Signs in B-1, B-2, B-4, I-1, I-2, I-3 districts.
Gulfport Code of Ordinances § 9-91
in effectSec. 9-91. - Signs in B-1, B-2, B-4, I-1, I-2, I-3 districts.
(a) Permitted signs: The following signs are permitted in B-1, B-2, B-4, I-1, I-2, and I-3 districts:
(1) Freestanding;
(2) Home-occupation;
(3) Subdivision identification;
(4) Wall;
(5) Nameplate;
(6) Real estate;
(7) Construction;
(8) Political;
(9) Canopy;
(10) Projecting;
(11) Roof;
(12) Temporary.
(b) Freestanding ground signs: One (1) freestanding ground sign for each developed parcel or premises having frontage on a public right-of-way, not to exceed two (2) square feet of sign area for each lineal foot of street frontage abutting the portion of said parcel or premises.
(1) Where a parcel has in excess of one hundred (100) feet of street frontage, one (1) additional freestanding ground sign may be erected for each additional one hundred (100) feet of street frontage in excess of the first one hundred (100) feet of street frontage abutting the parcel.
(2) Where a parcel is permitted to have more than one (1) freestanding ground sign under these regulations, the distance between the freestanding ground signs on each parcel shall be not less than one hundred (100) feet.
(3) The total area of all freestanding ground signs on each parcel shall not exceed two (2) square feet of sign area for each lineal foot of street frontage of the first one hundred (100) linear feet and one (1) square foot of sign area for each additional foot of street frontage in excess of one hundred (100) feet provided that no one sign shall exceed two hundred (200) square feet in area, except on a parcel that exceeds two hundred (200) linear feet of street frontage. On parcels exceeding two hundred (200) feet of street frontage, the sign area shall not exceed a total equal to one (1) square foot of sign area for each linear foot of street frontage.
(c) Wall or facia signs: One (1) wall or facia sign shall be permitted for each occupancy within a developed parcel. Such sign shall not exceed a total area of three (3) square feet of copy area for each linear foot building occupancy. If such occupancy is on a corner, one (1) wall sign will be permitted for each frontage. If the building includes a canopy, each tenant will be permitted one (1) under-canopy sign.
(d) Roof signs: One (1) roof sign shall be permitted for each parcel, such sign shall not exceed three (3) square feet of copy area for each linear foot of building frontage that is parallel to the sign placement direction, or two hundred (200) square feet in total, whichever is lesser. A roof sign may exist instead of, but not in addition to, a freestanding ground sign or projecting sign.
(e) Projecting signs: Any occupant with frontage on a public right-of-way is permitted to have one (1) projecting sign along that public street. The projecting sign may exist instead of, but not in addition to, a freestanding ground sign or roof sign. Where a premises is allowed two (2) freestanding signs, the occupant may elect to substitute a projecting sign for one (1) of the freestanding signs. If a premises has at least one hundred thirty-five (135) feet of frontage along any one (1) right-of-way, or street, the occupant may have two (2) projecting signs.
(1) No sign shall have a vertical clearance of less than nine (9) feet above grade. The total area of any one (1) projecting sign shall not exceed one and one-half (1½) square feet for each linear foot of building frontage facing the right-of-way.
(f) Canopy signs: Canopy signs shall be subject to the following conditions:
(1) Area or copy may be three (3) square feet per linear foot of canopy front and sides. Subject to a minimum height limit of nine (9) feet from the sidewalk, copy may be installed above or on the face of the canopy proper, provided that when such sign is installed above or on the canopy proper, copy area will be computed on the total of the sign face and the canopy apron proper. Signs attached to the underside of a canopy shall have a copy area no greater than twelve (12) square feet, subject to a minimum clearance of seven (7) feet from the sidewalk. This minimum clearance shall not be located within any drive through area.
(2) The canopy and related sign must comply with all setback requirements.
(g) Awnings: Signs on awnings consisting of one (1) line of letters or an identification emblem, initials, insignia or other features may be painted, placed or installed upon the hanging border of end of any awning.
(h) Outdoor advertising signs: Outdoor advertising signs shall be subject to the following conditions:
(1) After the effective date of the ordinance revising this provision, no new outdoor advertising sign structure shall be permitted closer than one thousand two hundred fifty (1,250) feet from any other outdoor advertising sign structure on the same side of the street, federal aid primary or interstate highway. (See Diagram A). Such distance is to be measured from the center of the sign structure on a line parallel to the street or highway on which the sign is facing.
(2) All billboards erected pursuant to section 1-122 [9-122] shall be set back from those zoning districts where such signs are not permitted in that zoning district as follows:
a. No part of said sign shall be located within any of the following:
1. An area extending three hundred (300) feet along the street (chord distance) from any point at which a zoning district prohibiting off-premises signs touches the street right-of-way on the same side of the street as the sign (See Diagram C). Such distance to be measured from the center of the sign structure.
2. A radial buffer equal to three hundred (300) feet from any zoning district prohibiting off-premises signs when said district abuts the street, road or thoroughfare directly opposite the side of the street, road, or thoroughfare on which the sign structure is to be erected or converted. (See Diagram D). Such distance to be measured from the center of the sign structure; and
3. A circle seventy-five (75) feet in radius from any zoning district prohibiting off-premises signs. (See Diagram C or D). Such distance to be measured from the center of the sign structure.
(3) Shall have a minimum clearance of ten (10) feet above ground level.
(4) The collective copy area of all faces (on all sides) for signs located within three hundred (300) feet of Interstate 10, U.S. Highway 49 or Airport Road shall not exceed one thousand three hundred forty-four (1,344) square feet; however, each sign face shall not exceed six hundred seventy-two (672) square feet and shall consist of only one (1) sign per facing.
(5) The collective copy area of all faces (on all sides), for signs other than those within three hundred (300) feet of Interstate 10, U.S. Highway 49 or Airport Road shall not exceed six hundred (600) square feet; however, each sign face shall not exceed three hundred (300) square feet and shall consist of only one (1) sign per facing.
(6) Heights shall conform to the district height requirements as stated in the comprehensive sign ordinance. All measurements are to be from grade to the top of the sign. All signs forty (40) feet in height and above, with or without the use of a crane, shall be submitted to the Gulfport-Biloxi Airport Authority for review and comments.
(7) After the effective date of the ordinance revising this provision, no new outdoor advertising sign shall be erected on or adjacent to (meaning within three hundred (300) feet) Highway 605, U.S. Highway 90, State Route 601 (Canal Road—Port Connector).
(8) Signs located along any federal aid primary or interstate highway shall conform to the provisions of the state highway department's regulations for the control of outdoor advertising, or this article, whichever is most restrictive.
(9) In addition to the requirements set forth in this section, all outdoor advertising signs constructed and/or modified under this section shall comply with the provisions of section 9-122.
(i) Temporary signs: Temporary signs shall meet the following requirements:
(1) Setback: Signs shall meet the setback requirements specified in (k) and (l) of this subsection.
(2) Anchor: Such signs shall be anchored in such a manner as to prevent their being moved or upset by windstorm, and no building permit shall be issued until the building inspector's office is satisfied that such protection is provided. A diagram indicating the manner in which the sign will be anchored, along with a plot plan showing the proposed location, shall be submitted with an application for the sign permit.
(3) Electrical connections: If a sign is to be lighted, a weatherproof receptacle shall be provided on the property where the sign is to be located. Such electrical receptacle shall be installed by a certified, licensed electrical contractor. No drop (extension) cords supplying electric power to signs shall be permitted. Electrical receptacle shall be located within four (4) feet of said sign.
(4) Number of signs: One (1) temporary sign per site shall be allowed.
(5) [Copy area.] Except as otherwise provided in this article, the collective copy area shall not exceed one (1) square foot of sign area for each lineal foot of street frontage on the abutting street. However, the minimum sign area need not be less than six (6) square feet nor shall it exceed twenty-five (25) square feet. No fluorescent-colored lettering shall be permitted on a temporary sign.
(6) [Time restrictions.] Except as otherwise provided in this article, no temporary sign shall be permitted for a single site longer than fifteen (15) days in a calendar year.
(j) Other signs: Other signs are permitted as follows:
(1) Up to two (2) incidental signs may be attached to a freestanding sign structure or to a building wall, but may not be attached perpendicular to the wall. Such signs are restricted to trading stamps, credit cards accepted, official notices of services required by law, or trade affiliations. Area of each sign may not exceed six (6) square feet; the total area of all such signs may not exceed twelve (12) square feet.
(2) Two (2) directional signs are permitted for each driveway on each street frontage. The area of each sign may not exceed twelve (12) square feet. Such directional signs shall not be considered as part of the total allowable sign square footage permitted under this article. Maximum permitted height for such signs shall be twelve (12) feet above grade.
(3) Interstate high-rise signs or freeway-oriented signs are permitted as long as they:
a. Do not conflict with state or federal statutes, rules, or regulations governing outdoor advertising of any type or nature whatsoever, including rules or regulations of the Gulfport-Biloxi Airport Authority.
b. Are located totally within one thousand three hundred twenty (1,320) feet of legally defined right-of-way for the interchange.
c. Do not exceed double the square footage allowed under this section.
d. Do not exceed seventy-five (75) feet above average terrain or highway level (whichever is greater) in overall height.
(4) Real estate signs permitted in commercial or industrial districts. One (1) real estate sign in commercial or industrial districts shall be permitted on each street abutting the parcel of land subject to the following requirements.
a. The area of the sign shall not exceed one (1) square foot for each five (5) feet of street frontage on the abutting street. However, the total sign area need not be less than twenty-five (25) square feet nor shall it exceed sixty-four (64) square feet.
(5) Any of the types of signs permitted in this article may be permitted as manual or automatic changeable copy signs.
(k) Setbacks. Setbacks on all signs within this section are from the property lines to the outer edge of all signs unless expressly stated otherwise. These setbacks are as follows:
Setbacks
a. Street frontage .....10
b. Side (interior) .....5
c. Rear .....5
(l) Visibility. All signs shall provide maximum visibility for vehicular and pedestrian traffic. To insure proper line-of-sight for all motorists and to protect the general public from harmful and unsafe conditions, all signs shall not create a material impediment to visibility between the heights of three (3) feet and eight (8) feet above the street grade. If any sign encroaches into the above referenced visibility area, the street front property line setback shall be a distance between ten (10) feet and twenty (20) feet to insure proper visibility.
(m) Illumination: Signs permitted in this subsection may be indirectly or directly illuminated.
(Ord. No. 1764, § 4.3, 3-17-87; Ord. No. 1774, § 4, 9-8-87; Ord. No. 2065, § 1.2, 11-5-96; Ord. No. 2078, § 1, 3-18-97; Ord. No. 2518, § 5, 2-6-07; Ord. No. 2566, § 6, 11-6-07; Ord. No. 2686, § 9, 7-6-10)
Source: City of Gulfport, Mississippi, Code of Ordinances (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/ms/gulfport/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=PTIICOOR_CH9PLDE_ARTIVSI_S9-91SIDIFetched: 11/1/2026