# Sign Regulations in Brentwood, Tennessee

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Brentwood, Tennessee (TN)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/tennessee/brentwood
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-07
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/TN/Brentwood/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=PTIICOOR_CH78ZO_ARTVSI)

## At a glance

Brentwood, Tennessee regulates 48 sign types across 6 zoning districts. Subdivision Entrance Signs in the Residential Districts (AR, R-1, R-2, OSRD, OSRD-IP) zoning district are capped at 6 ft. tall and 120 sq. ft. per entrance (no single face >60 sq. ft.), with a 10 ft. min. setback (Sec. Sec. 78-420(b)(2)). Most commercial signs in Brentwood 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 | 9 | 12 in. | 4 sq. ft. | — |
| Residential Districts (AR, R-1, R-2, OSRD, OSRD-IP) | 9 | 6 ft. | 120 sq. ft. per entrance (no single face >60 sq. ft.) | — |
| Service Institution Districts | 9 | 30 ft. | Scoreboard: See structure; Electronic message display: 200 sq. ft. max | — |
| C-1 (Commercial Office) Districts | 10 | 25 ft. | 160 sq. ft. (max 80 sq. ft. per face); max 4 faces | — |
| C-2 (Commercial Retail) Districts, C-3 (Commercial Service-Warehouse) Districts | 23 | 48 in. | 250 sq. ft. (max 125 sq. ft. per face, 4 faces) | — |
| C-4 (Commercial Town Center) Districts | 6 | 48 in. | 40 sq. ft. per face | — |

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

### Residential Districts (AR, R-1, R-2, OSRD, OSRD-IP)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Subdivision Entrance Sign | 6 ft. | 120 sq. ft. per entrance (no single face >60 sq. ft.) | — | 10 ft. min. | Max 3 entrances per subdivision | At primary entrance(s), on private property within platted sign or landscape easement or common open space | — | Sec. 78-420(b)(2) |
| Homeowners' Association Sign | 6 ft. | 20 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 | On common open space or private property in subdivision | — | Sec. 78-420(b)(3) |
| Bed and Breakfast Lodge Sign | 6 ft. | 8 sq. ft. total (max 4 sq. ft. per face) | — | — | 1 | At driveway entrance | — | Sec. 78-420(b)(4) |
| Residence Sign (Standard) | 6 ft. | 2 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 | On lot | — | Sec. 78-420(b)(5) |
| Residence Sign (Tract 10+ acres) | 6 ft. | 20 sq. ft. per face | — | — | 2 | On lot | — | Sec. 78-420(b)(5) |
| Temporary Sign (5 acres or less) | 6 ft. | 20 sq. ft. total, no single sign >8 sq. ft. | — | 10 ft. from curb/pavement/shoulder | Max 5 | On lot | — | Sec. 78-420(b)(6) |
| Temporary Sign (More than 5 acres) | 6 ft. | 32 sq. ft. total | — | 10 ft. from curb/pavement/shoulder | — | On lot | — | Sec. 78-420(b)(6) |
| Temporary Sign (Subdivision under development) | 6 ft. | 32 sq. ft., 1 face | 10 ft. | — | 1 (in addition) | Developer-owned property within subdivision | — | Sec. 78-420(b)(6) |

### C-1 (Commercial Office) Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Subdivision Entrance Sign | 6 ft. | 160 sq. ft. (max 80 sq. ft. per face); max 4 faces | 20 ft. max per sign face, 40 ft. max if set back 100 ft. | — | — | At primary entrance(s), on private property/easement | — | Sec. 78-420(d)(2)a |
| Directory Sign | 6 ft. | 16 sq. ft. max; max 4 faces per driveway intersection | — | — | — | Driveway intersections; may be in easement if approved | — | Sec. 78-420(d)(2)b |
| Freestanding Sign | 6 ft. | 80 sq. ft. max, no sign face >40 sq. ft; max 2 faces | 20 ft. max | — | One per road frontage | Per road frontage | — | Sec. 78-420(d)(2)c |
| Temporary Freestanding Sign | 6 ft. | 32 sq. ft. total; if 2 faces, max 16 sq. ft. per face | — | — | 2 (with exceptions) | On lot | — | Sec. 78-420(d)(2)d |
| Wall Sign (One-story/single tenant or multi-story/single tenant) | — | 60 sq. ft. per sign; max 3 signs per building | — | — | Max 3 | Flat against wall | — | Sec. 78-420(d)(3) |
| Wall Sign (Multi-story, Multiple Tenants) | — | 40 sq. ft. total, 3 signs | — | — | 3 | Flat against wall | — | Sec. 78-420(d)(3) |
| Non-Commercial Flag | 25 ft. | 40 sq. ft. per face | — | Flagpoles must meet min yard setbacks | See description | On lot, must meet min yard setbacks | — | Sec. 78-420(d)(4) |
| Commercial Flag | 25 ft. | 24 sq. ft. per face | — | Flagpoles must meet min yard setbacks | — | On lot, must meet min yard setbacks | — | Sec. 78-420(d)(5) |

### C-2 (Commercial Retail) Districts, C-3 (Commercial Service-Warehouse) Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Subdivision Entrance Sign | 6 ft. | 160 sq. ft. (max 80 sq. ft. per face); max 4 faces | 20 ft. per sign face; 40 ft. if single face with 100+ ft setback | — | — | At primary entrance(s), on private property/easement | — | Sec. 78-420(e)(2)a |
| Freestanding Sign (Business <10,000 sq. ft.) | 6 ft. | 80 sq. ft. (max 40 sq. ft. per face, 2 faces) | 20 ft. | — | 1 per road frontage | Per road frontage, in easement with planning commission approval | — | Sec. 78-420(e)(2)c |
| Freestanding Sign (Business 10,000-100,000 sq. ft.) | 6 ft. | 160 sq. ft. (max 80 sq. ft. per face, 4 faces) | 20 ft. | — | 1 per road frontage | Per road frontage, in easement with planning commission approval | — | Sec. 78-420(e)(2)c |
| Freestanding Sign (Business >100,000 sq. ft.) | 6 ft. | 250 sq. ft. (max 125 sq. ft. per face, 4 faces) | 20 ft. | — | 1 per road frontage | Per road frontage, in easement with planning commission approval | — | Sec. 78-420(e)(2)c |
| Sandwich Board Sign | 48 in. | 8 sq. ft. per side (2 surfaces) | — | — | 1 per business | In front of retail business, not in public right-of-way | — | Sec. 78-420(e)(2)d, (f)(6) |
| Temporary Freestanding Sign | 6 ft. | 32 sq. ft. total; up to 2 faces (max 16 sq. ft. per face if 2-sided) | — | — | 2 (with exceptions) | On lot | — | Sec. 78-420(e)(2)e |
| Menu Board (Drive-through service) | 6 ft. | 30 sq. ft. per menu board (up to 2 per lane) | — | — | 2 per lane | Within buildable site; drive-through restaurants | — | Sec. 78-420(e)(6)b |
| Non-Commercial Flag | 25 ft. (flagpole) | 40 sq. ft. per face | — | Flagpoles must meet min yard setback | See description | On lot, flagpoles must meet minimum yard setbacks | — | Sec. 78-420(e)(7) |

## Prohibited signs in Brentwood

- Outdoor signs containing or consisting of banners, posters, pennants, ribbons, streamers, spinners, balloons or other similarly moving devices which may move as a result of wind pressure, except when used as a temporary sign in a residential district or as otherwise provided for in this article.
- Swinging signs, except for projecting signs allowed within the C-2, C-3, and C-4 zoning districts.
- Snipe signs.
- Animated signs or electronic message displays of any type, except for: scoreboards in service institution districts; menu boards allowed in C-2 and C-3 zoning districts; signage incorporated into an ATM; gasoline pump signs allowed under 78-420(e)(5); signs operated by or on behalf of a governmental entity.
- Any sign erected in a public right-of-way, except for signs placed by or on behalf of a governmental entity.
- Roof signs, or signs extending beyond the main roof line, except signs mounted on an architectural feature fully enclosed and considered an integral part of the occupied space (e.g., atrium or high ceiling).
- Abandoned or dilapidated signs.
- Portable signs, other than signs associated with mobile food service vehicles (subject to section 18-185(l)) or sandwich board signs allowed in the C-2, C-3, and C-4 zoning districts.
- Inflatable signs.
- Projecting signs, except as allowed within the C-2, C-3, and C-4 zoning districts.
- Any exterior tubular lighting outside the area of any allowable wall sign and not included in the measurable area of the sign face.
- Any internally illuminated sign, unless allowed within a commercial district.
- Marquee signs.
- Any commercial sign located in a service institution or residential district unless otherwise provided for in this article.
- Any sign that obstructs free ingress or egress through a required door, window, fire escape or other required exit way.
- Any sign which, by reason of its location, position, size, shape or color, may obstruct, impair or otherwise interfere with the view of, or be confused with, any traffic control sign or signal erected by or owned by a public authority, including use of the words, 'slow', 'stop', 'caution', 'yield', 'danger', 'warning' or 'go' in a misleading way.
- Any sign which, by reason of its location, position, size, shape, materials or other physical characteristics, poses a safety hazard to drivers, pedestrians, bicyclists or residents.
- Any sign that exhibits statements, words, or pictures of an obscene nature (as defined by the U.S. Supreme Court).
- Any other sign not specified in section 78-420 and which is not a lawful nonconforming sign.

## Signs exempt from permit in Brentwood

- Signs within the interior of a building, other than window signs, are exempt from the provisions of this article.
- Seasonal or holiday displays that do not contain a commercial message are not considered signs under this article.
- Outdoor murals, sculptures, or other artworks that do not contain a commercial message are not considered signs under this article; provided that, if such outdoor art is part of a site subject to the planning commission's jurisdiction, it shall be subject to planning commission review and approval.
- Incidental signs, not exceeding two square feet in area per face, are allowed in all zoning districts.
- Signs erected, maintained, or otherwise posted, owned or leased by the federal government, the state, the city, or any official sign or notice required to be displayed by a court or public agency, whether permanent or temporary.
- Directional, warning, or information signs erected or authorized by any public agency, whether permanent or temporary.
- Signs denoting a property as historic and placed by or on behalf of a public agency.
- Street numbers on building façades (not to exceed 12 inches in height) and street numbers and names on mailboxes.
- Private street or road name sign, at intersection, not exceeding two square feet per face and without commercial message.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- If a building is located on a corner parcel, sign location and front facade are determined according to primary entrance location, and this affects allowable sign area (see definitions).
- The sign location for subdivision entrance signs in residential and office/commercial districts must be specifically approved by the planning commission prior to construction.
- Directory signs and other certain types of freestanding or permanent signs may be located in a joint user access easement or private platted sign easement if specifically approved by the planning commission prior to construction.
- Menu boards for drive-through or curbside service must be included in the development site plan as approved by the planning commission and contained within the buildable area of the site.
- Outdoor murals, sculptures or artworks that do not have a commercial message but are part of a site subject to the planning commission's jurisdiction must be reviewed and approved by the planning commission.

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

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