# Sign Regulations in Clarkston, Georgia

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Clarkston, Georgia (GA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/georgia/clarkston
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-07
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/GA/Clarkston/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=PTIICOOR_CH15.5SI)

## At a glance

Clarkston, Georgia regulates 9 sign types across 4 zoning districts. Billboard Signs in the RC, NC-1, NC-2, TC, I zoning district are capped at 14 ft sign face; max structure height 50 ft tall, 672 sq ft, and 48 ft wide, with a 1,000 ft separation from other billboards; 500 ft from residential zoning setback (Sec. Sec. 15.5-63(a)-(h)). Most commercial signs in Clarkston require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (4 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Non-residential zoning districts | 1 | — | Varies: 50, 100, or 200 sq ft (parcel size); aggregate for all freestanding signs | — |
| Planned centers | 1 | 10 ft | 100 sq ft (including structure) | — |
| RC, NC-1, NC-2, TC, I | 6 | 14 ft sign face; max structure height 50 ft | 672 sq ft | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 1 | — | — | — |

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

### Non-residential zoning districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign | — | Varies: 50, 100, or 200 sq ft (parcel size); aggregate for all freestanding signs | — | Not within 30 feet of intersection of two public streets | Multiple allowed, aggregate area applies | Not within 30 ft of intersection of two public streets (Sec. 15.5-61(a)) | — | Sec. 15.5-61(a), Sec. 15.5-62 |

### Planned centers

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Monument Sign (Planned Center) | 10 ft | 100 sq ft (including structure) | — | — | 1 per parcel per street frontage | 1 per parcel per street frontage | — | Sec. 15.5-61(c), 15.5-64(a), (c), (d), (e) |

### RC, NC-1, NC-2, TC, I

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Billboard Sign | 14 ft sign face; max structure height 50 ft | 672 sq ft | 48 ft | 1,000 ft separation from other billboards; 500 ft from residential zoning | — | Only on parcels adjacent to US Highway 78, oriented to that highway | — | Sec. 15.5-63(a)-(h) |
| Wall Sign | 10 ft; shall not extend above parapet wall | 10% of wall face or 300 sq ft, whichever is less | — | — | — | On building wall | — | Sec. 15.5-65(a)-(g) |
| Awning Sign | 10 ft | 10% of wall face or 300 sq ft, whichever is less | — | — | — | On building awning; not above parapet wall | — | Sec. 15.5-65(a)-(f) |
| Window Sign | — | 30% of window area per window | — | — | — | On windows | — | Sec. 15.5-67(a)-(b) |
| Monument Sign (Single Tenant) | 8 ft | 80 sq ft (including structure) | — | — | 1 per parcel per street frontage | 1 per parcel per street frontage | — | Sec. 15.5-64(b)-(e) |
| Projecting Sign | — | 5% of building face or 50 sq ft/side, whichever is less | — | ≥8 ft from curb; ≥10 ft above ground | — | Attached to building wall | — | Sec. 15.5-66(a)-(d) |

## Prohibited signs in Clarkston

- No freestanding sign shall be located within thirty (30) feet of the intersection of two public streets.
- The level of the ground shall not be altered in such a way as to provide additional sign height.
- Billboard signs shall not exceed six hundred and seventy-two (672) square feet of sign area.
- Billboard signs shall not exceed fourteen (14) feet in height or forty-eight (48) feet in length.
- Billboard signs shall only be located on parcels adjacent to US Highway 78 and shall be oriented only towards that highway.
- No billboard sign shall be located within one thousand (1,000) feet of another billboard sign.
- No billboard sign shall be located within five hundred (500) feet of residential zoned parcels.
- No billboard structure shall exceed a height of fifty (50) feet.
- Monument signs for planned centers: No more than eight (8) distinct signs may be located on a single planned center monument sign.
- No more than twenty-five (25) percent of the sign face of a monument sign may be changeable copy.
- LED signs within monument signs: Shall not flash or simulate movement.
- LED signs within monument signs: Shall not change more than once every ten (10) seconds.
- Wall and awning signs shall not extend above the parapet wall.
- Wall signs shall not project beyond the building face by more than eighteen (18) inches.
- Awning signs shall not project beyond the building face by more than five (5) feet.
- Neon signs as wall signs are limited to twenty (20) square feet in total area.
- Wall and awning signs must not exceed ten (10) percent of the wall face to which the sign is attached or three hundred (300) feet of total sign area, whichever is less.
- The maximum wall or awning sign height shall be ten (10) feet.
- Projecting signs: Every projecting sign shall be placed at least ten (10) feet above the ground.
- Projecting signs: No projecting sign shall be nearer to the curb line than eight (8) feet.
- Projecting signs: Projecting signs shall not be erected over public driveways, alleys, or thoroughfares.
- Projecting signs: No projecting sign shall be less than twelve (12) inches wide.
- Window signs must not exceed thirty percent (30%) of the window area.
- LED signs as window signs must not flash or simulate movement.
- LED signs as window signs must not change more than once every hour.
- Architectural embellishments: No text, logos, arrows, flags, or banners shall be part of an architectural embellishment.

## Signs exempt from permit in Clarkston

- The limits on aggregate sign area for parcels do not count the area of window, wall, awning, billboard, or projecting signs located on the parcel.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- In planned centers, all signs shall be uniform in location, size, and color of lettering and constructed of non-combustible material.
- Materials and colors for monument signs should match those used on the primary structure and be approved by the planning and zoning board.
- Projecting signs shall be designed by a structural engineer or manufacturer and approved by the building inspector as in compliance with the building code of the city.
- All applications for approval of architectural embellishments shall meet requirements and be constructed in accordance with the plans submitted with the sign application.
- Use of 'special permission' (variance) may be sought from the planning and zoning board for projecting signs exceeding standard size limits.

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

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