# Sign Regulations in Tupelo, Mississippi

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Tupelo, Mississippi (MS)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/mississippi/tupelo
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-09
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/MS/Tupelo/codes/Development_Code?nodeId=CH10SIRE)

## At a glance

Tupelo, Mississippi regulates 20 sign types across 6 zoning districts. Freestanding Monument Signs in the Mixed Use Commercial Corridor, Mixed Use Activity Center, Mixed Use Employment, Mixed Use Downtown District, Regional Commercial District zoning district are capped at 6 ft at 15 ft minimum setback (additional height: 1 ft per 5 ft extra setback, to max 10 ft) tall and Individual signs: ≤32 sq ft, frontage<150 ft; ≤80 sq ft (Regional Commercial), ≤100 sq ft (other districts) for frontage≥150 ft, with a no minimum; >6 ft height, see 10.7.2(8) for 5/10/12 ft setbacks setback (Sec. 10.7.2(1)-(10)). Most commercial signs in Tupelo require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (6 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Mixed Use Districts, Nonresidential Districts, Non-residential Districts | 7 | 8 ft (message area) | 200 sq ft (except MUD - 350 sq ft max) | — |
| Mixed Use Commercial Corridor, Mixed Use Activity Center, Mixed Use Employment, Mixed Use Downtown District, Regional Commercial District | 7 | Up to 100 ft | 400 sq ft | — |
| Industrial District, Industrial | 3 | 35 ft | 400 sq ft | — |
| Agriculture/Open Space, Mixed Use Employment Center | 2 | 35 ft | 400 sq ft | — |
| Residential Districts, Mixed Use Residential Districts | 2 | — | 12 sq ft (<150 ft frontage), 32 sq ft (≥150 ft frontage) | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 3 | 25 ft (2 businesses), 30 ft (3 businesses) | 2 businesses: 120 sq ft/25 ft tall; 3 businesses: 150 sq ft/30 ft tall | — |

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

### Mixed Use Districts, Nonresidential Districts, Non-residential Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Awning Sign | — | — | — | — | 1 per door or window | Flat against the surface of the awning, min. 8 ft above public right of way/required front yard, not closer than 2 ft from curb line | — | 10.7.1(1) |
| Canopy Sign | 2 ft vertical edge (except 42 in for fuel canopies) | 12 sq ft per canopy face (canopy signs); 42 in height for fuel canopies | — | — | — | Not beyond vertical edge of canopy | — | 10.7.1(2) |
| Marquee Sign | 8 ft (message area) | 200 sq ft (except MUD - 350 sq ft max) | — | — | 1 per establishment | Min. 8 ft clearance above sidewalk; min. 2 ft from curb line | — | 10.7.1(3) |
| Projecting Sign | — | 20 sq ft | — | — | 1 per establishment | Not above wall top; min. 8 ft above public right of way/required front yard; not >6 ft into front yard or >4.5 ft into right-of-way | — | 10.7.1(4) |
| Suspended Sign | — | 3.5 sq ft | — | — | 1 per establishment | Min. 2 ft from curb; min. 8 ft above sidewalk | — | 10.7.1(5) |
| Wall Sign (Mixed Use and Regional Commercial Districts) | — | — | — | — | — | Not extend >12 in from wall; may extend up to 12 in into right-of-way; not beyond edges of wall, unless connecting on two adjacent walls | — | 10.7.1(6)(e),(h) |
| Wall Sign (Other Nonresidential Districts) | — | — | — | — | — | See above | — | 10.7.1(6)(f) |

### Mixed Use Commercial Corridor, Mixed Use Activity Center, Mixed Use Employment, Mixed Use Downtown District, Regional Commercial District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign (Optional Formula) | — | Varies: 200, 300, 600 sq ft based on zone/story | — | — | — | See Wall Sign details in 10.7.1(6)(h) | — | 10.7.1(6)(h) |
| Freestanding Monument Sign | 6 ft at 15 ft minimum setback (additional height: 1 ft per 5 ft extra setback, to max 10 ft) | Individual signs: ≤32 sq ft, frontage<150 ft; ≤80 sq ft (Regional Commercial), ≤100 sq ft (other districts) for frontage≥150 ft | — | 6 ft sign: no minimum; >6 ft height, see 10.7.2(8) for 5/10/12 ft setbacks | 1 per property | Min. 15 ft from street edge; not in sight triangles; see Section 10.7.2(7) for further location criteria | — | 10.7.2(1)-(10) |
| Freestanding Pylon Sign | 16 ft at min (additional height: 1 ft per 5 ft extra setback, to max 25 ft (Regional Commercial), 35 ft (other districts)) | ≤100 sq ft (Regional Commercial), ≤120 sq ft (other districts) with additional setback, per 10.7.2(5) | — | See above | 1 per property | Same as monument; not permitted in residential districts | — | 10.7.2(1)(b), (2), (5), (6) |
| Highway Interchange Pylon Sign | Up to 100 ft | Up to 200 sq ft (plus 50 sq ft per additional business; max 400 sq ft) | — | — | — | Within 1,000 ft / 1,500 ft of allowed highway interchanges (see full text for list) in permitted zone | — | 10.7.2(6) |
| Billboard | 35 ft | 400 sq ft | — | Front setback as for buildings | — | Front setback same as buildings; not above/built onto buildings; must be 1,500 ft from another billboard (500 ft if near specified highways); 100 ft from freestanding sign | — | 10.7.2(12) |
| Electronic Reader Board Sign | — | Varies (see sign area limits and 40% limit) | — | Min 100 ft from res. zone & from other ground sign | — | Must be 100 ft from residential zone; within 200 ft of residential, must be not visible to residence; at least 100 ft from any other ground sign | — | 10.7.2(13)(b) |
| Electronic Graphic Display Sign (On-Premise) | — | Varies (40% allowed area) | — | — | — | Same as Electronic Reader Board above | — | 10.7.2(13)(c) |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Uniform or Directory Signs | 25 ft (2 businesses), 30 ft (3 businesses) | 2 businesses: 120 sq ft/25 ft tall; 3 businesses: 150 sq ft/30 ft tall | — | — | — | Shopping centers and other multi-tenant nonres. developments | — | 10.7.2(11) |
| Moveable Sidewalk Sign (Mixed Use Downtown only) | 4 ft | — | 2.5 ft | — | — | Sidewalks in pedestrian commercial areas (Downtown MUD); in right-of-way only as described | — | 10.7.2(14)(e-g) |
| Landmark Sign | Exempt if designated | Exempt from height/dimensional limits if retaining prior legal dimensions | — | — | — | May remain in right-of-way with restrictions; may be on roof or exceed height/dimension limits | — | 10.7.2(15) |

## Prohibited signs in Tupelo

- Signs may not prevent the free entrance and exit from any window, door or fire escape.
- Freestanding signs shall not be located within any sight distance triangles.
- Freestanding signs may not extend or project over the right-of-way.
- Billboards shall be detached from all other structures and shall not be erected on or above the roof or any other part of a building.
- Paving and artificial plant materials shall not be included in fulfilling landscaping requirements at the base of freestanding signs.

## Signs exempt from permit in Tupelo

- Emergency Warning signs erected by a government agency, utility company, or a contractor doing work in a public right-of-way are allowed within public right-of-way in all zoning districts.
- Public Signs erected by or on behalf of the City, County, State or federal government are allowed within public right-of-way in all zoning districts.
- Permit Signs erected pursuant to a permit for temporary use issued by the Director of Development Services, or designee, are allowed within public right-of-way in all zoning districts.
- Moveable sidewalk signs located on sidewalks within the street right-of-way in pedestrian-oriented commercial areas within the Mixed Use Downtown District are allowed without a permit, provided requirements are met.
- Landmark Signs officially designated as Local Historic Landmarks retain privileges such as exceeding height, dimensional, and location limits, retaining original lighting, and not counting sign area toward other maximums.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A uniform sign plan is required for all shopping centers, including any out-parcels connected thereto at the time of site plan approval, and for all other multi-occupant non-residential developments, before any signs for the development or establishments therein may be erected.
- The uniform sign plan must be submitted, reviewed, and approved prior to the issuance of the first sign permit for the development, including individual establishments or out-parcels.
- The uniform sign plan must include: location, materials, size, letter style, color, and be approved by the Development Services Department.
- Existing shopping centers are encouraged to submit a uniform sign plan in order to receive additional size and height allowances.

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

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