# Sign Regulations in Harlem, Georgia

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Harlem, Georgia (GA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/georgia/harlem
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-08
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/GA/Harlem/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=PTIIILADECO_CH108LAUS_ARTVIISIRE)

## At a glance

Harlem, Georgia regulates 40 sign types across 13 zoning districts. Freestanding Signs in the Downtown Business District (B-1), Local Business District (B-2) zoning district are capped at 4 feet tall and 20 square feet, with a 5 feet from public right-of-way setback (Sec. Sec. 108-242(a)(3)a).

## Sign rules by zoning district (13 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Residential District (R-1A, R-1B, R-2, R-3, R-4), Agricultural District (A-1) | 8 | 25 feet (pole height) | 25% of window area | — |
| Tiny Home Residential Zone (TNY-R) | 2 | 3 feet per side | 9 square feet | — |
| Professional District (P-1) | 6 | 25 feet (pole height) | 48 square feet | — |
| Downtown Business District (B-1), Local Business District (B-2) | 11 | 40 feet (pole height) | 60 square feet per flag | — |
| General Business District (B-3) | 12 | 40 feet (pole height) | 60 square feet per flag | — |
| Industrial District (I-1) | 11 | 40 feet (pole height) | 60 square feet per flag | — |
| Planned Unit Development (PUD) | 11 | 40 feet | 60 square feet per flag | — |
| Planned Centers in all zoning districts | 10 | 40 feet (pole height) | 60 square feet per flag | — |
| Downtown Commercial Overlay District | 2 | — | — | — |
| Sustainable Community Mixed Use District (MUD) | 2 | 12 feet | — | — |
| Senior Community Mixed Use District (SCM) | 2 | 12 feet | — | — |
| Conservation Preservation Residential Zone (CP-R) | 2 | 4 feet per side | 12 square feet | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 4 | See zone-specific (25 or 40 ft) | See zone-specific regulations (24 or 60 sq ft) | — |

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

### Downtown Business District (B-1), Local Business District (B-2)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign | 4 feet | 20 square feet | — | 5 feet from public right-of-way | 1 per lot | Min 5 ft from right-of-way | — | Sec. 108-242(a)(3)a |
| A-frame Sign (B-1 only) | 4 feet | 4 square feet | — | — | 1 per business | Sidewalk near entrance | — | Sec. 108-242(a)(3)b; Sec. 108-240(b)(4) |
| Directional Sign | 3 feet | 4 square feet | — | — | 4 per lot | On property | — | Sec. 108-242(a)(3)c |
| Flag | 40 feet (pole height) | 60 square feet per flag | — | — | 2 per lot | On pole or wall | — | Sec. 108-242(a)(3)d |
| Projecting Sign | — | 12 square feet | — | — | 1 per business | Immediately above business entrance | — | Sec. 108-242(a)(3)e |
| Standard Informational Sign | 3 feet | 6 square feet | — | 5 feet from right-of-way | 1 per lot except political period | Min 5 ft from right-of-way | — | Sec. 108-242(a)(3)f |
| Temporary Sign - Option 1 (General) | 10 feet | 32 square feet | — | — | 2 per business | On business lot | — | Sec. 108-242(a)(3)g.1 |
| Temporary Sign - Option 3 (Vacant lot/unit banners) | 6 feet | 16 square feet | — | — | 1 per access-providing street frontage | On developed property with vacant units/lots | — | Sec. 108-242(a)(3)g.3 |

### General Business District (B-3)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign - Option 1 (Per Driveway Entrance) | 6 feet | 20 square feet | — | — | 1 per driveway entrance (max 2 per lot) | At driveway entrance | — | Sec. 108-242(a)(4)a.1 |
| Freestanding Sign - Option 2 (Per Lot) | 10 feet | 48 square feet | — | — | 1 per lot | On lot | — | Sec. 108-242(a)(4)a.2 |
| Freestanding Sign - Option 3 (Drive-In/Drive-Thru) | 7 feet | 50 square feet | — | — | 1 per drive-thru/drive-in | Side or rear yard, oriented toward drive-thru lane | — | Sec. 108-242(a)(4)a.3 |
| Directional Sign - Option 1 (Small) | 3 feet | 4 square feet | — | — | 4 per lot | On property | — | Sec. 108-242(a)(4)b |
| Directional Sign - Option 2 (Large) | 6 feet | 12 square feet | — | — | 2 per lot | On property | — | Sec. 108-242(a)(4)b |
| Flag | 40 feet (pole height) | 60 square feet per flag | — | — | 2 per lot | On pole or wall | — | Sec. 108-242(a)(4)c |
| Standard Informational Sign | 3 feet | 6 square feet | — | — | 1 per lot except political period | On property | — | Sec. 108-242(a)(4)d |
| Temporary Sign - Option 1 (General) | 10 feet | 32 square feet | — | — | 2 per business | On business lot | — | Sec. 108-242(a)(4)e.1 |

### Industrial District (I-1)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign - Option 1 (Per Driveway) | 6 feet | 20 square feet | — | — | 1 per driveway (max 2 per lot) | At driveway | — | Sec. 108-242(a)(5)a.1 |
| Freestanding Sign - Option 2 (Per Lot) | 10 feet | 48 square feet | — | — | 1 per lot | On lot | — | Sec. 108-242(a)(5)a.2 |
| Directional Sign - Option 1 (Small) | 3 feet | 4 square feet | — | — | 4 per lot | On property | — | Sec. 108-242(a)(5)b |
| Directional Sign - Option 2 (Large) | 6 feet | 12 square feet | — | — | 2 per lot | On property | — | Sec. 108-242(a)(5)b |
| Flag | 40 feet (pole height) | 60 square feet per flag | — | — | 2 per lot | On pole or wall | — | Sec. 108-242(a)(5)c |
| Standard Informational Sign | 3 feet | 6 square feet | — | — | 1 per lot except political period | On property | — | Sec. 108-242(a)(5)d |
| Temporary Sign - Option 1 (General) | 10 feet | 32 square feet | — | — | 2 per business | On business lot | — | Sec. 108-242(a)(5)e.1 |
| Temporary Sign - Option 3 (Vacant lot/unit banners) | 6 feet | 16 square feet | — | — | 1 per access-providing street frontage | On developed property with vacant units/lots | — | Sec. 108-242(a)(5)e.3 |

## Prohibited signs in Harlem

- Animated signs are prohibited.
- Signs emitting an audible sound are prohibited.
- LED signs with a sign face over 30 square feet are prohibited.
- Obscene signs are prohibited.
- Portable signs are prohibited except A-frame signs in the B-1 zoning district.
- Spectacular signs (including beacons, balloons, streamers, and other attention-getting devices) are prohibited.
- Roof signs and signs extending vertically above any portion of a roof or parapet, or signs that prevent free passage on a roof, are prohibited.
- Signs which imitate an official traffic sign/signal or use words like 'stop', 'go', 'slow', 'caution', etc., resembling official traffic control signs, are prohibited.
- Signs in the public right-of-way or on public property, other than official signs meeting standards, are prohibited.
- Signs with reflective elements or luminous/glow-in-the-dark paint are prohibited.
- Signs painted on or attached to trees, fence posts, utility poles, rocks, or similar structures/natural features are prohibited.
- Signs which depict nudity or sexual conduct as defined in O.C.G.A. § 32-6-52 are prohibited.
- Signs posted or placed on property without the express written consent of the owner are prohibited.
- Signs which advertise illegal activities under federal, state, or local law are prohibited.
- Signs not in good repair, in violation of codes, or containing or exhibiting broken panels, visible rust, visible rot, damaged support structures, or missing letters are prohibited.
- Tri-vision signs are prohibited.
- Stanchion signs are prohibited.
- No sign shall be erected, relocated, or maintained so as to block or prevent free ingress or egress from any door, window, fire escape, or ventilation opening.
- No sign or any part thereof, except official signs, shall be located in any public right-of-way or on public property.
- No sign may be located within 15 feet of an intersection (as measured from nearest points of intersection of rights-of-way).
- Unless otherwise specified, all signs and all parts of signs shall be set back at least ten feet from the right-of-way, or 20 feet from edge of pavement if a private street, and no sign shall project over the right-of-way or a private street.
- Freestanding signs shall not have more than two display surfaces.
- No sign shall be illuminated between 11:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. unless the premises is open for business.
- No illuminated signs are allowed within 50 feet of any residential district or dwelling.
- No sign illumination device shall resemble an official traffic control or warning sign nor hide from view or distract from any traffic or street sign or signal.
- No sign with exposed neon tubes containing luminescent gas outside a building.
- All signs must have concealed wiring and controls, and shielded/screened external light sources (if illuminated).
- No sign may have exposed electrical wires.
- No person shall maintain or permit to be maintained on any premises a sign in a dangerous or defective condition.
- No person shall erect, construct, enlarge, alter, move, improve, or convert any sign which does not comply with the standards or requirements of the article except to render it conforming.

## Signs exempt from permit in Harlem

- Flags are exempt from a sign permit, but must adhere to all dimensional and physical standards.
- Address numerals displayed for the purpose of identifying property location (not to exceed 8 inches in height) are exempt from a sign permit.
- Official signs meeting the standards of the article or the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices are exempt from a sign permit.
- A-frame signs in the B-1 zoning district are exempt from a sign permit.
- Standard informational signs are exempt from a sign permit.
- Temporary window signs and window signs measuring less than one square foot in sign area are exempt from a sign permit.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- To obtain a sign permit, a complete application must be submitted, including a site plan showing all existing and proposed signs, scaled drawings, materials, illumination details, etc.
- Permits are not required for exempt signs, but all other signs must receive a permit before erection, construction, enlargement, alteration, repair, moving, improvement, or conversion.
- A rejected application (for a sign permit) can be resubmitted if brought into conformity; resubmission is treated as a new application.
- A sign permit expires if the sign is not substantially completed (60% completion) within six months of issuance.
- In overlay districts (e.g., Downtown Commercial Overlay), additional design review and a code compliance certificate (CCC) with site plan requirements, landscape plan, sidewalk plan, lighting plan, and building elevations will be required as part of any new development or any alteration/addition involving at least 25% of the exterior.
- For planned centers or planned unit developments, signage is addressed with the overall site plan/master development plan as required in those sections.
- In MUD, SCM, and PUD zones, all signage must conform not only to the general sign code but may also be subject to additional design standards and plan reviews per the respective master development/concept plan approvals.

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

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