# Sign Regulations in Eureka Springs, Arkansas

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Eureka Springs, Arkansas (AR)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/arkansas/eureka-springs
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-06
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/AR/Eureka_Springs/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=TIT7PUPESAMO_CH7.52SI)

## At a glance

Eureka Springs, Arkansas regulates 15 sign types across 5 zoning districts. On-Premises Signs in the C-2-H, C-2-C, A zoning district are capped at 16 ft tall, 128 sq ft per sign face, and 16 ft wide (Sec. 7.52.070 B.2.a, c, d, e; 7.52.090). Most commercial signs in Eureka Springs require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (5 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| C-1, C-3 | 6 | — | 12 sq ft per sign face | — |
| C-2-H, C-2-C, A | 5 | 16 ft | 256 sq ft per 300 ft frontage (aggregate) | — |
| R-1, R-2, R-3 | 1 | — | 6 sq ft | — |
| I, MHP | 1 | — | — | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 2 | — | — | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 5 zones)

### C-1, C-3

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Fixed Projecting, Swinging, or Flat Sign | — | 12 sq ft per sign face | — | — | One per business per street frontage | One sign per business per street frontage | — | 7.52.070 B.1.a, c, d; 7.52.090; 7.52.080 |
| Window Sign | — | 12 sq ft per sign; or two window signs each max 6 sq ft | — | — | One per frontage (or two not exceeding 6 sq ft each per street frontage) | Per business per street frontage | — | 7.52.070 B.1.a |
| Mall Directory Sign | — | 12 sq ft | — | — | One per mall | Per mall | — | 7.52.070 B.1.b |
| Mall Occupant Sign (No Public Frontage) | — | 4 sq ft | — | — | One per occupant without public frontage | Each occupant in mall with no public frontage | — | 7.52.070 B.1.b |
| Mall Occupant Window Sign (With Public Frontage) | — | 12 sq ft | — | — | One per occupant with public frontage | Each occupant in mall with public frontage | — | 7.52.070 B.1.b |
| Off Site Directional Sign (not specific to a given business) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 7.52.070 B.1.f |

### C-2-H, C-2-C, A

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| On-Premises Sign | 16 ft | 128 sq ft per sign face | 16 ft | — | One per 300 ft of public road frontage | On-premises | — | 7.52.070 B.2.a, c, d, e; 7.52.090 |
| Multiple Freestanding Signs | 16 ft | 128 sq ft per sign face | 16 ft | — | Total sign faces not to exceed 128 sq ft per 300 ft of frontage | On-premises | — | 7.52.070 B.2.a, c, d, e; 7.52.090 |
| Flat or Window Signs | — | 256 sq ft per 300 ft frontage (aggregate) | — | — | — | On-premises, flat or window mounted | — | 7.52.070 B.2.a |
| On-Premises Freestanding Sign (Multiple-Use or Mall) | 16 ft | 128 sq ft per sign | 16 ft | — | One per mall | Per mall or multi-use center | — | 7.52.070 B.2.b, c, d, e |
| Mall or Center Occupant Fixed Projecting, Swinging, or Flat/Window Sign | — | 32 sq ft per sign | — | — | One per business within center/mall | Each individual business within center/mall, visible from any public way | — | 7.52.070 B.2.b |

### R-1, R-2, R-3

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| On-Premises Freestanding, Fixed Projecting, Swinging, or Flat Sign | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | One per premises | On-premises | — | 7.52.070 B.3 |

## Prohibited signs in Eureka Springs

- It is unlawful to erect, place, or use within the city, when visible from any public way, any sign referenced in appendix 7C.
- It is unlawful to erect, place, display, paint, maintain, or use any outdoor sign within the city which contains any untrue, misleading, or fraudulent information.
- It is unlawful to erect, place, display, paint, maintain, or use any outdoor sign within the city which fails to state all relevant information necessary to make any statements or representation on any such outdoor sign true, correct, and complete.
- Any sign type listed in Appendix 7C (Prohibited Signs) is prohibited citywide, including: snipe signs; sidewalk or sandwich signs, unless on private property and within the footprint of the structure and under the allowed square footage; banners, pennants, balloons, non-governmental flags outside defined exceptions; construction of new off-premises signs in any zone; signs with moving, flashing, animated lights or digital/electronic signs; roof signs over 12 square feet or that extend above the roof peak; signs emitting sound, odor, or visible matter; signs obstructing ingress/egress of required exits; signs that obstruct the view of, resemble, or purport to be governmental or traffic safety signs; signs using 'stop', 'danger', or similar misleading/confusing language; moving message and time/temperature signs; signs in public right-of-way except by public agency; signs painted/attached to trees, fence posts, rocks, utility poles, or on roofs visible from public thoroughfare; abandoned or dilapidated signs; obscene or pornographic signs; portable or inflatable signs; bench signs in Zones A, I, MHP, R-1, R-2, R-3 and C-3; advertising painted on waste receptacles; signs with light-reflecting or phosphorescent backgrounds or lettering; signs that block scenic view corridors; and signs affixed to a private residence except for one personal identification sign not exceeding 2 square feet and one non-illuminated 'for sale' or 'for rent' sign not exceeding 6 square feet.
- It is unlawful to put up any advertisement, bill, notice, sign, or poster on any house, fence, wall, or public place without the owner's permission.
- It is unlawful to erect, place, display, paint, maintain, or use any outdoor sign with untrue, misleading, fraudulent, or incomplete information.

## Signs exempt from permit in Eureka Springs

- Signs listed in appendix 7B are exempt from payment of the permit fee and the need for obtaining a numbered sign permit, but must comply with all other applicable provisions.
- Signs listed in appendix 7B are not subject to approval of the planning commission or building official.
- Appendix 7B (Signs Exempt from Permit Requirement) includes: athletic field advertising signs; barber poles (at a barber shop); change of copy of any approved on-premises sign; certain construction signs; certain informational signs; flags (governmental and limited non-governmental, subject to restrictions); holiday decorations and displays (up to 90 days); certain off-site directional guide signs; commemorative or historic plaques (up to 4 sq ft with commission approval); certain real estate signs and directional signs for properties for sale; 'Going out of Business' and 'Grand Opening' signs/banners (limited size and duration); bench signs in certain commercial zones subject to limitations; private road/street and traffic directional signs (up to 4 sq ft); various 'No trespassing/hunting/fishing/loitering' signs (up to 1 sq ft); ingress/egress signs (limited size, variant on certain highways); professional nameplates (non-illuminated, wall-mounted, up to 2 sq ft); resident/house name and address signs (up to 2 sq ft); cornerstones/tablets with building name/date; election campaign signs (posted with property owner approval); certain banners for events (require mayor/city clerk permit for right-of-way, or time-limited at business); open/closed signs (size limit and highway variant); decals/seals/affiliation signs (size limit, highway variant); signs for parking spaces (up to 2 sq ft per space); one temporary menu sign per eating place (flat/window sign, up to 3 sq ft); one externally illuminated marquee sign for public facility in C-1 with 800+ seating (up to 32 sq ft); promotional plaques for events (size, location, and zone limits); official court or agency signs; authorized traffic/informational signs; one temporary on-site construction sign (up to 32 sq ft).

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A sign permit application must include a sketch, site plan, or photograph showing the relationship to existing adjacent signs and, for freestanding signs, landscape impact; permit granted by the building official per section 7.52.080.
- Certificate of appropriateness from the historic district commission is required for any sign in the Historic District (per section 7.52.080 and 7.52.090).
- A sign permit is required for all signs (unless exempted by appendix 7B), and no sign is to be erected, constructed, relocated, altered, or displayed until the permit is issued by the building official.
- For appeals and variances (such as for undue hardship due to site conditions), a written plan and public hearing is required via the board of zoning adjustment.
- If a violation occurs, the permittee/owner must submit a written plan for corrective action within 7 business days after notice of violation.

## 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 5 zoning districts in Eureka Springs — every sign type, every field — are available with a free PermitPal account: https://app.permitpal.io/?address=Eureka+Springs+AR&override=true&utm_source=landing&utm_medium=city-page&utm_campaign=city-eureka-springs

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