Jackson, MS Sign Regulations: Holiday Displays (2026)
Key Facts
- Exempt without permit
- Decorative holiday signs (§ 102-31(19))
- Max display
- 60 consecutive days and 60 days/year
- Enforcement
- Building official, § 102-33(d)
- Notice period
- 30 days to begin correction, 90 days total
- Sign chapter last updated
- Ord. No. 2010-12(7), July 2010
Summary
Holiday decorative signs in Jackson don't need a sign permit as long as they come down within 60 consecutive days and no more than 60 days total in one year, per Sec. 102-31(19). Leave one up longer and it loses the exemption and becomes subject to the same permit and removal rules as any other sign.
Sec. 102-31. - Exempt signs. Except as otherwise provided, the following signs may be erected without securing a permit, subject, however, to meeting all other applicable codes and regulations... (19) Decorative signs clearly incidental and customary and commonly associated with any national, local, or religious holiday; provided that such signs shall be displayed for a period of not more than 60 consecutive days nor more than 60 days in any one year.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 55).
Full Breakdown
Sec. " That two-part limit means a holiday display can't run past 60 days in a row, and the running total for the year also can't exceed 60 days even if it's broken into more than one stretch. Once a display exceeds either limit, it's no longer exempt and falls under the general sign rules in Sec. 102-33, which put the building official in charge of enforcement. Under Sec. 102-33(d), if a sign is out of compliance the building official notifies the owner by personal service or certified mail, giving 30 days to begin correction and 90 days total to finish; after that, the city can remove the sign itself and bill the owner, with "no liability" attaching to the city for the removal.
The exemption sits alongside similar duration-limited exemptions in the same section for real estate signs, construction signs, and garage-sale signs (items 10 through 13 and 20), all part of the sign chapter last substantially amended by Ord. No. 2010-12(7) in July 2010.
Violations & Fines
There's no separate fine written into Sec. 102-31 itself; an overstaying holiday sign becomes an unpermitted sign under Sec. 102-33(d), triggering the 30-day notice-to-correct and 90-day removal deadline before the building official removes it and bills the owner for the cost. Beyond that, a continuing violation of the sign chapter can also draw the citywide general penalty in Sec. 1-10, up to $1,000.00 per day.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit for holiday lights or decorations on my property in Jackson?
What happens if I leave my Christmas display up past 60 days?
Does the 60-day holiday sign rule apply to businesses too?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Jackson
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