# Sign Regulations in Nolensville, Tennessee

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Nolensville, Tennessee (TN)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/tennessee/nolensville
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-08
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/tn/nolensville/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=APXANOZOOR_ART7SIST)

## At a glance

Nolensville, Tennessee regulates 16 sign types across 4 zoning districts. Blade Signs in the CD-4, CD-4C, CD-4HV, CD-OI, CV zoning district are capped at 4 ft. tall, 8 sf, and 2 ft. wide, with a Max. projection 4 ft. setback (Sec. Table 7.1.2.B-2 (Blade Sign)). Most commercial signs in Nolensville require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (4 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| CD-2L, CD-2, CD-3L | 1 | — | 2 sf | — |
| CD-3 | 2 | 2 ft (mounting height max. 7 ft.) | 2 sf | — |
| CD-4, CD-4C, CD-4HV, CD-OI, CV | 13 | 48 in. | 33% of glass | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 3 | 5 ft. from ground | 24 sf per side | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 4 zones)

### CD-3

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Address Sign | — | 2 sf | — | — | 1 per address | Mounted on the building | — | Table 7.1.2.B-1, Table 7.1.2.B-2 (Address Sign) |
| Plaque Sign | 2 ft (mounting height max. 7 ft.) | 1 sf | 18 in. | — | 1 per Principal Frontage | Principal Frontage, within 10 ft of entrance | — | Table 7.1.2.B-2 (Plaque Sign) |

### CD-4, CD-4C, CD-4HV, CD-OI, CV

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Awning Sign | — | — | Width of façade | Min. 8 ft. depth/projection, or back of curb, whichever is less. | 1 per window | On awning valance covering window, max. 1 awning sign per window | — | Table 7.1.2.B-2 (Awning Sign) |
| Band Sign | 3 ft. | — | 100% of facade | Max. projection 7 in., Min. clearance 7 ft. | 1 per Facade plus 1 per first floor Business Frontage | Flat against the Facade above main entrance, first Story Facade only—not above roof line | — | Table 7.1.2.B-2 (Band Sign) |
| Blade Sign | 4 ft. | 8 sf | 2 ft. | Max. projection 4 ft. | 1 per Business | First floor, perpendicular to Building Facade, min 8 ft. clearance above sidewalk | — | Table 7.1.2.B-2 (Blade Sign) |
| Directory Sign | 3 ft. | 6 sf | 2 ft. | — | 1 per ground floor entrance to upper floor Business(es) | Attached to and parallel with first floor Facade; 1 per ground floor entrance to upper floor businesses | — | Table 7.1.2.B-2 (Directory Sign) |
| Plaque Sign | 2 ft. (mounting height max. 7 ft.) | 1 sf | 18 in. | — | 1 per Principal Frontage | Principal Frontage, within 10 ft. of entrance | — | Table 7.1.2.B-2 (Plaque Sign) |
| Porch Sign | 2 ft. | 6 sf | 100% width of entrance | — | 1 per address (2 for Corner Building) | Above porch entrance/architrave, parallel to Building Facade. | — | Table 7.1.2.B-2 (Porch Sign) |
| Post Sign | 6 ft. (apex) | 12 sf | 48 in. | — | 1 per Building | First Lot Layer, perpendicular to Building Facade | — | Table 7.1.2.B-2 (Post Sign) |
| Sidewalk Sign | 48 in. | 10 sf | 30 in. | — | 1 per Business | Directly in front of the business; not to reduce sidewalk width less than 5 ft. | — | Table 7.1.2.B-2 (Sidewalk Sign) |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Temporary Sign (Single-Family/Two-Family/Multi-Family Residential Use) | 5 ft. from ground | 8 sf per side | — | Min. 5 ft. from property line; not to obstruct driver visibility | 2 per lot or building site | On pole or stake affixed to ground | — | Section 7.1.7.A, 7.1.10.5 |
| Temporary Sign (Other Uses) | 5 ft. from ground (unless affixed as banner) | 24 sf per side | — | 5 ft. from property line; not in way of driver visibility. | 2 per lot or building site | On pole or stake in ground or as a banner affixed to building | — | Section 7.1.7.B, 7.1.10.5 |
| Occupant Rear Door Sign | — | 6 sf | — | — | — | Flush against rear entrance door of building | — | Section 7.1.8.N |

## Prohibited signs in Nolensville

- No billboards or off-premises signs are permitted except as otherwise allowed by T.C.A. Title 54, Chapter 21.
- No signs are permitted in public rights-of-way except as expressly allowed under this Article.
- Portable signs other than sidewalk signs are not permitted.
- Signs in upper floor windows are not permitted, except for window signs for an occupant that is separate from the occupant of the ground floor.
- All signs that do not conform to this Section 7.1 shall be removed pursuant to Section 1.22.
- No sign may be illuminated with or include animated, moving, intermittent, or flashing lights, or other active lighting.
- No sign may have any moving component or element.
- No sign may have changeable copy except for an outdoor display case.
- No sign may by design or arrangement imitate the size, color, lettering, illumination, word, phrase, or symbol of a traffic safety control sign.
- Where a lot or building site adjoins another lot or building site, no freestanding sign shall be permitted within a triangle formed by the side lot or building site line, the front lot or building site line, and a line beginning on the side lot or building site line at the required front setback distance and extended at 45 degrees to the front lot or building site line for an existing building.
- No sign may be within or overhang a public right-of-way or required setback other than a wall sign that does not overhang such right-of-way more than fifteen inches, a blade sign, or an awning sign.
- No sign may obstruct a traffic-control device, traffic sign, or street name sign, block the vision of drivers at any driveway, street intersection or crosswalk, or be unsafe or constitute a hazard of any type.
- No sign or sign support may be affixed to a tree, rock, utility pole or other improper sign support, or contain any attachment, other sign, symbol, flag, pennant or other attention-getting device (other than the sign itself).
- Electronic message boards and neon signs are prohibited.

## Signs exempt from permit in Nolensville

- One address sign per tenant or owner.
- Up to two on-premises signs not exceeding four square feet in area that are located along the route to a place or location within such premises or are provided for safety.
- Signs placed by the Town or any other governmental unit with jurisdiction over the area where the sign is placed.
- Signs carved into stone, concrete or similar material or made of bronze, aluminum, or other permanent construction and made an integral part of the structure.
- Temporary signs allowed under Section 7.1.7.
- Signs denoting a property as historic or in memorial of an event or person, as authorized by the Historic Zoning Commission and not exceeding four square feet per face. Such signs, if free-standing, limited to one per frontage, four feet in height, and located five feet from any lot line. Such signs, if wall signs, to be inlaid to be integral to the facade or as a plaque of aluminum or bronze permanently affixed.
- Athletic field signs.
- Governmental flags of the United States, the State, and the Town.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Design drawings of any proposed sign must be submitted to the Building Official for review of compliance with this Section prior to fabrication and installation. Drawings must include sign location and size, and indicate materials, colors, hanging or mounting device, illumination scheme, and example of lettering.
- Except for exempt signs, no sign shall be erected, installed, or placed unless a sign permit has been issued and such permit remains in effect.

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

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