# Sign Regulations in Doraville, Georgia

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Doraville, Georgia (GA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/georgia/doraville
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-07
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/GA/Doraville/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=PTIICOOR_CH14SI)

## At a glance

Doraville, Georgia regulates 29 sign types across 6 zoning districts. Billboard Sign (Static)s in the Commercial zoning areas, Industrial zoning areas zoning district are capped at 14 feet tall, 672 square feet, and 48 feet wide, with a Min 30 ft from intersection of street ROW lines extended. setback (Sec. Sec. 14-12(c)). Most commercial signs in Doraville require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (6 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Residential zoning districts | 1 | — | 8 square feet (aggregate for all signs on a parcel) | — |
| Residential subdivision | 1 | 5 feet | 25 square feet | — |
| Multi-family residential | 2 | 8 feet | 32 square feet | — |
| Commercial zoning areas, Industrial zoning areas | 16 | 14 feet | 672 square feet | — |
| SD-3 assembly sign overlay district (SD-3) | 7 | 145 feet | Up to 5x the maximum aggregate sign area otherwise allowed under Chapter 14 | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 4 | 25 feet or height of primary structure (residential); 60 feet or height of structure (commercial/industrial) | 2.5 square feet | — |

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

### Commercial zoning areas, Industrial zoning areas

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Billboard Sign (Static) | 14 feet | 672 square feet | 48 feet | Min 30 ft from intersection of street ROW lines extended. | — | Parcels adjacent to designated state/federal highways in commercial/industrial areas. | — | Sec. 14-12(c) |
| Digital or Electronic Billboard (Converted Only) | per Sec. 14-12 or existing conversion sign, whichever is greater (max 75 ft if adjacent to/interstate) | 672 square feet | 48 feet | As billboard | — | Same parcel as converted static billboard, in commercial or industrial zone adjacent to highways. | — | Sec. 14-21 |
| Stanchion Sign (5+ acres) | — | 400 square feet | — | Min 30 ft from intersection of street ROW lines extended. | — | Commercial or industrial zoned parcels. | — | Sec. 14-12(d)(1), (5), (6) |
| Stanchion Sign (2 to <5 acres) | — | 150 square feet | — | Min 30 ft from intersection of street ROW lines extended. | — | Commercial or industrial zoned parcels. | — | Sec. 14-12(d)(2), (5), (6) |
| Stanchion Sign (30,000 to <87,120 sq ft / <2 acres) | — | 90 square feet | — | Min 30 ft from intersection of street ROW lines extended. | — | Commercial or industrial zoned parcels. | — | Sec. 14-12(d)(3), (5), (6) |
| Stanchion Sign (<30,000 sq ft) | — | 70 square feet | — | Min 30 ft from intersection of street ROW lines extended. | — | Commercial or industrial zoned parcels. | — | Sec. 14-12(d)(4), (5), (6) |
| Signs-during-vacancy Freestanding | 6 feet | 16 square feet per face (double faced allowed, max 45 degree angle) | — | — | One per access-providing street frontage | On-premises, per access-providing street frontage. | — | Sec. 14-12(i)(1)-(5) |
| Temporary Freestanding Sign (Construction) | 8 feet | 32 square feet | — | Must not obstruct visibility at driveways/street intersections; comply with minimum 20ft sight triangle per section 23-703. | One per street frontage | On construction site | — | Sec. 14-12(j)(1), (3) |

### SD-3 assembly sign overlay district (SD-3)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Assembly Studio Mural | Up to maximum height of exterior wall elevation | Up to maximum wall face square footage | — | — | — | Exterior facades of office, studio, or production buildings (not on public ROW-facing facades). | — | Sec. 14-20(c)(1) |
| Assembly Studio Iconic Tower | 145 feet | — | — | — | One iconic tower | Within 135-acre Assembly development | — | Sec. 14-20(c)(2) |
| Assembly Studio Gates Signage | 12 feet (if on entry walls) | — | — | — | — | Secure entrance gates and associated entry walls | — | Sec. 14-20(c)(3) |
| Assembly Parking Deck Branding | — | — | — | — | — | Exterior surface of parking structures | — | Sec. 14-20(c)(4) |
| Exterior Sandwich Boards and Freestanding A-frame Signs | — | — | — | — | — | Within/beyond public ROW adjacent to retail, entertainment, food & beverage uses | — | Sec. 14-20(d)(1) |
| Digital Signs (attached/hanging) | — | — | — | — | — | On or hanging from buildings/site walls | — | Sec. 14-20(d)(2) |
| All allowed sign types (aggregate area/height SD-3) | 20 feet above the height of the building served | Up to 5x the maximum aggregate sign area otherwise allowed under Chapter 14 | — | — | — | — | — | Sec. 14-20(e)(1)-(3) |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Yard and Garage Sale Signs | — | 2.5 square feet | — | — | Up to six per sale | As per permit application; not on directional signs, ROWs, or utility poles | — | Sec. 14-14 |
| Flag (official government) | 25 feet or height of primary structure (residential); 60 feet or height of structure (commercial/industrial) | — | — | — | Up to two per parcel without permit | On any parcel | — | Sec. 14-17(c) |
| Temporary Nonilluminated Sign (≤2.5 sq ft, Exempt) | — | 2.5 square feet | — | — | — | Outside public right-of-way | — | Sec. 14-17(b)(1) |
| Window Sign | — | — | — | — | — | In/on windows | — | Sec. 14-17(b)(2), Sec. 14-8(d) |

## Prohibited signs in Doraville

- Roof signs are prohibited throughout the City.
- Animated signs are prohibited throughout the City.
- Signs on public rights-of-way other than publicly owned or maintained signs are prohibited.
- Window signs which exceed thirty percent of the window area are prohibited.
- Signs which contain words, pictures, or statements which are obscene are prohibited.
- Signs which simulate an official traffic control or warning sign or hide from view any traffic or street sign, signal or public service sign are prohibited.
- Signs which emit or utilize in any manner any sound capable of being detected on any traveled road or highway by a person with normal hearing are prohibited.
- Signs which interfere with road or highway visibility or obstruct or otherwise interfere with the safe and orderly movement of traffic are prohibited.
- Signs erected by nailing, fastening or affixing the sign in any manner to any tree, post, curb, utility pole, or other structure except as set forth herein are prohibited.
- Signs which advertise any activity, service or product prohibited by the laws or regulations of the United States, the State of Georgia, or by the ordinances or resolutions of the City are prohibited.
- Flags other than official flags of a governmental entity, banners, pennants, balloons, or streamers, air- or gas-filled figures, or other devices requiring air, gas, wind or other natural means for operating or movement (a 'promotional sign') except for a period not to exceed fourteen days for the purpose of drawing attention to a particular event or activity are prohibited except as allowed under permit.
- "A" frame, "sandwich", sidewalk or curb-type signs are prohibited throughout the City.
- Portable displays or mobile signs, signs which are mounted on or painted upon, or otherwise attached to, automobiles, trucks, trailers or other vehicles for the purpose of transportation to and location on a site where an advertising message may be conveyed are prohibited.
- All LED signs are prohibited except for one window sign equal to or less than a total of four square feet in area per store or office front.
- The provisions of this section 14-8 shall not apply to signs displayed by the City.

## Signs exempt from permit in Doraville

- Signs erected by a public officer in the performance of his duties, including but not limited to: public notices, safety signs, danger signs, traffic and street signs, memorial plaques, and historical markers shall be exempt from the provisions of this chapter.
- Nonilluminated signs, having a sign area not in excess of two and one-half (2½) square feet, provided they are not located in the public right-of-way. (On commercial or industrial zoned parcels, up to four times a year for a period of ten days each, separated by at least thirty days. This exemption does not apply to portable signs.)
- Window signs installed for purposes of viewing from outside the premises, provided such signs do not exceed thirty percent of the available window space.
- Numerals displayed for purposes of identifying property location.
- Seasonal displays located outside of the public right-of-way and erected for a maximum period of thirty days no more than twice a year.
- Every parcel may display no more than two flags without obtaining a permit. Flagpoles in residential zoned districts shall not exceed twenty-five feet in height or the height of the primary structure, whichever is less. Flagpoles in commercial or industrial zoned districts shall not exceed sixty feet in height or the height of the primary structure, whichever is less. The dimensions of any flag shall be proportional as specified.
- Nonprofit organizations are exempt from the payment of the application fee and posting of a bond for a promotional sign permit.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A permit is required for any person to post, display, substantially change, or erect a sign in the City, except for signs specifically excluded from the provisions of the chapter.
- A separate permit shall be obtained for each sign at any particular location.
- Applications for freestanding pole or ground mounted signs must include an engineered, scale drawing certifying compliance with building codes, a site plan showing relevant details, and a list of all existing freestanding signs.
- All applications for any sign with any electronic component must include an electrical permit issued by the City.
- Applications for permanent signs at the office or location of a business or practitioner required to obtain an occupation tax certificate must include said business or practitioner's valid occupation tax certificate.
- A sign permit is required for all temporary 'signs-during-vacancy' signs, to be renewed annually.
- A plan for conversion and removal is required for conversion of static billboards to digital or electronic faces, which must be approved by the City Manager prior to issuance of permits.
- No new billboards designed as digital boards are permitted; only conversion of existing conforming locations with City-approved plan.
- Variances from the ordinance require an application to the City Council and a public hearing, but are limited to circumstances with unusual hardship and strict conditions.

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

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