# Sign Regulations in Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia (GA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/georgia/fort-oglethorpe
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-08
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/ga/fort_oglethorpe/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=PTIICO_APXAUNDECO_CH5SIRE)

## At a glance

Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia regulates 28 sign types across 4 zoning districts. Stanchion Sign (Parcel > 3 acres)s in the Nonresidential zoning districts, Commercial zoning districts, Industrial zoning districts zoning district are capped at 24 ft tall and 150 sq ft, with a Not within 30 ft of intersection of street ROW lines extended setback (Sec. Sec. 7.1(a), 7.2(d)(1), 7.3). Most commercial signs in Fort Oglethorpe require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (4 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Residential zoning districts | 2 | 5 ft | 25 sq ft per sign | — |
| Historical district | 1 | 5 ft | 15 sq ft aggregate, 6 sq ft per sign | — |
| Nonresidential zoning districts, Commercial zoning districts, Industrial zoning districts | 7 | 40 ft | 300 sq ft per sign face | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 18 | 25 ft (res) or height of structure, 60 ft in commercial/industrial | Changeable portion cannot exceed 60% of sign face | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 4 zones)

### Residential zoning districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Any Sign Except Subdivision Entrance | 5 ft | 15 sq ft aggregate, 6 sq ft per sign | — | — | — | On parcels in residential districts | — | Sec. 6.1 (a)-(c) |
| Subdivision Entrance Monument Sign | 5 ft | 25 sq ft per sign | — | — | 1 per entrance | At each entrance of platted subdivisions of more than two parcels | — | Sec. 6.3 (a)-(b) |

### Nonresidential zoning districts, Commercial zoning districts, Industrial zoning districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Stanchion Sign (Parcel > 3 acres) | 24 ft | 150 sq ft | — | Not within 30 ft of intersection of street ROW lines extended | 1 per parcel per street frontage (for stanchion) | One per parcel per street frontage in commercial or industrial zoning | — | Sec. 7.1(a), 7.2(d)(1), 7.3 |
| Stanchion Sign (Parcel < 3 acres, ≥30,000 sq ft) | 24 ft | 90 sq ft | — | Not within 30 ft of intersection | 1 per parcel per street frontage (for stanchion) | One per parcel per street frontage in commercial or industrial zoning | — | Sec. 7.1(a), 7.2(d)(2), 7.3 |
| Stanchion Sign (Parcel < 30,000 sq ft) | 24 ft | 70 sq ft | — | Not within 30 ft of intersection | 1 per parcel per street frontage (for stanchion) | One per parcel per street frontage in commercial or industrial zoning | — | Sec. 7.1(a), 7.2(d)(3), 7.3 |
| Monument/Hybrid Monument Sign | 6 ft | 60 sq ft including structure | — | — | 1 per parcel per street frontage | One per parcel per street frontage in commercial or industrial zoning | — | Sec. 7.1(b), 7.2(e), 7.3 |
| Billboard | 40 ft | 300 sq ft per sign face | — | — | Minimum 1,000 ft separation from other billboards | On parcels in commercial or industrial districts, along state or federal highways, minimum 750 ft from residential or historical districts | — | Sec. 7.2(c) |
| Wall or Awning Sign | 10 ft | 300 sq ft or 10% of wall area (per wall), whichever is less | — | — | 1 per tenant per street facing wall | On property in commercial or industrial zoning districts on street facing walls | — | Sec. 7.2(f) |
| Aggregate Area - Freestanding Signs | — | 300 sq ft for parcel > 3 acres; 180 sq ft for 30,000-3 acres; 100 sq ft for <30,000 sq ft; does NOT include wall, window, or billboard signs | — | — | Unlimited provided aggregate is not exceeded | On parcels by size class; applies only to aggregate of all freestanding signs | — | Sec. 7.2(g) |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Flag | 25 ft (res) or height of structure, 60 ft in commercial/industrial | Hoist side may not exceed 50% of pole height | — | — | No more than 2 exempt | On parcel (flagpole or building mounted) | — | Sec. 3.2(c), 3.2(c)(1)-(4) |
| Miscellaneous Freestanding Sign (Permanent) (At Driveways) | 3 ft | 6 sq ft/sign | — | — | Max 2 per driveway | Within 3 ft of driveway providing access in/out | — | Sec. 8.1(a)(1) |
| Miscellaneous Freestanding Sign (Temporary) | 6 ft | 6 sq ft per side | — | — | 1 per parcel per street frontage | 1 per parcel per street frontage (placement per code) | — | Sec. 8.1(a)(2) |
| Miscellaneous Freestanding Sign (Beyond Setback, Multi-Family or Nonresidential, Principal Building or Drive-Through) | 8 ft | 32 sq ft | — | — | 1 per principal building or drive-through | Beyond minimum building setback | — | Sec. 8.1(b)(1) |
| Miscellaneous Freestanding Sign (Beyond Setback, Other) | 3 ft | 6 sq ft | — | — | — | Beyond minimum setback | — | Sec. 8.1(b)(2) |
| A-Frame (Sandwich Board) Sign (Nonresidential Use) | 3 ft | 6 sq ft | — | — | — | Within 6 feet of business entrance | — | Sec. 8.1(c) |
| Subtenant Wall Sign | — | 20 sq ft per sign | — | — | One per subtenant | One per subtenant; on nonresidential parcel | — | Sec. 8.2(b) |
| Sidewalk Pedestrian Sign (Planned Center Tenant) | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | One per tenant | Post-mounted in sidewalk planter; in lieu of under-canopy sign | — | Sec. 8.2(c) |

## Prohibited signs in Fort Oglethorpe

- All signs, other than legal non-conforming signs, which are not in compliance with this article are prohibited and illegal and shall not be erected or maintained.
- Privately owned signs erected on or above public property are prohibited.
- No person shall erect a sign on or projecting over public property other than the governmental entity responsible for such property, or a public utility company or contractor pursuant to government contract or franchise.
- Any sign placed or erected on a property without the permission of the property owner is prohibited.
- Roof signs are prohibited.
- Vehicular signs are not allowed to be placed or parked in such a manner as to be viewed or intended to be viewed from a public right-of-way, except for specific allowed circumstances.
- Animated signs, with the exception of electronic changeable copy signs, banners, and flags as may be regulated by this chapter, are not allowed.
- Signs that pose a threat to public safety, such as signs imitating official traffic signs, obscuring official signals, obstructing fire escapes or egress, interfering with road or pedestrian traffic, or simulating traffic control signs, are prohibited.
- Handwritten, hand painted, handmade or other unprofessionally fabricated signs are prohibited, unless professionally hand-painted.
- Window signs which exceed 30 percent of the window area are prohibited.
- Signs which contain obscene words, pictures, or statements or display nudity as defined by state law are prohibited.
- Signs that advertise or encourage illegal activity as defined by local, state, or federal laws are prohibited.
- Unshielded illuminated devices that produce glare or create a hazard or nuisance to motorists or adjacent properties are prohibited.
- Signs with lighting or control mechanisms that cause radio, television, or other communication interference are prohibited.
- Motion picture mechanisms or video displays used to display moving or animated images visible from a public right-of-way or sidewalk are prohibited.
- Signs containing, including, or illuminated by any flashing, intermittent, or moving lights, scrolling lights, and/or utilizing changes in the intensity of lighting are prohibited.
- Any illumination of a sign that interferes with the effectiveness of, or obscures, an official traffic sign, device, or signal is prohibited.
- Any illumination of a sign that is not effectively shielded to prevent beams or rays of light from being directed at a street, causing glare or impairment of vision, is prohibited.
- No red, green, or yellow illuminated sign shall be placed within 300 feet of any traffic light.
- Search lights or spotlights are prohibited except for special business promotions or grand openings with prior written approval by the city.
- Banners are prohibited except as allowed by this chapter for specific types/events.
- Portable signs are prohibited, except A-frame signs as may be allowed under this chapter for nonresidential use, or as provided for temporary signage for a grand opening or special business promotion.
- Festoons are prohibited except as provided for temporary signage for specific events.
- Inflatable signs, including air or gas filled balloons or devices, are prohibited in all nonresidential zoning districts except as exempted as seasonal/holiday decorations or for temporary signage for special business promotions or grand openings.
- Signs which emit or utilize in any manner any sound capable of being detected on any traveled road or highway are prohibited.
- Signs erected by nailing, fastening or affixing to any tree, post, curb, utility pole, or structure located on any public right-of-way are prohibited.
- Signs which emit any visible smoke, steam, vapor, particles, or odor are prohibited.
- Signs which emit any sound which can be heard outside the parcel on which the sign is erected are prohibited.
- Signs attached to or painted on any telephone pole, light pole, telegraph pole, or natural object (tree, rock, etc.) are prohibited.

## Signs exempt from permit in Fort Oglethorpe

- Signs erected by or at the direction of the city or any government entity in the right-of-way or on any government owned parcel are exempt from provisions of this chapter.
- Historic markers authorized by the city are exempt.
- Property address numbers as required by the city (official governmental signs) are exempt.
- Incidental signs (as defined) located in conjunction with a multi-family or nonresidential use are exempt, provided such signs are not illuminated and the aggregate area does not exceed nine square feet (unless a larger area is required by law or regulation).
- Displays or decorations related to a holiday or seasonal event, placed as personal (noncommercial) speech by or with the owner's permission, are exempt.
- Window displays of goods available on-site are not considered signs and are exempt from sign regulations.
- A building design or color associated with an establishment or organization which conveys no message is not considered a sign and is exempt.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A master sign plan may be submitted by a property owner or authorized representative for pre-approval of permits for permanent signs, typically for multiple-tenant developments.
- Procedures for submitting a master sign plan are contained in chapter 8, Procedures and Permits of this development code.
- Procedures for obtaining a sign permit are contained in chapter 8, Procedures and Permits of this development code.
- Signs requiring variances or special approvals would be reviewed by the zoning administrator or relevant authority as prescribed in chapter 8 of the development code.
- As part of an application for a sign permit, the sign owner must provide necessary certifications (for electronic changeable copy signs) regarding compliance with brightness and other requirements.

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

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