# Sign Regulations in Lilburn, Georgia

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Lilburn, Georgia (GA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/georgia/lilburn
- **Data last verified:** 2026-04-27
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/GA/Lilburn/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=PTIICOOR_CH113SI)

## At a glance

Lilburn, Georgia regulates 31 sign types across 4 zoning districts. Temporary Sign - Air or Gas-Filled Devices in the General Regulations For All Zones zoning district are capped at 20 feet in nonresidential districts; 4 feet in residential districts tall and 150 square feet in nonresidential districts; 16 square feet in residential districts, with a No closer than 10 feet to back of curb of public roadway setback (Sec. Sec. 113-10(1)). Most commercial signs in Lilburn require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (4 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 5 | 70 feet if adjacent to I-85, 40 feet otherwise; up to 25% increase with special use permit | 700 square feet per sign structure (applies to each side for double-faced) | — |
| Residential Zoning Districts (R-1, R-2) | 8 | 8 feet (embellishments up to 2 feet additional) | 48 square feet | — |
| Nonresidential Zoning Districts (O-I, CB, IA, MU) | 15 | 8 feet (0-5 ft setback); 12 feet (>5 to <20 ft setback); 20 feet (20+ ft setback) | See formula; not exceed 50% of permitted sq ft per elevation | — |
| Old Town (OT) Overlay District | 5 | 8 inches lettering | 32 square feet | — |

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

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Temporary Sign - Air or Gas-Filled Device | 20 feet in nonresidential districts; 4 feet in residential districts | 150 square feet in nonresidential districts; 16 square feet in residential districts | — | No closer than 10 feet to back of curb of public roadway | One per premises during permit period | Freestanding | — | Sec. 113-10(1) |
| Temporary Sign - Banner | — | 16 square feet per banner | — | No closer than 10 feet to back of curb of public roadway | One per public street frontage | Attached to structure | — | Sec. 113-10(2) |
| Temporary Sign - Searchlight | — | — | — | No closer than 10 feet to back of curb | Not specified | Freestanding or attached | — | Sec. 113-10(3) |
| Flag | Flagpole up to 50 feet in nonresidential (or building height); 25 feet in residential (or primary structure height) | Up to 30 square feet for poles up to 30 feet; 60 square feet for 30-50 feet; 150 square feet for 50+ feet | — | Flagpole setback at least equal to height from property boundaries | Max 3 flagpoles, 2 flags each per lot | On purpose-built flagpoles, vertical or mast-arm | — | Sec. 113-11 |
| Oversized Sign (Billboard) | 70 feet if adjacent to I-85, 40 feet otherwise; up to 25% increase with special use permit | 700 square feet per sign structure (applies to each side for double-faced) | — | 75 feet front yard for 350+ sq ft; 50 feet for 300-349 sq ft | Not specified, subject to spacing | Freestanding, independent of buildings | — | Sec. 113-16 |

### Residential Zoning Districts (R-1, R-2)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Primary Ground Sign (3-5 acres) | 5 feet | 24 square feet | — | 0 feet | One per road frontage | Ground, monument type | — | Sec. 113-15A, Row 3 |
| Primary Ground Sign (5+ acres) | 5 feet | 48 square feet | — | 0 feet | One per road frontage | Ground, monument type | — | Sec. 113-15A, Row 3 |
| Wall Sign (3-5 acres) | — | 9 square feet | — | N/A | One on front elevation | Wall, front elevation | — | Sec. 113-15A, Row 3 |
| Wall Sign (5+ acres) | — | 18 square feet | — | N/A | One on front elevation | Wall, front elevation | — | Sec. 113-15A, Row 3 |
| Accessory Ground Sign (3-5 acres) | 3 feet | 4 square feet | — | 0 feet | Two per entrance | Ground | — | Sec. 113-15A, Row 4 |
| Accessory Ground Sign (5+ acres) | 3 feet | 6 square feet | — | 0 feet | Two per entrance | Ground | — | Sec. 113-15A, Row 4 |
| Permanent Entrance Sign (Residential Subdivision) | 8 feet (embellishments up to 2 feet additional) | 32 square feet per sign | — | 0 feet | Two per entrance | Ground, monument type | — | Sec. 113-15A, Row 10 |
| Interior Project Directional Sign | 4 feet | 32 square feet | — | 0 feet | One per internal intersection | Within project, at internal intersections | — | Sec. 113-15A, Row 11; Sec. 113-19 |

### Nonresidential Zoning Districts (O-I, CB, IA, MU)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Primary Ground Sign (Individual Establishment) | 8 feet (0-5 ft setback); 12 feet (>5 to <20 ft setback); 20 feet (20+ ft setback) | See formula | — | 0-5 ft, >5 to <20 ft, or 20+ ft from right-of-way | One structure per road frontage | Ground | — | Sec. 113-15A, Row 1 |
| Accessory Ground Sign (Individual Establishment) | 3 feet | See formula | — | 0-5 feet | Two per entrance | Ground | — | Sec. 113-15A, Row 2 |
| Wall Sign (Individual Establishment) | — | See formula; not exceed 50% of permitted sq ft per elevation | — | N/A | Multiple, subject to aggregate limits | Wall | — | Sec. 113-15A, Row 1 |
| Projecting Sign (Individual Establishment) | — | 3 square feet | — | N/A | One per public entrance | Projecting from wall | — | Sec. 113-12(8); Sec. 113-15A, Row 1 |
| Primary Ground Sign (Planned Center) | 5 feet (0-5 ft setback); 10 feet (>5 to <20 ft); 12 feet (20+ ft) | See formula | — | 0-5 ft, >5 to <20 ft, or 20+ ft | One per road frontage | Ground | — | Sec. 113-15A, Row 7 |
| Accessory Ground Sign (Planned Center) | 3 feet | See formula | — | 0-5 feet | Two per entrance | Ground | — | Sec. 113-15A, Row 8 |
| Permanent Entrance Sign (Nonresidential Subdivision) | 8 feet (embellishments up to 2 feet additional) | 50 square feet | — | 0 feet | Two per entrance | Ground | — | Sec. 113-15A, Row 9 |
| Interior Project Directional Sign | 4 feet | 32 square feet | — | 0 feet | One per internal intersection | Within project | — | Sec. 113-15A, Row 11; Sec. 113-19 |

## Prohibited signs in Lilburn

- Roof signs.
- Streamers.
- Portable signs.
- Multi-faced signs.
- Flashing, blinking, varying light intensity signs or animated signs, variable message boards, with the exception of signs used for official government purposes and electronic signs for the display of fuel prices.
- Signs placed within public rights-of-way, except publicly owned, authorized or maintained signs that serve an official public purpose.
- Signs erected by nailing, fastening or affixing the sign in any manner to any tree, rock, post, curb, utility pole, natural feature, official street sign or marker, traffic control sign or device, or other structure except as may be set forth herein.
- Any sign placed or erected on property without the permission of the owner.
- Signs made from inflatable balloons.
- Individual or aggregate window signs exceeding 50 percent of the window area per building elevation.
- Signs that contain words, pictures, or statements that are obscene, as defined by O.C.G.A. § 16-12-80.
- Signs that simulate an official traffic control device, warning sign, or regulatory sign or which hide from view any traffic control device, signal or public service sign.
- Signs that emit or utilize in any manner any sound capable of being detected on any traveled road or highway by a person with normal hearing abilities.
- Signs that interfere with road or highway visibility or obstruct or otherwise interfere with the safe and orderly movement of traffic or which otherwise pose a hazard to traffic due to structural deficiencies in the structure of such signs.
- Signs which advertise any activity, service, or product prohibited by the laws or regulations of the United States or the State of Georgia or by the ordinances or resolutions of the city. This section shall not prohibit signs promoting the legalization of any matter presently prohibited by federal, state, or local law.
- Signs which obstruct any fire escape, any means of egress or ventilation or shall prevent free passage from one part of a roof to any other part thereof, as well as signs attached to any fire escape.
- Signs that do not conform to applicable building and electrical codes.
- Signs for which a permit is required that do not display the sign permit number and the name and address of the person responsible for erecting and maintaining the sign.
- Signs that are in violation of the rules and regulations of any zoning overlay district presently existing or as may later be enacted.
- Any sign constructed of nondurable material including, but not limited to, paper, cardboard or flexible plastic that has been displayed for more than 20 days. This provision does not apply to temporary signs as governed by this chapter.
- Signs located on any substandard lot created after the enactment of this chapter, unless the substandard lot is created as the result of governmental action.
- Any sign that is structurally unsound, or is a hazard to traffic or pedestrians.
- Dilapidated or neglected signs. A sign (including sign structure) will be dilapidated or neglected if it does not present a neat and orderly appearance, which may be manifested by the following: Rust or holes on or in the sign or sign structure, or broken, missing, loose or bent parts, faded or flaking paint, nonoperative or partially nonoperative illuminating or mechanical devices or missing letters in sign copy.
- Pole signs. Primary ground sign that is mounted on one or more freestanding columns or stanchions where the sign body is elevated above the ground by such, and each post, column or stanchion is less than the width of the body of the sign structure.

## Signs exempt from permit in Lilburn

- Nonilluminated freestanding signs or banners having an aggregate sign area per residential or nonresidential lot of ten square feet or less. However, each such sign may not exceed six square feet in size or greater than four feet above the grade level of the adjacent street to which the sign is located or three feet above ground level, which is greater. No sign shall be located within the public right-of-way and no closer than ten feet to the back of curb of a public roadway.
- Signs for the sole purpose of displaying street numbers as required by building regulations or other ordinances and other signs required by law.
- Signs erected by, or on the order of, a public officer in the performance of his duty including but not limited to public notices, safety signs, danger signs, trespassing signs, traffic and street signs, memorial plaques and signs of historical interest.
- Signs on private property prohibiting trespassing in accordance with state law.
- Any sign not visible from public thoroughfares and within a business, office, mall, or totally enclosed area.
- Window signs not exceeding 50 percent of the available window space per building elevation, unless further restricted by zoning in an overlay district.
- One official sign per road frontage, as required by the state of Georgia, identifying vehicle emissions inspection stations licensed by the state of Georgia.
- One projecting sign per public entrance not exceeding three square feet attached under the eave or awning of a building above a business entrance.
- Signage on courtesy benches, trash receptacles, newspaper boxes, and automated teller kiosks not exceeding eight square feet of sign area and not located within the required front yard setback for the zoning district and limited to one bench sign and one trash receptacle sign per lot.
- Signage on coin-operated beverage dispensers, limited to three per lot and not located within the required front yard setback for the zoning district.
- Nonilluminated signs, excluding portable signs, not in excess of 32 square feet and no more than ten feet in height in all zoning districts, provided such signs are not located on any public right-of-way, and are limited to one sign per frontage and shall not impede visibility of vehicular traffic. Such signs shall be exempt during the time the lot or building is for lease or sale and removed within ten days after the subject lot or building is leased or sold.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A coordinated signage program may be approved by the mayor and council for unified commercial developments that are more than three acres in size, contain more than one building, and more than one parcel or private street. Applications must include justification, description of the sign program (number, location, size, height, color, material, illumination, site plan, information displayed), and compliance with design requirements.
- In the Old Town (OT) Overlay District, certain ground signs, primary signs, and accessory signs are prohibited by right and may be provided only by variance or conditions of zoning. Electronic signs are prohibited.
- Variances for signs may be granted by the zoning board of appeals where literal application of the chapter would result in unusual hardship due to special circumstances, subject to specific criteria including exceptional conditions, no deprivation of common rights, minimal variance, and no interference with traffic visibility.
- For oversized signs, an increase in maximum height may be permitted via a special use permit approved by the mayor and council after planning commission recommendation and public hearing, subject to conditions like not exceeding 25% increase, conforming sign, and blockage by subsequent development.
- Site plans are required as part of sign permit applications for ground signs, including closed boundary survey, gross acreage, proposed sign location, street right-of-way lines, easements, driveway locations, and parking spaces.

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

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