# Sign Regulations in Commerce, Georgia

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Commerce, Georgia (GA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/georgia/commerce
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-07
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/GA/Commerce/codes/Zoning?nodeId=ZOOR_ART4SUREAPALDI_CH4.10SI)

## At a glance

Commerce, Georgia regulates 16 sign types across 6 zoning districts. Interstate Sign - Freestanding Sign (Commercial, Industrial along Interstate/441 only)s in the Commercial, Industrial zoning district are capped at Pole signs: 70 feet; Other types: 35 feet; Must be minimum 10 feet above adjacent interstate pavement tall, Up to 14 feet in height and 48 feet in length, and 48 feet wide, with a No less than 12 feet from any property or right-of-way line, and at least 75 feet from all buildings/structures setback (Sec. Sec. 4.10.007.710). Most commercial signs in Commerce require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (6 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Agricultural | 2 | 6 feet | 16 square feet | — |
| Residential (Single- and Two-Family), Residential (Multi-Family) | 5 | 8 feet | 64 square feet | — |
| Commercial, Industrial | 6 | Pole signs: 70 feet; Other types: 35 feet; Must be minimum 10 feet above adjacent interstate pavement | 240 square feet (Commercial), 300 square feet (Industrial) | — |
| Central Business District | 4 | 8 feet | 100 square feet (standard); 150 square feet (tenant 25,000–50,000 sq ft); 200 square feet (tenant >50,000 sq ft) | — |
| Non-residential zoning districts | 1 | Flagpoles not to exceed 25 feet in height | 40 square feet (for flags on lot, max 3 per lot without permit); engineering required for any flag over 40 sq ft | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 6 | 6 feet | 36 square feet | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 6 zones)

### Residential (Single- and Two-Family), Residential (Multi-Family)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Principal Freestanding Sign—One Use on Property | 5 feet | 6 square feet | — | At least 10 feet from back of curb or edge of pavement (Sec. 4.10.005.504) | 1 per lot (N/A for Multi-Family) | 1 per lot (not allowed in Multi-Family) | — | Sec. 4.10.007 Table 1; Sec. 4.10.005.508 |
| Project Entrance Sign | 8 feet | 64 square feet | — | — | Max 2 per project street front | 1 per project entrance; up to two permitted per project street front | — | Sec. 4.10.007 Table 1 note 2; Sec. 4.10.005.508 |
| Wall, Awning, Under-Canopy, Projecting & Window Sign | — | 1 square foot for Single-/Two-Family; 4 square feet for Multi-Family | — | — | 1 per building | On building | — | Sec. 4.10.007 Table 2; Sec. 4.10.005.508 |
| Standard Informational Signs | 3 feet | 4.5 square feet per sign; not exceeding 22.5 square feet aggregate | — | — | 5 | On lot | — | Sec. 4.10.007.706 |
| Conditional Use Permanent Freestanding Sign | 6 feet | 16 square feet | — | — | 1 | One per lot, only allowed for lots with conditional uses | — | Sec. 4.10.007.706 |

### Commercial, Industrial

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Principal Freestanding Sign—One Use on Property | 15 feet (other streets); 25 feet (other state highways); 70 feet (Interstate/4-lane U.S./State highway) | 64 square feet (Commercial), 100 square feet (Industrial) | — | At least 10 feet from back of curb or edge of pavement (Sec. 4.10.005.504) | 1 per street frontage | 1 per street frontage | — | Sec. 4.10.007 Table 1 note 1; Sec. 4.10.005.508 |
| Principal Freestanding Sign—Planned Center | 35 feet | 240 square feet (Commercial), 300 square feet (Industrial) | — | — | 1 per street frontage | 1 per street frontage | — | Sec. 4.10.007 Table 1 |
| Project Entrance Sign | 15 feet | 240 square feet (Commercial), 300 square feet (Industrial) | — | — | 1 per street frontage | 1 per street frontage | — | Sec. 4.10.007 Table 1 |
| Wall, Awning, Under-Canopy, Projecting & Window Sign | — | 100 square feet (standard); 150 square feet (if tenant 50,000–100,000 sq ft); 200 square feet (if tenant >100,000 sq ft) | — | — | No maximum | On building; no maximum number | — | Sec. 4.10.007 Table 2 |
| Window Sign | — | Up to 25% of the area of the window | — | — | — | Installed on or within two feet of exterior window or door | — | Sec. 4.10.007.705.B |
| Interstate Sign - Freestanding Sign (Commercial, Industrial along Interstate/441 only) | Pole signs: 70 feet; Other types: 35 feet; Must be minimum 10 feet above adjacent interstate pavement | Up to 14 feet in height and 48 feet in length | 48 feet | No less than 12 feet from any property or right-of-way line, and at least 75 feet from all buildings/structures | Up to 3 per quadrant of interchange | Within 660 feet of I-85 or US 441; 3 per quadrant per interchange | — | Sec. 4.10.007.710 |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Building Marker | — | 6 square feet | — | — | — | Permanently affixed to building | — | Sec. 4.10.003.302.F |
| Street Address/ID Number | — | 6 inches height in residential; 12 inches height in non-residential | — | — | — | — | — | Sec. 4.10.003.302.B |
| Handicapped Parking Sign | — | — | — | — | — | As required by law | — | Sec. 4.10.003.302.K |
| Traffic Safety/Directional (Governmental or Private) | — | 4 square feet (private); must meet MUTCD for governmental | — | — | — | Within ROW (government); along private streets/driveways (private); off-street parking lots. | — | Sec. 4.10.003.302.G and H |
| Drive-through Display Board | 6 feet | 36 square feet | — | — | — | Drive-through lanes | — | Sec. 4.10.003.302.D |
| Incidental Sign | — | 1 square foot per sign; aggregate up to 12 sq ft per property | — | — | — | On doors, windows, gas pumps, generally not visible from public ROW | — | Sec. 4.10.003.302.M |

## Prohibited signs in Commerce

- Signs attached to trees or utility poles or boxes; signs painted on or attached to rocks or other natural objects; signs, other than government-placed, located within the public street right-of-way or within ten feet from the back of the curb/edge of pavement.
- Dilapidated signs or signs that create a hazard, nuisance, are unsafe, or fail to comply with the city building code.
- Signs attached to traffic signs, governmental signs, public rights-of-way or other public property, utility poles, or guy wires, except those erected with permission of the authority for a public purpose.
- Strings of ribbons, tinsel, small flags, pennants, streamers, pinwheels, or similar windblown devices ('festoons'), except as provided for temporary signage.
- Obscene signs, as defined by Georgia law (O.C.G.A. Section 16-12-80 (b)).
- Signs obstructing any fire escape, window, door, or other opening for fire prevention or suppression, or preventing free passage on roofs.
- Signs extending above a parapet wall, affixed to a fire escape or interfering with any opening required for ventilation.
- Signs located to obstruct vision of pedestrians or traffic in public rights-of-way, the entrance of private streets or driveways to public rights-of-way, or interfere with official traffic control signs or signals.
- Portable signs (designed to be transported or easily relocated and not permanently attached), except as specified for temporary signage.
- Roof signs, painted or adhered on roofs, except on the fascia of a mansard roof or parapet wall not extending above the roof/wall.
- Signs displaying lights resembling those used in traffic signals or emergency vehicles, or signs using words/shapes/colors similar to such signs.
- Signs emitting sound, smoke, vapor, or odors detectable from roads/highways.
- Signs advertising illegal activities under Georgia or federal law.
- Signs placed on unlicensed motor vehicles, freight, flat-bed or storage trailers intended to be viewed from public rights-of-way.
- Inflatable signs, except as specifically permitted as a special event sign.
- Signs erected without the permission of the property owner.
- Vehicular signs are not allowed.

## Signs exempt from permit in Commerce

- Flags, as many as three per lot, not exceeding 40 square feet, with height and proximity limits on poles.
- Street address identifiers and building identification numbers meeting specified height limits in residential and other districts.
- Signs not oriented or intended to be legible from a public right-of-way, private road/driveway, or adjacent property.
- Signs designed to be read only from close range (within five feet), if attached more than 25 feet from the right-of-way, not exceeding one square foot; drive-through lanes may have larger display boards (max. six feet high or 36 square feet).
- Signs erected more than two feet inside a building.
- Building markers no greater than six square feet in area.
- Traffic safety and traffic directional signs within public street right-of-way under government authority, meeting traffic standards.
- Traffic safety and directional signs on private streets/driveways or in parking lots, per city planning director's requirements, not exceeding four square feet each.
- Shared signs, per chapter definition, not exceeding four square feet nor six feet in height.
- Signs erected by or on the order of a governmental entity or public officer in the performance of duty.
- Handicapped parking signs, when required by state law.
- A-frame or sandwich board signs in commercial or CBD districts, within specified size, location, and placement restrictions (otherwise, permit required).
- Incidental signs (as defined), no more than one square foot each, with a total aggregate not exceeding 12 square feet per property.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Any property containing multiple uses, buildings, or tenants but constructed or managed as a single development may establish a master signage plan setting parameters for size, location, design, and color of signs ('master signage plan').
- For any freestanding sign with a sign face greater than 240 square feet, plans shall be certified or prepared by a qualified structural engineer or professional to ensure code conformance prior to permitting.
- For any sign requiring a sign permit, sign review by the city planning director is required prior to issuance of permit and an application with a keyed scaled site plan showing existing and proposed signs must be submitted.
- Sign plan applications must include itemized lists and scaled site plans of all existing and proposed signs, drawings, specification, cost estimates, and indemnification agreements.
- No new sign shall be permitted to be erected on a property with an abandoned/discontinued sign until the discontinued sign (and supports) has been removed or converted to a conforming sign.
- If appeals or variances are required, the ordinance provides for a formal appeals process, including public meetings and decisions by the planning commission and city council.

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

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