# Sign Regulations in Metter, Georgia

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

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

## At a glance

Metter, Georgia regulates 30 sign types across 5 zoning districts. Freestanding Signs in the General Regulations For All Zones zoning district are capped at 30 ft (except H.O.C. 45 ft) tall and 100 sq ft (except H.O.C. 200 sq ft), with a 10 ft from property line or right-of-way; 100 ft from another freestanding sign setback (Sec. 9.033). Most commercial signs in Metter require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (5 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 12 | 30 ft (except H.O.C. 45 ft) | 300 sq ft (total for all special event/spectacular signs) | — |
| H.O.C. zoning district | 2 | 45 ft | 200 sq ft | — |
| LI zoning district | 1 | — | 45% of roof elevation | — |
| Residential zones | 3 | 8 ft | 32 sq ft | — |
| Nonresidential zones | 16 | 30 ft | 300 sq ft (as special event/spectacular sign per 9.035) | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 5 zones)

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Roof Sign | 20 ft above roof | — | — | — | 1 | On the roof of a building | — | 9.031a |
| Roof Sign (Painted, H.O.C. or LI within 100 yards H.O.C.) | — | 45% of roof elevation | — | — | — | On roof, H.O.C. or LI within 100 yards of H.O.C. boundary | — | 9.031b |
| Wall Sign (Front Surface) | — | 20% of front surface (max 600 sq ft combined w/side/rear) | — | — | — | Exterior front wall of building | — | 9.032 (a),(c),(d) |
| Wall Sign (Side/Rear Surface) | — | 25% of side/rear (combined max 600 sq ft with front) | — | — | — | Side or rear exterior wall | — | 9.032 (b),(c) |
| Freestanding Sign | 30 ft (except H.O.C. 45 ft) | 100 sq ft (except H.O.C. 200 sq ft) | — | 10 ft from property line or right-of-way; 100 ft from another freestanding sign | 1 per street frontage | On lot, or one per street on lots facing multiple streets | — | 9.033 |
| Temporary Sign | 5 ft if freestanding | 100 sq ft | — | — | — | On private property | — | 9.034 |
| Special Event or Spectacular Sign | — | 300 sq ft (total for all special event/spectacular signs) | — | — | — | On-site only | — | 9.035 |
| Banner or Flag (Non-advertising, up to 2) | 10 ft (length) | 50 sq ft | 5 ft | — | Up to 2 without permit | On lot | — | 9.027, 9.037 |

### Residential zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign (Development Entrance) | 8 ft | 32 sq ft | — | — | 1 per entrance | At entrances to residential developments (one per entrance) | — | 9.05 |
| Freestanding Sign (Conditional Use) | 5 ft | 9 sq ft | — | — | — | Area with conditional use permit | — | 9.05 |
| Wall Sign (Conditional Use, Residential) | — | 10% of front surface | — | — | — | Exterior front surface of building in conditional use area | — | 9.05 |

### Nonresidential zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Banner (Advertising) | — | 300 sq ft (as special event/spectacular sign per 9.035) | — | — | — | On-site | — | Summary Table, 9.035 |
| Banner (Non-Advertising, up to 2) | 10 ft length | 50 sq ft | 5 ft | — | 2 without permit | On-site | — | Summary Table, 9.027, 9.037 |
| Flag (Non-advertising, up to 2) | 10 ft length | 50 sq ft | 5 ft | — | 2 without permit | On-site | — | Summary Table, 9.027, 9.037 |
| Freestanding Sign (Nonresidential) | 30 ft | 100 sq ft | — | 10 ft from property/right-of-way; 100 ft from another freestanding sign | 1 per street frontage | On lot (one per street; more if multiple street frontage) | — | Summary Table, 9.033 |
| Roof Sign (Nonresidential) | 20 ft above roof | — | — | — | 1 | On roof of building, 1 maximum | — | Summary Table, 9.031a |
| Special Event or Spectacular Sign | — | 300 sq ft | — | — | — | On-site | — | Summary Table, 9.035 |
| Self-standing Sign | 30 ft | 100 sq ft | — | 10 ft from property/right-of-way; 100 ft from another freestanding sign | 1 per street frontage | On-site | — | Summary Table |
| Temporary Sign | 5 ft if freestanding | 100 sq ft | — | — | — | On-site, with permit | — | Summary Table, 9.034 |

## Prohibited signs in Metter

- No signs shall display intermittent lights resembling lights customarily used in traffic signals or in police, fire, ambulance, or rescue vehicles.
- No sign shall use the words 'stop,' 'danger,' or any other word, phrase, symbol, or character in a manner that might mislead or confuse a driver.
- No sign is permitted within any street or highway right-of-way except traffic signs, signals, and information signs erected by a public agency.
- Signs painted on or attached to trees, fence posts, and telephone or utility poles, or to rocks or other natural features, or painted on the roofs of buildings are prohibited (except as allowed under roof sign exceptions).
- Pennants, ribbons, strings of lights (other than holiday lights), and similar devices are prohibited.
- No off-site signs shall be hereafter erected in any permitted district except freestanding ground signs of sound construction and maintenance; all other signs become nonconforming uses.
- Blinking or flashing signs, or any sign with words, symbols, or designs displayed by means of electric lights which flash, blink, or are illuminated intermittently, are prohibited.
- No projecting or swinging signs shall be permitted.
- No portable signs shall be permitted (signs not permanently attached to the ground or other permanent structure, or designed to be transported by wheels or trailer).
- No beacons shall be permitted.
- No sign depicting adult nudity shall be permitted.

## Signs exempt from permit in Metter

- Traffic, directional, warning, or information signs authorized by any public agency.
- Official notices issued by a court, public agency, or officer.
- One non-illuminated construction project sign, real estate sign ('for sale', 'for rent', 'for lease'), or garage sale sign, removed when their temporary purpose has been served.
- Three non-illuminated political signs not exceeding nine square feet each in residential districts, removed when their temporary purpose has been served.
- One permitted home occupation sign provided it is not illuminated, no larger than four square feet, and mounted against a wall of the principal building.
- Seasonal or holiday lights and decorations.
- Up to two flags or non-advertising banners on a lot, each not larger than five feet in width and ten feet in length (no maximum size for American flag).
- Building markers, identification signs, and incidental signs of less than nine square feet.
- Window signs provided they cover no more than fifty percent of the window space.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A sign permit is required for the erection, alteration, or reconstruction of any sign unless otherwise noted.
- Permits for temporary signs on private property shall be allowed upon issuance of a temporary sign permit.
- Special event and spectacular signs require a temporary sign permit.
- More than two non-advertising banners or flags require a sign permit.
- Painted-on-roof signs in specified zoning districts (H.O.C. or LI within 100 yards of H.O.C.) require approval by city council as a special exception, including design and color approval.
- If several lots are combined for a single purpose, they are considered a single lot in determining sign requirements.
- Installing or maintaining a sign inconsistent with the ordinance, its permit, or without a required permit is a violation.
- Failing to remove a sign after its sign permit has lapsed is a violation.
- Each day of continued violation and each separate sign in violation is treated as a separate offense.

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

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