# Sign Regulations in Horn Lake, Mississippi

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Horn Lake, Mississippi (MS)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/mississippi/horn-lake
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-08
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/MS/Horn_Lake/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=COOR_APXAZO_ARTVISIRE)

## At a glance

Horn Lake, Mississippi regulates 17 sign types across 8 zoning districts. Construction Signs in the General Regulations For All Zones zoning district are capped at 8 ft; 4 ft for single dwelling unit tall and 40 sq ft; 8 sq ft for single dwelling unit, with a 10 ft from right of way. setback (Sec. Sec. I.2, I.2.a, I.2.a.1-9). Most commercial signs in Horn Lake 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 | 7 | 35 ft (nonresidential), 20 ft (residential) | 60 sq ft (nonresidential), 24 sq ft (residential) | — |
| Residential Districts (A, All residential including multifamily) | 5 | 6 ft | 32 sq ft | — |
| Neighborhood Commercial (C-1), Office (O) | 5 | 8 ft | 40 sq ft | — |
| General Commercial (C-3), Planned Commercial (C-4), Industrial District (M1, M2) | 6 | Up to 15 ft (>100,000 sq ft development) | Up to 200 sq ft (>100,000 sq ft development) | — |
| Planned Unit Development (PUD) | 1 | Varies by use and plan | Varies by use and plan | — |
| Flood Overlay District (F) | 1 | — | — | — |
| I-55 Interchange area | 1 | 40 ft | 672 sq ft | — |
| Highway 302 and Highway 51 Overlay District | 1 | 20 ft | 75 sq ft | — |

## 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 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Banner (Temporary Business Promotion) | — | 40 sq ft | — | — | 1 per business at a time. | Flat against a building, accessory structure, or existing legal sign on the premises of the activity. | — | Sec. I.1, I.1.a.1-9 |
| Construction Sign | 8 ft; 4 ft for single dwelling unit | 40 sq ft; 8 sq ft for single dwelling unit | — | 10 ft from right of way. | 1 per development site | On premises where construction is taking place. | — | Sec. I.2, I.2.a, I.2.a.1-9 |
| Subdivision Locator Sign | — | 16 sq ft | — | 10 ft from right of way. | — | Minimum 10 ft from right of way. Requires property owner permission. | — | Sec. I.3, I.3.1-5 |
| Live Advertising (Option 1 - with sign) | — | 4 sq ft | — | 20 ft from edge of curb | One per occurrence | Minimum 20 ft away from edge of curb. | — | Sec. I.4, I.4.1-7 |
| Holiday/Seasonal Decorations | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Sec. I.5.a |
| Noncommercial Sign | 4 ft | 8 sq ft | — | 10 ft from property line | 1 per zone lot | — | — | Sec. F.12 |
| Flag - General Regulations For All Zones | 35 ft (nonresidential), 20 ft (residential) | 60 sq ft (nonresidential), 24 sq ft (residential) | — | — | — | — | — | Sec. F.9 |

### Residential Districts (A, All residential including multifamily)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | — | 32 sq ft | — | — | 1 per building frontage | On principal building; may not project above roofline. | — | Sec. J.1.a.1-6, Table |
| Awning/Canopy Sign | — | See formula; subject to main sign area limits. | — | — | 1 per building frontage | On awning/canopy of principal building. | — | Sec. J.1.d |
| Wall Sign (Changeable Copy Manual Option) | — | — | — | — | Counts toward principal | On building | — | Sec. J.1.e |
| Ground Mounted Sign | 6 ft | 32 sq ft | — | 10 ft from right-of-way | 1 per zone lot (or 2 for double/corner lots) | Minimum 10 ft from public right of way; 40 ft from centerline if no dedicated ROW; not within 100 ft of an intersection. | — | Sec. J.2.a, Table |
| Ground Mounted Sign (Subdivision Identification) | 6 ft | 25 sq ft | — | — | 2 per subdivision entrance | Subdivision entrance(s) | — | Sec. J.2.f.1-7 |

### General Commercial (C-3), Planned Commercial (C-4), Industrial District (M1, M2)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | — | 100 sq ft | — | — | 2 per building frontage (with conditions); otherwise 1 per frontage | On facade of lease space; not projecting above roofline; not within 5 ft of any other sign. | — | Sec. J.1.c.1-8, Table |
| Awning/Canopy Sign | — | — | — | — | 1 per building frontage | Awning/canopy, on principal building. | — | Sec. J.1.d |
| Wall Sign (Changeable Copy Manual Option) | — | — | — | — | — | On building | — | Sec. J.1.e |
| Ground Mounted Sign | 8 ft | 40 sq ft | — | 10 ft from right of way | 1 per lot (or 2 for corner/double lots) | 10 ft from right of way | — | Sec. J.2.c, Table |
| Ground Mounted Sign (Subdivision Identification) | 8 ft (office/commercial), 8 ft (industrial) | 40 sq ft (office/commercial), 64 sq ft (industrial) | — | — | 2 per entrance | Subdivision entrance(s) | — | Sec. J.2.f |
| Detached Directory Sign (Multi-Tenant) | Up to 15 ft (>100,000 sq ft development) | Up to 200 sq ft (>100,000 sq ft development) | — | 10 ft from right of way | Max 2 per zone lot/parcels with multiple frontages | Project/development with 5+ businesses/tenants and minimum 25,000 sq ft. | — | Sec. J.2.e, Table |

## Prohibited signs in Horn Lake

- It is unlawful to erect or maintain any sign not expressly authorized by, or exempted from, this ordinance.
- Signs that contain characters, cartoons, or statements of an obscene, indecent, or immoral character that would offend public morals and decency.
- Signs that contain or are an imitation of an official traffic sign or signal or contain the words 'stop,' 'go slow,' 'caution,' 'danger,' 'warning' or other similar words.
- Signs that are of a size, location, movement, content, coloring, or manner of illumination which may be confused with or construed as a traffic control device or which hide from view any traffic or street sign signal, or cause traffic hazards/conflicts.
- Signs that have any moving parts.
- Animated and/or flashing signs as defined herein.
- Signs that contain reflective materials.
- Signs that contain reflective type bulbs, pulsating light or strobe light.
- Signs made structurally sound by guy wires or other unsightly bracing.
- Beacons, except for emergency purposes.
- Signs attached to, suspended from, or painted on any vehicle that is regularly parked on any street or private property when the primary purpose is for advertisement. (Some limited exceptions for regularly used business vehicles if signage is secondary to company name/logo and not parked more than 48 hours or inoperable.)
- Advertising signs.
- Banners, pennants, and/or streamers, except as provided in the ordinance.
- Bench Signs.
- Portable Signs, including sandwich board signs.
- Projecting Signs.
- Roof Signs.
- Signs attached to vending machines.
- Backlit awning/canopy signs.
- Any inflatable device that is used to direct attention to a business, commodity, service, activity, entertainment, or site.
- Spot light or search light devices that direct attention to a business, commodity, service, activity, entertainment, or site.
- Exposed neon.
- Off-premises signs, except in the I-55 Interchange District.
- Wall mounted cabinet signs.
- Feather flags.
- Pennant signs.
- Murals.
- Bandit signs.
- Balloons.
- Signs located within a public right-of-way, or placed to obstruct clear sight triangle at a street intersection.
- Signs interfering with surface or underground utilities, facilities, or official drainage.
- Signs located within the sight triangle at intersections (as defined in ordinance).
- Signs with blinking, flashing, or lighting devices that change intensity, brightness, or color (including strobe lights) visible from the street.
- Signs using colored lights in a manner to be confused with or construed as traffic control devices.
- No direct or reflected light from a sign shall create a traffic hazard for vehicles.
- Signs with missing or broken/damaged message, faces, supports, or framing must be repaired or removed.
- Abandoned signs (those for non-existent businesses, or not maintained as required) must be removed within 60 days or as otherwise specified.

## Signs exempt from permit in Horn Lake

- Public signs erected on behalf of a governmental body to post legal notices, identify public property, convey public information, and to direct or regulate pedestrian or vehicular traffic.
- Public signs erected by or on the order of a public officer in the performance of duty, such as safety, danger, or traffic control signs.
- Community promotional signs sanctioned and approved by the City of Horn Lake.
- Public street signs and private street signs approved by the City Engineer or as part of a planned development.
- Informational signs of a public utility regarding its poles, lines, pipes, or facilities.
- Emergency warning signs erected by a governmental agency, a public utility company, or a contractor doing authorized or permitted work within a public right-of-way.
- Signs not visible from public rights-of-way.
- Historical markers established and/or sanctioned by local, state, or federal authorities.
- Monuments in cemeteries.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Master signage plans are required as part of any non-residential and mixed-use planned development proposal, as prescribed in the Zoning Ordinance. The plan must specify types, sizes, heights, design, lighting, color, materials, location, and construction to assure harmony and consistency.
- Conventional developments with more than one principal structure (attached or detached) on a single zone lot, or a group of lots with related/themed principal structures (e.g. shopping centers, industrial parks) must submit a common signage plan with specified standards as above. The plan must be included in any subdivision plan, site plan, or other official plan required, and is reviewed during that process.
- If a new or amended master or common signage plan is filed for a property with existing signs, it must include a schedule to bring all non-conforming signs into conformance with the proposed plan and ordinance.
- After approval, no sign may be erected, placed, painted, or maintained except in conformity with the approved master/common signage plan.
- Fonts used for tenant wall signs in multi-tenant properties like shopping centers should be consistent and in compliance with an approved master or common signage plan.
- Variance from sign regulations (including sign plan requirements) may be granted only under special circumstances, with procedures found in ARTICLE X, (G).
- Special sign districts constituting overlay zones may have modified sign rules, and require recommendations and approval by the Planning Commission, Design Review Commission, and Governing Authority.

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

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