# Sign Regulations in Brookhaven, Georgia

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Brookhaven, Georgia (GA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/georgia/brookhaven
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-07
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/ga/brookhaven/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=PTIICOOR_CH21SI)

## At a glance

Brookhaven, Georgia regulates 26 sign types across 9 zoning districts. Monument Signs in the O-I, OCR, CX, C-1, PR-1, PR-2, MX1, MX2, Nonresidential districts, Properties zoned for nonresidential use zoning district are capped at 10 ft (to 12' for properties over 40 acres in planned center) tall, 80 sq ft, width up to 15'; planned commercial center: width up to 20', 80 sq ft per monument sign, and 15' (20' in planned center) wide, with a 10' from electrical transmission lines/ROW. setback (Sec. Sec. 21-72(a), Table 21-72(a)/(b)). Most commercial signs in Brookhaven require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (9 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 16 | Wall signs greater than 300 sq ft must be within upper 30' of façade; none above roof/parapet. | 30% of window area (50,000 sq ft+ buildings: 10%) | — |
| Single-family residential zoning districts, Single family residential districts | 4 | Flagpole: 25' or primary structure's height, whichever less. | 32 sq ft (one per entrance) or two single-faced not to exceed 16 sq ft each per entrance | — |
| Residential subdivision or real estate development for a residential use | 2 | 6 feet | 32 sq ft (per entrance) or two single-faced 16 sq ft signs per entrance | — |
| Townhome and multifamily | 1 | 6 feet (10 feet on arterial streets) | 32 sq ft (one per entrance) or two single-faced 16 sq ft each per entrance; developments on arterial streets may have 10' high signs. | — |
| Multifamily residential uses zoned O-I, OCR, CX, C-1, PR-1, PR-2, MX1 or MX2 | 1 | — | — | — |
| O-I, OCR, CX, C-1, PR-1, PR-2, MX1, MX2, Nonresidential districts, Properties zoned for nonresidential use | 7 | 20' or height of building | 800 sq ft (max) | — |
| Nonresidential use | 4 | 20 ft or bldg height | 150 sq ft (≤3 stories), 300 sq ft (4–7 stories), 800 sq ft (8+ stories) | — |
| Brookhaven-Peachtree Overlay District | 1 | — | — | — |
| C-2, M, M-2 | 1 | Monument: 15 ft (institutional use) | 25% of lawfully permitted sign area. For institutional: copy area 100 sq ft, height 15 ft (monument) | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 9 zones)

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | Wall signs greater than 300 sq ft must be within upper 30' of façade; none above roof/parapet. | Variable by building type and stories (see specific zones); if wall signs within 24” measured as one sign. | — | — | — | Affixed to building surface. No extension above roof/parapet. | — | Sec. 21-69; Sec. 21-76 |
| Canopy Sign | If above flat canopy, 2 feet | 10% of canopy area | If above flat canopy, 50% of length of canopy | — | — | Canopy structure | — | Sec. 21-71 |
| Window Sign | Only allowed: ground floor of building. | 30% of window area (50,000 sq ft+ buildings: 10%) | — | — | — | Ground floor; window | — | Sec. 21-60(1), Sec. 21-66(7), Table 21-72(a/b), Sec. 21-62(2) |
| Sidewalk Sign | 3 feet | 6 sq ft | — | — | 1 per establishment | Not beyond exterior wall façade per tenant; must allow min. 36” sidewalk passage. | — | Sec. 21-60(9)(11), 21-78 |
| Wayfinding Sign | 10 feet | 16 sq ft | — | — | — | Shall allow minimum five-foot-wide pedestrian path; one per courtyard entry, within 10' of courtyard. | — | Sec. 21-60(12), Sec. 21-82 |
| Flag | In nonresidential, pole no more than allowed height for zone or 60'; in single family residential, 25' or building height, whichever less. | Varies by pole height: Up to 25' pole = 24 sq ft flag; 25–39' = 40 sq ft; 40–49' = 60 sq ft; 50–60' = 96 sq ft. | — | Vertical pole setback = pole height minimum | 2 poles/lot, 2 flags/pole | On flagpoles or mast arms. | — | Sec. 21-60(5), 21-80 |
| Banner | No higher than roof/wall meeting or 8' above ground (when on ground) | 24 sq ft | — | Exempt from setback, must not encroach right-of-way. | 1/banner per frontage | Attached to poles, mast arms, or structures | — | Sec. 21-60(5), 21-81 |
| Construction Sign | 6 feet | 16 sq ft | — | — | 1/construction site | Erected during construction and removed at issuance of CO or permanent sign. | — | Sec. 21-84 |

### O-I, OCR, CX, C-1, PR-1, PR-2, MX1, MX2, Nonresidential districts, Properties zoned for nonresidential use

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Monument Sign | 10 ft (to 12' for properties over 40 acres in planned center) | 80 sq ft, width up to 15'; planned commercial center: width up to 20', 80 sq ft per monument sign | 15' (20' in planned center) | 10' from electrical transmission lines/ROW. | 1 per street frontage | 1 per street frontage | — | Sec. 21-72(a), Table 21-72(a)/(b) |
| Wall Sign (1-7 stories) | — | 3 stories or less: 150 sq ft; 4-7 stories: 300 sq ft | 80% of wall width | — | 1/facade if <8 stories, 2/facade if 8+ stories | 1 per façade if <8 stories; 2/facade if 8+ stories | — | Sec. 21-72(a)/(b), Table 21-72(a)/(b) |
| Wall Sign (8 or more stories) | — | 800 sq ft (max) | 80% of wall width | — | 2 per facade | 2 per façade | — | Sec. 21-72(a)/(b), Table 21-72(a)/(b) |
| Projecting Sign | 20' or height of building | 40 sq ft | — | 0' | 1 per façade | Projecting from building, max 2’ projection | — | Sec. 21-72(a/b), Table 21-72(a)/(b) |
| Directional Sign | 3 feet | 6 sq ft | 3 feet | 10' from transmission lines (0’ in planned commercial center) | 2 per authorized curb cut | 2 per authorized curb cut | — | Sec. 21-72(a/b), Table 21-72(a)/(b) |
| Window Sign (Nonresidential) | — | 10% of window area for bldgs 50,000+ sq ft; 30% for smaller bldgs | — | — | — | Window | — | Sec. 21-72(b), Table 21-72(b) |
| Electronic Sign | Institutional monument: 15 ft | 25% of permitted sign area; copy area for institutional uses: 100 sq ft max. | — | — | 1 per institution property | C-1, C-2, M, M-2: any sign type; for institutional uses, monument signs only | — | Sec. 21-74(a)-(d) |

### Nonresidential use

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Monument Sign | 10 ft | 80 sq ft | 15 ft | 10' from electrical transmission lines | 1 per street frontage | — | — | Table 21-72(a), Sec. 21-72(a) |
| Wall Sign | — | 150 sq ft (≤3 stories), 300 sq ft (4–7 stories), 800 sq ft (8+ stories) | 80% of wall width | — | See above | 1 per façade (<8 stories); 2 per façade (8+) | — | Table 21-72(a), Sec. 21-72(a) |
| Projecting Sign | 20 ft or bldg height | 40 sq ft | — | 0' | 1 per façade | — | — | Table 21-72(a), Sec. 21-72(a) |
| Directional Sign | 3 ft | 6 sq ft | 3 ft | 10' from electrical transmission lines | 2 per curb cut | — | — | Table 21-72(a) |

## Prohibited signs in Brookhaven

- Signs placed in the dedicated right-of-way of any public road other than publicly owned or maintained signs and signs pertaining to railroad crossings (with limited holiday period exceptions).
- Window signs which exceed 30 percent of the total window area per façade of a business.
- Signs that contain words, pictures, or statements which are obscene, as defined by O.C.G.A. § 16-12-80, as amended.
- Signs that simulate an official traffic control device, warning sign, or regulatory sign or which hide from view any traffic control device, signal or public service sign.
- Signs that emit or utilize in any manner any sound capable of being detected on any traveled road or highway by a person with normal hearing abilities.
- Signs that interfere with road or highway visibility or obstruct or otherwise interfere with the safe and orderly movement of traffic or which otherwise pose a hazard to traffic due to structural deficiencies in the structure of such signs.
- Signs erected by nailing, fastening or affixing the sign in any manner to any tree, curb, utility pole, natural feature, or other structure except as may be set forth herein.
- Animated signs.
- Signs that obstruct any fire escape, any means of egress or ventilation or that prevent free passage from one part of a roof to any other part thereof, as well as signs attached to any fire escape.
- Signs that do not conform to city building and electrical codes.
- Signs for which a permit is required that do not display the sign permit number.
- Roof signs.
- Multi-faced signs, including tri-vision signs and LED signs not meeting the standards of Section 21-74.
- Signs erected after the effective date of adoption of the ordinance from which this chapter is derived that are in violation of the rules and regulations.
- Balloons, pennant streamers or air or gas filled figures and any sign constructed of non-durable material including, but not limited to, paper, cardboard or flexible plastic. (Exceptions for certain holidays, see ordinance.)
- Portable signs.
- Abandoned signs (including sign structures) that do not present a neat and orderly appearance or signs for businesses/services that have been discontinued for six months.
- Any sign that is structurally unsound, or is a hazard to traffic or pedestrians.
- Illegal signs.
- Signs consisting in whole or in part of a series, line, or row of lights, whether supported by cables or other physical means, within 150 feet of a street and visible therefrom (with certain holiday exceptions).
- Feather flags.

## Signs exempt from permit in Brookhaven

- Window signs.
- Standard informational signs.
- One suspended sign per tenant of a multi-tenant building when the area of the sign is less than six square feet per side and a common design for such signs has been established by the owner and approved by the public authority.
- Signs for the sole purpose of displaying street numbers assigned by the United States Postal Service not exceeding six inches in height for residential uses and 12 inches in height for nonresidential uses.
- Flags on lots in all districts and banners on lots in single family residential zoning districts.
- Nongovernmental traffic control devices in or adjacent to parking areas and driveways and signs located at railroad crossings.
- Historic signs where: (a) The property, building or structure is designated as a historic property by the city council and (b) A previous sign must have existed on the property, with replication matching the original design and documented to the director's satisfaction.
- Signs and warning devices meeting the standards of the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices and installed or utilized by governmental authority or by persons and entities duly authorized to work on the public rights-of-way while such work is in progress.
- Sidewalk signs (subject to compliance with material, placement, and other requirements listed and provided they are removed/stored daily, are not lit, and not dilapidated; see details in ordinance).
- Out-of-store marketing device.
- A-frame or easel style signs, subject to limitations: Wood/metal materials, ADA clearance, one per establishment, max area six square feet, max height three feet, not lit/no neon or plastic, daily removal, etc. (see detailed conditions).
- Wayfinding signs.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- No universal requirement for a master sign plan or sign plan is identified in this text, except that in Section 21-60(3), a common design for suspended signs in multi-tenant buildings must be established by the owner and approved by the public authority.
- Variance requests for signs may be granted by the board of appeals following a hearing if certain hardship and standards are met (see Sec. 21-79 for criteria).

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

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