# Sign Regulations in Searcy, Arkansas

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Searcy, Arkansas (AR)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/arkansas/searcy
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-06
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/AR/Searcy/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=CH20SIBI)

## At a glance

Searcy, Arkansas regulates 24 sign types across 9 zoning districts. Pole Signs in the General Regulations For All Zones zoning district are capped at 35 feet (50 feet if within 150 feet of Highway 67/167 Freeway ROW) tall and See Article 7-12 (Commercial) or Article 7-13 (Industrial), with a At least 1/4 of the required building setback of the district or the distance as specified; at least 5 feet from any easement. setback (Sec. Art. 7-4-2, 7-1(3)). Most commercial signs in Searcy 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 | 10 | 35 feet (50 feet if within 150 feet of Highway 67/167 Freeway ROW) | 64 square feet | — |
| Residential Districts (R Districts) | 3 | 4 feet | 32 square feet | — |
| Commercial Districts (C Districts) | 1 | — | — | — |
| C-1 District | 2 | — | — | — |
| C-2 District, C-4 District | 5 | — | 300 square feet | — |
| C-3 District | 2 | — | — | — |
| Industrial Districts (I-1, I-2) | 3 | — | 120 square feet (total surface area on a building or lot) | — |
| PUD District | 1 | — | — | — |
| U-T District | 1 | — | — | — |

## 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 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | Top of sign must not exceed roof line. Where between windows of two-story building, height must not exceed two-thirds distance between window top below and window sill above. | — | — | — | 1 per street frontage; 1 additional on non-fronting wall | Front wall oriented to street; one on each frontage if two street frontages; additional non-street-facing wall allowed not larger than main wall sign. | — | Art. 7-1(1,5,9), 7-4-1, 7-5 |
| Pole Sign | 35 feet (50 feet if within 150 feet of Highway 67/167 Freeway ROW) | See Article 7-12 (Commercial) or Article 7-13 (Industrial) | — | At least 1/4 of the required building setback of the district or the distance as specified; at least 5 feet from any easement. | 1 per street frontage | One per street frontage | — | Art. 7-4-2, 7-1(3) |
| Ground Sign | 4 feet; or up to 7 feet if integrated into an architectural feature or berm and landscaped | — | — | See Art. 7-1(6) | — | As per general requirements; not obstructing view from intersection, street, or driveway. | — | Art. 7-4-3 |
| Balloon Sign | 35 feet or less, or such that in straight-line winds, sign remains on property or out of public sidewalk | — | — | — | — | As per above | — | Art. 7-4-10 |
| Portable or Temporary Sign - Without Permit | 4 feet | 5 square feet | — | At least 10 feet from property or right-of-way line | — | Set back at least 10 feet from property/right-of-way line | — | Art. 7-4-9, 7-6(3) |
| Sign on Work Under Construction | — | 64 square feet | — | Not less than 15 feet from property/right-of-way line | 1 per street frontage | On premises of construction | — | Art. 7-4-4, 7-10(2) |
| Temporary Subdivision Sign | — | 64 square feet | — | Not less than 15 feet from property or right-of-way line | — | On premises of a land subdivision | — | Art. 7-4-5 |
| Private Sign (Off-premises) | 4 feet | 6 square feet | 4 feet | — | 1 per 500 feet of street frontage | Off-premises | — | Art. 7-4-6 |

### Residential Districts (R Districts)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| All Signs Permitted in All Districts | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Art. 7-11(1-2) |
| Temporary Sign (Individual) | 4 feet | 5 square feet | — | At least 10 feet from property or right-of-way line | — | Set back at least 10 feet from property or right-of-way line | — | Art. 7-4-9, 7-11(2) |
| Wall Sign (Permitted Uses - Apartments, Schools, Churches, Hospitals, Parks, Farms, other approved) | — | 32 square feet | — | — | — | On approved use | — | Art. 7-11(3) |

### C-2 District, C-4 District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| All Signs Permitted in Residential Districts | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Art. 7-12-2(1) |
| Freestanding Sign (Single Tenant Structure) | — | 120 square feet | — | 10 feet from property/right-of-way or adjoining property line (whichever greater) | 1 per lot/commercial street frontage; +1 if corner lot | 10 ft setback from property/right-of-way or adjoining property line (whichever greater). One per lot/commercial street frontage; on corner lots, one additional allowed for additional frontage. | — | Art. 7-12-2(2) |
| Freestanding Sign (Multi-Tenant Structure/Joint ID) (<100 feet frontage) | — | 80 square feet | — | 10 ft from property/right-of-way or adjoining property line (whichever greater) | 1 per street frontage | 10 ft setback from adjacent or front property/right-of-way line (whichever greater). | — | Art. 7-12-2(3A) |
| Freestanding Sign (Multi-Tenant Structure/Joint ID) (100-300 feet frontage) | — | 120 square feet | — | 10 ft from property/right-of-way or adjoining property line (whichever greater) | 1 per street frontage | 10 ft setback from adjacent or front property/right-of-way line (whichever greater). | — | Art. 7-12-2(3B) |
| Freestanding Sign (Multi-Tenant Structure/Joint ID) (>300 feet frontage) | — | 300 square feet | — | 10 ft from property/right-of-way or adjoining property line (whichever greater) | 1 per street frontage | 10 ft setback from adjacent or front property/right-of-way line (whichever greater). | — | Art. 7-12-2(3C) |

## Prohibited signs in Searcy

- No sign may be erected, altered, or reconstructed without a permit unless otherwise noted.
- Signs must be constructed of durable materials, maintained in good condition, and not permitted to become dilapidated.
- Illumination devices must not cast rays directly into residential districts, sleeping rooms, or in the eyes of vehicular drivers.
- Only signs installed or authorized by the State, County, or City may be placed on the public right-of-way.
- No sign shall be permanently painted, pasted, or similarly posted directly on any wall, or placed on any wall, fence, or standard facing the side of any adjoining lot located in any Residential District.
- All signs must be erected within property lines; no portion of a freestanding sign may extend into or be placed in any street right-of-way.
- All structural pylons and supports must be set back from property/right-of-way line at least one-fourth the required building setback of the zoning district or a greater specified distance; must be set back at least five feet from any easement.
- Signs that may be in conflict with public traffic signals, in the opinion of the Administrative Official, are not permitted.
- No sign may imitate or resemble an official traffic control device, emergency light, or railroad sign or signal, or disrupt or interfere with their effectiveness.
- Signs must not hide from view or interfere with the movement of traffic or traffic control devices.
- Signs and structures attached to the wall of a building shall not extend more than six feet above the roofline.
- No sign shall be constructed so as to interfere or extend into contact with any overhead wires.
- All signs shall comply with the City's Airport Zoning Code.
- Signs imitating warning signals (e.g., flashing lights resembling traffic or emergency vehicle lights; use of words like 'stop' or 'danger' in a misleading way) are prohibited.
- No sign is permitted within any street or highway right-of-way except authorized traffic and public agency signs.
- No signs painted on or attached to trees, fence posts, utility poles, rocks, natural features, or on building roofs.
- Fluttering ribbons and banners and similar devices are prohibited within the front yard setback (except government flags).
- Billboards are not permitted within the city limits.
- Hand-tacked signs are prohibited.
- Projecting signs are prohibited except in the C-1 district.

## Signs exempt from permit in Searcy

- Official traffic or governmental signs.
- The content (copy and message) of signs.
- Window displays.
- Product dispensers.
- Scoreboards on athletic fields.
- Flags of any nation, government, or non-commercial organization.
- Gravestones.
- Barber poles.
- Religious symbols.
- Commemorative signs, tablets, or plaques approved by the City Council.
- Signs required to be maintained by law or governmental order, rule, or regulation.
- The display of street numbers.
- Any display or construction not defined as a sign.
- Traffic, directional, warning, or information signs authorized by any public agency.
- Official notices issued or required by any court, public agency, or officer.
- Individual temporary signs as described in Article 7-4-9.
- Maintenance of a sign or change of copy on painted, printed, or manual changeable copy signs.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A permit with supporting details is generally required for erection, alteration, or relocation of a sign, unless otherwise exempted.
- Drawings stamped by a professional engineer may be required by the Administrative Official for supporting structures.
- Sign permits are reviewed by staff unless staff determines site plan review by the Planning Commission is needed.
- For signs in PUD (Planned Unit Development) Districts, signs must be approved as part of the overall development approval process.

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

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