# Sign Regulations in Alexandria, Louisiana

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Alexandria, Louisiana (LA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/louisiana/alexandria
- **Data last verified:** 2025-01-14
- **Source:** [other municipal code](https://www.cityofalexandriala.com/sites/default/files/2015%20COA%20Land%20Development%20Code_3.pdf#page=141)

## At a glance

Alexandria, Louisiana regulates 22 sign types across 8 zoning districts. Off-premises Signs in the General business district (B-3) zoning district are capped at 25 feet tall, 72 square feet, and 12 feet wide (Sec. §7.4.6.B.). Most commercial signs in Alexandria require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (8 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 20 | — | 200 square feet (temporary); 24 square feet (permanent) | Yes |
| Fire District No. 1 | 1 | — | — | Yes |
| Residential districts (AG, SF-1, SF-2, SF-3, MF-1, MF-2, MF-3) | 4 | — | 8 square feet for 3-12 units; 10 square feet per 100 lineal feet of street frontage up to 32 square feet for 13 or more units | Yes |
| Office and neighborhood business districts (O, B-1) | 1 | — | 32 square feet | Yes |
| Community business district (B-2) | 1 | — | 100 square feet per side of premises adjacent to a public street | Yes |
| General business district (B-3) | 2 | 25 feet | 200 square feet | Yes |
| Commercial districts (C-1, C-2, CBD) | 2 | 60 feet | 450 square feet | Yes |
| Industrial districts (I-1, I-2) | 2 | 60 feet | 672 square feet | Yes |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 8 zones)

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Small, Nonilluminated Wall Signs | — | 5 square feet | — | — | — | Attached to a building facade. | No | §7.4.3.4. |
| Construction Signs | — | 5 square feet in SF-1, SF-2, SF-3; 32 square feet in other districts | — | — | — | Site under construction. | No | §7.4.3.5. |
| Real Estate Signs | — | 5 square feet in SF-1, SF-2, SF-3; 32 square feet in other districts | — | — | One per street frontage | One sign per street frontage. | No | §7.4.3.6. |
| Identification Nameplates | — | 2 square feet | — | — | One per single-family dwelling address or entry to a business | Attached to a building. | No | §7.4.4.8. |
| Institutional Signs | — | 50 square feet | — | — | — | On the premises of the institution. | Yes | §7.4.4.9. |
| Subdivision Name Sign | — | 200 square feet (temporary); 24 square feet (permanent) | — | — | — | At each entrance of a subdivision. | Yes | §7.4.4.10. |
| Novelty Yard Sign | — | 10 square feet | — | — | — | Securely anchored to the ground. | No | §7.4.4.12. |
| Political Signs | — | 5 square feet in residential areas; 32 square feet in other districts | — | — | — | Not within the public right-of-way. | No | §7.4.4.13. |

### Residential districts (AG, SF-1, SF-2, SF-3, MF-1, MF-2, MF-3)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Construction Signs | — | 5 square feet in SF-1, SF-2, SF-3; 32 square feet in other districts | — | — | — | Site under construction. | No | §7.4.3.5. |
| Real Estate Signs | — | 5 square feet in SF-1, SF-2, SF-3; 32 square feet in other districts | — | — | One per street frontage | One sign per street frontage. | No | §7.4.3.6. |
| Temporary Signs | — | 5 square feet in SF-1, SF-2, SF-3; 32 square feet in other districts | — | — | — | — | No | §7.4.3.7. |
| On-premises Signs | — | 8 square feet for 3-12 units; 10 square feet per 100 lineal feet of street frontage up to 32 square feet for 13 or more units | — | — | — | Ground or attached signs for multifamily, mobile home park and group housing uses. | Yes | §7.4.5.A. |

### General business district (B-3)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| On-premises Signs | — | 200 square feet | — | — | No more than one pole mounted sign | Pole mounted or building mounted signs. | Yes | §7.4.5.D. |
| Off-premises Signs | 25 feet | 72 square feet | 12 feet | — | — | Not within 100 feet from the front or side property line of residential use or zoning nor within 50 feet from the rear property line of such residential use or zoning. | Yes | §7.4.6.B. |

## Prohibited signs in Alexandria

- Any sign that advertises or publicizes an activity not conducted on the premises upon which the sign is maintained, except as allowed by §7.4, Off-premises signs.
- Any temporary sign or window sign, except as permitted under the provisions herein.
- Any sign that contains statements, words, or pictures of an obscene, indecent, or immoral character that will offend public morals or decency.
- Any sign that contains or is an imitation of an official traffic sign or signal or contains the words 'stop,' 'go slow,' 'caution,' 'danger,' 'warning,' or similar words.
- Any sign that is of a size, shape, location, movement, content, coloring, or manner of illumination that may be confused with or construed as a traffic control device or that hides from view any traffic or street sign or signal.
- Street signs, banners, and streamers suspended over or above dedicated streets or alleys are prohibited, except in C-1 or C-2 districts where nonprofit agencies may apply for a special exception from the planning director.
- Portable signs, defined as skid mounted, trailer mounted or A-framed signs, with or without wheels, for use with or without changeable lettering, and with or without electricity.
- Inflatable signage that does not conform with §7.4.3.B.7, Temporary signs.
- Signs that are illegal under state laws or regulations.
- Signs that are erected or maintained upon trees or painted or drawn upon rocks or other natural features.
- Signs located on public property, unless placed thereon under lease arrangements or otherwise permitted by legal authority.
- Signs that are constructed so as to periodically change the direction toward which any plane containing the sign surface area is oriented.
- Signs that emit smoke, vapor, particles, or odor.

## Signs exempt from permit in Alexandria

- Direction signs on private property, but without advertising matter, for the purposes of identifying and giving direction to phone booths, restrooms, and parking areas; providing direction to motorists within parking lots and structures; aiding and directing the movement of pedestrians.
- Signs protecting private property or identifying property hazards.
- Notices posted by public agencies.
- Flags and insignia of any government, except when displayed in connection with a commercial promotion.
- There shall be no permit required when changing permitted copy of a sign provided no increase occurs with respect to either the area of any such sign or the manner in which it is structurally supported.
- Nonilluminated signs not exceeding five square feet attached to a building facade.
- Individual signs at a site under construction shall not exceed five square feet in SF-1, SF-2 and SF-3 districts or 32 square feet in other districts. Removal shall be within one month of project completion.
- One sign per street frontage not exceeding five square feet in SF-1, SF-2 and SF-3 districts, or 32 square feet in all other zoning districts. Removal shall be within one week of closing.
- Signs that apply to a specific sale, drive, or event limited to five square feet in SF-1, SF-2 and SF-3 districts and 32 square feet in all other zoning districts. Such temporary signs shall not be erected more than one month before the event and shall be removed within one week of the event's conclusion.
- A sign that states the name and/or address of the occupant, not to exceed one attached sign per single-family dwelling address or entry to a business without direct exterior access, and not to exceed two square feet.
- Signs denoting the name of any public, charitable, or religious institution when located on the premises of such institution, provided such signs shall not exceed 50 square feet in display area. Such signs shall be simply for the purpose of displaying the name of the institution and its activities or services. It may be illuminated, but not flashing.
- Temporary signs, not to exceed 200 square feet each, may be erected at each entrance for a period of one year to advertise a new subdivision.
- Permanent signs, not to exceed 24 square feet in area per exclusive entrance to a subdivision; such signs are restricted to the subdivision name.
- Commemorative plaques placed by historical agencies recognized by the city.
- A temporary sign that pertains to a certain event such as but not limited to: a birth, anniversary or birthday and limited to size to 10 square feet and allowed for a period of not to exceed seven days. These signs shall be securely anchored to the ground.
- Temporary signs related to political elections may be erected in any zoning district of the city, but not within the public right-of-way. Temporary signs may also be erected in any zoning district of the city in connection with nonprofit promotions or special events provided they are of community-wide interest and approved for placement by the board of adjustment and appeals. Temporary signs placed in residential areas shall not exceed five square feet in area, and no such sign in other zoning districts shall exceed 32 square feet. Such temporary signs shall be removed within one week of the event's conclusion.

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

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