# Sign Regulations in Petal, Mississippi

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Petal, Mississippi (MS)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/mississippi/petal
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-08
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/MS/Petal/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=COOR_CH22OFMIPR_ARTIVSMPUPL_S22-111POSI)

## At a glance

Petal, Mississippi regulates 18 sign types across 6 zoning districts. Temporary Signs in the General Regulations For All Zones zoning district are capped at 4 ft tall, 32 sq ft (banners); 4 ft x 8 ft (other advertising), and 8 ft wide, with a General business sign setback (min 10 ft from street) setback (Sec. 7.53.11). Most commercial signs in Petal require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (6 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 12 | 30 ft (flagpole) | Max 200 sq ft; Formula applies for lesser area, see above | — |
| Central business district (Downtown district) | 1 | 8 ft (minimum clearance above sidewalk) | — | — |
| CO, Apartment Complexes | 2 | 8 ft | 24 sq ft | — |
| Residential districts, Residentially zoned property, R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4, R-F, Multifamily districts | 5 | 8 ft | 24 sq ft | — |
| Nonresidential districts, Non-residentially zoned property, Commercial district, Industrial district, C-0, C-1, C-2, C-3, I-1, I-2 | 2 | 20 ft; 30 ft (if >500 ft from Parkway) | Max 200 sq ft | — |
| Planned developments | 1 | — | — | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 6 zones)

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign | 20 ft; 30 ft if >500 ft from Parkway | 120 sq ft per face; 240 sq ft total; 280 sq ft if >500 ft from Parkway | — | Min 10 ft from street, curb or pavement; Min 100 ft from residential | One per lot; Two if double frontage, each frontage with 300+ ft and combined >650 ft | At least 10 ft from any street, road or highway pavement edge or curb line; not within ROW | — | 7.53.07-7.53.10, 7.53.16 |
| Wall Sign | Cannot project above roofline | Max 200 sq ft; Formula applies for lesser area, see above | — | — | Max two wall signs per lot | Mounted on exterior wall, extends max 12 inches from wall | — | 7.53.08.2-7.53.10, 7.53.16 |
| Projecting Sign | Cannot project above roofline | — | — | — | Included in wall sign max | Affixed to building, projects from wall | — | 7.52.15, 7.53.08.2, 7.53.16 |
| Temporary Sign | 4 ft | 32 sq ft (banners); 4 ft x 8 ft (other advertising) | 8 ft | General business sign setback (min 10 ft from street) | 1 per premises | Must meet general setback and visibility requirements | — | 7.53.11 |
| Flag Sign | 30 ft (flagpole) | 5 ft x 8 ft per flag | — | — | 1 flagpole per business | — | — | 7.53.06.3 |
| Directional Sign | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | — | Not within street ROW | — | 7.53.06.4 |
| Reader-board Sign | — | Within freestanding/wall sign area limits | — | — | — | As part of freestanding or wall sign | — | 7.53.05.2 |
| Parking Lot Directional/Traffic/Warning Sign | Parking lot: 2 ft; Danger/warning: 4 ft | 4 sq ft | — | — | — | Within parking lot or as needed for warnings | — | 7.53.02.1(j,k) |

### Residential districts, Residentially zoned property, R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4, R-F, Multifamily districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Business Sign | — | Not permitted, except permitted professional and home occupation signs | — | — | N/A | Not permitted except as specifically exempted/allowed | — | 7.53.01.1 |
| Professional Office Sign | 2.5 ft | 8 sq ft | — | — | One per office | — | — | 7.53.13.1-2 |
| Home Occupation Wall Sign | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | One | Building wall only | — | 7.53.13.3 |
| Apartment Complex Monument Sign | 8 ft | 24 sq ft | — | — | One | — | — | 7.53.06.8 |
| Apartment Complex Wall Sign | — | 20 sq ft | — | — | One wall sign | — | — | 7.53.06.8 |

### Nonresidential districts, Non-residentially zoned property, Commercial district, Industrial district, C-0, C-1, C-2, C-3, I-1, I-2

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign | 20 ft; 30 ft (if >500 ft from Parkway) | 120 sq ft per face; 240 sq ft total; 280 sq ft (if >500 ft from Evelyn Gandy Parkway) | — | Min 10 ft from street/curb; Min 100 ft from residential use/zone | One per lot; Two if dual frontage (each 300+ ft, 650+ total) | >=10 ft from pavement/curb/edge, not within street ROW, min 100 ft from residential | — | 7.53.08.1, 7.53.09, 7.53.10, 7.53.16 |
| Wall Sign | Not above roofline | Max 200 sq ft | — | — | 2 | On building wall (extends max 12 inches) | — | 7.53.08.2, 7.53.10, 7.53.16 |

## Prohibited signs in Petal

- No sign shall be permitted in the city unless in accordance with the provisions of this chapter or unless determined to be legally nonconforming.
- Erection of any business sign in any residential or agricultural district, except as provided in this ordinance, is prohibited.
- Portable signs are not permitted within the corporate limits of the city except as expressly permitted through the provisions of this ordinance.
- All portable signs shall be removed from the premises within 30 days after the effective date of this ordinance, unless converted to a permanent sign upon variance approval.
- No business sign shall be erected upon or overhang the street, road or highway right-of-way.
- Pennants, spinners, streamers, balloons and similar devices conveying a commercial message are not permitted upon any property or attached to the exterior of any building, upon any pole, tree or other structure.
- All banners, pennants, spinners, streamers, and similar devices not in compliance with this ordinance must be removed from the premises within 30 days after the effective date of this ordinance.
- No sign or similar device shall flash or move, except for reader-board signs conforming to specific provisions.
- Business signs shall not be permitted to be located closer than 100 feet from any property used or zoned for residential purposes.
- Signs shall not be erected or maintained within a public street right-of-way, upon trees or utility poles, or painted or drawn upon rocks or natural features, nor upon any motor vehicle or tractor trailer parked in the front setback of any business or directly adjacent to any public right-of-way.
- Any sign of a type, size, orientation, material composition or location not expressly permitted in this ordinance shall be considered a conditional use and is subject to review.
- No business sign shall be erected closer than ten feet from any street, road or highway pavement edge or curb line, nor within any public right-of-way.
- Failure to remove any temporary advertising sign, banner, display or poster within the designated time requirements is punishable by a fine.
- No freestanding business sign shall exceed a height of 20 feet, unless specifically allowed by special provisions.
- No sign attached to any building shall project above the roofline of such building.
- The number of freestanding signs is limited to one per lot, with certain exceptions for larger lots or dual frontages.
- No more than two wall signs are permitted per premises.
- No individual or business may display more than one temporary advertising sign at any one time.
- No sign shall be permitted on private property without permission of the owner.
- Signs for churches, religious, or cultural institutions must meet the same setback and visibility requirements as business signs.
- Nonconforming signs must be brought into compliance or removed if the business is changed or the sign is modified/replaced.
- Nonconforming signs destroyed or severely damaged shall not be repaired or replaced except in conformity with this ordinance.
- Any sign which becomes unsafe, hazardous, insecure or in danger of falling must be removed or repaired by the owner within 14 days of notice.
- Abandoned signs must be removed within 30 days of written notice from the city. Failure to do so may result in city removal at owner’s expense.

## Signs exempt from permit in Petal

- Official signs placed or authorized by the city, county, state, or federal government in the publicly-owned right-of-way.
- Flags of national, state, or local government.
- Window displays and signs.
- Seasonal decorations on private property.
- Signs erected by a recognized neighborhood watch group.
- Signs for hospital or emergency services and railroads.
- An exterior sign erected next to an entrance, exit, rest room, office door or other building feature, provided such sign is no more than four square feet in area and used to identify and locate a property feature.
- Any sign which is not visible to motorists or pedestrians on any public highway, sidewalk, street, alley, or other area open to public travel.
- Signs placed in or attached to a motor vehicle, bus, or other motorized vehicle that is regularly used for purposes other than the display of signs.
- Signs up to four square feet and no taller than two feet, constructed or placed within a parking lot, typically used to direct traffic and parking.
- A sign that does not exceed four square feet in area and four feet in height, and is erected to communicate a danger to the public or in areas to which public access is prohibited.
- Real estate signs communicating the availability of residential, commercial or other real property for sale, rent, or lease, provided no such sign shall exceed four feet by eight feet in size (subject to all other height and placement provisions).
- No permits are required for incidental signs, signs inside buildings or attached to or painted upon windows or glass doors.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Unless otherwise provided, before any person or firm shall erect, place, hang, or otherwise install any sign not exempt from this ordinance, they must apply for a sign permit with application materials (including, if required, diagrams, drawings, or graphics showing sign location, size, character, height, setback, and proposed landscaping).
- A permit shall be obtained to erect any temporary banner unless otherwise provided in this ordinance.
- No permit for temporary advertising signs or temporary banners is required of any business holding a valid city business privilege license (except for violations of compliance/removal requirements).
- Landscaping to be installed directly adjacent to or surrounding a monument or freestanding sign shall be included as part of the sign permit application or as part of an overall landscape plan for new construction.
- Any sign of a type, size, orientation, material composition or location not expressly permitted in this ordinance requires a conditional use review by the city planning commission.
- Electrical signs require a wiring schematic/plan prior to issuance of an electrical permit.
- Electrical inspection and sign permit fees are required prior to issuance of a permit for applicable signs.

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

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