# Sign Regulations in McMinnville, Tennessee

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

- **Jurisdiction:** McMinnville, Tennessee (TN)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/tennessee/mcminnville
- **Data last verified:** 2025-10-30
- **Source:** [other municipal code](https://cms2.revize.com/revize/mcminnville/_McMinnville%20Sign%20Code_Updated%20Aug%202021.pdf?t=202410281149000&t=202410281149000)

## At a glance

McMinnville, Tennessee regulates 51 sign types across 6 zoning districts. Freestanding Business Sign (C-1)s in the Commercial District (C-1, C-2, C-3) zoning district are capped at ≤35 ft from grade tall and Base per sign face: 50 sq ft; Option A: ≤100 sq ft; Option B (single sign, ≥250 ft frontage): ≤200 sq ft, with a ≥5 ft from any street right-of-way line or property line setback (Sec. 14-1408.3 (A, B, C, D, E); 14-1408.1). Most commercial signs in McMinnville 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 | 10 | 6 ft | 32 sq ft | — |
| Residential District (R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4, PRD) | 6 | 8 ft | 40 sq ft | — |
| R-5 Residential Commercial District (R-5) | 6 | 8 ft (subject to district cap ≤6 ft) | 40 sq ft (subject to district cap ≤12 sq ft) | — |
| Commercial District (C-1, C-2, C-3) | 12 | ≤50 ft from grade | ≤75 sq ft display surface area | — |
| PCD Commercial District (PCD) | 8 | Bottom of sign must have ≥10 ft clearance above terrain | Base per sign face: 50 sq ft; Option A: ≤100 sq ft; Option B (single sign, ≥250 ft frontage): ≤200 sq ft | — |
| Industrial District (I-1, I-2) | 9 | ≤50 ft from grade | ≤75 sq ft display surface area | — |

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

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Governmental Signs | — | — | — | — | — | As established by governmental agencies; may be on public property/right-of-way | — | 14-1406.1 |
| Parking Area Signs (Entrance/Exit and Conditions) | — | Entrance/Exit: 2 sq ft each; Conditions sign: 9 sq ft | — | — | Entrance/Exit: as needed; Conditions: 1 per parking area | On parking area; may be at entrances/exits | — | 14-1406.2 |
| Real Estate Sign (On-Premise) | 6 ft | 32 sq ft | — | — | — | On the property advertised | — | 14-1406.3 |
| Real Estate Sign (Off-Premise) | 6 ft | 32 sq ft | — | — | Max 2 at any street intersection | May be located on public rights-of-way at street intersections | — | 14-1406.3 |
| Temporary Event Sign (On Site of Event) | — | 32 sq ft | — | — | 1 per event site | Upon the site of the event | — | 14-1406.4 |
| Construction Site Sign (Architect/Engineer/Contractor) | — | 32 sq ft | — | — | — | At construction site | — | 14-1406.5 |
| Mobile or Portable Sign (Special Permit) | — | 32 sq ft | — | — | Max 1 special-permit mobile/portable sign per establishment/event per calendar year | On-premise, as permitted | — | 14-1405.7; 14-1403.2B(5); 14-1403.3; 14-1403.4 |
| Garage/Yard Sale Sign | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | — | On private property; must comply with the Sign Code | — | 14-1405.10 |

### Commercial District (C-1, C-2, C-3)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Business Sign (C-1) | ≤35 ft from grade | Base per sign face: 50 sq ft; Option A: ≤100 sq ft; Option B (single sign, ≥250 ft frontage): ≤200 sq ft | — | ≥5 ft from any street right-of-way line or property line | 1 per 50 ft of major public street frontage or fraction thereof | On-premise | — | 14-1408.3 (A, B, C, D, E); 14-1408.1 |
| Freestanding Business Sign (C-2, C-3) | ≤50 ft from grade | Base per sign face: 50 sq ft; Option A: ≤100 sq ft; Option B (single sign, ≥250 ft frontage): ≤200 sq ft | — | ≥5 ft from any street right-of-way line or property line | 1 per 50 ft of major public street frontage or fraction thereof | On-premise | — | 14-1408.3 (A, B, C, D, E); 14-1408.1 |
| Wall Sign | — | ≤50% of wall face area (or occupied portion) | — | — | 1 per outside wall | On outside walls of building | — | 14-1408.4; 14-1408.6 |
| Integral/Mansard Roof Sign - Option 1 | — | ≤25% of building face area (or occupied portion) | — | — | 1 per establishment (if criteria met) | Integral to mansard/roof (not projecting above roof) | — | 14-1408.5; 14-1408.6 |
| Projecting Sign | Must not extend above roof line | 20 sq ft sign face area | — | — | 1 per establishment | Projecting from building wall | — | 14-1408.7 |
| Awning/Canopy/Marquee Sign (C-1 - Overhang Public Right-of-Way) | Bottom of sign at least 7 ft above sidewalk or ground level | — | — | ≥2 ft from pavement line | — | Overhanging public right-of-way for structures directly abutting the public right-of-way (C-1 only) | — | 14-1408.9 |
| Billboard (C-2, C-3) ≤75 sq ft | ≤20 ft (measured from uppermost portion of sign face to finished grade or curb level, whichever provides greatest height) | ≤75 sq ft display surface area | — | ≥10 ft from street right-of-way or property line | — | Off-premise; within C-2 or C-3 | — | 14-1408.12; 14-1408.13 (A–H) |
| Billboard (C-3) 75–300 sq ft | ≤50 ft (measured from uppermost portion of display surface area to finished grade or curb level, whichever provides greatest height) | ≥75 sq ft up to ≤300 sq ft display surface area | — | ≥10 ft from street right-of-way or property line | — | Off-premise; within C-3 only | — | 14-1408.12; 14-1408.14 (A–H) |

### Industrial District (I-1, I-2)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Business Sign (I-1, I-2) | ≤50 ft from grade | Base per sign face: 50 sq ft; Option A: ≤100 sq ft; Option B (single sign, ≥250 ft frontage): ≤200 sq ft | — | ≥5 ft from any street right-of-way line or property line | 1 per 50 ft of major public street frontage or fraction thereof | On-premise | — | 14-1408.3 (A, B, C, D, E); 14-1408.1 |
| Wall Sign (Industrial) | — | ≤50% of wall face area (or occupied portion) | — | — | 1 per outside wall | On outside walls of building | — | 14-1408.4; 14-1408.6 |
| Integral/Mansard Roof Sign - Option 1 (Industrial) | — | ≤25% of building face area (or occupied portion) | — | — | 1 per establishment (if criteria met) | Integral to mansard/roof (not projecting above roof) | — | 14-1408.5; 14-1408.6 |
| Projecting Sign (Industrial) | Must not extend above roof line | 20 sq ft sign face area | — | — | 1 per establishment | Projecting from building wall | — | 14-1408.7 |
| Awning/Canopy/Marquee Sign (Industrial) | — | — | — | — | — | On awning/canopy/marquee | — | 14-1408.8 |
| Flashing Sign (Industrial) | Bottom of sign must have ≥10 ft clearance above terrain | — | — | — | — | On-premise (industrial) | — | 14-1405.8; 14-1405.9; 14-1408.1 |
| Billboard (I-1, I-2) ≤75 sq ft | ≤20 ft (measured from uppermost portion of sign face to finished grade or curb level, whichever provides greatest height) | ≤75 sq ft display surface area | — | ≥10 ft from street right-of-way or property line | — | Off-premise; within I-1 or I-2 | — | 14-1408.13 (A–H) |
| Billboard (I-1, I-2) 75–300 sq ft | ≤50 ft (measured from uppermost portion of display surface area to finished grade or curb level, whichever provides greatest height) | ≥75 sq ft up to ≤300 sq ft display surface area | — | ≥10 ft from street right-of-way or property line | — | Off-premise; within I-1 or I-2 | — | 14-1408.14 (A–H) |

## Prohibited signs in McMinnville

- Roof signs are not allowed under this Official Sign Code (14-1401.12).
- No sign shall be located so as to obstruct free or clear vision or cause hazards for vehicular or pedestrian traffic by reason of location, shape, illumination, or color (14-1405.1).
- No sign shall be located on, or attached to, any public property except public signs authorized by the City of McMinnville, Warren County, or the State of Tennessee (14-1405.2).
- No sign shall be located on or overhanging any public rights-of-way except as provided in Sections 14-1406.3, 14-1408.9, and 14-1408.11 (14-1405.3).
- No signs shall be painted or attached to fences, trees, rocks, canopy posts, utility poles, and similar objects (14-1405.4).
- No sign shall be erected, replaced, or relocated so as to prevent free ingress or egress from a required door, window, or fire escape (14-1405.5).
- No source of incandescent lighting used for illuminating signs shall be directly visible from any street or highway or from any residential district (14-1405.6).
- Mobile or portable signs are prohibited unless a special permit for special events or emergencies has been obtained; only one special permit per establishment or event per calendar year; display limited to 30 consecutive days; must be within 5 feet of a permanent conduit electrical outlet if powered; must not exceed 32 square feet; must not have red or blue lights; and must be securely anchored (14-1405.7; 14-1403.3; 14-1403.4).
- No flashing light sign shall have less than ten feet of clearance between the bottom of the sign and the terrain; exposed bulbs shall not exceed sixty watts per bulb (14-1405.8).
- No sign permit shall be issued for any illuminated sign, flashing light sign, or any sign requiring electrical power unless an Electrical Inspection Permit from the McMinnville Electric System has first been obtained (14-1405.9).
- Signs advertising a garage, yard, or similar sale are prohibited unless a permit for such sale has been issued; such signs may not be displayed for more than four consecutive days and may not exceed two square feet in area (14-1405.10).
- Mobile or portable signs shall not be grandfathered as nonconforming signs (14-1405.11).
- Murals are prohibited on the front of buildings; murals must contain no advertising material, and side/rear murals require a mural permit (14-1405.12).

## Signs exempt from permit in McMinnville

- Signs established by, or by order of, any governmental agency (14-1406.1).
- Parking area entrance and exit signs not exceeding two square feet in area, and one sign up to nine square feet identifying conditions of use, provided such signs do not obstruct ingress or egress visibility (14-1406.2).
- On-premise and off-premise real estate signs not exceeding 32 square feet in sign face area, non-illuminated, not more than six feet in height; off-premise real estate signs limited to 30 consecutive days; may be located on public rights-of-way at street intersections with a maximum of two such signs per intersection and a 30-day limit (14-1406.3).
- One temporary sign for events of public interest, not over 32 square feet in area, located upon the site of the event; may be erected no more than 14 consecutive days prior to the event and must be removed within three consecutive days following the event (14-1406.4).
- Signs denoting the architect, engineer, or contractor when placed at the construction site; not illuminated; not exceeding 32 square feet; must be removed after construction is completed (14-1406.5).
- Memorial plaques, cornerstones, historical tablets, and similar markers (14-1406.6).
- Political signs displayed on private property with the consent of the owner (14-1406.7).

## Sign plan & submission notes

- No master sign plan or sign plan requirement is specified in the ordinance.
- A sign permit is required prior to the erection, relocation, major alteration, or modification of any sign allowed in residential, commercial, or industrial districts unless otherwise noted as exempt (14-1403.1).
- Permits for mobile or portable signs are special permits issued only for special events or emergencies; limited to one special permit per establishment or event per calendar year; display limited to a single 30-day consecutive period (14-1403.3; 14-1403.4).
- An Electrical Inspection Permit from the McMinnville Electric System is required before a sign permit will be issued for illuminated, flashing, or electrically powered signs (14-1405.9).
- Appeals of decisions and requests for variances must be submitted in writing to the McMinnville Board of Zoning Appeals per Sections 14-707 and 14-708 of the Official Zoning Code (14-1411).

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

---

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