Tulsa sign permit requirements

A sign permit is required for signs requiring one; certain signs are exempt (sign exceptions under Sec. 60.030). Prohibited to erect a sign for which a required permit has not been issued.

“Any person proposing to erect any sign requiring a sign permit must submit a sign permit application to the development administrator.”

3 sq ft per linear foot of building wall to which they are attached (no separate absolute cap; wall signs not counted against sign budget)

“Wall signs may not exceed an aggregate area of more than three (3) square feet per linear foot of building wall to which they are attached.”

Aggregate area per linear foot of major street frontage per Table 60-3 (e.g., 1 sq ft/lin ft if more than 1 sign, 2 if only 1 sign, in MX/CO/CS); individual roof, projecting, and freestanding signs may not exceed 500 sq ft

“In addition to the maximum aggregate sign area limits, individual roof, projecting, and freestanding signs may not exceed five hundred (500) square feet in area.”

25 ft on lots with major street frontage; up to 40 ft if set back 1 ft per foot over 25 ft; up to 50 ft if lot abuts a freeway. 20 ft on lots with only minor street frontage (or building height, whichever less)

“On-premise projecting signs and freestanding signs on lots with frontage on major streets may not exceed twenty-five (25) feet in height, except that a maximum height of forty (40) feet is allowed if the sign is set back from the planned right-of-way line at least one foot for each foot of sign height in excess of twenty-five (25) feet.”

At least 10 ft from a freeway planned right-of-way; freestanding signs and other freestanding/projecting/roof signs must be separated from each other by minimum 30 ft. Additional setback of 1 ft per foot of height over 25 ft to exceed 25 ft height.

“All parts of a sign must be set back at least ten (10) feet of a freeway planned right-of-way.”

Counted against sign budget; individual projecting signs may not exceed 500 sq ft (aggregate limits per Table 60-3 also apply)

“In addition to the maximum aggregate sign area limits, individual roof, projecting, and freestanding signs may not exceed five hundred (500) square feet in area.”

Window signs may not cover more than 25 percent of the area of the window to which they are affixed

“Window signs are allowed as sign exceptions for allowed nonresidential uses, provided they do not cover more than twenty-five (25) percent of the area of the window to which they are affixed.”

Illumination allowed where permitted must be by constant light and may not exceed 70 foot-candles measured 2 ft from the sign face; dynamic displays limited to 6,500 nits daytime and 500 nits at night

“Except for authorized dynamic displays, the illumination on the face of any sign where illumination is permitted must be by constant light and may not exceed seventy (70) foot-candles measured at a distance of two (2) feet from the face of the sign.”

Electronic message center signs permitted in SR, MX, O, C, and I districts; max 48 sq ft in MX, C, and I (counted within max sign area). Messages must remain static at least 5 minutes; transition direct and immediate. Dynamic displays elsewhere require min 8-second dwell time.

“Display of messages shall remain static, without any animation or special effects, for a period of not less than five (5) minutes. The transition from one message to the next shall be direct and immediate, without any animation or special effects.”

One wall-attached banner allowed for nonresidential uses, max 32 sq ft; must be removed no later than 90 days after installation or when permanent signs installed, whichever first. Promotional signs: max 4 permits per business per year, each up to a 14-day period.

“Banners must be removed no later than ninety (90) days after installation or at such time that permanent signs are installed, whichever occurs first.”

Roof signs (except in CBD and Route 66 Overlay); flashing/strobe/rotating/search lights visible from ROW; signs in right-of-way (without special exception); signs on trees/utility poles/traffic devices; signs on inoperable/unlicensed vehicles; signs exceeding 70 foot-candles illumination

“Roof signs, except as expressly allowed by Subsection 60.080B.5.;”

Figures reported are for mixed-use, commercial and industrial zoning districts (Sec. 60.080). Regulations vary materially by district (R/AG/AG-R, office, SR, mixed-use/commercial/industrial, and special districts each have separate rules).

“The regulations of this section apply to signs in all mixed-use, commercial and industrial zoning districts.”