Franklin's Sign Regulations: The Rules That Matter
Every city handles sign regulations a little differently. In Franklin, Tennessee, there are 4 distinct rules that residents and property owners should be aware of. Some are stricter than what neighboring cities enforce, and others are more relaxed. Here is what you need to know.
Digital Billboards
Franklin's zoning code bans LED electronic message center signs and LED display screens outright: digital billboards aren't permitted anywhere in the city.
Key details: LED message signs: Prohibited citywide (§15.1.10.O). LED display screens: Prohibited citywide (§15.1.10.P). Existing billboards: Nonconforming, limited expansion only. Effective: January 13, 2026.
Violating any zoning sign standard is a misdemeanor under Section 22.5, fined per Municipal Code Title 12's general penalty clause; each day a violation continues is a separate offense.
This is one of the stricter rules in Franklin's municipal code. If you are unsure whether your situation complies, it is worth checking with the city before proceeding.
Window Signs
Franklin caps window signs at 15 percent of an individual window's area, or 15 percent of a grouped-window area, and no storefront may display more than five window signs under the city's 2026 sign code.
Key details: Coverage limit: 15% of individual window area. Sign count cap: Max 5 window signs per storefront. Placement: Within 12 inches of interior glazing. Neon: 1 interior neon sign, by permit.
Installing a sign, including a window sign, without the required sign permit is unlawful under Section 22.3; violations of the Ordinance are misdemeanors fined under Title 12's general penalty clause, per Section 22.5.
Garage Sale Signs
Franklin has no sign type dedicated to garage sales: signage for a sale falls under the general temporary-sign rule: max two per lot, six square feet on residential lots, and a three-month yearly limit.
Key details: Sign category: No garage-sale-specific sign type. Governing rule: General Temporary Sign standard. Size limit: 6 sq ft on residential lots. Display limit: 3 months per 12-month period.
A garage-sale sign that's oversized, illuminated, left up past three months, or exceeds the two-sign-per-lot cap violates § 15.18 and is a misdemeanor under § 22.5's general penalty clause.
Holiday Displays
Franklin's sign code bans inflatable or balloon-type devices over 18 inches in diameter that require tethering, the exact profile of most yard-display holiday inflatables, citywide, with no seasonal exception.
Key details: Size limit: 18 inches diameter, if tethered. Coverage: Any inflatable/balloon-type device, citywide. Districts: All zoning districts, no exemption. Holiday exception: None: applies year-round. Penalty: Misdemeanor, each day separate offense.
Any Ordinance violation is a misdemeanor, fined under Title 12's general penalty clause (Zoning Ordinance § 22.5); each day the oversized inflatable stays up counts as a separate offense.
This is one of the stricter rules in Franklin's municipal code. If you are unsure whether your situation complies, it is worth checking with the city before proceeding.
The Bottom Line
Franklin is tougher than many cities when it comes to sign regulations. Out of the 4 rules covered here, 2 are rated strict. If you are a homeowner, renter, or business owner in Franklin, take the time to understand these requirements before they become a problem. Most violations come with fines, and some repeat violations can escalate.
Keep in mind that Franklin can amend these rules at any council meeting. For the most current version of any rule mentioned here, check the specific ordinance page, where we track updates as they happen.