# Sign Regulations in Pooler, Georgia

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Pooler, Georgia (GA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/georgia/pooler
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-08
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/ga/pooler/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=PTIICOOR_CH66SIRE)

## At a glance

Pooler, Georgia regulates 14 sign types across 8 zoning districts. Principal Freestanding Sign (Monument/Column)s in the Nonresidential Use, Planned Center zoning district are capped at 30 ft. tall and 350 sq. ft., with a 0 ft. from r-o-w, at least 10 ft. from driveway setback (Sec. Sec. 66-5(c), Table 66-B). Most commercial signs in Pooler require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (8 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 4 | — | — | — |
| Residential Use (Single-Family Residence), Residential Use (Single-Family Subdivision) | 2 | 10 ft. | 150 sq. ft. per sign | — |
| Residential Use (Multi-Family Developments), Residential Use (Multi-Family Development), Farm | 2 | 10 ft. | 150 sq. ft. each | — |
| Nonresidential Use, Planned Center | 3 | 30 ft. | 350 sq. ft. | — |
| Office or Industrial Park (subdivision) | 1 | 10 ft. | 150 sq. ft. | — |
| Multi-use Development, Mixed-use Buildings | 2 | 30 ft. | 350 sq. ft. | — |
| Commercial Area (for Interstate Highway Signs) | 1 | — | — | — |
| Industrial Area (for Interstate Highway Signs) | 1 | — | — | — |

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

### Residential Use (Single-Family Residence), Residential Use (Single-Family Subdivision)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign (Single-Family Residence) | — | 4 sq. ft. per housing unit | — | — | 1 per housing unit. | Building wall or window | — | Sec. 66-5(b)(2), Table 66-A |
| Project Entrance Sign (Single-Family Subdivision) | 10 ft. | 150 sq. ft. per sign | — | — | 1 single or dual installation per entrance; 1 per corner lot at entrance (up to 2 per entrance). | Subdivision entrance (on a monument or decorative wall structure) | — | Sec. 66-6, Table 66-C |

### Residential Use (Multi-Family Developments), Residential Use (Multi-Family Development), Farm

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign (Multi-Family/Farm) | — | 8 sq. ft. per multi-family building facade | — | — | 1 per housing unit; 1 per multi-family building facade | Building wall or window | — | Sec. 66-5(b)(2), Table 66-A, Footnote 2, 4 |
| Project Entrance Sign (Multi-Family/Farm) | 10 ft. | 150 sq. ft. each | — | — | 1 single or dual installation at each entrance; up to 2 signs per entrance fronting separate streets. | At development/farm entrance (on a monument or decorative wall structure) | — | Sec. 66-6, Table 66-C, Footnote 10 |

### Nonresidential Use, Planned Center

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Principal Freestanding Sign (Monument/Column) | 30 ft. | 350 sq. ft. | — | 0 ft. from r-o-w, at least 10 ft. from driveway | 1 per street frontage with driveway access | Along street frontage with driveway access, minimum 10 ft. from entrance driveway, minimum setback from r-o-w is 0 ft. Must comply with visibility clearance area Section 66-4(h). | — | Sec. 66-5(c), Table 66-B |
| Principal Building Sign (Wall/Window/Projecting/Canopy) | — | — | — | — | 1 per tenant frontage per façade. | Building façade or window. Not above parapet wall or eave line of pitched roof. | — | Sec. 66-5(d), Table 66-B |
| Project Entrance Sign (Nonresidential Use/Planned Center) | 10 ft. | 150 sq. ft. each | — | — | 1 single or dual installation per entrance; up to 2 per entrance at each corner lot | Entrance to subdivision or development (on monument or architectural wall) | — | Sec. 66-6, Table 66-C |

## Prohibited signs in Pooler

- All signs, other than legal non-conforming signs, which are not in compliance with this chapter are prohibited and illegal and shall not be erected or maintained.
- Privately owned signs erected on or above public property are prohibited, unless specifically authorized by the governmental entity responsible for such property, or a public utility company or contractor occupying or working on public property pursuant to a government contract or franchise.
- Any sign placed or erected on a property without the permission of the property owner.
- Roof signs, as defined in this chapter, are prohibited.
- Vehicular signs, as defined in this chapter, are not allowed to be placed or parked in such a manner as to be viewed or intended to be viewed from a public right-of-way, except when actively being used to transport persons, goods or services in the normal course of business; when parked in an inconspicuous area; or when used for storage of construction materials on a permitted construction project.
- Animated signs, except electronic changeable copy signs, banners and flags as may be regulated by this chapter, are not allowed.
- Signs that pose a threat to public safety are not allowed, including signs imitating official traffic signs, signs with intermittent or blinking lights resembling emergency vehicles, signs that obscure official traffic signs or devices, signs that obstruct fire escapes or means of ingress/egress/ventilation, or are attached to fire escapes.
- Hand written, hand painted, handmade or other unprofessionally fabricated signs are prohibited, except 'professionally' hand-painted signs by a paid sign-painting professional.
- Signs located on courtesy benches, waste containers and dumpster enclosures, trashcans and similar devices (unless exempt) are prohibited.
- Signs displaying words, characters, or illustrations of an obscene, indecent or immoral nature, or nudity or sexual contact as defined by state law.
- Signs that advertise or encourage illegal activity as defined by local, state or federal laws.
- Unshielded illuminated devices that produce glare or create a hazard or nuisance to motorists or occupants of adjacent properties.
- A sign that emits or utilizes in any manner any sound capable of being detected on any traveled road or highway by a person with normal hearing, or a sign that emits smoke, vapor, particles or odor.
- Signs with lighting or control mechanisms that cause radio, television or other communications interference.
- Motion picture mechanisms or video displays used in a manner as to allow moving or animated images to be visible from a public right-of-way or sidewalk.
- Signs containing, including, or illuminated by any flashing, intermittent, or moving lights, scrolling lights, and/or utilizing changes in the intensity of lighting are prohibited.
- Illumination of a sign that interferes with or obscures an official traffic sign, device, or signal is prohibited.
- Illumination not effectively shielded to prevent beams or rays of light from being directed at the traveled way or causing glare or impairing driver vision is prohibited.
- Search lights or spotlights are prohibited except for special business promotions or a new business 'grand opening', with prior approval and specific restrictions.
- Banners except as allowed for specific events or sign types are prohibited.
- Portable signs are prohibited except A-frame signs for nonresidential use or for specific events under Section 66-9(e).
- Festoons (strings of bulbs, ribbons, etc.) are prohibited except for specified events.
- Inflatable signs, including air or gas-filled balloons or other inflatable devices, are prohibited in all nonresidential zoning districts except as exempted as seasonal/holiday decorations or for specified events.
- Electronic changeable copy signs using incandescent bulbs are not allowed.
- Operation of an electronic changeable copy sign in violation of technical standards (brightness, display restrictions) may result in disconnection of electrical power supply at owner's expense.

## Signs exempt from permit in Pooler

- Signs erected by or at the direction of the city or any government entity in the right-of-way or on any government owned parcel are exempt from provisions of this chapter.
- Historic markers authorized by the city are exempt.
- Property address numbers as required by the city ('official governmental signs') are exempt.
- Incidental signs (as defined) located in conjunction with a multi-family or nonresidential use are exempt, provided they are not illuminated and not located within a front yard setback.
- Displays or decorations related to a holiday or seasonal event placed on a property by the owner or with the owner's permission as personal speech are exempt.
- Window displays of goods available on a site are not considered to be signs and are exempt from sign regulations.
- A building design or color associated with an establishment or organization but conveying no message is not considered to be a sign and is exempt.
- Miscellaneous freestanding signs allowed under Section 66-7(a), unless requiring a building or electrical permit, are exempt from permitting.
- Miscellaneous building signs allowed under Section 66-7(b), unless requiring a building or electrical permit, are exempt from permitting.
- Flags meeting the standards of subsection 66-7(a)(3) do not require a sign permit (flagpoles require a permit).
- Any sign exempt from regulation under Section 66-3(b), including incidental signs not exceeding 1½ square feet, is exempt from permitting.
- Temporary signs for single-family homes, subdivision construction, building construction/remodeling, yard sales, and elections/political campaigns as described are exempt from permitting if meeting other requirements.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Applications for permanent sign permits must include a site plan and elevation for freestanding signs; a utility plan showing the proposed sign location at least ten feet from underground utilities; and, if applicable, a drawing of the building facade showing proposed placement of each building sign.
- Applicants for freestanding sign permits must flag the foundation location in the field for staff review, especially with respect to underground utilities.
- If a sign variance is sought, the request must follow the procedure for zoning variances (application, public notice, planning commission & city council hearing) as specified in the Pooler Zoning Ordinance, Article V.
- No explicit requirement for a 'master sign plan' language found—however, joint signs are required for planned centers (multiple tenants share allowed principal freestanding signs).
- Any deviation from an approved variance requires separate approval by the city council and new application.
- A permit application must include written consent of the property owner for placement or maintenance of the sign.
- For any sign using a foreign language, an English translation must be included with the sign permit application.
- Plans for project entrance signs (for subdivisions or developments) must conform to detailed structural and placement requirements; dual entrance signs must be symmetrical and may not be placed in median islands.
- Permit applications for signs over 35 feet must have a state registered engineer's stamp or seal.
- For signs within the Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport flight control zone, a 'determination of no hazard to air navigation' from the FAA must be submitted prior to sign permit issuance.

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

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