# Sign Regulations in Roswell, Georgia

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Roswell, Georgia (GA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/georgia/roswell
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-08
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/7a3c301040244cde85fb7eb359c75b0f)

## At a glance

Roswell, Georgia regulates 17 sign types across 7 zoning districts. Single Post Sign (Nonresidential Use Only)s in the AG-43, RS-87, RS-30, RS-18, RS-12, RS-9, RS-6, R-S4, R-CC, R-TF, R-TH, RM-2, RM-3 zoning district are capped at Structure: 12 ft; Sign: 5 ft tall, 9 SF, and 3 ft wide, with a 5 ft from both front and side lot lines setback (Sec. Sec. 10.3.27, Table; Sec. 10.3.38).

## Sign rules by zoning district (7 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| AG-43, RS-87, RS-30, RS-18, RS-12, RS-9, RS-6, R-S4, R-CC, R-TF, R-TH, RM-2, RM-3 | 5 | Structure: 12 ft; Sign: 5 ft | 48 SF | — |
| RX- | 3 | 8 ft | 32 SF | — |
| NX-, CX-, SH-, CC-, PV-, CH-, DR-, DX-, DH-, OR-, OP-, IX-, IL- | 12 | All except PV/HOD: 12 ft; PV/HOD: 8 ft | 250 SF per sign | — |
| CIV | 5 | 12 ft | 128 SF | — |
| REC | 1 | — | 32 SF | — |
| CON | 1 | — | 128 SF | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 1 | — | Up to 32 SF; up to 50% of ground sign area | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 7 zones)

### AG-43, RS-87, RS-30, RS-18, RS-12, RS-9, RS-6, R-S4, R-CC, R-TF, R-TH, RM-2, RM-3

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Subdivision Entrance Sign | 8 ft | 32 SF | — | 10 ft from front property line, 15 ft from side property line. | 2 per street frontage | At subdivision entrance; minimum 10 ft setback from front property line, 15 ft from side property line. Must not conflict with required sight triangle. | — | Sec. 10.3.27, Table; Sec. 10.3.35 |
| Subdivision Community Information Sign | 7 ft | 24 SF | — | 50 ft from exterior of subdivision | 1 per main subdivision entrance | Within subdivision, at least 50 ft from exterior of subdivision. | — | Sec. 10.3.27, Table; Sec. 10.3.36 |
| Double Post Sign (Nonresidential Use Only) | 8 ft | 48 SF | — | 10 ft from front lot, 15 ft from side lot | 1 per street frontage, see above for exception | Set back at least 10 ft from front lot line, 15 ft from side lot line. | — | Sec. 10.3.27, Table; Sec. 10.3.37 |
| Single Post Sign (Nonresidential Use Only) | Structure: 12 ft; Sign: 5 ft | 9 SF | 3 ft | 5 ft from both front and side lot lines | 1 per building | Set back at least 5 ft from both front and side lot lines. | — | Sec. 10.3.27, Table; Sec. 10.3.38 |
| Sidewalk Sign (Nonresidential Use Only) | 5 ft | 9 SF | 3 ft | — | 1 per ground floor tenant | Adjacent to primary facade w/ principal customer entrance, or up to 8 ft from facade | — | Sec. 10.3.27, Table; Sec. 10.3.39 |

### NX-, CX-, SH-, CC-, PV-, CH-, DR-, DX-, DH-, OR-, OP-, IX-, IL-

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Crown Sign | 8 ft | 250 SF per sign | Width: 75% of facade | — | 1 per building facade (2 per bldg total) | Only on buildings at least 55 ft or 4 stories, at upper horizontal band. Cannot be below highest floor, nor above roof. | — | Sec. 10.3.27 Table; Sec. 10.3.32 |
| Shingle Sign | 3 ft | 9 SF | Projection 3 ft; Spacing from facade min 6 in, max 12 in; Depth 6 in | — | 1 per business per street frontage | Within 5 ft of accessible entrance, below window sills of 2nd story on multistory or roof on one-story buildings. | — | Sec. 10.3.27 Table; Sec. 10.3.33 |
| Ground Sign | All except PV/HOD: 12 ft; PV/HOD: 8 ft | 1 tenant: 50 SF; 2-3 tenants: 64 SF; 4-5 tenants: 72 SF; 6+ tenants: 96 SF. (PV- or HOD: 48 SF) | — | 10 ft front, 15 ft side | 1 per street frontage, possibly 2 if >1000 ft | Setback: minimum 10 ft front, 15 ft side. 1 per street frontage unless >1000 ft of frontage (then 1 extra allowed), must be 500 ft apart if more than 1. | — | Sec. 10.3.27 Table; Sec. 10.3.34 |
| Subdivision Entrance Sign | 8 ft | 32 SF | — | 10 ft from front property line, 15 ft from side property line. | 2 per street frontage | At subdivision entrance; minimum 10 ft setback from front property line, 15 ft from side property line. Must not conflict with required sight triangle. | — | Sec. 10.3.27, Table; Sec. 10.3.35 |
| Subdivision Community Information Sign | 7 ft | 24 SF | — | 50 ft from exterior of subdivision | 1 per main subdivision entrance | Within subdivision, at least 50 ft from exterior of subdivision. | — | Sec. 10.3.27, Table; Sec. 10.3.36 |
| Double Post Sign | 8 ft (DH-: 6 ft) | 48 SF (DH-: 36 SF) | — | 10 ft front, 15 ft side | 1 per street frontage; 2 if >1000 ft | Setback: 10 ft front, 15 ft side. | — | Sec. 10.3.27 Table; Sec. 10.3.37 |
| Single Post Sign | 12 ft | 9 SF | 3 ft | 5 ft front and side | 1 per building | Setback: 5 ft front and side lot lines | — | Sec. 10.3.27 Table; Sec. 10.3.38 |
| Sidewalk Sign (DH-, DS-, DX- only) | 5 ft | 9 SF | 3 ft | — | 1 per ground floor tenant | Adjacent to primary facade with principal customer entrance, or up to 8 ft from that facade | — | Sec. 10.3.27 Table; Sec. 10.3.39 |

### CIV

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | — | 128 SF | — | — | 2 per business | No higher than 18 ft above sidewalk, not above roof or parapet or eave. | — | Sec. 10.3.27 Table; Sec. 10.3.28 |
| Projecting Sign | Mounted below 2nd floor: 4 ft; between 2nd-3rd: 8 ft; above 3rd: 12 ft | — | Projection: max 6 ft; Spacing from facade: 1'-2' | — | 1 per business per street frontage | Must be 25 ft from any other projecting or shingle sign. | — | Sec. 10.3.27 Table; Sec. 10.3.31 |
| Ground Sign | 12 ft | 50 SF (1 tenant); 64 SF (2-3 tenants); 72 SF (4-5 tenants); 96 SF (6+ tenants) | — | 10 ft front, 15 ft side | 1 per street frontage or 2 if >1000 ft | Setback: 10 ft front, 15 ft side | — | Sec. 10.3.27 Table; Sec. 10.3.34 |
| Double Post Sign | 8 ft | 48 SF | — | 10 ft front, 15 ft side | 1 per street frontage, see ground sign | Setback: 10 ft front, 15 ft side | — | Sec. 10.3.27 Table; Sec. 10.3.37 |
| Single Post Sign | 12 ft | 9 SF | 3 ft | 5 ft front and side | 1 per building | Setback: 5 ft front and side | — | Sec. 10.3.27 Table; Sec. 10.3.38 |

## Prohibited signs in Roswell

- Posting, displaying, materially changing, or erecting a sign without first obtaining a sign permit (unless specifically exempted).
- Signs visible from a public right-of-way or neighboring properties are subject to regulation; signs not visible are not regulated.
- Erecting, relocating, or maintaining any sign that prevents free ingress or egress from any door, window, or fire escape.
- Placing any sign (other than authorized government/service/railroad traffic signs) within a government right-of-way.
- Placing a sign closer than 20 feet to an intersection as measured from the intersection of two rights-of-way.
- Failing to set back all signs at least 10 feet from the right-of-way and disallowing projection over the right-of-way.
- Erecting more than one freestanding sign within 35 feet of another freestanding sign.
- Erecting signs without providing adequate visibility triangles as per Transportation Department standards.
- Erecting the following types of signs or devices: balloons (except as explicitly allowed), pennants, streamers, feather signs, or air/gas-filled figures; beacons, search lights, laser lights/images; audible signs; signs in a public right-of-way (except specified government or agency signs); signs on trees or utility poles; roof signs or signs above a roof/parapet; portable signs (except explicitly allowed sidewalk/sandwich signs); obscene signs; signs for illegal activities; signs not in good repair or with broken, rotted, rusted, or missing parts; abandoned signs; rotating, animated, flashing, electronic, varying light intensity, or changeable copy signs (except as explicitly allowed); imitation traffic signs; signs held or attached to humans, unless mere costumes; off-premises signs (with limited exception for certain institutions under 4 square feet and not in right-of-way); graffiti.
- Constructing or maintaining signs with nails, tacks, or wires protruding therefrom.
- Illuminating signs using blinking, flashing, chasing lights; bare bulbs; colored lights confused with traffic devices; or any light source creating a hazard to motorists.
- Any illuminated sign excessively bright or interfering with the welfare of adjacent properties.
- Maintaining or permitting a dangerous or defective sign.
- Erecting or maintaining any nonconforming sign except as strictly permitted for repair or maintenance (subject to limits).
- Any violation of the standards in the Article.

## Signs exempt from permit in Roswell

- Public interest signs erected by or on the order of a public officer in the performance of duty (e.g., public notices, safety signs, traffic, street signs, memorial plaques).
- Traffic movement signs on private property directing movement, not exceeding 3 square feet, not advertising any product/service, and not in the public right-of-way.
- On-premises credit card identification signs up to 3 square feet, located on the building to which they relate.
- Signs not visible from the public right-of-way.
- Window signs not exceeding 30% of window area (including up to one neon 'open' sign ≤ 5 square feet for establishments, with additional constraints by district).
- Off-premises non-illuminated school, hospital, or other quasi-public signs not exceeding 4 square feet, not in the right-of-way.
- On-premises warning or public notice signs not exceeding 6 square feet, not in the right-of-way, spaced at least 100 feet apart.
- Flags of local, state, or national governments or private organizations designed to be flown from a flagpole (up to 3 per lot/site, each ≤ 60 square feet, ≤ 40' height, setback equals pole height).
- Murals or works of visual art (not in residential district) with no text/logos/commercial content legible from the right-of-way.
- On-premises business wall signs designed to identify services/products/activities not exceeding 1% of wall area and max two per building.
- Specific temporary signs (without permit), including: political signs (≤ 32 sq.ft., ≤ 8' height); civic/educational event signs (≤ 4 sq.ft., posted ≤ 2 days before and removed after); auto sales pricing signs (≤ 320 in² per vehicle, only certain colors); off-site real estate directional signs (≤ 4 sq.ft., limited number, location, duration, and no balloons/illumination/streamers/pennants); on-site residential real estate signs (1 per lot, ≤ 6 sq.ft., not illuminated, removed within 10 days of sale/lease, not in right-of-way).

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A sign permit is required for most signs unless explicitly exempted (Sec. 10.3.5, 10.3.16).
- Permit applications must be complete and accurate, and include detailed site plans, elevations, owner permission, contractor information, and compliance statements (Sec. 10.3.7).
- Signs not visible from right-of-way or neighboring properties are not subject to the Article's standards (Sec. 10.3.5).
- A variance procedure is available for hardships related to setbacks, building material, or as otherwise specified (Sec. 10.3.11). Variance applications follow the City's zoning variance process.
- Any person aggrieved by a permit/variance decision can appeal per Sec. 13.12, with certain timeframes for final determination (Sec. 10.3.8, 10.3.9, 10.3.11).
- Permits are required for temporary promotional/grand opening/construction/real estate signs, unless the exemption standards are met (Secs. 10.3.22, 10.3.16K, 10.3.22).
- Certain large/multi-tenant or special sign types may be subject to design/site plan or variance approval per the detailed sign standards and zoning district tables (Secs. 10.3.27, zone standards, 10.3.28+).

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

---

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