# Sign Regulations in Fairburn, Georgia

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Fairburn, Georgia (GA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/georgia/fairburn
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-07
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/GA/Fairburn/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=PTIILADERERE_CH80ZO_ARTXIISIRE)

## At a glance

Fairburn, Georgia regulates 26 sign types across 13 zoning districts. Freestanding/Monument Sign (Subdivision)s in the Single-Family Residential, Low-Density, one acre (R-1); Single-Family Residential, Low to Medium, one-half acre (R-2); Single-Family Residential, Medium Density, one-third acre (R-3); Single-Family Residential, Medium Density, one-fourth acre (R-4); Residential Condominium/Town House, Medium Density, one acre (R-CT); Multi-Family Residential, Medium Density, 12 units per acre (RM-12); Multi-Family Residential, Medium Density, 36 units per acre (RM-36) zoning district are capped at 6 feet tall and 35 sq ft per face (double sided permitted), with a At least 15 feet from right-of-way setback (Sec. Sec. 80-431(c)(2)). Most commercial signs in Fairburn require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (13 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Agricultural (AG) | 4 | 6 feet | Two wall/building signs not to exceed a combined 150 sq ft or 10% of gross wall area, whichever is less | — |
| Single-Family Residential, Low-Density, one acre (R-1); Single-Family Residential, Low to Medium, one-half acre (R-2); Single-Family Residential, Medium Density, one-third acre (R-3); Single-Family Residential, Medium Density, one-fourth acre (R-4); Residential Condominium/Town House, Medium Density, one acre (R-CT); Multi-Family Residential, Medium Density, 12 units per acre (RM-12); Multi-Family Residential, Medium Density, 36 units per acre (RM-36) | 7 | 6 feet | 45 sq ft per side (double sided permitted) | — |
| Planned Development (PD) | 1 | — | — | — |
| Office and Institutional (O&I) | 4 | 6 feet | Two wall/building signs per building, not to exceed 150 sq ft total or 10% of gross wall area. | — |
| Downtown Mix-Use (DTMU) | 6 | Minimum 7 feet clearance above sidewalk; projects max 36 in | 50 sq ft per face for building lots; for planned centers, 100 sq ft per street frontage | — |
| Neighborhood Commercial (C-1) | 4 | 6 feet | Two per building, max 150 sq ft total | — |
| Highway Commercial (C-2) | 5 | 75 feet | Two per building, total 150 sq ft | — |
| Light Industrial (M-1); Heavy Industrial (M-2) | 5 | 75 feet | Two per building, total 150 sq ft | — |
| Parks and Open Space (P&O) | 1 | — | Use same regulations as underlying use--e.g., C-2, O&I, etc. | — |
| Railroads (RR) | 1 | — | — | — |
| Georgia Highway 74 Overlay (GA Hwy 74) | 1 | — | — | — |
| Georgia Highway 29 Overlay (US 29 or Highway 29 Overlay) | 1 | — | — | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 1 | — | — | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 13 zones)

### Single-Family Residential, Low-Density, one acre (R-1); Single-Family Residential, Low to Medium, one-half acre (R-2); Single-Family Residential, Medium Density, one-third acre (R-3); Single-Family Residential, Medium Density, one-fourth acre (R-4); Residential Condominium/Town House, Medium Density, one acre (R-CT); Multi-Family Residential, Medium Density, 12 units per acre (RM-12); Multi-Family Residential, Medium Density, 36 units per acre (RM-36)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Stake Sign (Residential) | 5 feet | Up to 5 sq ft | — | — | 2 per lot | Not within right-of-way. | — | Sec. 80-431(c)(1), 80-436(3) |
| Freestanding/Monument Sign (Subdivision) | 6 feet | 35 sq ft per face (double sided permitted) | — | At least 15 feet from right-of-way | 1 at subdivision entrance | At entrance to subdivision, on private property; not within 15 ft of public right-of-way. | — | Sec. 80-431(c)(2) |
| Changeable Copy Sign (Homeowner Assoc. at Subdivision Entrance) | — | 25 sq ft | — | — | 1 per subdivision entrance | Adjacent to subdivision entrance, within HOA common area; not interfering with streets/sidewalks. | — | Sec. 80-431(c)(3) |
| Temporary Freestanding Sign (During Subdivision Development) | — | 24 sq ft per face | — | At least 15 feet from right-of-way | 1 per subdivision | Within subdivision under development; not within 15 ft of right-of-way. | — | Sec. 80-431(c)(4) |
| Freestanding/Monument Sign (Multi-family/Condominium Complex Entrance) | 6 feet | 35 sq ft per face | — | At least 15 feet from right-of-way | 1 at complex entrance | At entrance to apartment/multi-family/condo complex; not within 15 ft of right-of-way. | — | Sec. 80-431(c)(6) |
| Freestanding Sign (Single Family Lot) | — | 24 sq ft per side | — | — | 1 per lot | On single family zoned lot | — | Sec. 80-431(c)(7) |
| Monument Sign (Non-residential use, residential zone) | 6 feet | 45 sq ft per side (double sided permitted) | — | — | 1 | On property with nonresidential use permitted in a residential zone. | — | Sec. 80-431(c)(8) |

### Downtown Mix-Use (DTMU)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign or Signboard Sign | — | Not to exceed 10% of wall area or 150 sq ft; one per wall | — | — | One per wall | Shall not cut across columns, cornices, windowsills, arches, or extend above roofline. Must complement historic architecture. | — | Sec. 80-431(b)(2), 80-431(b)(3)b, 80-431(b)(7), Sec. 80-89(m) |
| Monument Sign | 6 feet | 50 sq ft per face for building lots; for planned centers, 100 sq ft per street frontage | — | Not within 15 ft of right-of-way | One per frontage | Not within 15 ft of right-of-way | — | Sec. 80-431(b)(1), (3), 80-431(b)(7), Sec. 80-89(m) |
| Projecting/Hanging/Suspended Sign | Minimum 7 feet clearance above sidewalk; projects max 36 in | Max 6 sq ft, calculated as one sign if double sided | — | — | 1 per business street frontage | Must clear sidewalk by 7 ft; project no more than 36 in; only over sidewalk, not over driveways/alleys/parking | — | Sec. 80-431(b)(7), 80-89(m)(7) |
| Awning Sign | — | Up to 20% of awning field for lettering/symbols | — | — | — | On valance/drop flap of awning | — | Sec. 80-431(b)(7), 80-89(m)(6) |
| Sandwich Board (A-frame) Sign | 4 feet | 8 sq ft per face | — | — | 1 per entrance | On sidewalk in front of building/unit, within 20 ft of entrance. Must maintain 5' clear sidewalk for pedestrians. | — | Sec. 80-431(b)(7), 80-89(m)(8) |
| Window Sign | — | 25% of exposed window area | — | — | — | On window, visible to exterior | — | Sec. 80-431(b)(7), 80-89(m)(9) |

### Highway Commercial (C-2)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign (Monument or Freestanding) | 20 feet | 50 sq ft per frontage or up to 64 sq ft if combining two frontages; up to 2 double-sided 32 sq ft signs if >15 acres. | — | Min 15 ft from right-of-way; min 40 ft from other sign/structure/building | 1 per frontage | Within landscaped area, not within 15 ft of street right-of-way, not within 40 ft of other sign/structure/building. | — | Sec. 80-431(b)(1) |
| Wall/Building Sign | — | Two per building, total 150 sq ft | — | — | Up to 2 | On primary facade or per area calculation rule | — | Sec. 80-431(b)(2) |
| Planned Center/Shopping Center Monument/Freestanding | 20 feet | 100 sq ft per frontage | — | — | 1 per frontage | One per frontage | — | Sec. 80-431(b)(3)a |
| Stake Sign (Non-residential) | 5 feet | 5 sq ft | — | — | 1 | Not in right-of-way | — | Sec. 80-431(b)(6), 80-436(4) |
| Billboard (option for parcels fronting I-85) | 75 feet | Min 72 sq ft, max 672 sq ft | — | Min 500/1000/5000 ft spacing from other (electronic) billboards, etc. | See code for spacing | Along/facing interstate, max 150 ft set back from interstate right-of-way, not in fall zone of any structure. | — | Sec. 80-431(b)(4) |

## Prohibited signs in Fairburn

- Erecting, displaying, altering, replacing, or resetting any sign without first obtaining a permit unless specifically exempted.
- Any sign within 100 feet of the intersection of any state highway with any other state highway or major thoroughfare without approval from the city engineer.
- Signs are prohibited within the Railroad zoning district.
- Signs on public right-of-way or city property are prohibited, except exempt traffic control signs and devices.
- Signs that obstruct the sight of motorists or pedestrians, creating safety hazards, are prohibited.
- Signs that advertise or promote illegal activities are prohibited.
- Signs that are erected, located, or maintained in a manner that interferes with safe and free ingress or egress of any door, emergency exit, or fire escape are prohibited.
- Signs affixed to utility poles, trees, street markers, fence posts, curbs, sidewalks, hydrants, bridges, or other objects on public property are prohibited.
- Signs in excess of allowable illuminated levels, creating glare or excessive brightness that jeopardize safety, are prohibited.
- Obscene signs or advertising devices are prohibited.
- Specific sign devices are prohibited city-wide, including: air and gas filled devices (except as allowed in the Highway 29 overlay), animated signs, awning signs (except as allowed in the Highway 29 overlay), banners (unless as temporary signs), beacons, bench signs, neon or neon accents, feather flag signs, inflatable/tethered balloons (except as allowed in Highway 29 overlay), flashing/intermittent/blinking signs except authorized public safety and time/temperature signs, portable/mobile/trailer signs (except as allowed in Highway 29 overlay), roof signs/projecting signs above the roofline, sidewalk/sandwich/A-frame signs (except as allowed in Highway 29 overlay), spectacular signs (feather flag signs, streamers, pennants), swinging/projecting signs (except Highway 29 overlay), vehicle signs meeting certain conditions, non-professionally made signs.
- Billboards and electronic/digital billboards are restricted to parcels that meet specific standards (such as minimum street frontage, zoning, distance from residential, height limits, setback from highways, etc.), and prohibited elsewhere.
- Electronic/digital signs/message boards are prohibited in DTMU and Highway 29 overlay districts.
- No sign shall be placed to prevent its safety in traversing intersections or block sight lines as determined by the city engineer.
- No sign may be placed on any lot that is not a legal lot under zoning/subdivision regulations.
- All construction/maintenance of signs must conform to building and electrical codes and cannot use certain prohibited materials/installation methods.

## Signs exempt from permit in Fairburn

- Window signs as allowed by the ordinance.
- Flags (flagpoles are considered accessory structures as to location/site).
- Two stake signs per lot in residential zoning districts, as specified in the ordinance.
- One stake sign per lot in non-residential zoning districts, as specified in the ordinance.
- Any sign inside a building, not attached to a window or door, that is not legible from more than three feet beyond the lot line.
- Any public notice or warning required by a valid and applicable federal, state, or local law, regulation, or ordinance.
- Traffic control signs on private property, such as 'stop,' 'yield,' etc., which meet Georgia Department of Transportation standards.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A master signage plan is required before any building/unit in a planned center may be issued individual sign permits. The master plan must show consistency in lighting, colors, fonts, building materials, location in relation to primary building, and proportions (Sec. 80-431(b)(3)c).
- Traffic instructional signs require a sign plan that must be submitted to the city engineer for approval, together with master signage plans for planned centers, shopping centers, office/industrial complexes, or subdivisions (Sec. 80-431(a)(4)).
- Site plan review is required for small or large ground-mounted solar energy systems in residential or non-residential zoning districts prior to installation or modification; site plan must show property lines, features, layouts, systems, installer, zoning, and other items (Sec. 80-496(d)(1)).
- A sign permit is required for all signs except where specifically exempted; applicants must submit forms and supporting documentation for review (Sec. 80-430).
- Special event venue permits require a site plan showing all proposed signage, which must conform to Article XII sign regulations (Sec. 80-500 and 80-501(f)).
- Landscape plans are required in some zoning districts and must identify all proposed and existing signs as part of site design.

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

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