# Sign Regulations in West Memphis, Arkansas

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

- **Jurisdiction:** West Memphis, Arkansas (AR)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/arkansas/west-memphis
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-06
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/AR/West_Memphis/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=PTIILADE_CH111SI)

## At a glance

West Memphis, Arkansas regulates 25 sign types across 5 zoning districts. Freestanding Sign (O-1 District only)s in the Office District (O districts, O-1) zoning district are capped at 6 ft tall and 4 sq ft, with a 15 ft (right-of-way), 25 ft (R district), 10 ft (adjoining property) setback (Sec. Sec. 111-14(1)). Most commercial signs in West Memphis require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (5 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Residential District (R districts) | 5 | — | Maximum 75 sq ft; set back 15 feet for up to 10 sq ft, plus 1 ft additional setback for each 2 sq ft above 10 sq ft | — |
| Office District (O districts, O-1) | 7 | 6 ft | Up to 75 sq ft as set forth in Sec. 111-10(12) | — |
| Commercial District (C districts) | 9 | 80 ft | 200 sq ft base, 400 sq ft with qualifying building | — |
| Industrial District (I districts) | 9 | 80 ft | 200 sq ft base, 400 sq ft with qualifying building | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 6 | — | 216 sq in (each) | — |

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

### Office District (O districts, O-1)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign (O-1 District only) | 6 ft | 4 sq ft | — | 15 ft (right-of-way), 25 ft (R district), 10 ft (adjoining property) | 1 per lot | — | — | Sec. 111-14(1) |
| Wall Sign (O Districts) | — | 16 sq ft per sign, max 4 signs per building | — | — | Maximum 4 per building, 1 per tenant | — | — | Sec. 111-16(b) |
| Freestanding Bulletin Board | — | Up to 75 sq ft as set forth in Sec. 111-10(12) | — | As for Residential | 1 per lot | Min 15 ft from right-of-way; see bulletin board requirements | — | Sec. 111-14(1), Sec. 111-10(12) |
| Identification Sign or Joint Identification Sign (Wall-mounted) | — | 4 sq ft | — | — | — | Flat on wall | — | Sec. 111-10(1) |
| Joint Identification Sign (Construction) | — | 32 sq ft | — | — | 1 per premises | — | — | Sec. 111-10(2) |
| Residential Sign (for residential use in Office zone) | — | 8 sq ft | — | — | 1 per premises | — | — | Sec. 111-10(3) |
| Incidental Sign | — | 4 sq ft | — | — | — | — | — | Sec. 111-10(4) |

### Commercial District (C districts)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign (C Districts, 15-39 ft setback) | Max 30 ft (reduced by 0.5 ft for each foot of setback less than 40 ft) | Up to 75 sq ft | — | Min 15 ft from right-of-way | 1 per lot | Min 1 ft from adjoining property; min 25 ft from boundary of R or O district | — | Sec. 111-14(2)b.1(i)-(iii), (2)b.2 |
| Freestanding Sign (C Districts, At Controlled Access Hwy, 15 ft min setback) | Max 30 ft (see general limit); reduced if within 40 ft of right-of-way | 75 sq ft | — | 15 ft min | 1 per lot | Abuts controlled access highway, min 15 ft from right-of-way | — | Sec. 111-14(2)b.1(iv) |
| Freestanding Sign (C Districts, Interstate, 800 ft of main lane, 15 ft+ setback) | 80 ft | 200 sq ft base, 400 sq ft with qualifying building | — | 15 ft min | 1 per lot | Within 800 ft of interstate, min 15 ft from right-of-way | — | Sec. 111-14(2)b.1(v) |
| Wall Sign (C Districts) | — | 150 sq ft or 20% wall area, whichever is greater | — | — | — | On wall or mansard roof, parallel to surface, not above wall or beyond end | — | Sec. 111-16(a) |
| Projecting Sign (C Districts) | No higher than eave or rafter line; must clear 8 ft from grade | 16 sq ft | — | — | 1 per building | On vertical face of building; projections as above | — | Sec. 111-15(a)-(c) |
| Area Identification Sign | — | 32 sq ft | — | — | — | At entrance(s) to area; subject to traffic sight line approval | — | Sec. 111-17 |
| Identification Sign or Joint Identification Sign (Wall-mounted) | — | 4 sq ft | — | — | — | Flat on wall | — | Sec. 111-10(1) |
| Joint Identification Sign (Construction) | — | 32 sq ft | — | — | 1 per premises | — | — | Sec. 111-10(2) |

### Industrial District (I districts)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign (I Districts, 15-39 ft setback) | Max 30 ft (reduced by 0.5 ft for each foot less than 40 ft) | Up to 75 sq ft | — | Min 15 ft from right-of-way | 1 per lot | Min 1 ft from adjoining property; min 25 ft from boundary of R or O district | — | Sec. 111-14(3)b.1(i)-(iii), (3)b.2 |
| Freestanding Sign (I Districts, At Controlled Access Hwy, 15 ft min setback) | Max 30 ft (see above) | 75 sq ft | — | 15 ft min | 1 per lot | Abuts controlled access highway, min 15 ft from right-of-way | — | Sec. 111-14(3)b.1(iv) |
| Freestanding Sign (I Districts, Interstate, 800 ft of main lane, 15 ft+ setback) | 80 ft | 200 sq ft base, 400 sq ft with qualifying building | — | 15 ft min | 1 per lot | Within 800 ft of interstate, min 15 ft from right-of-way | — | Sec. 111-14(3)b.1(v) |
| Wall Sign (I Districts) | — | 150 sq ft or 20% wall surface | — | — | — | On wall or mansard roof, parallel to surface, not above wall or beyond end | — | Sec. 111-16(a) |
| Projecting Sign (I Districts) | No higher than eave or rafter line; must clear 8 ft from grade | 16 sq ft | — | — | 1 per building | On vertical face of building; projections as above | — | Sec. 111-15(a)-(c) |
| Area Identification Sign | — | 32 sq ft | — | — | — | At entrance(s) to area; subject to traffic sight line approval | — | Sec. 111-17 |
| Identification Sign or Joint Identification Sign (Wall-mounted) | — | 4 sq ft | — | — | — | Flat on wall | — | Sec. 111-10(1) |
| Joint Identification Sign (Construction) | — | 32 sq ft | — | — | 1 per premises | — | — | Sec. 111-10(2) |

## Prohibited signs in West Memphis

- No sign may be erected, placed, established, painted, created or maintained except in conformance with this chapter.
- All signs not permitted by this chapter are prohibited.
- It is unlawful to erect, repair, alter, relocate or keep any sign without a sign permit unless exempted.
- Violation of this chapter constitutes a misdemeanor, with fines and possible removal at owner's expense.
- No sign shall be erected or continued to be displayed at street intersections so as to obstruct clear vision or interfere with traffic signs and signals.
- No signs shall be allowed on public property except permitted public and temporary noncommercial signs per standards.
- No sign shall be placed on any private property without the owner's consent.
- No sign shall be placed or painted on any tree or rock.
- No sign shall be placed on any utility pole except for utility identification or similar purposes.
- Direct illumination by incandescent bulbs is restricted to bulbs rated at 25 watts or less.
- It is unlawful to operate or erect any sign or attraction device containing a beacon or spotlight providing direct illumination to the public.
- Signs that move, flash, or simulate movement are prohibited except and only as specified under section 111-12(f).
- It is unlawful to display or erect any portable sign in the city.
- It is unlawful to use a vehicle or trailer as a sign in circumvention of this chapter.
- It is unlawful to erect any sign the exterior of which revolves, rotates, or otherwise moves.
- Freestanding signs are not permitted in R and O districts (except specific bulletin boards and as otherwise provided in O-1).

## Signs exempt from permit in West Memphis

- Identification signs and joint identification signs erected flat on the wall of a building and not exceeding four square feet of display surface area are exempt from permit.
- One joint identification sign (for construction participants) not exceeding eight square feet in R zones or 32 square feet in other zones is exempt from permit.
- One unanimated, non-illuminated residential sign not exceeding eight square feet is exempt from permit.
- Incidental signs not exceeding four square feet are exempt from permit.
- Building markers are exempt from permit.
- Posting bills on signs, repainting of signs, or changing letters/numbers on changeable letter signs is exempt from permit.
- Election campaign signs are exempt from permit (with special time and size/location rules).
- Banners firmly affixed to building sides and within allowable size, or banners announcing a specific event for up to 10 days prior and 72 hours after the event, are exempt from permit.
- Signs located within a building and not visible to the public outside are exempt from permit.
- Signs painted on or affixed to glass windows/doors pertaining to the business inside are exempt from permit.
- One temporary subdivision sign per subdivision (up to 50 square feet, limited duration) is exempt from permit.
- Freestanding bulletin boards are exempt from permit, provided setback and size limits are met.
- Fuel price informational signs mounted on pumps (one per pump, up to 216 square inches, affixed and stationary) are exempt from permit.
- Public signs are exempt from all requirements of this chapter.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- There is no explicit mention of a requirement for a master sign plan, sign plan, or blanket requirement for such a plan in this text.
- Variances for new signs or roof signs require an appeal and hearing before the design review commission, which may impose conditions if granting a variance.

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

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