# Sign Regulations in Unicoi, Tennessee

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Unicoi, Tennessee (TN)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/tennessee/unicoi
- **Data last verified:** 2025-11-05
- **Source:** [other municipal code](https://storage.googleapis.com/wzukusers/user-12815118/documents/a29aa52220f14179bb938fc6918e5ef1/Zoning%20Ordinance.pdf#page=27)

## At a glance

Unicoi, Tennessee regulates 15 sign types across 5 zoning districts. Permanent Identification/Entrance Sign (Subdivisions, Group Housing Projects, Planned Unit Developments, Apartments, Condominiums)s in the Agriculture and Residential Zoning Districts (A-1, R-1, R-1A, R-2, R-3) zoning district are capped at 12 feet tall and 20 square feet each, with a 10 feet from any property line or public right-of-way, whichever is greater setback (Sec. 409.7.1). Most commercial signs in Unicoi require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (5 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 10 | — | 32 square feet (12 square feet within public right-of-way) | — |
| Agriculture and Residential Zoning Districts (A-1, R-1, R-1A, R-2, R-3) | 3 | 12 feet | 20 square feet each | — |
| B-1 Zoning Districts (B-1) | 2 | 15 feet | 32 square feet | — |
| B-2, B-3 and Manufacturing Zoning Districts (B-2, B-3, M-1, M-2) | 2 | 25 feet | 32 square feet | — |
| B-4 and PBD Zoning Districts (B-4, PBD) | 2 | Determined by setback: 10 ft. to 25 ft. - 20 ft. plus setback (in ft.); 25 ft. or greater - 45 ft. | Determined by setback: 10 ft. to 45 ft. - 2 ft. x (setback - 10 ft.) + 100 sq. ft.; 45 ft. or greater - 250 sq. ft. | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 5 zones)

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Political Campaign Sign | — | 32 square feet (12 square feet within public right-of-way) | — | — | Unlimited per property | Private property or public right-of-way | — | 409.4.1 |
| Temporary Special Event Sign or Banner Sign | — | 16 square feet | — | — | Unlimited | Private property | — | 409.4.2.1 |
| Temporary Banner Sign (Grand Opening or Closing) | — | 32 square feet | — | — | Unlimited | Private property | — | 409.4.2.2 |
| Construction Site Sign | — | 32 square feet | — | — | 1 per site | Construction site | — | 409.4.3 |
| Parking Area Sign | — | 3 square feet | — | — | Unlimited | Internal to parking areas | — | 409.4.4 |
| Real Estate Sale/Lease Sign | — | 9 square feet in residential zones or 32 square feet in commercial and manufacturing zones | — | — | Unlimited (total area limit) | On premises being advertised | — | 409.4.5 |
| Residential Name/Address Sign | — | 2 square feet | — | — | 1 per dwelling unit | Single family dwelling unit | — | 409.4.6 |
| Yard Sign (Religious, Political Statements, Quilt Trail, Lost Pets, etc.) | — | 18 inches x 24 inches | — | — | Unlimited | Private property | — | 409.4.7 |

### Agriculture and Residential Zoning Districts (A-1, R-1, R-1A, R-2, R-3)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Permanent Identification/Entrance Sign (Subdivisions, Group Housing Projects, Planned Unit Developments, Apartments, Condominiums) | 12 feet | 20 square feet each | — | 10 feet from any property line or public right-of-way, whichever is greater | 2 (one on each side of entrance area) | Entrance area (one on each side) | — | 409.7.1 |
| Identification Sign (Individual Buildings in Group Housing, Planned Unit Development, Apartment, or Condominium Complex) | — | 9 square feet | — | 10 feet from any property line or public right-of-way, whichever is greater | 1 per building | Individual buildings | — | 409.7.1 |
| Temporary Sign (Under Development for Subdivision, Group Housing Project, Planned Unit Development, Apartment, or Condominium Complex) | 12 feet | 20 square feet | — | 10 feet from any property line or public right-of-way, whichever is greater | 1 | Development site | — | 409.7.2 |

### B-1 Zoning Districts (B-1)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign | 15 feet | 32 square feet | — | 10 feet from any property line or public right-of-way, whichever is greater | 1 per street frontage | Each street frontage granting access to premises | — | 409.8.1 |
| Temporary Portable Sign | — | — | — | 10 feet from public right-of-way | 1 | At least 10 feet off public right-of-way | — | 409.8.2 |

## Prohibited signs in Unicoi

- Any sign located within or upon the public right-of-way, except government signs, political signs, and special event banners in the B-2 and B-3 District.
- Any sign located on a tree, telephone pole, power pole, or street light pole, except special event banners in the B-2 and B-3 District.
- Any sign which contains flashing or intermittent red, blue, green, or amber illumination.
- Illuminated signs within one hundred (100) feet of a residential district, unless the illumination is designed so as not to shine, reflect or direct light onto the residential district.
- Any sign which constitutes a traffic hazard. No sign or revolving beam or beacon of light shall be erected at any location where by reason of the position, shape, color, type, or illumination or reflectance it may interfere with, obstruct the view of, or be confused with any authorized traffic sign, signal, or device.
- Abandoned signs, with notice and potential fines for non-removal.
- Unsafe, insecure, or hazardous signs, subject to immediate removal if necessary.

## Signs exempt from permit in Unicoi

- Political Campaign Signs: Each sign not to exceed thirty-two (32) square feet in all districts, may be erected on private property or twelve (12) square feet within the public right-of-way, no more than sixty (60) days prior to the election. All campaign signs shall be removed by the property owner within seven (7) days after the results of an election are certified.
- Event Signs: Temporary special event signs or banner signs not exceeding sixteen (16) square feet which announce a special event sponsored by a civic, philanthropic, educational, or religious organization may be erected on private property no more than thirty (30) days prior to the event. All special event signs shall be removed by the property owner within seven (7) days of the conclusion of an event. Temporary banner signs announcing the grand opening of a new business, or the closing of an existing business, but in no event, shall such signs remain more than thirty (30) days. These signs shall be limited to thirty-two (32) square feet in size.
- Construction Site Signs: One sign noting construction information and trades shall be permitted for each site. The maximum size shall be thirty-two (32) square feet. The sign shall be removed upon completion of the construction project, and prior to the issuance of a Certificate of Occupancy.
- Parking Areas: Signs internal to parking areas which direct vehicular or pedestrian traffic but bear no advertising. They shall be no larger than three (3) square feet each. These signs can indicate “Entrance,” “Exit,” “Handicapped Parking,” fire lanes, loading zones, and other information to enable the safe and orderly flow of traffic.
- Real Estate Sale/Lease Signs: Signs up to a total area of nine (9) square feet in residential zones or up to a total area of thirty-two (32) square feet in commercial and manufacturing zones, advertising the sale, rental, or lease of the premises or part of the premises on which the signs are displayed are permitted. Such signs shall be removed within fourteen (14) days of the sale, rental, or lease.
- Residential Name/Address Signs: For each single family dwelling unit, one (1) nameplate indicating name, address, house number, home occupation, or an announcement of space for boarders or roomers if applicable, limited to two (2) square feet in area, is permitted.
- Other Permitted Signs: Yard signs, including religious or political statements, quilt trail signs, notices of lost pets, are permitted in all zoning districts and shall not exceed 18”X24” in total sign area.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Special signs may be permitted on review by the planning commission, provided however that no permit may be issued except with the written approval of the planning commission and subject to such conditions as the planning commission may require to preserve and protect the character of the district in which the proposed sign is to be located.
- When an appellant, owner, or authorized representative is unable to meet the provisions of this Section, an appeal may be made to the Board of Zoning Appeals for a variance. In granting a variance, the Board may attach thereto such conditions regarding the location, size, character, and other features of the proposed sign provided that such relief may be granted without substantial detriment to the public good and without substantially impairing the intent and purpose of this Section. Prior to any variance being granted, the Board shall be shown evidence that special circumstances are attached to the property, e.g. topography, narrowness, shallowness, or other physical constraints, which do not generally apply to other property in the neighboring area.
- A site plan shall be submitted to the planning commission prior to the issuance of a building permit in the following Zoning Districts: B-1, B-2, B-3, B-4, M-1, M-2, and PBD Districts, or any duplex, two-family, and multi-family developments (may include signage as part of site plan review).

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

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