# Sign Regulations in Collegedale, Tennessee

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Collegedale, Tennessee (TN)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/tennessee/collegedale
- **Data last verified:** 2025-02-07
- **Source:** [other municipal code](https://cms8.revize.com/revize/collegedaletn//City%20of%20Collegedale%20Official%20Zoning%20Ordinance%20December%203%202024.pdf#page=126)

## At a glance

Collegedale, Tennessee regulates 10 sign types across 9 zoning districts. Projecting Signs in the C-1 zoning district are capped at 6 feet tall, 18 square feet, and 36 inches wide (Sec. 08.07.5). Most commercial signs in Collegedale require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (9 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 1 | 5 feet | 4 square feet per sign, 8 square feet for double-sided | — |
| Residential zoning districts - AG, R-1-L, R-1, R-2, R-3, R-1-H, PUD | 3 | 8 feet | 32 square feet per side | Yes |
| C-1 | 7 | 36 inches for buildings <35,000 sq ft, 48 inches for buildings >35,000 sq ft | 100 square feet for buildings <35,000 sq ft, 150 sq ft for buildings >35,000 sq ft | — |
| C-2 | 7 | 36 inches for buildings <35,000 sq ft, 48 inches for buildings >35,000 sq ft | 100 square feet for buildings <35,000 sq ft, 150 sq ft for buildings >35,000 sq ft | — |
| C-3 | 7 | 36 inches for buildings <35,000 sq ft, 48 inches for buildings >35,000 sq ft | 100 square feet for buildings <35,000 sq ft, 150 sq ft for buildings >35,000 sq ft | — |
| MUBC | 7 | 36 inches for buildings <35,000 sq ft, 48 inches for buildings >35,000 sq ft | 100 square feet for buildings <35,000 sq ft, 150 sq ft for buildings >35,000 sq ft | — |
| MUTC | 7 | 36 inches for buildings <35,000 sq ft, 48 inches for buildings >35,000 sq ft | 100 square feet for buildings <35,000 sq ft, 150 sq ft for buildings >35,000 sq ft | — |
| I-1 | 7 | 36 inches for buildings <35,000 sq ft, 48 inches for buildings >35,000 sq ft | 100 square feet for buildings <35,000 sq ft, 150 sq ft for buildings >35,000 sq ft | — |
| U-1 | 7 | 36 inches for buildings <35,000 sq ft, 48 inches for buildings >35,000 sq ft | 100 square feet for buildings <35,000 sq ft, 150 sq ft for buildings >35,000 sq ft | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 9 zones)

### C-1

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Awning Sign | 16 feet | 60% of the awning valance or 25% of the awning face | — | — | One per primary ground floor entrance | On the awning valance or awning face | — | 08.07.1 |
| Band Sign | — | — | — | — | One per primary entrance | Ground floor façade, centered over architectural elements | — | 08.07.2 |
| Canopy Sign | 16 feet | 90% of the canopy face or 120 square feet, whichever is smaller | — | — | One per building facade if no wall, band, or awning sign exists | On the canopy face | — | 08.07.3 |
| Hanging Sign | — | 6 square feet per side | — | — | One per primary building, one per tenant in multi-tenant buildings | Minimum clearance of 8 feet from grade, maximum height to roofline or second story windowsill | — | 08.07.4 |
| Projecting Sign | 6 feet | 18 square feet | 36 inches | — | One per primary use | First story or second story wall, not above roofline | — | 08.07.5 |
| Wall Sign | 36 inches for buildings <35,000 sq ft, 48 inches for buildings >35,000 sq ft | 100 square feet for buildings <35,000 sq ft, 150 sq ft for buildings >35,000 sq ft | — | — | One per building façade fronting a public right-of-way if no sign band exists | Within primary façade of occupant space | — | 08.07.6 |
| Window Sign | — | — | — | — | Maximum of five signs allowed | Fully within the interior, attached directly or within 12 inches of the inside | — | 08.07.7 |

### C-2

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Awning Sign | 16 feet | 60% of the awning valance or 25% of the awning face | — | — | One per primary ground floor entrance | On the awning valance or awning face | — | 08.07.1 |
| Band Sign | — | — | — | — | One per primary entrance | Ground floor façade, centered over architectural elements | — | 08.07.2 |
| Canopy Sign | 16 feet | 90% of the canopy face or 120 square feet, whichever is smaller | — | — | One per building facade if no wall, band, or awning sign exists | On the canopy face | — | 08.07.3 |
| Hanging Sign | — | 6 square feet per side | — | — | One per primary building, one per tenant in multi-tenant buildings | Minimum clearance of 8 feet from grade, maximum height to roofline or second story windowsill | — | 08.07.4 |
| Projecting Sign | 6 feet | 18 square feet | 36 inches | — | One per primary use | First story or second story wall, not above roofline | — | 08.07.5 |
| Wall Sign | 36 inches for buildings <35,000 sq ft, 48 inches for buildings >35,000 sq ft | 100 square feet for buildings <35,000 sq ft, 150 sq ft for buildings >35,000 sq ft | — | — | One per building façade fronting a public right-of-way if no sign band exists | Within primary façade of occupant space | — | 08.07.6 |
| Window Sign | — | — | — | — | Maximum of five signs allowed | Fully within the interior, attached directly or within 12 inches of the inside | — | 08.07.7 |

### C-3

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Awning Sign | 16 feet | 60% of the awning valance or 25% of the awning face | — | — | One per primary ground floor entrance | On the awning valance or awning face | — | 08.07.1 |
| Band Sign | — | — | — | — | One per primary entrance | Ground floor façade, centered over architectural elements | — | 08.07.2 |
| Canopy Sign | 16 feet | 90% of the canopy face or 120 square feet, whichever is smaller | — | — | One per building facade if no wall, band, or awning sign exists | On the canopy face | — | 08.07.3 |
| Hanging Sign | — | 6 square feet per side | — | — | One per primary building, one per tenant in multi-tenant buildings | Minimum clearance of 8 feet from grade, maximum height to roofline or second story windowsill | — | 08.07.4 |
| Projecting Sign | 6 feet | 18 square feet | 36 inches | — | One per primary use | First story or second story wall, not above roofline | — | 08.07.5 |
| Wall Sign | 36 inches for buildings <35,000 sq ft, 48 inches for buildings >35,000 sq ft | 100 square feet for buildings <35,000 sq ft, 150 sq ft for buildings >35,000 sq ft | — | — | One per building façade fronting a public right-of-way if no sign band exists | Within primary façade of occupant space | — | 08.07.6 |
| Window Sign | — | — | — | — | Maximum of five signs allowed | Fully within the interior, attached directly or within 12 inches of the inside | — | 08.07.7 |

## Prohibited signs in Collegedale

- Signs not expressly permitted as being allowed by right or by special use permit under this article, by specific requirements in another portion of this chapter or otherwise expressly allowed by the City of Collegedale (City) or the Collegedale Board of Zoning Appeals are prohibited.
- Bench Signs
- Freestanding Canopy with Signs
- Government-imitation Signs
- Air-activated devices, streamers, tethered balloons or other inflatable signs or figures, except as authorized by this Ordinance.
- Mechanical Signs
- Parked-vehicle signs (including but not limited to: Trucks, cars, planes, boats, semi-truck trailers, military equipment, etc.)
- Roof Signs, including signs painted on roofs
- Searchlights
- Signs erected in a public right-of-way, except for those placed by or on behalf of a governmental entity
- Signs interfering or blocking the sight of directional, instructional, or warning signs
- Signs on natural features such as trees, other vegetation, and rocks
- Banners, except as otherwise specified within this Chapter
- Signs attached to utility poles, or bridges
- Snipe Sign
- Any sign which is portable or not securely attached to a building or to the ground (sand bags, rocks, guide wires, tape, stakes, fence posts, chains, and staples are not considered a form of secure attachment)
- Information boxes larger than 12 inches by 14 inches and 3 inches in depth when erected alone or placed on sign structure
- Any sign which exhibits statements, words or pictures of an obscene or pornographic nature
- Any sign with moving parts, flashing or blinking lights, animation or sound emitting devices (excluding two-way communication devices used solely for such two-way communication)
- Exposed neon window signs
- Flags, except as permitted in this Chapter
- Trash receptacle signs
- Open Channel letter signs
- Attached Building Mounted smooth-faced cabinet or can signs

## Signs exempt from permit in Collegedale

- Any public notice or warning required by a valid and applicable federal, state, or local law, regulation, or ordinance.
- Flags mounted on a pole in the ground or on a building, subject to Zoning Ordinance height regulations and must be located and constructed so that if the pole should collapse, its reclining length would be contained on the property on which it is installed.
- Traffic control and informational signs such as stop, yield, and similar signs, the faces of which meet the requirements of the Tennessee Department of Transportation or other standard in use such as the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD).
- Official notices or advertisements posted or displayed by or under the direction of any public or court officer in the performance of official or directed duties; provided that all such signs must be removed by the property owner no more than ten (10) days after their purpose has been accomplished or as otherwise required by law.
- Where a federal, state or local law requires or allows a property owner to post a sign on the owner’s property to warn of a danger or to prohibit access to the property either generally or specifically, the owner must comply with the federal, state or local law to exercise that authority by posting a sign on the property.
- Numerals representing street addresses for dwellings and businesses as required for emergency location and response.
- Any sign not legible from a street (public or private). This includes drive-in and drive-through menu board signs and signs within buildings, including signs at least ten (10) feet back from window.
- Signs located within a sports stadium or athletic field and oriented to the playing field or spectator areas.
- Signs that are carried or worn by humans or animals are allowed at all times while they are being carried or worn.
- Signs in non-residential and mixed-use zoning districts not greater than four (4) feet in height with a sign area not exceeding six (6) square feet per side and not discernible from a public right-of-way or private street with a public access easement.
- Signs in residential zoning districts not exceeding four (6) feet in total height above grade, or four (4) square feet.
- Campaign signs are regulated by T.C.A. § 2-7-143.
- Any special event signage that is placed on any property within the City that is directly associated with a City sponsored event. No sign shall be placed any closer to the edge of pavement (public or private) than ten (10) feet or in such a location which blocks visibility of motorists.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Sign Plan is intended to integrate the signs proposed for a nonresidential development project with the overall site design.
- The submittal of a Sign Plan shall be optional.
- An increase in sign height or sign area of more than 25 percent or an increase in the number of signs is not allowed.
- An application for a Sign Plan shall include filing fees and all plan views, building elevations, square foot sign area allowances, sign location areas and examples of appropriate building signs and freestanding signs.

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

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