# Sign Regulations in Columbia, Tennessee

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Columbia, Tennessee (TN)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/tennessee/columbia
- **Data last verified:** 2025-09-29
- **Source:** [other municipal code](https://online.fliphtml5.com/wdgmd/bxja/#p=362)

## At a glance

Columbia, Tennessee regulates 23 sign types across 12 zoning districts. Awning Signs in the Character District CD-4 (General Urban), Character District CD-4C (General Urban  Corridor), Character District CD-5 (Urban Center), Character District CD-5C (Urban Center  Corridor), SD-INT (Interstate Service), SD-LI (Light Industrial), SD-HI (Heavy Industrial), PUD-MU (Mixed Use), Civic District (CV) zoning district are capped at Valance: max 12 in (Letter height min 5 in, max 10 in) tall, Letters, numbers, and graphics covering no more than 70% of the valance area, and Max width = width of facade wide, with a Min 8 ft fully extended, back of curb, whichever is less setback (Sec. Table 7.1.2.B-2 Awning Sign). Most commercial signs in Columbia require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (12 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Character District CD-2 (Rural), Character District CD-3L (Neighborhood  Large Lot), Character District CD-3 (Neighborhood) | 1 | 6 ft | 18 sf | — |
| Character District CD-4 (General Urban), Character District CD-4C (General Urban  Corridor), Character District CD-5 (Urban Center), Character District CD-5C (Urban Center  Corridor), SD-INT (Interstate Service), SD-LI (Light Industrial), SD-HI (Heavy Industrial), PUD-MU (Mixed Use), Civic District (CV) | 16 | 50 ft | SD-INT: 300 sf; others: 40 sf | — |
| Character District CD-4 (General Urban), Character District CD-4C (General Urban  Corridor), SD-INT (Interstate Service), SD-LI (Light Industrial), SD-HI (Heavy Industrial), Civic District (CV) | 2 | 6 ft | 12 sf | — |
| Character District CD-3 (Neighborhood), Character District CD-4C (General Urban  Corridor), Character District CD-5C (Urban Center  Corridor), SD-INT (Interstate Service), SD-LI (Light Industrial), SD-HI (Heavy Industrial) | 1 | CD-3, CD-4C & CD-5C: 15 ft; SD-LI & SD-HI: 20 ft; SD-INT: not regulated | SD-INT: 300 sf; others: 40 sf | — |
| SD-MHP (Manufactured Home Park Residential), PUD-R (Residential), PUD-RES (Residential), PUD-R1, PUD-R2, PUD-R6, PUD-RM1, PUD-RM2, PUD-RS6, PUD-RS10, PUD-Other | 1 | 6 ft | 18 sf | — |
| PUD-C (Commercial), PUD-VC (Village Center), PUD-COMUMF, PUD-OP, PUD-B1, PUD-B2, PUD-B3, PUD-CEG, PUD-CRS, PUD-GRS | 1 | 10 ft | 50 sf (large scale commercial/multi-tenant additional 32 sf) | — |
| PUD-I (Industrial) | 1 | 10 ft | 50 sf (large scale commercial/multi-tenant additional 32 sf) | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 5 | 5 ft | 32 sf | — |
| Floodway Overlay District, Flood Fringe Overlay District | 1 | — | — | — |
| Historic Overlay District | 1 | — | — | — |
| Arts District Overlay | 1 | — | — | — |
| Planned Unit Development District – PUD-MU (Mixed Use) | 15 | 48 in | Letters, numbers, and graphics covering no more than 70% of the valance area | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 12 zones)

### Character District CD-4 (General Urban), Character District CD-4C (General Urban  Corridor), Character District CD-5 (Urban Center), Character District CD-5C (Urban Center  Corridor), SD-INT (Interstate Service), SD-LI (Light Industrial), SD-HI (Heavy Industrial), PUD-MU (Mixed Use), Civic District (CV)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Awning Sign | Valance: max 12 in (Letter height min 5 in, max 10 in) | Letters, numbers, and graphics covering no more than 70% of the valance area | Max width = width of facade | Min 8 ft fully extended, back of curb, whichever is less | 1 per window | Valance of awning on permitted buildings only | — | Table 7.1.2.B-2 Awning Sign |
| Blade Sign | 4 ft | 8 sf | 2 ft | — | 1 per business | Mounted on first floor, perpendicular to facade | — | Table 7.1.2.B-2 Blade Sign |
| Directory Sign | 3 ft | 6 sf max | 2 ft | — | 1 per ground floor entrance to upper floor businesses | Attached to, parallel with first floor facade | — | Table 7.1.2.B-2 Directory Sign |
| Large Projecting Sign | Not specified (Letter height min 5 in, max 10 in) | Not specified (letters/numbers/graphics covering no more than 70% of the area) | Width of facade | — | 1 per building | Above first floor, projecting at 90 or 45 degrees from facade | — | Table 7.1.2.B-2 Large Projecting Sign |
| Plaque Sign | 2 ft (mounting height max 7 ft) | 1 sf | 18 in | — | 1 per Principal Frontage | Inset or applied flush with building wall within ten feet of entrance | — | Table 7.1.2.B-2 Plaque Sign |
| Porch Sign | 2 ft | 6 sf | Max 100% width of entrance | — | 1 per address (2 for corner building) | Hung above entrance to porch or on architrave parallel to facade | — | Table 7.1.2.B-2 Porch Sign |
| Post Sign | 6 ft | 12 sf | 48 in (panel); height max 40 in (panel) | — | 1 per building | First Lot Layer, perpendicular to building facade | — | Table 7.1.2.B-2 Post Sign |
| Sidewalk Sign | 48 in | 10 sf | 30 in | — | 1 per business | Directly in front of permitted business space, on sidewalk | — | Table 7.1.2.B-2 Sidewalk Sign |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Internal Campus Sign | Unregulated where not visible from right-of-way | Unregulated where not visible from right-of-way | — | Minimum setback as applicable to accessory structures | — | Large multi-building sites (church, hospital, school) for circulation/direction | — | Table 7.1.2.B-2 Internal Campus Sign |
| Temporary Sign - Residential | 5 ft | 9 sf per side | — | — | 2 per lot/unit | Affixed to ground on pole/stake at residential property | — | Article 7.1.7.A |
| Temporary Sign - Ground Sign (Non-Residential) | 5 ft (32 sf/10 acres+) | 24 sf per side | — | Min 5 ft from property line | 1 per lot/building site | Affixed to ground, supported by posts | — | Article 7.1.7.B |
| Temporary Banner Sign (Non-Residential) | — | 32 sf | — | — | 1 per business | Banner affixed flat against wall of building | — | Article 7.1.7.B |
| Address Sign | — | — | — | — | 1 per tenant/owner | On each building as required by ordinance | — | Article 7.1.6 |

### Planned Unit Development District – PUD-MU (Mixed Use)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Awning Sign | Valance: max 12 in (Letter height min 5 in, max 10 in) | Letters, numbers, and graphics covering no more than 70% of the valance area | Max width = width of facade | Min 8 ft fully extended, back of curb, whichever less | 1 per window | Valance of awning | — | Table 7.1.2.B-2 Awning Sign; Table 7.1.2.B-1 |
| Blade Sign | 4 ft | 8 sf | 2 ft | — | 1 per business | First floor, perpendicular to facade | — | Table 7.1.2.B-2 Blade Sign |
| Directory Sign | 3 ft | 6 sf | 2 ft | — | 1 per ground floor entrance to upper floor business(es) | Attached to/parallel to first floor facade | — | Table 7.1.2.B-2 Directory Sign |
| Large Projecting Sign | Letter min 5 in, max 10 in | (70% coverage) | Width of facade | — | 1 per building | Above first floor, 90 or 45 degree projection from facade | — | Table 7.1.2.B-2 Large Projecting Sign |
| Plaque Sign | 2 ft (mounting max 7 ft) | 1 sf | 18 in | — | 1 per principal frontage | Inset/applied flush with building wall within 10 ft of entrance | — | Table 7.1.2.B-2 Plaque Sign |
| Porch Sign | 2 ft | 6 sf | 100% width of entrance | — | 1 per address (2 corner) | Hung above porch entrance or on architrave | — | Table 7.1.2.B-2 Porch Sign |
| Post Sign | 6 ft (panel: max 40 in) | 12 sf | 48 in (panel) | — | 1 per building | First Lot Layer, perpendicular to facade | — | Table 7.1.2.B-2 Post Sign |
| Sidewalk Sign | 48 in | 10 sf | 30 in | — | 1 per business | Directly in front of business, on sidewalk | — | Table 7.1.2.B-2 Sidewalk Sign |

## Prohibited signs in Columbia

- Billboards and Off-Premises Signs are prohibited except as otherwise permitted pursuant to Article 7 or TCA Title 54, Chapter 21.
- Signs are not permitted in public Rights-of-Way except as expressly allowed under Article 7.
- Portable Signs other than Sidewalk Signs are not permitted.
- Signs in upper floor windows are not permitted, except for Window Signs for an occupant separate from the ground floor occupant.
- All Signs that do not conform to Section 7.1 must be removed pursuant to Section 1.22.
- No Sign may be illuminated with or include animated, moving, intermittent, or flashing lights, or other active lighting.
- No Sign may have any moving component or element.
- No Sign may by design or arrangement imitate the size, color, lettering, illumination, word, phrase, or symbol of a traffic safety control Sign.
- No Sign or Sign support may be affixed to a tree, rock, utility pole or other improper Sign support, or contain any attachment, other Sign, symbol, flag, pennant or other attention-getting device (other than the Sign itself).
- No Sign may be within or overhang a public right-of-way or required Setback other than a Wall Sign (limited overhang), a Blade Sign, a Vertical Projecting Sign, a Marquee Sign, or an Awning Sign.
- No Sign may obstruct a traffic-control device, traffic Sign, or street name Sign, block driver vision at any driveway, intersection, or crosswalk, or be unsafe or hazardous.
- Freestanding Signs are prohibited within the sight-distance triangle formed by side/front lot lines and required front setback.
- Signs must comply with all applicable Building Codes and City/state electrical codes.
- Commercial Signs and supports must be removed within 30 days after the business ceases to operate, upon notice.
- Signs may not be internally illuminated or back-lighted in districts CD-2, CD-3, and CD-3L.
- All electrical elements of a Sign (except the light fixture) must be concealed to the extent possible from public view.

## Signs exempt from permit in Columbia

- Address Signs (one per tenant or owner).
- On-premises Signs not exceeding 4 square feet in area that are located along the route to a place or location within such premises or are provided for safety.
- Governmental Signs placed by the City or other governmental unit.
- Signs carved into stone, concrete, or similar material, or bronze, aluminum, or other permanent construction made integral to the structure.
- Temporary Signs allowed under Section 7.1.7.
- Campus Signs oriented internally on large multi-building sites, adhering to Campus Sign standards.
- Small Home Occupation identification signs of no more than 4 square feet.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Except for Exempt Signs, no Sign shall be erected, installed, or exist on a Lot, Building Site, or Building unless a Sign Permit has been issued in accordance with Section 8.5.23.
- Design drawings of any proposed Sign must be submitted to the Building Official for compliance review prior to fabrication and installation; drawings must include sign location/size, materials, colors, mounting/hanging device, illumination scheme, and lettering example.
- Permanent Residential Subdivision Signs must be located at identified development entrances on a Site Development Plan.
- All Signs are subject to enforcement and appeal provisions of the Ordinance if in violation.

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

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