# Sign Regulations in Saraland, Alabama

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Saraland, Alabama (AL)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/alabama/saraland
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-08
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/AL/Saraland/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=COOR_CH26LAUSDE_ARTVISI)

## At a glance

Saraland, Alabama regulates 13 sign types across 9 zoning districts. Wall Signs in the R-1, Low Density Single Family Residential District, R-1A, Patio Residential District, R-2, Medium Density Single Family Residential District, R-3, Limited Multi-Family Residential District, R-4, High Density Single and Multi-Family Residential District, R-5, Mobile Home Residential District zoning district are capped at 6 ft. tall and 6 sq. ft., with a 5 ft. from side property lines. Not to be located in right-of-way. Must not impede lines of sight at intersections. setback (Sec. Sec. 26-374, Sec. 26-598 Schedule of permitted sign requirements, Sec. 26-589 General provisions, Sec. 26-591(10) Signs for which no permit is required.). Most commercial signs in Saraland require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (9 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| R-1, Low Density Single Family Residential District, R-1A, Patio Residential District, R-2, Medium Density Single Family Residential District, R-3, Limited Multi-Family Residential District, R-4, High Density Single and Multi-Family Residential District, R-5, Mobile Home Residential District | 2 | 6 ft. | 6 sq. ft. | — |
| B-1, Local Business District | 2 | 10 ft. | 300 sq. ft. or 20% of facade, whichever is less | — |
| B-2, General Business District | 2 | 10 ft. (standard); 12 ft., 21 ft., 30 ft. for shopping centers based on gross building area | 300 sq. ft. or 20% of facade, whichever is less | — |
| B-3, Professional Business District | 2 | 10 ft. | 300 sq. ft. or 20% of facade, whichever is less | — |
| M-1, Light Industrial District, M-2, General Industrial District | 2 | 10 ft. | 300 sq. ft. or 20% of facade, whichever is less | — |
| MD, Medical District | 4 | 100 ft. | 1,400 sq. ft. | — |
| Above Ground Storage Tank Overlay District | 1 | — | — | — |
| Northwest corner Highway 158 and I-65 Interchange Overlay District | 1 | 125 ft. | 480 sq. ft. | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 4 | — | 6.5 sq. ft. (residential), 32 sq. ft. (nonresidential) | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 9 zones)

### R-1, Low Density Single Family Residential District, R-1A, Patio Residential District, R-2, Medium Density Single Family Residential District, R-3, Limited Multi-Family Residential District, R-4, High Density Single and Multi-Family Residential District, R-5, Mobile Home Residential District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | 6 ft. | 6 sq. ft. | — | 5 ft. from side property lines. Not to be located in right-of-way. Must not impede lines of sight at intersections. | 1 per premises | On premises only, 1 per premises | — | Sec. 26-374, Sec. 26-598 Schedule of permitted sign requirements, Sec. 26-589 General provisions, Sec. 26-591(10) Signs for which no permit is required. |
| Monument/Name Indication Sign | 6 ft. | 6 sq. ft. | — | 5 ft. from side property lines and not placed in right-of-way. | Maximum two per entrance | At each entrance to a subdivision or mobile home park | — | Sec. 26-592(2); Sec. 26-598 (Schedule of permitted sign requirements) |

### MD, Medical District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Electronic/Digital Sign | 100 ft. | 400 sq. ft. (district sign); 100 sq. ft. max height | — | — | 1 per Medical District | One per Medical District | — | Sec. 26-135(h)(1)(f) (Medical District regulation) |
| Monument Sign (district sign at public road intersections) | 20 ft. | 250 sq. ft. per sign | — | 18 inches from right-of-way or 10 ft from any side property line | Max 2 per public road intersection | At public road intersections within the Medical District | — | Sec. 26-135(h)(1)(f)(2) |
| Wall Sign (hospital tower or mixed use >85 ft) | — | 1,400 sq. ft. | — | — | See master plan | On tower or mixed-use building >85 ft in designated habitable space | — | Sec. 26-135(h)(1)(f)(3) |
| Directional Sign (hospital related) | 36 inches | 3 sq. ft. | — | — | No maximum for hospital directional | On site/in Medical District | — | Sec. 26-135(h)(1)(f)(4) |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Real Estate Sign | — | 6.5 sq. ft. (residential), 32 sq. ft. (nonresidential) | — | — | 1 per street frontage | On premises, 1 per street frontage | — | Sec. 26-591(4) |
| Temporary Promotional Signs (special allowance) | — | — | — | — | See rule | Commercial/retail: Up to 9 allowed (3 of up to 3 different types); only permitted on last Friday of each month and state holidays. | — | Sec. 26-591(5) |
| Yard/Garage Sale Type Signs | — | 4 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 on site, up to 4 directional | On-premises & up to 4 directional signs per sale | — | Sec. 26-591(11) |
| Prohibited Sign Types | — | — | — | — | — | All districts | — | Sec. 26-593 |

## Prohibited signs in Saraland

- No outdoor advertising sign or sign structure shall be placed upon any street or highway right-of-way, except as otherwise provided.
- All signs shall maintain a five-foot setback from side property lines.
- No outdoor advertising sign or sign structure shall be located in such a manner as to materially impede the line of sight or the view of any street or highway intersection.
- No outdoor advertising sign or sign structure shall be erected, relocated or maintained so as to prevent free ingress/egress from any door, window, or fire escape.
- Illuminated signs must not cast direct light at any portion of the traveled way of any roadway. Lights causing glare or impairing driver vision, or interfering with vehicle operation are prohibited.
- No sign may be illuminated as to interfere with the effectiveness of or obscure an official traffic sign, device, or signal.
- Signs are prohibited from being erected or painted upon any sloped roof, fence, tree, stand pipe, fire escape, or utility pole, except for manufacturer’s or installer’s ID plate.
- Any sign which uses the word "Stop" or "Danger" prominently displayed and/or copies/imitation of official traffic control signs is prohibited.
- Flashing signs (signs which contain intermittent illuminations) are prohibited, except limited exceptions for official purposes (e.g., traffic control, time/date/temperature/emergency news).
- Portable signs, feather flags, streamers, bench signs, snipe signs, and sandwich signs are prohibited, except as allowed for certain temporary or specified uses.
- Signs which produce sound or noise, cause interference with communication transmission, produce or reflect motion pictures, emit visible smoke/vapor/particles/odor, or are animated, or rotate, move, or spin (except barber poles), are prohibited.
- Billboards and off-premises signs are prohibited except as specifically permitted for certain areas and conditions.
- Any sign attached to or painted on a vehicle parked adjacent to or on a public right-of-way, thoroughfare, or parking lot for the principal purpose of advertising is prohibited.
- Illuminated tubing or strings of lights that outline property lines, sales area, roof lines, doors, windows, wall edges, or other architectural features of a building are prohibited, except as temporary holiday decorations.
- No new mobile home parks within the city.
- Electronic signs are prohibited except for public entities and under specified exceptions and locations.

## Signs exempt from permit in Saraland

- Official traffic signs or sign structures erected or required by a governmental agency are exempt from permit requirements.
- Vehicle signs used in the normal course of a business for transportation and not for the sole purpose of advertising are exempt from permit requirements.
- Address numbers for the purposes of E-911 property identification are exempt from permit requirements.
- Real estate signs (temporary, non-illuminated, up to specified sizes) advertising real estate for sale, lease, or rent, one per street frontage, are exempt (with time limitations for removal).
- Temporary 'open house' real estate directional signs are allowed, subject to limitations (timing, size, placement, number).
- Each commercial or retail establishment licensed within the city may display limited temporary promotional signs (e.g., decorative signs, pennants, streamers, bunting, balloons, flags) within quantity and timing restrictions (e.g., last Friday of each month, state holidays).
- Political signs may be displayed for the duration of a campaign and removed within five days after the election; not permitted within right-of-way or to impede views.
- National, political subdivision, or bona fide organization flags are allowed (max three per premises).
- On-premises, non-advertising directional signs or symbols, up to two square feet and 3.5 feet tall, are exempt (subject to limitations on content and use).
- Memorial signs and historical markers constructed of incombustible material and approved by city council are exempt.
- One professional, announcement, or occupational sign (non-illuminated, flat wall-mounted), up to six square feet, where premises lacks a permitted sign, is exempt.
- Noncommercial yard sale or garage sale temporary signs (max four square feet), with max four directionals per sale, are exempt (must be removed post-sale).
- Signs incorporated on machinery or equipment, up to specified size limits, such as on vending machines or gasoline pumps, are exempt.
- Indoor signage or window signs collectively covering no more than 20% of window surface area are exempt.
- One business/professional identification sign as a hanging/projecting/canopy sign, not exceeding six square feet and other specified limits, is exempt.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- No sign shall be erected, constructed, posted, painted, altered, maintained, or relocated without first obtaining a permit from the building official, unless specifically exempted.
- Permit applications must be accompanied by such drawings and specifications as may be necessary to fully advise and acquaint the building official with the location, size, type of structure, construction materials, manner of illuminating, manner of securing or fastening, number of signs, and wording—sufficient to show compliance with the ordinance.
- Plans for the proposed sign must be professionally designed and submitted for approval with the sign permit application.
- A site plan is required as part of a sign permit application. This must show easements, rights-of-way, utilities, property lines, buildings, freestanding signs, other existing/proposed signs, main entrances/front facade (with linear dimension), and all sign dimensions and structural information.
- All shopping center signs for centers with greater than 250,000 sq. ft. gross building area must be approved by the building official or designee.
- A variance from sign ordinance requirements may be requested from the board of zoning adjustment, which requires an application, public notice, site plan, and approval at a public meeting.
- No additional sign permits will be issued for any premises that has nonconforming (legal or grandfathered) signs.
- All nonconforming signs lose legal status if structurally altered, replaced, or upon completion of specified amortization periods, and any new signs or replacement signs must comply with current codes.
- For master planned medical districts and planned unit developments, signage must comply with district-level approved (master) sign plans or as part of site plan or development application.
- Landscape/site plans required by other sections of the code must show all signage to be installed.
- Billboards and off-premises signs require additional permitting, may require state/DOT approval, and must comply with detailed location and spacing criteria.

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

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