# Sign Regulations in Franklin, Louisiana

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Franklin, Louisiana (LA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/louisiana/franklin
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-08
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/la/franklin/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=PTIICOOR_CH86ZO_ARTVSIRE)

## At a glance

Franklin, Louisiana regulates 7 sign types across 4 zoning districts. Freestanding Signs in the R-1A Residential, R-1B Residential, R-1C Residential, R-3 Residential, R-4 Residential, R-5 Mobile Home Park zoning district are capped at 10 ft tall and 50 sq ft, with a 10 ft from edge of sign setback (Sec. Sec. 86-78(b), Sec. 86-81 Table 1.1, Sec. 86-78(a), (d)). Most commercial signs in Franklin require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (4 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| R-1A Residential, R-1B Residential, R-1C Residential, R-3 Residential, R-4 Residential, R-5 Mobile Home Park | 3 | 10 ft | 50 sq ft | — |
| A Agricultural, B Business, C Commercial, I Industrial, R-2 Planned Unit Development | 4 | 35 ft | See formula; all combined signs cannot exceed 50 sq ft at any location | — |
| Franklin Historic District | 1 | — | — | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 2 | — | — | — |

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

### R-1A Residential, R-1B Residential, R-1C Residential, R-3 Residential, R-4 Residential, R-5 Mobile Home Park

| 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 edge of sign | 1 per street right-of-way frontage | On-premises, must meet setback requirements; freestanding and monument signs: minimum 10 ft setback from leading edge; only one permitted per dedicated street right-of-way frontage. | — | Sec. 86-78(b), Sec. 86-81 Table 1.1, Sec. 86-78(a), (d) |
| Monument Sign | 6 ft | 50 sq ft | — | 10 ft from edge of sign | 1 per street right-of-way frontage | On-premises, setback per code; only one permitted per dedicated street right-of-way frontage. | — | Sec. 86-81 Table 1.1, Sec. 86-78 |
| Attached Sign | — | 50 sq ft | — | N/A | 1 per premises | On-premises, attached to building; may not cover windows or doors. | — | Sec. 86-81 Table 1.1, Sec. 86-78(b) |

### A Agricultural, B Business, C Commercial, I Industrial, R-2 Planned Unit Development

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign | 35 ft | 1.5 sq ft per linear ft of street frontage (not to exceed total 50 sq ft) | — | 10 ft from edge of sign | 1 per street right-of-way frontage | On-premises; minimum 10 ft setback from leading edge; only one per dedicated street right-of-way frontage. Facing residential district: monument sign only. | — | Sec. 86-81 Table 1.1, Sec. 86-78, Sec. 86-79, Sec. 86-80 |
| Monument Sign | 6 ft | 1.5 sq ft per linear ft of street frontage (not to exceed total 50 sq ft) | — | 10 ft from edge of sign | 1 per street right-of-way frontage | On-premises, 10 ft setback from leading edge; only one per dedicated street right-of-way frontage. | — | Sec. 86-81 Table 1.1, Sec. 86-78, Sec. 86-79, Sec. 86-80 |
| Attached Sign | — | See formula; all combined signs cannot exceed 50 sq ft at any location | — | N/A | No explicit number limit; total area and combined sign limitation applies | On-premises, attached to building; must not cover windows or doors. | — | Sec. 86-81 Table 1.1, Sec. 86-78, Sec. 86-79, Sec. 86-80 |
| Electronic Message Board (as part of Freestanding Sign) | As per main sign type | Total sign area including electronic portion must not exceed max allowed | — | Same as Freestanding sign | Same as Freestanding sign; only one allowed per street right-of-way frontage | Must be part of primary freestanding sign; not allowed in Franklin Historic District | — | Sec. 86-78(c) |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Exempt Signs (No Permit Required) | — | — | — | — | — | On-premises or as described | — | Sec. 86-78(f) |
| Temporary Signs | — | — | — | — | 1 per business per lot | — | — | Sec. 86-82(14) |

## Prohibited signs in Franklin

- It is unlawful to erect or maintain portable arrow signs and other signs where over 25 percent of the sign is used for changeable messages, except on Main Street from Sterling Road to Mildred Street in the Commercial zone.
- Portable signs, or any prohibited sign designed to be portable, shall not be altered to become permanent.
- It is unlawful to erect or maintain signs that are considered abandoned or unsafe.
- Signs imitating or resembling official traffic or government signs or signals are prohibited.
- Signs erected or maintained upon trees or painted or drawn upon rocks or other features are prohibited.
- Signs containing words, statements, or pictures considered obscene or indecent by local community standards are prohibited.
- Signs that do not comply with the restrictions applicable to the zoning district in which such signs are located are prohibited.
- Signs, banners, and streamers suspended over or above dedicated streets are prohibited.
- Signs that contain or display animation, moving video/pictures or scrolling word advertising are prohibited.
- Signs placed on public property or any public right-of-way are prohibited unless placed by agencies of government or authorized by the article or another governing authority.
- Signs placed in any location that would violate any state or federal regulation or law are prohibited.
- If 60 percent or more of an illuminated sign is not working, it must be repaired immediately.
- No temporary sign may be illuminated.
- Only one temporary sign is permitted per business on a single lot.
- No sign shall be erected at the intersection of any streets so as to obstruct free and clear vision or where it may interfere with or obstruct the view of traffic sight lines or control devices.
- No signs may be placed on private property without prior consent of the owner and, where applicable, issuance of a building permit.
- No sign mounted on the exterior of a building may cover any windows or doors.
- All signs must comply with city adopted building and electrical codes and be installed/maintained as required.
- All signs must be designed and constructed to withstand required wind pressure and dead loads per code.
- All supports/braces of signs must be designed as an integral part; braces/supports must be hidden from public view to the extent possible.
- All signs attached to a building must be installed and maintained so that wall penetrations are water-tight and structural stresses are within allowable limits.
- All signs overhanging any public sidewalk and all freestanding signs must have a clearance of at least ten feet from the lowest point to the finished grade below.
- All signs must be maintained in a safe, attractive, clean, and structurally sound condition. The premises surrounding all signs must be free and clear of safety/health hazards, rubbish, high weeds, and grass.
- All lighting must concentrate illumination upon the area of the sign to prevent glare on the street and adjacent properties; no glare or direct light on public roadways or adjacent properties; no distracting lighting for operators of vehicles or pedestrians.
- All sign illumination must meet exterior lighting requirements (Section 86-70), including not glaring into or upon neighboring properties or interfering with safe movement of vehicles.

## Signs exempt from permit in Franklin

- Directional/informational signs of five square feet or less in non-residential districts.
- Nameplates and identification signs of two square feet or less.
- Political signs.
- Public signs or notices, or any sign relating to an emergency.
- Real estate signs for property or premises that are for sale, lease, or rent, with no commercial message, and are 32 square feet or less.
- Window signs or displays.
- Incidental signs which are not designed or intended to be placed permanently and which are placed to advertise or announce a specific event, or which pertain to a particular event or occurrence.
- Point of purchase display signs.
- Subdivision identification signs of 32 square feet or less.
- Any grave marker, headstone, memorial statue, or other similar remembrance that is noncommercial in nature.
- The posting of privately owned land and/or buildings or structures against trespass, hunting, fishing, swimming or any other activity, and/or the warning of any person against any danger, hazard or condition pertaining to such land and/or buildings and structures.
- Cornerstones, memorial tablets, and similar markers made of masonry, bronze and other incombustible and durable material and used to indicate, without advertising matter, information relating to the development of the facility on which they are located such as those involved in planning, financing and construction of buildings.
- Historical signs and markers designating places or events of historical significance.
- City entry and park identification signs designating entry points to or parks located in the city.
- Flags, pennants or insignia of any government, except when such flags are used in connection with a commercial promotion or as an advertising device.
- Works of fine art which in no way identify a product or business and which are not displayed in conjunction with a commercial enterprise, which enterprise may benefit or realize direct commercial gain from such display.
- Temporary decorations or displays clearly incidental and customary and commonly associated with national, local or religious 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, such as filling station fuel pump signs or instructions on using an automatic car wash; to qualify for this exception, no lettering on the sign shall be 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.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- All signs of 16 square feet or more (unless exempt) require a building permit.
- In residential districts, unless exempt, signs are permitted only as accessory uses to legal, large multi-family and non-residential uses only; combined signage shall not exceed 24 square feet.
- In the R-2 Planned Unit Development district, planned development projects shall include a detailed development plan approved by the city council prior to issuance of building permits; all development must accord with the approved plan.
- Any application for zoning variances or deviations (including for signage) is subject to review by the board of adjustment and requires submission of a detailed plan showing specifications, type of materials to be used, and other pertinent information.
- Signs in the Franklin Historic District are also subject to historic district regulations (Section 14-183); sign plans must comply with these requirements if applicable.

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

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