# Sign Regulations in Cairo, Georgia

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Cairo, Georgia (GA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/georgia/cairo
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-07
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/GA/Cairo/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=PTIICOOR_CH22ZO_ARTVISIMU)

## At a glance

Cairo, Georgia regulates 14 sign types across 4 zoning districts. Billboard Signs in the Commercial zoning areas, Industrial zoning areas, Nonresidential zoning districts zoning district are capped at 14 ft (sign), 36 ft (maximum erected height) tall, 240 sq ft, and 20 ft (length) wide, with a 1300 ft from another billboard; 300 ft from single-family residence (residential); 500 ft from public parks, playgrounds, cemeteries unless view blocked setback (Sec. Sec. 22-401(c)). Most commercial signs in Cairo require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (4 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| R-1AA, R-1A, R-1, R-2 (Residential Zoning Districts) | 1 | 5 ft | 12 sq ft aggregate | — |
| Central business district (CBD) | 1 | — | 100 sq ft per sign; one corner sign may be up to 70% of largest sign | — |
| Commercial zoning areas, Industrial zoning areas, Nonresidential zoning districts | 5 | 18 ft | Based on lot size: 300 sq ft aggregate (parcels >3 acres), 180 sq ft aggregate (parcels <3 acres but >30,000 sq ft), 120 sq ft aggregate (parcels <30,000 sq ft) | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 7 | 4 inches (residential), 10 inches (nonresidential) | 50% width of façade (<10% of building façade area for graphic/message) | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 4 zones)

### R-1AA, R-1A, R-1, R-2 (Residential Zoning Districts)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Sign (Residential Districts, Aggregate) | 5 ft | 12 sq ft aggregate | — | Min 36 inches from adjacent property lines | — | Signs must not project closer than 36 inches to adjacent property lines; Not projecting more than 25 sq ft from building; Aggregate applies to property. | — | Sec. 22-399(a) |

### Commercial zoning areas, Industrial zoning areas, Nonresidential zoning districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Billboard Sign | 14 ft (sign), 36 ft (maximum erected height) | 240 sq ft | 20 ft (length) | 1300 ft from another billboard; 300 ft from single-family residence (residential); 500 ft from public parks, playgrounds, cemeteries unless view blocked | — | Only on parcels adjacent to designated state or federal highways in commercial or industrial zoning areas; Oriented only towards those highways | — | Sec. 22-401(c) |
| Ground Sign | 18 ft | 120 sq ft (signage and structure) | — | Not within 30 ft of intersection of street right-of-way lines extended | 1 per parcel per street frontage | One per parcel per street frontage | — | Sec. 22-400(1), Sec. 22-401(d) |
| Wall Sign | — | 200 sq ft per street facing wall OR 20% of wall face (whichever is less) | — | — | One per tenant per street facing wall | On properties in commercial or industrial zoning areas; On each street facing wall | — | Sec. 22-401(e)(1)-(5) |
| Awning Sign | — | 200 sq ft or 20% of wall face (whichever is less) per street facing wall | — | — | One per tenant per street facing wall | On each street facing wall | — | Sec. 22-401(e)(1)-(5) |
| Freestanding Sign | — | Based on lot size: 300 sq ft aggregate (parcels >3 acres), 180 sq ft aggregate (parcels <3 acres but >30,000 sq ft), 120 sq ft aggregate (parcels <30,000 sq ft) | — | — | — | — | — | Sec. 22-401(f) |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Window Sign | — | 30% of window area | — | — | — | Installed flush with or on a window, visible from outside | — | Sec. 22-398(3), Sec. 22-405(a)(2) |
| Numeral Sign (Address Identification) | 4 inches (residential), 10 inches (nonresidential) | — | — | — | — | — | — | Sec. 22-405(a)(3) |
| Seasonal Display | — | — | — | — | — | Outside of the public right-of-way | — | Sec. 22-405(a)(4) |
| Small Nonilluminated Sign | — | <15 sq ft | — | — | — | Not in public right-of-way | — | Sec. 22-405(a)(1) |
| Mural - Historic Mural | — | — | — | — | — | On a building or wall | — | Sec. 22-408(a), Sec. 22-409 |
| Mural - Original Art Mural | — | — | — | — | — | On a building or wall | — | Sec. 22-408(b), Sec. 22-409 |
| Mural - Limited Message Mural | — | 50% width of façade (<10% of building façade area for graphic/message) | — | — | — | On a building or wall | — | Sec. 22-408(c), Sec. 22-409 |

## Prohibited signs in Cairo

- Roof signs are prohibited throughout the city.
- Signs on public rights-of-way other than publicly owned or maintained signs are prohibited.
- Window signs which exceed thirty (30) percent of the window area are prohibited.
- Signs which contain words, pictures, or statements which are obscene, as defined by O.C.G.A. § 16-12-80, are prohibited.
- Signs which simulate an official traffic control or warning sign or hide from view any traffic or street sign, signal or public service sign are prohibited.
- Signs which emit or utilize in any manner any sound capable of being detected on any traveled road or highway by a person with normal hearing are prohibited.
- Signs which interfere with road or highway visibility or obstruct or otherwise interfere with the safe and orderly movement of traffic are prohibited.
- Signs erected by nailing, fastening or affixing the sign in any manner to any tree, post, curb, utility pole, or other structure except as set forth herein are prohibited.
- Portable signs are prohibited throughout the city.

## Signs exempt from permit in Cairo

- Nonilluminated signs having a sign area of less than fifteen (15) square feet, provided they are not located in the public right-of-way, are exempt from permit requirements.
- Window signs installed for purposes of viewing from outside the premises, not exceeding thirty (30) percent of the available window space, are exempt from permit requirements.
- Numerals displayed for purposes of identifying property location and not exceeding four (4) inches in height in residential districts and ten (10) inches in height in nonresidential districts are exempt from permit requirements.
- Seasonal displays located outside of the public right-of-way that are erected for a maximum period of thirty (30) days are exempt from permit requirements.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- There is no mention of a master sign plan, sign plan, or special variance or design plan process for general signage; only standard sign permits are mentioned, except for murals, which must be reviewed and approved by the downtown development authority/main street program design review committee and then by the mayor and council before installation.

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

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