# Sign Regulations in Nicholson, Georgia

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Nicholson, Georgia (GA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/georgia/nicholson
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-08
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/GA/Nicholson/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=PTIICOOR_CH26SIADDE)

## At a glance

Nicholson, Georgia regulates 24 sign types across 6 zoning districts. Principal Ground Sign (One or Two Uses)s in the Commercial, Industrial zoning district are capped at 16 feet tall and 48 square feet, with a Subject to visibility clearance areas (Sec. 26-32); not within 20 feet of intersections or blocking views setback (Sec. Sec. 26-36(a), Table 26-1). Most commercial signs in Nicholson require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (6 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Commercial, Industrial | 15 | 16 feet | 60 square feet | — |
| Institutional | 12 | 12 feet | 48 square feet | — |
| Agricultural/Residential | 4 | 6 feet | 6 square feet | — |
| Residential subdivision or project | 6 | 3 feet | 36 square feet | — |
| Vacant | 2 | 6 feet | 6 square feet | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 3 | 35 feet (pole height) | 40 square feet | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 6 zones)

### Commercial, Industrial

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Principal Ground Sign (One or Two Uses) | 16 feet | 48 square feet | — | Subject to visibility clearance areas (Sec. 26-32); not within 20 feet of intersections or blocking views | One per property frontage | One per property frontage; must be monument signs | — | Sec. 26-36(a), Table 26-1 |
| Principal Ground Sign (Three or More Uses) | 16 feet | 60 square feet | — | Subject to visibility clearance areas (Sec. 26-32); not within 20 feet of intersections or blocking views | One per property frontage | One per property frontage; must be monument signs | — | Sec. 26-36(b), Table 26-1 |
| Accessory Ground Sign | 10 feet | 16 square feet | — | Subject to visibility clearance areas (Sec. 26-32) | One per property frontage | One per property frontage | — | Sec. 26-40, Table 26-1 |
| Wall Sign | Height of building wall | — | — | — | Maximum 2 per building wall | On building wall; max 2 per wall | — | Sec. 26-38 |
| Projecting Sign (Wall Sign Substitute) | — | Same as wall sign formula | — | — | Substitutes for an allowed wall sign | Perpendicular from building, not more than 3 feet beyond building face | — | Sec. 26-37, 26-39 |
| Drive-through Lane Sign (Display Board) | 6 feet | 36 square feet per sign | — | — | 2 per drive-through lane | Serves restaurant drive-through lane | — | Sec. 26-47 |
| Suspended Sign | — | 8 square feet | — | Minimum 8 feet ground clearance (see Sec. 26-32(d)) | One per commercial establishment | Suspended from building, for each commercial establishment | — | Sec. 26-51 |
| Electronic Changeable Copy Sign | Same as principal sign height limit | Same as principal sign area limit | — | Same as associated principal sign | One per parcel | Permitted only in conjunction with a permitted principal ground sign | — | Sec. 26-49 |

### Institutional

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Principal Ground Sign (One or Two Uses) | 12 feet | 36 square feet | — | Subject to visibility clearance areas (Sec. 26-32) | One per property frontage | One per property frontage; must be monument sign | — | Sec. 26-36(a), Table 26-1 |
| Principal Ground Sign (Three or More Uses) | 12 feet | 48 square feet | — | Subject to visibility clearance areas (Sec. 26-32) | One per property frontage | One per property frontage; must be monument sign | — | Sec. 26-36(b), Table 26-1 |
| Accessory Ground Sign | 6 feet | 12 square feet | — | Subject to visibility clearance areas (Sec. 26-32) | One per property frontage | One per property frontage | — | Sec. 26-40, Table 26-1 |
| Wall Sign | Height of building wall | — | — | — | Maximum 2 per building wall | On building wall; max 2 per wall | — | Sec. 26-38 |
| Projecting Sign (Wall Sign Substitute) | — | Same as wall sign formula | — | — | Substitute for an allowed wall sign | Perpendicular from building, not more than 3 feet beyond building face | — | Sec. 26-37, 26-39 |
| Sign on Fence (Identification Plate) | — | 0.25 square feet | — | — | 1 per fence | Affixed to any fence | — | Sec. 26-46(a) |
| Banner or Other Sign on Fence | — | 16 square feet | — | — | One per fence | Affixed to fence | — | Sec. 26-46(b) |
| Electronic Changeable Copy Sign | Same as principal sign height limit | Same as principal sign area limit | — | Same as associated principal sign | One per parcel | Permitted only in conjunction with a permitted principal ground sign | — | Sec. 26-49 |

### Residential subdivision or project

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Subdivision/Project Entrance Ground Sign (Single) | — | 36 square feet | — | — | One per entrance | Ground sign at entrance, one per entrance | — | Sec. 26-41(a) |
| Subdivision/Project Entrance Ground Sign (Double) | — | 18 square feet | — | — | Two per entrance | At entrance, one each side | — | Sec. 26-41(b) |
| Marketing Signage (Residential Subdivision) - Option 1 (On-premises Temporary Ground Signs) | — | 32 square feet total (for all signs under this option) | — | — | One or more under 32 square feet total | On-premises | — | Sec. 26-53(2a) |
| Marketing Signage (Residential Subdivision) - Option 2 (Banners/Feather Banners) | — | 32 square feet total (for all banners/feather banners under this option) | — | — | 2 max per permit | On-premises | — | Sec. 26-53(2b) |
| Marketing Signage (Residential Subdivision) - Option 3 (Off-premises Signs) | — | 32 square feet total (all off-premises signs under this option) | — | — | 2 max per permit | Off-premises (with owner's authorization) | — | Sec. 26-53(2c) |
| Weekend Sign | 3 feet | 6 square feet | — | — | — | On any property with owner's permission; temporary, fri 5:00pm - sun 8:00pm | — | Sec. 26-54 |

## Prohibited signs in Nicholson

- Airblown advertising devices are prohibited unless otherwise specifically provided in this article.
- Animated signs, including signs that rotate, revolve, or have moving parts and signs that emit smoke, open flames, vapor, particles, sound, or odor, are prohibited unless otherwise specifically provided in this article.
- Inflatable signs and advertising devices are prohibited unless otherwise specifically provided in this article.
- Hand-held signs are prohibited unless otherwise specifically provided in this article.
- Signs erected within a state or city right-of-way without the permission of the owner are prohibited.
- Signs erected without the permission of the property owner are prohibited.
- Signs painted on or attached to trees, rocks, or other natural features are prohibited.
- Signs that obstruct any fire escape, window, door, or opening usable for fire prevention or suppression, or that prevent free passage from one part of a roof to another, are prohibited.
- Signs shaped in a manner and with a color that imitates, or could be mistaken for, an official traffic control sign are prohibited.
- Signs containing reflective elements that sparkle in the sunlight or simulate illumination during daylight hours or contain luminous paint that glows in the dark are prohibited.
- Umbrellas used for advertising or with sign copy are prohibited.
- Vehicular signs and signs or advertising devices attached to vehicles not operating within public rights-of-way are prohibited.
- Windblown advertising devices are prohibited unless otherwise specifically provided.
- No sign shall be erected on or encroach on any public right-of-way unless authorization is specifically granted by the City Council.
- No portion of a sign face or sign structure wider than 12 inches and between the heights of 2½ feet and 12 feet shall be located within 20 feet of the intersection of the right-of-way lines of streets, roads, highways, or railroads, or within 20 feet of a street right-of-way and a driveway; no sign shall obstruct or impair the vision of any vehicle operator at intersections or driveways, or create a hazard.
- No sign shall be located so as to obscure or interfere with the effectiveness of an official traffic sign, signal, or device.
- Projecting signs and any sign suspended from a canopy shall provide a minimum of eight feet of clearance from ground level to the bottom of the sign.
- It is unlawful to utilize strobe, laser, and searchlights except for emergency or public safety operations.
- Exposed tubes other than neon containing luminescent gas on the outside of a building or located inside a building, and lights outlining a window or door, are prohibited. Neon tube signs on the outside of a building are prohibited.
- Signs on properties used exclusively for a single-family dwelling, two-family dwelling, exclusively for agricultural use, or a combination thereof, shall not be illuminated.
- Temporary signs shall not be illuminated.
- Signs authorized to be illuminated shall not exceed a maximum luminance level of 500 cd/m2 from apparent sunset until apparent sunrise.
- Signs shall not exceed the height allowances provided in Table 26-1 unless otherwise specifically provided.
- A wall sign shall not exceed the height of the building wall on which it is attached.
- Flags shall not be attached to vehicles, utility poles, light posts, or to the ground in any manner inconsistent with the section governing flags.

## Signs exempt from permit in Nicholson

- Neon tube signs located inside the building, with proper city authorization, are permissible.
- Signs may be displayed on a purpose-built, professionally fabricated, freestanding pole, or projecting from a building or door, or placed in a window, subject to flag section limitations.
- Flags may be displayed from a pole (not exceeding 35 feet in height or 40 square feet in area), from a bracket, or hung in a window, subject to applicable size and placement limitations.
- Exemptions for special event signage, marketing signage for residential subdivision, and weekend signs are permitted on a temporary basis upon application for a special event sign permit, and subject to requirements in those sections.
- Minor repairs and maintenance of nonconforming signs are permitted.
- Substitution or interchange of poster panels, painted boards, or dismountable material on nonconforming signs is permitted.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A sign permit is required for any ground, projecting, wall, or other sign for which a building permit is required; any ground, wall, or other sign for which an electrical permit is required; and any ground or wall sign with a sign area of 16 square feet or more.
- Permit applications must include an itemized list/keyed site or building façade sketch showing the location, size, and height of all existing signs on the property.
- Applications to vary the sign regulations require a variance application, with an elevation drawing and/or plot plan drawn to scale, and an inventory of existing signs, sign areas, and heights.
- Applications for sign permits which do not comply with the provisions of this article, or applicable building or electrical codes, shall not be approved by the city.
- Sign permits shall be withheld if the site contains a prohibited sign, a derelict sign, a nonconforming sign, or a sign for which maintenance has not occurred in accordance with this article.
- Plans required for a building permit for any projecting sign shall be certified as to conformance with structural and wind-load standards by a qualified structural engineer or be prepared using standard drawings meeting all building code requirements.
- Signs depending on size or other characteristics may require design review as specified in the city's zoning rules and regulations.
- Electronic changeable copy sign permit applications must be accompanied by certification from an electrical engineer or other qualified professional that all requirements for illumination are met, including supporting documentation.

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

---

PermitPal — AI sign code research. Full HTML page: https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/georgia/nicholson