# Sign Regulations in Hattiesburg, Mississippi

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Hattiesburg, Mississippi (MS)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/mississippi/hattiesburg
- **Data last verified:** 2025-11-24
- **Source:** [other municipal code](https://www.hattiesburgms.com/wp-content/uploads/Land-Development-Code-September-2020.pdf#page=117)

## At a glance

Hattiesburg, Mississippi regulates 36 sign types across 5 zoning districts. Pole Sign (B-3)s in the Business Districts (B-1, B-2, B-3, B-4, B-5) zoning district are capped at 35 feet tall, 200 square feet, and 20 feet wide, with a 15 feet setback (Sec. Section 10.6, Table 10.6-1, Table 10.6-2, Section 10.8.2.5). Most commercial signs in Hattiesburg require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (5 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 19 | 8 feet | 32 square feet | — |
| Agricultural Districts (A-1, A-2) | 4 | 35 feet | 50 square feet | — |
| Residential Districts (R-1A, R-1B, R-1C, R-2, R-3) | 4 | 35 feet | 50 square feet | — |
| Business Districts (B-1, B-2, B-3, B-4, B-5) | 13 | 35 feet | 400 square feet | — |
| Industrial Districts (I-1, I-2) | 9 | 35 feet | 400 square feet | — |

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

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Address Signs | — | 1 square foot | — | — | — | Residential property | — | Section 10.5.1.1 |
| Mailbox Signs | — | 2 square feet | — | — | — | Residential property | — | Section 10.5.1.1 |
| Traffic Directional Signs on Private Property | 3 feet | 4 square feet | — | — | 1 per driveway | Private property | — | Section 10.5.1.5 |
| Real Estate Signs | — | 4 square feet | — | — | 1 per street frontage (exception for larger lots) | On the property for sale/lease/rent | — | Section 10.5.1.7 |
| Construction Signs | 8 feet | 32 square feet | — | — | 2 per project | Construction site | — | Section 10.5.1.10 |
| Garage Sale Signs | 4 feet | 4 square feet | — | — | — | Private property | — | Section 10.5.1.11 |
| Temporary Special Event Sign | — | 32 square feet | — | — | 1 | Mounted on associated structure | — | Section 10.4 |
| Temporary Banners | — | 32 square feet | — | — | 1 | Mounted on associated structure | — | Section 10.4 |

### Business Districts (B-1, B-2, B-3, B-4, B-5)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Monument Sign | 10 feet | 50 square feet | — | Front: 5 feet, Side: 15 feet | 1 per 500 feet of parcel street frontage; 2 on corner lot (1 per street) with minimum 150 feet frontage | On-premises | — | Section 10.6, Table 10.6-1, Table 10.6-2, Section 10.8 |
| Pole Sign (B-3) | 35 feet | 200 square feet | 20 feet | Front: 10 feet, Side: 15 feet | 1 per 500 feet of street frontage, max 2 on corner lots | On-premises | — | Section 10.6, Table 10.6-1, Table 10.6-2, Section 10.8.2.5 |
| Pole Sign (B-4, B-5) | 35 feet | 400 square feet | 20 feet | Front: 10 feet, Side: 15 feet | 1 per 500 feet of street frontage, max 2 on corner lots | On-premises | — | Section 10.6, Table 10.6-1, Table 10.6-2, Section 10.8.2.5 |
| Subdivision or Multi-family Sign | 6 feet | 32 square feet | 8 feet | Front: 5 feet, Side: 2 feet | 2 per entrance | At multi-tenant or multi-family entrance | — | Section 10.6, Table 10.6-1, Table 10.6-2 |
| Wall Sign (B-1) | Not extending above roof line | 50 square feet | — | N/A | 2 per structure/unit | On building wall | — | Section 10.6, Table 10.6-1, Table 10.6-2 |
| Wall Sign (B-2) | Not extending above roof line | 100 square feet | — | N/A | 3 per structure/unit | On building wall | — | Section 10.6, Table 10.6-1, Table 10.6-2 |
| Billboard Sign (B-5) | 10 feet min / 35 feet max | 400 square feet | 40 feet | Front and Rear: 25 feet, Side: 15 feet | 1 per lot | Off-premises | — | Section 10.6, Table 10.6-1, Table 10.6-2 |
| Billboard Sign, Digital (B-5) | 10 feet min / 35 feet max (Regional) or 21 feet max (Community) | 400 square feet (Regional) or 230 square feet (Community) | 40 feet (Regional) or 23 feet (Community) | Front and Rear: 25 feet, Side: 15 feet; distance from residential: 800 ft (Regional) or 1000 ft (Community) | 1 per lot, spacing from other signs 1000-2500 ft radial depending on corridor | Off-premises along designated corridors | — | Section 10.13, Table 10.12-1, Table 10.12-2 |

### Industrial Districts (I-1, I-2)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Monument Sign | 10 feet | 72 square feet | — | Front: 5 feet, Side: 15 feet | 1 per 500 feet of parcel street frontage; 2 on corner lot (1 per street) with minimum 150 feet frontage | On-premises | — | Section 10.6, Table 10.6-1, Table 10.6-2, Section 10.8 |
| Pole Sign | 35 feet | 400 square feet | 20 feet | Front: 10 feet, Side: 15 feet | 1 per 500 feet of street frontage, max 2 on corner lots | On-premises | — | Section 10.6, Table 10.6-1, Table 10.6-2, Section 10.8.2.5 |
| Subdivision or Multi-family Sign | 6 feet | 32 square feet | 8 feet | Front: 5 feet, Side: 2 feet | 2 per entrance | At multi-tenant entrance | — | Section 10.6, Table 10.6-1, Table 10.6-2 |
| Wall Sign | Not extending above roof line | 350 square feet | — | N/A | 3 per structure/unit | On building wall | — | Section 10.6, Table 10.6-1, Table 10.6-2, Section 10.8.2.5 |
| Projecting Sign | 8 feet minimum above sidewalk | 45 square feet | — | N/A | 1 | Attached to building, projecting at angle | — | Section 10.6, Table 10.6-1, Table 10.6-2 |
| Marquee Sign | 10 feet minimum above sidewalk, no higher than 2nd story roof line | 200 square feet | — | N/A | — | Attached to front of building over entrance | — | Section 10.6, Table 10.6-1, Table 10.6-2 |
| Billboard Sign | 10 feet min / 35 feet max | 400 square feet | 40 feet | Front and Rear: 25 feet, Side: 15 feet | 1 per lot | Off-premises | — | Section 10.6, Table 10.6-1, Table 10.6-2 |
| Billboard Sign, Digital | 10 feet min / 35 feet max (Regional) or 21 feet max (Community) | 400 square feet (Regional) or 230 square feet (Community) | 40 feet (Regional) or 23 feet (Community) | Front and Rear: 25 feet, Side: 15 feet; distance from residential: 800 ft (Regional) or 1000 ft (Community) | 1 per lot, spacing from other signs 1000-2500 ft radial depending on corridor | Off-premises along designated corridors | — | Section 10.13, Table 10.12-1, Table 10.12-2 |

## Prohibited signs in Hattiesburg

- Any sign not expressly permitted by this Section.
- Any sign that interferes with the sight triangle (clear view area) necessary for motorists to proceed safely through intersections or to enter onto or exit from public streets, private roads or driveways.
- Banners, streamers, animated displays, moving signs that rotate, flutter or use similar movement, pennants, and propellers are prohibited unless expressly permitted in Section 10.4.
- Any sign that by its location, color, size, shape, nature, or message would tend to obstruct the view of or be confused with official traffic signs or other signs erected by governmental agencies.
- Any sign which bears or contains statements, words or pictures of an obscene, pornographic, or which contains advertising matter that is untruthful.
- Signs which emit audible sound, odor or visible matter.
- Any sign or advertising material written on or affixed upon any tree, bush, shrubbery, utility pole, traffic sign, hydrant, fence or street marker.
- Any sign placed on, in, or over any public property, including public right-of-way, without the written consent of the public authority having jurisdiction over the property. Such signs shall be subject to forfeit without notice.
- Signs painted on or otherwise permanently attached to motor vehicles or trailers and conspicuously and routinely parked adjacent to or near a street are prohibited and shall be parked or stored as remotely as possible from public streets.
- Signs installed over a drive aisle.
- Tri-vision signs.

## Signs exempt from permit in Hattiesburg

- Signs Customarily Associated with Residential Use: Signs not exceeding two (2) square feet in area that are not of a commercial nature, such as address signs not larger than one square foot, mail box signs, signs posted on private property relating to private parking or warning the public against trespassing or danger from animals.
- Signs Associated with Public Bodies, Public and Private Universities and Schools: Signs erected by or on behalf of or pursuant to the authorization of a governmental body, including legal notices, identification and informational signs, and traffic, directional, or regulatory signs; official signs of a noncommercial nature erected by public utilities; flags, pennants, or insignia of any governmental or nonprofit organization when not displayed in connection with a commercial promotion or as an advertising device.
- Signs Designating Historic Resources provided such signs have been approved by the Hattiesburg Historic Conservation Commission.
- Integral decorative or architectural features of buildings or works of art, so long as such features or works do not contain letters, trademarks, moving parts, or lights.
- Signs directing and guiding traffic on private property, including addresses, that do not exceed four square feet each, and that do not exceed three feet in height, bear no advertising message, and are limited to one per driveway. Such signs may include a corporate logo or icon. Signs are subject to review.
- Signs painted on or otherwise permanently attached to currently licensed motor vehicles that are not primarily used as signs, not parked adjacent to the street and are street legal with the sign affixed.
- Real estate signs containing the message that the real estate on which the sign is located (including buildings) is for sale, lease, or rent, together with information identifying the owner or agent provided that such signs do not exceed four square feet in area and are removed immediately after sale, lease, or rental. For lots of less than two acres, a single sign on each street frontage may be erected. Lots of two acres or more in area and having a street frontage in excess of 400 feet may have one sign not exceeding 32 square feet in area erected per street frontage.
- Window signs provided not more than 20% of a window area is covered, whether interior or exterior.
- Temporary displays, including lighting, erected in connection with the observance of holidays that are removed within 30 days following the holidays.
- Construction signs associated with land development or building construction provided such signs are no larger than 32 square feet in size and do not exceed eight feet in height and number not more than two per project. Such signs shall be displayed no sooner than 60 days prior to the commencement of construction and shall be removed within 10 days of completing construction.
- Carport, garage and yard sale signs not exceeding four square feet in size or four feet in height placed not more than three days in advance of the sale and removed within one day of the completion of the sale.
- Public and semi-public signs advertising public and semi-public affairs such as civic, school, charitable and other non-profit events and affairs provided that such signs do not exceed 32 square feet in size, are posted not more than 14 days prior to the event, and are removed within three days after the event’s conclusion.
- Signs 16 square feet or smaller placed directly in the ground on a wire frame, stakes, or similar, may be displayed not more than 60 days before a special event. Such signs must be removed within 3 days following the event. Such signs are prohibited from public right-of-way.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- For digital billboards, a permit approved by the City Council after review by the Hattiesburg Planning Commission and Site Design and Review Committee is required for all new digital billboards or replacement static billboards, including billboard supports and/or faces.
- New digital billboards as primary structures require landscaping approved by the Site Design and Review Committee.
- New digital billboards as accessory structures require landscaping approved by the Site Design and Review Committee, extending ten feet from the face(s) of the billboard.
- Variances or exemptions for digital billboard replacements require approval by the City Council after review by the Hattiesburg Planning Commission, Board of Adjustment, and Site Plan Review Committee, considering the degree of non-conformances being eliminated or reduced.

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

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