# Sign Regulations in Douglas, Georgia

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Douglas, Georgia (GA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/georgia/douglas
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-07
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/GA/Douglas/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=SPBCOLAUSLADE_CH111UNLADECO_ARTXSI)

## At a glance

Douglas, Georgia regulates 18 sign types across 9 zoning districts. Billboards in the General Commercial District (G-C), Gateway District (G-W), Wholesale/Light Industrial District (M-1), Industrial District (M-2) zoning district are capped at 20 ft. tall, 100 sq. ft. per sign face (max 2 faces), and 20 ft. wide, with a 20 ft. from the road right-of-way setback (Sec. Sec. 111-375 Table 111-375; 111-371(e)). Most commercial signs in Douglas require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (9 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Agricultural District (A-G) | 3 | 6 ft. | 32 sq. ft. | — |
| Residential Single-Family District (R-15), Residential Single-Family District (R-12), Residential Mixed Family District (R-M), Residential Infill District (R-I) | 3 | 6 ft. | 32 sq. ft. | — |
| Residential/Professional District (R-P) | 5 | 10 ft. | 24 sq. ft. | — |
| Neighborhood Commercial District (N-C), Town Center Commercial District (TC-C) | 5 | 10 ft. | 24 sq. ft. | — |
| General Commercial District (G-C), Gateway District (G-W), Wholesale/Light Industrial District (M-1), Industrial District (M-2) | 6 | 48 ft. | 600 sq. ft. | — |
| Planned Development District (P-D) | 1 | — | — | — |
| Historic Overlay District (HOD) | 1 | — | — | — |
| Manufactured Home Overlay District (MH-O) | 1 | — | — | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 5 | 7 ft. | 32 sq. ft. | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 9 zones)

### Residential/Professional District (R-P)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | — | 24 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per occupant | On building face | — | Sec. 111-375, Table 111-375; Sec. 111-369 |
| Projecting Sign | — | 4 sq. ft. per face | — | — | 1 per business | From building | — | Sec. 111-375, Table 111-375 |
| Under Canopy Sign | — | 4 sq. ft. per face | — | — | 1 per business | Under canopy | — | Sec. 111-375, Table 111-375 |
| Monument Sign | 10 ft. | 24 sq. ft. per face | — | 10 ft. from property line | 1 per road frontage | 10 ft. front yard setback | — | Sec. 111-375, Table 111-375 |
| Freestanding/Ground Sign | 10 ft. | 24 sq. ft. per face | — | 10 ft. from property line | 1 per road frontage | 10 ft. front yard setback | — | Sec. 111-375, Table 111-375 |

### Neighborhood Commercial District (N-C), Town Center Commercial District (TC-C)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | — | 24 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per occupant | On building face | — | Sec. 111-375, Table 111-375; Sec. 111-370, 111-371, 111-372, 111-373, 111-374, 111-369 |
| Projecting Sign | — | 0.5 sq. ft. per linear foot of building, max 4 sq. ft. per face | — | — | 1 per business | From building | — | Sec. 111-371(b); Sec. 111-375 Table 111-375 |
| Under Canopy Sign | — | 4 sq. ft. per face | — | — | 1 per business | Under canopy | — | Sec. 111-375 Table 111-375 |
| Monument Sign | 10 ft. | 24 sq. ft. per face | — | 10 ft. from property line | 1 per road frontage | 10 ft. front yard setback | — | Sec. 111-375 Table 111-375 |
| Freestanding/Ground Sign | 10 ft. | 24 sq. ft. per face | — | 10 ft. from property line | 1 per road frontage | 10 ft. front yard setback | — | Sec. 111-375 Table 111-375 |

### General Commercial District (G-C), Gateway District (G-W), Wholesale/Light Industrial District (M-1), Industrial District (M-2)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | — | 200 sq. ft. | — | — | 2 per occupant | On building face | — | Sec. 111-375 Table 111-375 |
| Projecting Sign | — | 16 sq. ft. per face | — | — | 1 per road frontage per occupant | From building | — | Sec. 111-375 Table 111-375 |
| Under Canopy Sign | — | 4 sq. ft. per face | — | — | 1 per road frontage per occupant | Under canopy | — | Sec. 111-375 Table 111-375 |
| Monument Sign | 20 ft. | 600 sq. ft. | — | 10 ft. from property line | 1 per road frontage | 10 ft. front yard setback | — | Sec. 111-375 Table 111-375 |
| Freestanding/Ground Sign | 48 ft. | 100 sq. ft. | — | 10 ft. from property line | 1 per road frontage | 10 ft. front yard setback | — | Sec. 111-375 Table 111-375 |
| Billboard | 20 ft. | 100 sq. ft. per sign face (max 2 faces) | 20 ft. | 20 ft. from the road right-of-way | 1,000 ft. separation in all directions and 300 ft. from residential zoning | 20 ft. from road right-of-way | — | Sec. 111-375 Table 111-375; 111-371(e) |

## Prohibited signs in Douglas

- It shall be unlawful for any person to post, display, change or erect a non-exempt sign or any structure that requires a permit, without first having obtained a permit. (Sec. 111-367)
- All signs not expressly allowed by these regulations are prohibited. (Sec. 111-367)
- Signs causing traffic confusion, including signs that obstruct free and clear vision or may interfere with, obstruct the view of, or be confused with any authorized traffic sign or signal, are prohibited. (Sec. 111-378(5))
- Vehicular signs (portable or trailer signs) that are placed on vehicles or trailers parked for the primary purpose of displaying the sign for advertising are prohibited. (Sec. 111-378(6))
- Private signs are prohibited in the public right-of-way. (Sec. 111-378(7))
- Signs attached to trees, shrubs, or plants are prohibited. (Sec. 111-378(8))
- Signs that involve or contain intermittent lighting, animation, motion, or rotation of any part of a sign or sign structure or display, except for government-required traffic devices, are prohibited. (Sec. 111-374(f))
- Signs that produce noise, sounds, smoke, vapor, particles, or odor are prohibited. (Sec. 111-374(g)-(h))
- Any sign not expressly permitted or provided for in the sign code is prohibited. (Sec. 111-378)
- It shall be unlawful to erect, use or maintain a sign or sign structure when it does not comply with the requirements of this chapter. (Sec. 111-379)
- All signs must be maintained in good structural condition at all times; abandoned or non-maintained signs must be removed or covered within 30 days of abandonment or relocation of business. (Sec. 111-379(4))

## Signs exempt from permit in Douglas

- Sidewalk signs not exceeding two square feet per face for uses in the historic district and downtown development district, subject to restrictions on location, removal when not in use, approval by officials, and payment of fines for nonconformance. (Sec. 111-377(1))
- Automated teller machine (ATM) panels. (Sec. 111-377(2))
- Directional signs with a maximum height of five feet and six square feet area. (Sec. 111-377(3))
- Up to one United States national and two additional flags per parcel, with pole height and flag size restrictions. (Sec. 111-377(4))
- Hours of operation signs no larger than one square foot. (Sec. 111-377(5))
- Traffic, municipal, legal, or emergency signs, and temporary non-advertising emergency signs as approved by police. (Sec. 111-377(6))
- Residential and professional nameplates, one per building, maximum area two square feet. (Sec. 111-377(7))
- Real estate signs, one per parcel/establishment/dwelling, non-illuminated and removed within ten days of transaction completion. (Sec. 111-377(8))
- Temporary signs denoting architect, engineer, contractor, or agency on premises of active construction, up to 16 square feet. (Sec. 111-377(9))
- Tenant panels. (Sec. 111-377(10))
- Temporary political signs, provided they are removed within ten days after the election. (Sec. 111-377(11))
- Bulletin boards and directories for public, nonprofit or religious facilities, not exceeding 12 square feet and attached to the building. (Sec. 111-377(12))
- Memorial signs or tablets. (Sec. 111-377(13))
- Signs not visible from the street (e.g., inside building or backyard). (Sec. 111-377(14))
- Signs erected by the city on public rights-of-way. (Sec. 111-377(15))
- Seasonal displays or decorations not advertising a product, service or establishment. (Sec. 111-377(16))
- Garage sale signs. (Sec. 111-377(17))
- Non-illuminated religious emblems. (Sec. 111-377(18))

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A permit is required for all non-exempt signs or sign structures. Permit applications require submittal of detailed drawings, site plan/sketch, and must comply with code standards. (Sec. 111-367, 111-369, 111-486(d)(9))
- Signs in excess of ten feet in height require a drawing signed and sealed by a state registered engineer. (Sec. 111-369)
- Departmental review (community development director) is required for compliance with standards before a permit is issued. (Sec. 111-369(a))
- Building and development plans (minor and major) must include blueprint or drawings of regulated signs, showing specifications, location, and compliance with setback and area requirements. (Sec. 111-486(d)(9))
- Planned Developments (PDs), Special Districts (e.g., Gateway, Town Center), or major developments may impose additional or more specific sign plan/design requirements, including sign type, size, location, materials, color, compatibility, and review/approval by design review committee or city officials. (Sec. 111-486(e), Article X, Sec. 111-371, and special district codes)
- Any amendments to development plans that alter signage require review and approval, which may include review by a design review committee or, for variances or major changes, additional public hearing(s). (Sec. 111-486(e), Article XIII Table 111-505)
- For Historic Overlay Districts (HOD) and Local Historic Districts, a certificate of appropriateness/design review is required for signs affecting exterior architectural features, in addition to compliance with Article X. (Sec. 111-105, 111-106, 111-486(d)(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 9 zoning districts in Douglas — every sign type, every field — are available with a free PermitPal account: https://app.permitpal.io/?address=Douglas+GA&override=true&utm_source=landing&utm_medium=city-page&utm_campaign=city-douglas

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