# Sign Regulations in Franklin, Georgia

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Franklin, Georgia (GA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/georgia/franklin
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-08
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/GA/Franklin/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=PTIICOOR_CH28SIBI)

## At a glance

Franklin, Georgia regulates 20 sign types across 7 zoning districts. Billboards in the General Commercial (GC), Neighborhood Commercial (NC) zoning district are capped at 25 ft from grade tall, 300 sq ft, and 12 ft x 25 ft max wide, with a 10 ft setback (Sec. Sec 12.10). Most commercial signs in Franklin require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (7 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Rural Development District (RD) | 10 | 20 feet | 64 sq ft | — |
| Single Family Residential (R1), Multi-Family Residential (R2) | 5 | — | 64 sq ft | — |
| General Commercial (GC), Neighborhood Commercial (NC) | 8 | 25 ft from grade | 300 sq ft | — |
| General Industrial (GI) | 5 | 25 ft from grade | 300 sq ft | — |
| Floodplain Overlay District (F-1) | 1 | — | — | — |
| Historic Neighborhood Overlay District | 1 | — | — | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 1 | — | — | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 7 zones)

### Rural Development District (RD)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | Wall signs may not extend more than 4 feet above the parapet wall | 10% of wall area up to 200 sq ft (individual business); 10% of facade for each business in multi-business/shopping center | — | — | 3 per establishment (includes all sign types allowed per Table 12.1) | Flat against building/canopy; may project up to 12 inches | — | Sec 12.4-3, Sec 12.8-1.1, Table 12.1, Sec 12.3-2 |
| Ground Sign | Less than 3 feet if setback at least 3 ft from right-of-way; otherwise setback 10 ft from ROW | 40 sq ft | — | 3 ft from ROW (<3 ft high); 10 ft from ROW (otherwise) | 3 per establishment (includes all sign types allowed per Table 12.1) | Setback 3 ft if <3 ft high, 10 ft if >=3 ft high | — | Sec 12.4-2, Table 12.1 |
| Pole Sign (Service Station, Convenience Store, Post Office only) | 20 feet | — | — | See above | 1 pole sign as one of 3 allowed signs, only for eligible occupancies | Not over public ROW; display area ≥10 ft above grade at ROW if abutting, or 10 ft from ROW if <10 ft tall | — | Sec 12.4-1, Table 12.1, Sec 12.8-1.1 |
| Roof Sign | Not to exceed ridge line; not allowed on flat roofs | 64 sq ft | — | — | Included in 3 maximum per establishment | Must not project beyond face of exterior wall | — | Sec 12.5 |
| Hanging Canopy Sign | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | Included in 3 maximum per establishment | Hanging below canopy | — | Sec 12.4-4 |
| Window Sign | — | 25% of window area | — | — | Included in 3 maximum per establishment | On ground floor, directly oriented to street | — | Sec 12.6, Table 12.1 |
| Non-Business Sign – Announcing/Commemorative/Directional/Identification/Instructional | — | Announcing & Commemorative: 10 sf; Directional: 4 sf; Identification: 2 sf residential, 64 sf subdivision; Instructional: 4 sf | — | Announcing/Commemorative/Identification: 10 ft; Residential dwelling: 3 ft; Directional & Instructional: varies | Varies: Typically 1 per lot except 2 for directional | Announcing/Commemorative/Identification: 10 ft setback from ROW; Instructional: varies | — | Sec 12.8-2, Table 12.2 |
| Temporary Construction Sign | — | 40 sq ft | — | — | 1 per street frontage | On-premise (site of construction), one per street frontage | — | Sec 12.8-3.2 |

### General Commercial (GC), Neighborhood Commercial (NC)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | May not extend >4 ft above parapet wall | 10% of wall area, max 200 sq ft (individual business); 10% of facade if multi-business/shopping center | — | — | 3 signs per establishment (type combination per Table 12.1) | Flat against building/canopy; max 12 in projection | — | Sec 12.4-3, Table 12.1, Sec 12.8-1.1 |
| Ground Sign | <3 ft if setback ≥3 ft; otherwise, setback 10 ft | 40 sq ft | — | See above | See above | 3 ft from right-of-way if less than 3 ft tall, else 10 ft | — | Sec 12.4-2, Table 12.1 |
| Pole Sign (for eligible uses) | 20 ft | — | — | See above | See above | ≥10 ft above grade at ROW or ≥10 ft setback if <10 ft tall; not over ROW | — | Sec 12.4-1, Table 12.1 |
| Roof Sign | Not above ridge line; not on flat roofs | 64 sq ft | — | — | See above | On roof | — | Sec 12.5 |
| Window Sign | — | 25% of window glass area per window | — | — | See above | Ground floor, oriented to street only | — | Sec 12.6, Table 12.1 |
| Hanging Canopy Sign | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | Included in total per establishment | Underneath canopy | — | Sec 12.4-4 |
| Banner | — | 32 sq ft | — | — | — | — | — | Sec 12.7 |
| Billboard | 25 ft from grade | 300 sq ft | 12 ft x 25 ft max | 10 ft | No more than 1 per structure per direction | 10 ft minimum setback from ROW; not within 100 ft of residential, 300 ft of park, playground, school, historic site, church, etc. | — | Sec 12.10 |

### General Industrial (GI)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | No higher than 4 ft above parapet wall | 10% of wall area, max 200 sq ft (individual business); 10% of facade if multi-business/shopping center | — | — | 2 per business within industry/park | — | — | Sec 12.4-3, Table 12.1 |
| Ground Sign | <3 ft if 3 ft setback, else 10 ft setback | 40 sq ft | — | 3 ft (<3 ft high), 10 ft otherwise | 2 per business within industry/park | At least 3 ft from ROW if <3 ft high, 10 ft if >=3 ft | — | Sec 12.4-2, Table 12.1 |
| Pole Sign | 20 ft | — | — | — | 2 per industry/business | — | — | Sec 12.4-1, Table 12.1 |
| Roof Sign | Not above ridge line; not on flat roofs | 64 sq ft | — | — | See above | — | — | Sec 12.5, Table 12.1 |
| Billboard | 25 ft from grade | 300 sq ft | 12 ft x 25 ft | 10 ft from ROW | 1 per structure per direction | 10 ft setback from ROW, not within 100 ft of residential property | — | Sec 12.10 |

## Prohibited signs in Franklin

- No sign or sign structure (above a height of three feet) shall be maintained within fifteen feet of the intersection of the right-of-way lines of two streets, or of a street with a railroad right-of-way.
- Lighted, neon or luminous signs giving off light resulting in glare, blinding or any other adverse effect on traffic shall not be erected.
- The light from illuminated signs shall be established in such a way that adjacent properties and roadways are not adversely affected and that no direct light is cast upon adjacent properties and roadways.
- No internally illuminated ground or pole signs shall be erected within fifty feet of any dwelling within a residential district.
- No sign shall be erected if it contains, or is illuminated by, any flashing intermittent or moving light or lights except an electronic message board sign.
- No sign shall be erected which simulates an official traffic control or warning sign so as to confuse or mislead the traffic or hide from view any traffic or street sign or signal.
- No sign shall be erected, attached or maintained that obstructs any fire escape, means of egress or ventilation; or prevents free passage from one part of a roof to any other part thereof.
- No sign shall be erected, attached, painted or drawn on trees, rocks or other natural features, retaining wall or utility post along the public right-of-way.
- Any sign that will pose public safety hazards is prohibited.
- Abandoned Signs: Signs that advertise an activity, business, product or service no longer being conducted or available on the premises on which the signs are located are prohibited. The signs must be removed upon notification to the property owner and by order of the City Council or designee.
- Animated Signs: Animated, series, lines or rows or electric, neon signs that involve motion are prohibited.
- Bench Signs: Benches, including courtesy benches, trash cans, and similar devices on which advertising is displayed are prohibited.
- Projecting Signs: Signs that project more than twelve inches from the building surface are prohibited.
- Portable Signs: All portable signs, including hot air balloons and gas/air inflatable signs, are prohibited.
- Temporary Signs: Except as otherwise permitted by or exempted from these regulations, temporary signs are prohibited.
- Moving Signs are prohibited.
- Pendants and Streamers are prohibited.
- Banners are prohibited except as permitted in special events.
- Existing prohibited signs shall be removed one hundred eighty days after the effective date of this Ordinance.

## Signs exempt from permit in Franklin

- Existing signs (that are not in compliance) may stay for a period of up to 180 days after the effective date of the Ordinance.
- Government signs as allowed by State law are exempt from location limitations (may be on public property or right-of-way).
- The provisions and regulations of this Ordinance shall not apply to the ordinary servicing, repairing, cleaning or changing of the message without a change in structure.
- Nonconforming signs may remain subject to repair and maintenance provisions as outlined in Article 13.6.
- Temporary signs are permitted as specified (e.g. construction, real estate, garage sale, and special event signs) according to section 12.8-3 and 12.8-4.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- There is no mention in the ordinance of a master sign plan, required sign plan, or unified signage plan required for general signage across all zoning districts.
- Site plans may be required in context of special use permits, variances, and rezoning but not specifically for signage packages.
- Applicants for special uses or variances (which may include signage in certain cases) are required to submit a professionally prepared, to scale, site plan including the number, size, and type of signs proposed for the site.
- For new buildings and developments, compliance with sign regulations occurs via the standard permitting process; a separate master sign plan or consolidated sign plan is not required.

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

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