Southaven, MS Sign Regulations: Window Signs (2026)
Key Facts
- Window sign cap
- 20 percent of any single window area
- Section
- Sec. 13-6(b)(9), repeated in Sec. 13-6(c)(5)
- Multi-tenant buildings
- Only the separate business's window area is computed
- Temporary signs
- Permit required; twice a year, 15 days each time
- Removal deadline
- Seven days after written city request
- Enforcement
- City planner or designee, Sec. 13-6(j)
Summary
In the City of Southaven, signs in or on windows cannot exceed twenty (20) percent of any single window area under Sec. 13-6(b)(9). In a building with more than one business, only the window area of the separate business counts toward that limit. Sec. 13-6(c)(5) lists window signs within the limit as exempt signs.
(9)Signs in or on windows shall not exceed twenty (20) percent of any single window area; provided, however, that where more than one (1) business or use occupies a single building, only that portion of the window area associated with the separate business may be computed for purposes of this provision.
Full Breakdown
The Southaven sign chapter is Title XIII, Chapter 6 of the Code, and the window rule appears in Sec. 13-6(b), the general provisions that apply in all districts. Subsection (9) sets one cap: signs in or on windows shall not exceed twenty (20) percent of any single window area. The cap is measured window by window, not across a whole storefront. Where more than one business or use occupies a single building, only the portion of the window area associated with the separate business is computed, so each tenant is measured against its own glass.
Sec. 13-6(c)(5) repeats the figure in the list of exempt signs, described as signs in or on windows not exceeding twenty (20) percent of the window area. The introduction to subsection (c) adds that any signs which exceed the provisions of that section shall comply with the other section of the chapter, so a window sign past twenty (20) percent falls outside the exemption. Under Sec. 13-6(i), all permanent and temporary signs except those listed as exempted signs require a permit from the City of Southaven Office of Planning and Development.
Temporary advertising has its own rule in Sec. 13-6(b)(8): a permit is required, display is limited to twice a year and no longer than fifteen (15) days each time, and the sign must be attached to the posts of an existing sign or to the wall of the business advertised. Sec. 13-6(b)(1) separately bars any sign erected so as to prevent free ingress or egress from any door, window or fire escape. Balloons and inflatable signs are on the prohibited list in Sec. 13-6(e).
Violations & Fines
The city planner or a designee enforces the sign chapter under Sec. 13-6(j), and a person violating it is guilty of a misdemeanor on conviction, with penalties and fines set by the governing authority. The city reserves the right to remove illegal signage and dispose of it. Under Sec. 13-6(f), an illegal sign must be removed within seven (7) days of a written request from the city, or the responsible party faces the chapter's penalties plus the cost of removal. A temporary sign left up past its time limit draws a fine to the permit holder not to exceed $25.00 per day.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much of a storefront window can a sign cover in Southaven?
Do I need a permit for a window sign in Southaven?
How long can a temporary advertising sign stay up in Southaven?
What happens if a Southaven sign is illegal?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Southaven
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