# Sign Regulations in Oxford, Georgia

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Oxford, Georgia (GA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/georgia/oxford
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-08
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/GA/Oxford/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=PTIICOOR_CH40ZO_ARTXVSI)

## At a glance

Oxford, Georgia regulates 13 sign types across 8 zoning districts. Freestanding Post Signs in the Conservation District (CONS), Agricultural District (AG), Rural-Residential District (RR), Single-Family Residential—Low Density District (R-30), Single-Family Residential—Low To Medium Density District (R-20), Single-Family Residential—Medium Density District (R-15), Single-Family Residential—High Density District (R-7.5), Residential Townhouse District (R-TH) zoning district are capped at 5 ft tall and 15 sq ft, with a Must not interfere with visibility or be in right-of-way setback (Sec. Section 40-933(f), Table 2 Section 40-932). Most commercial signs in Oxford require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (8 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Conservation District (CONS), Agricultural District (AG), Rural-Residential District (RR), Single-Family Residential—Low Density District (R-30), Single-Family Residential—Low To Medium Density District (R-20), Single-Family Residential—Medium Density District (R-15), Single-Family Residential—High Density District (R-7.5), Residential Townhouse District (R-TH) | 4 | 5 ft | 25 sq ft | — |
| Institutional District (INST), Institutional Campus District (IC) | 4 | 5 ft | 50 sq ft | — |
| Office Professional District (OP) | 4 | 5 ft | 25 sq ft | — |
| Commercial District (C) | 5 | 6 ft | 25 sq ft per wall sign; cumulative max per tenant 100 sq ft | — |
| Town Center District (TC) | 6 | 5 ft | 50 sq ft | — |
| Newton County Annexed District (NCA) | 1 | — | — | — |
| Residential Infill Overlay District | 1 | — | — | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 3 | 15 ft (business temporary), 6 ft (event) | 24 sq ft (business temporary), 4 sq ft per event sign | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 8 zones)

### Conservation District (CONS), Agricultural District (AG), Rural-Residential District (RR), Single-Family Residential—Low Density District (R-30), Single-Family Residential—Low To Medium Density District (R-20), Single-Family Residential—Medium Density District (R-15), Single-Family Residential—High Density District (R-7.5), Residential Townhouse District (R-TH)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | — | 25 sq ft | — | — | 1 per street frontage | On building face with public entrance | — | Section 40-933(a), Table 2 Section 40-932 |
| Freestanding Post Sign | 5 ft | 15 sq ft | — | Must not interfere with visibility or be in right-of-way | 1 per street frontage | Required street yards, subject to Planning Commission approval | — | Section 40-933(f), Table 2 Section 40-932 |
| Residential Subdivision Sign | 4 ft | 20 sq ft | — | — | 1 per major street frontage | At major street frontage in landscaped area maintained by HOA | — | Section 40-933(i) |
| Directory Sign | — | 12 sq ft | — | — | 1 per premises | Freestanding or fixed on exterior wall | — | Section 40-933(g), Table 2 Section 40-932 |

### Commercial District (C)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | — | 25 sq ft per wall sign; cumulative max per tenant 100 sq ft | — | — | 4 per tenant space | Building face with public entrance | — | Section 40-933(a), Table 2 Section 40-932 |
| Freestanding Post Sign | 5 ft | 15 sq ft | — | Must not interfere with visibility or be in right-of-way | 4 per tenant space (total of all sign types) | Required street yards, subject to Planning Commission approval | — | Section 40-933(f), Table 2 Section 40-932 |
| Monument Sign | 6 ft | 24 sq ft | — | Must not obstruct visibility | 4 per tenant space (total of all sign types) | Street yards; per Planning Commission approval | — | Section 40-933(e), Table 2 Section 40-932 |
| Hanging Sign | — | — | — | — | 4 per tenant space (total of all types) | As approved by Planning Commission | — | Table 2 Section 40-932 |
| Directory Sign | — | 12 sq ft | — | — | 4 per tenant space (total of all types) | Freestanding or fixed on exterior wall | — | Section 40-933(g), Table 2 Section 40-932 |

### Town Center District (TC)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | — | 50 sq ft | — | — | 2 per tenant space (total of all types) | Building face with public entrance | — | Section 40-933(a), Table 2 Section 40-932 |
| Freestanding Post Sign | 5 ft | 15 sq ft | — | — | 2 per tenant space (total of all types) | Required street yards; PC approval | — | Section 40-933(f), Table 2 Section 40-932 |
| Hanging Sign | — | — | — | — | 2 per tenant space (total of all types) | As approved by Planning Commission | — | Table 2 Section 40-932 |
| Monument Sign | 4 ft | 12 sq ft | — | — | 2 per tenant space (total of all types) | Street yards; per PC approval | — | Section 40-933(e), Table 2 Section 40-932 |
| Directory Sign | — | 12 sq ft | — | — | 2 per tenant space (total of all types) | Freestanding or fixed on exterior wall | — | Section 40-933(g), Table 2 Section 40-932 |
| Sandwich Board Sign | 4 ft | 6 sq ft | — | — | 1 per tenant space | Sidewalk area in front of building entrance; must leave 5 ft clear for pedestrians | — | Section 40-933(j) |

## Prohibited signs in Oxford

- Roof signs or signs where any portion of the sign extends above the roofline of the building where the sign is located.
- Off-premises signs, including billboards.
- Any vehicle sign where the sign projects beyond the manufacturer's profile of the vehicle and is displayed in public view under such circumstances as to indicate that the primary purpose of such display is to attract the attention of the public rather than to serve the business of the owner thereof in the manner which is customary for such vehicle.
- Any sign that emits a sound, odor, or visible matter such as smoke or vapor.
- Any sign that is portable or not securely attached to a building or to the ground.
- Any sign that obstructs or otherwise restricts free ingress to or egress from a required door, window, fire escape or other required exit way; and any sign or advertising display attached to a fire escape.
- Any sign or sign structure, other than freestanding, whereby any portion extends above the parapet, building roofline, or canopy against which the sign is located.
- Any sign erected in a street or highway right-of-way except for signs of a governmental body used to convey legal notices, identify public property, convey public information, and direct or regulate pedestrian and vehicular traffic.
- Signs which contain words, pictures or statements which are obscene, as defined by O.C.G.A. § 16-12-80.
- Signs of any material, including, but not limited to, paper, paint, cardboard, plastic, wood, and metal which are painted on or attached to trees, lampposts, parking meter posts, hydrants, traffic signs, stairways, benches, refuse containers, rocks or other natural features, telephone or utility poles.
- Signs using the words 'stop,' 'danger,' or any other word, phrase, symbol, or character in a manner that misleads or confuses or distracts a vehicle driver.
- A sign that involves motion or rotation of any part of the sign structure or sign face using intermittent flashing lights, animation, or automatically changed copy or design, except electronic message centers.
- Real estate signs, temporary or permanent, for property outside the City.
- No sign shall obstruct the view of motor vehicle operators entering a public roadway from any driveway, street or alley. There shall be no sign or obstruction to vision between the height of two feet and ten feet within the sight triangles established in section 40-869.
- No sign illumination system shall contain or utilize any beacon, spot, search or stroboscopic light, glaring light or reflector, which is visible from any public right-of-way or adjacent property, nor shall such lights be operated outside, under any circumstances, except by authorized public agencies.
- No sign shall display lights resembling by color and design or other characteristics customarily associated with danger or those used by police, fire, ambulance and other emergency vehicles or for navigation.
- Automotive warning or flashing signs shall not be utilized as commercial attention seizing devices.

## Signs exempt from permit in Oxford

- Flags, emblems, and insignia of political, professional, religious, educational, or corporate organizations, provided that such flags, emblems, and insignia shall not be displayed for commercial purposes nor in such a manner as to act as attention-seizing devices.
- Governmental signs for control of traffic and other regulatory purposes, street signs, warning signs, railroad crossing signs, and signs of public service companies indicating danger and aids to service or safety which are erected by, or at the order of a public officer or employee in the performance of the officer's or employee's duties.
- Signs or other materials temporarily displayed on traditionally accepted civic, patriotic, or religious holidays.
- Memorial plaques or tablets, grave markers, names of buildings, statuary, or other remembrances of persons or events that are noncommercial in nature.
- Signs, not exceeding two square feet in gross surface area for each exposed face nor exceeding an aggregate gross surface area of four square feet, indicating the name of the occupant, the address of the premises, and identification of any legal business or operation which may exist at the premises.
- No trespassing, no dumping, no parking, towing, and other similar signs not exceeding two square feet in gross surface area for each exposed face nor exceeding an aggregate gross surface area of four square feet and not exceeding two in number per zoning lot in residential areas; and not exceeding four square feet in gross surface area for each exposed face nor exceeding an aggregate gross surface area of eight square feet and not exceeding four in number per zoning lot in nonresidential areas (with allowance for additional such signs under special circumstances, as authorized by the Planning Commission).
- Signs required by governmental bodies or specifically authorized for a public purpose by any law, statute, or ordinance. Such public signs may be of any type, number, area, height, location, or illumination as required by law, statute, or ordinance.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Unless otherwise provided for in this chapter, no permanent sign or sign structure, regardless of its cost of construction, shall be erected, replaced, relocated, constructed, changed, or altered until such sign has been approved by the Planning Commission and a permit has been issued by the City.
- Sign permit application requires submittal of two copies of a sketch or blueprint of the proposed signage drawn to scale, showing elevations of the sign as proposed on the building facade, awning, or canopy, and, in the case of a freestanding sign, a sketch plan of the property drawn to scale illustrating the proposed location of the sign.
- Specifications and scaled drawings showing the materials, design, dimensions, structural supports, and electrical components of the proposed sign are required.
- Any other information, specifications, photographs, or the like deemed necessary by the Planning Commission in order to ensure compliance with requirements must be provided.
- The Planning Commission shall be authorized to issue sign permits according to the provisions of this article at its regular meetings.
- Certain sign types (monument signs, freestanding post signs, residential subdivision signs, etc.) require approval of location by the Planning Commission.
- For temporary business signs and temporary event signs, a temporary sign permit from the Zoning Administrator is required (except as otherwise stated for specific sign types such as political, real estate, subdivision, and construction signs which are exempted from temporary sign permit procedures provided all applicable requirements are met).

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

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