# Sign Regulations in Collierville, Tennessee

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Collierville, Tennessee (TN)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/tennessee/collierville
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-19

## At a glance

Collierville, Tennessee regulates 28 sign types across 6 zoning districts. Project Sign (Multiple Tenant Building)s in the Non-residential zoning districts, All Non-residential, SCC, GC, CB, NC, MU, MPO zoning district are capped at 10 or 15 ft per building size tall, Max sign face area: see project size; see also max sign area: 1 per lot per street (≤1000 ft frontage); >1000 ft, one per 1000 ft or portion thereof; Height: ≤15,000 sq ft building: 10 ft tall; >15,001 sq ft: 15 ft tall; Max width 10 ft, and 10 ft wide, with a 20 ft from right-of-way setback (Sec. § 151.179, Table; § 151.180(J)). Most commercial signs in Collierville 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 | 8 | 7 ft | See conditions (can use temporary, real estate, political, sandwich board, window signs; construction zone window signs up to 50% of aggregate window area) | — |
| Non-residential zoning districts, All Non-residential, SCC, GC, CB, NC, MU, MPO | 15 | 40 ft pole height (ground set) | Formula above; Max 300 sq ft overall | — |
| Residential zoning districts, All Residential | 3 | 40 ft pole (freestanding); attached: up to 20 ft pole | Attached: see § 151.180(U) for flag to pole size; ground-set max 40 ft pole, flag up to 6 x 10 ft | — |
| Historic District | 1 | See nonresidential standards, but wall signs may not be painted on unpainted masonry except as permitted by HDC | Follows non-residential standards (see Wall/Attached Sign); Certificate of Appropriateness required | — |
| Transitional Shopping Center, Planned Development | 1 | — | Follows standards for non-residential, unless sign policy adopted in PD; may differ through Comprehensive Sign Policy | — |
| Traditional Area, Downtown Area | 1 | — | Follows standards for non-residential unless sign code or PD dictates otherwise | — |

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

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Reserved Parking Sign | 7 ft | 3 sq ft (attached); 6 sq ft (freestanding) | — | Outside right-of-way or 10 ft from back of curb or edge of pavement, whichever is farther. | NA | Attached to exterior of building or to a pole or structure. Freestanding: outside right-of-way or 10 ft from back of curb or edge of pavement, whichever is farther. | — | § 151.179, Table; § 151.180(Y) |
| Public Sign | — | — | — | — | NA | Private property or public right-of-way | — | § 151.179, Table; § 151.180(X) |
| Development-in-progress Sign | 6 ft | 32 sq ft (per entrance); 64 sq ft (per phase/section) | — | No less than 10 ft from curb/edge (unless reduced by Director) | 1 per entrance and 1 per phase/section | No less than 10 ft from face of curb or edge of pavement | — | § 151.179, Table; § 151.180(M) |
| Window Sign (Temporary or Permanent) | — | Up to 15% of aggregate window/door area per elevation; Temporary construction zone: up to 50% | — | — | See conditions | Affixed to, within, or within 3 ft of window (inside) | — | § 151.179, Table; § 151.180(E), (P) |
| Political Sign (Ground-mounted) | 5 ft (ground); 4 ft (vehicle/trailer, exclusive of vehicle/trailer) | 6 sq ft per side, 12 sq ft total; if on vehicle/trailer: 32 sq ft per side, 64 sq ft total | — | Outside right-of-way/pedestrian easement | 1 per campaign/candidate per frontage | Outside right-of-way or pedestrian easement; On residential driveway permitted if on vehicle/trailer. | — | § 151.179, Table; § 151.180(Q) |
| Special Event Sign - On-premises | 6 ft | 32 sq ft | — | — | 1 per lot per street frontage | Per lot/per street frontage | — | § 151.179, Table; § 151.180(R) |
| Special Event Sign - Off-premises | 5 ft | 6 sq ft | — | — | 1 per lot | Off-premises lots | — | § 151.179, Table; § 151.180(R) |
| Temporary Construction Zone Sign | — | See conditions (can use temporary, real estate, political, sandwich board, window signs; construction zone window signs up to 50% of aggregate window area) | — | — | See conditions | See conditions | — | § 151.179, Table; § 151.180(P) |

### Non-residential zoning districts, All Non-residential, SCC, GC, CB, NC, MU, MPO

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Attached Awning Sign | Shall not project above/below awning/roofline; max 16 ft within 200 ft of residential district | Area determined by fascia/valance size and spacing requirements (see conditions) | — | Shall not extend >10 ft from building | 1 per building side facing street/main entrance | Valance of awning; 1 per building side facing street/pedestrian entrance | — | § 151.179, Table; § 151.180(B) |
| Marquee Sign (not otherwise regulated) | Max 30"; shall not project below fascia, or above parapet or roofline; max 16 ft within 200 ft of residential district | See conditions: Max letter height 30", width max 25% of marquee face | 25% of marquee face | — | 1 per building side facing street/main entrance | 1 per building side facing street/main pedestrian entrance | — | § 151.179, Table; § 151.180(C) |
| Service Station Canopy Sign | Max 30"; shall not project above/below canopy | See conditions: Letter height max 30"; width max 25% of canopy face | 25% of canopy face | — | 1 per canopy side facing street | 1 per canopy side facing street | — | § 151.179, Table; § 151.180(S) |
| Project Sign (Multiple Tenant Building) | 10 or 15 ft per building size | Max sign face area: see project size; see also max sign area: 1 per lot per street (≤1000 ft frontage); >1000 ft, one per 1000 ft or portion thereof; Height: ≤15,000 sq ft building: 10 ft tall; >15,001 sq ft: 15 ft tall; Max width 10 ft | 10 ft | 20 ft from right-of-way | 1 per lot per street (≤ 1000 ft); 1 per 1000 ft or part thereof (>1000 ft); project signs separated by 1000 ft. | 20 ft from right-of-way; see number for lot frontage requirements | — | § 151.179, Table; § 151.180(J) |
| Ornamental Ground Sign | 6 ft | 32 or 64 sq ft sign face area | — | Outside right-of-way or 10 ft from back of curb or edge | 1 per lot per street (see frontage rules) | Outside right-of-way or 10 ft from back of curb or edge of pavement | — | § 151.179, Table; § 151.180(V) |
| Ground Sign (not otherwise regulated) | 6 ft | 32 or 64 sq ft sign face area | — | Outside right-of-way or 10 ft from back of curb/edge | 1 per lot per street (≤1000 ft); 1 per 1000 ft or part thereof (>1000 ft) | Outside right-of-way or 10 ft from back of curb/edge of pavement | — | § 151.179, Table; § 151.180(L) |
| Flag (Freestanding) | 40 ft pole height (ground set) | See Table for pole height/flag size: (e.g., 3x5, 4x6, 5x8, 6x10 ft for 15-40 ft pole), see § 151.180(U) | — | Outside right-of-way or distance equal to pole height | 3 per lot | Outside right-of-way or distance equal to height of pole, whichever is farther | — | § 151.179, Table; § 151.180(U) |
| Temporary Sign (not otherwise regulated) | 6 ft (unless attached to bldg or in window) | 32 or 64 sq ft | — | Outside right-of-way or 10 ft back | 1 per business/tenant | Outside right-of-way or 10 ft from back of curb/edge | — | § 151.179, Table; § 151.180(O) |

### Residential zoning districts, All Residential

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Residential Development Sign | 6 ft | 32 sq ft (per entrance, 2 signs); 64 sq ft (if single entry median sign) | — | Outside right-of-way or 10 ft from curb/edge | 2 per entrance (1 if sign in median) | Outside right-of-way or 10 ft from curb/edge, whichever is farther; in open space or lot with HOA easement; single sign can be in median | — | § 151.179, Table; § 151.180(H) |
| Temporary Sign (not otherwise regulated) | 5 ft (parcels ≥2 ac: one sign may be 6 ft) | 6 or 12 sq ft; parcels ≥2 ac: one sign may be 12 or 24 sq ft | — | Outside right-of-way or 10 ft back | 2 per parcel; if ≥2 acres, one may be larger | Outside right-of-way or 10 ft from curb/edge | — | § 151.179, Table; § 151.180(N) |
| Flag (Freestanding or Attached) | 40 ft pole (freestanding); attached: up to 20 ft pole | Attached: see § 151.180(U) for flag to pole size; ground-set max 40 ft pole, flag up to 6 x 10 ft | — | — | 1 attached flag; see aggregate if ground set | — | — | § 151.179, Table; § 151.180(U); § 151.175(D)-(E) |

## Prohibited signs in Collierville

- Signs erected in a public right-of-way or on public property
- Bench signs
- Canopies or awnings with backlighting
- Electronic message boards
- Government-imitation signs
- Inflatable animated characters, lighter than air devices, or similar balloon-type devices
- LED electronic message center window signs
- Moving signs
- Flashing signs
- Signs that are not securely affixed to the ground, or that are not otherwise affixed in a permanent manner to an approved supporting structure (except temporary signs specifically allowed under this subchapter)
- Noisy mechanical devices
- Plastic-faced cabinet signs, except for menu boards that are screened or not visible from the public right-of-way
- Parked-vehicle signs (except as provided for political signs)
- Roof signs, including signs painted on roofs or that extend above the highest point of a roof
- Changeable copy signs (manual and automatic)
- Signs that contain reflective materials, except decorative metals approved case-by-case
- Searchlights
- Strobe lights
- Signs interfering with, or blocking the visibility of, directional, instructional, or warning signs
- Signs on natural features such as trees, other living vegetation, and rocks
- Trailer signs (except as provided for political signs)
- Home occupation signs, except those required by state law
- Snipe signs
- Trash receptacle signs
- Signs that contain words suggestive of, or pictures depicting acts or displays described in, § 130.046, Nudity and sexual activities
- Animated signs
- Hand held signs displayed within the public right-of-way
- Obsolete or abandoned signs that are not lawful nonconforming signs
- Digital display signs larger than 48 square inches incorporated into a gas pump
- Internally illuminated window signs within ten feet of the interior of a window
- Off-premises commercial advertising signs
- Wall mounted metal cabinet signs outside of the Historic District or an approved planned development

## Signs exempt from permit in Collierville

- Public signs within public rights-of-way or easements
- Signs not visible from the public right-of-way, including drive-in restaurant menu boards
- Signs internal to a building set back more than ten feet from a window
- Flags attached to residential structures in residential zones
- Freestanding flag poles in residential zones per § 151.025(D)(6)(b)
- Scoreboards
- Decals, numbers, names, addresses, hours, credit information and the like attached to doors or windows and all of which occupy a total area of one square foot or less
- Temporary outdoor lighting used as holiday decorations
- Artwork
- Memorial plaques
- Historical tables
- For service stations solely engaged in the retail distribution of petroleum and petroleum products: one non-illuminated permanent price sign per street frontage (max 2 sq ft); two non-illuminated self service or full service signs per pump island (max 2 sq ft, max height 8 ft); signs displaying the federal and state stamps, octane ratings, pump use direction, no smoking signs and other signs as required by authorities (total not to exceed 2 sq ft per pump island); other state/federal law required signs/stamps of minimum size; digital display signs (per pump) with combined area of no more than 48 sq in

## Sign plan & submission notes

- When a sign is proposed for construction, alteration, relocation, or demolition within the Historic District, a Certificate of Appropriateness from the Historic District Commission is required prior to approval of the sign permit application.
- Any Comprehensive Sign Policy for a Transitional Shopping Center shall be established through a Planned Development and shall be adopted by resolution according to §§ 151.150 through 151.160 and shall comply with § 151.155(M) regarding a Comprehensive Sign Policy.
- If the Board of Mayor and Aldermen has approved a comprehensive sign policy as part of a planned development outline plan, that policy takes precedence over the general sign ordinance.
- Within the Historic District, if written sign guidelines approved by the Historic District Commission and Board of Mayor and Aldermen conflict with the provisions of this subchapter, those guidelines shall take precedence.
- For menu boards used in conjunction with a restaurant providing drive-through or curb-side services, the structure shall be included on a site plan.
- Signs in nonresidential projects (development-in-progress signs) are permitted only for sites with either a Town-approved site plan or during the period for which there is an active building permit or development agreement; in residential projects, only with a Town approved site plan or recorded subdivision with incomplete infrastructure/unbuilt lots.

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

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