# Sign Regulations in Lakesite, Tennessee

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Lakesite, Tennessee (TN)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/tennessee/lakesite
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-08
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/TN/Lakesite/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=CD_ORD_TIT14ZOLAUSCO_CH5ADSIADEN)

## At a glance

Lakesite, Tennessee regulates 4 sign types across 5 zoning districts. Wall Sign (Home Occupation)s in the Residential Zone (Single Family Residential Zone) (R-1), Residential Zone (Urban Residential Zone) (R-2), Residential Zone (Medium Density Zone) (R-3MD), Residential Zone (Apartments and Townhouses) (R-3), Residential Zone (Single wide trailers and trailer parks) (R-5), Planned Residential Development (PRD) zoning district are capped at Not specified, but must be clearly incidental and subordinate to the use for residential purposes per home occupation restrictions. (Sec. Section 201 Home Occupation rules.). Most commercial signs in Lakesite require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (5 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Residential Zone (Single Family Residential Zone) (R-1), Residential Zone (Urban Residential Zone) (R-2), Residential Zone (Medium Density Zone) (R-3MD), Residential Zone (Apartments and Townhouses) (R-3), Residential Zone (Single wide trailers and trailer parks) (R-5), Planned Residential Development (PRD) | 2 | — | Not specified, but must be clearly incidental and subordinate to the use for residential purposes per home occupation restrictions. | — |
| Mixed Use Zone (Medium Density Mixed Use Suburban Development Zone) (MXU) | 2 | — | — | — |
| Commercial Zone (Local Business Commercial Zone) (C-1) | 3 | — | — | — |
| Light Industrial Zone (Wholesale and Light Industry Zone) (M-2) | 3 | — | — | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 2 | — | — | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 5 zones)

### Residential Zone (Single Family Residential Zone) (R-1), Residential Zone (Urban Residential Zone) (R-2), Residential Zone (Medium Density Zone) (R-3MD), Residential Zone (Apartments and Townhouses) (R-3), Residential Zone (Single wide trailers and trailer parks) (R-5), Planned Residential Development (PRD)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign (Home Occupation) | — | Not specified, but must be clearly incidental and subordinate to the use for residential purposes per home occupation restrictions. | — | — | — | On the dwelling unit or premises, only if incidental to home occupation. | — | Section 201 Home Occupation rules. |
| Directional or Traffic Control Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Private property used by the public. | — | Section 302.10. |

### Commercial Zone (Local Business Commercial Zone) (C-1)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign (Identification/Directional) | — | — | — | — | — | On the building facade or entrance; must be related to identification/direction of premises and occupants or products/services rendered on premises. | — | Section 408.5 and reference to Chapter III, Section 306 (landscape requirements may affect sign placement); Sec. 407.16(b) for sign type restriction. |
| Freestanding Sign | — | — | — | — | — | On site, likely in front yard or along right-of-way, must not obstruct landscape street yard. | — | Section 408.5 and general sign references; Ch. III, Sec. 306 (landscape standards prohibit signage in street yard). |
| Directional or Traffic Control Sign | — | — | — | — | — | On-site, on private property used by the public. | — | Section 302.10. |

### Light Industrial Zone (Wholesale and Light Industry Zone) (M-2)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign (Identification/Directional) | — | — | — | — | — | On the principal building for identification or direction to premises and occupants, or products/services rendered. | — | Section 409.5(a)-(c); Section 306.7.G. |
| Freestanding Sign | — | — | — | Minimum 25 ft from residential zone (for freestanding signs). | — | On site, but not within twenty-five (25) feet of a residential zone. | — | Section 409.5(a)-(b); Section 306.7.G. |
| Directional or Traffic Control Sign | — | — | — | — | — | On private property used by the public. | — | Section 302.10. |

## Prohibited signs in Lakesite

- Use of land, buildings, and structures not clearly permitted in the various zoning districts are prohibited.
- No unauthorized person may alter or modify the Official Zoning Map.
- No building, structure or land shall hereafter be used or occupied and no building or structure or part thereof shall hereafter be erected, constructed, reconstructed, moved, or structurally altered unless in conformity with all the regulations herein specified for the zone in which it is located.
- No yard or lot existing at the time of passage of this Ordinance shall be reduced in size or area below the minimum requirements set forth herein.
- No yard or other open space required by these regulations shall be considered as providing a yard or other open space of more than one (1) building.
- Use of signs not relating to identification of or direction to premises and occupants, or to products sold or services rendered on the premises are prohibited in the Mixed Use Zone (MXU).
- Signs illuminated by exposed tubes, bulbs or similar exposed light sources shall be prohibited (M-2 Light Industrial Zone).
- No free-standing sign shall be permitted within twenty-five (25) feet of a residential zone (M-2 Light Industrial Zone).
- Parking, merchandise display, signage and off-street loading are prohibited in the landscaped street yard per landscape requirements.
- No application for the R-5 Zone shall be accepted for an area greater than the minimum lot area requirement for the proposed number of mobile homes.
- No storage shall be permitted in required front, side, or rear yards (M-2 Light Industrial Zone).
- All exterior spot lighting or other illumination of structures shall be directed away from adjoining residential zones.

## Signs exempt from permit in Lakesite

- Single family and two (2) family detached residential structures on their single lots are exempt from landscape requirements.
- Businesses having fewer than twenty-five (25) parking spaces shall be exempt from the provisions of traffic control sign installation and maintenance standards.
- Communication towers and associated equipment which are totally concealed within a building or structure so that they are architecturally indiscernible may be permitted in all zoning districts subject to building permit procedures and standards.
- Antennas, dishes, or similar equipment or additional users which do not add to the tower height, may be added to existing communication towers without obtaining a special exception permit, but shall be subject to all applicable zoning, setback, design, and building code regulations.
- Towers for amateur radio are exempt from special exception permits for communication towers.
- No screening shall be required for communication tower if bases of the tower site are not visible from adjoining property or from a public right-of-way.
- Site landscaping is not required for antennas which are being co-located on existing towers, or which are being placed on other buildings or structures where the antenna is allowed as an accessory use.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Landscape Plan must be submitted with the rezoning request, building permit and/or the preliminary site plan (Section 306.4).
- All required screening must be in place prior to any building construction.
- Any required screening (including signage-related screening) must be shown on landscape plan submittals.
- A site plan (which may include signage) must be submitted in conjunction with rezoning applications (Section 304.4).
- In the MXU (Mixed Use Zone), a development plan shall graphically show the location of street trees, landscaped buffers, and other known tree areas, which may include sign locations related to landscape.
- For commercial communication towers, a scaled site plan, landscape plan, and a scaled elevation view of the type of facility to be placed on the site are required at the time of application for a special exception.
- All plans for curb-cuts, including points of access and parking/loading areas for all uses except single and two-family residences, shall be submitted to and approved by the Building Official before building permits can be issued (this can include signage for access).
- Exterior signage for traffic control (Private properties used by the public): Owners must install and maintain signs, signals, markings or other devices intended to regulate, warn or guide traffic according to MUTCD standards, unless the business has fewer than 25 parking spaces.
- For variances and special exception requests, application for a permit (which could include signage) must include a plan or plat drawn to scale showing location and design of off-street parking areas and off-street loading areas, which may be accompanied by signage plans.
- No signage plan required is termed as 'Master Sign Plan,' but signage and landscape plans are required as part of development, landscape, and site plans where applicable.

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

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