# Sign Regulations in Arcadia, Louisiana

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Arcadia, Louisiana (LA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/louisiana/arcadia
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-07
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/LA/Arcadia/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=CH21ZO_ARTVIIISI)

## At a glance

Arcadia, Louisiana regulates 13 sign types across 4 zoning districts. Freestanding Signs in the Residential Districts (R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4, RMH) zoning district are capped at 10 ft tall and 50 sq ft, with a 10 ft from leading edge of sign setback (Sec. Sec. 21-258(1), Table 7.1). Most commercial signs in Arcadia require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (4 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Residential Districts (R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4, RMH) | 6 | 10 ft | 50 sq ft | — |
| Business Districts (B-1, B-2, B-3, B-4) | 5 | 35 ft | 300 sq ft | — |
| Industrial Districts (I-1, I-2) | 3 | 35 ft | 100 sq ft | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 5 | 4 ft | 32 sq ft (total for all temporary promotional signs at once) | — |

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

### Residential Districts (R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4, RMH)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign | 10 ft | 50 sq ft | — | 10 ft from leading edge of sign | 1 | On-premises; setback 10 feet from property line, measured from leading edge of sign | — | Sec. 21-258(1), Table 7.1 |
| Monument Sign | 6 ft | 50 sq ft | — | 10 ft from leading edge of sign | 1 | On-premises, 10 ft setback from property line | — | Sec. 21-258(1), Table 7.1 |
| Attached Sign (Wall Sign) | — | 50 sq ft | — | — | 1 | On-premises | — | Sec. 21-258(1), Table 7.1 |
| Parking Lot Directional Sign | 5 ft | 5 sq ft | — | — | 2 | Parking areas of multi-family residential uses (5+ units) | — | Sec. 21-258(1)(b) |
| Multi-family Identification Sign | 6 ft (if freestanding) | 24 sq ft | — | — | 1 | On-premises, wall-mounted or freestanding | — | Sec. 21-258(1)(c) |
| Residential Subdivision Identification Sign | 6 ft | 32 sq ft | — | 5 ft from any lot line | 1 | Within dedicated street entrance, 5 ft from any lot line | — | Sec. 21-258(1)(d) |

### Business Districts (B-1, B-2, B-3, B-4)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign | 35 ft | 100 sq ft | — | 10 ft from leading edge of sign | 1 per street frontage | On-premises, 10 ft setback from property line | — | Sec. 21-258(b), Table 7.1 |
| Monument Sign | 6 ft | 100 sq ft | — | 10 ft from leading edge of sign | 1 per street frontage | On-premises, 10 ft setback from property line | — | Sec. 21-258(b), Table 7.1 |
| Attached Sign (Wall Sign) | — | 100 sq ft | — | — | More than one allowed, but total allowed area must not be exceeded | On building, on-premises | — | Sec. 21-258(b), Table 7.1 |
| Freestanding Electronic Message Board | As per freestanding sign limit | Included within freestanding sign area | — | As for freestanding sign | 1 per lot or parcel | On-premises, must be located with primary freestanding sign | — | Sec. 21-258(b)(2) |
| Planned Commercial Center Freestanding Sign | — | 300 sq ft | — | — | 1 per street frontage | Planned commercial center | — | Sec. 21-258(b)(3) |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| A-Frame Sign | 4 ft | 6 sq ft per sign face | — | Within 20 ft of entrance | 1 per business | Within 20 ft of the primary entrance of the business | — | Sec. 21-260(b)(4) |
| Temporary Promotional Sign | — | 32 sq ft (total for all temporary promotional signs at once) | — | — | One temporary sign per business at a time | On site only (no off-premises) | — | Sec. 21-260(b)(3) |
| Construction Sign (Temporary, >32 sq ft) | — | — | — | — | 1 | On premises of construction, repair or renovation site | — | Sec. 21-260(b)(1) |
| Real Estate Sign (Temporary, >32 sq ft, non-residential property) | — | — | — | — | 1 | On premises of non-residential property for sale/lease/rent | — | Sec. 21-260(b)(2) |
| Point of Service Display Sign | — | — | — | — | — | On or near display or product dispenser; within the structure; not attached to any pole or canopy, not in parking lot or public right-of-way | — | Sec. 21-260(b)(5) |

## Prohibited signs in Arcadia

- Erecting or maintaining portable arrow signs.
- Erecting or maintaining portable signs, or altering portable signs to become permanent signs.
- Erecting or maintaining signs that are considered abandoned or unsafe.
- Erecting or maintaining signs imitating or resembling official traffic or government signs or signals.
- Erecting or maintaining signs on trees or painting/drawing upon rocks or other features.
- Erecting or maintaining signs that contain obscene or indecent words, statements, or pictures, or references to sexual activity.
- Erecting or maintaining signs that do not comply with the restrictions applicable to the zoning district in which the signs are located.
- Suspending signs, banners, and streamers over or above dedicated streets.
- Erecting or maintaining signs that contain or display animation, moving video/pictures, or scrolling word advertising.
- Placing signs on public property or any public right-of-way, except for political signs as allowed by exemption.
- Placing signs in any location that would violate any state or federal regulation or law.
- No signs other than those placed by agencies of government or authorized by the town may be erected on public property.
- No signs may be placed on private property without the prior consent of the property owner and, where applicable, required sign permit.
- No sign mounted on the exterior of a building may cover any windows or doors.
- Erecting, altering, relocating, or constructing a sign without a valid sign permit (unless sign is specifically exempt).

## Signs exempt from permit in Arcadia

- Changing advertising copy or message on an existing legally permitted or legal non-conforming changeable sign or similar approved sign, unless the copy or message conflicts with other ordinance limitations.
- Painting, repainting, cleaning, changing permitted items of information, or other normal maintenance and repair of a sign.
- Construction signs of thirty-two (32) square feet or less.
- Directional/informational signs of five (5) square feet or less.
- Nameplates and identification signs of two (2) square feet or less.
- Political signs within sixty (60) days of any local, state or federal election.
- Public agency signs or notices, or any sign relating to an emergency.
- Real estate signs of thirty-two (32) square feet or less, with conditions on property placement, number per frontage, removal within thirty (30) days of sale/lease/rental, and content restrictions.
- Window signs or displays in a business or residence.
- Point of purchase display signs.
- Subdivision identification signs of thirty-two (32) square feet or less.
- Any grave marker, headstone, memorial statue, or similar noncommercial remembrance.
- Names and addresses on postal boxes.
- Residential address numbers.
- Names of newspapers and similar publications on their delivery boxes.
- Posting of privately owned land and/or buildings/structures against trespass, hunting, fishing, swimming, or any activity, or warning against any danger or hazard pertaining to such land/buildings.
- Cornerstones, memorial tablets, and similar markers made of durable material, without advertising matter, indicating information relating to the development of the facility.
- Historical signs and markers designating places of historical significance.
- City entry and park identification signs designating entry points to or parks located in the town.
- Flags, pennants, or insignia of any government, except when used for commercial promotion or as an advertising device.
- Works of fine art that do not identify a product or business and are not displayed in conjunction with a commercial enterprise.
- Temporary decorations or displays clearly incidental and customary and commonly associated with holiday celebrations or special events.
- Traffic and other official signs of any public or governmental agency.
- Small outdoor signs directed to persons who have already entered the premises (e.g. fuel pump signs or car wash instructions) with lettering not greater than four inches tall.
- Menu boards for drive-thru food establishments.
- Signs indicating special events (such as a fair, carnival, festival, grand opening, sale, or similar temporary activity).
- Lost dog signs placed upon public property for up to three days; must be removed after the third day.
- Garage sale signs placed on public property two days before the sale and removed the day after the sale.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Any requests for variances and appeals regarding signs shall be submitted in writing with any depictions, maps, or drawings deemed necessary by the public works director to the board of aldermen/town council.
- Permanent signs in all districts (including residential and business) require a sign permit unless specifically exempted.
- Applications for sign permits must contain a drawing, depiction, or photograph of the proposed sign and an indication of proposed lot location.
- Planned commercial centers shall have coordinated building signage. Signage must comply with the requirements for their zoning classification.
- Variance requests must be in writing and submitted to the board of aldermen/town council.

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

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