All districts
Signs in Birmingham are governed by a separate Sign Ordinance, not by the zoning chapter.
- Real estate signs: up to 4 square feet per side (8 square feet total), 4 feet high, no permit needed, removed within 14 days of sale or lease (Sign Ordinance § 1.09, Table D).
- Home improvement signs: 4 square feet per side, one sign, up to 30 days. Private residence signs: 4 square feet per side for one 90-day period per year. Subdivision advertising: 32 square feet, 6 feet high. Special event signs: up to 7 days (Sign Ordinance § 1.09).
- Single-family homes get no permanent signs beyond a 1 square foot window sign and 2 square feet of security signs (Sign Ordinance § 1.08, Table D). Multiple-family buildings: 10 square feet, 4 feet high. Institutions such as churches, schools, and government buildings: 20 square feet within 500 feet of homes, otherwise 40 square feet, 8 feet high.
- Cloth pennants and banners are prohibited (Sign Ordinance § 1.08).
Sign variances go to the Board of Zoning Appeals on a practical difficulties standard with four required findings (Sign Ordinance § 2.06; zoning § 8.01(F)(4)).