# Sign Regulations in Maryville, Tennessee

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Maryville, Tennessee (TN)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/tennessee/maryville
- **Data last verified:** 2025-09-10
- **Source:** [other municipal code](https://www.maryvillegov.com/uploads/8/2/6/7/8267180/maryvill_t14.pdf#page=223)

## At a glance

Maryville, Tennessee regulates 16 sign types across 8 zoning districts. Freestanding Sign (<200' frontage)s in the Business and Transportation District (District-2), High Intensity Commercial District (District-15), High Intensity Retail District (H.I.R.) (District-22) zoning district are capped at 20 ft tall and Single side: up to 50 sq ft; Total: frontage (ft) × 1 sq ft, with a 10 ft minimum from property line setback (Sec. § 14-217(3), (9)(b), (12)(a), (12)(e), (13)(d)). Most commercial signs in Maryville require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (8 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Residential District (District 1), Single-Family District (District 5), Estate Zone (District 19) | 3 | 8 ft | 16 sq ft (per side), 32 sq ft (all signs at entrance) | — |
| Business and Transportation District (District-2), High Intensity Commercial District (District-15), High Intensity Retail District (H.I.R.) (District-22) | 7 | 20 ft | Single side: up to 100 sq ft; Total: frontage (ft) × 1 sq ft | — |
| Industrial Zone District (District-20, sometimes 'Industrial District') | 4 | 20 ft | 150 sq ft (total; single side max not specified, presume half) | — |
| Central Community District (District-4), Central Business District (District-8), Washington Street Commercial Corridor (District-9), Office Transition Zone (District-10), Heritage Development Zone (District-11), Central Business District Support Zone (District-12) | 4 | 20 ft | 100 sq ft per sign face in Central Community District; otherwise as calculated by frontage. | — |
| Environmental Conservation District (District-3), High Density Residential (District-20), Neighborhood District (District-7), Office District (District-6), Institutional Zone (District-21) | 5 | — | 30 sq ft | — |
| College Hill Historic District (District-13), College Hill Historic Overlay District (District-14), Oak Park Historic District (District-16), Oak Park Historic Overlay Zone (District-17) | 2 | — | 6 sq ft | — |
| Parkway District | 2 | 10 ft (if has 2 signs per § 14-217(10)(d), else up to 20 ft) | 75 sq ft | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 4 | 3 ft | 6 sq ft | — |

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

### Business and Transportation District (District-2), High Intensity Commercial District (District-15), High Intensity Retail District (H.I.R.) (District-22)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign (<200' frontage) | 20 ft | Single side: up to 50 sq ft; Total: frontage (ft) × 1 sq ft | — | 10 ft minimum from property line | 1 per development; see § 14-217(10) | On lot; setback min 10 ft from property line. | — | § 14-217(3), (9)(b), (12)(a), (12)(e), (13)(d) |
| Freestanding Sign (200' ≤ frontage < 400') | 20 ft | Single side: up to 75 sq ft; Total: frontage (ft) × 1 sq ft | — | 10 ft minimum from property line | 1 per development; see § 14-217(10) | On lot; setback min 10 ft from property line. | — | § 14-217(9)(b) |
| Freestanding Sign (frontage ≥ 400') | 20 ft | Single side: up to 100 sq ft; Total: frontage (ft) × 1 sq ft | — | 10 ft minimum from property line | 1 per development; see § 14-217(10) | On lot; setback min 10 ft from property line. | — | § 14-217(9)(b) |
| Wall Sign | — | Varies by formula and wall size | — | — | — | On wall, parallel and not projecting more than 12 inches. | — | § 14-217(8)(d), (f), (12)(c), (13) |
| Electronic Message Center (EMC) Sign | — | 20 sq ft | — | 100 ft from residential structure | 1 per development | Attached to pylon, monument, or wall sign. | — | § 14-217(13)(g) |
| Temporary Sign | — | 16 sq ft | — | — | — | — | — | § 14-217(4)(a), (5) |
| Product Sign (Freestanding or Wall) | — | 25 sq ft | — | — | 1 per lot/development | On freestanding sign or building. | — | § 14-217(8)(i) |

### Central Community District (District-4), Central Business District (District-8), Washington Street Commercial Corridor (District-9), Office Transition Zone (District-10), Heritage Development Zone (District-11), Central Business District Support Zone (District-12)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | — | Varies by wall and frontage | — | — | — | On wall, not projecting more than 12 inches. | — | § 14-217(8)(c), (f), (12), (13) |
| Freestanding Sign | 20 ft | 100 sq ft per sign face in Central Community District; otherwise as calculated by frontage. | — | 10 ft minimum from property line | 1 per development | On lot, min 10 ft setback. | — | § 14-217(9)(c), (12)(a), (12)(e), (13); (8)(c) |
| Electronic Message Center (EMC) Sign | — | 20 sq ft | — | 100 ft from residence | 1 per development | Must be attached to pylon, monument, or wall sign. | — | § 14-217(13)(g) |
| Temporary Sign | — | 9 sq ft (except Office Transition Zone: 6 sq ft) | — | — | — | — | — | § 14-217(4)(a), (5)(a) |

### Environmental Conservation District (District-3), High Density Residential (District-20), Neighborhood District (District-7), Office District (District-6), Institutional Zone (District-21)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | — | Office District: 9 sq ft exemption; Neighborhood/Institutional: 6 sq ft exemption; otherwise 4 sq ft | — | — | — | On wall, parallel, not projecting more than 12 inches. | — | § 14-217(4)(a), (8)(b), (8)(g), (13)(g) |
| Freestanding Sign | — | Office District: 9 sq ft; Neighborhood/Institutional: 6 sq ft | — | 10 ft minimum if not exempt | — | On lot; min 10 ft setback. | — | § 14-217(4)(a), (12)(a) |
| Temporary Sign | — | Office District: 9 sq ft; Neighborhood/Institutional: 6 sq ft; otherwise as per exemption. | — | — | — | — | — | § 14-217(4)(a), (5)(a) |
| Changeable Copy/Marquee Sign | — | 30 sq ft | — | — | 1 per development | On premises; marquee over entry apperture. | — | § 14-217(8)(g) |
| Electronic Message Center (EMC) Sign | — | 30 sq ft | — | 100 ft from residence | 1 per development | Attached to pylon, monument or wall sign. | — | § 14-217(13)(g) |

## Prohibited signs in Maryville

- No off-premises signs, including billboards, are allowed in any district, except those exempted from regulations or from permit requirements and except for existing, grandfathered billboards.
- No sign may be located so that it substantially interferes with the view necessary for motorists to proceed safely through intersections or to enter or exit public streets or private roads.
- Signs that revolve, rotate, are animated, or utilize movement or apparent movement to attract attention are prohibited unless movement is not a primary design feature and is not intended to attract attention to the sign. Exception: signs indicating time, date, or weather conditions.
- No sign may be erected so that by its location, color, size, shape, nature, or message it would tend to obstruct the view of or be confused with official traffic signs or other governmental agency signs.
- All freestanding signs must be securely fastened to the ground or a substantial supportive structure to prevent movement by wind or forces of nature.
- No signs are allowed which are written upon, temporarily or permanently placed upon or attached to a motor vehicle or trailer, which advertise the price of any product or service, or advertise special business events or sales. This prohibits using vehicles or trailers as on-premises or off-premises advertising, except for firm name, telephone, address, and principal products/services.
- No signs shall be allowed on any telecommunication tower or antenna.
- Streamers are prohibited.
- Animated signs are prohibited.
- Pennants are prohibited.
- Propellers are prohibited in relation to signs or attention seeking devices.
- Banners are prohibited except as permitted temporary signs.
- Placards are prohibited except as permitted temporary signs.
- Air inflated displays, including air powered displays, are prohibited at all business and commercial locations, except for floats in parades with a city permit or at authorized city events; allowed in residential locations.
- No signs are allowed to exist in the median or right-of-way of any roadway except those authorized by state law or this ordinance. Unauthorized signs may be removed immediately and without notice by the city.
- Neon and bare fluorescent light tubes in any form on the exterior of any building or other structure are prohibited.
- No sign may contain or be illuminated by flashing or intermittent lights or lights of changing intensity. Exception: 'time and temperature' displays.
- No unlawful cutting of trees, shrubs or other vegetation for the purpose of increasing or enhancing the visibility of any sign is allowed in right-of-ways, on others' property, or in areas where vegetation is required to remain.
- No part of a freestanding ground sign may exceed twenty feet (20') in height.
- No sign attached to a building may project more than twelve inches (12") from the building wall.
- No sign or supporting structure may be located in or over any public right-of-way except as authorized by this ordinance.
- Internally illuminated freestanding signs may not be illuminated during hours that the business or enterprise advertised is not open for business. Exceptions apply.
- No sign within one hundred fifty feet (150') of a residential use may be illuminated between 12:00 A.M. and 6:00 A.M., except if the lighting impact is entirely inconsequential beyond the lot.

## Signs exempt from permit in Maryville

- Signs not exceeding six (6) square feet in a residential zoning district, Office Transition District, Institutional District, and Neighborhood District; or not exceeding nine (9) square feet in a downtown district (excluding the Office Transition District), Central Community District, Office District; or sixteen (16) square feet in the Business and Transportation District, High Commercial District, High Intensity Retail District and Industrial District do not require a permit.
- Signs erected by or on behalf of, or pursuant to, the authorization of a governmental body, including legal notices, identification and informational signs, traffic, directional, or regulatory signs do not require a permit.
- Official non-commercial signs erected by public utilities do not require a permit.
- Flags, pennants, or insignia of any government do not require a permit.
- Integral, decorative, or architectural features of buildings or works of art, so long as such features or works do not contain letters, trademarks, or moving parts, do not require a permit.
- Directory signs do not require a permit.
- Signs painted on, or otherwise permanently attached to, currently licensed motor vehicles that are not primarily used as signs do not require a permit.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- In the case of a lot occupied or intended to be occupied by multiple business enterprises (e.g., a shopping center), a master sign plan is required. Sign permits will be issued in the name of the individual business enterprise requesting a particular sign. Signage allocation per each business enterprise will be determined based on the amount of store frontage (business to business).

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

---

PermitPal — AI sign code research. Full HTML page: https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/tennessee/maryville