# Sign Regulations in Forest Hills, Tennessee

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Forest Hills, Tennessee (TN)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/tennessee/forest-hills
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-08
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/TN/Forest_Hills/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=TIT14ZOLAUSCO_CH2ZOOR_ARTIVBUSTOTPERE_4.10SI)

## At a glance

Forest Hills, Tennessee regulates 12 sign types across 7 zoning districts. Ground Sign (Permanent - Institutional Use)s in the Institutional (IN) zoning district are capped at 6 ft. tall and 25 sq. ft., with a No closer than 20 feet to lot line. setback (Sec. Sec. 4.10(b), Table 4.10(b), Note 13). Most commercial signs in Forest Hills require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (7 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Estates 1A (E1A), Estates A (EA), Estates B (EB), Estates C (EC), Residential A (RA), Neighborhood Conservation (NC1, NC2), Open Space Subdivision (OS) | 5 | 6 ft. | 25 sq. ft. | — |
| Historic Commercial (HC) | 4 | 5 ft. | 25 sq. ft. | — |
| Country Club (CC) | 4 | 5 ft. | 25 sq. ft. | — |
| Institutional (IN) | 4 | 6 ft. | 25 sq. ft. | — |
| Municipal Floodplain Protection Overlay (FP) | 1 | — | — | — |
| Hillside Protection Overlay (HP) | 1 | — | — | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 3 | 6 ft. | 25 sq. ft. | — |

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

### Estates 1A (E1A), Estates A (EA), Estates B (EB), Estates C (EC), Residential A (RA), Neighborhood Conservation (NC1, NC2), Open Space Subdivision (OS)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Subdivision Sign (Permanent Ground Sign) | 6 ft. | 25 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per street | At subdivision entry or as approved on lot, not in right-of-way. | — | Sec. 4.10(b), Table 4.10(b); Sec. 4.09 |
| Security Sign | 3 ft. | 1 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per street | Ground or attached to mailbox. | — | Sec. 4.10(b), Table 4.10(b) |
| Real Estate Sign (Temporary) | 5 ft. | 25 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per street frontage | On the property for sale; not in the right-of-way. | — | Sec. 4.10(c), Table 4.10(c) |
| Construction Sign (Temporary) | 5 ft. | 8 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per street frontage | On property under construction. | — | Sec. 4.10(c), Table 4.10(c) |
| Political Sign (Temporary) | 5 ft. | 16 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per candidate/issue per street frontage | On property; not within right-of-way. | — | Sec. 4.10(c), Table 4.10(c) |

### Historic Commercial (HC)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | 1 ft. | 12 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per street | Affixed to building wall. | — | Sec. 4.10(b), Table 4.10(b); Sec. 4.09(b)(i)(8) |
| Real Estate Sign (Temporary) | 5 ft. | 25 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per street frontage | On property for sale; not in right-of-way. | — | Sec. 4.10(c), Table 4.10(c) |
| Security Sign | 3 ft. | 1 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per street | Ground or attached to mailbox. | — | Sec. 4.10(b), Table 4.10(b) |
| Construction Sign (Temporary) | 5 ft. | 8 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per street frontage | On property under construction. | — | Sec. 4.10(c), Table 4.10(c) |

### Institutional (IN)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Ground Sign (Permanent - Institutional Use) | 6 ft. | 25 sq. ft. | — | No closer than 20 feet to lot line. | 1 per street | No closer than 20 feet to lot line; at institutional entry. | — | Sec. 4.10(b), Table 4.10(b), Note 13 |
| Security Sign | 3 ft. | 1 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per street | Ground or attached to mailbox. | — | Sec. 4.10(b), Table 4.10(b) |
| Real Estate Sign (Temporary) | 5 ft. | 25 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per street frontage | On the property for sale; not in the right-of-way. | — | Sec. 4.10(c), Table 4.10(c) |
| Construction Sign (Temporary) | 5 ft. | 8 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per street frontage | On property under construction. | — | Sec. 4.10(c), Table 4.10(c) |

## Prohibited signs in Forest Hills

- No sign of any nature whatsoever shall be placed within the Right-of-Way.
- No sign shall be illuminated except as provided in Section 4.09.
- No sign, other than Real Estate, Security Signs and Political Signs, shall be erected without a sign permit.
- Any structure which primarily serves the purpose of supporting or displaying any sign shall be included in calculating the size and height requirements.
- Signs must be maintained in a safe, orderly and presentable manner by the holder of the sign permit.
- The City Manager or his designee is authorized to remove any sign that does not comply with the requirements of this Section.
- No outdoor internally illuminated signs shall be permitted. Externally illuminated signs shall be lighted using fixtures mounted at the top of the sign and aimed downward.
- Flashing lights, except for seasonal decorations, are prohibited.
- No sign shall be maintained so as to constitute a hazard.
- Signs shall not interfere with adequate vehicle sight distance at street intersections (see Section 4.11: no sign may be erected or maintained in excess of two feet in height within 200 feet of the corner of any intersection on residential collector streets or within 275 feet on all scenic arterial and arterial streets).
- No sign of any type is permitted to violate any other bulk, setback, or safety regulation.

## Signs exempt from permit in Forest Hills

- Real Estate Signs, Security Signs and Political Signs do not require a sign permit but must otherwise conform to standards.
- Any real estate broker required by state law to maintain a sign may attach a personal identification sign up to one square foot, affixed to the residence.
- Temporary sign standards apply in all zoning districts.
- Temporary construction site fencing up to six feet in height is permitted for safety and security purposes if visibility through the fence is not obstructed (as related to sign support structures).

## Sign plan & submission notes

- No sign, other than Real Estate, Security, and Political Signs, shall be erected without a sign permit.
- Size, location, design and nature of signs, if any, in Open Space Subdivisions must be detailed in the application.
- Permanent attachment signs must comply with the standards in Table 4.10(b) and require a permit.
- Temporary signs must comply with the standards in Table 4.10(c) and do not require a permit but must comply with removal timelines.
- If a sign exceeds the standards for number, placement, or illumination, the applicant may need to apply for a variance or appeal to the Board of Zoning Appeals (see Article VIII and IX).
- Applications for development (Open Space Subdivision, non-residential districts) that specify signage are reviewed as part of the larger site or concept plan.

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

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