# Sign Regulations in Newnan, Georgia

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Newnan, Georgia (GA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/georgia/newnan
- **Data last verified:** 2026-04-27
- **Source:** [other municipal code](https://www.newnanga.gov/DocumentCenter/View/658/Zoning-Ordinance-08-Sign-Regs-Revised-42424-PDF)

## At a glance

Newnan, Georgia regulates 37 sign types across 11 zoning districts. A-Frame (Sandwich Board)s in the Low Density Office and Institutional District (OI-1), High Density Office and Institutional District (OI-2), Urban Neighborhood Commercial District (CUN), Central Business District (CBD), Planned Office and Institutional District (PDO), Planned Commercial Development District (PDC) zoning district are capped at 4 ft tall and 8 sq ft, with a ≥ 5 ft outside ROW for miscellaneous/temporary setback (Sec. Sec. 8-16 Table 8-A (A-Frame P); Sec. 8-19(a)(3)). Most commercial signs in Newnan require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (11 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Suburban Residential Single-Family Dwelling District - Low Density (RS-20), Suburban Residential Single-Family Dwelling District - Medium Density (RS-15), Urban Residential Single-Family Dwelling District - High Density (RU-7), Planned Development Residential (PDR) | 10 | 20 ft (vertical flagpole height) | 40 sq ft per flag | — |
| Urban Residential Dwelling District - Historical and Infill (RU-I) | 6 | 20 ft (vertical flagpole) | 40 sq ft per flag | — |
| Townhouse Residential Dwelling District (RU-2) | 17 | 20 ft pole height | 40 sq ft per flag | — |
| Residential Multiple-Family Dwelling - Lower Density District (RML), Residential Multiple-Family Dwelling - Higher Density District (RMH) | 17 | 20 ft pole height | 40 sq ft per flag | — |
| Low Density Office and Institutional District (OI-1), High Density Office and Institutional District (OI-2), Urban Neighborhood Commercial District (CUN), Central Business District (CBD), Planned Office and Institutional District (PDO), Planned Commercial Development District (PDC) | 21 | 65 ft | 400 sq ft | — |
| Commercial Shopping Center District (CCS), General Commercial District (CGN), Heavy Commercial District (CHV) | 21 | 65 ft | 400 sq ft | — |
| Light Industrial District (ILT), Heavy Industrial District (IHV) | 18 | 20 ft pole | 50 sq ft | — |
| Open Space District 1 (OSD-1), Urban Open Space and Conservation District (OSD-2), Open Space, Conservation, and Recreation District (OCR) | 1 | — | — | — |
| Quality Development Corridor Overlay District (QDC) | 1 | — | — | — |
| Building Exterior Quality Design Overlay District (BEQ) | 1 | — | — | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 9 | Residential: 4 ft; Nonres/commercial/industrial: 6 ft | Residential lot: 6 sq ft (≤4 ft high). Nonres/commercial/industrial lot: freestanding 32 sq ft (≤6 ft high); wall 6 sq ft; banners 24 sq ft | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 11 zones)

### Low Density Office and Institutional District (OI-1), High Density Office and Institutional District (OI-2), Urban Neighborhood Commercial District (CUN), Central Business District (CBD), Planned Office and Institutional District (PDO), Planned Commercial Development District (PDC)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| A-Frame (Sandwich Board) | 4 ft | 8 sq ft | — | ≥ 5 ft outside ROW for miscellaneous/temporary | 1 per property or per business in planned center/storefront | ≤ 6 ft from business entrance; in CBD: must be positioned against a building and cannot be positioned in a sidewalk or curb | — | Sec. 8-16 Table 8-A (A-Frame P); Sec. 8-19(a)(3) |
| Banner (Temporary Event) | — | 24 sq ft | — | Meet Sec. 8-18(c) setbacks | 1 per street frontage (duration limited) | On private property | — | Sec. 8-16 Table 8-A (Banner S); Sec. 8-12(b)(2),(d)(3),(f)(1) |
| Flag | 20 ft pole height | 40 sq ft per flag | — | — | As limited by Sec. 8-19(b)(6) | On poles; cannot extend into ROW | — | Sec. 8-16 Table 8-A (Flag P); Sec. 8-19(b)(6) |
| Freestanding Principal Sign (Monument/Column only) | 6 ft | 32 sq ft (OI-1, OI-2, CUN, CBD, PDC) | — | At least 10 ft from pavement and 5 ft outside ROW; 60 ft from Interstate; side/rear setbacks equal to building setbacks for nonresidential lots | 1 per lot or per 200 ft (or major fraction) of street frontage, per street (corner/double-frontage lots may have separate per street) | On private property, per frontage | — | Sec. 8-16 Table 8-A (Freestanding Principal Sign S); Sec. 8-18(a)(1)(b), (b)(1)(b); Table 8-B (Monument/Column allowed; Pole not allowed); Table 8-B (Joint sign required for Planned Centers) |
| Miscellaneous Freestanding Sign (≤ 4 sq ft) | 3 ft within 3 ft of driveway in front setback; up to 6 ft beyond minimum building setback | Up to 4 sq ft (also ≤ 6 sq ft each within 3 ft of drive in front setback; ≤ 3 ft high) | — | Visibility clearance at driveways applies | Limits per driveway and drive-through lanes apply | Within 3 ft of driveways in front setback or beyond minimum building setback | — | Sec. 8-16 Table 8-A (Misc. Freestanding up to 4 sf P); Sec. 8-19(a)(1)-(2) |
| Miscellaneous Freestanding Sign (> 4 sq ft, up to 32 sq ft) | 5 ft (one larger sign beyond minimum building setback) | 32 sq ft | — | — | 1 per principal building | Beyond minimum building setback | — | Sec. 8-16 Table 8-A (Misc. Freestanding over 4 sf S); Sec. 8-19(a)(2)a |
| Project Entrance Sign (Nonresidential Use) | 6 ft | 32 sq ft per sign face | — | ≥ 5 ft from ROW; visibility triangle applies | 1 single or dual installation per entrance | At subdivision/park entrance(s); in sign easement; ≥ 5 ft from ROW | — | Sec. 8-16 Table 8-A (Project Entrance S); Sec. 8-20(b)-(f); Table 8-C |
| Highway Sign (Special Exception) | 65 ft | 400 sq ft | — | As above | 1 per qualifying lot | Adjacent to a Federal Interstate Highway | — | Sec. 8-21(a)-(d) |

### Commercial Shopping Center District (CCS), General Commercial District (CGN), Heavy Commercial District (CHV)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| A-Frame (Sandwich Board) | 4 ft | 8 sq ft | — | ≥ 5 ft outside ROW for miscellaneous/temporary | 1 per property or per business in planned center/storefront | ≤ 6 ft from business entrance; in CBD rule not applicable here | — | Sec. 8-16 Table 8-A (A-Frame P); Sec. 8-19(a)(3) |
| Banner (Temporary Event) | — | 24 sq ft | — | Meet Sec. 8-18(c) setbacks | 1 per street frontage (duration limited) | On private property | — | Sec. 8-16 Table 8-A (Banner S); Sec. 8-12(b)(2),(d)(3),(f)(1) |
| Flag | 20 ft pole | 40 sq ft per flag | — | — | As limited by Sec. 8-19(b)(6) | On poles; cannot extend into ROW | — | Sec. 8-16 Table 8-A (Flag P); Sec. 8-19(b)(6) |
| Freestanding Principal Sign (Monument/Column only) | 6 ft | 50 sq ft | — | At least 10 ft from pavement and 5 ft outside ROW; 60 ft from Interstate; side/rear setbacks equal to building setbacks for nonresidential lots | 1 per lot or per 200 ft (or major fraction) of street frontage, per street | On private property, per frontage | — | Sec. 8-16 Table 8-A (Freestanding Principal Sign S); Sec. 8-18(a)(1)(c), (b)(1)(b); Table 8-B (Monument/Column allowed; Pole not allowed) |
| Miscellaneous Freestanding Sign (≤ 4 sq ft) | 3 ft within 3 ft of driveway in front setback; up to 6 ft beyond minimum building setback | Up to 4 sq ft (also ≤ 6 sq ft each within 3 ft of drive in front setback; ≤ 3 ft high) | — | Visibility clearance at driveways applies | Limits per driveway and drive-through lanes apply | Within 3 ft of driveways in front setback or beyond minimum building setback | — | Sec. 8-16 Table 8-A (Misc. Freestanding up to 4 sf P); Sec. 8-19(a)(1)-(2) |
| Miscellaneous Freestanding Sign (> 4 sq ft, up to 32 sq ft) | 5 ft (one larger sign beyond minimum building setback) | 32 sq ft | — | — | 1 per principal building | Beyond minimum building setback | — | Sec. 8-16 Table 8-A (Misc. Freestanding over 4 sf S); Sec. 8-19(a)(2)a |
| Project Entrance Sign (Nonresidential Use) | 6 ft | 32 sq ft per sign face | — | ≥ 5 ft from ROW; visibility triangle applies | 1 per entrance (single or dual) | At subdivision/park entrance(s), in sign easement, ≥ 5 ft from ROW | — | Sec. 8-16 Table 8-A (Project Entrance S); Sec. 8-20(b)-(f); Table 8-C |
| Highway Sign (Special Exception) | 65 ft | 400 sq ft | — | As above | 1 per qualifying lot | Adjacent to Federal Interstate Highway | — | Sec. 8-21(a)-(d) |

### Light Industrial District (ILT), Heavy Industrial District (IHV)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| A-Frame (Sandwich Board) | 4 ft | 8 sq ft | — | ≥ 5 ft outside ROW for miscellaneous/temporary | 1 per property or per business in planned center/storefront | ≤ 6 ft from business entrance | — | Sec. 8-16 Table 8-A (A-Frame P); Sec. 8-19(a)(3) |
| Banner (Temporary Event) | — | 24 sq ft | — | Meet Sec. 8-18(c) setbacks | 1 per street frontage (duration limited) | On private property | — | Sec. 8-16 Table 8-A (Banner S); Sec. 8-12(b)(2),(d)(3),(f)(1) |
| Directory Sign | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | 1 directory sign may be permitted on lots with multiple establishments (in addition to other principal signs) | Freestanding or building | — | Sec. 8-16 Table 8-A (Directory S); Sec. 8-18(a)(3) |
| Flag | 20 ft pole | 40 sq ft per flag | — | — | As limited by Sec. 8-19(b)(6) | On poles; cannot extend into ROW | — | Sec. 8-16 Table 8-A (Flag P); Sec. 8-19(b)(6) |
| Freestanding Principal Sign (Monument/Column only) | 6 ft | 50 sq ft | — | At least 10 ft from pavement and 5 ft outside ROW; 60 ft from Interstate; side/rear setbacks equal to building setbacks for nonresidential lots | 1 per lot or per 200 ft (or major fraction) of street frontage, per street | On private property, per frontage | — | Sec. 8-16 Table 8-A (Freestanding Principal Sign S); Sec. 8-18(a)(1)(c), (b)(1)(b); Table 8-B (Monument/Column allowed; Pole not allowed) |
| Miscellaneous Freestanding Sign (≤ 4 sq ft) | 3 ft within 3 ft of driveway in front setback; up to 6 ft beyond minimum building setback | Up to 4 sq ft (also ≤ 6 sq ft each within 3 ft of drive in front setback; ≤ 3 ft high) | — | Visibility clearance at driveways applies | Limits per driveway and drive-through lanes apply | Within 3 ft of driveways in front setback or beyond minimum building setback | — | Sec. 8-16 Table 8-A (Misc. Freestanding up to 4 sf P); Sec. 8-19(a)(1)-(2) |
| Miscellaneous Freestanding Sign (> 4 sq ft, up to 32 sq ft) | 5 ft (one larger sign beyond minimum building setback) | 32 sq ft | — | — | 1 per principal building | Beyond minimum building setback | — | Sec. 8-16 Table 8-A (Misc. Freestanding over 4 sf S); Sec. 8-19(a)(2)a |
| Project Entrance Sign (Nonresidential Use) | 6 ft | 32 sq ft per sign face | — | ≥ 5 ft from ROW | 1 per entrance (single or dual) | At development entrances; in sign easement; ≥ 5 ft from ROW | — | Sec. 8-16 Table 8-A (Project Entrance S); Sec. 8-20(b)-(f); Table 8-C |

## Prohibited signs in Newnan

- All signs not expressly allowed by the ordinance or exempt from regulation are prohibited.
- Signs in the public right‑of‑way are prohibited except for specified government/utility/transit signs and qualifying projecting/under‑canopy signs; nonconforming right‑of‑way signs may be confiscated and removal costs charged to the owner.
- Signs imitating warning signals or resembling official traffic signs or emergency vehicle lighting are prohibited.
- Signs with blinking, flashing, fluctuating, or intermittent lights or beacons, and other animated signs, are prohibited.
- Signs attached to trees, utility poles or boxes; painted on rocks or other natural objects; or placed within the public street right‑of‑way are prohibited.
- Signs emitting sound audible on a public road are prohibited.
- Unprofessionally fabricated hand‑written/hand‑painted/handmade signs are prohibited (professionally hand‑painted signs are allowed).
- Signs that obstruct fire escapes, means of egress/ventilation, or roof access, or any sign attached to a fire escape, are prohibited.
- Fringe, twirling, sidewalk/curb‑type signs, balloons, streamers, pennants, portable display signs, air or gas‑filled figures, and similar temporary event signs are prohibited except where specifically authorized by the ordinance.
- Roof signs or signs projecting above the roofline are prohibited.
- Signs with obscene/indecent/immoral content, or displaying nudity/sexual conduct as defined by Georgia law, are prohibited.
- Signs that advertise or encourage illegal activity are prohibited.
- Illuminated signs projecting direct rays of light onto a different lot are prohibited.
- Searchlights or similar devices are prohibited.
- Advertising signs on benches, vending machines, trash cans, or other outdoor devices larger than incidental size are prohibited.
- Strings of lights not permanently mounted to a rigid background are prohibited.
- Inflatable signs/displays and tethered balloons, including items that mimic them, are prohibited.
- Illuminated canopy signs and illuminated projecting signs are prohibited, except canopy signage as specifically regulated for fuel canopies.
- Portable signs are prohibited except A‑frame (sandwich board) signs as allowed by the ordinance.
- Trailer signs are prohibited.
- Vehicle signs over 10 square feet are prohibited when parked within 100 feet of a street right‑of‑way for more than three consecutive hours, visible from that right‑of‑way, and not regularly used in the conduct of business (vehicles may not be used for off‑premises storage).
- No sign may be constructed or placed so as to hinder vehicles or pedestrians, block entrances/exits/windows/doors/fire escapes, use highly reflective materials that create glare, or emit light that glares/blinds or adversely affects traffic or adjacent properties.
- No message may be displayed on the structural supports of any sign.
- Wall signs may not cover wall openings or project beyond the ends or top of the wall to which they are attached.
- All signs must be placed on a zoned lot; no sign may be placed on a lot that does not meet minimum lot requirements or is not a lot of record.

## Signs exempt from permit in Newnan

- Public notices or warnings required by federal, state, or local law are exempt from regulation.
- Signs inside a building, not attached to a window or door, and not legible from more than three feet beyond the lot line, are exempt from regulation.
- Traffic control signs on private property that meet Georgia DOT standards and contain no commercial message are exempt from regulation.
- Holiday or seasonal decorations placed as personal (noncommercial) speech by the owner or with the owner's permission are exempt from regulation.
- Address numerals on a structure or mailbox up to 5 inches in height are exempt from regulation.
- Security/alarm system signs up to 1 square foot in area are exempt from regulation.
- Permanent signs exempt from permitting: sign types listed as allowed without a permit (“P” in the city’s sign table); miscellaneous freestanding signs 4 square feet or smaller (unless building/electrical permits are required); miscellaneous building signs (unless building/electrical permits are required); flags meeting the ordinance standards (flagpoles may still require a building permit); any sign exempt under the general exemptions above.
- Temporary signs exempt from permitting: signs for the sale or lease of a building or premises; election/political campaign/referendum/ballot‑proposition signs; all other temporary signs under 16 square feet except banners and special business promotion signs.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Master Sign Plans (MSPs) are optional pre‑approvals for permanent signs; if submitted for a planned center, the entire development must be included.
- MSPs must show locations, dimensions, construction details, materials, and design (including landscaping) for all proposed permanent signs on the lot/development; permits for covered signs must conform to the approved MSP.
- MSP approval: conforming plans may be approved administratively by the Planning and Zoning Director; plans that exceed or modify any ordinance requirement must be approved by the Planning Commission; an applicant may appeal a Planning Commission denial to the Zoning Board of Appeals as a hardship variance.
- Upon approval and recordation, an MSP supersedes conflicting sign regulations for the subject property and is not affected by later ordinance amendments; the MSP must be recorded with the Clerk of Superior Court and copies filed with Planning and Zoning and the Building Official before sign permits are issued; the recorded MSP must be provided with any sale or lease and all tenants/owners must comply.
- Planned centers: a joint (shared) principal freestanding sign is required for planned centers in the listed office, commercial, and industrial districts.
- Highway signs: only allowed by Special Exception for lots zoned CCS, CGN, CHV, or PDC with at least 400 feet of Interstate frontage; multiple/variable message highway signs must meet changeable‑copy standards; animated highway signs are not allowed even by special exception.
- Changeable‑copy signs (multiple or variable message) on certain commercial/industrial properties that adjoin or abut residentially zoned property require approval as a special exception under the city’s procedures.
- Variances from sign regulations are limited to specific hardship situations (e.g., spacing conflicts with adjoining lots’ signs or visibility obstructions not caused by the owner); relief must be the minimum necessary and cannot increase the number/size of signs or allow a prohibited sign type.
- Appeals of Building Official sign‑permit denials go to the Board of Zoning Appeals (notice within 10 days; decision within 30 days); further appeal is available under state law.

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

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