# Sign Regulations in Augusta, Georgia

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Augusta, Georgia (GA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/georgia/augusta
- **Data last verified:** 2025-10-24
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/ga/augusta-richmond_county/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=APXBZO_S28-BSI)

## At a glance

Augusta, Georgia regulates 25 sign types across 7 zoning districts. Freestanding Sign (General)s in the Professional Zone (P-1) zoning district are capped at 6 ft (measured from higher of adjoining road grade or base) tall and 36 sq ft, with a No part of sign closer than 10 ft from any public right-of-way line OR 15 ft from any curb/edge of pavement (whichever is greater). Not closer than 50 ft from a single-family residence or R-zone boundary; not within 10 ft of any property line; must not inhibit motorist visibility. setback (Sec. 28-B-8(A)-(B), (C), (J), (K)). Most commercial signs in Augusta require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (7 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 1 | — | — | — |
| Agricultural Zone (A); Single-Family Residential Zone (R-1) | 4 | 6 ft | 24 sq ft | — |
| Two-Family Residential Zone (R-2); Multiple-Family Residential Zone (R3) | 5 | 6 ft | 24 sq ft | — |
| Professional Zone (P-1) | 7 | 30 inches | 45 sq ft (with executed waiver) | — |
| Neighborhood Business Zone (B-1) | 11 | 30 inches | 100 sq ft (35 sq ft if in PDR or National Register/local historic district) | — |
| General Business Zone (B-2); Light Industrial Zone (LI); Heavy Industrial Zone (HI) | 12 | 60 ft (measured from higher of adjoining road grade or base) | Two-lane roadways: 300 sq ft; Multi-lane highways: 672 sq ft; temporary embellishments up to 20% of permanent sign area allowed | — |
| Planned Development Riverfront Zone (PDR) | 4 | 30 ft (measured from higher of adjoining road grade or base) | 50 sq ft | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 7 zones)

### Professional Zone (P-1)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign (General) | 6 ft (measured from higher of adjoining road grade or base) | 36 sq ft | — | No part of sign closer than 10 ft from any public right-of-way line OR 15 ft from any curb/edge of pavement (whichever is greater). Not closer than 50 ft from a single-family residence or R-zone boundary; not within 10 ft of any property line; must not inhibit motorist visibility. | One per street frontage, plus one for each 300 ft of street frontage OR plus one for each 10 businesses in a shopping center/multi-tenant complex | On-premises, oriented toward the street frontage | — | 28-B-8(A)-(B), (C), (J), (K) |
| Freestanding Sign (Within 200 ft of single-family residence or R-1 zone on the same street) | 4 ft (measured from higher of adjoining road grade or base) | 24 sq ft | — | Same as general P-1 freestanding | Counts toward the freestanding sign allocation for the frontage | On-premises, oriented toward the street frontage | — | 28-B-8(B) (P-1 row, near single-family); 28-B-8(C) (P-1 row, near single-family) |
| Traffic Directional Sign (On-site) | 30 inches | 4 sq ft (per sign) | — | ≥10 ft from street curb or edge of pavement; not in ROW | Max 2 per driveway | Set back at least 10 ft from any street curb or edge of pavement; not on public right-of-way | — | 28-B-2 (Sign, Traffic Directional); 28-B-8(G) |
| Drive-Through Menu Board (Freestanding Outdoor) | — | — | — | — | — | On-premises drive-through lane | — | 28-B-8(I) |
| Wall Sign (Building Mounted) | — | 36 sq ft | — | — | Max 1 per attached/detached building | Mounted flat to building facade (front or as permitted), or on canopy/marquee/mansard/awning subject to mounting limits | — | 28-B-9(A) (P-1 row); 28-B-9(B); 28-B-9(E) |
| Wall Sign - Option 1 (25% Bonus with Waiver of Freestanding Signs) | — | 45 sq ft (with executed waiver) | — | — | Max 1 per building | Building facade | — | 28-B-9(A) Notes; 28-B-9 (bonus provision) |
| Projecting Sign (Building Mounted) | — | — | — | — | — | Attached to building wall | — | 28-B-2 (Sign, Projecting); 28-B-9(C); 28-B-9(E) |

### Neighborhood Business Zone (B-1)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign (General) | 20 ft (measured from higher of adjoining road grade or base) | 100 sq ft (35 sq ft if in PDR or National Register/local historic district) | — | No part closer than 10 ft from any public right-of-way line OR 15 ft from any curb/edge of pavement (whichever is greater). Not closer than 50 ft from a single-family residence or R-zone boundary; not within 10 ft of any property line; must not inhibit motorist visibility. | One per street frontage, plus one for each 300 ft of street frontage OR plus one for each 10 businesses in a shopping center/multi-tenant complex | On-premises, oriented toward the street frontage | — | 28-B-8(A)-(B) (B-1 row incl. PDR/historic col.); 28-B-8(C) (B-1 row); 28-B-8(J) (B-1 row) |
| Freestanding Sign (Within 100 ft of single-family residence or R-1 zone on the same street) | 20 ft | 50 sq ft | — | Same as general B-1 freestanding | Counts toward frontage allocation | On-premises, oriented toward the street frontage | — | 28-B-8(B) (B-1 row, near single-family); 28-B-8(J) |
| Freestanding Sign (In PDR or National Register/Local Historic Districts) | 20 ft | 35 sq ft | — | Same as general B-1 freestanding | Same as general B-1 freestanding allocation | On-premises within PDR or designated historic areas | — | 28-B-8(B) (PDR/historic col. for B-1); 28-B-8 bonus note |
| Freestanding Message Board/Reader Board | Per freestanding sign height limits | Counts toward maximum permitted freestanding sign area for the frontage | — | Per freestanding setbacks | Within freestanding sign count limits | On-premises, freestanding | — | 28-B-8(H); 28-B-8(J) (B-1 row) |
| Traffic Directional Sign (On-site) | 30 inches | 4 sq ft (per sign) | — | ≥10 ft from curb/edge; not in ROW | Max 2 per driveway | Set back ≥10 ft from street curb/edge; not in public right-of-way | — | 28-B-2; 28-B-8(G) |
| Wall Sign (Building Mounted) | — | By formula | — | — | Unlimited | Building facade (front or permitted facades) | — | 28-B-9(A) (B-1 row + notes); 28-B-9(B); 28-B-9(E) |
| Wall Sign - Option 1 (25% Bonus with Waiver of Freestanding Signs) | — | By formula with 25% increase | — | — | Unlimited | Building facade | — | 28-B-9(A) notes; 28-B-9 (bonus provision) |
| Temporary Sign | Height limits and setbacks for permanent freestanding signs apply | 40 sq ft (one face) | — | Same as permanent freestanding sign setbacks; not in parking spaces; must not obstruct sight distance | One temporary sign per street frontage (on non-shopping-center lots) | On-premises (not in parking spaces; must not obstruct sight distance) | — | 28-B-6 |

### General Business Zone (B-2); Light Industrial Zone (LI); Heavy Industrial Zone (HI)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign (General) | 30 ft (measured from higher of adjoining road grade or base) | 200 sq ft (50 sq ft if in PDR or National Register/local historic district) | — | No part closer than 10 ft from any public right-of-way line OR 15 ft from any curb/edge of pavement (whichever is greater). Not closer than 50 ft from a single-family residence or R-zone boundary; not within 10 ft of any property line; must not inhibit motorist visibility. | One per street frontage, plus one for each 300 ft of street frontage OR plus one for each 10 businesses in a shopping center/multi-tenant complex | On-premises, oriented toward the street frontage | — | 28-B-8(A)-(B) (B-2/LI/HI row incl. PDR/historic col.); 28-B-8(C) (B-2/LI/HI row); 28-B-8(J) (B-2/LI/HI row) |
| Freestanding Sign (Within 100 ft of single-family residence or R-1 zone on the same street) | 30 ft | 50 sq ft | — | Same as general B-2/LI/HI freestanding | Counts toward frontage allocation | On-premises, oriented toward the street frontage | — | 28-B-8(B) (B-2/LI/HI row, near single-family); 28-B-8(J) |
| Freestanding Sign (In PDR or National Register/Local Historic Districts) | 30 ft | 50 sq ft | — | Same as general B-2/LI/HI freestanding | Same as general B-2/LI/HI freestanding allocation | On-premises within PDR or designated historic areas | — | 28-B-8(B) (PDR/historic col. for B-2/LI/HI); 28-B-8 bonus note |
| Freestanding Message Board/Reader Board | Per freestanding sign height limits | Counts toward maximum permitted freestanding sign area for the frontage | — | Per freestanding setbacks | Within freestanding sign count limits | On-premises, freestanding | — | 28-B-8(H); 28-B-8(J) (B-2/LI/HI row) |
| Traffic Directional Sign (On-site) | 30 inches | 4 sq ft (per sign) | — | ≥10 ft from curb/edge; not in ROW | Max 2 per driveway | Set back ≥10 ft from street curb/edge; not in public right-of-way | — | 28-B-2; 28-B-8(G) |
| Wall Sign (Building Mounted - Front Facade Only) | — | By formula | — | — | Unlimited | Front of the building facing the street upon which the area calculation is based | — | 28-B-9(A) (B-2/LI/HI row + notes); 28-B-9(B); 28-B-9(E) |
| Temporary Sign | Height limits and setbacks for permanent freestanding signs apply | 40 sq ft (one face) | — | Same as permanent freestanding sign setbacks; not in parking spaces; must not obstruct sight distance | One temporary sign per street frontage (on non-shopping-center lots) | On-premises (not in parking spaces; must not obstruct sight distance) | — | 28-B-6 |
| Billboard | 60 ft (measured from higher of adjoining road grade or base) | Two-lane roadways: 300 sq ft; Multi-lane highways: 672 sq ft; temporary embellishments up to 20% of permanent sign area allowed | — | Same as principal structure setbacks for the property | Per spacing rule: max 1 per 750 ft frontage per side; spacing min 300 ft from any other billboard | Only in B-2, LI, or HI zones; prohibited in the Planned Development Riverfront District and in all National Register/local historic districts; additional specific corridors are prohibited (see Additional Requirements) | — | 28-B-10(A)-(I) |

## Prohibited signs in Augusta

- Pavement or sidewalk markings except those of a customary traffic control nature or otherwise approved by the City.
- Signs attached to trees, lampposts, parking meter posts, hydrants, traffic signs, rocks or other natural features, telephone or utility poles unless specifically approved as to size, form, location, and duration by the Augusta Commission.
- Signs mounted, painted, or otherwise displayed on the roofs of buildings.
- Banners are prohibited except when used as temporary signs.
- Any private or business sign that restricts or appears to reserve any portion of public right-of-way or any public area for exclusive or private use.
- Signs that imitate an official traffic sign or signal, or that contain words or symbols displayed in a manner that might mislead or confuse drivers, or that unduly confuse, distract, or divert the attention of drivers.
- Signs that use flashing, strobe, blinking, pulsating, or moving lights, except moving message boards or reader boards.
- Any sign painted on or attached to a vehicle and used as a stationary sign where the vehicle is not titled or lacks a current license tag, or where the vehicle is located in a front yard.
- Any sign that obstructs free ingress to or egress from a required door, window, fire escape, or other exitway.
- Legal nonconforming signs may not be enlarged, heightened, or newly illuminated (if not currently illuminated).

## Signs exempt from permit in Augusta

- Official flags (one of each category per lot; not more than 60 sq ft; flagpoles not more than 40 ft or exceeding the zoning height limit; must be flown in accordance with U.S. flag protocol; flags not meeting these conditions are regulated as signs).
- Government signs erected pursuant to and in the discharge of any government function.
- Name/address plates on residential structures; mailboxes, paperboxes, and similar uses customarily associated with residential structures.
- Historical markers, monuments, or signs recognized by local, state, or federal authorities.
- Holiday decorations that do not convey a commercial message.
- Any sign or display located completely within an enclosed building and not visible from outside the building or beyond the lot boundaries.
- Standard information sign (area not greater than 4 sq ft; made for short-term use of 90 days or less; no reflecting elements, flags, or projections; height not greater than 3 ft; mounted on a stake or metal frame with thickness/diameter not greater than 1.5 inches).
- Political signs not exceeding 32 sq ft that are related to a specific local, state, or national election and removed within 10 days after the election (larger political signs are regulated as temporary signs).
- Grave markers, headstones, memorial statues, or similar remembrances.
- Any sign approved by the Augusta Commission and incorporated into a bus shelter or bench.
- Inside faces of scoreboards or walls on athletic fields.
- A living display on the ground of flowers or other plants which conveys a message.
- Banners when specifically approved as to size, form, location, and duration by the Augusta Commission.
- Sandwich board signs within the sidewalk encroachment zone on lots where the main building is set back 10 feet or less from the right-of-way (not to exceed 12 sq ft in area and 3–5 ft in height), exempt from the sign ordinance but subject to permitting under Code Section 3-8-11 and must be removed daily after close of business.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Every sign permit application must be accompanied by a sign plan; sign plans are required for all non-exempt signs prior to erection, installation, or material alteration.
- Sign plan contents must show all existing, permitted-but-not-erected, and proposed signs; all buildings, parking facilities, driveways, curbs, and right-of-way lines immediately adjacent to the property; single-family residential structures on adjoining properties; and include scaled drawings with dimensions, elevations, height, setbacks, materials, and illumination sources, types, and intensity, with a certification of accuracy.
- Sign plans shall be approved, approved with conditions, or denied by the Augusta Planning and Development Department; action must be taken within five working days of submission or the plan is deemed approved.
- Signs to be located in locally designated historic districts require approval by the Historic Preservation Commission (Title 7, Chapter 4 of the Augusta Code).
- Billboards: Every permit application for a proposed billboard or for any repair or replacement of an existing billboard must include a site plan prepared and stamped by a registered land surveyor showing the proposed location, distances to the nearest billboards on the same and opposite sides of the roadway, distances to other structures on the property, and the correct map/parcel number and address; approved site plans are valid for two years, cannot be renewed, and conflicting plans will not be considered during that period unless rescinded.
- Freestanding signs 30 feet or higher or greater than 150 sq ft require structural plans certified by a structural engineer registered in Georgia (or standard drawings by a qualified professional), supporting foundation calculations, a foundation inspection, and a disconnect switch; illuminated/electrical signs must display a label from a Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory (NRTL); neon requires a final inspection.
- Building-mounted signs that require a building permit must comply with City building and electrical codes, include a disconnect switch, and display an Underwriters Laboratories label; neon applications require a final inspection.
- Except as specified in the exemptions, a sign permit is required before erecting, installing, or materially altering any sign; material alteration includes changes in height, surface area, location, supporting structure, or adding illumination to a non-illuminated sign.

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

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