Rutherford County, TN Sign Regulations: Freeway-Facing Signs (2026)
Key Facts
- Number allowed
- 1 per lot
- Max sign area
- 200 sq ft
- Max height
- 120 feet
- Interchange radius
- Within 2,000 ft of I-24 interchange center
- Residential buffer
- 300 ft minimum
- Changeable copy
- Up to 100% of sign face
Summary
Ground signs facing I-24 in unincorporated Rutherford County get their own category under Zoning Ordinance Section 1205 B.3.g: one Interstate On-Site Ground Sign per lot, up to 200 square feet and 120 feet tall, internally lit, with changeable copy allowed on the entire face. The sign must sit within 2,000 feet of the I-24 interchange and at least 300 feet from any residential zone.
g. Interstate On-Site Ground Sign
i. Number – 1 per lot maximum
ii. Sign Area – Shall not exceed 200 square feet
iii. Height – Shall not exceed 120 feet
iv. Illumination – Internal lighting only
v. Changeable Copy – 100% of the sign area may contain changeable copy messages
vi. Additional Standards – All Interstate Ground Signs must adhere to the following conditions:
(1) Sign shall be located within a 2000-foot radius of the center of the I-24 interchange
(2) Sign shall not be located within 300 feet of a residential zone
(3) Signs shall be located at least 10 feet from any right-of-way line
Full Breakdown
a, which caps out at 50 or 100 square feet and 10 feet tall. The interstate sign is limited to one per lot, up to 200 square feet of sign area and 120 feet in height, with internal lighting only, and it may run automatic changeable copy across 100 percent of its face, the highest changeable-copy allowance anywhere in the sign chapter. vi attaches three siting conditions specific to freeway visibility: the sign must sit within a 2,000-foot radius of the center of the I-24 interchange, it cannot be located within 300 feet of a residential zoning district, and it must be set back at least 10 feet from any right-of-way line.
i, which covers signs advertising businesses elsewhere and is limited to 775 square feet, 35 feet in height, and external illumination only, with its own 200-foot residential buffer and 1,000-foot interchange and inter-billboard spacing rules. a.
Violations & Fines
Erecting an Interstate On-Site Ground Sign that exceeds 200 square feet, tops 120 feet, sits outside the 2,000-foot interchange radius, or comes within 300 feet of a residential zone is a sign-permit violation enforced by the Director of Building Codes under Section 1208. Conviction is a misdemeanor with a fine of up to $50.00 under Section 1208 B, with each day of the violation a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall can a freeway sign be near I-24 in unincorporated Rutherford County?
Does my property qualify for a 120-foot interstate sign?
Can an interstate ground sign show a digital, changing message?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Rutherford County
Compare Rutherford County to another location·View the Tennessee sign regulations overview
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