# Sign Regulations in Baxter, Tennessee

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Baxter, Tennessee (TN)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/tennessee/baxter
- **Data last verified:** 2025-09-29
- **Source:** [other municipal code](https://www.cityofbaxter.com/pdfs/zoning/zoning_ordinance.pdf#page=35)

## At a glance

Baxter, Tennessee regulates 21 sign types across 4 zoning districts. Off-Premise Billboard (C-2 Only)s in the Business Districts, Industrial Districts, CBD Central Business District, C-1 Central Commercial District, C-2 General Commercial District zoning district are capped at 200 ft tall and 1200 sq ft, with a Minimum 1000 ft separation from any other billboard/off-premise sign setback (Sec. Off-premise signs along TDOT Corridors (SECTION 2)). Most commercial signs in Baxter require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (4 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 11 | — | 300 sq ft | — |
| Business Districts, Industrial Districts, CBD Central Business District, C-1 Central Commercial District, C-2 General Commercial District | 4 | 200 ft | 1200 sq ft | — |
| R-1 Low Density Residential District, R-2 High Density Residential District, Residential Districts, R-M Residential Medium Density District | 4 | — | 20 sq ft | — |
| I-1 Light Industrial District | 2 | — | 300 sq ft | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 4 zones)

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Business/Industry Sign | — | 300 sq ft | — | — | 2 | Business or Industrial Districts | — | SECTION 2.A.3-4 |
| Billboard | — | Varies (see zone-specific regulations) | — | Not closer than 100 ft to any residential district | — | Subject to zone-specific restrictions; Not allowed closer than 100 ft to any residential district. | — | SECTION 2.A.6 |
| Political Sign | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | — | — | — | SECTION 2.A. Amended Jan. 2009 |
| Sidewalk Overhang Sign | — | — | May extend up to 2/3 of sidewalk width; max 10 ft | — | — | Overhanging sidewalk | — | SECTION 2.A.7 |
| Parking Area Entrance/Exit Sign | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | — | Parking area entrances/exits | — | SECTION 2.E.1 |
| Parking Area Condition Sign | — | 9 sq ft | — | — | 1 | Parking area | — | SECTION 2.E.1 |
| Construction Contractor Sign | — | 12 sq ft | — | — | 1 | Construction site | — | SECTION 2.E.3 |
| Special Event Sign | — | 24 sq ft | — | — | 1 | Site of special event | — | SECTION 2.E.5 |

### Business Districts, Industrial Districts, CBD Central Business District, C-1 Central Commercial District, C-2 General Commercial District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Business/Industry Wall or Freestanding Sign | — | 300 sq ft | — | — | 2 | Business or Industrial Districts | — | SECTION 2.A.3,4,C |
| Billboard (Business/Industrial Districts) | — | 300 sq ft | — | Minimum 100 ft from residential district | — | Business or Industrial Districts | — | SECTION 2.A.6 |
| Off-Premise Billboard (C-2 Only) | 200 ft | 1200 sq ft | — | Minimum 1000 ft separation from any other billboard/off-premise sign | — | Within C-2 General Commercial District along Interstate 40 or State Highway 56 | — | Off-premise signs along TDOT Corridors (SECTION 2) |
| On-Premise Billboard (C-2 Only) | 200 ft | 1200 sq ft | — | — | — | Within C-2 General Commercial District along Interstate 40 or State Highway 56 | — | On-premise signs along TDOT Corridors (SECTION 2) |

### R-1 Low Density Residential District, R-2 High Density Residential District, Residential Districts, R-M Residential Medium Density District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Nameplate | — | — | — | — | — | Residential property | — | SECTION 2.B.1 |
| Apartment/Manufactured Home Park Identification Sign | — | 9 sq ft | — | — | — | Apartment building/manufactured home park | — | SECTION 2.B.2 |
| Home Occupation Sign | — | 4 sq ft | — | — | — | Residential property with home occupation | — | SECTION 2.B.3 |
| Church/School/Public Building Bulletin Board or Identification Sign | — | 20 sq ft | — | — | — | Church, school, or public building | — | SECTION 2.B.4 |

## Prohibited signs in Baxter

- No sign shall be erected or maintained where, by reason of its position, wording, illumination, size, shape, or color it may obstruct, impair, obscure, interfere with the view of, or be confused with, any authorized traffic control sign, signal, or device.
- All signs must be constructed and displayed so as not to impair vision and create safety hazards at any street intersection.
- No sign shall be located on, or attached to, any public property or on public right-of-way except public signs authorized by the Town of Baxter, Putnam County, or the State of Tennessee.
- No portable, electrical signs are allowed in any zone in the Town of Baxter.
- No truck or trailer shall be parked or utilized as a permanent sign.

## Signs exempt from permit in Baxter

- Signs established by, or by order of, any governmental agency.

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

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