# Sign Regulations in Atlanta, Georgia

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Atlanta, Georgia (GA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/georgia/atlanta
- **Data last verified:** 2025-08-29
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://gis.atlantaga.gov/zoningmap/)

## At a glance

Atlanta, Georgia regulates 37 sign types across 13 zoning districts. Monument Signs in the SPI-1 Downtown District zoning district are capped at 10 ft tall, 10 ft high; 4 ft length; 2 ft width, and 4 ft length; 2 ft width wide, with a Cannot encroach required sidewalk or visibility triangle setback (Sec. Sec. 16-28A.010(12)d). Most commercial signs in Atlanta require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (13 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 17 | ≤10 ft | Portion w/ changing tech, in shopping centers, ≤50% of face | — |
| R-1, R-2, R-2A, R-2B, R-3, R-3A, R-4, R-4A, R-4B, R-5 (Single-Family & Two-Family Residential) | 4 | 10 ft (freestanding) | 35 sq ft | — |
| R-G (Residential General), MR | 2 | 10 ft | 35 sq ft | — |
| R-LC (Residential-Limited Commercial) | 2 | 24 ft (freestanding) | 25 sq ft (up to 2 per lot) | — |
| O-I (Office-Institutional) | 2 | 24 ft (freestanding); hospital sign at university 15 ft | 30 sq ft (per street frontage; except hospital at universities, 95 sq ft) | — |
| C-1, NC (Community Business) | 5 | ≤35 ft above pavement or ground | ≤200 sq ft (max individual); ≤10% of wall; min 60 sq ft total | — |
| C-2, C-3, C-4, C-5, PD-MU, PD-OC, MRC (Commercial & Mixed Residential Commercial) | 5 | ≤35 ft above pavement or ground (PD-MU: 30 ft; if street is lower, 20 ft above) | ≤200 sq ft (individual); ≤10% wall area; min 60 sq ft total | — |
| I-1, I-2 (Light and Heavy Industrial) | 6 | ≤50 ft above ground; exception: up to 25 ft above pavement level if grade lower | ≤200 sq ft (individual); ≤10% wall area; min 60 sq ft total | — |
| SPI-1 Downtown District | 5 | Wrap/projection: not above roof, max 200 ft above ground | Wrap: 10,000 sq ft/sign, 40,000 sq ft max per building; Projection: ≤wrap sign area | — |
| SPI-12 Buckhead/Lenox Stations District | 4 | 35 ft above sidewalk (sidewalk-level); 50 ft above sidewalk (2nd/3rd-level); must not extend above roof | 200 sq ft (max individual); ≥60 sq ft total; ≤10% wall | — |
| SPI-9 Buckhead Village District | 2 | 35 ft max sidewalk level; 50 ft max above sidewalk level, never above building roof | 200 sq ft (max individual); 10% wall area or 60 sq ft combined on add'l frontages | — |
| PD-H (Planned Development-Housing) | 3 | 10 ft | 35 sq ft | — |
| PD-BP (Planned Development-Business Park) | 1 | 24 ft (freestanding) | 30 sq ft | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 13 zones)

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Temporary Sign | — | Varies by district regulations; if not regulated, see matrix below. | — | See above | See above | Where buildings have setback >10 ft, at least 10 ft from property line; if setback <10 ft, may be on wall or between wall and street. Not within 10 ft of interior side lot line. | — | Sec. 16-28A.007(j) |
| Flag | — | 1 per lot, max area 60 sq ft | — | — | 1 per lot | Flagpole on lot | — | Sec. 16-28A.007(t) |
| Building Signature Sign | Not above top of building | ≤5% of the wall area it is on | — | — | No more than 1 per side elevation | Only on buildings 4+ stories, only for owner/principal occupant (see definition); 1 per side elevation | — | Sec. 16-28A.007(p) |
| Signs inside a building | — | In R-G: ≤6 sq ft; R-LC/O-I: ≤25 sq ft; C-1–C-5: ≤50 sq ft. One sign per 400 ft of frontage per street. | — | — | See formula | Inside building/window/door | — | Sec. 16-28A.007(q) |
| Temporary Construction Sign | — | R-1–R-5, PD-H: one per dwelling, ≤6 sq ft per contractor/subcontractor; Other districts: one per job site ≤16 sq ft per contractor, 6 sq ft per subcontractor. | — | — | See above | As permitted on lot/job site/fence | — | Sec. 16-28A.007(r) |
| Neighborhood Entrance Sign | ≤10 ft | ≤35 sq ft | — | — | One per entrance | At entrance per neighborhood map | — | Sec. 16-28A.004 |
| Institutional Sign (General) | — | ≤35 sq ft (R-1 through RG and MR residential districts only) | — | — | 1 per institutional use | On property of the institution | — | Sec. 16-28A.007(d) |
| Institutional Sign (on residential lot) | — | ≤35 sq ft | — | — | 1 per lot | On premises of institutional use | — | Sec. 16-28A.007(d) |

### I-1, I-2 (Light and Heavy Industrial)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign / Projecting Sign / Canopy Sign / Parapet Wall Sign / Suspended Sign / Marquee Sign | — | ≤200 sq ft (individual); ≤10% wall area; min 60 sq ft total | — | — | Max 3 (plus 1 corner) | On building | — | Sec. 16-28A.010(10)a,b; (11)a,b |
| Freestanding Sign (Interior Lot) | ≤35 ft | ≤100 sq ft (interior lot, max setback) | — | Varies | 1 per lot | Required front yard or buildable area | — | Sec. 16-28A.010(10)c,e; (11)c,e |
| Freestanding Sign (Corner Lot) | ≤35 ft | ≤130 sq ft (corner lot, max setback) | — | Varies | 1 per lot | Required front yard or buildable area | — | Sec. 16-28A.010(10)c,e; (11)c,e |
| Shopping Center Freestanding Sign | — | ≤200 sq ft per sign | — | — | 1 per frontage | As described | — | Sec. 16-28A.010(10)d; (11)d |
| Billboard Sign | ≤50 ft above ground; exception: up to 25 ft above pavement level if grade lower | 200–672 sq ft (per definition) | — | Major distance restrictions and separation requirements | See separation rules | See detailed location/setback/distance specs in general regulations | — | Sec. 16-28A.010(10)h; (11)h; see also 16-28A.007(b) |
| Temporary Sign | — | 50 sq ft (up to 2 per lot) | — | — | 2 per lot | Unlighted, up to 2 per lot | — | Sec. 16-28A.007(j)(3) |

### SPI-1 Downtown District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Building Signs (Wall, Projecting, Canopy, Parapet Wall, Suspended, Marquee) | 40 ft above sidewalk for sidewalk-level, 50 ft for second-level, cannot extend above building roof | 200 sq ft (max individual); 10% of appropriate wall area; 60 sq ft min combined | — | — | See above | On building per a frontage; corner establishments can orient one extra sign to the additional street | — | Sec. 16-28A.010(12)b; l |
| Monument Sign | 10 ft | 10 ft high; 4 ft length; 2 ft width | 4 ft length; 2 ft width | Cannot encroach required sidewalk or visibility triangle | Max 1 per qualifying building; 2 if faces 2+ streets | Private property, must not encroach required sidewalk or visibility triangle | — | Sec. 16-28A.010(12)d |
| Multi-Tenant Sign (Building with 3+ tenants) | — | 100 sq ft per sign | — | — | 1 per 3+ tenant building per street | Wall only, oriented per street | — | Sec. 16-28A.010(12)e;k |
| Wrap/Projection Signs (Public Entertainment District Option) | Wrap/projection: not above roof, max 200 ft above ground | Wrap: 10,000 sq ft/sign, 40,000 sq ft max per building; Projection: ≤wrap sign area | — | — | Max 5 wrap signs, 3 projection signs Option | Must face and be visible from Centennial Olympic Park for projection signs; wrap may be on pedestrian bridge or buildings on specified streets. | — | Sec. 16-28A.010(12)i,l |
| LSVD Sign (Subarea 5 Centennial Olympic Park) | 65 ft above sidewalk | 1,500 sq ft/sign | — | — | Per qualifying building | Wall or parapet wall only | — | Sec. 16-28A.010(12)m |

## Prohibited signs in Atlanta

- All signs not expressly permitted under this chapter 28A are prohibited.
- No animated, flashing, or changing sign shall be located so as to obstruct or be confused with authorized traffic signals or create hazards or distractions to drivers.
- No portion of any sign shall extend above the top of the building upon which it is located.
- No sign shall be erected or maintained which obstructs any fire escape, means of egress, means of ventilation, or passage from one part of a roof to another, nor attached to a fire escape.
- No removal, destruction, topping, pruning, or cutting of any part of any tree is allowed for sign visibility without a permit from the city arborist.
- No sign shall project any closer than 18 inches from the inner curbline.
- Portable signs are only allowed in designated districts and durations; otherwise, they are prohibited.
- Roof signs and rotating signs are prohibited.
- Beacons, balloons, banners, pennants, strings of lights (unless permanently attached), and inflatable signs are prohibited, except where specifically authorized.
- Signs not constructed of permanent materials and not permanently attached (except banners, flags, temporary signs, conforming window signs) are prohibited.
- No illegal sign shall become legally non-conforming.
- No sign shall be allowed in the public right-of-way except where specifically permitted.
- Obscenity is prohibited.
- No sign shall be internally illuminated except as allowed by district regulations.
- Billboard signs are only permitted in I-1 and I-2 districts and must meet multiple separation criteria; elsewhere they are prohibited.
- Signs may not exceed specified brightness, height, and area standards.
- Signs must comply with all applicable building and electrical codes.
- Signs may not create glare or conditions that impair driver visibility or interfere with safe operation of motor vehicles.

## Signs exempt from permit in Atlanta

- Temporary signs.
- Any sign inside a building, provided it complies with requirements of this chapter.
- Lights and decorations.
- Flags.
- Signs within public rights-of-way permitted by section 16-28A.012 (except subsection 16-28A.012(a)(5)).
- Parking lot identification signs required by other specified code sections.
- Approved historic markers (see specifications in section 16-28A.007(w)).
- Signs not visible from the public right-of-way at private universities with a physical campus over 50 acres.
- Window coverings used to shield interior construction or vacancy, subject to limitations.
- Incidental signs, historic etched signs in certain districts.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A sign plan is required for the Historic Sears Roebuck & Co. Sign District. Sign permits in this district must certify compliance with the sign plan adopted and on file.
- A sign plan is required for the MET Atlanta Sign District. Permits must certify compliance with the sign plan adopted and on file.
- A Sign Plan is adopted for the Downtown Arts and Entertainment District; only applications by the designated managing entity (ADID) are accepted for additional signs permitted under district regulations per the Sign Plan.
- Master sign plans are referenced by certain overlay, entertainment, or historic districts and must be followed in addition to the chapter requirements.
- For monument signs in certain districts (SPI-1, SPI-2, Morehouse College School of Medicine Overlay), approval through a Special Administrative Permit is required before building permit issuance.
- Applications for signs in districts governed by sign plans must include owner certification that sign face, size, height, number, and location are authorized by the property owner.
- Certificate of Appropriateness from the Urban Design Commission is required prior to issuance of permits for signs in historic and landmark districts.
- Any variance for signs is strictly limited; only minor variance (height, setback, topography) may be granted; number of signs, total sign area, or allowance of unauthorized signs cannot be varied.
- Permit is required for any sign except signs expressly exempted by ordinance.

## 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 13 zoning districts in Atlanta — every sign type, every field — are available with a free PermitPal account: https://app.permitpal.io/?address=Atlanta+GA&override=true&utm_source=landing&utm_medium=city-page&utm_campaign=city-atlanta

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