# Sign Regulations in Tarrant, Alabama

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Tarrant, Alabama (AL)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/alabama/tarrant
- **Data last verified:** 2025-03-31
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/AL/Tarrant/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=COOR_APXAZO_ART8SIRE)

## At a glance

Tarrant, Alabama regulates 13 sign types across 6 zoning districts. Permanent Freestanding Signs in the NC Zone, TC Zone zoning district are capped at 5 ft tall and 18 sf, with a 3 ft from front lot line, 5 ft from sidewalk, or 10 ft from edge of pavement setback (Sec. Table 8.02).

## Sign rules by zoning district (6 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 6 | — | 32 sf or 20 sf per street entrance | — |
| Multi-family Dwellings | 2 | 4 ft | 18 sf | — |
| AG Zone | 2 | 6 ft | 18 sf | — |
| NC Zone, TC Zone | 6 | 5 ft | 50% of window surface | — |
| GB Zone | 6 | 6 ft | 50% of window surface | — |
| Industrial Zones (I-1, I-2, I-3) | 4 | 8 ft | 28 sf | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 6 zones)

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Traffic and Public Safety Signs | — | — | — | — | — | All zones | — | Sec. 8.04(b)(1) |
| Auxiliary Signs | — | 2 sf | — | — | — | All zones | — | Sec. 8.04(b)(2) |
| Government Signs | — | — | — | — | — | All zones | — | Sec. 8.04(b)(3) |
| Decorative Flags and Bunting | — | — | — | — | — | All zones | — | Sec. 8.04(b)(4) |
| Development Sign | — | 32 sf or 20 sf per street entrance | — | — | One per street entrance | All zones | — | Sec. 8.04(b)(5) |
| Construction Sign | — | 24 sf | — | — | One per property | All zones | — | Sec. 8.04(b)(6) |

### NC Zone, TC Zone

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Permanent Freestanding Sign | 5 ft | 18 sf | — | Minimum front setback: 3 ft from front lot line, 5 ft from sidewalk, or 10 ft from edge of pavement | 1 per lot or shopping center per street frontage | One per lot or shopping center per street frontage | — | Table 8.02 |
| Permanent Building Sign | — | 12 sf | — | — | 1 per tenant per street frontage | One per tenant per street frontage | — | Table 8.02 |
| Fuel Price Sign | — | 9 sf (freestanding) or 12 sf (building-mounted) | — | — | 1 per use | Incorporated into freestanding or building-mounted sign | — | Sec. 8.04(d)(3) |
| Removable Sidewalk Sign | — | 4 sf per face | — | — | — | Sidewalk | — | Sec. 8.04(d)(4) |
| Window Sign | — | 50% of window surface | — | — | — | Window | — | Sec. 8.04(d)(5) |
| Auxiliary Sign | — | 2 sf | — | — | — | All zones | — | Sec. 8.04(d)(6) |

### GB Zone

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Permanent Freestanding Sign | 6 ft | 28 sf | — | Minimum front setback: 3 ft from front lot line, 5 ft from sidewalk, or 10 ft from edge of pavement | 1 per lot or shopping center per street frontage | One per lot or shopping center per street frontage | — | Table 8.02 |
| Permanent Building Sign | — | 18 sf | — | — | 1 per tenant per building | One per tenant per building | — | Table 8.02 |
| Fuel Price Sign | — | 9 sf (freestanding) or 12 sf (building-mounted) | — | — | 1 per use | Incorporated into freestanding or building-mounted sign | — | Sec. 8.04(e)(3) |
| Product Advertising Sign | — | 12 sf per street frontage per tenant | — | — | 1 or more per tenant | On-premises | — | Sec. 8.04(e)(4) |
| Window Sign | — | 50% of window surface | — | — | — | Window | — | Sec. 8.04(e)(5) |
| Auxiliary Sign | — | 2 sf | — | — | — | All zones | — | Sec. 8.04(e)(6) |

## Prohibited signs in Tarrant

- No sign shall be erected or maintained which would imitate, resemble, obscure, or otherwise physically interfere or be confused with any official traffic sign, signal or device.
- Signs shall not be erected or maintained which are structurally unsafe or in substantial disrepair.
- It shall be unlawful to use a vehicle or trailer as a sign for the purposes of circumventing conformity with these regulations.
- No roof sign shall be permitted.
- No sign structure shall be located on or project over any public right-of-way or property, nor shall any portion of a sign or its structure project over or protrude into any required setback area.
- No sign shall contain, include or be illuminated by intermittent lighting except those giving only public service information.
- All illuminated or highly reflective signs shall be effectively shielded to prevent beams or rays of light from being directed at any portion of a thoroughfare or sidewalk, or from shining on or into any residential buildings.
- Unless otherwise authorized by the zoning board of adjustment, the prescribed time period for the display of temporary signs shall be thirty (30) days, and shall be for new businesses or locations only.
- Maintenance provisions must be met, or signs shall be removed within sixty (60) days after receipt of notification from the Building Inspector.
- Lights and signs that resemble any traffic control device, official traffic control signs, or emergency vehicle lights or markings are prohibited.
- Signs that emit audible sound, odor, visible matter such as smoke or steam, or involve the use of live animals are prohibited.
- Signs attached to or painted onto a vehicle for which the vehicle's primary purpose is advertising are prohibited.
- Abandoned signs are prohibited.
- Snipe signs are prohibited.
- Billboards that are stacked are prohibited.
- Signs or attention getting devices that contain a beacon of any type and/or contain a spot light providing direct illumination to the public are prohibited.
- Portable signs, except as provided for sidewalk signs, are prohibited.
- Signs that project more than thirty (30) inches from any building or similar structure on which they are mounted are prohibited.
- Signs that contain any lighting or control mechanism that causes unreasonable interference with radio, television, or other communication signals are prohibited.
- Roof signs are prohibited.
- 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 are prohibited.
- Off-premises signs, other than billboards, are prohibited.

## Signs exempt from permit in Tarrant

- Traffic and public safety signs.
- Auxiliary signs, including signs required to be posted by law.
- Signs established by, or by order of, any government agency.
- Decorative flags and bunting for celebrations, conventions, and commemorations for a period of time prescribed and authorized by the city council.
- One development sign limited to thirty-two (32) square feet in area or one development sign per street entrance limited to twenty (20) square feet in area per sign.
- One construction sign located on a property where building is actually in progress under a valid building permit.
- Address signs, unless a part of a freestanding or building-mounted sign that includes other than the address.
- Construction signs.
- Development signs.
- Auxiliary signs.
- Nameplate and directory signs.
- Public safety signs.
- Historical markers and memorial signs.
- Hazard, prohibition, and warning signs.
- Help wanted signs.
- Holiday decorations.
- Interior signs, window displays and signs painted or similarly affixed to a window or door.
- Public notices.
- Public facility signs.
- Official federal, state, or local government flags and emblems.
- Political signs.
- Special Permission by the mayor.
- Real estate signs.
- Garage sale signs.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Unless otherwise authorized by the zoning board of adjustment, the prescribed time period for the display of temporary signs shall be thirty (30) days, and shall be for new businesses or locations only.
- The erection of a permanent freestanding or permanent building-mounted sign shall require application and approval of a sign permit.

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

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