# Sign Regulations in Philadelphia, Mississippi

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Philadelphia, Mississippi (MS)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/mississippi/philadelphia
- **Data last verified:** 2026-01-23
- **Source:** [other municipal code](https://www.philadelphiathecity.com/sites/default/files/52-54-Sign%20Ordinance-20160225.pdf)

## At a glance

Philadelphia, Mississippi regulates 20 sign types across 7 zoning districts. Construction Site Sign (Temporary)s in the General Regulations For All Zones zoning district are capped at 32 sq ft, with a keep 25 ft from intersections unless bottom of sign ≥9 ft and pole ≤9 in diameter setback (Sec. Section 6.2(A); Section 6.1(C)(2)-(5)). Most commercial signs in Philadelphia require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (7 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 15 | 8 ft | 32 sq ft | — |
| Neighborhood Commercial District (C-1) | 2 | 35 ft to top of sign | 32 sq ft | — |
| Community Commercial District (C-2) | 2 | 35 ft to top of sign | 80 sq ft | — |
| Highway Commercial District (C-3) | 2 | 35 ft to top of sign | 150 sq ft | — |
| Single-Family Residential District (R-1) | 6 | 8 ft | 32 sq ft | — |
| Multi-Family Residential District (R-4) | 6 | 8 ft | 32 sq ft | — |
| Mobile Home Park Residential District (R-5) | 6 | 8 ft | 32 sq ft | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 7 zones)

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Construction Site Sign (Temporary) | — | 32 sq ft | — | General visibility rule: keep 25 ft from intersections unless bottom of sign ≥9 ft and pole ≤9 in diameter | — | On the site of construction work; may bear names of building, owner, contractors, professionals, or materials used | — | Section 6.2(A); Section 6.1(C)(2)-(5) |
| Political Sign (Temporary) | — | 24 sq ft | — | General intersection clearance applies | — | On private property with owner’s consent | — | Section 6.2(C); Section 6.1(C)(2), (5) |
| Window/Door Glass Identification Sign | — | 6 sq ft | — | General intersection clearance applies | — | On glass doors or windows | — | Section 6.2(E); Section 6.1(C)(2), (5)-(6) |
| Entrance Sign (Subdivision / Multi-Family / Mobile Home Park) | — | 15 sq ft | — | General intersection clearance applies | — | At entrances to subdivisions, multifamily dwellings, or mobile home parks | — | Section 6.2(F); Section 6.1(C)(2), (5)-(6) |
| Private Property Traffic/Parking Directional Sign (No Advertising) | — | 4 sq ft | — | Must not interfere with visibility; general intersection clearance applies | — | On private property guiding traffic and parking | — | Section 6.2(K); Section 6.1(C)(2), (5) |
| For Sale/Rent Sign (Single-Family Residential) | — | 12 sq ft | — | Must not interfere with visibility; general intersection clearance applies | — | On the property being advertised (single-family residential) | — | Section 6.2(L) |
| Church Directory/Bulletin Board | 8 ft | 32 sq ft | — | — | — | On-site at church | — | Section 6.2(M); Section 6.1(C)(2), (5) |
| Special Event Sign (Area Event) | — | 32 sq ft | — | Must not interfere with visibility; general intersection clearance applies | — | On property by owner or with property owner’s consent | — | Section 6.2(N); Section 6.1(C)(2), (5) |

### Single-Family Residential District (R-1)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| For Sale/Rent Sign (Single-Family Residential) | — | 12 sq ft | — | General intersection clearance applies: 25 ft unless bottom ≥9 ft and pole ≤9 in diameter | — | On the property being advertised (single-family residential) | — | Section 6.2(L); Section 6.1(C)(2), (5)-(6) |
| Entrance Sign (Subdivision) | — | 15 sq ft | — | General intersection clearance applies | — | At entrances to subdivisions | — | Section 6.2(F); Section 6.1(C)(2), (5) |
| Church Directory/Bulletin Board | 8 ft | 32 sq ft | — | — | — | On-site at church | — | Section 6.2(M) |
| Political Sign (Temporary) | — | 24 sq ft | — | General intersection clearance applies | — | On private property with owner’s consent | — | Section 6.2(C) |
| Construction Site Sign (Temporary) | — | 32 sq ft | — | General intersection clearance applies | — | On the site of construction work | — | Section 6.2(A) |
| Private Property Traffic/Parking Directional Sign (No Advertising) | — | 4 sq ft | — | General intersection clearance applies | — | On private property guiding traffic and parking | — | Section 6.2(K) |

### Multi-Family Residential District (R-4)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Entrance Sign (Multi-Family Dwelling) | — | 15 sq ft | — | General intersection clearance applies | — | At entrances to multifamily dwellings | — | Section 6.2(F); Section 6.1(C)(2), (5) |
| For Sale/Rent Sign (All Other Districts) | — | — | — | General intersection clearance applies | — | On the property being advertised | — | Section 6.2(L) |
| Church Directory/Bulletin Board | 8 ft | 32 sq ft | — | — | — | On-site at church | — | Section 6.2(M) |
| Political Sign (Temporary) | — | 24 sq ft | — | General intersection clearance applies | — | On private property with owner’s consent | — | Section 6.2(C) |
| Construction Site Sign (Temporary) | — | 32 sq ft | — | General intersection clearance applies | — | On the site of construction work | — | Section 6.2(A) |
| Private Property Traffic/Parking Directional Sign (No Advertising) | — | 4 sq ft | — | General intersection clearance applies | — | On private property guiding traffic and parking | — | Section 6.2(K) |

## Prohibited signs in Philadelphia

- Erecting, enlarging, rebuilding, or structurally altering any sign without first obtaining a permit is unlawful (except for signs permitted or exempted in Section 6.2).
- Outdoor advertising signs off-premises are prohibited citywide.
- Portable trailer or mobile signs are prohibited; existing ones must be phased out within six months.
- Signs with flashing or blinking lights are limited to 75-watt bulb capacity; red, amber, or blue flashing lights are prohibited.
- Affixing any sign, outdoor advertising, or poster visible from public highways/streets to buildings, barns, sheds, trees, vehicles, fences, utility poles, or other structures, except as otherwise provided by these regulations, is prohibited.
- Signs may not interfere with driver visibility of traffic control devices/signs or the roadway; signs must maintain a setback of 25 feet from intersections unless the bottom of the sign is at least 9 feet above ground and mounted on a pole no larger than 9 inches in diameter.
- Any sign that resembles a traffic control or emergency device or creates a traffic hazard is prohibited.
- Placing signs on any city building, structure, lot, or within the right-of-way of any city road or easement without a permit from the appropriate city authority is prohibited and subject to immediate removal.
- Abandoned signs or signs not properly maintained and in a state of disrepair are prohibited and must be removed within 30 days after written notice (or may be removed by the city after notice).

## Signs exempt from permit in Philadelphia

- Temporary on-site construction signs bearing the name of the building, owner, and those furnishing construction or professional services or materials; not exceeding 32 square feet.
- Temporary poster signs erected behind glass windows or temporary signs painted on glass windows.
- Political signs or posters up to 24 square feet on property with owner consent, related to an election or referendum; may be erected no more than 30 days prior and must be removed within 10 days after; not allowed on utility poles.
- Identification signs painted on or attached to trucks or other vehicles.
- Signs on glass doors or windows up to 6 square feet stating name or nature of business, location, and hours.
- Entrance signs to subdivisions, multifamily dwellings, or mobile home parks showing name, description, or location only; not exceeding 15 square feet.
- Signs up to 1 square foot bearing only property numbers, post office box numbers, names of occupants, or other noncommercial identification of premises.
- Flags and insignia of any government (except when displayed in connection with commercial promotion).
- Legal notices or identification, information, or directional signs erected or required by governmental bodies.
- Integral decorative or architectural features of buildings (excluding letters, trademarks, moving parts, or moving lights).
- Signs up to 4 square feet guiding traffic and parking on private property, bearing no advertising matter.
- On-site for-sale or for-rent signs; 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 8 feet in height.
- Special purpose signs advertising a special area event (e.g., Neshoba County Fair or Choctaw Indian Fair); may be erected by the owner or with owner consent; not more than 60 days prior and removed within 10 days after; not exceeding 32 square feet.

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

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