# Sign Regulations in Gallatin, Tennessee

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Gallatin, Tennessee (TN)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/tennessee/gallatin
- **Data last verified:** 2026-01-06
- **Source:** [other municipal code](https://www.gallatintn.gov/DocumentCenter/View/504/Sign-Ordinance-PDF)

## At a glance

Gallatin, Tennessee regulates 30 sign types across 6 zoning districts. Sandwich Board Sign (CC)s in the Commercial Districts (CC, CG, CS, CSL, PNC, PGC) zoning district are capped at 4 feet tall and 16 sq ft (8 per face), with a 5 feet from building setback (Sec. 13.07.080 B5). Most commercial signs in Gallatin 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 | 9 | 35 feet | 50 sq ft per sign; aggregate 60 sq ft per lane | — |
| Residential Districts (A, R-40, R-20, R-15, R-10, R-8, R-6, PRD) | 6 | 35 feet | 32 sq ft per face (double-sided) or 24 sq ft each (flared wall) | — |
| Commercial Districts (CC, CG, CS, CSL, PNC, PGC) | 12 | 30 inches | 100 sq ft max | — |
| Mixed Use Districts (GO, OR, MU, MRO, MPO, MUG, MUL, SP) | 10 | 35 ft | 50 sq ft/sign; 60 aggregate/lane | — |
| Industrial Districts (IR, IG, PBP) | 10 | 35 ft | 50/60 aggregate | — |
| Historic District (H1) | 4 | 4 ft | See applicable zone | — |

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

### Commercial Districts (CC, CG, CS, CSL, PNC, PGC)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Projecting Sign (CC Only) | — | 14 sq ft (7 per face) | — | — | 1 per entrance per elevation | Per business entrance per elevation | — | 13.07.080 B1 |
| Wall Sign (CC Close to ROW) | 24 inches | 50 sq ft max | — | — | Per frontage | Between storefront top and 2nd story bottom | — | 13.07.080 B2a |
| Wall Sign (CC >5 ft from ROW) | 30 inches | 100 sq ft max | — | — | Max 2 per building | Building front | — | 13.07.080 B2b |
| Multi-Tenant Sign (CC Projecting) | — | 14 sq ft (7 per face) | 3 feet | — | 1 | Projecting | — | 13.07.080 B4a |
| Multi-Tenant Sign (CC Wall) | — | 12 sq ft | 3 feet | — | 1 | Wall | — | 13.07.080 B4b |
| Sandwich Board Sign (CC) | 4 feet | 16 sq ft (8 per face) | — | 5 feet from building | 1 per business | In front of business | — | 13.07.080 B5 |
| Monument Sign (CC) | 6 feet | 30 sq ft total (15 per face) | — | 5 feet from ROW | Per general | Setback 5 ft | — | 13.07.080 B8 |
| Freestanding Sign (Non-CC Commercial) | 8 feet | See 13.07.110 (75-225 sq ft aggregate) | — | 5 feet | 1 per ROW, max 3 | Along public ROW | — | 13.07.075 F, 13.07.110 |

### Mixed Use Districts (GO, OR, MU, MRO, MPO, MUG, MUL, SP)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign | 8 feet | See 13.07.110 (75-225 sq ft aggregate) | — | 5 feet | 1 per ROW, max 3 | Along public ROW | — | 13.07.075 F, 13.07.110 |
| Wall Sign | — | See 13.07.115 (120-300 sq ft) | — | — | Per frontage | Facades | — | 13.07.075 I, 13.07.115 |
| Awning Sign | 1 ft letters | 6 sq ft | — | — | 1 | Awning | — | 13.07.075 A |
| Directional Sign | 2.5 ft | 6 sq ft | — | 2 feet | As needed | On-site | — | 13.07.075 C |
| Flagpole (Ground) | 35 ft | — | — | Electrical | 3 | Lot | — | 13.07.075 D |
| Flagpole (Outrigger) | 12 ft | — | — | — | 3 | Wall | — | 13.07.075 E |
| Menu Board (Freestanding) | 8 ft | 50 sq ft/sign; 60 aggregate/lane | — | 10 ft spacing | 2/lane | Drive-thru | — | 13.07.075 G1 |
| Menu Board (Wall) | — | 24 sq ft aggregate/lane | — | — | 2/lane | Drive-thru | — | 13.07.075 G2 |

### Industrial Districts (IR, IG, PBP)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign | 8 feet | See 13.07.110 (up to 225 sq ft aggregate) | — | 5 feet | 1/ROW, max 3 | Along ROW | — | 13.07.075 F, 13.07.110 |
| Wall Sign | — | See 13.07.115 (up to 300 sq ft) | — | — | Per frontage | Facades | — | 13.07.075 I, 13.07.115 |
| Awning Sign | 1 ft letters | 6 sq ft | — | — | 1 | Awning | — | 13.07.075 A |
| Directional Sign | 2.5 ft | 6 sq ft | — | 2 feet | As needed | On-site | — | 13.07.075 C |
| Flagpole (Ground) | 35 ft | — | — | Electrical | 3 | Lot | — | 13.07.075 D |
| Flagpole (Outrigger) | 12 ft | — | — | — | 3 | Wall | — | 13.07.075 E |
| Menu Board (Freestanding) | 8 ft | 50/60 aggregate | — | 10 ft | 2/lane | Drive-thru | — | 13.07.075 G1 |
| Menu Board (Wall) | — | 24 aggregate | — | — | 2/lane | Drive-thru | — | 13.07.075 G2 |

## Prohibited signs in Gallatin

- Animated Signs not otherwise permitted herein and including images displayed on digital signs.
- Beacons and/or searchlights.
- Billboards, however, existing billboards may be replaced with a digital sign as identified herein.
- Digital Signs are prohibited within Historic districts, on any property designated by the City Council as an historic property, and on buildings. No such signs shall be visible from the street through windows or openings in the building, including any digital signs displaying a video or continuous message and animated signs.
- Mural Image with commercial or non-commercial messages.
- Flashing Signs or strobing signs (Applies to interior if visible from outside, and exterior signage)
- Human Directionals are prohibited in the rights-of-way
- Pennant Streamers
- Portable Signs
- Roof Signs
- Vehicle Signs (detailed provisions for residential and non-residential districts)
- Nonconforming sign(s), except as permitted by Tenn. Code Annotated, Section 13-7-208 (h) as amended from time to time, or permitted upon granting an Alternative Plan Approval per subsection 13.07.095.
- Signs or sign structures that interfere in any way with free use of any fire escape, emergency exit, or standpipe, or that obstruct any window to such an extent that light or ventilation is reduced to a point below that required by any provision of this Article or other regulations of the City of Gallatin.
- Signs that resemble any official sign or marker erected by any governmental agency, or that by reason of position, shape, or color, would conflict with the proper functioning of any traffic sign or signal, or be of a size, location, movement, content, color, or illumination that may be reasonably confused with or construed as, or conceal, a traffic-control device
- Signs that contain any lighting or control mechanism that causes unreasonable interference with radio, television, or other communication signals
- Signs erected on public or private property (such as private utility poles, trees, rocks, utility poles, guy wires, sign poles on which a sign is already permitted, or on other public regulatory or informational signs within rights-of-way), other than signs erected by public authority for public purposes or as otherwise permitted by the Mayor and Alderman.
- Signs that emit audible sound, odor, or visible matter such as smoke or steam
- Signs containing red, green or blue lights that might be confused with traffic control lights which are: (1) located within five (5) feet of public rights-of-way or (2) located within one hundred (100) feet of traffic control lights
- Signs that are of such intensity or brilliance as to cause glare or impair vision. The Zoning Administrator or designee shall determine whether the intensity or brilliance causes glare or impedes vision according to Subsection 13.07.090
- Exterior or interior decorative lighting including but not limited to, strings, strips or individual bulbs outlining architectural features including windows and doors, containing LED, neon or incandescent lighting, which are displayed to attract attention of the public. This does not include traditional holiday decorations.
- The following signs are generally prohibited unless special conditions apply as specified under Subsection 13.07.060: 1. Banners 2. Inflatable and Airborne Signs 3. Off-Premise Signs, except replacement signs as described herein. 4. Temporary Signs 5. Wind Signs
- Temporary signs with digital display.
- Bench signs on public property.

## Signs exempt from permit in Gallatin

- Building Marker
- Commemorative Sign/Historical Marker
- Equipment/Machinery Signage
- Flags on flagpoles in residential districts
- Holiday lights and decorations with no commercial message
- Incidental Signs
- Legal Notices and Official Instruments
- Traffic Control Signs which meet the requirements in the Manual for Uniform Traffic Control Devices.
- Warning Signs
- Signs placed within an athletic field intended for be viewed from within the field

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A Master Signage Plan shall be submitted for approval to the Codes/Planning Department before a sign permit is issued.
- A Master Signage Plan shall be included in final master development plans, site plans, or any other plans required by the City of Gallatin for the proposed development. If applicable, flagpoles shall be included in the master signage plan for all residential and non-residential developments.
- A Master Signage Plan may be amended by filing a new Master Signage Plan that conforms with all requirements of this ordinance currently in effect.
- After approval of a Master Signage Plan, no sign shall be erected, placed, painted, or maintained, except in accordance with such plan, and such plan shall be enforced in the same way as any provision of this ordinance. In case of any conflict between a provision of a Master Signage Plan and one (1) or more provisions of the City of Gallatin ordinances, the City of Gallatin ordinances shall control.
- Upon the request of any owner of property to which this Subsection applies, the Planning Commission may approve an alternative master signage plan which is not in strict compliance with the requirements of this Subsection, if the Planning Commission finds that such alternative plan meets the purpose and intent of the requirements of this Subsection and the alternative master signage plan is clearly equal to or superior to a plan that would be in strict compliance with this Subsection.
- A comprehensive plan for the signage of a college or university campus, as defined in Subsection 13.07.045, must be prepared by an architect or engineer and submitted to the Codes or Planning Department for review and approval before a sign permit is issued.

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

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