# Sign Regulations in Tontitown, Arkansas

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Tontitown, Arkansas (AR)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/arkansas/tontitown
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-20

## At a glance

Tontitown, Arkansas regulates 14 sign types across 4 zoning districts. Canopy Signs in the N-C zoning district are capped at Text/graphics max 2 feet tall, 24 square feet, and 75% of canopy width/depth wide, with a Sidewalk/driving surface clearance min 10 ft setback (Sec. § 153.184 (C)(2)).

## Sign rules by zoning district (4 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| A, R-E, R-1, R-2, R-3, R-3L, R-4, R-MH | 1 | 8 feet (sign face) | 32 square feet (sign face) | — |
| R-MF-16 | 3 | 8 feet (sign face) | 32 square feet (sign face) | — |
| N-C | 8 | 8 feet | 48 square feet | — |
| C-I, C-2, C-T, L-I, I | 13 | 40 ft east city limit to Via De Tonti/HWY 412; 25 ft west of Via De Tonti/HWY 412 | 250 square feet | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 4 zones)

### R-MF-16

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | No higher than the highest point of the second floor; must not extend above roofline or above a parapet wall of a flat roof; must not extend above lower eave line of pitched roof | — | — | — | No set maximum, but total area limits apply per wall | Must be permanently attached to or painted on a wall; projects from wall less than 12 inches. | — | § 153.184 (C)(12) |
| Window Sign | — | — | — | — | No restrictions | Attached to, painted on, etched, or within 12 inches of window, legible from outside | — | § 153.184 (C)(13) |
| Subdivision Sign | 8 feet (sign face) | 32 square feet (sign face) | — | 10 feet from front, 15 feet from side property line | Two per street frontage, one on each side of entrance street | Must be permanently affixed, attached along its entire width to a continuous pedestal or wall; allowed at subdivision entrances. | — | § 153.184 (C)(11) |

### N-C

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Awning Sign | — | — | 75% of awning width/depth | — | One per awning per tenant | Only awnings over ground story windows; each tenant one awning sign per awning, on front or side valance | — | § 153.184 (C)(1) |
| Canopy Sign | Text/graphics max 2 feet | 24 square feet | 75% of canopy width/depth | Sidewalk/driving surface clearance min 10 ft | See above | On canopy or architectural cover over outdoor area | — | § 153.184 (C)(2) |
| Double Post Sign | 8 feet | 48 square feet | — | 5 feet from front and side lot line | One per street frontage | Permanently affixed, wholly independent of building; two posts | — | § 153.184 (C)(5) |
| Monument Sign (Conditional Use Permit) | — | 18/24/30/38 square feet depending on tenants | — | 10 feet from front and side lot lines | One per street frontage | Freestanding, solid base | — | § 153.184 (C)(7)(c) |
| Projecting Sign | 4 ft below second floor; 8 ft between 2nd and 3rd floor; 12 ft above 3rd floor | — | Projection width max 6 ft | 10 ft clear above sidewalk | Max one projecting or shingle sign per frontage | On building wall or facade, projects 12+ inches | — | § 153.184 (C)(8) |
| Sandwich Board Sign | 3 feet | 9 square feet | 2.5 feet | — | One per ground floor tenant | Movable; located adjacent to primary facade or up to 8 ft from facade | — | § 153.184 (C)(9) |
| Shingle Sign | 3 feet | 9 square feet | Projection max 3 ft | 10 ft clear above sidewalk | Max one projecting or shingle sign per frontage/tenant | Hangs from bracket/support over/near building entrance; within 5 ft of accessible entrance | — | § 153.184 (C)(10) |
| Subdivision Sign | 8 feet (sign face) | 32 square feet (sign face) | — | 10 ft front, 15 ft side | Two per street frontage | Permanent, pedestal or wall at entrance | — | § 153.184 (C)(11) |

### C-I, C-2, C-T, L-I, I

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Canopy Sign | Text/graphics max 2 feet | 24 square feet | 75% of canopy width/depth | 10 ft sidewalk/driving clearance | See above | On canopy or architectural cover over outdoor area | — | § 153.184 (C)(2) |
| Crown Sign | 8 feet | 250 square feet | 75% of facade width/depth | — | One per facade; two per building | Upper horizontal band of a building at least two stories in height, not above roofline | — | § 153.184 (C)(3) |
| Digital Sign (Only within 100' of HWY 412 ROW) | 40 ft east city limit to Via De Tonti/HWY 412; 25 ft west of Via De Tonti/HWY 412 | 50% of the accompanying non-digital sign | — | 10 ft front/side lot line | One per street frontage | Only within 100' of HWY 412 right of way, must have highway frontage | — | § 153.184 (C)(4) |
| Double Post Sign | 8 feet | 48 square feet | — | 5 ft from front/side lot line | One per street frontage | Permanently affixed, support by two posts, independent of building | — | § 153.184 (C)(5) |
| Monument Sign | 8 ft (1-3 tenants); 12 ft (4-6+ tenants) | 48/72/84/108 square feet depending on tenants | — | 10 ft front/side lot lines | One per street frontage | Permanently affixed, solid base | — | § 153.184 (C)(7) |
| Projecting Sign | 4 ft below second floor; 8 ft between 2nd and 3rd floor; 12 ft above 3rd floor | — | Projection width max 6 ft | 10 ft clear above sidewalk | Max one projecting or shingle sign per frontage | Wall/facade; may be on corner/intersection of streets; projects 12+ inches; one foot from facade | — | § 153.184 (C)(8) |
| Sandwich Board Sign | 3 feet | 9 square feet | 2.5 feet | — | One per ground floor tenant | Moveable; adjacent to primary facade or up to 8 ft away | — | § 153.184 (C)(9) |
| Shingle Sign | 3 feet | 9 square feet | Projection max 3 ft | 10 ft clear above sidewalk | Max one projecting or shingle sign per frontage/tenant | Hangs from bracket/support over/near entrance, within 5 ft of entrance | — | § 153.184 (C)(10) |

## Prohibited signs in Tontitown

- Signs are prohibited in all zoning districts unless constructed pursuant to a valid building permit when required and authorized under this code.
- A property owner may not accept a fee for posting or maintaining a sign allowed under certain exemptions; any sign posted or maintained in violation of this provision is prohibited.
- Commercial signs are prohibited in exclusively single-family residential zones or on property used for non-transient residential uses, except where a home occupation or transient use is approved by the city.
- Billboards and digital billboards are prohibited.
- Highway signs are prohibited.
- Signs with fluctuating illumination (including any that flash, blink, fluctuate in intensity or are animated) are prohibited.
- Signs that revolve, rotate, or move in whole or part are prohibited.
- Windblown signs are prohibited, except flags as specifically allowed.
- Signs that constitute a traffic hazard, or are erected at an intersection such that they obstruct free and clear vision, are prohibited.
- Off-site signs are prohibited.
- Roof signs are prohibited.
- Search lights are prohibited.
- Signs on or affixed to trees or utility poles are prohibited, except for utility identification purposes.
- Reflective or mirrored signs are prohibited.
- Signs placed or affixed within public right-of-ways or encroaching upon a public right-of-way are prohibited, except that certain types may encroach as provided.
- It is unlawful to use a vehicle or trailer as a sign to circumvent or violate code.
- Any sign type not listed in §153.184 sign table is prohibited.
- No sign may be erected or maintained which, by use of lights or illumination, creates a distracting or hazardous condition.
- Illumination is restricted to specified bulb wattage/lumen limits and must comply with outlined methods and restrictions.
- No structural repairs or changes to non-conforming signs are allowed except to bring them into compliance.
- Temporary signs shall not be placed or located such that they obscure the view of pedestrian or vehicular traffic and shall not be placed within 25 feet of an intersection.

## Signs exempt from permit in Tontitown

- Government signs (erected, maintained, or posted by federal, state, or local government, or required by law) are exempt and allowed in all zoning districts.
- Traffic control devices on private or public property erected to comply with traffic control laws are exempt.
- Public interest signs of a non-commercial nature and in the public interest, erected by or on the order of a public officer in performance of duty (such as public notices, safety signs, danger signs, traffic and street signs, memorial plaques, signs of historical or local interest) are exempt.
- Street numbers/identification numerals placed on property as required for safety and identification are exempt (subject to maximum size and placement requirements).
- Signs required by federal, state, or local law to be posted for warning or prohibition may be posted (subject to size and number limits, unless law requires otherwise).
- Flags may be displayed as provided by law and under §153.182(A)(5) / (E).
- Government sign placards or other signs required by state and/or federal law to be displayed during construction or site work are exempt.
- Signs not exposed to view from a public street, right-of-way, public place or other property are not regulated by the code.
- A sign permit is not required for signs described in §153.182 (authorized in every district) with a total area not exceeding 16 square feet and a maximum height of eight feet.
- A sign permit is not required for official notices or advertisements posted or displayed by or under the direction of any public or court officer in performance of official duties, provided removal within ten days after purpose is accomplished.
- Lessors with exclusive use or occupancy rights are considered property owners for sign rights/exemptions.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A sign permit is required prior to display and erection of any sign except as provided in exemptions (§153.183).
- Permit applications must be filed with the Code Official on city forms, detailing sufficient information for code compliance.
- Applications for temporary signs must state intended dates for erection and removal.
- All signs listed in district regulations (§153.184) require a sign permit.
- Monument signs for applicants with more than six tenants may be increased in size by conditional use permit (approved by the Planning Commission).
- Monument signs in some districts are allowed only through a Conditional Use Permit issued by the Planning Commission.
- Any sign type not listed in the district regulations table (§153.184) is prohibited and cannot be approved by permit.
- Sign regulations and requirements for approvals may be superseded by overlay district regulations if a conflict exists.
- Non-conforming signs must be brought into compliance upon alteration, relocation, or replacement not specifically covered by code.
- Conditional Use Permits (approved by Planning Commission) are specifically required for certain sign types or sizes, such as larger monument signs (more than six tenants) or monument signs in some districts.
- Variance or appeals processes are referenced for denial of sign permits (§153.183(F), §153.263).

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

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