# Sign Regulations in Fitzgerald, Georgia

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Fitzgerald, Georgia (GA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/georgia/fitzgerald
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-08
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/GA/Fitzgerald/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=COOR_CH16LITABURE_ARTVIIPESO_S16-257POSI)

## At a glance

Fitzgerald, Georgia regulates 11 sign types across 6 zoning districts. Freestanding Signs in the R-20 Single-Family Residential (R-20), R-15 Single-Family Residential (R-15), R-9 Single-Family Residential (R-9), R-6 Residential (R-6), R-6-M Residential (R-6-M), MHP Mobile Home Park (MHP), M-R Multiple Residential (M-R), Tiny house village (THV) zoning district are capped at 6 ft tall and 32 sq ft, with a At least 10 ft from any right-of-way or property line setback (Sec. Section 10-5(a)(1),(6)-(9) and 10-7). Most commercial signs in Fitzgerald require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (6 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| R-20 Single-Family Residential (R-20), R-15 Single-Family Residential (R-15), R-9 Single-Family Residential (R-9), R-6 Residential (R-6), R-6-M Residential (R-6-M), MHP Mobile Home Park (MHP), M-R Multiple Residential (M-R), Tiny house village (THV) | 5 | 6 ft | 32 sq ft | — |
| P Professional (P) | 5 | 32 ft | Not specified for Professional zone; likely follows Neighborhood Commercial (NC) requirements: 200 sq ft, 32 ft height | — |
| N-C Neighborhood Commercial (N-C), C-C Community Commercial (C-C) | 5 | 32 ft | 200 sq ft | — |
| G-B General Business (G-B), WLI Wholesale-Light Industrial (WLI), H-I Heavy Industrial (H-I) | 6 | 32 ft | 400 sq ft | — |
| D-C Downtown Commercial (D-C) | 5 | — | 50 sq ft per lot frontage (except as governed by preservation ordinance) | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 1 | — | 12 sq ft | — |

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

### R-20 Single-Family Residential (R-20), R-15 Single-Family Residential (R-15), R-9 Single-Family Residential (R-9), R-6 Residential (R-6), R-6-M Residential (R-6-M), MHP Mobile Home Park (MHP), M-R Multiple Residential (M-R), Tiny house village (THV)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign | 6 ft | 32 sq ft | — | At least 10 ft from any right-of-way or property line | One (1) per property | Must be at least 10 ft from any right-of-way or property line | — | Section 10-5(a)(1),(6)-(9) and 10-7 |
| Building Sign (Wall Sign) | — | Not specified in residential zones; see Home Occupation option below for signage associated with home occupations. | — | — | — | On principal building or accessory structures as allowed | — | 10-2.1(2), 10-3, 10-7 |
| Point of Business Sign (Home Occupation) | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | One (1) per home occupation | Attached to principal building | — | Section 9-1.4 |
| Bulletin Board / Identification Sign | — | Not specified | — | — | — | — | — | Section 5-115, Section 10-7 |
| Signs Not Requiring a Permit | — | 12 sq ft | — | At least 10 ft from any right-of-way or property line | — | At least 10 ft from any right-of-way or property line | — | Section 10-4(f)-(i), 10-2.3(a) |

### P Professional (P)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign | 32 ft | Not specified for Professional zone; likely follows Neighborhood Commercial (NC) requirements: 200 sq ft, 32 ft height | — | At least 10 ft from any right-of-way or property line | One (1) per property | Minimum 10 ft from any right-of-way or property line | — | Section 5-113, Section 10-5(a)(3),(6)-(9), 10-7 |
| Building Sign (Wall Sign) | — | Not specified separately in code for P; by default, should use wall sign regulations established for NC/CC: 1 sq ft/1 linear ft of wall, if more applicable. | — | — | — | On principal building or accessory structures as allowed | — | Section 10-5(b)(2), 10-7 |
| Advertising Incidental Use Sign | — | Not specified for P zone; subject to 12 sq ft if falling under 10-4, otherwise as per general rules | — | — | — | On property where activity occurs | — | Section 5-113, Section 10-7, 10-4 |
| Point of Business Sign / Identification Sign / Bulletin Board | — | Not to exceed 12 sq ft combined | — | — | — | — | — | Section 5-115 |
| Signs Not Requiring a Permit | — | 12 sq ft | — | At least 10 ft from any right-of-way or property line | — | At least 10 ft from any right-of-way or property line | — | Section 10-4(f)-(i), 10-2.3(a) |

### G-B General Business (G-B), WLI Wholesale-Light Industrial (WLI), H-I Heavy Industrial (H-I)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign | 32 ft | 400 sq ft | — | At least 10 ft from any right-of-way or property line | 1 per property | At least 10 ft from any right-of-way or property line | — | 10-5(a)(2),(6)-(9), 10-7 |
| Building Sign (Wall Sign) | — | — | — | — | — | On building as permitted | — | 10-5(b)(3), 10-7 |
| Advertising Incidental Use Sign | — | — | — | — | — | On property where activity occurs | — | Section 5-113, 10-7 |
| Advertising Separate Use Sign (Billboard) | 32 ft | 400 sq ft | — | District setback; plus 100 ft from specified uses | — | As allowed by district. Setback of at least district setback. Must be at least 100 ft away from specified uses. | — | Section 5-114, 10-5(a)(2), 10-2.3(b)(2), 10-7 |
| Identification Sign / Bulletin Board | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Section 5-115, 10-7 |
| Signs Not Requiring a Permit | — | 12 sq ft | — | At least 10 ft from any right-of-way or property line | — | At least 10 ft from any right-of-way or property line | — | Section 10-4(f)-(i), 10-2.3(a) |

## Prohibited signs in Fitzgerald

- No sign shall be erected, constructed, or maintained except in accordance with the provisions of Section 10 of the ordinance; only signs listed in Section 10 are allowed.
- No sign shall be erected or maintained that obstructs sight distance along a public right-of-way.
- No sign shall be erected or maintained that would tend by its location, color, or nature to be confused with or obstruct the view of traffic signs or signals.
- No sign shall be erected or maintained that uses admonitions such as 'stop', 'go', 'slow', 'danger', etc., which might be confused with traffic signals.
- No sign shall be erected or maintained that features potentially distracting elements, including, but not limited to, noise, flashing lights, special effects, moving messages, beacons, flapping banners, or other distracting features.
- No electronic message board or other automated copy sign located in or on property zoned residential (R-20, R-15, R-9, R-6, R-6-M) or adjacent to such property shall be operational between 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m.
- No sign shall be attached to, in contact with, or painted on any street, rock, or other natural object.
- No sign shall be located on any public right-of-way, public building, or other public property/space, except for awning, canopy, or projecting signs in areas zoned downtown commercial (D-C).
- Illumination devices such as flood or spot lights for signs shall not cast rays into neighboring dwellings or approaching vehicles.
- The following signs are prohibited: portable signs; animated signs; derelict signs; pennant and/or streamer; paper, cardboard, or plastic signage attached to commercial sign poles, canopy supports, light poles, or fences by non-original means; graffiti signs; and any other sign prohibited in Section 10-2.1.
- Any nonconforming sign must be removed within one year from adoption of the ordinance.
- Freestanding signs are not allowed in areas zoned downtown commercial (D-C), except for those grandfathered in.
- No off-premises temporary commercial signs are allowed.
- No more than one freestanding sign per property, not including traffic control signs.
- No sign (except those exempt in Section 10-4) shall be erected, hung, placed, or structurally altered without a permit from the zoning administrator.

## Signs exempt from permit in Fitzgerald

- Signs to regulate traffic.
- Signs required to be posted by law.
- Warning signs and no trespassing signs.
- Signs established by governmental agencies.
- Signs indicating bus stops, taxi stands, and similar transportation.
- Signs not exceeding twelve (12) square feet in area advertising specific property for sale, lease, rent, or development, on private property.
- Temporary real estate signs less than twelve (12) square feet in area advertising specific property for sale, lease, rent, or development, on private property.
- Any sign not exceeding twelve (12) square feet in area other than advertising separate use signs or signs requiring electrical wiring.
- Temporary signs on private land involved in campaigns of religious, charitable, civic, fraternal, political, and similar organizations.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- No sign except those listed as exempt in Section 10-4 shall be erected, hung, or placed or structurally altered without a sign permit from the zoning administrator.
- Sign permit applications require submission of plans showing area, size, character, illumination method, and exact location; for projecting signs, also method of fastening, vertical and horizontal distances.
- The zoning administrator may request any additional information deemed necessary with sign applications.
- The zoning administrator shall not issue a local sign permit for signage subject to Georgia Department of Transportation review and approval without documentary evidence of such approval.
- A building permit or sign permit must be issued in advance of construction, erection, moving, demolition, or alteration of any sign.
- All applications for building permits, including signs (except single-family residential, duplexes, and triplexes), must be accompanied by two site plans drawn to scale showing required information for determining ordinance compliance.
- Any appeal, request for variance, or special exception (including possibly relating to signs) must go through the process set out in Section 12, including public hearing and referral to the planning commission.

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

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