# Sign Regulations in Mt Juliet, Tennessee

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Mt Juliet, Tennessee (TN)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/tennessee/mt-juliet
- **Data last verified:** 2026-02-02
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/tn/mt._juliet/codes/land_development_code?nodeId=PTBZORE_ARTXISIRE)

## At a glance

Mt Juliet, Tennessee regulates 34 sign types across 14 zoning districts. Flag (Non-commercial/Government/Civic)s in the General Regulations For All Zones zoning district are capped at Flagpole: up to 35 ft (permanent flag standard); 40 ft general cap also listed in Sec. 11-107.A.5 tall and 60 sq ft per face, with a General setbacks apply; avoid easements without approvals. setback (Sec. Sec. 11-107.A.5–A.6; Sec. 11-108.C.9; Sec. 11-106.A.4–A.5). Most commercial signs in Mt Juliet require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (14 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 15 | Flagpole: up to 35 ft (permanent flag standard); 40 ft general cap also listed in Sec. 11-107.A.5 | 120 sq ft per sign; 480 sq ft total | — |
| Residential Districts (AR-40, RS-40, RS-30, RS-20, RS-15, RS-10, R-10, RM-8, RM-16, R-MHP) | 7 | Flagpoles up to 35–40 ft (see general); Historic marker up to 9 ft | 120 sq ft per sign; 480 sq ft total | — |
| Commercial-General Districts (CG) | 10 | 10 ft | 120 sq ft per single sign; total 480 sq ft (max 4 signs) | — |
| Commercial Interchange Districts (CI) | 7 | 12 ft | 120 sq ft per sign; total 480 sq ft (max 4 signs) | — |
| Commercial Interchange Districts (CI) (within interstate radius) | 1 | 75 ft | 240 sq ft | — |
| Commercial Mixed Use District (CMU) | 8 | 12 ft | 120 sq ft per sign; total 480 sq ft (max 4) | — |
| Convenience Neighborhood Service Districts (CNS) | 3 | — | Changeable portion ≤75% of sign area | — |
| Office/Professional Service Districts (OPS) | 4 | 7 ft | 120 sq ft per sign; total 480 sq ft (max 4) | — |
| Commercial Town Center Districts (CTC) | 4 | 8 ft | 120 sq ft per sign; total 480 sq ft (max 4) | — |
| Commercial Retail Center Districts (CRC) | 4 | 10 ft | 120 sq ft per sign; total 480 sq ft (max 4) | — |
| Industrial Districts (I-R, I-G, I-S) | 4 | 15 ft | 120 sq ft per sign; total 480 sq ft (max 4) | — |
| Floodplain Districts (F-P) | 1 | — | — | — |
| Planned Unit Development Districts (PUD) | 2 | — | — | — |
| Adult Entertainment Districts (A-E) | 1 | — | — | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 14 zones)

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Flag (Non-commercial/Government/Civic) | Flagpole: up to 35 ft (permanent flag standard); 40 ft general cap also listed in Sec. 11-107.A.5 | 60 sq ft per face | — | General setbacks apply; avoid easements without approvals. | Max 3 flagpoles per principal building; max 2 flags per pole | On private property in any zoning district. | — | Sec. 11-107.A.5–A.6; Sec. 11-108.C.9; Sec. 11-106.A.4–A.5 |
| Temporary Non-commercial Sign | 4 ft | 6 sq ft per face (max 2 faces) | — | At least 10 ft from curb/edge/back of sidewalk; outside sight distance triangle (35 ft legs). | 2 per lot (10 per lot during election window) | On private property with owner permission. | — | Sec. 11-106.B.1; Sec. 11-102.E.2 |
| Real Estate Sign (Temporary) - Residential Property | 4 ft | 9 sq ft per sign face (dual faced allowed) | — | At least 10 ft from curb/edge/stabilized shoulder, and 2 ft from ROW; outside sight distance triangle. | Generally 1 per frontage; see acreage and corner lot allowances | On the property that is for sale/auction/rent/lease. | — | Sec. 11-108.C.3.a and last paragraph (open house); Sec. 11-102.B.3 |
| Real Estate Sign (Temporary) - Commercial/Industrial Property | 8 ft | 20 sq ft | — | At least 10 ft from curb/edge/stabilized shoulder, and 2 ft from ROW; outside sight distance triangle. | Generally 1 per frontage; see acreage and corner lot allowances | On the property that is for sale/auction/rent/lease. | — | Sec. 11-108.C.3.b–c; Sec. 11-102.B.3 |
| Temporary Residential Development Sign (Subdivision/Multi-family) | 8 ft | 32 sq ft per face (max 2 faces) | — | Temporary sign setbacks: ≥10 ft from curb/edge/back of sidewalk; outside sight distance triangle. | 1 per street frontage | On-site for subdivisions or multi-family developments (including multi-family in CMU). | — | Sec. 11-108.C.3 (Temporary residential development signs) |
| Community Facility Freestanding Sign (Non-changeable) | 6 ft | 24 sq ft per face (max 2 faces) | — | Permanent sign setbacks apply; outside sight triangle; not within easements without approval. | Max 1 of this type (plus 1 changeable copy sign) per site; total freestanding max 2 | On community facility sites (max 2 freestanding signs per site). | — | Sec. 11-108.C.2.b.1; Sec. 11-103.C.9–12; Sec. 11-102.B.5–B.6 |
| Community Facility Freestanding Sign (Changeable Copy - Manual/Electronic) | 7 ft (including base/frame) | 32 sq ft total sign area; changeable copy portion ≤75% of total | — | Permanent sign setbacks apply; outside sight triangle. | Max 1 changeable copy freestanding per site (plus 1 non-changeable); max 2 freestanding total per site | On community facility sites; may be on same or alternate frontages with 300 ft minimum spacing between such signs. | — | Sec. 11-108.C.2.b.2; Sec. 11-108.C.1.d–j |
| Permanent Residential Subdivision Entrance Sign | 6 ft | 24 sq ft per face (max 2 faces) | — | Setback 10 ft from edge of pavement or edge of ROW, whichever greater; outside sight triangle. | 1 per entrance (max 4 entrances) | At primary entrance(s) to residential developments, on private property within platted sign/landscape easement or common open space. | — | Sec. 11-108.C.8 |

### Commercial-General Districts (CG)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign (Retail/Service - Individual Principal Entrance) | — | 120 sq ft per single sign; total 480 sq ft (max 4 signs) | — | N/A (wall-mounted). | Max 4 signs; total 480 sq ft | On building elevations of retail/service uses. | — | Sec. 11-108.C.6 and computation examples; Sec. 11-103.C; Sec. 11-110 (Wall sign definition) |
| Wall Sign (Retail/Service - Multiple Tenants Sharing Common Entrance) | — | 20 sq ft per sign face | — | N/A (wall-mounted). | At least 1 per business sharing common entrance | On shared-entrance facades. | — | Sec. 11-108.C.6(2) |
| Wall Sign (Commercial Complex - External Primary Entrance Tenant) | — | 20 sq ft per sign face | — | N/A | Per tenant (external primary entrance) | On tenant exterior with primary entrances. | — | Sec. 11-108.C.7.a–b |
| Wall Sign (Commercial Complex - Building Identification) | — | 60 sq ft per sign; total 180 sq ft (max 3 signs) | — | N/A | Max 3 signs; total 180 sq ft | On building elevations. | — | Sec. 11-108.C.7.b |
| Freestanding Sign (Lot Frontage < 200 ft) | 10 ft | 30 sq ft | — | Permanent sign setbacks: ≥2 ft from ROW or ≥8 ft from edge of pavement/back of curb, whichever greater; outside sight triangle; not within easements without approvals. | Generally 1 per lot; up to 2 if 200 ft apart on same lot | On-site adjacent to street frontage. | — | Sec. 11-108.C.5 (A–B); Table B (CG <200 ft); Sec. 11-103.C.9–12; Sec. 11-102.F |
| Freestanding Sign (Lot Frontage ≥ 200 ft) | 10 ft | 50 sq ft | — | As above. | Generally 1; up to 2 per lot if spacing met | On-site. | — | Sec. 11-108.C.5; Table B (CG >200 ft) |
| Incidental Signs (Commercial Tracts < 8 acres) | 3 ft (for enter/exit directing vehicular traffic) | 2 sq ft per face | — | General setbacks apply; maintain visibility. | Max 1 per 75 parking spaces | On commercial tracts; not intended to be visible from public roadway when possible. | — | Sec. 11-108.C.4.a |
| Incidental Signs (Commercial Tracts ≥ 8 acres) | Up to 6 ft (incidental signs); enter/exit signs not more than 3 ft in height | 4 sq ft per face | — | General setbacks apply. | Max 1 per 75 parking spaces | On commercial tracts ≥ 8 acres. | — | Sec. 11-108.C.4.b |

### Commercial Mixed Use District (CMU)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign (Retail/Service - Individual Principal Entrance) | — | 120 sq ft per sign; total 480 sq ft (max 4) | — | N/A | Max 4; total 480 sq ft | On building elevations. | — | Sec. 11-108.C.6 |
| Wall Sign (Retail/Service - Multiple Tenants Sharing Common Entrance) | — | 20 sq ft per sign face | — | N/A | At least 1 per business | Shared-entrance façades. | — | Sec. 11-108.C.6(2) |
| Wall Sign (Commercial Complex - External Primary Entrance Tenant) | — | 20 sq ft per sign | — | N/A | Per tenant | On tenant exterior walls. | — | Sec. 11-108.C.7.a–b |
| Wall Sign (Commercial Complex - Building Identification) | — | 60 sq ft per sign; 180 sq ft total (max 3) | — | N/A | Max 3 | On building façade. | — | Sec. 11-108.C.7.b |
| Freestanding Sign (Lot Frontage < 200 ft) | 10 ft | 30 sq ft | — | Permanent sign setbacks; outside sight triangle. | Generally 1; up to 2 if spaced 200 ft apart | On-site adjacent to frontage. | — | Table B (CMU <200 ft); Sec. 11-108.C.5; Sec. 11-102.F |
| Freestanding Sign (Lot Frontage ≥ 200 ft) | 12 ft | 50 sq ft | — | As above. | Generally 1; up to 2 if spaced 200 ft apart | On-site. | — | Table B (CMU ≥200 ft) |
| Changeable Copy Sign (Electronic) - Fuel Price Only | — | Changeable portion ≤75% of sign area | — | Permanent sign setbacks (for freestanding) apply. | — | Fuel stations in CMU. | — | Sec. 11-108.C.1.b–j |
| Window Sign (Commercial) | — | ≤25% aggregate window area per contiguous area | — | N/A | Area-based | Interior of windows/doors. | — | Sec. 11-107.A.8; Sec. 11-102.B |

## Prohibited signs in Mt Juliet

- All signs not expressly permitted by the sign ordinance are prohibited.
- Abandoned, dilapidated, or obsolete signs must be removed.
- Commercial signs in residential districts are prohibited unless specifically allowed by the ordinance.
- Signs that obstruct required ingress or egress (doors, windows, fire escapes, or other required exits) are prohibited.
- Any sign that, due to location, position, size, shape, or materials, poses a safety hazard to drivers, pedestrians, or residents is prohibited.
- Animated attention-attracting devices are prohibited, including signs that emit sound, odor, smoke/steam, projecting images, search lights, sign spinners/holders/walkers, or live animals.
- Banners, beacons, pennants, and streamers are prohibited except where specifically allowed; banners erected in or over a public right-of-way or streets are specifically prohibited.
- Bench signs are prohibited.
- Blade banners, feather flags, swoop flags, teardrop flags, vertical flags, temporary flags, and similar devices are prohibited.
- Flashing signs, including those inside windows visible from the street, are prohibited.
- Inflatable signs (including inflated characters, lighter-than-air devices, and balloon-type devices) are prohibited unless specifically allowed elsewhere in the ordinance.
- Obscene signs are prohibited.
- Off-site signs are prohibited.
- Portable signs (including A-frame, sidewalk, and sandwich board signs) are prohibited.
- Projecting signs are prohibited.
- Roof signs or signs extending beyond the main roofline are prohibited (except when mounted on a fully enclosed architectural feature integral to occupied space).
- Signs on natural features such as trees, vegetation, and rocks are prohibited.
- Signs painted, pasted, or printed on curbstone, flagstone, pavement, or any portion of any sidewalk or street are prohibited (except house numbers and traffic control signs).
- Signs in the public right-of-way are prohibited except for public/governmental signs, public transit signs, utility informational signs, signs allowed under a franchise/lease with the City, and emergency warning signs.
- Signs that constitute a traffic hazard or could be confused with traffic control signs/signals are prohibited (including misuse of words such as slow, stop, caution, yield, danger, warning, or go).
- Snipe signs (including on utility poles, fences, and benches) are prohibited.
- Strings of lights used as signs are prohibited.
- Suspended signs are prohibited.
- Trash receptacle signs are prohibited except for the waste company’s name and contact information.
- Vehicle signs cannot be hung, draped, or temporarily attached for immediate removal; they must be painted or wrapped, and specific placement for off-site advertising is prohibited.
- Internally illuminated sign cabinets that allow the entire face to illuminate are prohibited.
- Flashing, blinking, revolving, or rotating lights on signs are not permitted.
- Damaging, trimming, destroying, or removing trees/shrubs/vegetation to increase sign visibility is prohibited unless specifically authorized.
- Changeable copy signs are not allowed on undeveloped/vacant property.
- LED electronic message center window signs are prohibited.

## Signs exempt from permit in Mt Juliet

- Public, legal, or official instruments, notices, or warnings required by federal, state, or local law (no permit required).
- Traffic control signs that meet Department of Transportation standards and contain no commercial message (no permit required).
- Signs internal to a building that are set back more than three feet from a window or door (no permit required).
- Scoreboards and athletic/ball field fence signs, provided the sign does not exceed the height of the fence (no permit required).
- Decals, numbers, names, addresses, hours, and similar items attached to doors or windows totaling two square feet or less (no permit required).
- Other signs and stamps required by state or federal law, provided they do not exceed the minimum size required by law (no permit required).
- Time and temperature signs (no permit required).
- Works of art that do not include a commercial message (no permit required).
- Municipal information signs installed/authorized by the City within public rights-of-way, including non-commercial messages (no permit required).
- Temporary non-commercial signs on private property with the owner’s permission: limit of two per lot (increased to ten per lot 60 days before through five days after any primary or general election), up to six square feet per face (max two faces), max height four feet; no permit required.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- No explicit master sign plan requirement is stated in the ordinance.
- Sign permits are required for all non-exempt signs; temporary commercial signs require registration (no fee).
- Electrified signs require a separate electrical permit from the Building Codes Department after Planning approval.
- Ground/monument signs over four feet in height that require footers may need a separate building permit; Building Codes approval is distinct from Planning approval.
- All new permanent signs (including replacements requiring a permit) must undergo design review by the Planning Department for conformance with design standards; denials/waivers may be appealed to the Planning Commission.
- The Regional Planning Commission may approve variances to increase wall sign areas under limited conditions (community facilities; big box commercial buildings; large industrial buildings; buildings with four or more stories); approvals are based on proportionality/scale to the building façade.

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

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