# Sign Regulations in Norcross, Georgia

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Norcross, Georgia (GA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/georgia/norcross
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-08
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/GA/Norcross/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=PTIICOOR_CH200LAUSZO_ARTIVSIRE)

## At a glance

Norcross, Georgia regulates 16 sign types across 9 zoning districts. Flags in the Multi-family residential (RD, PRD) zoning district are capped at 25 ft or height of primary structure, whichever is less tall, 30 sq. ft. (pole up to 30 ft); 60 sq. ft. (pole 31 ft+), and Flag hoist side: may not exceed 20% of pole height wide, with a At least the height of the flagpole setback (Sec. Sec. 204-13(a)-(e)). Most commercial signs in Norcross require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (9 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Single-family residential (R-100, R-75, R-60, RTH, CSO overlay) | 4 | 25 ft or height of primary structure, whichever is less | 64 sq. ft. (sign area); 32 sq. ft. (copy area) | — |
| Multi-family residential (RD, PRD) | 5 | 25 ft or height of primary structure, whichever is less | 32 sq. ft. per freestanding sign | — |
| Office (OI) | 5 | 50 ft or maximum allowed structure height in OI, whichever is less | 100 sq. ft. | — |
| Commercial (C1, C2, CAR) | 7 | 50 ft or maximum allowed structure height, whichever is less | 150 sq. ft. per face (max 2 faces) | — |
| Industrial (M1, M2) | 6 | 50 ft or allowed building height, whichever is less | 600 sq. ft. | — |
| Mixed-use (CX, HX, NX, BH) | 5 | 50 ft or allowed structure height, whichever is less | 32 sq. ft. | — |
| Public (P) | 3 | 50 ft or allowed structure height, whichever is less | 30 sq. ft. (pole up to 30 ft); 60 sq. ft. (pole 31 ft+) | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 4 | 3 ft | No more than 50% of sign area | — |
| Norcross Historic District | 1 | — | — | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 9 zones)

### Multi-family residential (RD, PRD)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign | 4 ft | 32 sq. ft. per freestanding sign | — | 10 ft from right-of-way | 1 per 200 ft of frontage | On lot, 10 ft setback from right-of-way | — | Sec. 204-14(12a); Table 204-14(12a) |
| Building Sign | — | 32 sq. ft. per building | — | — | 1 per building | On building | — | Sec. 204-14(12a); Table 204-14(12a) |
| Subdivision Entrance Sign | 4 ft | 32 sq. ft. | — | — | Per subdivision entrance | One per platted subdivision entrance | — | Sec. 204-14(12a); Table 204-14(12a) |
| Temporary Signs | 4 ft for freestanding | 32 sq. ft. aggregate | — | 10 ft from right-of-way | Unlimited, provided aggregate does not exceed 32 sq. ft. | On lot, 10 ft setback from right-of-way (temporary freestanding) | — | Sec. 204-5(4), 204-12, Table 204-14(12a) |
| Flag | 25 ft or height of primary structure, whichever is less | 30 sq. ft. (pole up to 30 ft); 60 sq. ft. (pole 31 ft+) | Flag hoist side: may not exceed 20% of pole height | At least the height of the flagpole | Up to 3 flagpoles per lot, 2 flags per pole | Within lot, min. setback = pole height from all property boundaries | — | Sec. 204-13(a)-(e) |

### Commercial (C1, C2, CAR)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign (≤500 ft road frontage) | 10 ft | 50 sq. ft. per face (max 2 faces) | — | 10 ft from edge of pavement | 1 per 300 ft of frontage | 10 ft setback from edge of pavement | — | Sec. 204-14(12a); Table |
| Freestanding Sign (501-1000 ft road frontage) | 10 ft | 100 sq. ft. per face (max 2 faces) | — | 10 ft from edge of pavement | 1 per 300 ft of frontage | 10 ft setback from edge of pavement | — | Sec. 204-14(12a); Table |
| Freestanding Sign (1001-1500 ft road frontage) | 10 ft | 150 sq. ft. per face (max 2 faces) | — | 10 ft from edge of pavement | 1 per 300 ft of frontage | 10 ft setback from edge of pavement | — | Sec. 204-14(12a); Table |
| Building Sign (Planned Centers, Uniform Sign Plan) | — | 150 sq. ft. | — | — | Per uniform sign plan | On building | — | Sec. 204-14(12a), 204-20 |
| Subdivision Entrance Sign | — | 32 sq. ft. | — | — | One per street entrance | At each entrance | — | Sec. 204-14(12a) |
| Temporary Signs | — | 32 sq. ft. aggregate | — | 10 ft from right-of-way | Unlimited, provided aggregate does not exceed 32 sq. ft. | On lot, 10 ft setback from right-of-way (temporary freestanding) | — | Sec. 204-5(4), 204-12, Table 204-14(12a) |
| Flag | 50 ft or maximum allowed structure height, whichever is less | 30 sq. ft. (pole up to 30 ft); 60 sq. ft. (pole 31 ft+) | Flag hoist side: may not exceed 20% of pole height | At least the height of the flagpole | Up to 3 flagpoles per lot, 2 flags per pole | Within lot, min. setback = pole height from all property boundaries | — | Sec. 204-13(a)-(e) |

### Industrial (M1, M2)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign | 6 ft | 200 sq. ft. | — | 10 ft from edge of pavement | 1 per 300 ft of frontage | 10 ft setback from edge of pavement | — | Sec. 204-14(12a)-(12b), Table |
| Building Sign | — | 200 sq. ft. | — | — | Per tenant, up to area limit | On building | — | Sec. 204-14(12a)-(12b), Table |
| Subdivision Entrance Sign | — | 32 sq. ft. | — | — | One per street entrance | At each entrance | — | Sec. 204-14(12a) |
| Oversized Sign (Interstate Proximity) | 30 ft. (sign face max height 12 ft) | 600 sq. ft. | 50 ft | 75 ft from all buildings, structures, and property lines | One per lot | Within 660 ft. of I-85, min. 75 ft setback from all buildings, structures, and property lines | — | Sec. 204-15 |
| Temporary Signs | — | 32 sq. ft. aggregate | — | 10 ft from right-of-way | Unlimited, provided aggregate does not exceed 32 sq. ft. | On lot, 10 ft setback from right-of-way (temporary freestanding) | — | Sec. 204-5(4), 204-12, Table 204-14(12a) |
| Flag | 50 ft or allowed building height, whichever is less | 30 sq. ft. (pole up to 30 ft); 60 sq. ft. (pole 31 ft+) | Flag hoist side: may not exceed 20% of pole height | At least the height of the flagpole | Up to 3 flagpoles per lot, 2 flags per pole | Within lot, min. setback = pole height from all property boundaries | — | Sec. 204-13(a)-(e) |

## Prohibited signs in Norcross

- Signs that are structurally unsound, unsafe, or hazardous to traffic or pedestrians.
- Permanent signs built of non-durable materials, such as corrugated plastic, paper, etc.
- Roof signs.
- Signs that move or give the appearance of moving, including sky dancers, pennants, streamers, or banners in excess of 32 square feet.
- Streamers, inflatable objects, and gas filled devices, other than permitted temporary signs.
- Flashing signs and signs containing any flashing or running lights, strobe lights, or lights creating an illusion of movement.
- Signs which imitate or may be easily confused with official traffic and government signs.
- Portable signs, except as permitted in section 204-17, vehicle signs.
- Multi-faced 'V'-shaped signs with angles exceeding 60 degrees in diameter.
- Snipe signs.
- Signs mechanically rotating at greater than six revolutions per minute.
- Any sign placed or erected on property without the permission of the property owner.
- Signs which are obscene as defined by O.C.G.A § 16-12-80.
- Signs which 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 which 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 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, as well as signs attached to any fire escape.
- Signs which do not conform to applicable building or electrical codes.
- Exterior exposed electrical signs including neon or LED used to attract attention such as outlining a building or building feature.
- Dilapidated or neglected signs.

## Signs exempt from permit in Norcross

- Routine maintenance of signs including cleaning, re-painting, replacing lighting elements, ballasts, electrical components, and changing of lettering or parts of signs designed to be regularly changed.
- Non-structural face changes to signs are allowed without a permit.
- Changing the message on any changeable copy sign or any variable message sign may occur without a permit.
- Small non-illuminated temporary freestanding signs (excluding banners) do not require a permit; limited to one sign of 16 square feet or any combination not exceeding 16 square feet total, must be set back from right-of-way and curb.
- Traffic or government signs installed by city, county, state, federal government, or an authorized transit agency.
- Signs installed to meet the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities (ADA) Act.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A uniform sign plan is required for any planned commercial, mixed-use or multifamily development before any signs may be erected on the property (Sec. 204-20).
- The uniform sign plan shall govern the placement and design of all signs within the planned development as to their location, materials, size, letter style, and color.
- All tenants of the planned commercial development, whether an owner, lessee, subtenant, purchaser, or other occupant, shall comply with the approved uniform sign plan.
- Accessory signage for planned commercial centers, mixed-use developments, multifamily developments, and any standalone commercial use with drive through services is subject to approval of a uniform sign plan (Sec. 204-14).
- Building signs in commercial and mixed use districts are only allowed per the limitations of an approved Uniform Sign Plan.
- Within mixed use zoning, all signage must comply with an approved Uniform Sign Plan and not exceed commercial sign requirements.
- No variances for sign height or maximum sign size are allowed (Sec. 204-14, Notes).
- No sign variances are allowed (Sec. 204-11, Nonconforming signs).

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

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