# Sign Regulations in Indianola, Mississippi

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Indianola, Mississippi (MS)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/mississippi/indianola
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-08
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/MS/Indianola/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=PTIICOOR_CH46STSIOTPUPR_ARTVSMAI_S46-177POSIREAS)

## At a glance

Indianola, Mississippi regulates 25 sign types across 10 zoning districts. Freestanding Business Sign (C-1)s in the Neighborhood Commercial District (C-1) zoning district are capped at 35 ft tall and 32 sq ft, with a 5 ft from right-of-way; 25 ft from intersection, with exceptions for high-mounted signs. setback (Sec. Sec. 58-94(1)(a), (1)(c), (5)). Most commercial signs in Indianola require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (10 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Agricultural District (A-1) | 1 | 35 ft | 300 sq ft | — |
| Single-Family Residential District (R-1A), Single-Family Residential District (R-1B), Two-Family Residential District (R-2) | 4 | 8 ft | 32 sq ft | — |
| Multifamily Residential District (R-3) | 1 | — | 15 sq ft | — |
| Neighborhood Commercial District (C-1) | 4 | 35 ft | 300 sq ft | — |
| Community Commercial District (C-2) | 3 | 35 ft | 300 sq ft | — |
| Highway Commercial District (C-3) | 3 | 35 ft | 300 sq ft | — |
| Light Industrial District (I-1) | 2 | 45 ft | 300 sq ft | — |
| Heavy Industrial District (I-2) | 2 | 60 ft or 5 stories | 300 sq ft | — |
| Floodplain District (F-1) | 1 | 35 ft | 300 sq ft | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 4 | — | 32 sq ft | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 10 zones)

### Neighborhood Commercial District (C-1)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Business Sign (C-1) | 35 ft | 32 sq ft | — | 5 ft from right-of-way; 25 ft from intersection, with exceptions for high-mounted signs. | 1 per premises (plus 1 mobile sign); up to 2 business freestanding signs on corner lots | On-premises; minimum 5 ft from right-of-way; 25 ft from street intersection unless sign is high-clearance pole as described. | — | Sec. 58-94(1)(a), (1)(c), (5) |
| Mobile Sign (C-1) | 8 ft | 32 sq ft | — | — | 1 per premises | On-premises | — | Sec. 58-94(1)(a)4, (1)(c)1, (1)(c)6 |
| Wall Sign (C-1) | — | 12 sq ft (accessory business sign per building use) | — | — | — | On building / window | — | Sec. 58-60(b)(17) |
| Outdoor Advertising Sign / Billboard (C-1) | 35 ft | 300 sq ft | — | 20 ft from right-of-way; 500 ft from any other billboard on same side of road. | — | Not less than 20 ft from the highway, street or road right-of-way; 500 ft separation between billboards along same side of road. | — | Sec. 58-94(1)(b), (5) |

### Community Commercial District (C-2)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Business Sign (C-2) | 35 ft | 80 sq ft | — | 5 ft from right-of-way; 25 ft from intersection unless mounted high. | 1 per premises (plus 1 mobile sign); up to 2 business freestanding signs on corner lots | On-premises; minimum 5 ft from right-of-way; 25 ft from street intersection unless sign is high-clearance pole as described. | — | Sec. 58-94(1)(a)4 |
| Mobile Sign (C-2) | 8 ft | 32 sq ft | — | — | 1 per premises | On-premises | — | Sec. 58-94(1)(a), (1)(c)6 |
| Outdoor Advertising Sign / Billboard (C-2) | 35 ft | 300 sq ft | — | 20 ft from right-of-way; 500 ft from another billboard on same side of road. | — | Not less than 20 ft from the highway, street or road right-of-way; 500 ft separation between billboards along same side of road. | — | Sec. 58-94(1)(b) |

### Highway Commercial District (C-3)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Business Sign (C-3) | 35 ft | 150 sq ft | — | 5 ft from right-of-way; 25 ft from street intersection unless high-mounted. | 1 per premises (plus 1 mobile sign); up to 2 business freestanding signs on corner lots | On premises; 5 ft from right-of-way; 25 ft from intersection unless mounted as high-clearance pole. | — | Sec. 58-94(1)(a)4 |
| Mobile Sign (C-3) | 8 ft | 32 sq ft | — | — | 1 per premises | On-premises | — | Sec. 58-94(1)(a), (1)(c)6 |
| Outdoor Advertising Sign / Billboard (C-3) | 35 ft | 300 sq ft | — | 20 ft from right-of-way; 500 ft from another billboard on same side of road. | — | Not less than 20 ft from the highway, street or road right-of-way; 500 ft separation between billboards along same side of road. | — | Sec. 58-94(1)(b) |

## Prohibited signs in Indianola

- No sign or outdoor advertising device shall be erected unless it is in compliance with regulations for the district in which it is located as specified in Sec. 58-94.
- The placing, tacking, painting, hanging or otherwise affixing of any kind of sign, outdoor advertising or poster of a miscellaneous character, visible from the public highways, streets or roads, on the walls of buildings, barns, sheds, trees, vehicles, fences, utility poles or any other structure except as otherwise provided in this chapter is prohibited.
- No sign shall interfere with driver visibility of any traffic control device or sign, or with the visibility of the street, road, thoroughfare or expressway itself. Signs must maintain a setback of 25 feet from the intersection of two streets, except if constructed with the bottom no lower than nine feet from the ground and mounted on a pole no larger than nine inches in diameter.
- Signs with flashing or blinking lights are restricted to 75-watt bulb capacity, and red, amber or blue flashing lights are prohibited.
- Mobile signs, when allowed, shall not exceed 32 square feet in sign area and must be anchored to withstand wind pressures; all mobile signs must conform to all other sign regulations.
- A trailer/portable sign shall be tied down in an approved manner to withstand a minimum wind of 40 miles per hour.
- Any sign which, by reason of size, shape, content, coloring, location or manner of illumination, interferes with driver visibility of any traffic control device or sign, or resembles any traffic control or emergency device or sign which creates any traffic hazard is not allowed.
- All signs that are illuminated must be permanently wired to meet the National Electrical Code; connecting wire from sign to permanent outlet shall not exceed four feet.
- Any outdoor advertising sign, whether permitted to remain as a nonconforming sign structure or erected advertising sign structure under this chapter, which is found to be abandoned, or is not properly maintained or in a state of disrepair, or does not meet all building code requirements, shall be removed by the property owner or sign owner within 30 days after written notice by the city.
- Business (on-premises) signs which are not properly maintained, are abandoned, or are in disrepair, may be removed by the city, following a 30-day period of notification to the owner or lessee.
- Signs placed on any city building, structure, or lot or within the right-of-way of any city road or easement without a permit issued by the city are subject to removal by the city after ten days' notice, or immediately if the owner cannot be identified.
- It is unlawful to erect, enlarge, rebuild or structurally alter any sign without first obtaining a proper permit except for permitted and exempted signs.
- No sign shall be permitted that creates a traffic hazard by reason of size, location, coloring, illumination or resemblance to traffic control devices.
- All signs must be designed and anchored according to generally accepted engineering practices to withstand wind pressures.
- No sign or structure shall obstruct sight lines at corner lots where a sight triangle is required.

## Signs exempt from permit in Indianola

- On-site signs on the site of any construction work bearing the name of the building, owner, and those furnishing construction or professional services or materials used on such construction work of a temporary nature, that do not exceed 32 square feet.
- Temporary poster signs erected behind glass windows or temporary signs painted on glass windows.
- Any political sign or poster not exceeding 32 square feet erected on property by the owner or with the property owner's consent pertaining to a candidacy or issue to be voted upon at any election or referendum, provided such sign is not erected more than 60 days prior to the election or referendum and is removed within ten days after the event.
- Signs painted on, or attached to, trucks or other vehicles for identification purposes, but not used for advertising purposes.
- Signs on glass doors or windows not exceeding six square feet of sign area stating the name, nature, location, and hours of a business.
- Signs at entrances to subdivisions, multifamily dwellings, or mobile home parks showing name, description, or location only and not exceeding 15 square feet.
- Signs not exceeding one square foot in area bearing only property numbers, post office box numbers, names of occupants, or other identification of premises not having commercial connotation.
- Flags and insignia of any government except when displayed in connection with commercial promotion.
- Legal notice or identification, information, or directional signs erected or required by governmental bodies.
- Integral decorative or architectural features of buildings except letters, trademarks, moving parts or moving lights.
- Signs not exceeding four square feet guiding traffic and parking on private property but bearing no advertising matter.
- On-site signs advertising property for sale or rent in single-family residential districts not exceeding 12 square feet.
- On-site church directory or bulletin board not exceeding 32 square feet and not over eight feet in height.
- Special purpose signs advertising a special area event may be erected by or with the property owner's consent provided such sign is not erected more than 60 days prior to the event and is removed within ten days after, and provided such sign shall not exceed 32 square feet.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- The ordinance does not mention a master sign plan or sign plan requirement by name, but a permit is required for all non-exempt signs (Sec. 58-94(5)): It is unlawful to erect, enlarge, rebuild or structurally alter any sign without first obtaining a proper permit except permitted and exempted signs as listed.
- Applicants for a sign permit may be required to provide information and plans to determine compliance with the ordinance (implied by the general building permit process in Sec. 58-208).
- Shopping centers or multiple commercial buildings on the same premises are considered as one business for signage purposes, and regulations on total signage apply to the site as a whole (Sec. 58-94(1)a.5).
- Variance or exception from the sign regulations would require an application and appearance before the board of adjustment as per general zoning procedures (Sec. 58-176).

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

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