# Sign Regulations in Bella Vista City, Arkansas

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Bella Vista City, Arkansas (AR)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/arkansas/bella-vista-city
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-06
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/AR/Bella_Vista_City/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=PTIILADEOR_CH109ZO_ARTIXSI)

## At a glance

Bella Vista City, Arkansas regulates 14 sign types across 12 zoning districts. Temporary Construction Sign (Subdivision)s in the Special Residential District (SPR), Residential Estate District (R-E), Residential, Single-Family District (R-1), Residential, Two-Family District (R-2), Residential, Multi-Family District (R-3), Residential, Manufactured Home District (R-MH) zoning district are capped at 9 ft. tall and 32 sq. ft. per sign face (Sec. Sec. 109-283(a)(2)). Most commercial signs in Bella Vista City require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (12 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Agricultural District (A-1) | 1 | — | 32 sq. ft. per sign | — |
| Special Residential District (SPR), Residential Estate District (R-E), Residential, Single-Family District (R-1), Residential, Two-Family District (R-2), Residential, Multi-Family District (R-3), Residential, Manufactured Home District (R-MH) | 7 | 9 ft. | 32 sq. ft. per sign face | — |
| Residential Office District (R-O) | 2 | 8 ft. | 25 sq. ft. per sign face | — |
| Neighborhood Commercial District (C-1) | 2 | 9 ft. | 250 sq. ft. per sign face | — |
| Light Commercial District (C-2) | 2 | 12 ft. | 50 sq. ft. per sign face | — |
| Central Commercial District (C-3) | 2 | 18 ft. | 75 sq. ft. per sign face | — |
| Shopping Center District (C-4) | 2 | 25 ft. | 100 sq. ft. per sign face | — |
| Light Industrial District (I-1) | 2 | 15 ft. | 75 sq. ft. per sign face | — |
| Heavy Industrial District (I-2) | 2 | 18 ft. | 100 sq. ft. per sign face | — |
| Planned Zoning District (PZD) | 1 | — | — | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 3 | Freestanding: 3 ft. (in public ROW); otherwise per code | Banner: 32 sq. ft.; Freestanding: 32 sq. ft. (nonresidential), 5 sq. ft. (residential) | — |

_1 additional zoning district is covered in PermitPal (free account)._

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 12 zones)

### Special Residential District (SPR), Residential Estate District (R-E), Residential, Single-Family District (R-1), Residential, Two-Family District (R-2), Residential, Multi-Family District (R-3), Residential, Manufactured Home District (R-MH)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Temporary Construction Sign (Individual Lot) | — | 5 sq. ft. total | — | — | One per street frontage | One per street frontage during active construction | — | Sec. 109-283(a)(1) |
| Temporary Construction Sign (Subdivision) | 9 ft. | 32 sq. ft. per sign face | — | — | One per street frontage | One per street frontage of subdivision during construction | — | Sec. 109-283(a)(2) |
| Temporary Political Signs | — | 5 sq. ft. | — | — | One per 20 ft. of street frontage | On private property in residential areas, not on utility poles, street signs, permanent signs, or public rights-of-way | — | Sec. 109-283(j) |
| Temporary Real Estate Sign (Freestanding, Residential) | 4 ft. | 6 sq. ft. | — | — | One per street frontage; one per golf course/lake frontage | Freestanding: one per street frontage; one per property line with golf course or lake frontage | — | Sec. 109-283(n) |
| Temporary Real Estate Sign (Wall) | 9 ft. | 9 sq. ft. | — | — | One per dwelling unit | One wall sign per dwelling unit | — | Sec. 109-283(n) |
| Temporary Yard Sale/Garage Sale/Misc Sale Sign | — | 5 sq. ft. | — | At least 6 ft from nearest paved road. | One at sale site; up to five off-site | One at site of sale; up to five off-site private signs (intersection only, within 5 road miles of event) | — | Sec. 109-283(s) |
| Temporary Signs During Construction (Nonresidential) | 9 ft. | 32 sq. ft. per sign face | — | — | One per street frontage | One per street frontage | — | Sec. 109-283(a)(3) |

### Residential Office District (R-O)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Permanent Monument Sign | 8 ft. | 25 sq. ft. per sign face | — | — | — | On individual parcel, subject to site plan and setback requirements | — | Sec. 109-286(b), Sec. 109-286(e), Sec. 109-286(f) |
| Wall Sign | — | 25% of wall surface facing a right-of-way | — | — | One per wall facing a right-of-way | Attached to building, on wall facing right-of-way | — | Sec. 109-286(b), Sec. 109-286(c) |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Temporary Signs for Special Sales/Events/Grand Opening/Nonrecurring/Recurring Events (Commercial/Nonresidential) | Freestanding: 3 ft. (in public ROW); otherwise per code | Banner: 32 sq. ft.; Freestanding: 32 sq. ft. (nonresidential), 5 sq. ft. (residential) | — | — | Varies by permit type (see table in 109-285(d)) | Banners on building; freestanding within 10 ft. of main entrance; some signage in ROW with restriction | — | Sec. 109-285 |
| Flags (U.S., State, Municipal, Other) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Sec. 109-283(c) |
| Identification Signs (Building Number, Address, Private Parking, etc.) | — | 3 sq. ft. per sign | — | — | — | On building or post at lot frontage | — | Sec. 109-283(g) |

## Prohibited signs in Bella Vista City

- It is unlawful for any person to place, erect, repair, replace, alter, or relocate a sign except in accordance with Article IX of this chapter.
- A sign permit must generally be obtained before erection, relocation, or altering any sign unless exempted.
- All signs must comply with the Arkansas Fire Prevention Code and the National Electrical Code.
- Signs must be permanently affixed to the ground or building (except temporary and window signs).
- Fluctuating illumination is prohibited, including flashing, blinking, or fluctuating lights or movement.
- Sign lighting may not be a nuisance to adjacent neighboring residential areas and must be at least 400 feet from a residential district boundary or at the farthest point of the commercial property from the residential district.
- Signs must not block entrances or exits to buildings, including fire escapes.
- Signs must not constitute a hazard to traffic, including being located within the sight triangle of an intersection.
- No sign, including supports or embellishments, shall be located within a public right-of-way or attached to any utility pole, light standard, utility box, pedestal, tree, rock, or other natural object in the public right-of-way or on public property, except as specifically permitted.
- Billboards and permanent freestanding signs are prohibited.
- Damaged signs, or those with broken supports, in disarray or fallen over, or overgrown, are nonconforming.
- Permanent off-site signs (signs advertising activities not on the premises) are prohibited.
- Portable signs (not securely affixed to the ground or structure) are prohibited.
- Roadside markers commemorating a death location are prohibited.
- Rotating or revolving signs are prohibited.
- Lights strung across buildings or property, except as allowed for holiday decorations, are prohibited.
- Signs attached to or painted on vehicles parked so as to be viewed from the right-of-way are prohibited if the vehicle is not used in normal day-to-day operations.
- Windblown signs such as pennants, balloons, or other devices are prohibited.
- All other signs which are not expressly allowed, with or without a permit, are prohibited.
- Banners are not allowed except as specifically allowed for temporary signs.
- Strung lights may not be used as sign illumination.

## Signs exempt from permit in Bella Vista City

- Flags of the U.S., state, municipal, or other flags are allowed.
- Hand-carried signs are allowed.
- Temporary holiday decorations within 45 days before and 30 days after a holiday are allowed.
- Customary identification signs no larger than 3 square feet per sign are allowed.
- Numbers or address signs visible from the street and of specific size/color are allowed.
- Signs visible only from the interior of a structure and not from a public right-of-way are allowed.
- Signs not readable from any public right-of-way, from outside the parcel, or from adjacent lots not under common ownership are allowed.
- Temporary real estate signs as specified are allowed.
- Historic or memorial site signs erected by the government or applicable organizations per uniform standards are allowed (with limits).
- Temporary political/election signs as specified are permitted.
- Public notice or warning signs required by law are allowed.
- Public park signage placed by the government is allowed.
- Traffic control signs and other public signage by a government agency are allowed.
- Signs on vending machines, ATMs, or gas pumps not exceeding 32 square feet per side are allowed.
- Window signs covering up to 40% of the window area are allowed.
- Signs during yard sales (one at site and up to five off-site) meeting size, material, and location requirements.
- Emergency warning signs in the public right-of-way by government or utility.
- Signs erected by city/county/state/federal government in right-of-way.
- Small signs referred to in sections 109-283 and 109-285 are allowed in the right-of-way if at least six feet from pavement and meeting certain conditions.
- Temporary lighting and displays that are part of customary holiday decorations.
- All single-family and duplex residential are exempt from outdoor lighting standards (Article X).
- Certain temporary signs and certain window signs are exempt from permit requirements.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A scaled drawing (site plan) showing the location of the sign on the property, street rights-of-way, property lines, and for wall signs the dimensioned building face is required for every sign permit application (Sec. 109-46).
- A plan of the landscaped area with name, quantity, and spacing of plant materials is required for monument and freestanding signs as part of the sign permit application.
- Minor alterations in sign locations due to unexpected conditions on site must be approved by the community development services department.
- A master sign plan is not explicitly required by the ordinance, but a detailed scaled drawing, site plan, landscaping plan, and materials list are mandatory for permit applications for all permanent signs.
- In planned zoning districts (PZD), signage requirements must be specified in the written description of the master development plan, and adherence to Article IX signage standards is required (Sec. 109-86(g)(3)).
- Variances, including for sign regulations, require application, site plans or scale drawings, and a public hearing. Minor modifications to sign size (up to 10%) can be administratively approved (Sec. 109-42(b)).
- Conditional use applications require a general site plan, including location, size, and use of buildings and signs, and details such as proposed screening and landscaping (Sec. 109-38).
- For some planned developments, architectural elevations and/​or master site plan sheets must be submitted as part of the overall development approval; these include signage requirements.

## 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 12 zoning districts in Bella Vista City — every sign type, every field — are available with a free PermitPal account: https://app.permitpal.io/?address=Bella+Vista+City+AR&override=true&utm_source=landing&utm_medium=city-page&utm_campaign=city-bella-vista-city

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