# Sign Regulations in Ruston, Louisiana

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Ruston, Louisiana (LA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/louisiana/ruston
- **Data last verified:** 2025-01-14
- **Source:** [other municipal code](https://rustonlagov.sharepoint.com/sites/SocialMediaCrew-Teams/Shared%20Documents/Forms/AllItems.aspx?id=%2Fsites%2FSocialMediaCrew%2DTeams%2FShared%20Documents%2FCity%20Website%2FWebsite%20Forms%2FPlanning%20and%20Zoning)

## At a glance

Ruston, Louisiana regulates 22 sign types across 11 zoning districts. Monument Signs in the General Business (CPP, CPS, CPM, CE, CH, B-2, B-3, B-4) zoning district are capped at 6 ft from ground level to top of sign tall and 75 sq ft per side, with a 10 ft minimum front and side yard setbacks setback (Sec. 5.11.3.A). Most commercial signs in Ruston require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (11 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Business (CPP, CPS, CPM, CE, CH, B-2, B-3, B-4) | 5 | Top edge no higher than 30 ft above ground level; Bottom edge at least 8 ft above ground level | 200 sq ft per side (B-3, B-4); 100 sq ft per side (CE, CH) | Yes |
| Industrial Districts (D-1, D-1-B, D-2) | 4 | Top edge shall be no higher than 30 ft above ground level; Bottom edge shall be at least 8 ft above | 200 sq ft per side | Yes |
| Pedestrian Oriented Business Districts (B-1, Core Districts except CE and CH) | 7 | Top edge shall be no higher than 20 ft above ground level; Bottom edge shall be at least 8 ft above ground level | 40 sq ft | Yes |
| Residential Districts | 1 | 6 ft from ground to top of sign | 32 sq ft per side | Yes |
| Interstate 20 Highway Corridor | 3 | Total sign height may not exceed 60 ft; Sign panel height 20 ft; Sign face length 48 ft | 500 sq ft per static sign panel | Yes |
| CPP Central Parkway Pines District | 1 | Not specified | Not specified | Yes |
| CPS Central Parkway Sports District | 1 | Not specified | Not specified | Yes |
| CPM Central Parkway Meadows District | 1 | Not specified | Not specified | Yes |
| CHC Core Highway Corridor | 1 | Not specified | Not specified | Yes |
| Core Downtown | 1 | Top edge shall be no higher than the 2nd floor of a multi-story building; Vertical height of sign shall be no greater than 4 ft. Bottom edge shall be at least 8 ft above | 16 sq. ft. total | Yes |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 11 | 12 inches | 36 square feet | Yes |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 11 zones)

### General Business (CPP, CPS, CPM, CE, CH, B-2, B-3, B-4)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | See Sec. 5.11.2.E | 100 sq ft (200 sq ft if building is setback 200 ft or more) | — | — | 1 per street level business with building frontage. Corner buildings shall be permitted 1 on each frontage. | On principal building façade to be placed at the sign band, when provided. | Yes | 5.11.3.A |
| Monument Sign | 6 ft from ground level to top of sign | 75 sq ft per side | — | 10 ft minimum front and side yard setbacks | 1 per street frontage of parcel. | 10 ft minimum front and side yard setbacks | Yes | 5.11.3.A |
| Pole Sign | Top edge no higher than 30 ft above ground level; Bottom edge at least 8 ft above ground level | 200 sq ft per side (B-3, B-4); 100 sq ft per side (CE, CH) | — | 10 ft minimum front and side yard setbacks | 1 per parcel, provided that no monument sign is on the same parcel. | 10 ft minimum front and side yard setbacks | Yes | 5.11.3.A |
| Projecting Sign | Sign shall be no greater than 4 ft; Bottom edge at least 8 ft above ground | 16 sq. ft. total | — | — | 1 per occupant at street level | No closer than 20 ft to another such sign | Yes | 5.11.3.A |
| Window Sign | — | 20% of the glass area | — | — | — | In business windows | No | 5.11.3.A |

### Pedestrian Oriented Business Districts (B-1, Core Districts except CE and CH)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | See Sec. 5.11.2.E | 40 sq ft | — | — | 1 per street level business with building frontage. Corner buildings shall be permitted 1 on each frontage. | On principal building façade at the sign band | Yes | 5.11.3.C |
| Projecting Sign | Vertical height of sign shall be no greater than 4 ft. Bottom edge shall be at least 8 ft. above | 16 sq. ft. total | — | — | 1 per occupant at street level | No closer than 20 ft to another such sign | Yes | 5.11.3.C |
| Window Sign | — | 20% of the glass area | — | — | — | In business windows | No | 5.11.3.C |
| Monument Sign | 6 ft from ground level to top of sign | 40 sq. ft per side | — | 10 ft minimum front and side yard setbacks | 1 per parcel | 10 ft minimum front and side yard setbacks | Yes | 5.11.3.C |
| Temporary Pedestrian or A-Frame Sign | 4 ft from ground level to top of sign | 6 sq. ft per side | — | 4 ft from the back of curb | 1 per business | Public right-of-way, but shall maintain 4 ft clear pedestrian area on sidewalks and be setback 4 feet from the back of curb. No closer than 20 ft. | No | 5.11.3.C |
| Pole Sign | Top edge shall be no higher than 20 ft above ground level; Bottom edge shall be at least 8 ft above ground level | 30 sq. ft. per side | — | 10 ft minimum front and side yard setbacks | 1 such sign per parcel | 10 ft minimum front and side yard setbacks | Yes | 5.11.3.C |
| Neon Sign | Top edge shall be no higher than the 2nd floor of a multi-story building; Vertical height of sign shall be no greater than 4 ft. Bottom edge shall be at least 8 ft above | 16 sq. ft. total | — | — | 1 per occupant at street level | No closer than 20 ft to another such sign | Yes | 5.11.3.C |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Special Event Sign | No taller than 6 feet | 36 square feet | — | — | Only 1 special event sign may be placed on a lot and a permit can only be granted once every 6 months. | Not specified | Yes | 5.11.3.L |
| Directory Sign | — | 8 sq ft | — | — | One directory sign per building | At the principal building entrance | Yes | 5.11.3.L |
| Rear Entry Sign | — | 12 square feet | — | — | 1 per rear entrance | At the rear entrance | Yes | 5.11.3.L |
| Additional Signs under Awnings and Canopies | 12 inches | Not specified | 4.5 ft | — | 1 per awning or canopy | Under an awning or canopy | Yes | 5.11.3.L |
| Directional Sign | Maximum height of two and one-half feet | 2 sq ft | — | — | Up to one per driveway | Up to one per driveway | No | 5.11.5.A |
| Temporary Sign | 3 feet | 6 sq ft | — | — | Not specified | Not specified | No | 5.11.5.A |
| Election Season Sign | 3 feet | 12 sq ft | — | — | Not specified | Not specified | No | 5.11.5.A |
| Property for Sale or Lease Sign | 5.5 feet (residential); 8 feet (non-residential) | 9 sq ft (residential); 36 sq ft (non-residential) | — | — | 1 additional temporary sign when a parcel, structure or unit is offered for sale or lease | Attached to a wood post or similar support that is placed in the ground or the sign may be mounted to the façade of a structure | No | 5.11.5.A |

## Prohibited signs in Ruston

- Signs in the right-of-way unless otherwise expressly permitted in this ordinance or required by a governmental entity.
- Flashing Signs
- Signs which resemble any official traffic sign or bear the words 'stop,' 'go,' 'slow,' 'caution,' 'danger,' 'warning' or similar words.
- Signs which, by reason of their size, location, movement, content, coloring or manner of illumination, may be confused with or construed as a traffic control sign, signal or the light of an emergency or road equipment vehicle.
- Signs which hide from view any traffic or street sign or signal or similar device.
- Signs which emit sound, odor or visible matter which serves as a distraction to persons within the public right-of-way.
- Mobile billboards
- Inflatable signs
- Roof signs, or signs that project or extend over the roof line of a building.
- Beacon Lights and Laser Lights
- Festoons
- Mirrors. No mirror device shall be used as part of a sign.
- Moving Signs
- Obsolete or Abandoned Signs
- Pennants
- Signs containing strobe lights
- Snipe Signs
- Skid mounted signs
- Portable arrow signs
- Trailer signs

## Signs exempt from permit in Ruston

- A traffic control sign on private property, such as 'Stop,' 'Yield,' restricted parking, and similar signs, the face and size of which meet traffic engineering standards.
- Flags not associated with any commercial message whatsoever.
- Temporary signs in residential districts. Temporary signs shall be permitted provided they do not exceed 3 feet in height and the total area of all temporary signs does not exceed 6 square feet.
- Temporary signs in all districts during election season, subject to specific size and height limitations.
- Property for Sale or Lease signs, subject to specific size and height limitations.
- Window signs
- Temporary Pedestrian (A-frame) signs
- House number signs not exceeding two square feet in area and illuminated only by the reflector method.
- Directional signs, up to one per driveway, limited to two square feet per sign and a maximum height of two and one-half feet.

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

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