# Sign Regulations in Johnson City, Tennessee

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Johnson City, Tennessee (TN)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/tennessee/johnson-city
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-08
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/TN/Johnson_City/codes/Zoning?nodeId=ZOCO_ARTVIISIRE)

## At a glance

Johnson City, Tennessee regulates 27 sign types across 21 zoning districts. Wall Sign (Non-profit Organizations, R-2)s in the R-2 Low Density Residential District zoning district are capped at 2 square feet (Sec. Section 6.2.1.4(C)). Most commercial signs in Johnson City require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (21 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| R-1 Low Density Residential District | 1 | — | — | — |
| R-2 Low Density Residential District | 2 | — | 12 square feet | — |
| R-2A Low Density Residential District | 2 | — | 12 square feet | — |
| R-2B Low Density Residential District, R-2C Low Density Residential District | 2 | — | 12 square feet | — |
| R-3 Medium Density Residential District, R-4 Medium Density Residential District | 2 | — | 12 square feet | — |
| R-5 High Density Residential District, R-6 High Density Residential-University District | 2 | — | 12 square feet | — |
| RP-2 Planned Residential District, RP-3 Planned Residential District, RP-4 Planned Residential District, RP-5 Planned Residential District | 2 | — | 12 square feet | — |
| RM-3 Manufactured Home Park District, RM-4 Manufactured Home Park District, RM-5 Manufactured Home Park District | 1 | — | — | — |
| RO-1 High Density Residential-Professional Office District, RO-2 Medium Density Residential-Professional Office District | 2 | — | Not specified; likely small identification only | — |
| MS-1 Medical Services District | 1 | — | — | — |
| B-1 Neighborhood Business District, PB Planned Business District | 2 | — | Not specified; refer to Article VII, Sign Regulations | — |
| B-2 Central Business District | 2 | — | Not specified; refer to Section 7.3.3 | — |
| B-3 Supporting Central Business District | 1 | — | See B-2; refer Article VII; typically same as B-2 | — |
| B-4 Planned Arterial Business District, B-5 Planned Community Business District | 2 | — | Not specified; see Article VII | — |
| I-1 Light Industrial District, I-2 Heavy Industrial District | 2 | — | Not specified; refer to Article VII | — |
| A-1 Agricultural District | 1 | — | Not specified | — |
| BP Business Park District, RTP Research/Technology Park District | 2 | — | Not specified; refer to Article VII, Sign Regulations | — |
| MX Mixed Use District, MX-1 Mixed Use Neighborhood District | 2 | — | Not specified; refer to Article VII | — |
| HCZO Historic/Conservation Overlay District | 1 | — | Not specified; determined by Historic Zoning Commission | — |
| CO Corridor Overlay District, GO Gateway Overlay District, DO Design Overlay District, HVO Highway Vista Overlay District | 1 | CO/GO/DO: 30 feet; HVO: 10 feet | 200 square feet | — |
| WWD West Walnut Street District | 2 | — | See B-2/Section 7.3.3, as adopted | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 21 zones)

### R-2 Low Density Residential District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign (Non-profit Organizations, R-2) | — | 2 square feet | — | — | 1 | Attached to the principal building | — | Section 6.2.1.4(C) |
| Freestanding/Identification Sign (Recreational Clubs, R-2 Special Exception) | — | 12 square feet | — | — | 1 | At recreational facility | — | Section 6.2.2.2(E) |

### R-2A Low Density Residential District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign (Non-profit Organizations, R-2A) | — | 2 square feet | — | — | 1 | Attached to principal building | — | Section 6.3.1.1, see also 6.2.1.4(C) |
| Freestanding/Identification Sign (Recreational Clubs, R-2A Special Exception) | — | 12 square feet | — | — | 1 | At recreational facility | — | Section 6.3.2.1, see also 6.2.2.2(E) |

### R-2B Low Density Residential District, R-2C Low Density Residential District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign (Non-profit Organizations, R-2B/R-2C) | — | 2 square feet | — | — | 1 | Attached to principal building | — | Section 6.4.1.1, 6.5.1.1, see also 6.2.1.4(C) |
| Freestanding/Identification Sign (Recreational Clubs, R-2B/R-2C Special Exception) | — | 12 square feet | — | — | 1 | At recreational facility | — | Section 6.4.2.1, 6.5.2.1, see also 6.2.2.2(E) |

## Prohibited signs in Johnson City

- In the CO (Corridor Overlay) district, the following uses are prohibited: adult-oriented businesses, transmission tower structures, manufactured home sales, salvage and/or junk yards.
- In the HVO (Highway Vista Overlay) district, tower structures are prohibited.
- In the DO (Design Overlay) district, the following uses are prohibited: adult-oriented businesses, transmission tower structures, auto repair as a primary use, manufactured home sales, self-service storage as a primary use, and salvage and/or junk yards.
- In the GO (Gateway Overlay) district, the following uses are prohibited: adult-oriented businesses, transmission tower structures, manufactured home sales, and salvage and/or junk yards.
- In all overlay districts (CO, HVO, DO, GO), single-family and two-family land uses are exempt from overlay provisions.
- In A-1 Agricultural zone, approval from the city health officer is required for the raising of animals, fowl, and poultry.
- Within manufactured home parks (RM-3, RM-4, RM-5 districts), cabanas and similar enclosed structures are prohibited.
- Manufactured homes in manufactured home parks may not be used for commercial, industrial, or other non-residential uses within the park.
- In manufactured home parks, trailers that cannot be connected to a sanitary sewer line are prohibited.
- In overlay districts such as DO, unpainted concrete block, shiny/galvanized corrugated metal, or vinyl siding may not be visible from designated streets.
- Use of searchlights, laser source lights, or any similar high intensity light for advertising purposes is prohibited in overlay districts (CO, DO, GO).
- In R-1, R-2, and similar residential districts, driveways and parking are prohibited in the front yard for certain uses (e.g., child care homes).

## Signs exempt from permit in Johnson City

- Single-family and two-family land uses are exempt from the provisions of the Corridor Overlay District (CO), Highway Vista Overlay District (HVO), Design Overlay District (DO), and Gateway Overlay District (GO).
- Development that is not visible from the specified street due to natural topographical features is exempt from building facade requirements in certain overlay districts (CO, DO, GO).

## Sign plan & submission notes

- In manufactured home parks, each park shall be permitted a sign as described in Article VII, Sign Regulations.
- For planned developments (RP, RM districts), application for rezoning must be accompanied by a Concept Plan; substantial deviations require amended plan approval.
- For MX and MX-1 Mixed Use districts, development requires a Concept Plan and a Comprehensive Development Plan (CDP), and any significant deviation must be resubmitted for approval.
- Each application for rezoning requests in several districts (e.g., RO-1, RO-2, B-4, PB, MS-1, RTP, GO, MX, MX-1) must be accompanied by five sets of a concept plan as described in Article XIV, Subsection 14.3.1 (or applicable section). Review and approval follow processes described in zoning code.
- Overlay districts often require submission of architectural building elements and/or elevations in conjunction with plans for site plan approval (Article V).
- In the B-4, B-5, PB districts, any subdivision of land shall be accompanied by a site plan that addresses multiple design and utility factors.
- Historic/Conservation Overlay Districts require a Certificate of Appropriateness for construction, demolition, or alteration, which may include review of sign appropriateness.
- In the UPO (University Parkway Overlay) district, nonresidential rezonings require a special public meeting prior to Planning Commission public hearing.
- In the DO, CO, GO overlays, architectural elements must be submitted with the site plan for review and approval.
- For new development and redevelopment in several non-residential districts (e.g., B-4, B-5, I-1, I-2, BP, RTP), site plan approval is required according to Article V.

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

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