# Sign Regulations in Lake City, Georgia

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Lake City, Georgia (GA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/georgia/lake-city
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-08
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/GA/Lake_City/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=PTIICOOR_CH42ZO_ARTXVIISI)

## At a glance

Lake City, Georgia regulates 24 sign types across 8 zoning districts. Ground Signs in the RS-200, RS-150, RMH zoning district are capped at 4 ft tall, 3 sq ft, and 5 ft wide, with a 5 ft from right-of-way, 10 ft from electrical transmission lines setback (Sec. Sec. 42-530(1); Sec. 42-529(a)).

## Sign rules by zoning district (8 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| RS-200, RS-150, RMH | 7 | 8 ft | 32 sq ft | — |
| RM (apartment/townhouse/condominium) | 3 | 8 ft | 32 sq ft | — |
| RM (single family residences) | 5 | 20 ft | 32 sq ft | — |
| BN, BG, BN (neighborhood business), BG (general business) | 7 | 20 ft | 300 sq ft | — |
| M, M (manufacturing) | 7 | 20 ft | 300 sq ft | — |
| O-I, OI | 5 | 12 ft | 200 sq ft (primary), 50 sq ft (secondary); or 10% of wall area | — |
| SCR (shopping center reuse), G-1 (gateway village development) | 3 | — | — | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 4 | Ground pole: 40 ft; Projecting pole: 6 ft | ≤30% of aggregate sign area (per lot) | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 8 zones)

### RS-200, RS-150, RMH

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Ground Sign | 4 ft | 3 sq ft | 5 ft | 5 ft from right-of-way, 10 ft from electrical transmission lines | 2 per lot | On private property, not in right-of-way | — | Sec. 42-530(1); Sec. 42-529(a) |
| Projecting Sign | — | 6 sq ft per side | 3 ft | 5 ft from electrical transmission lines | 1 per lot | On private property, not in right-of-way | — | Sec. 42-530(1); Sec. 42-529(a) |
| Wall Sign | — | 1 sq ft | — | — | 1 per lot | On building | — | Sec. 42-530(1); Sec. 42-527(1); Sec. 42-529(a) |
| Temporary Stake Sign | — | — | — | — | 2 per lot | On private property, not in right-of-way | — | Sec. 42-530(1); Sec. 42-529(b); Sec. 42-527(4) |
| Subdivision Sign | 8 ft | 32 sq ft | 8 ft | 15 ft from right-of-way, 10 ft from electrical transmission lines | 1 per lot | On private property (may be in median with approval) | — | Sec. 42-530(1); Sec. 42-529(a); Sec. 42-527(7) |
| Entrance Sign | — | — | — | — | 0 | Not allowed in these zones | — | Sec. 42-530(1) |
| Window Sign | — | — | — | — | 0 | N/A | — | Sec. 42-530(1) |

### BN, BG, BN (neighborhood business), BG (general business)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Ground Sign | 20 ft | 300 sq ft | 15 ft | 10 ft from right-of-way, 10 ft from electrical transmission lines | 3 per lot | On private property, not in right-of-way | — | Sec. 42-530(4) |
| Projecting Sign (Primary & Secondary Facade) | — | 50 sq ft | 10 ft | 10 ft from electrical transmission lines | 1 per primary facade, 1 per secondary facade | On building facade | — | Sec. 42-530(4) |
| Wall Sign (Primary Facade and Secondary Facade) | — | 200 sq ft | — | — | 1 per primary and 1 per secondary facade | On building primary/secondary facade | — | Sec. 42-530(4) |
| Temporary Sign | 4 ft | 32 sq ft | 8 ft | 10 ft from right-of-way, 10 ft from electrical transmission lines | 1 per lot | On private property, not in right-of-way | — | Sec. 42-530(4); Sec. 42-527(4) |
| Roof Sign (Primary and Secondary Facade) | 10 ft above eave | 200 sq ft | Building width | 10 ft from electrical transmission lines | 1 per primary and 1 per secondary facade | On roof of primary or secondary facade | — | Sec. 42-530(4); Sec. 42-527(2) |
| Entrance Sign | 8 ft | 32 sq ft | 8 ft | 10 ft from right-of-way, 10 ft from electrical transmission lines | 1 per entrance | At entrance; on private property or with city/median approval | — | Sec. 42-530(4); Sec. 42-527(6) |
| Window Sign (Primary and Secondary Facade) | — | 10% of the primary facade and secondary facade window space respectively | — | — | — | Window of primary and secondary facade | — | Sec. 42-530(4) |

### M, M (manufacturing)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Ground Sign | 20 ft | 300 sq ft | 15 ft | 10 ft from right-of-way, 10 ft from electrical transmission lines | 3 per lot | On private property, not in right-of-way | — | Sec. 42-530(5) |
| Projecting Sign (Primary and Secondary Facade) | — | 50 sq ft | 10 ft | 10 ft from electrical transmission lines | 1 per primary and 1 per secondary facade | On building facade | — | Sec. 42-530(5) |
| Wall Sign (Primary and Secondary Facade) | — | 200 sq ft | — | — | 1 per primary and 1 per secondary facade | On building facade | — | Sec. 42-530(5) |
| Temporary Sign | 4 ft | 32 sq ft | 8 ft | 10 ft from right-of-way, 10 ft from electrical transmission lines | 1 per lot | On private property, not in right-of-way | — | Sec. 42-530(5); Sec. 42-527(4) |
| Roof Sign (Primary and Secondary Facade) | 10 ft above eave | 200 sq ft | Building width | 10 ft from electrical transmission lines | 1 per primary and 1 per secondary facade | On roof of primary or secondary facade | — | Sec. 42-530(5); Sec. 42-527(2) |
| Entrance Sign | 8 ft | 32 sq ft | 8 ft | 10 ft from right-of-way, 10 ft from electrical transmission lines | 1 per entrance | At entrance; on private property or median (with city approval) | — | Sec. 42-530(5); Sec. 42-527(6) |
| Window Sign (Facade) | — | 10% of the facade window space | — | — | — | Window of building facade | — | Sec. 42-530(5) |

## Prohibited signs in Lake City

- No sign shall be placed in any public right-of-way.
- No sign may be placed on any lot that does not meet the minimum requirements of this chapter and the city's subdivision regulations.
- No sign shall be erected, relocated, or maintained so as to prevent free ingress to, or egress from, any door, window, emergency exit, or fire escape; nor shall any sign be attached to any stand pipe or fire escape.
- No sign shall be erected at the intersection of, or otherwise near, any street in such a manner as to obstruct free and clear vision from vehicles or pedestrians.
- No sign shall be allowed to be tacked, painted, posted, marked, or otherwise affixed on trees, utility poles, or other similar structures, or on rocks, the ground itself, or other natural features.
- No message may be displayed on any portion of the structural supports of any sign.
- No sign shall be erected where due to its proposed location, position, shape, color, size, height, and/or lighting would appear to be in imitation of, or likely would be confused by motorists or pedestrians, for an official traffic control device or signal.
- It shall be unlawful for any person to erect a flashing sign, an aerial view sign or a manually changeable copy sign in the city.
- No sign shall be constructed, erected, or maintained without first obtaining a permit from the city unless exempt by the ordinance.
- All signs regulated by the article must be kept clean, neatly painted, and free from all electrical and mechanical hazards, and the premises maintained free and clear of weeds, rubbish, and debris.
- Displaying a permit that has been tampered with, altered, or mutilated, or displaying a sign without a permit, is a misdemeanor offense.
- All signs for which a permit is required, except temporary signs, must be constructed of noncombustible material.
- All signs must be constructed and maintained in accordance with city building codes.
- Internally illuminated signs shall not exceed 20 foot candles of incandescent light measured at a distance of ten feet from such structure.
- Externally illuminated signs shall be lighted so that no lights are positioned in such a manner that light glares or shines into the eyes of motorists or pedestrians so as to create a hazardous or dangerous condition.

## Signs exempt from permit in Lake City

- Signs that are not visible from any public right-of-way or any adjacent property.
- Temporary signs required to be posted by federal law, state law or by this Code.
- Decals affixed to or signs painted on equipment, fuel pumps or other types of vending equipment used for dispensing retail products, provided that such decals or signs have a signable area not exceeding four square feet on any single piece of equipment.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A permit application for any sign must include three sets of accurately scaled color drawings of the plans, contents, specifications, and method of construction and attachment to the building or ground, as well as a scaled drawing of the site showing drives, structures, and any other limiting site features.
- A written list describing all other signs located on the lot indicating the sign type, size and placement must be included with any sign permit application.
- All signs require a permit except for those exempt under Sec. 42-534 and for hand-held signs as noted under 42-527(9)(c).
- Sign applications are reviewed and approved/denied by the city clerk or designated representative.
- Variance to aggregate signable area requirements may be granted by the mayor and council via a variance process with a public hearing.
- No permitted sign shall be converted to a digital message sign prior to the issuance of a sign permit under this chapter authorizing such digital message sign; the addition of any digital message sign to a nonconforming sign is prohibited.

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

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