# Sign Regulations in Moss Point, Mississippi

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Moss Point, Mississippi (MS)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/mississippi/moss-point
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-08
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/MS/Moss_Point/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=COOR_CH24OFMIPR_ARTVGESMRE_S24-141POSI)

## At a glance

Moss Point, Mississippi regulates 16 sign types across 5 zoning districts. Freestanding, On-site Signs in the Commercial Districts, Industrial Districts zoning district are capped at 35 ft tall and 1 sq ft per linear foot of building frontage (per site); Shopping centers: max 300 sq ft per sign, with a 20 ft from any adjacent street, 5 ft from any interior lot line setback (Sec. Sec. 42-138(e)(2)). Most commercial signs in Moss Point 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 | 3 | — | 300 sq ft (one direction), except up to 600 sq ft on U.S. Highway 613 and Mississippi Highway 63 | — |
| Residential Districts | 2 | — | 1 sq ft | — |
| Commercial Districts, Industrial Districts | 9 | 35 ft | 40 sq ft | — |
| C-2 District, C-2A District, Waterfront Overlay District (WF-1) | 2 | — | 6 sq ft | — |
| C-3 Highway Commercial District, Industrial, Light District, Industrial, Heavy District | 1 | 35 ft | 400 sq ft (within 200 ft of state/federal highway), 300 sq ft otherwise | — |

## 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 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Outdoor Advertising Sign (Billboard) | — | 300 sq ft (one direction), except up to 600 sq ft on U.S. Highway 613 and Mississippi Highway 63 | — | Not nearer than 20 ft to right-of-way; exception allowed for non-conforming structure set back less than 20 ft if sign is within 100 ft of building. | Minimum 1000 ft between signs on same side of road | Not nearer than 20 feet to the highway, street or road right-of-way; must observe 1,000 ft minimum separation from another sign on the same side of the road; allowed only in C-3, Industrial-Light, and Industrial-Heavy districts (billboards only) | — | Sec. 42-138(b)(3),(4); Sec. 42-138(g); Sec. 42-138(n) |
| Mobile Sign (Special Event/Emergency) | — | 30 sq ft | — | — | — | Allowed by special exception for special events or emergencies only, for a specified time | — | Sec. 42-138(b)(9),(10); Sec. 42-138(h)(1) |
| General Exempt Signs | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Sec. 42-138(c), Sec. 42-135(4)(r) |

### Residential Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Exempt Signs (Residential) | — | — | — | 10 ft from street property line, 5 ft from any other property line | — | All exempt signs as permitted (except business/commercial) | — | Sec. 42-138(d) |
| Home Occupation Sign | — | 1 sq ft | — | — | 1 per dwelling | Principal dwelling | — | Sec. 42-135(4)(r); Sec. 42-138(c)(15) |

### Commercial Districts, Industrial Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding, On-site Sign | 35 ft | 1 sq ft per linear foot of building frontage (per site); Shopping centers: max 300 sq ft per sign | — | 20 ft from any adjacent street, 5 ft from any interior lot line | 1 per developed site with frontage; shopping center max 2 | On-site for each developed site with street frontage; shopping centers allowed 1 per street frontage (max 2 per shopping center) | — | Sec. 42-138(e)(2) |
| Wall Sign | — | 1 sq ft per linear foot of building frontage | — | — | 1 per occupancy per frontage; +1 on rear if rear customer entrance | Building wall; one per occupancy per frontage | — | Sec. 42-138(e)(3),(5) |
| Roof Sign | — | Lesser of 1 sq ft per linear foot of building frontage or 200 sq ft | — | — | 1 per building | Roof (1 per building, not in shopping centers) | — | Sec. 42-138(e)(4) |
| Projecting Sign | — | 1 sq ft per linear foot of building frontage | — | — | 1 per occupancy per frontage | Occupant with building frontage on public street; one per frontage | — | Sec. 42-138(e)(6) |
| Canopy Sign | — | 0.5 sq ft per linear foot of canopy front and sides | — | No portion closer than 2 ft to a vertical line from adjacent curb face or roadway edge | — | On/above canopy front or sides | — | Sec. 42-138(e)(7) |
| Under Canopy Sign | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | 1 per site | Under canopy | — | Sec. 42-138(e)(7)b |
| Directional Sign | 4 ft above grade | 12 sq ft per sign | — | — | 2 per driveway | At each driveway onto public street (2 per driveway) | — | Sec. 42-138(e)(7)e.2 |
| Portable/Special Event Sign | — | 40 sq ft | — | Same as other signs in this section (20 ft from adjacent street, 5 ft from interior lot) | Max 2 events per year per site | On-site, 2 periods of 1 week per year (may be consecutive) per site | — | Sec. 42-138(e)(7)7. |

## Prohibited signs in Moss Point

- No sign or outdoor advertising device shall be erected unless it is in compliance with regulations for the district in which it is located.
- The placing, tacking, painting, hanging or otherwise affixing of any sign, outdoor advertising or poster visible from public highways, streets, or roads on buildings, barns, sheds, trees, vehicles, fences, utility poles, or any other structure, except as otherwise provided, is prohibited.
- No outdoor advertising sign shall be erected, placed, or hung nearer than 20 feet to the highway, street or road right-of-way, except where otherwise permitted for existing nonconforming structures.
- All outdoor advertising signs must be at least 1,000 feet from another such outdoor advertising sign on the same side of the road, with certain exceptions for back-to-back or V-type signs.
- No more than one business sign shall be allowed for corner lots with two frontages, except an additional sign for a rear customer entrance is permitted.
- No sign shall be erected less than eight feet above the roadbed toward which the sign is showing.
- Mobile signs are not allowed in any district, except by special exception for special events or emergencies, and then for a specified time.
- Illuminated signs shall not have blinking, flashing or other illuminating devices which change light intensity, brightness or color. Red or blue flashing lights are prohibited.
- Beacon lights are not permitted.
- Signs or devices that by color, location, or design resemble or conflict with traffic control signs or devices are prohibited.
- Signs attached to, suspended from, or painted on any vehicle which is regularly parked for advertising or attracting attention are prohibited.
- Signs which contain pulsating lights or strobe lights are prohibited.
- No part of a sign shall be closer than ten feet to an electric transmission power line.
- Billboards and freestanding, on-site signs must be securely anchored in concrete foundations.
- No sign shall be suspended by rope, wire, string or the like.
- No sign shall be erected so as to create a material impediment to visibility between the heights of four and ten feet above grade at line-of-sight for vehicle operators.
- Freestanding, on-site signs shall not be allowed in the C-2, C-2A, and Waterfront Overlay commercial district.
- Double-decker billboards are prohibited.

## Signs exempt from permit in Moss Point

- One construction sign and one lender sign per construction project (subject to area and time restrictions).
- Temporary poster signs erected behind glass windows or temporary signs painted on glass windows.
- Any political sign or poster not exceeding 12 square feet on private property with owner's consent and subject to time limits.
- Signs painted on, or attached to, trucks or other vehicles for identification purposes, but not for advertising.
- Signs on glass doors or windows not exceeding six square feet stating business name, location, and hours.
- Signs at entrances to subdivisions, multifamily dwellings, or mobile home parks showing name, description or location only (max 15 sq ft).
- Signs not exceeding one square foot in area bearing only property numbers, post box numbers, or names of occupants; no 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 directing and guiding traffic and parking on private property, bearing no advertising matter.
- On-site signs advertising property for sale or rent (subject to area limits in residential districts).
- On-site church directory or bulletin board not exceeding 50 square feet.
- Historical markers as recognized by local, state, or federal authorities.
- Signs for home occupations as allowed in section 42-135(4).
- Memorial signs or tablets for names of buildings, dates, and commemorative matters, when cut into masonry, as inlaid, or securely affixed.
- Warning signs not exceeding four square feet per sign and not exceeding four signs per site.
- Religious symbols or historical agency emblems not more than 16 square feet, mounted flat against the building.
- One on-site sign per street frontage, not more than 16 square feet, identifying schools, clubs, golf courses, cemeteries, and similar uses.
- Signs warning the public of danger, containing no advertising message, of minimum necessary size and that are removed when the danger has passed.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- It is unlawful to erect, enlarge, rebuild or structurally alter any sign without first obtaining the proper permit for each sign from the building official, except for exempted signs as set out in (c) Exempted Signs.
- The building official must issue a permit for sign erection if the application is properly filed and all requirements and fees are met.
- A separate electrical permit is required for electrical signs.
- All billboards and freestanding, on-site signs are subject to a footing inspection prior to erection and a final inspection after erection.
- If a sign as built does not comply with the permit or code, the permit may be revoked and the sign ordered removed.
- If a sign permit is denied or revoked, written notice shall be provided to the applicant or permittee, with reasons, and may be appealed as other decisions.

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

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