# Sign Regulations in Covington, Georgia

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Covington, Georgia (GA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/georgia/covington
- **Data last verified:** 2026-02-17
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/GA/Covington/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=TIT16ZO_CH16.48SI)

## At a glance

Covington, Georgia regulates 24 sign types across 8 zoning districts. Ground Signs in the Corridor Mixed-Use District (CM) zoning district are capped at 8 ft tall and Standard lot: up to 100 sq ft per sign face; aggregate up to 200 sq ft per sign. Lots with principal building or planned center over 50,000 sq ft: up to 120 sq ft per sign face; aggregate up to 240 sq ft per sign., with a ≥10 ft from back of curb and right-of-way (whichever is farther); outside 15‑ft corner visibility triangle above 3 ft. setback (Sec. 16.48.040(D)(1); 16.48.040(F); 16.48.070; 16.48.090). Most commercial signs in Covington require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (8 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Neighborhood Residential 1 District (NR-1), Neighborhood Residential 2 District (NR-2), Neighborhood Residential 3 District (NR-3, NR3), Corridor Residential District (CR), Town Center Residential District (TCR) | 3 | 4 ft | Up to 25% of area of one window per dwelling. | — |
| Neighborhood Mixed-Use District (NM) | 5 | 8 ft | Dependent on tenant frontage; e.g., tenant with 50 linear ft frontage on an elevation may have up to 50 sq ft of wall sign area on that elevation. | — |
| Corridor Mixed-Use District (CM) | 8 | For sail sign: up to 16 ft in height as measured from ground level at base. | Standard lot: up to 100 sq ft per sign face; aggregate up to 200 sq ft per sign. Lots with principal building or planned center over 50,000 sq ft: up to 120 sq ft per sign face; aggregate up to 240 sq ft per sign. | — |
| Town Center Mixed-Use District (TCM) | 8 | 6 ft | Up to 40 sq ft per sign face; aggregate per sign up to 80 sq ft. | — |
| Light Industrial District (M1, M-1), Heavy Industrial District (M2, M-2) | 7 | Sail sign: up to 16 ft in height from ground to top. | Standard lots: up to 100 sq ft per sign face (200 sq ft total per sign). Lots with principal building over 65,000 sq ft: up to 150 sq ft per sign face (300 sq ft total per sign). | — |
| Covington Town Center Overlay District | 8 | 12 ft | First 200 linear ft of street frontage: 16 sq ft. Each additional 100 linear ft of frontage: +8 sq ft. Maximum allowable temporary construction signage per parcel: 64 sq ft. | — |
| Airport Hazard overlay zoning district | 1 | — | — | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 5 | 8 ft | Up to 24 sq ft per face | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 8 zones)

### Corridor Mixed-Use District (CM)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Ground Sign | 8 ft | Standard lot: up to 100 sq ft per sign face; aggregate up to 200 sq ft per sign. Lots with principal building or planned center over 50,000 sq ft: up to 120 sq ft per sign face; aggregate up to 240 sq ft per sign. | — | ≥10 ft from back of curb and right-of-way (whichever is farther); outside 15‑ft corner visibility triangle above 3 ft. | 1 ground sign per road frontage per lot. | On private property along road frontage, minimum 10-ft setback from right-of-way and back of curb (whichever is farther); may not encroach/right-of-way; outside 15-ft corner visibility triangle above 3 ft. | — | 16.48.040(D)(1); 16.48.040(F); 16.48.070; 16.48.090 |
| Window Sign | — | Total window signage may not exceed 25% of area of windows facing road frontage. | — | N/A (on building); may not project into right-of-way. | Not numerically limited; governed by 25% of window area rule. | On or within windows facing the road frontage; visible from exterior. | — | 16.48.040(D)(2); 16.48.070; 16.48.080 |
| Wall Sign | — | Dependent on each tenant’s linear frontage per elevation. | — | On building; no projection into public right-of-way. | No explicit numerical limit; total wall sign area per elevation limited by 1 sq ft/linear ft rule. | Flat‑mounted to exterior wall, projecting ≤18 in; typically on elevations with road frontage; cannot overhang right-of-way. | — | 16.48.040(D)(3); 16.48.030 (Wall sign); 16.48.070 |
| Roof Sign | Sign and supporting structure may not exceed 10% of building height upon which erected. | Equal to building linear feet per road frontage; may not exceed that amount. | — | Mounted on building; must respect right-of-way clearance (no overhang). | 1 roof sign per road frontage per building, in lieu of wall sign(s) on that frontage. | On roof of a building; may not project beyond building footprint. Signs between wall plate and curb on mansard roof are treated as wall signs, not roof signs. | — | 16.48.040(D)(4); 16.48.070 |
| Changeable Copy Portion of Ground Sign | — | Up to 25% of the allowed ground sign face area (e.g., if 100 sq ft permitted face, changeable copy may be up to 25 sq ft). | — | Same as the associated ground sign. | Each ground sign in CM may contain one changeable copy area within its face, subject to 25% limit. | Within permitted ground sign in CM; sited as for ground sign. | — | 16.48.040(F) (applies in CM, M-1, M-2); 16.48.080(C),(D) |
| Banner Sign or Sail Sign (Temporary) | For sail sign: up to 16 ft in height as measured from ground level at base. | Each banner or sail sign up to 16 sq ft in sign area. | — | Must not be within 10 ft of curb or right-of-way, and may not encroach over right-of-way. | Per tenant: either 1 banner or 1 sail sign (not both), each up to 16 sq ft. | On private property in CM; not attached to utility/light poles; must meet general setback and right-of-way rules. | — | 16.48.050(D); 16.48.030 (Banner; Sail sign); 16.48.070; 16.48.080 |
| Directional / Directory Signs (On-site) | 4 ft | Per sign face: up to 6 sq ft; parcel aggregate: up to 48 sq ft of such signs. | — | General 10‑ft setback from curb/right-of-way; outside 15‑ft corner visibility triangle above 3 ft. | As many as desired within 48 sq ft total of directional/directory signs per parcel. | On private property within CM; sited to direct internal traffic; must comply with general setback and visibility rules. | — | 16.48.050(B)(3); 16.48.080(E) |
| Standard Informational Sign | 3 ft | Per sign: up to 6.5 sq ft; parcel aggregate for standard informational signs in CM (and NM/TCM/M-1/M-2): 20 sq ft, except during election periods. | — | ≥10 ft from curb and right-of-way; outside 15‑ft corner visibility triangle above 3 ft. | Non‑election periods: as many as desired up to 20 sq ft total area; election periods: unlimited. | Entirely on private property. | — | 16.48.050(B)(3),(5); 16.48.030 (Standard informational sign) |

### Town Center Mixed-Use District (TCM)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Ground Sign | 6 ft | Up to 40 sq ft per sign face; aggregate per sign up to 80 sq ft. | — | ≥10 ft from curb and right-of-way; outside 15‑ft corner visibility triangle above 3 ft. | 1 per road frontage per lot. | On private property; minimum 10-ft setback from right-of-way and from back of curb (whichever is farther from street); may not encroach/hang over right-of-way; must meet corner visibility rules. | — | 16.48.040(B)(1); 16.48.070; 16.48.090 |
| Window Sign | — | Total area of window signs may not exceed 15% of area of windows facing road frontage. | — | N/A (on building) but may not project into right-of-way. | Not numerically limited; governed by 15% window area cap. | On or in windows facing road frontage. | — | 16.48.040(B)(2) |
| Wall Sign | — | Linked to tenant frontage. | — | On building; no encroachment over public right-of-way. | 1 wall sign per road frontage per tenant. | Attached to exterior wall, typically on elevation facing road frontage. | — | 16.48.040(B)(3); 16.48.030 (Wall sign) |
| Canopy Sign | — | Up to 8 sq ft per establishment. | — | Canopy and sign may not extend into or over public right-of-way unless separately authorized; sign follows canopy placement. | 1 canopy sign per establishment. | On canopy surface associated with the establishment. | — | 16.48.040(B)(4) |
| Projecting Sign | — | Up to 6 sq ft per projecting sign. | — | Must maintain at least 7 ft 6 in clearance above pedestrian ways; may not project over right-of-way unless specifically authorized. | 1 projecting sign per building. | Attached to building wall, projecting more than 18 in from face of wall but within private property; may not project into right-of-way unless specifically allowed elsewhere (not provided here). | — | 16.48.040(B)(5); 16.48.080(B) |
| Sandwich / A‑Type Sign | 4 ft | Up to 8 sq ft per sign face (i.e., up to 16 sq ft total both faces). | — | Must remain on private property outside right-of-way; placed so as not to impede pedestrians. | 1 per establishment. | Directly in front of the building, but not in public right-of-way; must not impede pedestrian flow. | — | 16.48.040(B)(6); 16.48.080(A) |
| Banner Sign | — | Up to 16 sq ft per location. | — | Must respect 10‑ft setback from curb/right-of-way and not overhang public right-of-way. | One banner up to 16 sq ft per location. | On private property within TCM; may be attached to building or freestanding, but not to utility/light poles and not in right-of-way. | — | 16.48.050(C) |
| Standard Informational Sign | 3 ft | Per sign: 6.5 sq ft; aggregate for standard informational signs on parcel: 20 sq ft, except during election period. | — | ≥10 ft from curb + right-of-way; outside 15‑ft visibility triangle above 3 ft. | Non‑election: as many as desired ≤20 sq ft total; election: unlimited. | On private property. | — | 16.48.050(B)(3),(5); 16.48.030 (Standard informational sign) |

### Covington Town Center Overlay District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Ground Sign (Parcel Frontage) | 8 ft | Base allowance: up to 40 sq ft per sign face; aggregate per sign ≤80 sq ft. For each additional 100 linear ft of parcel road frontage beyond the first 200 ft, an extra 20 sq ft of sign face is allowed, up to a maximum of 80 sq ft per sign face (aggregate ≤160 sq ft). | — | Minimum 10‑ft setback from right-of-way. Also must comply with general 10‑ft from back of curb rule and 15‑ft corner visibility triangle above 3 ft. | 1 parcel ground sign per road frontage per parcel. | Along public streets within Covington Town Center Overlay, on private property. | — | 16.24.040(D)(1); 16.48.010–.040; 16.24.020(D)(1); 16.24.040(A)(8)(c) |
| Planned Center Ground Sign (Overall Development ID) | 12 ft | Each planned center sign: up to 180 sq ft per face; aggregate per sign up to 360 sq ft. | — | Minimum 10‑ft setback from right-of-way and from back of curb; observe intersection visibility requirements. | 1 planned center ground sign per road frontage of overall development. | Along road frontages of overall Covington Town Center development, on private property within overlay. | — | 16.24.040(D)(1)(b)-(c); 16.24.040(A)(8)(c) |
| Window Sign | — | Total window signage shall not exceed 25% of area of windows along primary facade or windows facing adjacent public road frontage. | — | Attached to building; may not project into right-of-way. | Not numerically limited; governed by 25% window area cap. | On or in windows of buildings within overlay. | — | 16.24.040(D)(2) |
| Wall Sign | — | Dependent on tenant frontage per elevation. | — | On building; no projection into public right-of-way. | No explicit numeric limit; area limited by 1 sq ft/linear ft per elevation. | On building facades within overlay. | — | 16.24.040(D)(3); 16.48.040(D)(3) (underlying zone) |
| Roof Sign (Option in lieu of wall sign) | Up to 10% of building height above roof for sign + structure. | Up to that building frontage‑based area. | — | On building; no projection into right-of-way. | 1 roof sign per road frontage per tenant/stand‑alone building (in lieu of wall sign(s)). | On roof of buildings in overlay, consistent with underlying CM rules. | — | 16.24.040(D)(4); 16.48.040(D)(4) |
| Changeable Copy Portion of Ground Sign | — | Up to 25% of sign face as allowed for that ground sign. | — | Same as host ground sign. | Each ground sign may include one changeable copy area within face, ≤25% of area. | Within parcel or planned center ground signs in overlay (underlying CM rules). | — | 16.48.040(F); 16.24.040(D)(5)(e) (illumination toward airport) |
| Temporary Construction Sign | 8 ft | First 200 linear ft of street frontage: 16 sq ft. Each additional 100 linear ft of frontage: +8 sq ft. Maximum allowable temporary construction signage per parcel: 64 sq ft. | — | Minimum 10‑ft setback from right-of-way; must not encroach on right-of-way. | Total temporary construction signage per parcel limited by area formula and 64‑sq‑ft cap; number of individual signs is not specified but all count toward total cap. | On each parcel under construction within overlay; along street frontage on private property. | — | 16.24.040(D)(7) |
| Additional Allowable Signs per Chapter 16.48.050 | Varies by sign type (e.g., 3 ft for standard informational, 8 ft for subdivision/commercial entrance and banners/sail signs as applicable). | Subdivision/commercial entrance signs: up to 24 sq ft per face, 8‑ft height; Standard informational signs: 6.5 sq ft per sign, parcel aggregate 20 sq ft (election exception); Banners (if using 16.48.050(C)): 16 sq ft each, etc. | — | Per underlying Chapter 16.48 rules. | Per each applicable provision in 16.48.050. | Within overlay but also compliant with general Chapter 16.48 location rules. | — | 16.24.040(D)(6); 16.48.050 |

## Prohibited signs in Covington

- It is unlawful for any person to erect, construct, enlarge, move, alter, or convert any sign except in accordance with Chapter 16.48.
- Nothing in the sign regulations permits display of any message that is obscene, illegal, or otherwise unprotected under the First Amendment.
- No sign may be placed in the public right-of-way or on public property, except official/government signs; all other signs must be placed on private property.
- No sign may be located closer than ten feet from the back of the curb of a public roadway nor closer than ten feet from the public right-of-way, whichever is farther from the street, unless otherwise specifically noted.
- No sign may encroach on or hang over any public right-of-way.
- No external or internal illumination may flash, blink, or otherwise vary in intensity.
- No external or internal illumination that causes confusion with or distraction from any traffic signal or safety device is permitted.
- No sign or sign structure above three feet in height may be maintained within fifteen feet of the intersection of the extended right-of-way lines of two streets or of a street and railroad right-of-way (corner visibility).
- No sign or sign structure may obstruct any fire escape, ventilation, door, or hydrant, nor may any sign or sign structure be attached to a fire escape.
- Sidewalk, A-type, sandwich or curb-type signs are prohibited, except where expressly allowed in Section 16.48.040.
- Swinging or projecting signs are prohibited, except where expressly allowed in Section 16.48.040.
- Animated signs are prohibited.
- Flashing or blinking signs, or signs of varying light intensity, are prohibited (other than certain traffic-control devices).
- Signs that contain or imitate an official traffic sign or signal, or can be confused with an official traffic sign, are prohibited.
- Signs attached to any street signs or markers, traffic control signs or devices, or attached to or painted on any pole, post, tree, rock, shrub, plant, or other natural object or feature are prohibited.
- Rotating signs are prohibited.
- Signs not in good repair, including any sign in a state of disassembly or with internal lighting exposed to view for more than one week, are prohibited.
- Vehicle- or trailer‑mounted signs parked near the referenced business for more than eight hours for advertising purposes are prohibited, unless the vehicle is fully licensed, regularly driven in the conduct of business, and no less-visible parking is available.
- Pennants and streamers are prohibited, except as otherwise allowed for banners and sail signs in specific districts.
- Portable signs moved in and out on a daily basis are prohibited, except where expressly allowed in Section 16.48.040.
- Signs emitting any sound, smoke, or vapor are prohibited.
- All signs declared prohibited under Section 16.48.080 may be removed by the city at the owner’s expense.

## Signs exempt from permit in Covington

- Official signs erected on public property by an authorized governmental unit are allowed and do not require a sign permit.
- Official signs meeting the standards of Chapter 16.48 or the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices are allowed without a permit.
- Any sign not visible from the outside of a structure or to passing members of the public is allowed and requires no permit.
- Directional signs (e.g., exit/entrance, shipping/receiving or other directional information) not exceeding six square feet per sign face and four feet in height are allowed without a permit, subject to a maximum aggregate of forty-eight square feet per parcel.
- Signs on courtesy benches and trash cans on private property are allowed in the CM zoning district, provided they do not extend beyond or exceed the size of the bench or trash can.
- Standard informational signs are allowed in residential districts (TCR, CR, NR1, NR2, NR3) up to the applicable aggregate area, with no permit fee, provided they are entirely on private property.
- Standard informational signs are allowed in TCM, NM, CM, M-1 and M-2 districts up to twenty square feet aggregate per property without a permit, and during election qualifying through final determination of election contests an unlimited number of such signs may be erected.
- In residential districts (TCR, CR, NR1, NR2, NR3), during the period from opening of qualifying for elections through final determination of those elections, an unlimited number of standard informational signs may be erected.
- Subdivision entrance signs and commercial/office/industrial entrance signs are expressly allowed (subject to size, height, material, and illumination limits) when a permit is obtained.
- Banner signs up to sixteen square feet are allowed per location in the CR, NM, TCR and TCM districts (subject to attachment limits), and in CM, M‑1 and M‑2 either one banner up to sixteen square feet or one sail sign up to sixteen square feet per tenant is allowed.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Standardized sign plans may be filed with the building official to satisfy the construction-plan requirement for multiple signs, but a site plan showing location is still required with each permit application.
- A sign permit is required before any sign is erected, enlarged, relocated, or improved when improvements cost 60 percent or more of the sign’s replacement value; electrical signs also require an electrical permit.
- Applications for sign permits must include type of sign, scaled site plan and elevation, dimensions, square footage of the proposed and existing signs on the property, property owner consent, and contractor information.
- A sign permit becomes null and void if the sign is not completed within six months of issuance, unless a single six‑month extension is obtained with an additional fee.
- Appeals of sign‑permit denials are handled under Section 16.12.180 and must be decided in writing within 60 days of the notice of appeal.
- Variances from sign regulations (e.g., height or location to address visibility obstruction) may be granted by the board of appeals and adjustments under Section 16.12.170, limited to the minimum relief necessary and not to allow more signs than otherwise permitted.
- In the Covington Town Center Overlay District, signage must follow Chapter 16.48 for approval processes, and sign submittals to the city must be accompanied by a notarized approval letter from the master developer or its successor.
- The Covington Town Center master developer’s development review body will review and approve signage as part of its private review procedures before city review, but the city is not obligated to enforce those private standards.
- In TCR and TCM zoning districts, a copy of any sign‑permit application is transmitted to the main street manager for comment during the city’s permit review process.

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

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