# Sign Regulations in Germantown, Tennessee

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Germantown, Tennessee (TN)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/tennessee/germantown
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-08
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/TN/Germantown/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=PTIICOOR_CH14SI)

## At a glance

Germantown, Tennessee regulates 36 sign types across 8 zoning districts. Permanent Project Signs in the Office District (O, O-C, O-51, O-T), Shopping Center District (SC-1), General Commercial District (C-1, C-2), T District zoning district are capped at 18 ft tall and 50 sq ft per face per street frontage, total max 200 sq ft, with a Min 60 ft from ROW/property line; landscaping required setback (Sec. Sec. 14-34(b)(4), (c)(4), (d)(3)). Most commercial signs in Germantown 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 | 2 | — | 1 sq ft | — |
| Single-family Residential Districts (R-E, R-E-1, R, R-1, R-2), Two-family Residential Districts (R-3) | 3 | 3 ft (if closer setback, needs DRC approval) | 25 sq ft per face, max total 50 sq ft | — |
| Multifamily District (R-T), Planned Unit Development District (PUD), Retirement Housing District (RH), Churches, Public and Private Schools, Country Clubs, Institutions, Public Parks | 5 | 6 ft | 25 sq ft per face, max 50 sq ft total | — |
| Office District (O, O-C, O-51, O-T), Shopping Center District (SC-1), General Commercial District (C-1, C-2), T District | 12 | 48 in above grade | 130 sq ft (max 60 sq ft directory purpose); indiv tenant: 15 sq ft, max letter height: 14 in | — |
| Service Stations | 5 | 7 ft | 160 sq in | — |
| Office Parks | 6 | 20 in above grade | 432 sq in | — |
| Old Germantown (OG) District | 5 | 20 in above grade | 128 sq in per face; max 2 faces (256 sq in); max 3.5 in letter height | — |
| Office Subdivisions | 5 | 6 ft | 35 sq ft per face | — |

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

### Office District (O, O-C, O-51, O-T), Shopping Center District (SC-1), General Commercial District (C-1, C-2), T District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | Per letter height table: 24 in / 30 in / 36 in based on tenant size | 75 sq ft or 1 sq ft per lineal foot of wall, max 100 sq ft (tenant ≥10,000 sq ft); up to 125 sq ft with DRC approval | 75% of lease width | — | See additional requirements; one per major entrance, possible more based on entrances/frontages | Face-mounted, up to 12" projection; not above roof except by DRC approval | — | Sec. 14-34(b)(1), (c)(1), (d)(1) |
| Permanent Project Sign | 18 ft | 50 sq ft per face per street frontage, total max 200 sq ft | — | Min 60 ft from ROW/property line; landscaping required | One per project or per street frontage (for large office/comml sites) | Min 60 ft from any street right-of-way or property line | — | Sec. 14-34(b)(4), (c)(4), (d)(3) |
| Traffic Directional Sign | 20 in above grade | 128 sq in/face; max 2 faces (total 256 sq in) | 8x16 in/face | Min 1 ft from ROW | — | Min 1 ft from ROW (existing/proposed), on private property | — | Sec. 14-34(b)(5), (c)(6), (d)(5) |
| Medical Office Monument Sign | 2 ft 8 in (excludes 15 in base) | — | 11 ft length; width 10-12 in | 6 ft from ROW | One per building/project (depending on tenant mix) | Perpendicular to roadway, 6 ft from ROW | — | Sec. 14-34(b)(9)a, (c)(7)a, (d)(6) |
| Medical Office Address Sign | 2 ft 8 in (excludes 15 in base) | — | 3 ft length; width 10-12 in | 6 ft from ROW | One per building | Perpendicular to roadway, 6 ft from ROW | — | Sec. 14-34(b)(9)b, (c)(7)b, (d)(6) |
| Permanent Project Directory Sign - Major Retail Center | 18 ft | 130 sq ft (max 60 sq ft directory purpose); indiv tenant: 15 sq ft, max letter height: 14 in | — | 60 ft major/30 ft collector or drive | Per street frontage with customer entrances | Min 60 ft from curb of major street; 30 ft from curb of collector/entrance drive | — | Sec. 14-34(b)(10)a1, (c)(8)a, (d)(7)a, (f)(2)a |
| Permanent Project Directory Sign - Medium Retail Center | 10 ft (main); others 6 ft | 120 sq ft (max 72 sq ft directory purpose); tenant: min 6 in letter; only one sign at max height/area; addl signs: 6 ft high, 36 sq ft | — | Min 20 ft from curb | One per frontage | Min 20 ft from street face of curb | — | Sec. 14-34(b)(10)b, (c)(8)b, (d)(7)b, (f)(2)b |
| Permanent Project Directory Sign - Small Retail/Commercial Center | 6 ft | 36 sq ft | — | Min 20 ft from curb | Varies; DRC approval | Min 20 ft from street face of curb (unless DRC approval) | — | Sec. 14-34(b)(10)c, (c)(8)c, (d)(7)c, (f)(2)c |

### Office Parks

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Building Identification Wall Sign | Top of sign max 6 ft above main entrance elevation | 3 sq ft | — | — | One per entrance; multiple with DRC approval | Mounted flat against building wall at main entrance | — | Sec. 14-36(b)(1), (c)(1), (d)(1) |
| Tenant Identification Sign (Wall or Door) | Top max 6 ft above main entrance elevation | 432 sq in | — | — | One per tenant with main entrance | Flat against entrance door/wall or within 12 in of door opening | — | Sec. 14-36(b)(2), (c)(2), (d)(2) |
| Ground-mounted Office Park Identification Sign | 6 ft | 50 sq ft per face, max total 100 sq ft | — | Min 30 ft from curb | One per project/frontage | Min 30 ft from curb/edge | — | Sec. 14-36(b)(3), (c)(3), (d)(3) |
| Entryway Structure Office Park Identification Sign | 6 ft | 25 sq ft per sign (all faces), max 25 sq ft per entryway | — | 30 ft from curb, unless sign is ≤3 ft, then min 15 ft | One per qualifying entry | On entryway structure, min 30 ft from curb; can be closer (min 15 ft) for small/parallel signs | — | Sec. 14-36(b)(4), (c)(4), (d)(4) |
| Exterior Directory | 6 ft | If <75 ft from ROW: 12.5 sq ft/face, total 25 sq ft; If ≥75 ft: 25 sq ft/face, total 50 sq ft | — | — | One per main entrance | Min 75 ft from ROW unless fully screened | — | Sec. 14-36(b)(5), (c)(5), (d)(5) |
| Traffic Directional Sign | 20 in above grade | 128 sq in/face; 2 faces (256 sq in max) | — | Min 1 ft from ROW | — | Min 1 ft from ROW | — | Sec. 14-36(b)(6), (c)(6), (d)(6) |

### Old Germantown (OG) District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | — | 12 sq ft (per wall facing street) | — | — | One per wall facing street | Face-mounted on wall containing main entrance and storefront facing street; may also face parking lot with DRC approval | — | Sec. 14-37(b)(1), (c)(1), (d)(1), (e)(1) |
| Ground-mounted Sign | 4 ft | 12 sq ft per face, 24 sq ft total (special setbacks affect face area; see requirements) | — | See above | One per eligible location | If bldg setback ≤40 ft: within 10 ft of building; never <15 ft from curb; >40 ft: ≥30 ft from curb/edge | — | Sec. 14-37(b)(2), (c)(2), (d)(2) |
| Traffic Directional Sign | 20 in above grade | 128 sq in per face; max 2 faces (256 sq in); max 3.5 in letter height | — | Min 1 ft from ROW | — | Min 1 ft from ROW | — | Sec. 14-37(b)(3), (c)(4), (d)(4), (e)(8) |
| Exterior Directory | 4 ft | 7.5 sq ft per face, 15 sq ft total | — | — | One per main entrance | Behind main building or within 10 ft of front building line (screened) | — | Sec. 14-37(b)(4), (c)(3), (d)(3), (e)(7) |
| Projecting Sign | — | 4 sq ft per face per blade, max 16 sq ft total | — | — | One per qualifying façade (max 3 blades) | On building wall, min 7 ft above grade, no above wall, extends max 4 ft from wall | — | Sec. 14-37(b)(5), (c)(5), (d)(5), (e)(5) |

## Prohibited signs in Germantown

- No signs shall be permitted in any district that is omitted from the ordinance or in any newly created district until the ordinance is amended to include the new district.
- Only permanently located signs as described in the ordinance and temporary signs as described under temporary sign sections are permitted in each district, except for public signs and city, state, and federal historic markers.
- Signs not in conformance with this chapter after annexation grace periods must be removed by owner, agent, or person having beneficial use of the land or structure.
- Permanent signs which were lawful before this chapter but which now would not be permitted under its terms have one year in which to conform to regulations, except for traffic directional signs.
- Signs are subject to approval by the design review commission, unless otherwise noted.
- Signs must adhere to content limitations as described in respective sections, e.g., tenant names may not be sole element on some identification signs, logos are limited, etc.

## Signs exempt from permit in Germantown

- Decals, numerals, names, addresses, hours, credit information, etc., attached to doors or windows and occupying a total area of one square foot or less are excluded from this chapter.
- Public signs and city, state, and federal historic markers are excluded from sign limitations applicable to other permanent and temporary signs as per Section 14-31(b).

## Sign plan & submission notes

- All signs permitted under this article shall be subject to the approval of the design review commission.
- Temporary signs are subject to the approval of the development director per referenced sections.
- Within three months after annexation, all existing signs in newly annexed areas shall be submitted to the design review commission for review.
- Any Master Sign Plan, sign plan, or requests for additional or alternative signage (e.g., landscape plans for ground-mounted signs, special permit applications) require approval of the design review commission and/or board of mayor and aldermen as specified in relevant sections.

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

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