Sign Regulations in Ripley, Tennessee
Ripley, Tennessee has specific sign regulations covering 27 sign types across 6 zoning districts. Regulated sign types include Real Estate Sign - Additional (Multi-Unit Development), Business Identification Sign - Option 1 (Single), Business Identification Sign (Ground Sign variant). Height restrictions apply. Permits are required for most commercial signs. Use PermitPal to get instant access to the complete regulations.
Data last verified: April 27, 2026
Sign Regulation Overview for Ripley, Tennessee
Sample Sign Requirements in Ripley
| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Setback |
|---|---|---|---|
| Business Identification Sign - Option 1 (Single) | Not specified for freestanding; must not exceed building height limits of the zoning district (general rule). | 75 sq ft per side; up to 3 sides | 10 ft from roadway edge; 3 ft from sidewalk edge; ground signs must meet building setback requirements of the property zoning. |
| Business Identification Sign - Option 2 (Double Sign on One Support) | Not specified for overall structure; must not exceed building height limits of the zoning district (general rule). | Top sign: 75 sq ft; Lower sign: 30 sq ft | 10 ft from roadway edge; 3 ft from sidewalk edge. |
| Business Identification Sign (Ground Sign variant) | 5 ft above ground elevation | 75 sq ft per side; up to 3 sides | Meet building setback requirements of the zone. |
* Sample data shown. Actual requirements may vary by zone. Use PermitPal for complete, location-specific regulations.
PermitPal Coverage for RipleyFull Coverage
Sign Types Covered
27
- Real Estate Sign - Additional (Multi-Unit Development)
- Business Identification Sign - Option 1 (Single)
- Business Identification Sign (Ground Sign variant)
- Attached Business Sign (Wall)
- +2 more types
Zoning Districts
6
Different zoning districts with specific sign regulations
Data Includes
- Permit requirements
- Height restrictions
- Illumination rules
Official Resources for Ripley
Other Cities in Tennessee
Frequently Asked Questions
Sign height limits in Ripley vary by zone and sign type. Wall signs typically range from 25-40 feet, while monument signs are usually limited to 6-10 feet. Use PermitPal to get exact requirements for your property.
To get a sign permit in Ripley, submit an application to the local building or planning department with sign dimensions, location, and design specifications. Our data confirms permits are required for most commercial signs. Processing typically takes 1-4 weeks. PermitPal helps you identify specific requirements and prepare complete applications.
In Ripley, regulated sign types include Real Estate Sign - Additional (Multi-Unit Development), Business Identification Sign - Option 1 (Single), Business Identification Sign (Ground Sign variant), Attached Business Sign (Wall), and 2 more types. Most commercial signs require permits. Temporary signs and certain small signs may be exempt. Use PermitPal for specific exemptions.
Sign setback requirements in Ripley vary by zone and sign type, typically ranging from 5-15 feet from property lines. Use PermitPal for specific setback requirements at your location.
Digital and LED signs in Ripley are regulated with specific requirements for brightness, animation, and message duration. Ripley has documented illumination rules in our database. Use PermitPal to see the exact requirements for electronic message centers.
AI-Powered Research
Ready to Research Ripley Sign Permits?
Stop spending hours searching through municipal codes. Get instant access to Ripley, Tennessee sign regulations with PermitPal's AI-powered platform.
No credit card required · Get results in seconds
Ripley, Tennessee Sign Rules at a Glance
Ripley, Tennessee regulates 27 sign types across 6 zoning districts. Business Identification Sign - Option 1 (Single)s in the B-1 (Neighborhood Business), B-5 (Fringed Commercial), M-1 (Light Industrial) zoning district are capped at Not specified for freestanding; must not exceed building height limits of the zoning district (general rule). tall and 75 sq ft per side; up to 3 sides, with a 10 ft from roadway edge; 3 ft from sidewalk edge; ground signs must meet building setback requirements of the property zoning. setback (Sec. Section J.3.A(1)-(4); Section J.3.I(2); Section J.3.I(1)(d); Section 9). Most commercial signs in Ripley require a permit.
Detailed Sign Ordinance Requirements for Ripley, Tennessee
Sign Rules by Zoning District in Ripley (6 zones)
| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| B-1 (Neighborhood Business), B-5 (Fringed Commercial), M-1 (Light Industrial) | 7 | 8 ft | 75 sq ft per side; up to 3 sides | — |
| B-3 (Central Business), B-4 (Impact Commercial) | 6 | 8 ft | 75 sq ft per side; up to 3 sides | — |
| B-2 (General Business), M-2 (Heavy Industrial) | 10 | 8 ft | 75 sq ft per side; up to 3 sides | — |
| H-1 (Hospital) | 4 | 8 ft | 75 sq ft per side; up to 3 sides | — |
| R-1 (Low Density Residential), R-2 (High Density Single-Family Residential) | 4 | 8 ft | 25 sq ft | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 11 | 10 ft | Up to 150 sq ft | — |
Zone-by-Zone Sign Requirements in Ripley(sample of 3 of 6 zones)
B-1 (Neighborhood Business), B-5 (Fringed Commercial), M-1 (Light Industrial)
| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Premium Details(Illumination, Size Formula, Permit Requirements, Additional Requirements — available with a free PermitPal account) | Ordinance Citation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Business Identification Sign - Option 1 (Single) | Not specified for freestanding; must not exceed building height limits of the zoning district (general rule). | 75 sq ft per side; up to 3 sides | — | 10 ft from roadway edge; 3 ft from sidewalk edge; ground signs must meet building setback requirements of the property zoning. | Only one freestanding business identification sign per business (single configuration). | Minimum 10 ft from edge of any highway, street, or road; minimum 3 ft from edge of any sidewalk; cannot be on or extend over the public right-of-way; must not interfere with traffic or pedestrian vision or safety. | — | Unlock | Section J.3.A(1)-(4); Section J.3.I(2); Section J.3.I(1)(d); Section 9 |
| Business Identification Sign - Option 2 (Double Sign on One Support) | Not specified for overall structure; must not exceed building height limits of the zoning district (general rule). | Top sign: 75 sq ft; Lower sign: 30 sq ft | — | 10 ft from roadway edge; 3 ft from sidewalk edge. | Two sign panels (top and lower) allowed on one support. | Minimum 10 ft from edge of any highway, street, or road; minimum 3 ft from edge of any sidewalk; cannot be on or extend over the public right-of-way; must not interfere with traffic or pedestrian vision or safety. | — | Unlock | Section J.3.A(2)-(3); Section J.3.I(2); Section J.3.I(1)(d); Section 9 |
| Business Identification Sign (Ground Sign variant) | 5 ft above ground elevation | 75 sq ft per side; up to 3 sides | — | Meet building setback requirements of the zone. | Only one ground business identification sign per business (unless using Double Sign option on a freestanding support). | Must meet building setback requirements for the property zoning. | — | Unlock | Section J.3.A(5); Section J.3.A(2) |
| Attached Business Sign (Wall) | — | ≤25% of wall face area | — | — | One per building face. | Affixed to wall or parapet; extends <12 inches; lowest point must maintain clearance per general codes (no obstruction of exits/ventilation). | — | Unlock | Section J.3.B(1)-(2); Section J.3.I(1)(b)-(c), (j); Section 9 |
| Awning/Canopy Sign (Attached) | — | Subject to attached sign limit (≤25% of wall face) | — | — | Counts as the attached sign on that building face. | On awning/canopy projecting from and supported by exterior wall. | — | Unlock | Section J.3.B(3); Section 9 |
| Real Estate Sign - Primary (Commercial/Industrial zones) | 8 ft | 32 sq ft | — | Must meet zone building setback requirements. | One per road frontage. | Subject to building setback requirements of the zoning district. | — | Unlock | Section J.3.H(1), (3)-(4) |
| Real Estate Sign - Additional (Multi-Unit Development) | 8 ft | 10 sq ft per additional sign | — | Must meet zone building setback requirements. | One additional per unit in multi-unit developments. | Subject to building setback requirements of the zoning district. | — | Unlock | Section J.3.H(2)-(4) |
B-3 (Central Business), B-4 (Impact Commercial)
| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Premium Details(Illumination, Size Formula, Permit Requirements, Additional Requirements — available with a free PermitPal account) | Ordinance Citation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Business Identification Sign - Option 1 (Single) | Not specified for freestanding; must not exceed building height limits of the zoning district (general rule). | 75 sq ft per side; up to 3 sides | — | 10 ft from roadway edge; 3 ft from sidewalk edge; ground signs must meet building setback requirements of the property zoning. | Only one freestanding business identification sign per business. | Minimum 10 ft from edge of any highway, street, or road; minimum 3 ft from edge of any sidewalk; cannot be on or extend over the public right-of-way; must not interfere with traffic or pedestrian vision or safety. | — | Unlock | Section J.3.A(1)-(5); Section J.3.I(2); Section 9 |
| Business Identification Sign (Ground Sign variant) | 5 ft above ground elevation | 75 sq ft per side; up to 3 sides | — | Meet building setback requirements of the zone. | Only one ground business identification sign per business. | Must meet building setback requirements for the property zoning. | — | Unlock | Section J.3.A(5); Section J.3.A(2) |
| Attached Business Sign (Wall) | — | ≤25% of wall face area | — | — | One per building face. | Affixed to wall or parapet; extends <12 inches. | — | Unlock | Section J.3.B(1)-(2); Section 9 |
| Awning/Canopy Sign (Attached) | — | Subject to attached sign limit (≤25% of wall face) | — | — | Counts as the attached sign on that building face. | On awning/canopy projecting from and supported by exterior wall. | — | Unlock | Section J.3.B(3); Section 9 |
| Real Estate Sign - Primary (Commercial zones) | 8 ft | 32 sq ft | — | Must meet zone building setback requirements. | One per road frontage. | Subject to building setback requirements of the zoning district. | — | Unlock | Section J.3.H(1), (3)-(4) |
| Real Estate Sign - Additional (Multi-Unit Development) | 8 ft | 10 sq ft per additional sign | — | Must meet zone building setback requirements. | One additional per unit in multi-unit developments. | Subject to building setback requirements of the zoning district. | — | Unlock | Section J.3.H(2)-(4) |
B-2 (General Business), M-2 (Heavy Industrial)
| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Premium Details(Illumination, Size Formula, Permit Requirements, Additional Requirements — available with a free PermitPal account) | Ordinance Citation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Business Identification Sign - Option 1 (Single) | Not specified for freestanding; must not exceed building height limits of the zoning district (general rule). | 75 sq ft per side; up to 3 sides | — | 10 ft from roadway edge; 3 ft from sidewalk edge; ground signs must meet building setback requirements of the property zoning. | Only one freestanding business identification sign per business (single configuration). | Minimum 10 ft from edge of any highway, street, or road; minimum 3 ft from edge of any sidewalk; cannot be on or extend over the public right-of-way; must not interfere with traffic or pedestrian vision or safety. | — | Unlock | Section J.3.A(1)-(4); Section J.3.I(2); Section 9 |
| Business Identification Sign - Option 2 (Double Sign on One Support) | Not specified for overall structure; must not exceed building height limits of the zoning district (general rule). | Top sign: 75 sq ft; Lower sign: 30 sq ft | — | 10 ft from roadway edge; 3 ft from sidewalk edge. | Two sign panels (top and lower) allowed on one support. | Minimum 10 ft from edge of any highway, street, or road; minimum 3 ft from edge of any sidewalk; cannot be on or extend over the public right-of-way; must not interfere with traffic or pedestrian vision or safety. | — | Unlock | Section J.3.A(2)-(3); Section J.3.I(2); Section 9 |
| Business Identification Sign (Ground Sign variant) | 5 ft above ground elevation | 75 sq ft per side; up to 3 sides | — | Meet building setback requirements of the zone. | Only one ground business identification sign per business (unless using Double Sign option on a freestanding support). | Must meet building setback requirements for the property zoning. | — | Unlock | Section J.3.A(5); Section J.3.A(2) |
| Attached Business Sign (Wall) | — | ≤25% of wall face area | — | — | One per building face. | Affixed to wall or parapet; extends <12 inches. | — | Unlock | Section J.3.B(1)-(2); Section 9 |
| Off-Premise Sign - Option 1 (Primary) | Not specified; must meet general building height limits. | 60 sq ft per side; up to 2 sides | — | 10 ft from roadway edge; 5 ft from sidewalk edge; spacing minimum 2,000 linear feet from any other off-premise sign. | One primary off-premise sign per location (plus Option 2 second sign on same pole). | Minimum 10 ft from edge of any highway, street, or road; minimum 5 ft from edge of any sidewalk; cannot be on or extend over the public right-of-way; must not interfere with traffic or pedestrian vision or safety. | — | Unlock | Section J.3.C(1), (3); Section J.3.I(2); Section 9 |
| Off-Premise Sign - Option 2 (Second Sign on Same Pole) | Not specified; must meet general building height limits. | 25 sq ft | — | Must comply with primary off-premise sign setbacks. | Second sign allowed on same pole. | On same pole as primary off-premise sign. | — | Unlock | Section J.3.C(1) |
| Real Estate Sign - Primary (Industrial/Commercial zones) | 8 ft | 32 sq ft | — | Must meet zone building setback requirements. | One per road frontage. | Subject to building setback requirements of the zoning district. | — | Unlock | Section J.3.H(1), (3)-(4) |
| Real Estate Sign - Additional (Multi-Unit Development) | 8 ft | 10 sq ft per additional sign | — | Must meet zone building setback requirements. | One additional per unit in multi-unit developments. | Subject to building setback requirements of the zoning district. | — | Unlock | Section J.3.H(2)-(4) |
PermitPal covers all 6 zoning districts in Ripley — full sign requirements for every zone, plus illumination rules, size formulas, and permit requirements for every sign type — with a free account.
See all 6 zones for Ripley — start freeProhibited Signs in Ripley
- Signs on public property are prohibited, except public signs in conjunction with government uses and temporary signs authorized by the public authority having jurisdiction.
- No sign may be located within or over a public right-of-way.
- Signs may not be erected at intersections or in any location that obstructs free and clear vision or that interferes with, obstructs the view of, or could be confused with any authorized traffic sign, signal, or device; use of words such as STOP, LOOK, DRIVE-IN, GO SLOW, CAUTION, or similar wording or symbols that could mislead traffic is prohibited.
- No signs are allowed between a height of 2.5 feet and 10 feet of the front property line in order to prevent obstruction of vision.
- Signs that blend with or can be confused with traffic signals are prohibited.
- Signs containing reflective materials that present a hazard or danger to traffic or the general public are prohibited.
- Structurally unsound signs or signs rendered structurally sound by guy wires are prohibited.
- Signs that display or advertise any obscene, indecent, or immoral matter are prohibited.
- Signs shall not be erected, constructed, or maintained so as to obstruct any fire escape, required exit way, window, or door opening used as a means of egress or to prevent free passage.
- Signs shall not be attached in any manner that interferes with any opening required for ventilation (except covering transom windows when not in violation of Building or Fire Prevention Codes).
- Sign height may not exceed the building height restrictions of the applicable zoning district.
- Existing supports such as utility poles or traffic control sign supports may not be utilized for any sign.
- Signs may not be suspended by chains or other devices that allow the sign to swing due to wind; signs must be anchored to prevent lateral movement.
- The existing ground elevation may not be built up in order to achieve a taller sign.
- Artificial lighting used with or to light any sign may not be directed or reflected onto any structure or create a hazard to the safe operation of vehicles on streets or highways.
- Flashing signs, flashing or moving lights on signs, and reflective pennants are prohibited, except for time/temperature/date signs and search lights permitted by the Building Inspector.
- Electrical wiring, extension cords, or any other means of power for signs may not be laid on the ground or in parking areas.
- Signs must maintain specified minimum clearances from overhead electrical connectors (per voltage categories).
Exempt Signs in Ripley
- Signs not more than 2 sq. ft. identifying street numbers, owner names, occupant name, and professional names.
- Official National, State, or Municipal flags properly displayed.
- Signs identifying merchandise or manufacturer on dispensing/vending machines, or on windows.
- Signs wholly within buildings or windows.
- Public signs erected by or on the order of a public officer in the performance of public duty, including temporary, emergency, or non-advertising signs approved by the Building Inspector.
- Historical markers required by local, State, or Federal authorities.
- Decorative signs incidental to national, local, or religious holidays.
- No trespassing or no dumping signs.
- Memorial signs or tablets, names of buildings, and date of erection when cut into masonry or constructed on bond or noncombustible material.
- Public signs or signs authorized for public purposes by law, statute, or ordinance, which may be of any type, number, area, height, location, illumination, or animation as required; also exempt are signs on public property erected by order of the Mayor and Board of Aldermen subject to sight, distance, and safety considerations.
- Warning signs that warn of danger, contain no advertising, are only as large as necessary, and are removed when the danger subsides.
- Private property directional signs such as no parking, exit, parking, not to exceed 5 sq. ft.
- Temporary posters (in conjunction with official, civic, or philanthropic events) do not require a permit, subject to the time limits provided.
- Temporary vehicle signs do not require a permit, provided they are displayed on operable vehicles with all current valid licenses, tags, or plates.
- Temporary construction signs do not require a permit and are allowed in all districts during active construction, subject to size/height limits.
- Temporary on-site garage sale signs not exceeding 5 sq. ft. do not require a permit, subject to display time limits.
- Real estate signs do not require a permit.
- On-building banners do not require a permit (total signage on any building face must not exceed 25% of that face).
Sign Plan & Submission Notes for Ripley
- No master sign plan or sign plan requirement is specified in the provided text.
- A building permit is required before any sign is erected, altered, or relocated; electrical permits must be obtained prior to submitting for the building permit.
- Temporary signs require a permit except for vehicle signs, construction signs, posters, and garage sale signs.
- Political/campaign signs require a general sign permit covering all of a candidate’s signs in Ripley (no fee); they must meet timing, size, and right-of-way restrictions.
- Right to appeal: any person ordered by the Building Inspector to remove a sign or whose sign permit application is refused may appeal to the Board of Zoning Appeals; the Building Inspector halts further action pending the Board’s decision unless immediate danger exists.
- Variances: the Board of Zoning Appeals may grant variances for height and setback, period for removal of nonconforming signs, maximum sign area, maximum number of signs, removal of prohibited signs, and others, provided jurisdiction, notice, non-application of less restrictive standards, inability to reasonably use the property under the ordinance, and uniqueness of the difficulty are determined.
- Nonconforming signs: filing a request for variance or interpretation within 30 days of the ordinance’s effective date stays further administrative actions until the request is acted upon.
- Real estate signs: businesses with non-conforming setbacks may appeal to the Board of Zoning Appeals; the Board may waive the setback if a suitable, safe location is found.
Source: other municipal code