# Sign Regulations in Chattanooga, Tennessee

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Chattanooga, Tennessee (TN)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/tennessee/chattanooga
- **Data last verified:** 2025-08-08
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/FL/Chattahoochee/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=PTIIILADERE_CHVIIISI)

## At a glance

Chattanooga, Tennessee regulates 15 sign types across 10 zoning districts. Freestanding Signs in the General Character Area zoning district are capped at 5' setback: 20'. Each foot beyond adds 1' up to 30' tall and 175 SF, with a Depends on sign area; see additional_requirements setback (Sec. Sec. 3-186, Article XX). Most commercial signs in Chattanooga require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (10 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Brainerd Overlay | 7 | 6’ | 75% of valance area, 25% of sloping portion area | — |
| General Character Area | 8 | 5' setback: 20'. Each foot beyond adds 1' up to 30' | 175 SF per sign face (2 faces allowed) | — |
| Highway Commercial Corridors | 8 | 5' setback: 20'. Each additional ft increases by 1’ up to 30’ | 175 SF | — |
| Lovell Field Gateway Overlay | 7 | 6’ | 75% valance, 25% sloping portion | — |
| Residential Character Area | 2 | <8ac or 30 lots: 5’; >8ac or 30 lots: 10’ | <8ac or 30 lots: 40 SF; >8ac or 30 lots: 100 SF | — |
| Scenic Corridors and Areas, Scenic Area, Scenic Corridor | 8 | 6’ | 75% valance, 25% sloping portion | — |
| Veterans Bridge, Veterans Bridge Sign-Control District | 8 | Max 20’ above grade (south side); north side: not above bridge road level or 20’ above grade | 75% valance, 25% sloping portion | — |
| Major Advertising Zones | 2 | 14’; Support structure up to 50’ above grade | 675 SF; Temporary embellishments: up to 750 SF | — |
| Controlled Access Facility Sign Control District | 1 | 14’; support up to 50’ above roadway | 675 SF, or up to 750 SF with embellishments | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 4 | 36" | 40 SF | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 10 zones)

### General Character Area

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Awning Sign | — | 75% of valance area, 25% of sloping portion area | Cannot exceed width of tenant space or building wall | May extend over sidewalk/right-of-way, not over street | 1 per entrance/suite | 1 per building at main pedestrian entrance; or 1 per tenant suite with exterior pedestrian entrance, if applicable | — | Sec. 3-180, Article XX |
| Canopy Sign | — | — | — | May extend over sidewalk/right-of-way, not over street | 1 per entrance/suite | Affixed above or on front face of canopy | — | Sec. 3-181, Article XX |
| Marquee Sign | — | — | — | May extend over sidewalk/right-of-way, not over street | 1 per entrance | 1 per building at main pedestrian entrance | — | Sec. 3-182, Article XX |
| Projecting Sign | — | 175 SF per sign face (2 faces allowed) | — | May project max 4’ from wall, may extend over sidewalk/ROW but not over public street | 1 per ROW/tenant suite | 1 for each public ROW, or 1 per building/tenant suite | — | Sec. 3-183, Article XX |
| Wall Sign | — | — | — | — | Unlimited, within sign area limit | Building wall (attached) | — | Sec. 3-184, Article XX |
| Window and Door Sign | Cannot exceed window height | — | — | — | — | Window/door, attached | — | Sec. 3-185, Article XX |
| Freestanding Sign | 5' setback: 20'. Each foot beyond adds 1' up to 30' | 175 SF | — | Depends on sign area; see additional_requirements | 1 per R-O-W | 1 per public R-O-W | — | Sec. 3-186, Article XX |
| Monument Sign | 5' setback: 20'. Each foot beyond adds 1' up to 30' | 100 SF | — | Area <40 SF: 5' from ROW; >40 SF: 10'; >100 SF: 15' | 1 per R-O-W; additional for 25+ acre developments with signalized entrance | 1 per ROW; see special notes for retail centers | — | Sec. 3-187, Article XX |

### Highway Commercial Corridors

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Awning Sign | — | 75% valance, 25% sloping portion | Cannot exceed tenant/building width | May project over sidewalk/ROW, not over street | 1 per entrance/suite | 1 per main entrance/tenant suite | — | Sec. 3-180, Article XX |
| Canopy Sign | — | — | — | May project over sidewalk/R-O-W, not over street | 1 per entrance/suite | Affixed, 1 per entrance/tenant suite | — | Sec. 3-181, Article XX |
| Marquee Sign | — | — | — | See above | 1 per main entrance | 1 per main entrance | — | Sec. 3-182, Article XX |
| Projecting Sign | — | 32 SF per sign face (2 faces allowed) | — | Extend over sidewalk/ROW, not public street | 1 per building/tenant suite | 1 per building/tenant suite | — | Sec. 3-183, Article XX |
| Wall Sign | — | — | — | — | Unlimited, within sign area | Building wall | — | Sec. 3-184, Article XX |
| Window and Door Sign | Cannot exceed window height | — | — | — | — | Window/door, attached | — | Sec. 3-185, Article XX |
| Freestanding Sign | 5' setback: 20'. Each additional ft increases by 1’ up to 30’ | 175 SF | — | See additional_requirements | 1 per R-O-W | 1 per ROW | — | Sec. 3-186, Article XX |
| Monument Sign | 5' setback: 20’. Additional 1' in height per foot setback, max 30' | 100 SF | — | See Freestanding/Monument section | 1 per ROW; retail centers >25 acres get 1 per signalized entrance | 1 per ROW; special provision for large retail centers | — | Sec. 3-187, Article XX |

### Scenic Corridors and Areas, Scenic Area, Scenic Corridor

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Awning Sign | — | 75% valance, 25% sloping portion | Cannot exceed wall or tenant width | — | 1 per entrance/suite | 1 per building/tenant suite | — | Sec. 3-180, Article XX |
| Canopy Sign | — | — | — | — | 1 per entrance/suite | 1 per main entrance/tenant suite | — | Sec. 3-181, Article XX |
| Marquee Sign | — | — | — | — | 1 per main entrance | 1 per main entrance | — | Sec. 3-182, Article XX |
| Projecting Sign | — | 16 SF per face (2 sides max) | — | — | 1 per building/tenant suite | 1 per building/tenant suite | — | Sec. 3-183, Article XX |
| Wall Sign | — | — | — | — | Unlimited, within sign area restriction | Building wall | — | Sec. 3-184, Article XX |
| Window and Door Sign | Cannot exceed window height | — | — | — | — | Window/Door | — | Sec. 3-185, Article XX |
| Freestanding Sign | 6’ | 60 SF | — | — | 1 per R-O-W | 1 per ROW | — | Sec. 3-186, Article XX |
| Monument Sign | 6’ | 60 SF | 10’ | — | 1 per R-O-W | 1 per ROW | — | Sec. 3-187, Article XX |

## Prohibited signs in Chattanooga

- Signs that by color, location, and/or design resemble or conflict with traffic control signs or signals.
- Signs attached or otherwise affixed to trees or other living vegetation, lampposts, and/or utility poles.
- Vehicle signs parked on or utilizing public right-of-way, public property, or on private property so as to be visible from the street right-of-way for advertisement and not regularly used in business.
- Abandoned or dilapidated signs.
- Banners greater than forty (40) square feet in sign area, except where specifically permitted for authorized temporary use.
- Signs placed in a right-of-way (including roadway median, traffic island and/or traffic circle/roundabout), except as required by governmental authority or otherwise stated.
- Signs with lighting or control mechanism that causes unreasonable interference with radio, television, or other communication signals.
- Sign display areas with varying light illumination and/or intensity, blinking, bursting, dissolving, distorting, fading, flashing, oscillating, rotating, scrolling, sequencing, shimmering, sparkling, streaming, traveling, tracing, twinkling, simulated movement, or illusion of movement.
- Signs of such intensity or brilliance as to cause glare or impair vision of motorist, cyclist or pedestrian using or entering a public way.
- Signs emitting audible sound, odor, or visible matter such as smoke or steam.
- Signs with moving parts.
- Roof signs and signs painted on a roof.
- Balloon signs except when permitted as a temporary sign for special events.
- Snipe signs.
- Inflatable signs.
- Animated signs.
- Signs distracting to motor vehicle operators (e.g. distracting, hazardous location near entrances/exits or confluence of traffic).
- Signs that resemble any regulatory or warning traffic control device as found in the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices.
- Off-premise signs with moving parts, picture tubes, lights/illumination that vary in intensity, flash/change color outside permitted intervals.
- Signs exceeding maximum height, width, or area limitations specified in the code.
- Stacked signs (one sign atop or beneath another on the same structure/building/rooftop).
- Signs located where prohibited by applicable zoning ordinance.
- Signs on top of any building or rooftop.
- Signs placed over or suspended over/across any street or sidewalk unless specifically allowed elsewhere in the code.
- Off-premise signs in Scenic Areas or Corridors.
- Any sign constructed or maintained so as to obstruct any fire escape, window, door, or opening used as egress or to prevent free passage on a roof or interfere with openings required for legal ventilation.
- Signs with LED/LCD illumination or capable of remote message change must only display static images (flashing/scrolling/animated images/audible prohibited), conform brightness/dimming controls, and meet review/approval standards as specified.
- Temporary signs must not be placed in any handicapped parking space, required parking space, or block driveways, utility poles, trees, traffic devices, or vision clearance areas.
- No sign shall be pasted, painted, printed, roped, billed, nailed or pinned to any curbstone, sidewalk, street, tree, lamppost, telephone/telegraph pole, awning, porch, balcony, or other structure in a street or right-of-way except when required by law/ordinance.
- No person shall scatter, daub or leave glue, paste or similar adhesive on any street/sidewalk or scatter/throw old signs or waste material on public/private property.
- Obscene displays or advertisement on signs (as defined by law) visible from streets/public places.
- Signs larger than permitted for specific sign types or placed contrary to regulations for setback, height, illumination, or materials.

## Signs exempt from permit in Chattanooga

- Banners forty (40) square feet or less in sign area (one per business).
- Building entry and building identification signs.
- Entrance and exit signs regulated by the International Building Code.
- Feather signs (except in Residential Character Area).
- Incidental signs not exceeding two (2) square feet in sign area.
- Landmark signs (historic, vintage, replica as described).
- Signs/devices erected, posted, or established by any governmental agency regulating traffic, public purpose/safety, or any notice/warning required by law.
- Sandwich board signs (subject to location, accessibility and removal requirements; not permitted in Residential Character Area).
- Yard signs (political, contractor, real estate, sports leagues, garage sale, etc.).
- Works of art, including murals, that do not contain business name/logo/trademark (i.e., non-commercial art).
- Flags or emblems of a political, philanthropic, educational, or religious organization.
- Memorial plaques or tablets.
- Holiday decorations/seasonal displays clearly incidental to/associated with holidays.
- Legal notices required by law.
- Signs or flags erected, provided, owned, authorized or required by a duly constituted governmental body (includes traffic/regulatory/legal notices, warnings at railroad crossings).
- Signs located inside a building.
- Gravestones.
- Inside faces of scoreboard fences or walls on athletic fields.
- Historical site plaques.
- Display of street numbers.
- Messages on clothing/motor vehicles unless otherwise prohibited.
- Seasonal displays/decorations not advertising a product, service, or entertainment.
- Signs approved by the Board of Sign Appeals and donated/erected by or under the supervision of the city for designation of public areas/rights-of-way adopted by private entities for landscaping/maintenance/litter control programs.
- Any living display on the ground of flowers/plants conveying a message.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A Master Sign Plan (MSP) is required for single-use developments exceeding 100,000 SF of gross floor area or multi-tenant developments exceeding 150,000 SF of gross floor area.
- MSP application must include all proposed signs and sign locations for the entire non-residential development (wall sign spaces, ground signs, directional signs, etc.).
- Deviations from the rules for number, dimensions, location or design characteristics of attached and detached signs within the MSP area may be authorized when design/quality components exceed standards elsewhere.
- MSP is pre-approval of designs/elements, which allows for more efficient subsequent individual sign permit reviews.
- Existing non-conforming signs must be eliminated or brought into conformance before any new signs are installed under an approved MSP.
- MSP applications require payment of an application fee and filing on city forms with required submittals.
- An amendment to a valid MSP is allowed for design/material/location/specification changes, up to 10% increase in sign area.
- Approved MSP permits expire two years from the date of approval unless progress towards completion is made.
- Any premises with frontage along a public road/right-of-way over 350 linear feet and more than two occupants is subject to general sign area and location standards; Master Sign Plan may be necessary per site specifics.
- For any sign requiring a variance, the Board of Zoning Appeals holds public hearings, and a site plan/sign plan and notifications (mailed, published) are required for review.
- Permit applications for new signs require accompanying plans, drawings, and in some cases certified surveys and elevation drawings/engineering plans.
- Major modifications, variances, and special permits require public meetings/hearings, a formal application process, and evaluation per hardship criteria defined in ordinance.
- Master Sign Plan fee is $500 + $3 per SF of signage.

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

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