# Sign Regulations in Cookeville, Tennessee

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Cookeville, Tennessee (TN)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/tennessee/cookeville
- **Data last verified:** 2025-10-30
- **Source:** [other municipal code](https://www.cookeville-tn.gov/DocumentCenter/View/589/207---General-Sign-Regulations)

## At a glance

Cookeville, Tennessee regulates 43 sign types across 8 zoning districts. Freestanding Sign - On-Premise (≤ 50 ft frontage)s in the CL, UNV zoning district are capped at ≤ 35 ft tall and ≤ 50 sq ft per sign face, with a ≥15 ft from ROW for portions 2–8 ft high and for supports > 2 ft wide; absolute minimum ≥5 ft from ROW; spacing ≥100 ft (same premise), ≥25 ft (other premises/off-premise signs) setback (Sec. Section 207.6B–D(1), (4)-(7), (8)-(12)). Most commercial signs in Cookeville require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (8 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 9 | ≤ 3 ft | ≤ 32 sq ft | — |
| RS-20, RS-15, RS-10, RS-5, RD, RM-8, RM-14, PRD, RMHP | 10 | ≤ 8 ft | ≤ 100 sq ft (when substituting one sign for two permitted on one street frontage) | — |
| CN | 12 | ≤ 20 ft | ≤ 100 sq ft (building-mounted) | — |
| CL, UNV | 15 | ≤ 35 ft | ≤ 250 sq ft per sign face | — |
| CR, PCD, MS | 14 | ≤ 35 ft | ≤ 250 sq ft | — |
| CBD | 15 | ≤ 35 ft | ≤ 250 sq ft | — |
| CG, CI, LM, HM | 19 | ≤ 50 ft; if parcel is within 750 ft of closest ROW of Interstate 40, ≤ 100 ft | Outside corridor: ≤ 300 sq ft; within corridor: per TDOT (9/1/2007) | — |
| QM | 2 | — | Calculated by formula (≤ 25% of wall face area) | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 8 zones)

### CL, UNV

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign - On-Premise (≤ 50 ft frontage) | ≤ 35 ft | ≤ 50 sq ft per sign face | — | ≥15 ft from ROW for portions 2–8 ft high and for supports > 2 ft wide; absolute minimum ≥5 ft from ROW; spacing ≥100 ft (same premise), ≥25 ft (other premises/off-premise signs) | Frontage < 400 ft: 1 per frontage (max 2 per premise). Frontage ≥ 400 ft: 2 per frontage (max 3 per premise). | On-premise; per public street frontage | — | Section 207.6B–D(1), (4)-(7), (8)-(12) |
| Freestanding Sign - On-Premise (> 50 ft and < 100 ft frontage) | ≤ 35 ft | ≤ 100 sq ft per sign face | — | As above | As above | On-premise; per public street frontage | — | Section 207.6D(2), (11) |
| Freestanding Sign - On-Premise (≥ 100 ft frontage) | ≤ 35 ft | ≤ 250 sq ft per sign face | — | As above | As above | On-premise; per public street frontage | — | Section 207.6D(3), (11) |
| Freestanding Electronic Message Center (EMC) | Within freestanding sign max height (≤ 35 ft) | ≤ 25% of total allowable sign face area of the freestanding sign; exception: if EMC ≤ 32 sq ft, it does not count toward total allowable sign face area | — | Follow freestanding sign setbacks | 1 EMC per premise | Attached to a permitted on-premise freestanding sign | — | Section 207.6D(13)(a)-(d) |
| Freestanding Changeable Copy Sign (Reader Board) | Within freestanding sign max height (≤ 35 ft) | If reader board ≤ 32 sq ft, it does not count toward total allowable sign face area; otherwise counts toward total | — | Follow freestanding sign setbacks | 1 per permitted freestanding sign | Attached to a permitted on-premise freestanding sign | — | Section 207.6D(14)(a)-(b) |
| Mansard Sign or Roof Sign | — | Calculated by formula | — | — | 1 per mansard or roof | On-premise, one per mansard or roof | — | Section 207.6F(1)-(4) |
| Projecting Sign | — | ≤ 20 sq ft | — | — | 1 per establishment | One per establishment | — | Section 207.6H |
| Banner (On-Premise Temporary) | — | ≤ 100 sq ft | — | — | 1 per establishment | Attached to wall, fascia, mansard roof, canopy, or awning | — | Section 207.6M(1)-(2), (4) |

### CBD

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign - On-Premise (≤ 50 ft frontage) | ≤ 35 ft | ≤ 50 sq ft per sign face | — | ≥15 ft from ROW for portions 2–8 ft high and supports > 2 ft wide; ≥5 ft minimum; spacing ≥100 ft (same premise), ≥25 ft (other premises/off-premise) | Frontage < 400 ft: 1 per frontage (max 2 per premise). Frontage ≥ 400 ft: 2 per frontage (max 3 per premise). | On-premise; per frontage | — | Section 207.6B–D(1), (4)-(7), (11) |
| Freestanding Sign - On-Premise (> 50 ft and < 100 ft frontage) | ≤ 35 ft | ≤ 100 sq ft | — | As above | As above | On-premise; per frontage | — | Section 207.6D(2), (11) |
| Freestanding Sign - On-Premise (≥ 100 ft frontage) | ≤ 35 ft | ≤ 250 sq ft | — | As above | As above | On-premise; per frontage | — | Section 207.6D(3), (11) |
| Freestanding Electronic Message Center (EMC) | Within freestanding sign max (≤ 35 ft) | ≤ 25% of allowable freestanding sign face area; exception for EMC ≤ 32 sq ft (does not count toward total) | — | Follow freestanding sign setbacks | 1 per premise | Attached to permitted freestanding sign | — | Section 207.6D(13)(a)-(d) |
| Freestanding Changeable Copy Sign (Reader Board) | Within freestanding sign max (≤ 35 ft) | Reader board ≤ 32 sq ft does not count toward total; otherwise counts | — | Follow freestanding sign setbacks | 1 per permitted freestanding sign | Attached to permitted freestanding sign | — | Section 207.6D(14)(a)-(b) |
| Mansard Sign or Roof Sign | — | Calculated by formula | — | — | 1 per mansard or roof | On-premise, one per mansard or roof | — | Section 207.6F(1)-(4) |
| Projecting Sign | — | ≤ 20 sq ft | — | — | 1 per establishment | One per establishment | — | Section 207.6H |
| Banner (On-Premise Temporary) | — | ≤ 100 sq ft | — | — | 1 per establishment | Attached to wall/fascia/mansard/canopy/awning | — | Section 207.6M(1)-(2), (4) |

### CG, CI, LM, HM

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign - On-Premise (≤ 50 ft frontage) | ≤ 50 ft; if parcel is within 750 ft of closest ROW of Interstate 40, ≤ 100 ft | ≤ 50 sq ft per sign face | — | ≥15 ft from ROW for portions 2–8 ft high and supports > 2 ft wide; absolute minimum ≥5 ft from ROW; spacing ≥100 ft (same premise), ≥25 ft (other premises/off-premise) | Frontage < 400 ft: 1 per frontage (max 2 per premise). Frontage ≥ 400 ft: 2 per frontage (max 3 per premise). | On-premise; per public street frontage | — | Section 207.6B–D(1), (4)-(7), (12) |
| Freestanding Sign - On-Premise (> 50 ft and < 100 ft frontage) | ≤ 50 ft; if within 750 ft of I-40 ROW, ≤ 100 ft | ≤ 100 sq ft | — | As above | As above | On-premise; per public street frontage | — | Section 207.6D(2), (12) |
| Freestanding Sign - On-Premise (≥ 100 ft frontage) | ≤ 50 ft; if within 750 ft of I-40 ROW, ≤ 100 ft | ≤ 250 sq ft | — | As above | As above | On-premise; per public street frontage | — | Section 207.6D(3), (12) |
| Freestanding Electronic Message Center (EMC) | Within freestanding sign max (≤ 50 ft or ≤ 100 ft near I-40) | ≤ 25% of allowable freestanding sign face area; exception for EMC ≤ 32 sq ft (does not count toward total) | — | Follow freestanding sign setbacks | 1 per premise | Attached to permitted freestanding sign | — | Section 207.6D(13)(a)-(d) |
| Freestanding Changeable Copy Sign (Reader Board) | Within freestanding sign max (≤ 50 ft or ≤ 100 ft near I-40) | Reader board ≤ 32 sq ft does not count toward total; otherwise counts | — | Follow freestanding sign setbacks | 1 per permitted freestanding sign | Attached to permitted freestanding sign | — | Section 207.6D(14)(a)-(b) |
| Mansard Sign or Roof Sign | — | Calculated by formula | — | — | 1 per mansard or roof | On-premise, one per mansard or roof | — | Section 207.6F(1)-(4) |
| Projecting Sign | — | ≤ 20 sq ft | — | — | 1 per establishment | One per establishment | — | Section 207.6H |
| Billboard | Outside corridor: ≤ 50 ft (uppermost display to finished grade) and ≥ 20 ft (lowest display to finished grade); within corridor: per TDOT (9/1/2007) | Outside corridor: ≤ 300 sq ft; within corridor: per TDOT (9/1/2007) | — | As above; plus general ROW setbacks | Citywide maximum 121 (inventory-controlled) | Only in CG, CI, LM, HM districts; subject to citywide max of 121 billboards and Official Billboard Inventory | — | Section 207.6P(1)-(5)(A)-(T) |

## Prohibited signs in Cookeville

- No sign may obstruct clear vision or create hazards for vehicular or pedestrian traffic due to location, shape, illumination, or color.
- No sign may be erected, replaced, or relocated so as to block the free use of any required door, window, fire escape, emergency exit, or standpipe.
- No sign may be located on or attached to public property except public signs authorized by the City or the State.
- No sign may be located on or overhang any public right-of-way, except certain signs specifically permitted in the CBD.
- No sign may be painted on or attached to trees, rocks, utility poles, guy wires, street name signs, warning or regulatory signs, or similar objects.
- No sign may have blinking, flashing, or fluttering lights or illumination that changes light intensity, brightness, or color; time/temperature displays and on-premise electronic message centers are excluded from this prohibition.
- No sign may be placed to impede visibility between 2 feet and 10 feet above street level within intersection sight triangles.
- Signs designed or equipped to be connected to electricity shall not be connected to power unless UL approved and compliant with applicable city and state codes.
- Signs must be erected, replaced, or relocated in accordance with City Building Codes; noncompliant work is prohibited.
- Covering obsolete sign panels or sign copy with any material is prohibited; obsolete panels or copy must be removed within 30 days.
- Flashing signs are prohibited.

## Signs exempt from permit in Cookeville

- Government signs established by or by order of any governmental agency.
- Directional signs for parking/loading/entrance/exit not exceeding 12 square feet and 3 feet in height, provided they do not obstruct ingress/egress visibility.
- Real estate signs while the property is listed for sale, lease, or auction: up to 9 square feet in residential districts and 32 square feet in non-residential districts; must be removed within 14 days after the transaction. Off-premise real estate directional/open house signs are permitted for one 7-consecutive-day period per 12 consecutive months.
- Political signs on private property with owner consent, up to 32 square feet; must be removed within 14 days after the election or event.
- Construction signs up to 32 square feet from building permit issuance until 30 days after final inspection.
- Future home/location signs up to 32 square feet for 90 days prior to building permit issuance through the building permit period; must be removed if no building permit is issued within 90 days.
- Garage or yard sale signs up to 6 square feet for 5 days prior to and during the sale; must be removed within 3 days after the sale.
- One on-premise promotional sign for new subdivisions (one per subdivision) up to 32 square feet; must be removed when 80% of lots are sold.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- No master sign plan or sign plan requirement is stated in Section 207.
- A sign permit is required prior to the erection, relocation, or major alteration/modification of any sign; replacing a sign head, adding an electronic message center, or converting to a multi-prism or electronic display screen constitutes a major alteration requiring a permit.
- An Electrical Inspection Permit and UL listing are required for any sign requiring electrical power.
- Inspections by Planning and Codes are required for footers and final installation; a Certificate of Approval is required and issued upon approved final inspection.
- Special permit required for mobile or portable signs (only allowed in specified commercial/industrial districts), with duration limits and a refundable bond.
- Special permit required for temporary off-premise signs for events of public interest (nonprofit civic/educational/religious), with limits on number, size, and display period; no fee, but locations and responsible party must be provided.
- In the CN District, attaching an electronic message center or changeable copy sign to a freestanding sign requires an appeal to the Board of Zoning Appeals and must meet specified conditions (street classification, separation from nearby residences, size cap, static message timing, limited hours).
- Permit fees apply based on sign face area per face; fees are calculated separately for each sign.

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

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