# Sign Regulations in Milledgeville, Georgia

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Milledgeville, Georgia (GA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/georgia/milledgeville
- **Data last verified:** 2026-04-27
- **Source:** [other municipal code](https://www.milledgevillega.us/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Milledgeville-Zoning-5.pdf)

## At a glance

Milledgeville, Georgia regulates 26 sign types across 10 zoning districts. Principal Freestanding Sign - One Use on Propertys in the Office Institutional (OI), Community Commercial (CC), Heavy Commercial (HC) zoning district are capped at 20 ft tall and Sign face area: 32 sq ft; Structure area: 130 sq ft, with a At least 10 ft from right-of-way; 20 ft from side lot line or one-half lot frontage (whichever is less); 75 ft from any freestanding sign on adjacent property on same side of street (may be reduced by Building Official if necessary); 100 ft from any residential property line setback (Sec. Table 5-1: Principal Freestanding Sign - One Use on Property (OI, CC, HC); Note following Table 5-1). Most commercial signs in Milledgeville require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (10 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Agricultural Residential (AR), Single-Family Residential (SFR), Single-Family Residential-1 (SFR1), Single-Family Residential-2 (SFR2), Single-Family/Duplex Residential (SFD) | 4 | 5 ft | Sign face area: 16 sq ft; Structure area: 16 sq ft | — |
| Multi-Family Residential-1 (MR1), Multi-Family Residential-2 (MR2) | 3 | 6 ft (Monument sign only) | Sign face area: 32 sq ft; Structure area: 96 sq ft | — |
| Neighborhood Office Commercial (NOC) | 4 | 10 ft | Sign face area: 32 sq ft; Structure area: 70 sq ft | — |
| Office Institutional (OI), Community Commercial (CC), Heavy Commercial (HC) | 7 | 40 ft | Sign face area up to 384 sq ft; Height up to 40 ft | — |
| Central Business Commercial (CBC) | 6 | 10 ft | Sign face area: 42 sq ft; Structure area: 60 sq ft | — |
| Light Industrial (LI) | 5 | 40 ft | Sign face area up to 384 sq ft; Height up to 40 ft | — |
| Heavy Industrial (HI) | 5 | 40 ft | Sign face area up to 384 sq ft; Height up to 40 ft | — |
| Planned Development (PD) | 1 | — | — | — |
| Historic Overlay District | 1 | — | — | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 15 | 15 ft | 60 sq ft | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 10 zones)

### Office Institutional (OI), Community Commercial (CC), Heavy Commercial (HC)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Principal Freestanding Sign - One Use on Property | 20 ft | Sign face area: 32 sq ft; Structure area: 130 sq ft | — | At least 10 ft from right-of-way; 20 ft from side lot line or one-half lot frontage (whichever is less); 75 ft from any freestanding sign on adjacent property on same side of street (may be reduced by Building Official if necessary); 100 ft from any residential property line | 1 per 200 ft of street frontage, max 3 | 1 per 200 ft of street frontage, maximum 3 | — | Table 5-1: Principal Freestanding Sign - One Use on Property (OI, CC, HC); Note following Table 5-1 |
| Principal Freestanding Sign - Two or More Uses on Property | 20 ft | Sign face area: 200 sq ft; Structure area: 300 sq ft | — | At least 10 ft from right-of-way; 20 ft from side lot line or one-half lot frontage (whichever is less); 75 ft from any freestanding sign on adjacent property on same side of street (may be reduced by Building Official if necessary); 100 ft from any residential property line | 1 per 200 ft of street frontage, max 3 | 1 per 200 ft of street frontage, maximum 3 | — | Table 5-1: Principal Freestanding Sign - Two or More Uses on Property (OI, CC, HC); Note following Table 5-1 |
| Building Sign - Aggregate Per Wall | — | 2.5 sq ft per linear foot of wall (aggregate) | — | — | — | On building walls, windows, doors, awnings, canopies, roof | — | Table 5-1: Building Signs (OI, CC, HC); Footnote 3 |
| Building Sign - Largest Sign Per Wall | — | 2 sq ft per linear foot of wall (largest per wall) | — | — | — | Per building wall | — | Table 5-1: Building Signs (OI, CC, HC) |
| Projecting Sign | — | 18 sq ft | — | — | Max 1 projecting or canopy sign per tenant | Affixed to wall, projecting more than 18 inches | — | Table 5-1: Building Signs (Projecting sign allowance in OI, CC, HC); 5.3.1.d(1),(3) |
| Hanging Sign | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | — | Under canopy/awning or from building | — | Table 5-1: Building Signs (Hanging sign allowance in OI, CC, HC); 5.3.1.d(1) |
| Billboard | 40 ft | Sign face area up to 384 sq ft; Height up to 40 ft | — | All portions located in accordance with principal building setback requirements of the district | — | Only in CC, HC (also LI/HI; see those zones) within 660 ft of a State or U.S.-numbered highway | — | 5.4.2.e(1)-(6) |

### Central Business Commercial (CBC)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Principal Freestanding Sign - One Use on Property | 6 ft | Sign face area: 32 sq ft; Structure area: 48 sq ft | — | At least 10 ft from right-of-way; 20 ft from side lot line or one-half lot frontage (whichever is less); 75 ft from any freestanding sign on adjacent property on same side of street (may be reduced by Building Official if necessary); 100 ft from any residential property line | 1 per 200 ft of street frontage, max 3 | 1 per 200 ft of street frontage, maximum 3 | — | Table 5-1: Principal Freestanding Sign - One Use on Property (CBC); Note following Table 5-1 |
| Principal Freestanding Sign - Two or More Uses on Property | 10 ft | Sign face area: 42 sq ft; Structure area: 60 sq ft | — | At least 10 ft from right-of-way; 20 ft from side lot line or one-half lot frontage (whichever is less); 75 ft from any freestanding sign on adjacent property on same side of street (may be reduced by Building Official if necessary); 100 ft from any residential property line | 1 per 200 ft of street frontage, max 3 | 1 per 200 ft of street frontage, maximum 3 | — | Table 5-1: Principal Freestanding Sign - Two or More Uses on Property (CBC); Note following Table 5-1 |
| Building Sign - Aggregate Per Wall | — | 3 sq ft per linear foot of wall (aggregate) | — | — | — | On building walls, windows, doors, awnings, canopies, roof | — | Table 5-1: Building Signs (CBC); Footnote 3; 5.2.2.c; 5.3.1.d(2)-(3) |
| Building Sign - Largest Sign Per Wall | — | 2 sq ft per linear foot of wall (largest per wall) | — | — | — | Per building wall | — | Table 5-1: Building Signs (CBC) |
| Projecting Sign | — | 18 sq ft | — | — | Max 1 projecting or canopy sign per tenant | Affixed to wall, may project over public sidewalk/right-of-way in CBC | — | Table 5-1: Building Signs (Projecting sign allowance in CBC); 5.2.2.c; 5.3.1.d(1)-(3) |
| Hanging Sign | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | — | Under canopy/awning or from building; may project over sidewalk subject to CBC allowance and clearances | — | Table 5-1: Building Signs (Hanging sign allowance in CBC); 5.2.2.c; 5.3.1.d(1)-(2) |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Project Entrance Monument Signs | 2.5 ft if in sight visibility triangle; otherwise 8 ft | Sign face area: 32 sq ft; Structure area: 96 sq ft | — | Must respect sight visibility triangle if applicable (see Article 7) | Up to 2 per entrance | At each entrance to a residential subdivision or office/industrial park (two signs may be located at each entrance) | — | 5.4.2.a(1)-(3) |
| Miscellaneous Directional and Information Signs (Within Minimum Front Yard Setback) | 2.5 ft | 8 sq ft | — | — | No more than 2 per driveway | At entrance/exit driveways within the minimum required front yard setback for principal buildings | — | 5.4.2.b(1) |
| Miscellaneous Directional and Information Signs (Beyond Minimum Front Yard Setback) | 8 ft | 32 sq ft | — | — | 1 per principal building | Farther from the street than the minimum required front yard setback | — | 5.4.2.b(2) |
| Temporary Special Event Signs - Banners | — | Up to 32 sq ft | — | ≥5 ft from public right-of-way | Max 2 per 100 ft of road frontage (combined with ground-based flags) | On private property (setback ≥5 ft from public right-of-way) | — | 5.4.2.c(2)(a)-(f) |
| Temporary Special Event Signs - Ground-Based Flags | 15 ft | Up to 30 sq ft | — | ≥5 ft from public right-of-way | Max 2 per 100 ft of road frontage (combined with banners) | On private property (setback ≥5 ft from public right-of-way) | — | 5.4.2.c(2)(a)-(f) |
| Temporary Directional Sign (Residential Districts) | 5 ft | 6 sq ft | — | — | Max 4 providing directions to any one lot (plus on-site signs at the destination) | On private property with permission of owner; may also be placed at the destination property | — | 5.4.2.c(4)(a)-(e)i |
| Temporary Directional Sign (Multi-family and Nonresidential Districts) | 6 ft | 32 sq ft | — | — | Max 4 providing directions to any one lot (plus on-site signs at the destination) | On private property with permission of owner; may also be placed at the destination property | — | 5.4.2.c(4)(a)-(e)ii |
| Twirler and/or Curb-Cut Signs (Nonresidential Districts Only) | — | 10 sq ft | — | Not on or within public right-of-way; ≥25 ft from another such sign | 1 per parcel and/or tenant per multi-tenant center | On private property only (not in public right-of-way); nonresidential districts only | — | 5.2.2.j(1)-(10) |

## Prohibited signs in Milledgeville

- No sign may be placed or maintained so that, due to its position, illumination, size, shape, or color, it obstructs the view of oncoming vehicles or impairs/obscures/confuses any authorized traffic control sign, signal, or device.
- No sign may imitate or contain an official governmental traffic control sign, signal, or emergency vehicle device.
- No part of any sign may be located in, over, or project into a public right-of-way, except awning, canopy, or projecting signs in the CBC district; government or railroad signs in rights-of-way are allowed.
- No sign may interfere with safe and free ingress or egress of any door, emergency exit, driveway, street, or roadway.
- No sign may interfere with utilities (water mains and hydrants, sanitary sewerage, gas, electricity, communications) or natural/manmade stormwater drainage facilities.
- No building sign may extend above the top edge of the parapet or eaves of a flat/shed roof, the ridgeline of a gable/hip/gambrel roof, or the deck line of a mansard roof.
- No sign may be painted on or attached to a tree, rock, other natural feature, utility pole, fence, or any existing approved sign poles.
- Inflatable signs, banners, pole flags, or balloons are prohibited except when allowed as temporary special event signs under the temporary sign provisions.
- Abandoned signs are prohibited.
- Animated signs (action, motion, changing colors, flashing lights, moving characters, wind-activated devices) are prohibited, except rotating signs that revolve no faster than 5 RPM and electronic message boards that change no more than 12 times per minute.
- Beacons, search lights, and laser lights/images are prohibited.
- Derelict/unsafe signs (dilapidated, hazardous, unsafe, or not compliant with Building/Electrical Codes) are prohibited.
- Pennants are prohibited (does not include banners or official/personal flags as otherwise regulated).
- Portable signs are prohibited, including signs temporarily placed on the ground and not fixed, trailer-mounted signs, A-frame/sandwich boards except as permitted by the Sandwich Board amendment, and signs mounted/painted on vehicles used primarily as signs rather than transportation.
- Signs in the public right-of-way are prohibited except those belonging to government or railroad.
- Signs not maintained in good repair (e.g., broken panels, visible rust/rot, damaged supports, missing letters; code violations) are prohibited.
- Signs that emit sound, smoke, vapor, particles, or odors are prohibited.
- All signs (except billboards) are accessory uses and are prohibited on properties without a principal use existing or under construction.
- Sign content may not depict obscenity (O.C.G.A. §16-12-80), sexual conduct or sexually explicit nudity (O.C.G.A. §36-60-3), or advertise illegal activity; content is otherwise not regulated.
- Illuminated signs must be oriented to prevent light from being cast onto neighboring property lines.
- Signs with flashing or intermittent lights must be at least 300 feet from neighborhood dwellings.
- Signs with flashing or intermittent lights must be at least 150 feet from any intersection of roads/streets/highways or with a railroad track.
- Vision clearance: no sign (including supports/braces/guys/anchors) between 2.5 and 10 feet in height may be within 20 feet of the intersection of right-of-way lines of two streets/railroad lines or a street and railroad.

## Signs exempt from permit in Milledgeville

- Window displays of goods available on site are not considered signs and are exempt, provided no more than 30% window coverage.
- Brand names or logos on products, product containers, or dispensers integral to the product/packaging are not considered signs and are exempt, provided no more than 30% window coverage.
- Building design, color, motif, or other architecture associated with an establishment or organization is not considered a sign and is exempt.
- Official signs placed by a governmental body/agency/public authority (e.g., traffic/regulatory/warning devices, official emblems, public notices, signs of historical interest, signs designating special events or areas of architectural/historic significance or gateways) are exempt and authorized within rights-of-way or properties controlled by the governmental body.
- Property address signs limited to the street name and address number (lettering ≤5 inches on a building or ≤2 inches on a mailbox) are exempt.
- Temporary decorations: displays erected on a seasonal or temporary basis in conjunction with events and not intended to be permanent are exempt.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A Uniform Sign Plan is required before any signs are erected for any multi-tenant nonresidential development (e.g., shopping centers).
- The Uniform Sign Plan must establish a unified design concept for all signs on the property, addressing location, materials, size, letter style, and color.
- Uniform Sign Plan approval: submit drawings/specifications to the Director of Planning; approval requires consistency of size, lettering style, color scheme, and materials for similar sign types and compliance with all sign regulations.
- The approved Uniform Sign Plan must be recorded by the owner in the Office of the Clerk of the Superior Court prior to issuance of a certificate of occupancy and must be included in any sale, lease, or other transfer of occupancy rights.
- All tenants/occupants in the development must comply with the approved Uniform Sign Plan.
- Historic Overlay District: Any sign within the Historic Overlay District requires design review and a Certificate of Appropriateness (see Article 2) prior to installation.
- Planned Development (PD): Signs must comply with sign regulations established as part of the PD zoning approval; if none were established, comply with the sign rules of the most comparable zoning district.

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

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