# Sign Regulations in Fairview, Tennessee

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Fairview, Tennessee (TN)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/tennessee/fairview
- **Data last verified:** 2026-02-04
- **Source:** [other municipal code](https://www.fairview-tn.org/content/uploads/docs/article_11.pdf)

## At a glance

Fairview, Tennessee regulates 70 sign types across 7 zoning districts. Freestanding Sign - Residentials in the R-M (RM-20, RM-12, RM-8) zoning district are capped at 5 ft (Table 11-107-C) tall and 12 sq ft per sign (Table 11-107-C, All RM, Area), with a 10 ft from ROW/property line (Table 11-107-C; 11-105.B) plus intersection sight triangle (note (d) 11-107-C). setback (Sec. 11-107-A (Freestanding, Residential); 11-107-A note (b); 11-107-B (All RM); 11-107-C (All RM); 11-107-E; 11-105; 11-110.3). Most commercial signs in Fairview require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (7 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| A&R (AR-15A, AR-5A, RS-40, RSM-40, R-20, RS-15, RS-8, RS-5) | 10 | Subject to overall primary height cap of 10 ft (11-110.3) | 8 sq ft per sign (Table 11-107-C, All A&R, Area) | — |
| R-M (RM-20, RM-12, RM-8) | 19 | ≤10 ft (11-110.3) | Up to 25% of vertical surface of canopy (Table 11-107-D, Canopy) | — |
| R-MHP | 16 | ≤10 ft (11-110.3) | Up to 25% of vertical surface of canopy (Table 11-107-D) | — |
| Commercial and Mixed Use Districts (CG, CI, CMC, CNS, OPS, CC, OG, MSMU) | 23 | 10 ft (Table 11-107-C; overall primary height cap 10 ft or roof apex, 11-110.3). | 80 sq ft per sign (Table 11-107-C, CG, Area) | — |
| Industrial Districts (I-R, I-G, I-S) | 18 | Top of sign not above roof line/parapet; overall sign height subject to 11-110.3 cap. | 80 sq ft per sign (Table 11-107-C, I-R, Area) | — |
| Town Center Overlay District | 3 | Top of sign not above roof line/parapet; 10-ft general cap for primary signage (11-110.3). | Up to the “Wall Area Percent” for the underlying district (25% or 15%) without the freestanding-equivalence cap; subject to lot’s total sign area limit under Table 11-107-B. | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 5 | Primary outside signage may not exceed 10 ft in height or apex of roof line of establishment, whichever is less (11-110.3). | ≤50% of sign’s allowed area (11-109.2). | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 7 zones)

### R-M (RM-20, RM-12, RM-8)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign - Residential | 5 ft (Table 11-107-C) | 12 sq ft per sign (Table 11-107-C, All RM, Area) | — | 10 ft from ROW/property line (Table 11-107-C; 11-105.B) plus intersection sight triangle (note (d) 11-107-C). | 1 per zone lot (note (b) Table 11-107-A). | On the RM zone lot; minimum 10 ft setback (Table 11-107-C; 11-105.B). Maintain sight triangle at intersections. | — | 11-107-A (Freestanding, Residential); 11-107-A note (b); 11-107-B (All RM); 11-107-C (All RM); 11-107-E; 11-105; 11-110.3 |
| Freestanding Sign - Other | 5 ft (Table 11-107-C) subject to 10 ft overall cap (11-110.3). | 12 sq ft per sign (Table 11-107-C, All RM) | — | 10 ft (Table 11-107-C); plus general placement rules 11-105. | 1 per 200 ft of street frontage (Table 11-107-C, Number Permitted, All RM). | On the RM zone lot; 10 ft setback (Table 11-107-C). | — | 11-107-A (Freestanding, Other); 11-107-B (All RM); 11-107-C (All RM); 11-106 |
| Freestanding Sign - Incidental | ≤10 ft (11-110.3) | — | — | As per 11-105 and any visibility triangle rules. | Not numerically capped; must be incidental. | On the RM zone lot, subject to general setbacks (11-105). | — | 11-102 (Incidental Sign); 11-103.F; 11-107-A (Freestanding, Incidental); 11-107-A note (c); 11-107-B; 11-110.3 |
| Building Sign - Banner (Commercial) | — | — | — | Must not project into ROW without meeting vertical clearance; otherwise comply with 11-105. | Temporary: one banner per business per 11-108.4. Permanent: none permitted in RM. | On building or as otherwise mounted. Must meet vertical clearance if over sidewalks or streets (Table 11-107-D, Banner). | — | 11-107-A (Banner (Commercial) row, All RM = N); 11-108.4; 11-107-D (Banner); 11-107-B |
| Building Sign - Building Marker | — | 4 sq ft (Table 11-107-D) | — | — | 1 per building. | Integral to building as per definition. | — | 11-102 (Building Marker); 11-107-A; 11-107-D; 11-107-B |
| Building Sign - Canopy | — | Up to 25% of vertical surface of canopy (Table 11-107-D, Canopy) | — | — | 1 per occupant (Table 11-107-D). | On canopy over door, entrance, window, or outdoor service area (Canopy Sign definition). | — | 11-102 (Canopy Sign); 11-107-A (Canopy); 11-107-D (Canopy); 11-107-B; 11-107-E |
| Wall Sign - General | ≤10 ft or apex of roof, whichever less (11-110.3). | ≤12 sq ft per sign; ≤64 sq ft total (including other sign types except excluded categories). | — | — | Not numerically limited except where serving as Residential sign (then 1 per lot). | On building wall per Wall Sign definition. | — | Wall Sign definition; 11-107-A (Wall, RM); 11-107-A note (b); 11-107-B; 11-107-C note (e); 11-110.3 |
| Window Sign | — | Up to 25% of total window area per building face (Table 11-107-D). | — | — | 0 (not allowed). | Placed inside window or upon window glass, visible from exterior (Window Sign definition). | — | Window Sign definition; 11-107-A (Window row); 11-107-D (Window) |

### Commercial and Mixed Use Districts (CG, CI, CMC, CNS, OPS, CC, OG, MSMU)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign - Other (CNS, OG, OPS) | 10 ft (Table 11-107-C; overall primary height cap 10 ft or roof apex, 11-110.3). | 32 sq ft per sign (Table 11-107-C, CNS OG & OPS, Area) | — | 10 ft from existing right-of-way, plus clear sight triangle 30 ft at intersections between 3–10 ft height (note (d) Table 11-107-C). | 1 per 100 ft of street frontage (Table 11-107-C) and also subject to 11-109.1 general freestanding rules (max 2 per development, 1 per entrance, spaced 200 ft). | On commercial lot; minimum 10 ft setback from right-of-way (Table 11-107-C; 11-105.B). Must maintain sight triangle at intersections (note (d) Table 11-107-C). | — | 11-107-A (Freestanding, Other); 11-107-B (CNS OG & OPS); 11-107-C (CNS OG & OPS); 11-107-E; 11-109.1; 11-105; 11-110.3 |
| Freestanding Sign - Other (CG) | 10 ft (Table 11-107-C, CG) subject to overall 10-ft cap (11-110.3). | 80 sq ft per sign (Table 11-107-C, CG, Area) | — | 10 ft from ROW; clear sight triangle (note (d) Table 11-107-C). | 1 per 100 ft of street frontage (Table 11-107-C) and within overall freestanding limits of 11-109.1. | On CG lot, minimum 10 ft setback (Table 11-107-C; 11-105.B). | — | 11-107-A (Freestanding, Other, CG); 11-107-B (CG); 11-107-C (CG); 11-107-E; 11-109.1; 11-109.2; 11-104 |
| Freestanding Sign - Other (CI) | 10 ft in standard CI; for CI within 200 ft of interstate/limited access highway, max 100 ft (note (b) Table 11-107-C) but still subject to digital sign and safety rules. | 80 sq ft per sign generally; for CI locations within 200 ft of an interstate or limited access highway, max 250 sq ft (note (b) Table 11-107-C). | — | 10 ft from ROW (Table 11-107-C note (c)); maintain sight triangle (note (d)). | 1 per 200 ft street frontage (Table 11-107-C) plus 11-109.1 freestanding limits. | On CI lot, minimum 10 ft setback from existing right-of-way (Table 11-107-C; note (c)). | — | 11-107-A (Freestanding, Other, CI); 11-107-B (CI); 11-107-C (CI) & note (b),(c); 11-107-E; 11-109.2; 11-105 |
| Freestanding Sign - Other (CMC) | 10 ft (Table 11-107-C) | 80 sq ft per sign (Table 11-107-C, CMC) | — | 10 ft; sight triangle (note (d)). | 1 per 200 ft frontage plus 11-109.1 freestanding framework. | On CMC lot; 10 ft setback; must not encroach in ROW. | — | 11-107-A; 11-107-B (CMC); 11-107-C (CMC); 11-107-E; 11-109.1; 11-109.2 |
| Freestanding Sign - Other (CC) | 10 ft (Table 11-107-C) | 32 sq ft per sign (Table 11-107-C, CC) | — | 10 ft; intersection sight triangle (note (d)). | 1 per 200 ft frontage plus 11-109.1. | On CC lot; 10 ft setback. | — | 11-107-A; 11-107-B (CC); 11-107-C (CC); 11-107-E; 11-109.1; 11-109.2 |
| Freestanding Sign - Other (MSMU) | 10 ft (Table 11-107-C, MSMU) | 10 sq ft per sign (Table 11-107-C, MSMU, Area) | — | At least 10 ft from ROW by 11-105.B and general practice; must maintain sight lines per note (d). | 1 per zone lot (Table 11-107-C, MSMU). | On MSMU lot; 10 ft setback (implied by pattern; though blank in table, general 11-105.B still applies). | — | 11-107-A (Freestanding, Other, MSMU); 11-107-B (MSMU); 11-107-C (MSMU); 11-107-C note (e); 11-107-E; 11-105 |
| Freestanding Sign - Residential (Commercial/Mixed Districts) | Typically 5 ft for residential freestanding where allowed, but for MSMU there is no “Residential freestanding” row; for building residential, Table 11-107-A lists MSMU = N. | Not specifically quantified beyond residential sign limits used in A&R/RM; but in commercial districts, “Residential” building row shows P only for COM FAC., not for CNS/OG/OPS/CG/CI/CMC/CC/MSMU except A&R and RM. For freestanding, Residential is N in all commercial columns except MSMU (S). | — | As 11-105.B and Table 11-107-C (10-ft setback in MSMU context). | 1 per zone lot for residential per note (b). | On MSMU lot only where residential use exists. | — | 11-107-A (Freestanding, Residential row); 11-107-A note (b); 11-107-C (MSMU); 11-107-E |
| Freestanding Sign - Incidental (All Commercial/Mixed districts) | ≤10 ft or roof apex (11-110.3) | — | — | Subject to 11-105.A–C. | Not numerically limited. | On commercial lot. | — | 11-102; 11-103.F; 11-107-A (Freestanding, Incidental); 11-107-A note (c); 11-107-B; 11-110.3 |

### Industrial Districts (I-R, I-G, I-S)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign - Other (I-R) | 10 ft (Table 11-107-C, I-R) | 80 sq ft per sign (Table 11-107-C, I-R, Area) | — | 10 ft; clear sight triangle (note (d) Table 11-107-C). | 1 per 800 ft frontage (Table 11-107-C) and subject to 11-109.1. | On I-R lot; 10 ft setback (Table 11-107-C; 11-105.B). | — | 11-107-A (Freestanding, Other, All Ind.); 11-107-B (I-R); 11-107-C (I-R); 11-107-E; 11-109.1; 11-109.2; 11-105 |
| Freestanding Sign - Other (I-G, I-S) | 10 ft (Table 11-107-C) | 80 sq ft per sign (Table 11-107-C, I-G & I-S, Area) | — | 10 ft; intersection visibility rules (note (d) Table 11-107-C). | 1 per 200 ft frontage (Table 11-107-C). | On industrial lot; 10 ft setback (Table 11-107-C; 11-105.B). | — | 11-107-A (Freestanding, Other, All Ind.); 11-107-B (I-G & I-S); 11-107-C (I-G & I-S); 11-107-E & note (c); 11-109.1; 11-109.2; 11-105 |
| Freestanding Sign - Incidental (Industrial) | ≤10 ft (11-110.3) | — | — | Subject to 11-105. | Not numerically limited. | On industrial lot; not in ROW. | — | 11-102; 11-103.F; 11-107-A; 11-107-A note (c); 11-107-B |
| Building Sign - Banner (Commercial) (Industrial) | — | Temporary banners ≤36 sq ft (11-108.4). Permanent sign area counts toward lot’s total (Table 11-107-B). | — | No encroachment in ROW; clearance requirements apply. | Temporary: one banner per business (11-108.4). | On industrial buildings; must meet 9 ft/12 ft clearances if over walks/streets (Table 11-107-D). | — | 11-107-A (Banner (Commercial)); 11-107-A note (i); 11-108.4; 11-107-D |
| Building Sign - Building Marker (Industrial) | — | 4 sq ft (Table 11-107-D) | — | — | 1 per building. | On building. | — | 11-102; 11-107-A; 11-107-A note (c); 11-107-D; 11-107-B |
| Building Sign - Canopy (Industrial) | — | Up to 25% of vertical surface of canopy (Table 11-107-D); counts toward lot total area. | — | No ROW encroachment below clearances; 11-105 applies. | 1 per occupant. | On canopy. | — | 11-102; 11-107-A; 11-107-D; 11-107-B; 11-107-E |
| Building Sign - Marquee (Industrial) | — | — | — | No ROW encroachment below clearances. | 1 per occupant. | Attached to marquee. | — | 11-102; 11-107-A; 11-107-D; 11-107-B; 11-107-E |
| Wall Sign - General (Industrial) | Top of sign not above roof line/parapet; overall sign height subject to 11-110.3 cap. | Up to 25% of wall area per sign; but ≤freestanding sign area; and overall ≤100 sq ft for I-R or 200 sq ft for I-G/I-S per lot (Table 11-107-B). | — | — | Not specifically capped; constrained by area totals. | On building wall. | — | Wall Sign definition; 11-107-A (Wall); 11-107-B (I-R/I-G/I-S); 11-107-C (Wall Area Percent) & note (e); 11-107-E; 11-110.3; 11-109.2 |

## Prohibited signs in Fairview

- A sign may be erected, placed, established, painted, created, or maintained within the City only in conformance with the standards, procedures, exemptions, and other requirements of this ordinance (11-101.2).
- All signs not expressly permitted or exempt from regulation under this ordinance are prohibited in the planning jurisdiction of the City (11-104).
- No tobacco brand outside advertising, whether temporary or permanent, fixed to a building or stand-alone, is allowed within the City of Fairview unless such advertisement existed in its current form prior to 1999 (11-104.A).
- Beacons are prohibited (11-104.B).
- Pennants and streamers not in accordance with Sections 11-105 and 11-108.7 are prohibited (11-104.C).
- Strings of lights not permanently mounted to a rigid background and inflatable signs and tethered balloons are prohibited (11-104.D).
- Signs painted on or attached to trees, fence posts, rocks or other natural features, telephone or utility poles, or painted on the roofs of buildings visible from any public thoroughfare are prohibited (11-104.E).
- Signs using the words “stop”, “danger”, or any other word, phrase, symbol or character in a manner that misleads, confuses or distracts a vehicle driver are prohibited (11-104.F).
- Trailer signs and portable signs are prohibited (11-104.G; also Table 11‑107‑A shows ‘Trailer’ as not allowed in all districts).
- Roof signs, as defined by the ordinance, are prohibited (11-104.H; Table 11‑107‑A).
- Flashing directional signs; signs containing strobe lights; signs containing red, blue, white, or yellow flashing bulbs that are similar to emergency vehicles; and signs in general that could create a distraction and/or potential hazard in the judgment of the Planning and Codes Department are prohibited (11-104.I; also Table 11‑107‑E shows ‘Flashing’ as not allowed in all districts).
- Any sign or sign structure other than freestanding and vertical wall extension, any portion of which extends above the parapet, building roof line, or canopy against which the sign is located, is prohibited (11-104.J).
- Residential home based business occupation signage is prohibited (11-104.K).
- Off-site commercial business advertisement and directional signs are prohibited (11-104.L).
- No signs shall be allowed in the public right-of-way (11-105.A), except public/governmental signs expressly exempted in 11-103.
- No sign shall be placed on any utility pole, street or traffic sign, tree, fence, etc. (11-105.C).
- Signs must comply with setback requirements: 25 feet from the centerline of the road on state highways where the right-of-way is unknown and 10 feet from the edge of pavement on city roads (11-105.B).
- Under no circumstances may any primary outside signage exceed ten (10) feet in height or the apex of the roof line of the establishment it is identifying, whichever is less (11-110.3), subject to specific CI highway exceptions elsewhere.
- All signs, temporary or permanent, must be designed, purchased, created, and displayed in a manner that promotes a professional appearance; hand-created and lettered signs may be removed if, in the opinion of the Planning and Codes Department, they do not meet the spirit of the ordinance (11-112.A).
- Except for banners, flags, or temporary signs conforming to this ordinance, all signs must be constructed of permanent materials and be permanently attached to the ground, a building, or another structure by direct attachment to a rigid wall, frame, or structure (11-112.B).
- Every sign, including those not requiring a permit, must be maintained in a safe, presentable, and sound structural condition, including prevention of rust, peeling, flaking, fading, or rotting, and repair/replacement of broken panels, missing letters, defective illumination, torn fabric, etc. (11-112.C).
- Any sign on public property not in conformance with this ordinance is forfeited to the public and subject to removal and disposal, with the City entitled to recover removal and disposal costs from the owner or person placing the sign (11-113.3).
- Any sign which presents an immediate danger to the public may be removed at the direction of the Planning and Codes Department without notice (11-113.4).
- Animated signs are not allowed in any zoning district (Table 11‑107‑E).
- Flashing signs are not allowed in any zoning district (Table 11‑107‑E).
- Internal illumination and external illumination are not allowed in residential and most purely residential districts except as specifically allowed for certain uses (Table 11‑107‑E).

## Signs exempt from permit in Fairview

- Any public notice or warning required by a valid and applicable Federal, state, or local law, regulation, or ordinance is exempt from regulation under this ordinance (11-103.A).
- Any sign that is not legible from a distance of more than three (3) feet beyond the lot line of the zone lot or parcel on which such sign is located is exempt (11-103.B).
- Holiday lights and decorations with no commercial message, used only in conjunction with the appropriate holiday, are exempt (11-103.C).
- Private street name and traffic control signs on private property, such as Stop, Yield, and similar signs, whose faces meet Department of Transportation standards and which contain no commercial message, are exempt (11-103.D).
- “No trespassing”, “no hunting”, “no fishing”, “no loitering”, and similar signs not exceeding one (1) square foot in area are exempt (11-103.E).
- Incidental signs, as defined in the article, are exempt (11-103.F).
- Flags of the United States, the State of Tennessee, the City, foreign nations having diplomatic relations with the United States, and any other flag adopted or sanctioned by an elected legislative body of competent jurisdiction are exempt (11-103.G).
- Other flags such as decorative flags (e.g., sports team flags) and flags representing religious or charitable organizations, schools, bands, athletic teams, competitions, clubs, and holidays do not require a permit and are exempt (11-103.H).
- Public signs erected by or on behalf of a governmental body to post legal notices, identify public property, convey public information, and direct or regulate pedestrian or vehicular traffic are exempt (11-103.I).
- Bus stop signs erected by a public transit company are exempt (11-103.J).
- Informational signs of a public utility regarding its poles, lines, pipes, or facilities are exempt (11-103.J).
- Emergency warning signs erected by a governmental agency, a public utility company, or a contractor doing authorized or permitted work within the public right-of-way are exempt (11-103.K).

## Sign plan & submission notes

- No sign permit of any kind shall be issued for an existing or proposed sign unless such sign is consistent with the Master or Common Sign Plan in effect for the property (11-106.1).
- Applications for approval of a Master or Common Sign Plan must be submitted to the Planning and Codes Department on the prescribed application form, along with applicable fees (11-106.2.1–2).
- Within five (5) working days of receiving an application for a Master or Common Sign Plan, the Planning and Codes Department reviews it for completeness and either processes it or issues a deficiency notice (11-106.2.3).
- On any application for approval of a Master or Common Sign Plan, the Planning and Codes Department must act within ten (10) days after submission of a complete application for existing buildings, or on the date of final action on any related building permit, site plan, or development plan for new construction (11-106.2.4).
- On action for a Master or Common Sign Plan, the Planning and Codes Department must either approve the plan if it conforms in every respect with the ordinance or reject it with specific reasons referencing ordinance sections (11-106.2.5).
- No permit shall be issued for an individual sign requiring a permit unless and until a Master or a Common Sign Plan for the zone lot on which the sign will be erected has been submitted to and approved by the Planning and Codes Department as conforming to Section 11-111 (11-111).
- For any zone lot on which the owner proposes to erect one or more signs requiring a permit, unless the zone lot is included in a Common Sign Plan, the owner must submit a Master Sign Plan containing: plot plan, location of site features, computation of maximum total sign area and number/height of freestanding signs, and the proposed location of each present and future sign (permit and non-permit types, except incidental and non-regulated signs), plus owner/applicant identification (11-111.1).
- If owners of two or more contiguous zone lots, or the owner of a single lot with more than one principal building, file a Common Sign Plan, a 25% increase in the maximum total sign area is allowed for each included zone lot, with the bonus allocated as the owner(s) elect (11-111.2).
- A Common Sign Plan must include the same information required for a Master Sign Plan and also specify standards for consistency among all signs regarding color scheme, lighting, location on buildings, materials, and sign proportions (11-111.3).
- Under a Common Sign Plan for zone lots with multiple uses or users, the number of freestanding signs is generally limited to one for the street frontage of the lots in the plan, with shared/common usage of such signs; corner or multi-frontage situations are limited to one freestanding sign per street where there are 200 or more linear feet of frontage, and such properties are treated as a unified zone lot (11-111.4).
- A Master or Common Sign Plan may contain additional restrictions as the owners of the zone lots may reasonably determine (11-111.5).
- The Master or Common Sign Plan must be signed by all owners or their authorized agents in a form required by the Planning and Codes Department (11-111.6).
- A Master or Common Sign Plan must be included in any development plan, site plan, planned unit development plan, or other official plan required by the city for the proposed development and must be processed simultaneously with such other plan (11-111.7).
- A Master or Common Sign Plan may be amended by filing a new plan that conforms with all requirements of the ordinance then in effect; amendments are generally reviewed and acted upon by the Planning and Codes Department, but amendments affecting items governed by 11-111.3 are processed in the same manner as the original plan (11-111.8).
- When a Master or Common Sign Plan is filed for a property with existing signs, the plan must include a schedule for bringing into conformance, within one (1) year, all signs not conforming to the proposed plan or to the ordinance requirements (11-111.9).
- After approval of a Master or Common Sign Plan, no sign may be erected, placed, painted, or maintained except in conformance with such plan; the plan is enforceable like any ordinance provision, and in case of conflict between the plan and the ordinance, the ordinance controls (11-111.10).
- When a business ceases to operate and a new firm wishes to occupy the building or space served by an existing nonconforming sign listing tenants, a new Master or Common Signage Plan is required (11-113.1).

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

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