Sign Regulations in Birmingham, AL (2026)
4 verified sign regulations for Birmingham, Alabama, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Political Signs
Birmingham's zoning sign ordinance lists political signs among the displays exempt from the city's sign permit requirement, so a campaign yard sign or event sign doesn't need Department of Planning, Engineering and Permits approval before it goes up. The exemption doesn't excuse the sign from Section 9's general placement, safety, and public-property bans, which still apply to every sign in the city.
Birmingham Political Signs Exempt From Permits
Few RestrictionsBirmingham Code of Ordinances, Appendix D (Zoning Ordinance), Article VI, Section 9, Subsections 3.1.a, 3.2.f, and 3.3.f
1.Permits required.a.Unless exempted or prohibited as provided hereinbelow, all signs shall require permits as provided in this section. ... f.Political signs. ... 3.Prohibited signs. The following signs are prohibited: ... f.Signs attached to trees, utility poles, streetlight, or placed on any public property except as authorized by ordinance of the city council.
Garage Sale Signs
Birmingham's Zoning Ordinance bars garage and rummage sale advertising on public property outright and limits any yard sign to six square feet, with no illuminated or animated signs allowed; signs cannot go up before the sale date and must come down by the day after the sale ends.
Birmingham Garage Sale Sign Size & Timing
Some RestrictionsBirmingham Zoning Ordinance, Title 1, Article VI, Section 2 (Use Modifications), Subsection 4, Items h and i
h.No advertisement of any garage or rummage sale shall be permitted on public property;i.No yard sign having an area of more than six square feet shall be permitted, nor shall any illuminated or animated sign be displayed. No sign shall be displayed prior to the date of sale, and all such signs shall be removed no later than the day following the last day of such sale.
Digital Billboards
Birmingham's zoning sign ordinance bars off-premises billboards from using intermittent lighting, defined as any flashing light or arrangement that spells messages, simulates motion, or forms symbols. The only exception is public-service content: time, date, temperature, weather, or news. The Department of Planning, Engineering and Permits enforces the rule alongside an 800-square-foot size cap and 40-foot height limit for off-premises signs.
Birmingham Bans Flashing Digital Billboards
Significant RestrictionsBirmingham Code of Ordinances, Appendix D (Zoning Ordinance), Article VI, Section 9, Subsections 2.3.c and 6.2
c.Intermittent. A sign containing any flashing light, including arrangements that spell messages, simulate motion or form various symbols or images. ... 2.Lighting. Off-premises signs shall not be erected or maintained which contain, include or are illuminated by intermittent lighting except those giving public service information such as, but not limited to time, date, temperature, weather or ...
Window Signs
Window signs advertising goods, services, or activities available inside a Birmingham building need no sign permit as long as they cover 20 percent or less of the window glass surface, combined, under the zoning ordinance's sign regulations. Larger or non-qualifying window displays fall back into the ordinary permit and size rules that apply to signs generally, enforced by the Department of Planning, Engineering and Permits.
Birmingham Window Sign 20% Coverage Limit
Light RestrictionsBirmingham Code of Ordinances, Appendix D (Zoning Ordinance), Article VI, Section 9, Subsections 2.14 and 3.2.g
14.Sign. ... provided, however, that this shall not include hand-painted window signs of less than 70 square feet. ... g.Window signs which identify or advertise activities, services, goods, or products available within the building, and which collectively cover 20 percent or less of the window glass surface area.
Looking for Jefferson County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Birmingham city rules.
Sign Regulations in Jefferson County →