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Clarksville sign permit requirements

What the Clarksville sign code and sign ordinance allow, summarised from CHAPTER 8 - SIGN REGULATIONS. Every figure below shows the ordinance's own wording, so you can check it rather than take our word for it.

Check before you build. This is an informational summary, not legal advice, and sign rules change. Confirm with Clarksville's planning department before ordering or installing a sign — most codes also vary by zoning district.

Freestanding sign — maximum height

Commercial and Shopping Center Districts, para. 2

35 ft in C-1; 50 ft in AGC, C-2, C-3, C-4 and C-5; up to 100 ft in C-4 Highway Interchange under specified conditions

“No sign shall exceed, from the ground elevation on which it is placed, thirty-five (35) feet in height in the C-1 zone district and fifty (50) feet in height in the AGC, C-2, C-3, C-4 and C-5 zone districts with the exception of signs as controlled in the following Paragraph 3.”

Illumination

General regulations, para. 13

Signs may be illuminated if effectively shielded to prevent light spilling onto adjacent property or right-of-way; glare impairing drivers prohibited. No illuminated sign within 25 ft of residential district unless designed not to shine onto that property.

“Signs may be illuminated provided the illumination is effectively shielded so as to prevent beams or rays of light from being directed at or spilling onto any adjacent property or right-of-way. Illumination which is of such intensity and brilliance as to cause glare or to impair the vision of the driver of any motor vehicle or which otherwise interferes with any driver's operation of a motor vehicle is prohibited.”

Temporary signs and banners

General regulations, para. 7.B

Temporary commercial signs up to 24 sq ft allowed only with a temporary sign permit for a specified 10-day period; only one permit per business license holder on the same lot each calendar quarter. Banners must be attached at all corners to the principal structure.

“Signs not exceeding twenty-four (24) square feet in area and containing a commercial message are allowed on private property only upon the issuance of a temporary sign permit, which shall authorize the use of such a sign for a specified ten-day period. Only one such permit shall be issued to the same business license holder on the same lot more than once each calendar quarter.”

Prohibited sign types

General regulations, para. 15.A

Off-premise advertising signs/billboards (no new ones); off-premise signs in scenic areas; rotating signs over 8 rpm; pennants/streamers

“no new off-premise advertising structures shall be erected within the city limits of the City of Clarksville.”

Which zoning district this describes

Commercial and Shopping Center Districts

Values reported are for Commercial and Shopping Center Districts (C-1, AGC, C-2, C-3, C-4, C-5). The code varies materially by district; the Commercial section addresses only height, while detailed area/type rules appear in the CBD (downtown) section and general regulations.

“In Commercial and Shopping Center Districts, the following regulations shall apply:”

Not covered in the sign chapter we read: is a permit required?, wall sign — maximum area, wall sign — % of facade, freestanding sign — maximum area, freestanding sign — setback, projecting sign — maximum area, projecting sign — clearance, window signs — maximum coverage, digital / electronic message centres. That doesn't mean the city has no rule — it may sit elsewhere in the code.

Read the full ordinance Last checked 2026-07-31

Spotted something wrong or out of date? Tell us — corrections from local sign shops are how this stays accurate.

Common questions

How tall can a freestanding sign be in Clarksville, TN?
35 ft in C-1; 50 ft in AGC, C-2, C-3, C-4 and C-5; up to 100 ft in C-4 Highway Interchange under specified conditions
Can a sign be illuminated in Clarksville, TN?
Signs may be illuminated if effectively shielded to prevent light spilling onto adjacent property or right-of-way; glare impairing drivers prohibited. No illuminated sign within 25 ft of residential district unless designed not to shine onto that property.
Are temporary signs and banners allowed in Clarksville, TN?
Temporary commercial signs up to 24 sq ft allowed only with a temporary sign permit for a specified 10-day period; only one permit per business license holder on the same lot each calendar quarter. Banners must be attached at all corners to the principal structure.
Which signs are prohibited in Clarksville, TN?
Off-premise advertising signs/billboards (no new ones); off-premise signs in scenic areas; rotating signs over 8 rpm; pennants/streamers
Which zoning district do these Clarksville, TN sign rules apply to?
Values reported are for Commercial and Shopping Center Districts (C-1, AGC, C-2, C-3, C-4, C-5). The code varies materially by district; the Commercial section addresses only height, while detailed area/type rules appear in the CBD (downtown) section and general regulations.

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