Sign Regulations in Duluth, Georgia
Duluth, Georgia has specific sign regulations covering 43 sign types across 10 zoning districts. Regulated sign types include All Signs (general dimensional computation), All Illuminated Signs (general), Electronic Changeable Copy Sign (general standards). Height restrictions apply. Permits are required for most commercial signs. Use PermitPal to get instant access to the complete regulations.
Data last verified: November 26, 2025
Sign Regulation Overview for Duluth, Georgia
Sample Sign Requirements in Duluth
| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Setback |
|---|---|---|---|
| All Signs – Visibility Clearance Area | Max 3 ft within 30 ft visibility triangle at intersections and driveways. | — | No sign >3 ft high within 30 ft of an intersection of a street and street/driveway; principal freestanding signs must be ≥10 ft from driveway edge. |
| Temporary Sign (general) | Single‑family/townhouse/manufactured home lot: 5 ft; subdivision/condo under construction: 8 ft; multifamily, MHP or nonresidential property: 8 ft. | Single‑family/townhouse/manufactured home lot: 6 sq ft; subdivision/condo under construction: 32 sq ft; multifamily, manufactured home park or nonresidential property: 32 sq ft per sign. | 10 ft from street ROW/curb/edge of pavement; 10 ft from side/rear lines and driveways; ≤3 ft high within 30 ft of intersections. |
| Incidental Sign (exempt) | — | Max 1.5 sq ft per incidental sign; aggregate max 9 sq ft per property for multifamily or nonresidential, unless larger aggregate is required by law or regulation. | Must meet setback and visibility requirements of the article. |
* Sample data shown. Actual requirements may vary by zone. Use PermitPal for complete, location-specific regulations.
PermitPal Coverage for DuluthFull Coverage
Sign Types Covered
43
- All Signs (general dimensional computation)
- All Illuminated Signs (general)
- Electronic Changeable Copy Sign (general standards)
- All Signs – Visibility Clearance Area
- +2 more types
Zoning Districts
10
Different zoning districts with specific sign regulations
Data Includes
- Permit requirements
- Height restrictions
- Illumination rules
Official Resources for Duluth
Other Cities in Georgia
Frequently Asked Questions
Sign height limits in Duluth vary by zone and sign type. Wall signs typically range from 25-40 feet, while monument signs are usually limited to 6-10 feet. Use PermitPal to get exact requirements for your property.
To get a sign permit in Duluth, submit an application to the local building or planning department with sign dimensions, location, and design specifications. Our data confirms permits are required for most commercial signs. Processing typically takes 1-4 weeks. PermitPal helps you identify specific requirements and prepare complete applications.
In Duluth, regulated sign types include All Signs (general dimensional computation), All Illuminated Signs (general), Electronic Changeable Copy Sign (general standards), All Signs – Visibility Clearance Area, and 2 more types. Most commercial signs require permits. Temporary signs and certain small signs may be exempt. Use PermitPal for specific exemptions.
Sign setback requirements in Duluth vary by zone and sign type, typically ranging from 5-15 feet from property lines. Use PermitPal for specific setback requirements at your location.
Digital and LED signs in Duluth are regulated with specific requirements for brightness, animation, and message duration. Duluth has documented illumination rules in our database. Use PermitPal to see the exact requirements for electronic message centers.
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Duluth, Georgia Sign Rules at a Glance
Duluth, Georgia regulates 43 sign types across 10 zoning districts. A‑Frame / Sandwich Board Sign – Miscellaneous Freestanding (Nonresidential Use)s in the General Regulations For All Zones zoning district are capped at Max 3 ft. tall and Max 6 sq ft per sign face (A‑Frame)., with a Must still comply with general setbacks/visibility (§604.08) though not explicitly restated. setback (Sec. §608.01(b)(3); §603.03(r)). Most commercial signs in Duluth require a permit.
Detailed Sign Ordinance Requirements for Duluth, Georgia
Sign Rules by Zoning District in Duluth (10 zones)
| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| General Regulations For All Zones | 16 | Max 45 ft from undisturbed grade to top of highest attached component. | Max 600 sq ft; max one sign face. | — |
| Residential Townhouse (R-TH); Residential-Agricultural District (RA-200); Single-Family Residential District (R-100, R-75); Manufactured Housing District (MH); Historic Residential District (HRD) | 4 | Max 15 ft. | Max 50 sq ft per sign face. | — |
| Residential Multi-Family District (RM) (Residential Use Property within RM) | 5 | Max 15 ft. | Max 50 sq ft per sign face. | — |
| Neighborhood Business District (C-1); General Business District (C-2); Highway Commercial-Retail District (HC-R); Highway Commercial-Auto District (HC-A); Office-Institutional District (O-I); Central Business District (CBD); Light Industrial District (M-1); Heavy Industrial District (M-2); Research and Development District (RD); Planned Unit Development District (PUD, nonresidential portions); Office-Institutional/Business in RM or other zones treated as Nonresidential Uses | 8 | 15 ft for both 1 and 2 frontages. | Per frontage: up to 150 sq ft per sign face (subject to 1 sq ft/lf frontage). | — |
| Office-Neighborhood District (O-N) (Property Zoned O-N (Office-Neighborhood)) | 2 | 8 ft (for both 1 and 2 frontage cases). | Max 10 sq ft. | — |
| Central Business District (CBD); Downtown Duluth (Central Business District – CBD); Downtown Overlay District (DOD) when over CBD | 4 | Max 10 ft overall height of sign structure. | Collectively may cover up to 75% of total area of all windows and glass doors per façade. | — |
| All Other Nonresidential Properties (nonresidential zoning districts) | 1 | One frontage: 8 ft; Two frontages: 12 ft. | One frontage: 50 sq ft; Two frontages: 100 sq ft total (max one sign 64 sq ft). | — |
| Residential zoning districts (R-TH; RA-200; R-100; R-75; RM; MH; HRD) | 1 | — | — | — |
| Nonresidential zoning districts (C-1; C-2; HC-R; HC-A; O-I; O-N; CBD; M-1; M-2; RD; nonresidential PUD portions) | 1 | — | Non‑O‑N districts: window signs as principal building signs may cover up to 50% of total window and glass door area per façade. | — |
| Office or Industrial Park (subdivision) | 1 | Max 15 ft. | Max 50 sq ft per sign face. | — |
Zone-by-Zone Sign Requirements in Duluth(sample of 3 of 10 zones)
General Regulations For All Zones
| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Premium Details(Illumination, Size Formula, Permit Requirements, Additional Requirements — available with a free PermitPal account) | Ordinance Citation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| All Signs – Visibility Clearance Area | Max 3 ft within 30 ft visibility triangle at intersections and driveways. | — | — | No sign >3 ft high within 30 ft of an intersection of a street and street/driveway; principal freestanding signs must be ≥10 ft from driveway edge. | — | At intersections of public or private streets or driveways throughout all districts. | — | Unlock | §604.08; driveway placement diagram; §605.03(a)(5) |
| Temporary Sign (general) | Single‑family/townhouse/manufactured home lot: 5 ft; subdivision/condo under construction: 8 ft; multifamily, MHP or nonresidential property: 8 ft. | Single‑family/townhouse/manufactured home lot: 6 sq ft; subdivision/condo under construction: 32 sq ft; multifamily, manufactured home park or nonresidential property: 32 sq ft per sign. | — | 10 ft from street ROW/curb/edge of pavement; 10 ft from side/rear lines and driveways; ≤3 ft high within 30 ft of intersections. | — | Must be ≥10 ft from any street ROW line/back of curb/edge of pavement (whichever is farthest from street), and ≥10 ft from side or rear property lines and driveway pavement edge. Within 30 ft of a street or driveway intersection, height is limited to 3 ft. Not allowed within or over a public street ROW or private street easement. | — | Unlock | §609.01–§609.06; §603.02(d)-(e) |
| A‑Frame / Sandwich Board Sign – Miscellaneous Freestanding (Nonresidential Use) | Max 3 ft. | Max 6 sq ft per sign face (A‑Frame). | — | Must still comply with general setbacks/visibility (§604.08) though not explicitly restated. | Max 1 A‑Frame per nonresidential business under miscellaneous freestanding provision. | On nonresidential properties, within 6 ft of an entrance to the owner’s business. | — | Unlock | §608.01(b)(3); §603.03(r) |
| Miscellaneous Freestanding Sign – At Driveways | Max 3 ft. | Max 6 sq ft per sign. | — | Within 3 ft of driveway; still must respect Visibility Clearance Area height limits. | Max 2 per driveway. | Within the area between the street ROW line and the minimum building setback, and within 3 ft of driveways that provide access into or from the property. | — | Unlock | §608.01(a) |
| Miscellaneous Freestanding Sign – Interior to Site (Menu boards, parking, etc.) | 32 sq ft sign(s): up to 8 ft; other misc signs: ≤3 ft (except those required by law to be higher, e.g., handicap parking). | Per principal building or drive‑through window: 1 sign up to 32 sq ft; other interior misc freestanding: ≤6 sq ft each. | — | Must be beyond minimum building setback line. | 1 per principal building or per drive‑through window for the 32 sq ft sign; additional small signs allowed without a stated numeric cap if they meet size/height limits. | Farther from the street than the minimum building setback on multi‑family or nonresidential properties. | — | Unlock | §608.01(b)(1)-(2) |
| Project Entrance Sign – General Structure/Installations (all land uses) | Max 15 ft for all listed land uses. | Per Table 6‑C (mis‑labeled as 6‑D in text): project entrance signs: 50 sq ft per sign face for all listed land uses. | — | Must respect general setback and visibility‑clearance rules; no specific numeric entrance setback given beyond those general rules. | Single‑family subdivision: 1 single or dual installation per entrance; up to 1 sign per corner lot at entrance (2 signs per entrance). Multi‑family development: 1 single or dual installation per entrance; 2 signs at each entrance fronting on a separate street. Office/Industrial park subdivision: 1 single or dual installation per entrance; 1 sign per corner lot at entrance (2 signs per entrance). | At designated entrances from adjoining streets into residential subdivisions, multifamily developments, or nonresidential subdivisions (office or industrial parks). Signs must be architecturally treated monument structures or decorative walls. | — | Unlock | §606.01–§606.05; Table 6‑C (Project Entrance Signs—By Land Use); §607.01–§607.02; §606.04(a)(5) |
| Flag | Residential flagpoles: ≤40 ft. Any free‑standing flagpole taller than 20 ft requires building permit. | Residential property flags: ≤15 sq ft each. | — | — | Nonresidential: max 3 flags (3 flagpoles); residential: number not specified, but each flag is limited in area/height. | Mounted on free‑standing flagpoles or on poles projecting from buildings across all districts. | — | Unlock | §608.04; §610.01(b) |
| Billboard (Pole Sign ≥200 sq ft) – M‑2 Only | Max 45 ft from undisturbed grade to top of highest attached component. | Max 600 sq ft; max one sign face. | — | Within buildable area; must respect spacing from ROW and sensitive uses. | No explicit cap beyond spacing rules; practical limit based on distances. | Only on undeveloped property zoned M‑2; only in buildable area of lot. Must meet spacing and location standards relative to residences and other sensitive uses. | — | Unlock | §608.03(b)-(e); definition ‘Sign, Billboard’ |
Residential Multi-Family District (RM) (Residential Use Property within RM)
| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Premium Details(Illumination, Size Formula, Permit Requirements, Additional Requirements — available with a free PermitPal account) | Ordinance Citation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Principal Building Sign – Multi-Family Developments (RM) | — | 1 sq ft per housing unit; 4 sq ft per multi‑family building. | — | — | 1 per housing unit; 1 per multi‑family building. | On each housing unit and each multi‑family building within RM or any property zoned for multi‑family purposes. | — | Unlock | §605.02(b), (d); Table 6‑A (multi‑family developments). |
| Principal Freestanding Sign – Multi-Family Development (RM) | Not allowed (0). | Not allowed (0) as principal freestanding; only project entrance signs. | — | — | None as principal freestanding; project entrance signs governed by §606. | Within multi‑family developments; principal freestanding signs within the development are not permitted except as project entrance signs. | — | Unlock | Footnote ⁴ to Table 6‑A; §605.02(a), (d). |
| Project Entrance Sign – Multi-Family Development (RM) | Max 15 ft. | Max 50 sq ft per sign face. | — | Must comply with general visibility clearance and setback standards. | Per entrance fronting a separate street: 2 signs allowed; max one single or dual installation at each entrance. | At entrances from adjoining streets into multi‑family developments (apartments, condos, manufactured home parks, nursing homes) occupying a single common property, including in RM. | — | Unlock | §606.01, §606.03, §606.05; Table 6‑C; §607.01–§607.02. |
| Miscellaneous Freestanding and Building Signs – Multi-Family Property (RM) | As above. | Misc freestanding interior menu/wayfinding signs: up to 32 sq ft and 8 ft high, 1 per principal building or drive‑through (drive‑through rarely applicable to residential). Other interior misc freestanding: ≤6 sq ft and 3 ft high. Misc building signs: per general rule, aggregates per façade = greater of 1 sq ft per linear foot of tenant frontage or 10% façade; each sign ≤6 sq ft. | — | Driveway misc freestanding signs: within 3 ft of driveway and between ROW and minimum building setback; interior misc freestanding: beyond minimum building setback. | Driveway misc freestanding: max 2 per driveway; interior 32 sq ft signs: 1 per principal building or drive‑through window; number of other small misc signs not specified. | Within multi‑family developments, beyond minimum building setback (for non‑driveway misc freestanding), or on façades fronting a public street (for misc building signs). | — | Unlock | §608.01; §608.02; §604.05(c). |
| Temporary Sign – Multi-Family Development or Manufactured Home Park (RM/MH, Multifamily Use) | Max 8 ft. | Max 32 sq ft per sign. | — | 10‑ft setbacks and 3‑ft height within 30‑ft intersection triangle apply. | — | On multi‑family or manufactured home park properties. | — | Unlock | §609.03(c); §609.01–§609.05. |
Neighborhood Business District (C-1); General Business District (C-2); Highway Commercial-Retail District (HC-R); Highway Commercial-Auto District (HC-A); Office-Institutional District (O-I); Central Business District (CBD); Light Industrial District (M-1); Heavy Industrial District (M-2); Research and Development District (RD); Planned Unit Development District (PUD, nonresidential portions); Office-Institutional/Business in RM or other zones treated as Nonresidential Uses
| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Premium Details(Illumination, Size Formula, Permit Requirements, Additional Requirements — available with a free PermitPal account) | Ordinance Citation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Principal Freestanding Monument/Hybrid Monument Sign – Nonresidential Use (One or Two Tenants) – All Other Nonresidential Properties (non‑O-N) | One frontage: 8 ft; two frontages: 12 ft. | One street frontage: 50 sq ft per sign face. Two street frontages: total 100 sq ft for both signs, with no more than one sign at 64 sq ft. | — | Min setback from street ROW: 0 ft (subject to Visibility Clearance Area and general height limits); ≥10 ft from driveway edge. | Max 1 principal freestanding sign per street frontage (for one or two tenants). | On nonresidential use property in C‑1, C‑2, HC‑R, HC‑A, O‑I, CBD, M‑1, M‑2, RD, and nonresidential portions of PUD, excluding O‑N which has its own column. | — | Unlock | §605.03(a)(1)-(6); Table 6‑B; §608.06(a)-(b); §607.01; §604.08. |
| Principal Freestanding Monument/Hybrid Monument Sign – Nonresidential Use (Three or More Tenants) – All Other Nonresidential Properties (non‑O-N) | 15 ft for both 1 and 2 frontages. | Per frontage: up to 150 sq ft per sign face (subject to 1 sq ft/lf frontage). | — | 0‑ft min from street ROW; ≥10 ft from driveway edges and within visibility rules. | 1 per street frontage. | Nonresidential use parcels with three or more tenants in these districts. | — | Unlock | Table 6‑B (All Other Nonresidential Properties – Three or More Tenants); §605.03(a); §608.06. |
| Principal Building Sign – Nonresidential (One or Two Tenants) – All Other Nonresidential Properties (non‑O-N) | — | As above per façade and tenant. | — | — | 1 principal building sign per 300 linear ft of tenant frontage per façade. | On façades of principal buildings per tenant frontage, in all nonresidential zoning districts except O‑N (which has separate limits). | — | Unlock | Table 6‑B (Principal Building Signs – All Other Nonresidential Properties, One or Two Tenants); §605.03(b)(1)-(2); §608.06(a). |
| Principal Building Sign – Nonresidential (Three or More Tenants) – All Other Nonresidential Properties (non‑O-N) | — | As above. | — | — | 1 per tenant frontage per façade. | For each tenant frontage per façade in multi‑tenant centers (3+ tenants) in these districts. | — | Unlock | Table 6‑B (Principal Building Signs – All Other Nonresidential Properties, Three or More Tenants); §605.03(b). |
| Miscellaneous Freestanding and Building Signs – Nonresidential Uses (all nonresidential districts including C-1, C-2, HC-R, HC-A, O-I, CBD, M-1, M-2, RD, nonresidential PUD) | Driveway misc: 3 ft; interior large misc: 8 ft; interior small misc: 3 ft. | Driveway misc freestanding: 6 sq ft each; interior large misc freestanding: 32 sq ft each; interior small misc freestanding: 6 sq ft each; misc building: per tenant, aggregate = max{1 sq ft/lf of tenant frontage; 10% of façade}; each misc building sign ≤6 sq ft. | — | Driveway misc must be within 3 ft of driveway and between ROW and minimum setback; other misc must be beyond minimum building setback. | Driveway misc: max 2 per driveway; interior large misc: 1 per principal building or drive‑through window. | As described in General section; these apply to nonresidential properties in all such zones. | — | Unlock | §608.01; §608.02. |
| Convenience Store/Service Station Pump Canopy and Related Signs (Nonresidential) | — | One sign per freestanding or building canopy face per public street frontage, max 16 sq ft each. Spreader bars under canopy: max 2 signs per bar, 4 sq ft per sign; total for all spreader bar signs ≤24 sq ft. On‑site separate drive‑through car wash building: 1 wall sign ≤8 sq ft. | — | — | Canopy: 1 per canopy face per public street frontage; spreader bars: 2 signs per bar; car wash: 1 wall sign per separate car wash building. | On canopy faces, spreader bars under pump islands, and separate car wash buildings on convenience store/service station sites in any nonresidential district. | — | Unlock | §608.02(d). |
| Service Entrance Sign – Nonresidential Tenants | — | Max 6 sq ft combined area at a single service entrance. | — | — | At least 1 per service entrance; combined area ≤6 sq ft. | Directly on or adjacent to rear service entrance doors of nonresidential tenant spaces. | — | Unlock | §608.02(e). |
| Temporary Signs – Multi-Family, Manufactured Home Park or Nonresidential Use Property (All Nonresidential Districts) | Max 8 ft. | Max 32 sq ft per sign. | — | As in general temporary sign section. | — | On multi‑family, manufactured home park, or nonresidential parcels across all districts. | — | Unlock | §609.03(c); §609.06. |
PermitPal covers all 10 zoning districts in Duluth — full sign requirements for every zone, plus illumination rules, size formulas, and permit requirements for every sign type — with a free account.
See all 10 zones for Duluth — start freeProhibited Signs in Duluth
- Privately owned signs erected on or above public property, including within or projecting over public rights-of-way, except by the responsible governmental entity or a public utility/contractor working under government contract or franchise.
- Any sign placed or erected on a property without the permission of the property owner.
- Roof signs, as defined in the Development Code.
- Vehicular signs placed or parked so as to be viewed or intended to be viewed from a public right-of-way, except when: (1) actively used to transport persons, goods, or services in the normal course of business; (2) parked in an inconspicuous area; or (3) actively used for storage of construction materials on the same lot as a permitted construction project while construction is underway.
- Animated signs of any type, except for electronic changeable copy signs, banners, and flags as may be specifically allowed elsewhere in the Article.
- Signs that pose a threat to public safety, including: (1) signs containing or imitating official traffic signs or signals or using words such as “stop,” “go,” “danger,” “caution,” or “warning,” except construction/barricade signs or where part of a permanent business name; (2) signs displaying intermittent or blinking lights resembling traffic signal or emergency vehicle lights; (3) signs located so as to obscure or interfere with any official traffic sign, signal, or device; (4) signs that obscure or interfere with a motorist’s view of approaching, merging, or intersecting traffic; (5) signs that obstruct fire escapes, means of ingress/egress/ventilation, or prevent free passage on roofs, including any signs attached to fire escapes.
- Handwritten, hand painted, handmade, or other unprofessionally fabricated signs, except professionally hand-painted signs created by a person engaged in the paid occupation of sign painting and reproducing standard fonts.
- Signs located on courtesy benches, waste containers, trashcans and similar devices.
- Pole signs and column signs, except historic pole signs allowed in the CBD under Section 605.04(b)(1).
- Signs that display obscene, indecent, or immoral words, characters, or illustrations as defined by the City of Duluth Code of Ordinances or O.C.G.A. §16‑12‑80(b), or that display nudity as defined in O.C.G.A. §16‑12‑81(b)(1).
- Signs that advertise or encourage illegal activity under local, state, or federal law.
- Unshielded illuminated devices associated with signs that produce glare or create a hazard or nuisance to motorists or occupants of adjacent properties.
- Signs that emit or use any sound detectable from a traveled road or highway by a person with normal hearing, or that emit smoke, vapor, particles, or odor.
- Signs with lighting or control mechanisms that cause radio, television, or other communications interference.
- Motion picture mechanisms or video displays used so that moving or animated images are visible from a public right-of-way or sidewalk.
- Signs containing, including, or illuminated by flashing, intermittent, or moving lights, or scrolling lights, or utilizing changes in lighting intensity (except as specifically allowed for changeable copy under other sections).
- Any illumination of a sign that interferes with the effectiveness of, or obscures, an official traffic sign, device, or signal.
- Any illumination of a sign that is not effectively shielded to prevent beams or rays of light from being directed at any portion of the traveled way of a street where such beams are of such intensity or brilliance as to cause glare, impair driver vision, or otherwise interfere with motor vehicle operation.
- Placement of any red, green, or yellow illuminated sign within 300 feet of a traffic light.
- Use of search lights or spotlights, except for special business promotions or new business grand openings that have received a Temporary Sign Permit and Gwinnett County Airport Authority consent and that do not create a nuisance or interfere with traffic and comply with FAA regulations.
- Banners, except as specifically allowed elsewhere in the Article (including temporary banners under Section 609.06).
- Portable signs, except A‑frame signs as allowed for nonresidential uses or as allowed for temporary signage under Section 609.06.
- Festoons (strings of lights or decorative wind‑moved devices) except as allowed for temporary signage under Section 609.06.
- Inflatable signs, including air or gas filled balloons or other inflatable devices, except as exempted as seasonal/holiday decorations under Section 603.02(e) or as allowed for temporary signage under Section 609.06.
- Any sign erected, replaced, reconstructed, repaired, altered, relocated, or maintained that does not conform to the International Building Code (Appendix H), National Electrical Code Article 600, and other applicable City codes, where the most stringent requirement controls.
- Any sign located within 3 feet horizontally or vertically of an overhead utility line or guy wire.
- Illumination of non-permanent (temporary) signs; temporary signs are prohibited from being illuminated.
- Electronic or manual changeable copy used on temporary signs (changeable copy is prohibited on temporary signs).
- Any sign (temporary or permanent) placed within or over a public street right-of-way or private street easement, unless specifically authorized for certain public entities as described for public property.
- Any sign more than 3 feet in height erected within 30 feet of an intersection with a public or private street, private drive, or other access point (Visibility Clearance Area), or otherwise interfering with traffic movement and visibility.
- Suspended signs with less than 8 feet of vertical clearance to grade over areas of pedestrian movement, or mounted over rights-of-way without required liability insurance.
- Flags on residential properties exceeding 15 square feet in area or higher than 40 feet on a free-standing pole; flagpoles taller than 20 feet without a building permit.
- Inflatable signs used outside the specific, limited circumstances for temporary permits (parcels greater than 2.5 acres, limited times, etc.).
- Temporary signs attached to vehicles, other movable/animated/portable devices, or to persons.
- Temporary signs affixed to trees, utility poles, or official traffic signs or structures.
- Temporary window coverings not authorized by Section 605 for longer than allowed during interior construction (beyond 15 days after Certificate of Occupancy or 60 days after discontinuance of construction).
Exempt Signs in Duluth
- Property address numbers required by the City are exempt from sign permitting requirements, provided they meet setback requirements and are not located in any public right-of-way or Visibility Clearance Area.
- Incidental signs associated with a multi-family or nonresidential use are exempt from sign permitting requirements if: (1) they are not illuminated; and (2) the aggregate area of all such signs on a property does not exceed 9 square feet, unless a larger aggregate area is required by law or government regulation. These must still meet setback and location limits (not in right-of-way or Visibility Clearance Area).
- Displays or decorations related to a holiday or seasonal event placed on a property by or with the owner’s permission are exempt from sign permitting requirements, subject to setback and right-of-way/visibility restrictions.
- Signs placed on property by or with the property owner’s permission with a maximum total sign face area not exceeding 16 square feet per lot and a maximum height of 4 feet per sign are exempt from sign permitting requirements, provided they comply with setback, right-of-way, and Visibility Clearance Area rules.
- On-site signs advertising a property for sale or lease with a total maximum area of 16 square feet per lot and a maximum height of 4 feet per sign are exempt from sign permitting requirements, provided they comply with setback, right-of-way, and Visibility Clearance Area rules.
- Window displays of goods available on a site are not considered signs and are exempt from all sign regulations.
- A building design or color scheme associated with a particular establishment or organization that conveys no message is not considered a sign and is exempt from sign regulations.
- Miscellaneous freestanding signs allowed under Section 608.01 do not require a sign permit unless they require a building or electrical permit, though they must comply with all applicable standards.
- Miscellaneous building signs allowed under Section 608.02 do not require a sign permit unless they require a building or electrical permit, though they must comply with all applicable standards.
- Flags that meet the standards of Section 608.04 do not require a sign permit for the flag itself, although a free-standing flagpole requires a building permit.
- Incidental signs at the entrance drive of residences, estates, farms, ranches, and plantations that do not exceed 1.5 square feet in area are exempt from sign permitting requirements.
- Temporary signs that qualify under the exemptions of Section 603.02 (such as certain small or for-sale signs) may be displayed without a temporary sign permit, provided all other conditions of the exemption are met.
Sign Plan & Submission Notes for Duluth
- A Master Sign Plan is expressly recognized and governed by Section 610.05; Master Sign Plans may be required by the Article where referenced or may be submitted voluntarily for pre-approval of sign permits.
- Master Sign Plans must show all proposed signs on a lot or within a development for which individual sign permits will be required: locations relative to buildings, other signs, driveways, parking, property and right-of-way lines, distances to the nearest freestanding sign and nearest residentially zoned parcel, and any existing signs to remain.
- Master Sign Plans must include scaled specifications (size of sign structures and faces, overall height, sight-distance diagram, protective devices, construction/attachment methods) and, where a building permit is required, engineered structural drawings meeting Building Code requirements.
- Master Sign Plans must illustrate design elements (construction materials, dimensions, letter style, colors, sign structures, faces, backgrounds) and include landscaping details (extent of landscaped area, material locations, and plant species).
- Signs that are otherwise exempt under the Article (e.g., certain incidental or exempt signs) do not need to be shown on a Master Sign Plan.
- A Master Sign Plan that fully complies with the Article may be approved administratively by the Planning and Development Director.
- A Master Sign Plan proposing signs that exceed or modify one or more requirements of the Article may only be approved by the Planning Commission as a Special Exception-type action; such plans are placed on the Planning Commission agenda after staff review.
- Upon Planning Commission or Director approval, the Master Sign Plan supersedes conflicting sign regulations of the Article for the property and is not affected by later amendments to the sign regulations.
- If a Master Sign Plan is denied by the Planning and Development Director or the Planning Commission, the applicant may appeal to the Zoning Board of Appeals under the Appeals Article.
- An approved Master Sign Plan must be recorded by the owner with the Clerk of Superior Court, and a recorded copy must be filed with the Planning and Development Director before any sign permit is issued for the development or premises.
- The recorded Master Sign Plan must be referenced and included in any sale, lease, or transfer of occupancy rights for any part of the development or premises, and all tenants and occupants must comply with it.
- The review time for a permit application for a sign included in and consistent with an approved Master Sign Plan is shortened to 5 days, versus 30 days for other permanent signs and 10 days for temporary signs; if no decision is made within the applicable period, the permit is deemed approved.
- Any permanent sign that is not exempt under Section 603.02 or 610.01(b) requires a sign permit before erection, relocation, attachment to a building/structure, or alteration/enlargement; this applies whether or not a Master Sign Plan exists.
- Any temporary sign that is not exempt under Section 603.02 or 610.01(b) requires a temporary sign permit under Section 610.02 before being erected or attached, regardless of any Master Sign Plan.
- Special Exceptions (variances up to roughly 10% from regulations, except number of days for temporary signs) may be granted administratively by the Planning and Development Director under Section 612.02, and larger or more substantive exceptions must be processed as Special Exception appeals under the Appeals Article, which can affect sign plans or specific sign proposals.
Source: other municipal code