# Sign Regulations in Decatur, Georgia

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Decatur, Georgia (GA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/georgia/decatur
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-07
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/GA/Decatur/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=PTIIICOOR_CH54HESA_ARTIICLAIOR_S54-34POSI)

## At a glance

Decatur, Georgia regulates 29 sign types across 10 zoning districts. Political Signs in the General Regulations For All Zones zoning district are capped at 6 ft tall and 8 sq ft, with a 17 ft from edge of road surface setback (Sec. Sec. 7.3.12.N.). Most commercial signs in Decatur require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (10 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Residential District (RS-17, R-85, R-60, R-50) | 3 | — | 24 sq in. | — |
| Multiple-Family District (RM-18, RM-22, RM-43) | 3 | — | 24 sq ft | — |
| Professional Office District (PO) | 3 | — | 24 sq ft | — |
| Commercial District (C-1, C-2, C-3) | 7 | — | 500 sq ft (wall/freestanding/awning/canopy); 1/10 window area (window sign) | — |
| Mixed Use District (MU) | 3 | — | 500 sq ft (wall/freestanding/awning/canopy); 1/10 window area (window sign) | — |
| Neighborhood Mixed Use District (NMU) | 3 | — | 500 sq ft (wall/freestanding/awning/canopy); 1/10 window area (window sign) | — |
| Industrial District | 2 | — | 500 sq ft (wall/freestanding/awning/canopy); 1/10 window area (window sign) | — |
| Institutional District | 8 | — | 45 sq ft per sign; max 32 sq ft of changeable copy per sign | — |
| Downtown Decatur Parking District (DDPD) | 3 | — | 500 sq ft (wall/freestanding/awning/canopy); 1/10 window area (window sign) | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 5 | 6 ft | 8 sq ft | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 10 zones)

### Commercial District (C-1, C-2, C-3)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Primary Business Identification Sign | — | 500 sq ft (wall/freestanding/awning/canopy); 1/10 window area (window sign) | — | — | 1 permanent primary sign per business | Wall, freestanding, awning/canopy, or window (side visible from street) | — | Sec. 7.3.12.K.1. |
| Secondary Business Identification Sign | — | 250 sq ft (wall/awning/canopy); 1/10 window area (window sign) | — | — | 1 permanent secondary sign per business | Wall, awning, canopy, or window (must be visible from street) | — | Sec. 7.3.12.K.2. |
| Temporary Window Sign | — | 1/6 window area; max 3 per 160 sq ft window | — | — | Max 3 per 160 sq ft window | Window | — | Sec. 7.3.12.K.3.a. |
| Banner | — | 150 sq ft | — | — | — | On premises | — | Sec. 7.3.12.K.3.b. |
| Pole Sign (Vehicular Business) | — | 175 sq ft | — | — | 1 per vehicular business | On premises, vehicular business | — | Sec. 7.3.12.L. |
| Shopping Center Identification Sign (Pole or Freestanding) | — | 500 sq ft | — | — | 1 per shopping center | At shopping center | — | Sec. 7.3.12.M. |
| Construction Sign (Commercial District) | — | 100 sq ft | — | — | 1 per site | On site during construction | — | Sec. 7.3.12.Q.2. |

### Institutional District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Churches and Places of Worship Sign - Bulletin Board | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | 1 | On site | — | Sec. 7.3.12.F.1. |
| Churches and Places of Worship Sign - Temporary Special Event | — | 24 sq ft | — | — | 1 | On site | — | Sec. 7.3.12.F.2. |
| Church or Place of Worship Sign (Freestanding or Wall) | — | 45 sq ft per sign; max 32 sq ft of changeable copy per sign | — | — | 2 total (see formula field) | Freestanding or wall, as approved by City Commission | — | Sec. 7.3.12.F.3. |
| Public Buildings, Parks, Schools, Cemeteries, Hospitals, Churches Place of Worship (General Identification) | — | 24 sq ft (each sign type) | — | — | 1 of each type | Freestanding or wall; on site | — | Sec. 7.3.12.G. |
| Institution of Higher Learning Sign (Permanent Freestanding or Wall) | — | 24 sq ft | — | — | 1 per qualifying street | Freestanding or wall; facing street(s) with 500+ ft frontage | — | Sec. 7.3.12.H.1. |
| Institution of Higher Learning: Permanent Bulletin Board | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | 1 | On site | — | Sec. 7.3.12.H.2. |
| Institution of Higher Learning: Temporary Special Event Sign | — | — | — | 10 ft minimum from property line or ROW | 1 | On site, min 10 ft from property line or right-of-way | — | Sec. 7.3.12.H.3. |
| Nursery School/Day Care/Nursing Home/Sanitarium/ Home for Elderly (Freestanding) | — | 12 sq ft | — | 10 ft minimum | 1 | Freestanding; min 10 ft from property line | — | Sec. 7.3.12.I. |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Awning, Marquee, Canopy, and Projecting Signs | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Sec. 7.3.3.A. |
| Freestanding, Ground, and Pole Signs | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Sec. 7.3.3.B. |
| Directional Signs (Exempt) | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | — | — | — | Sec. 7.3.8.H. |
| Political Sign | 6 ft | 8 sq ft | — | 17 ft from edge of road surface | 2 per lot | 17 ft minimum from edge of public road; in nonresidential/multifamily, window area of primary structure only | — | Sec. 7.3.12.N. |
| Weekend Directional Sign | 3 ft | 4 sq ft | — | Must be 1 ft from curb; within 30 ft of curb intersection | Max 2 per intersection | Mounted on independent post/pole; in ROW permitted at least 1 ft from curb, but not on school/institution/worship frontages | — | Sec. 7.3.12.R. |

## Prohibited signs in Decatur

- No person shall injure, deface, obliterate, remove, take down, disturb or in any other manner interfere with any official signboard, bulletin board, or sign or notice erected, posted or placed by the City commission or any officer thereof.
- No person shall engage in or carry on the business or occupation of billposting, advertising, sign painting, outdoor advertising, installing or maintaining signs unless in compliance with the City's Business Occupation Tax Ordinance.
- It is unlawful to paste, print, nail, stake, tack or otherwise fasten any card, banner, handbill, sign, poster, advertisement or notice of any kind, or cause the same to be done, on any curbstone, lamppost, pole, hydrant, bridge, tree or area upon any public or publicly maintained street, sidewalk, right-of-way or property within the City, except as may be authorized by law.
- It is unlawful to paste, post, paint, print, nail, tack or otherwise fasten any card, banner, handbill, sign, poster, advertisement or notice of any kind, or cause the same to be done, on any City property without consent of the City Manager or unless a public officer or employee is acting in performance of public duty.
- It is unlawful to paste, post, paint, print, nail, tack or otherwise fasten any card, banner, handbill, sign, poster, advertisement or notice of any kind, or cause the same to be done, on any private property without the written consent of the owner, holder, lessee, agent or trustee thereof, except for legal notice or public duty.
- No person shall scatter, daub or leave any paint, paste, glue or other substance used for painting or affixing advertising matter upon any public street or sidewalk, nor scatter or throw or permit to be scattered or thrown any waste matter removed from signs or other advertising matter on any public street or private property.
- No sign shall give off light which glares, blinds, or has an adverse effect on vehicular traffic. No direct light from an illuminated sign shall be cast upon adjacent properties and roadways.
- No illuminated signs shall be constructed or maintained within 75 feet of any single-family dwelling.
- Signs with flashing, intermittent or animated illumination or effect are prohibited.
- Signs which simulate official traffic control, warning or public service signs are prohibited.
- Digital changeable copy signs and signs which include series, lines or rows of electric, neon or other lights are prohibited.
- No sign shall obstruct any fire escape, egress or ventilation or prevent free passage from one part of a roof to another, nor be attached to or interfere with a fire escape.
- No sign shall interfere with roadway visibility or obstruct or interfere with the safe and orderly movement of vehicles.
- No sign shall be erected, painted or drawn on any tree, rock or similar natural feature.
- No sign shall be located on any building, fence, or property belonging to another person without owner's consent.
- No sign shall advertise any activity, service, product or item prohibited by law.
- No sign shall emit or utilize in any manner any sound detectable on any public roadway, right-of-way, or sidewalk.
- No sign, sign structure or advertising shall be located on or within any public roadway, public right-of-way or utility pole, except for public governmental purposes specifically authorized by law.
- No sign or sign structure above a height of 3 feet shall be located within 15 feet of intersection of right-of-way lines extended of 2 streets or of a street and railroad right-of-way (with limited exception for small support structures).
- All signs and sign devices listed in Sec. 7.3.9 (including but not limited to signs with flashing lights, signs imitating official traffic signs, signs not securely affixed, roof signs, animated/flashing/digital/billboard signs, portable signs, off-premises signs, signs advertising alcoholic beverages, certain temporary signs, etc.) are prohibited citywide.

## Signs exempt from permit in Decatur

- Official traffic or warning signs.
- Changing of copy on bulletin boards, poster boards, display casements, marquees or changeable copy sign, and moving/relocating embellishments not increasing area.
- Decorative flags or buntings.
- Symbolic flag or award flag of institution or business, one per business or per 50 feet of street frontage.
- Construction signs not exceeding 32 square feet.
- Residential real estate signs not exceeding 24 square feet.
- Political signs (per additional regulations).
- Directional signs not exceeding 6 square feet.
- Residential signs (see specified sections).
- Signs of governmental bodies, governmental agencies, or public authorities, including traffic signs/signals, official flags, emblems, official instruments and notices, and similar official signs.
- Temporary window signs and banners.
- Weekend directional signs (per specified regulations).

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A permit shall be required for all permanent and temporary signs other than those specifically exempted from obtaining a permit by this Section.
- Application for a sign permit requires submission of sign plans indicating size, type of lettering, configurations, coloring, lighting, electrical and structural specifications as per requirements of this Section and building codes. Standardized sign plans may be submitted.
- Site plans showing specific location of signs shall be submitted with each application.
- Sign plans must be sufficient to demonstrate compliance with sign regulations for size, type, location, construction, illumination, etc.
- Permits and plans are not required for signs specifically exempted in Sec. 7.3.8.
- For churches and other places of worship in institutional zoning districts, permanent freestanding or wall signs are subject to approval by the City Commission, which shall determine compliance based on location, size, design, color, appearance, number, area and other criteria.
- Shared parking plans (distinct from sign master plans) may be required for parking arrangements associated with signage, particularly in the Downtown Decatur Parking District, but not as a general sign plan.
- Appeals from issuance or denial of any sign permit shall be as provided in Sec. 11.2.9.

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

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