# Sign Regulations in Dalton, Georgia

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Dalton, Georgia (GA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/georgia/dalton
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-07
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/GA/Dalton/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=PTIICOOR_CH114TRVE_ARTIISISIMAPARE)

## At a glance

Dalton, Georgia regulates 5 sign types across 2 zoning districts. Projecting Signs in the Historic District, Downtown Historic District zoning district are capped at Not above wall (single story) or bottom of any 2nd story window (multi-story) tall, 6 sq ft (including frame), and 3 feet (horizontal dimension) wide (Sec. Sec. 5.2-5). Most commercial signs in Dalton require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (2 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Historic District, Downtown Historic District | 5 | Not above wall (single story) or bottom of any 2nd story window (multi-story) | 150 sq ft (1-2 stories), 200 sq ft (3+ stories), or 10% of calculated building facade area (see formula) | — |
| Residential Zoning Districts | 4 | — | 150 sq ft (1-2 stories), 200 sq ft (3+ stories), or 10% of calculated building facade area (see formula) | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements

### Historic District, Downtown Historic District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign / Canopy Sign | — | 150 sq ft (1-2 stories), 200 sq ft (3+ stories), or 10% of calculated building facade area (see formula) | — | No sign closer than 18 inches to property lines. Must not extend or be installed over party wall. | — | Building facade; must not cover architectural details or windows | — | Sec. 5.2-1 |
| Window Sign (Ground Floor) | — | 15% of total window area parallel to street; no single window >30% coverage | — | — | — | Window area on ground level, parallel to street | — | Sec. 5.2-2 |
| Window Sign (Second Floor - Only If No Ground Floor Frontage) | — | 15% of entire window area above ground floor; max 30% of any one window | — | — | — | Second floor windows (only if no ground floor frontage) | — | Sec. 5.2-2 |
| Ground Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Only in zoning districts that allow freestanding signs; on site | — | Sec. 5.2-3 |
| Projecting Sign | Not above wall (single story) or bottom of any 2nd story window (multi-story) | 6 sq ft (including frame) | 3 feet (horizontal dimension) | — | 1 per business (except corner lot rules) | Installed over/adjacent to main entrance door or windows. Perpendicular to facade, or at 45° angle on corner. | — | Sec. 5.2-5 |

### Residential Zoning Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign / Canopy Sign | — | 150 sq ft (1-2 stories), 200 sq ft (3+ stories), or 10% of calculated building facade area (see formula) | — | No sign closer than 18 inches to property lines. Must not extend or be installed over party wall. | — | Building facade; must not cover architectural details or windows | — | Sec. 5.2-1, 5.2-4 |
| Window Sign (Ground Floor) | — | 15% of total window area parallel to street; no single window >30% coverage | — | — | — | Window area on ground level, parallel to street | — | Sec. 5.2-2 |
| Window Sign (Second Floor - Only If No Ground Floor Frontage) | — | 15% of entire window area above ground floor; max 30% of any one window | — | — | — | Second floor windows (only if no ground floor frontage) | — | Sec. 5.2-2 |
| Ground Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Only in zoning districts that allow freestanding signs; on site | — | Sec. 5.2-3 |

## Prohibited signs in Dalton

- Signage shall not be allowed to obscure any significant architectural details of a building face.
- A wall sign shall not be allowed to cover existing windows.
- No sign shall be closer than 18 inches to adjacent property lines.
- Signs shall not be installed or extend over a party wall.
- Signs painted directly onto retaining walls, fences, roofs, or building facades or walls are prohibited.

## Signs exempt from permit in Dalton

- The historically significant painted Coca-cola sign on the premises located at 237 S. Hamilton Street is exempt from the prohibition on painted signs.
- Sign-related appeals of negative findings by the historic preservation commission will be exempt from the appeals procedure described in section P of the city's historic preservation ordinance.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Any sign proposed within a historic district is subject to design review by the building inspector.

## Full detail

Complete sign requirements for Dalton, including every field PermitPal tracks for each sign type, are available with a free PermitPal account: https://app.permitpal.io/?address=Dalton+GA&override=true&utm_source=landing&utm_medium=city-page&utm_campaign=city-dalton

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