# Sign Regulations in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Pigeon Forge, Tennessee (TN)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/tennessee/pigeon-forge
- **Data last verified:** 2025-12-06
- **Source:** [other municipal code](https://cityofpigeonforge.com/uploadedFiles/Community_Development/Pigeon%20Forge%20Zoning%20Ordinance%20(update%201_2019).pdf#page=29)

## At a glance

Pigeon Forge, Tennessee regulates 24 sign types across 8 zoning districts. Monument Signs in the General Regulations For All Zones zoning district are capped at 25 feet (up to 30 feet with building official approval for unusual topography or congestion) tall and Included in total signage allowance; area = height x width, with a 15 feet from right-of-way setback (Sec. 408.2.2). Most commercial signs in Pigeon Forge require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (8 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 6 | 25 feet (up to 30 feet with building official approval for unusual topography or congestion) | Up to 50 sq ft | — |
| Residential Districts | 3 | — | Max 150 sq ft total | — |
| Commercial and Industrial Districts (C-1, C-2, M-1) | 4 | — | Included in 350 sq ft total | — |
| Commercial District C-3 | 4 | — | 200 sq ft total | — |
| Commercial District C-4 | 4 | Per table | 75 sq ft | — |
| C-5 Commercial Amusement Park District | 4 | 25 feet | 1000 sq ft total per ingress/egress; no single >500 sq ft | — |
| C-6 Mixed-Use Commercial District | 4 | Support 25 ft, face 20 ft | 100 sq ft per face (two-sided); includes 33 sq ft LED | — |
| C-7 Planned Unit/Public Use Development | 5 | 25 feet | 1000 sq ft total for two signs; no single >500 sq ft; digital <=250 sq ft per face | — |

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

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Monument Sign | 25 feet (up to 30 feet with building official approval for unusual topography or congestion) | Included in total signage allowance; area = height x width | — | 15 feet from right-of-way | Included in max 2 per business (408.2.4) | At least 15 feet from public road right-of-way; must not block 200 feet sight distance | — | 408.2.2 |
| Ground Sign | 25 feet (up to 30 feet with approval) | Included in total signage allowance | — | 5 feet from right-of-way (except entrance/exit signs) | Max 2 per business, not same type; 3 on corner lots | Clearance from ground to announcement section at least 9 feet, unless approved otherwise | — | 408.2.2, 408.2.9.2 |
| Wall Sign | — | Included in total; logo signs up to 32 sq ft per side | — | — | Included in max 2 per business | Attached to building | — | 408.2.4 |
| Logo Sign | — | 32 sq ft per sign | — | — | Up to 2 | On up to 2 finished sides of building | — | 408.2.4 |
| Portable/Movable Sign | 25 feet | Up to 50 sq ft | — | 5 feet from right-of-way | 1 per lot | On private property | — | 408.2.9.1 |
| Off-Premise Directional Sign | 9 feet | 8 sq ft | — | 5 feet from right-of-way | Up to 2 per establishment | On private property along arterial/collector streets; 5 feet from right-of-way | — | 408.3 |

### Commercial District C-4

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Ground/Monument Sign | Per table | Per table | — | Per general | 1 per building/PUD; separate for outparcels | Per street frontage | — | 408.8.2, Table in 408.8 |
| Wall/Facade Sign | — | If no ground sign, 15% | — | — | 1 per qualified side | Any side but one qualifies | — | 408.8.2 |
| Outparcel Ground Sign | — | 75 sq ft | — | — | 1 per outparcel | For outparcels | — | 408.8.3 |
| Graphics | — | Included in max | — | — | — | — | — | 408.8.4 |

### C-7 Planned Unit/Public Use Development

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Ground/Monument Sign | 25 feet | 1000 sq ft total for two signs; no single >500 sq ft; digital <=250 sq ft per face | — | 10 ft from outer property line | Up to 2 per ingress/egress | At major ingress/egress adjacent to public roads or boundary | — | 712.13.1 |
| Roof Sign | Not taller than roof line | 150 sq ft | — | — | 1 per building | One per building | — | 712.13.2 |
| Interior Wall Sign | — | Not included if not readable from public | — | — | — | For rides, crafts, booths inside | — | 712.13.3 |
| Outparcel Wall Sign | — | 300 sq ft max | — | — | — | Perimeter buildings | — | 712.13.4 |
| Perimeter Wall Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Perimeter walls | — | 712.13.5 |

## Prohibited signs in Pigeon Forge

- No part of any sign, except for entrance and exit signs of no more than three (3) square feet, shall be placed within five (5) feet of any right-of-way or ingress/egress way.
- No sign, except as noted, shall be erected where the distance from ground level to the announcement section is less than nine (9) feet, unless specific conditions for monument signs or planning commission approval apply.
- Signs per business shall be limited to a maximum of two (2), but not two (2) signs of the same type; on lots extending between parallel or perpendicular streets, up to three (3) signs with two of the same type if not fronting the same street.
- No sign which includes action, motion, moving or revolving materials, or parts, or contains flashing or blinking lights or bulbs, or is intermittently lighted shall be allowed, except for temporary displays during Smoky Mountain Winterfest or signs displaying time, temperature, and public service announcements without advertising.
- Searchlights and other similar types of lighting (beams of light positioned upward, in motion or fixed) are not allowed.
- Political signs are not permitted on streets or highway rights-of-way, nor on public property; limited to one per candidate per premise, not exceeding twelve (12) square feet, posted no earlier than 30 days before election and removed within 10 days after.
- Temporary non-commercial signs for holidays, special events, or infrequent occurrences limited to 30 days prior and 7 days after event, not exceeding 32 square feet, and may be located away from site upon planning commission determination.
- No signs shall be permitted which advertise an activity, business, product or service not conducted on the premises upon which the sign is located, except those allowed in 408.3.
- No signs shall be permitted which are attached to, suspended from or painted on any vehicle which is regularly parked on any street or private property to display, demonstrate, and advertise with intent to attract public attention.
- Portable and/or movable signs permitted only with temporary permit (up to 30 days, non-renewable for 15 days), one per lot, with $100 fee and $100 deposit for signs up to 50 square feet.
- All signs shall have a maximum height of twenty-five (25) feet; building official may allow up to thirty (30) feet for unusual topography or congestion.

## Signs exempt from permit in Pigeon Forge

- Signs for parking areas and ingress/egress signs as established in 408.2.1, plus one sign of not more than nine (9) square feet noting conditions and stipulations of the parking area.
- Directional signs for off-premise parking lots: maximum 15 feet height, 9 feet clearance, 24 square feet double-faced, internally lit if illuminated, denoting business name only, no logos, located on parking lot site off right-of-way; up to one per street frontage if multiple.
- Real estate signs noting 'for sale,' 'for lease,' 'for rent': non-illuminated, one per land parcel, not more than 32 square feet.
- Construction sites: one sign noting construction information and trades, maximum 32 square feet, allowed until project complete and removed prior to certificate of occupancy.
- Subdivision, PUD, and similar signs: one sign noting development information, maximum 32 square feet, located on property, removed after two years or 90% sold, whichever first.
- Lease signs for single site or multi-use development: maximum 32 square feet, removed after project complete and prior to certificate of occupancy.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- The building official shall be provided with plans and specifications identifying the location, type, and design of any sign to be erected, constructed, replaced, altered, or relocated; official may inspect to ensure conformance.
- Off-premise directional signs for non-profit entities require plans showing locations submitted to Planning Commission for review and approval prior to sign permit issuance.
- Sign locations for shopping centers, multi-use commercial developments, and industrial uses shall be approved by the planning commission in the site plan approval process.
- Applicants in M-1, C-1, and C-2 districts must present architecture and graphics plans (full set of building elevations to scale) to Planning Commission for review to assess compliance with signage provisions.
- Site plans for commercial, industrial, and multi-family uses must include location of all structures, including signs (Section 409.5).
- Planning commission may approve ground signs with less than nine feet clearance as part of site plan review if no impediment to pedestrian movement or sight distance.

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

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