# Sign Regulations in Alpharetta, Georgia

Sign permit rules, size and height limits, setbacks, and ordinance citations for Alpharetta, Georgia, compiled by PermitPal from the jurisdiction's published municipal code.

- **Jurisdiction:** Alpharetta, Georgia (GA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/georgia/alpharetta
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-07
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/ga/alpharetta/codes/unified_development_code?nodeId=ARTIIUSLAST_S2.6SI)

## At a glance

Alpharetta, Georgia regulates 37 sign types across 11 zoning districts. Primary Free-standing Monument Sign (Office/Industrial Park, 0-500' frontage)s in the O-P Office-Professional, O-I Office-Institutional zoning district are capped at 10 ft. tall and 75 sq. ft., with a 20 ft. from right-of-way setback (Sec. Sec. 2.6.12(C)(1)). Most commercial signs in Alpharetta require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (11 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| AG Agriculture, RE Residential Estate, R Dwelling, 'For-Sale' Detached Residential, R-22 Dwelling, 'For-Sale', Detached Residential, R-15 Dwelling, 'For-Sale', Detached Residential, R-12 Dwelling, 'For-Sale', Detached Residential, R-10 Dwelling, 'For-Sale', Detached Residential, R-4A Dwelling, 'For-Sale', Attached Residential—Low Density, R-4D Dwelling, Single-Family 'For Sale' Detached Residential—Low Density, R-8A/D Dwelling, 'For-Sale', Attached/Detached Residential—Medium Density, R-10M Dwelling, 'For-Rent' or 'For-Sale' Residential | 4 | 10 ft. | 32 sq. ft. | — |
| CUP Community Unit Plan | 3 | 10 ft. | 32 sq. ft. | — |
| O-P Office-Professional, O-I Office-Institutional | 8 | 10 ft. | 100 sq. ft. | — |
| C-1 Neighborhood Commercial, C-2 General Commercial, PSC Planned Shopping Center | 11 | 10 ft. | 50% area of front facing sign for tenant. | — |
| L-I Light Industrial | 8 | 10 ft. | 100 sq. ft. | — |
| OSR Open Space and Recreational, SU Special Use | 2 | 10 ft. | 32 sq. ft. | — |
| MU Mixed Use | 4 | 10 ft. | 24 sq. ft. | — |
| Downtown Overlay | 4 | 6 ft. | 24 sq. ft. | — |
| North Point Overlay | 1 | — | — | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 1 | 5 ft. if free-standing; may not exceed horizontal roof plane if mounted to wall; width may not exceed tenant frontage. | 24 sq. ft. | — |

_1 additional zoning district is covered in PermitPal (free account)._

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 11 zones)

### O-P Office-Professional, O-I Office-Institutional

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Primary Free-standing Monument Sign (Office/Industrial Park, 0-500' frontage) | 10 ft. | 75 sq. ft. | — | 20 ft. from right-of-way | 2 per park | Set back at least 20 ft. from public right-of-way. | — | Sec. 2.6.12(C)(1) |
| Primary Free-standing Monument Sign (Office/Industrial Park, 501'+ frontage) | 10 ft. | 100 sq. ft. | — | 20 ft. from right-of-way | 2 per park | Set back at least 20 ft. from public right-of-way. | — | Sec. 2.6.12(C)(1) |
| Secondary Free-standing Monument Sign | 10 ft. | 32 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per building | At each building; location as appropriate. | — | Sec. 2.6.12(C)(1)(b) |
| Wall Sign (Office/Industrial Park, 2+ story building, top of building) | — | 20 sq. ft. per floor above road grade (max total 240 sq. ft.) | — | — | — | Top of building; wall sign. | — | Sec. 2.6.12(C)(2) |
| Door or Wall Sign (Tenant Space Door) | — | 3 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per tenant space | On door or adjacent wall of tenant suite in building without common front entry. | — | Sec. 2.6.12(C)(3) |
| Directory Sign | 10 ft. | — | — | — | Unspecified | Exterior; monument | — | Sec. 2.6.12(C)(4) |
| Standard Informational Sign | 5 ft. | 12 sq. ft. aggregate, or 1 sign up to 12 sq. ft. | — | 10 ft. | — | 10 ft. from right-of-way | — | Sec. 2.6.7, Sec. 2.6.12(C)(8) |
| Rear/Secondary/Delivery Entrance Sign | 10 ft. | 8 sq. ft. | — | — | — | Free-standing, at appropriate rear/secondary/delivery locations. | — | Sec. 2.6.12(C)(6) |

### C-1 Neighborhood Commercial, C-2 General Commercial, PSC Planned Shopping Center

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Primary Free-standing Monument Sign (Strip Shopping Center ≤ 50,000 sq. ft.) | 10 ft. | Sign: Not greater than 10 ft. height; Copy area 42 sq. ft. | — | 20 ft. from right-of-way. | 1 | 20 ft. from public right-of-way. | — | Sec. 2.6.12(A)(1) |
| Primary Free-standing Monument Sign (Shopping Center >50,000 sq. ft., 50,000–150,000) | 10 ft. | Sign: 10 ft. height; Sign area 420 sq. ft.; Copy area 78 sq. ft. | — | 20 ft. | 2 | 20 ft. from public right-of-way. | — | Sec. 2.6.12(B)(1) |
| Primary Free-standing Monument Sign (Shopping Center >150,000–200,000) | 10 ft. | Sign: 10 ft. height; Sign area 420 sq. ft.; Copy area 78 sq. ft. | — | 20 ft. | 3 | 20 ft. from public right-of-way. | — | Sec. 2.6.12(B)(1) |
| Primary Free-standing Monument Sign (Shopping Center >200,000) | 10 ft. | Sign: 10 ft. height; Sign area 420 sq. ft.; Copy area 78 sq. ft. | — | 20 ft. | 4 | 20 ft. from public right-of-way. | — | Sec. 2.6.12(B)(1) |
| Under-Canopy Sign | — | 8 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per tenant space | Extends perpendicular to wall, at uniform safe height. | — | Sec. 2.6.12(A)(5), (B)(3) |
| Temporary Construction Free-standing Sign | 10 ft. | 32 sq. ft. | — | 10 ft. (5 ft. CBD) | 1 per project | On project site, minimum 10 ft. from public right-of-way (5 ft. in Central Business District). | — | Sec. 2.6.12(A)(6), (B)(5) |
| Standard Informational Sign | 5 ft. | 12 sq. ft., or up to 4 signs totaling 12 sq. ft. | — | 10 ft. | see formula | 10 ft. from right-of-way. | — | Sec. 2.6.12(A)(7), (B)(11) |
| Monument Sign (Outparcel) | 10 ft. | Sign: 32 sq. ft. copy area, 10 ft. height | — | — | 1 per outparcel frontage | Each outparcel in shopping center; corner lot outparcels may have 1 per frontage. | — | Sec. 2.6.12(B)(1)(h) |

### L-I Light Industrial

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Primary Free-standing Monument Sign (<500’ frontage) | 10 ft. | 75 sq. ft. | — | 20 ft. | 2 | 20 ft. from public right-of-way. | — | Sec. 2.6.12(C)(1) |
| Primary Free-standing Monument Sign (501’+ frontage) | 10 ft. | 100 sq. ft. | — | 20 ft. | 2 | 20 ft. from public right-of-way. | — | Sec. 2.6.12(C)(1) |
| Secondary Free-standing Monument Sign | 10 ft. | 32 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per building | At each building | — | Sec. 2.6.12(C)(1)(b) |
| Wall Sign (2+ stories, top of building) | — | 20 sq. ft. per floor/story above road grade (max 240 sq. ft.) | — | — | — | At top of building. | — | Sec. 2.6.12(C)(2) |
| Door/Wall Sign (Tenant Space) | — | 3 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per tenant | On door or adjacent wall of tenant suite. | — | Sec. 2.6.12(C)(3) |
| Directory Sign | 10 ft. | — | — | — | — | Exterior; monument | — | Sec. 2.6.12(C)(4) |
| Rear/Secondary/Delivery Entrance Sign | 10 ft. | 8 sq. ft. | — | — | — | Free-standing, rear/secondary/delivery entrances. | — | Sec. 2.6.12(C)(6) |
| Standard Informational Sign | 5 ft. | 12 sq. ft. (up to 4 signs combined) | — | 10 ft. | — | 10 ft. from public right-of-way. | — | Sec. 2.6.7; 2.6.12(C)(8) |

## Prohibited signs in Alpharetta

- Balloons, pennants, streamers, feather signs, air or gas filled figures, or similar attention-getting devices or wind-activated devices, excluding flags.
- Swinging signs.
- Rotating signs.
- Animated signs, flashing signs, and intensely lighted signs.
- Beacons, search lights or laser lights or images.
- Variable message boards used for purposes other than traffic management.
- Signs which purport to be, or are an imitation of, or resemble an official traffic sign or signal.
- Window signs which, in aggregate, exceed 20% of the window area or otherwise fail to meet the standards of this Ordinance.
- A-frame signs, sandwich board, sidewalk or curb signs are prohibited except when placed within 5 ft. of the front door of a building.
- Signs painted on or attached to utility poles, trees, rocks or other similar objects, except signs lawfully placed on utility poles by a government, public authority or public utility.
- Signs which obstruct a fire escape, required exit, window or door opening used as a means of ingress or egress, or which interfere with any opening required for ventilation, or which violate any code of the City, including the Life Safety Code and the Fire Prevention Code.
- Signs occupying a parking space required under the minimum parking requirements of this Ordinance, other than signs designating the space as reserved for handicapped or other use.
- Signs which do not conform to City-adopted building and electrical codes.
- Signs which emit audible sound, odor or visible matter.
- Portable signs.
- Signs attached to any street signs or traffic control devices, or to any pole supporting same, or any sign attached to any utility pole, other than those signs lawfully placed by a government, public agency, or public utility.
- Signs projected on a building.
- Signs in a public right-of-way other than publicly owned or maintained signs.
- Signs which are in violation of the rules and regulations of any zoning overlay district presently existing or as may later be enacted.
- Signs located on any substandard lot.
- Abandoned signs.
- Any sign that is structurally unsound, or is a hazard to traffic or pedestrians.
- Dilapidated or neglected signs.
- Signs exceeding 156 sq. ft. in copy area if located on a commercial building, signs exceeding 240 sq. ft. in copy area if located on an industrial or office park building and/or signs and sign structures in excess of 10 ft. in height (measured from the ground to the highest point of the structure).
- Signs in any area designated as an undisturbed buffer pursuant to a federal, state or local law, a condition of zoning, or approved plat.
- Internally illuminated window signs, including neon or LED signs (except as otherwise permitted herein). Additionally, LED, string or similar lighting outlining the windows, doors or other similar building features shall be prohibited.
- Cabinet signs in the Downtown Overlay.
- Face illuminated channel letter signs.
- No sign or advertising device shall be erected for the same establishment on the same lot with an existing nonconforming sign until the nonconforming sign has been removed or made to conform to the provisions of this Ordinance.
- Except as specifically exempted, it is unlawful to post, display, materially change, or erect a sign without first having obtained a sign permit.

## Signs exempt from permit in Alpharetta

- Standard informational signs (as defined) do not require a permit if in compliance with the standards of the Ordinance.
- Address numerals, not exceeding six (6) inches in height in residential districts and twelve (12) inches in height in non-residential districts, for the sole purpose of displaying street numbers as may be required by other ordinances and other signs required by law.
- Flags provided that the height of a flag pole shall not exceed 35 feet, and in residential districts shall not exceed twenty-five (25) ft. in height or the height of the primary structure on the lot, whichever is less; maximum flag dimensions and number as specified.
- Non-governmental traffic control devices in or adjacent to internal parking areas and driveways in private developments, located so as not to interfere with, or detract from, official traffic control devices, and which conform to MUTCD (current edition) standards.
- Window signs meeting the standards of the Ordinance.
- Legally authorized public notices when posted by a government officer in the performance of their duties.
- Signs which are not visible from a public right-of-way or from neighboring properties are not subject to the standards of the Ordinance.
- Protected non-commercial speech is permitted in any place commercial speech is permitted under this Ordinance.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A Master Sign Plan is required for strip shopping centers, shopping centers, and mixed-use developments and must be submitted to the City's Design Review Board for consideration. The plan must address signage type, sign face color (limited to three, with one illumination color except licensed logos), and will apply to required permitted signage.
- Where design review of a sign by the Design Review Board is required in accordance with the Design Review Board Ordinance, condition of zoning, conditional use approval, or other applicable code, no permit shall be issued without prior grant of design approval by the DRB.
- Applicants in areas with Design Review Board oversight must submit additional forms or information as required by the DRB Ordinance (codified as §§16-37—16-46 of The Code).
- Applicants that require review and approval of signage from the Design Review Board, other than for a Master Sign Plan, shall be permitted one (1) banner sign for up to a 60 day period after submission of a DRB application.
- Signs permitted in accordance with a Master Sign Plan or condition of zoning approval may allow alternate monument sign base/structure materials to the otherwise standard requirements.
- To ensure aesthetic compatibility of signage throughout a development, a Master Sign Plan must address type, face color, and illumination—limitations as stated.
- Approval of signage that does not comply with design or district requirements may require a variance, which must be sought through appropriate city channels (e.g. Board of Appeals or City Council, depending on the type of request).

## Full detail

This page publishes an overview of every zoning district plus a sample of 3 districts in full. Complete zone-by-zone requirements for all 11 zoning districts in Alpharetta — every sign type, every field — are available with a free PermitPal account: https://app.permitpal.io/?address=Alpharetta+GA&override=true&utm_source=landing&utm_medium=city-page&utm_campaign=city-alpharetta

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