# Sign Regulations in Cumming, Georgia

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Cumming, Georgia (GA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/georgia/cumming
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-07
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/GA/Cumming/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=SPBPLZODEUT_CH113ZO_ARTXIIISI)

## At a glance

Cumming, Georgia regulates 15 sign types across 8 zoning districts. For Sale/Lease Signs in the Residential zoning district (R-1, R-1A, R-2, R-3) zoning district are capped at 6 feet tall and 15 sq ft, with a Not within public right-of-way. No signs exceeding 30 inches within 10 feet of right-of-way. setback (Sec. Sec. 113-548(a)(2), Sec. 113-548(b)(2)-(3)). Most commercial signs in Cumming require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (8 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Residential zoning district (R-1, R-1A, R-2, R-3) | 4 | 6 feet | 15 sq ft | — |
| Commercial and industrial zoning districts (CBD, HB, INST, NS, OCMS, OP, PSC, M-1) | 3 | 30 feet (outside GA 400 Corridor), or per corridor limits | 15 sq ft | — |
| Central business district/office professional/neighborhood shopping | 2 | 30 feet (per general commercial/industrial; see 113-549(c)) | 320 sq ft | — |
| Highway business/planned shopping center | 4 | 30 feet | 420 sq ft | — |
| Institutional/M1 restricted industrial | 3 | 30 feet (per general performance standards) | 320 sq ft | — |
| Planned unit development (PUD) | 1 | — | — | — |
| Georgia 400 Corridor | 1 | Sign shall not exceed 1340 feet above mean sea level (certified elevation required) | Up to 420 sq ft (per underlying zoning limitation for sign types, e.g., pylons); Wall/monument signs as per underlying zoning | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 4 | As zone/type allows (see individual zoning regulations) | Up to 420 sq ft (per zone and sign type, typically pylon) | — |

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

### Residential zoning district (R-1, R-1A, R-2, R-3)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Expression Sign | 6 feet | — | — | Not within public right-of-way. No signs exceeding 30 inches within 10 feet of right-of-way. | Aggregate area of all signs per lot may not exceed 40 sq ft | On private property; Not within public right-of-way or within ten feet of right-of-way if over 30 inches high | — | Sec. 113-548(a)(1), Sec. 113-548(b)(2)-(3) |
| For Sale/Lease Sign | 6 feet | 15 sq ft | — | Not within public right-of-way. No signs exceeding 30 inches within 10 feet of right-of-way. | Aggregate area of all signs per lot may not exceed 40 sq ft | On lot for sale/lease; Not within public right-of-way or within ten feet of right-of-way if over 30 inches high | — | Sec. 113-548(a)(2), Sec. 113-548(b)(2)-(3) |
| Home Occupancy Permit Sign | 6 feet | 2 sq ft | — | Not within public right-of-way. No signs exceeding 30 inches within 10 feet of right-of-way. | Aggregate area of all signs per lot may not exceed 40 sq ft | On property of permitted home occupation | — | Sec. 113-525 (definition), Sec. 113-548(a)(3), Sec. 113-548(b)(2) |
| Monument Sign (Residential Development Entrance) | 6 feet | — | — | Not within public right-of-way. No signs exceeding 30 inches within 10 feet of right-of-way. | Aggregate area of all signs per lot may not exceed 40 sq ft | At the entrance to a residential development or phase | — | Sec. 113-548(a)(4), Sec. 113-548(b)(2)-(3), Sec. 113-530 |

### Highway business/planned shopping center

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Monument Sign | 30 feet | 320 sq ft | — | No signs within public right-of-way; no sign over 30" within 10' of right-of-way | — | On premises | — | Sec. 113-549(b)(2)a, Sec. 113-549(c) |
| Pylon Sign | 30 feet | 420 sq ft | — | No signs within public right-of-way; no sign over 30" within 10' of right-of-way | — | On premises | — | Sec. 113-549(b)(2)b, Sec. 113-549(c)(4) |
| Wall Sign | 30 feet (see general performance standards) | — | — | — | — | On building wall | — | Sec. 113-549(b)(2)c, Sec. 113-525 (definition), Sec. 113-549(c) |
| Roof Sign | Not exceed 15 feet above roof | — | — | — | — | On roof, not more than 15 feet above | — | Sec. 113-549(b)(2)d, Sec. 113-542(e) |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Weekend Sign | — | 15 sq ft | — | — | 1 per lot | On private property, not on right-of-way; with property owner's consent | — | Sec. 113-544 |
| Automated Changeable Copy Sign | As zone/type allows (see individual zoning regulations) | Up to 420 sq ft (per zone and sign type, typically pylon) | — | — | — | Anywhere pylon signs permitted, subject to replacement restrictions | — | Sec. 113-550 |
| Temporary Banner | — | 32 sq ft per banner | — | At least 10 feet from any public right-of-way | 3 banners per lot | Attached to pedestrian lighting fixtures | — | Sec. 113-543(c) |
| Searchlight | — | — | — | At least 10 feet from right-of-way | 4 per lot | — | — | Sec. 113-543(d) |

## Prohibited signs in Cumming

- Flashing signs are prohibited in all zoning districts.
- Any air- or gas-filled balloons or other similar devices are prohibited, except as specifically approved by special permit or as temporary banner signs attached to pedestrian lighting fixtures with a sign permit.
- Permanent signs made of paper, cloth, or other nondurable materials are prohibited, except as specifically approved by special permit or as temporary banner signs attached to pedestrian lighting fixtures with a sign permit.
- Multi-faced signs are prohibited.
- Portable signs are prohibited.
- Roof signs which extend in excess of 15 feet above the roof of the building to which they are attached are prohibited.
- Streamers and pennants are prohibited, except as specifically approved by special permit.
- Signs that imitate an official traffic sign or signal, including those using colored lights to appear as traffic control devices, are prohibited.
- Signs within the right-of-way, including those attached to traffic signs or telephone poles, are prohibited.
- Signs attached to trees are prohibited.
- Signs attached to courtesy benches, trashcans, and similar devices are prohibited, except for signage related to the ownership of such items.
- Stacked signs are prohibited.
- Trailer signs are prohibited.
- Signs constructed of materials that are not sufficiently durable to withstand weather and climatic events, or which may pose a threat to the public health, safety and welfare, are prohibited.

## Signs exempt from permit in Cumming

- Flags are exempt from regulation.
- Traffic safety and traffic directional signs installed within public right-of-way, or along private streets, driveways, and in off-street parking lots (installed per city engineer requirements, city ordinance, state law, or federal law) are exempt.
- Street address numbers attached to buildings (maximum letter height 12 inches) are exempt.
- Signs erected by or on the order of a public officer in the performance of duty (such as public notices or safety signs) are exempt.
- Any sign not visible from a public street is exempt.
- Signs pertaining to the time a business, activity, or establishment is open, and conditions under which patrons may receive service (including credit card identification signs or stickers up to one square foot in area per lot) are exempt.
- Expression signs (i.e., signs expressing ideas not related to a particular land use, including political and public issue messages) are exempt, and no permit is required.
- Signs notifying the public that the lot or parcel upon which the sign is placed is for sale or lease, not to exceed 15 square feet in sign face area, are exempt and require no permit.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- There is no explicit mention of a 'master sign plan' or 'sign plan' requirement in the general regulations.
- Permit applications must include a design and property survey showing sign location and distances, which functions as a detailed proposal for review.
- If a variance is required for a sign (e.g., for height), this request must be part of the application and will require review by the mayor and council at a public hearing.
- In Planned Unit Developments (PUD), acceptable signs must be proposed by the applicant for consideration by the mayor and council as part of the zoning approval proposal, functioning as a type of sign plan.
- Any application that cannot be administratively approved (e.g., requires variances or further determination) is bound over to the Mayor and Council for review and possible public hearing.

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

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