# Sign Regulations in Southside, Alabama

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Southside, Alabama (AL)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/alabama/southside
- **Data last verified:** 2025-03-31
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/AL/Southside/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=COOR_CH30ZO_ARTIIISPUSPR_DIV1GE_S30-81SIRE)

## At a glance

Southside, Alabama regulates 7 sign types across 9 zoning districts. Freestanding Signs in the General Regulations For All Zones zoning district are capped at 12 feet in residential zones, 25 feet in other zones tall, 30 to 80 square feet depending on building size, and 10 feet wide, with a Not less than 50 feet from another freestanding sign on the same side of the street or 100 feet from another freestanding sign on the same property setback (Sec. Sec. 30-81(h)(2)). Most commercial signs in Southside require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (9 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 4 | 12 feet in residential zones, 25 feet in other zones | 30 to 80 square feet depending on building size | — |
| Residential zoning districts (AG, RT, R-1, R-2, R-3, MHP) | 2 | 15 feet | 20 square feet | — |
| VC Village Center district | 1 | — | 12 square feet for multifamily residential buildings or complexes, public use, or churches; 50 square feet for nonresidential buildings; 80 square feet for commercial centers or complexes with five or more businesses | — |
| B-1 Neighborhood Business district | 1 | — | 60 square feet of cumulative total sign area | — |
| B-2 Highway Commercial district | 1 | — | 100 square feet of cumulative total sign area | — |
| M-1 Light Manufacturing district | 1 | — | 80 square feet of cumulative total sign area | — |
| FHA Flood Hazard Area zone | 1 | — | Determined by underlying zoning district requirements | — |
| PD Planned Development zone | 1 | — | Determined by underlying zoning district requirements | — |
| RSC Regional Shopping Center zone | 1 | — | Determined by underlying zoning district requirements | — |

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

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Canopy Sign | 2 feet | 12 square feet per single canopy face | 6 feet | — | — | Vertical faces of any canopy, awning, or marquee located directly above a building entranceway | — | Sec. 30-81(h)(1) |
| Freestanding Sign | 12 feet in residential zones, 25 feet in other zones | 30 to 80 square feet depending on building size | 10 feet | Not less than 50 feet from another freestanding sign on the same side of the street or 100 feet from another freestanding sign on the same property | Not more than one freestanding sign per lot of record | As close as possible to the main traffic access to the property | — | Sec. 30-81(h)(2) |
| Hanging and Projecting Sign | 6 feet | 12 square feet | 2 feet | — | Not more than one hanging or projecting sign per building wall with an exterior entrance | As close as possible to exterior building entrance | — | Sec. 30-81(h)(3) |
| Wall Sign | 4 feet | 24 square feet per individual wall sign | 6 feet | — | — | Affixed flush to the wall, not extending above the roofline or beyond the edges of the wall | — | Sec. 30-81(h)(4) |

### Residential zoning districts (AG, RT, R-1, R-2, R-3, MHP)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Ground Sign | 5 feet | 12 square feet | — | — | One sign per principal entrance | Principal entrances to residential subdivision developments | — | Sec. 30-81(i)(1) |
| Freestanding or Wall Sign | 15 feet | 20 square feet | — | — | Not more than one sign | Public and semi-public uses within residential zones | — | Sec. 30-81(i)(6) |

### VC Village Center district

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Signage | — | 12 square feet for multifamily residential buildings or complexes, public use, or churches; 50 square feet for nonresidential buildings; 80 square feet for commercial centers or complexes with five or more businesses | — | — | — | On individual lots or commercial centers | — | Sec. 30-81(j)(1) |

## Prohibited signs in Southside

- Any sign or advertising structure which, by reason of location, position, shape, or color, interferes with, obstructs the view of, resembles, or can be confused with an authorized traffic control sign, signal, or device, or which incorporates the words 'stop,' 'look,' 'danger,' 'turn back,' or any other word, phrase, or symbol or character that would interfere with, mislead, or confuse motorists.
- Any sign incorporating any noisy mechanical device (whistles, horns, sirens, or any other noisy audible devices) or emitting smoke or steam.
- Any sign of any type or support thereof placed, extending, or projecting into or upon a public right-of-way, except as expressly authorized.
- Animated or revolving signs.
- Any sign located so that it substantially interferes with the view necessary for motorists to proceed safely through intersections or to enter onto or exit from public streets or private drives.
- Any sign with illegal, obscene, or prurient words, scenes, or graphics.
- Any sign that blocks another sign, fire escape, door, window, parking or loading aisle or space.
- Any sign that is damaged or not in a structurally safe condition and good state of repair.
- Roof signs.
- Snipe signs.
- Portable signs.
- Beacons or searchlights.
- Flashing signs.
- Banners, unless approved by the mayor or city council for a grand opening or a city-wide celebration, convention, or legal holiday.
- Billboards.
- Balloon signs.

## Signs exempt from permit in Southside

- Historic markers.
- Traffic control signs.
- Directional signs.
- Flags.
- Artistic displays.
- Real estate or rental signs.
- Construction site identification sign.
- Window signs.
- Political signs.
- Garage or yard sale sign.
- Special event sign and decorations.
- Entrance/exit signs.
- Farm information sign.
- Vehicle signs.
- Building nameplates.
- Legal notices and official instruments.
- Residential family name and/or house number signs.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Except where this chapter explicitly exempts a sign, all signs erected shall require a zoning permit issued by the enforcement officer.
- No zoning permit shall be required for routine maintenance or painting of a permitted or preexisting, nonconforming sign, provided that such maintenance or painting activities do not alter the original format or appearance of the sign or result in any increase in the existing sign area or height of the sign.

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

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