# Sign Regulations in Griffin, Georgia

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Griffin, Georgia (GA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/georgia/griffin
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-08
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/GA/Griffin/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=UNDECO_ART1INAU_ART12SI)

## At a glance

Griffin, Georgia regulates 32 sign types across 6 zoning districts. Billboard (Federal or state highway)s in the Multi-Family Residential Property, Commercial Property, Office Property, Industrial Property zoning district are capped at 50 ft tall, 504 sq ft, and 42 ft wide, with a 75 ft from all buildings/structures/property lines setback (Sec. 1211 G(1, 3-8)). Most commercial signs in Griffin require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (6 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Developed Residential Property | 3 | See Section 1211 D | See Section 1211 D (e.g., up to 90 sq ft at 10 ft high for less than 3 acres) | — |
| Multi-Family Residential Property, Commercial Property, Office Property, Industrial Property | 17 | 50 ft | 504 sq ft | — |
| Downtown Commercial Historic District | 9 | 48 inches | 25% of façade area | — |
| Emerging Commercial Corridors | 3 | 48 inches | 16 sq ft | — |
| Vacant and Undeveloped Property outside the Downtown Commercial Historic District | 3 | 50 ft | 504 sq ft | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 4 | 6 inches (residential); 12 inches (commercial, office, industrial) | 4x6 ft (on building); 48 sq ft (on pole) | — |

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

### Multi-Family Residential Property, Commercial Property, Office Property, Industrial Property

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign (Ten acres or more) | 24 ft (30 ft for planned centers on ten acres or more) | 240 sq ft | — | No closer than 5 ft from right-of-way; 10 ft from intersection | 1 per platted lot per street frontage (max 2) | One per platted lot per street frontage (max two); must be >5 ft from right-of-way, not within 10 ft of intersection | — | 1211 A (1-6) |
| Freestanding Sign (Planned center, 3-10 acres; Shared) | 24 ft | 200 sq ft | — | — | — | Same as above | — | 1211 A(6)b |
| Freestanding Sign (Planned center, <3 acres; Shared) | 24 ft | 160 sq ft | — | — | — | — | — | 1211 A(6)c |
| Freestanding Sign (Drive-thru menu board) | 8 ft | 32 sq ft | — | — | One per delivery point | At drive-thru delivery point (side/rear yard) | — | 1211 A(8) |
| Monument Sign (Planned center, ten acres or more; Shared) | 15 ft | 125 sq ft | — | Same as freestanding signs | — | At entrance, may be in lieu of freestanding signs; must conform to freestanding sign setbacks | — | 1211 D(1,6) |
| Standard Informational Sign | 48 inches | 16 sq ft | — | At least 5 feet from ROW | 2 | No more than 2 allowed, completely on private property, at least 5 ft from ROW | — | 1211 E |
| Billboard (Federal or state highway) | 50 ft | 504 sq ft | 42 ft | 75 ft from all buildings/structures/property lines | 1 per platted lot | One per platted lot, only on parcels fronting highways with industrial or commercial activities | — | 1211 G(1, 3-8) |
| Billboard (Municipal street, not state/federal highway) | 30 ft | 300 sq ft | 25 ft | 75 ft from all buildings/structures/property lines | 1 per platted lot | One per platted lot, only on parcels fronting streets with industrial or commercial activities | — | 1211 G(2, 3-8) |

### Downtown Commercial Historic District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Historic Pole Sign | 22 ft | 16 sq ft or 1 sq ft/linear foot of lot frontage | — | 10 ft from back of curb/edge of pavement | 1 per street frontage | Free and clear of public right-of-way, minimum 10 ft setback | — | 1213 B(1) |
| Building Sign - Wall Sign | — | 25% of façade area | — | — | 2 per building façade per occupancy | On building façade | — | 1213 B(2) |
| Standard Informational Sign | 48 inches | 16 sq ft | — | 5 ft from right-of-way | 1 | At least 5 ft from back of right-of-way, entirely on private property | — | 1213 B(3) |
| Canopy Sign | — | 16 sq ft | — | — | 1 | On canopy attached to building | — | 1213 B(4) |
| A-frame or Easel Sign | — | 10 sq ft per face | — | — | 1 per street frontage | On public sidewalk adjacent to premises (when premises open) | — | 1213 B(5) |
| Historic Character Sign - Barber Pole | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1213 B(6) |
| Historic Character Sign - Time and Temperature | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1213 B(6) |
| Historic Character Sign - Chalkboard | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1213 B(6) |

### Vacant and Undeveloped Property outside the Downtown Commercial Historic District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Standard Informational Sign | 48 inches | 16 sq ft | — | 5 ft from right-of-way | 1 | Entirely on private property, at least 5 ft from right-of-way. | — | 1212 A |
| Billboard (Federal or state highway) | 50 ft | 504 sq ft | 42 ft | 75 ft from all buildings/structures/property lines | 1 per platted lot | Property must be vacant, not developed, outside DCHD, fronting highway, industrial or commercial activity must be conducted on the property | — | 1212 B(1,3-8) |
| Billboard (Municipal street, not state/federal highway) | 30 ft | 300 sq ft | 25 ft | 75 ft from all buildings/structures/property lines | 1 per platted lot | Same as above; property fronting municipal street, industrial/commercial activity | — | 1212 B(2-8) |

## Prohibited signs in Griffin

- Signs imitating warning signals or displaying lights resembling flashing lights customarily used in traffic signals or emergency vehicles, or using words, slogans, shapes, sizes, or colors of governmental traffic signs in a confusing manner.
- Signs with lights flashing in series, lines, or rows, or otherwise animated, except fixed changeable copy signs permitted by the article.
- Beacons, flashing, blinking, or fluctuating signs, except fixed changeable copy signs permitted by the article.
- Signs painted on or attached to trees, rocks, or other natural objects within the public right-of-way, or affixed to utility poles or utility boxes within the right-of-way, and signs painted or attached to fences at or facing public right-of-way.
- Signs emitting or utilizing any sound detectable on a public road by a person of normal hearing.
- Signs obstructing any fire escape, means of egress or ventilation, or preventing free passage from one part of a roof to another, or attached to any fire escape.
- Signs which obstruct the sight of motorists or pedestrians so as to create safety hazards.
- Banners, feather banners, fringe, pennants, twirling, A-frame, easel, sandwich-type, sidewalk or curb-type signs, balloons, tethered balloons, streamers, portable signs, air or gas filled figures, awning/canopy signs, trailer signs, and similar signs/devices, except as expressly permitted.
- Roof signs.
- Signs displaying any statement, word, character, or illustration of an obscene nature as defined by O.C.G.A. § 16-12-80.
- Illuminated signs projecting direct rays of light onto a lot other than where the illumination occurs.
- Portable changeable copy signs designed to display messages that can be changed electronically (LED) or manually.
- Any signage erected on public property other than official signs and notices, and/or posted without official authorization or consent.
- No person shall place, print, nail, tack or otherwise fasten any sign or notice on public right-of-way, or on private property without written consent of the owner.
- No person shall willfully or intentionally construct, erect, operate, use or maintain any sign in violation of the ordinance.
- Signs which are in a dangerous or defective condition.
- No person shall erect or permit any sign not in compliance with this article.

## Signs exempt from permit in Griffin

- Official signs and notices required by law, such as notices of zoning hearings, condemnations, etc. (posting on private property is not regulated by this article).
- Flags not exceeding four feet by six feet attached to a pole mounted on a residence or business structure (not to exceed three per premises), or three flags not exceeding 48 square feet mounted on an independent flagpole installed directly into the ground.
- Any sign erected or permitted by or at the direction of any government entity on public property that it owns, controls, or maintains.
- Seasonal, religious, political, ideological, or holiday decorations on either public or private property.
- Identification plates for doors not exceeding four inches by 18 inches.
- Building numerals for property numbering, not exceeding six inches in height on residential property or 12 inches on commercial, office, or industrial property.
- Standard informational signs (subject to specified maximum size and placement restrictions, typically do not require a permit).
- Temporary signs on developed residential properties (unlimited number, up to 30 square feet in total, no permit or fee; must be removed when weathered or after event/function advertised has ended).
- Standard informational signs on certain other property types, as allowed (e.g., one sign on vacant property, etc., typically no permit required).

## Sign plan & submission notes

- No person shall erect, construct, replace, relocate, or structurally alter any sign without first obtaining a sign permit, unless specifically exempted under the article.
- No permit required to repaint or change the lettering of an existing conforming sign, provided no change of ownership of the entity displaying the message.
- For shared signs (serving more than one person or entity), the property owner or sign contractor must secure a permit for the sign structure; a separate permit required for each user panel.
- Applications for variance from changeable copy sign area limits must be submitted to the board of commissioners and require a variance meeting.
- Appeals for permit denial or revocation are considered by the board of commissioners at a scheduled meeting after notice.
- Master/special sign plans (such as for planned centers with multiple uses/businesses) are not explicitly required or described in this excerpt, but shared or collective use signs require permitting as specified.
- Special event signs (outside windows, spectacular devices, etc.) require a permit as detailed in Section 1215 except for certain interior window signs and those specifically exempted.
- Non-conforming signs must be registered within 90 days of enactment (and are issued a permit without charge if legally erected under previous code).

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

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