage in multi-tenant buildings is the responsibility of the owner or property manager, not the City.
- Menu boards must be noted on the sign permit application, but their area does not count against the maximum allowed for freestanding signs.
- No sign permit is required for sign types listed as exempt in Section 3, but such signs must still meet all applicable placement, size, and safety standards.

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

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