# Sign Regulations in South Fulton, Georgia

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

- **Jurisdiction:** South Fulton, Georgia (GA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/georgia/south-fulton
- **Data last verified:** 2025-09-05
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/ga/south_fulton/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=PT2COOR_APXCZO_ART7SIRE)

## At a glance

South Fulton, Georgia regulates 29 sign types across 7 zoning districts. Freestanding Sign (<500 ft frontage)s in the O-I Zoning District zoning district are capped at 10 ft tall and 32 sq.ft., with a See Sec. 706.01; minimum 10 ft from right-of-way, 25 ft from intersection. setback (Sec. Sec. 707.02, Table 7-2). Most commercial signs in South Fulton require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (7 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| AG-1 Zoning District | 9 | 20 ft (flagpole) | 32 sq.ft. | — |
| Single-Family Residential Zoning Districts (R-1, R-2, R-2A, R-3, R-3A, R-4, R-4A, R-5, R-5A, CUP, NUP, SUB A, SUB C) | 8 | 20 ft (flagpole) | 32 sq.ft. | — |
| Townhome, Apartment and Manufactured Home Residential Zoning Districts (R-6, TR, A, A-L, MHP, A-1) | 9 | 20 ft (flagpole) | 32 sq.ft. | — |
| O-I Zoning District | 13 | 20 ft (flagpole) | 100 sq.ft. per sign (or less, if 5% of wall area is less); up to 2 signs. | — |
| Commercial and Mixed Use Zoning Districts (C-1, C-2, MIX) | 16 | 20 ft (flagpole) | 100 sq.ft. or 300 sq.ft. for large tenant | — |
| M-1 Zoning District, M-2 Zoning District | 16 | 20 ft | up to 672 sq.ft. | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 5 | 20 ft (flagpole) | 20 sq.ft. | — |

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

### O-I Zoning District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign (<500 ft frontage) | 10 ft | 32 sq.ft. | — | See Sec. 706.01; minimum 10 ft from right-of-way, 25 ft from intersection. | 1 per street frontage | Per street frontage | — | Sec. 707.02, Table 7-2 |
| Freestanding Sign (>=500 ft frontage Option 1) | 10 ft | 64 sq.ft. | — | See Sec. 706.01; minimum 10 ft from right-of-way, 25 ft from intersection. | 1 per street frontage over 500 ft | Per street frontage | — | Sec. 707.02, Table 7-2 |
| Freestanding Sign (>=500 ft frontage Option 2) | 10 ft | 32 sq.ft. (each sign, max 2 signs) | — | See Sec. 706.01; minimum 10 ft from right-of-way, 25 ft from intersection. | 2 per frontage (when substituted) | Per street frontage | — | Sec. 707.02, Table 7-2 |
| Window Sign | — | 4 sq.ft. or 25% window area, whichever is less | — | — | 3 per unit | On windows | — | Sec. 707.02, Table 7-2 |
| Wall Sign | — | 100 sq.ft. per sign (or less, if 5% of wall area is less); up to 2 signs. | — | — | 2 per business (on different walls) | Street-facing and/or pedestrian/parking areas. Businesses without street on which there is frontage but with exterior entrances may have 1 wall sign at primary entrance. | — | Sec. 707.02, Table 7-2 |
| Feather Flag Sign | — | 32 sq.ft. | — | — | 1 per 40 ft of frontage (per business) | Along roadway where principal sign is installed. | — | Sec. 707.02, Table 7-2; Sec. 706.06 |
| Small Temporary Sign | 3 ft | 4 sq.ft. | — | Can be placed up to property edge; see Sec. 706.01 | 2 per lot (unlimited during elections) | — | — | Sec. 707.02, Table 7-2; Sec. 704 |
| Internal Development Sign | 6 ft max (primary), 4 ft max (additional) | 20 sq.ft. and 6 ft high (primary); 10 sq.ft. and 4 ft high (additional); hospitals/emergency care may have internal dev signs up to 20 sq.ft. | — | — | 1 primary, multiple additional | Not legible from public right-of-way | — | Sec. 707.02, Table 7-2 |

### Commercial and Mixed Use Zoning Districts (C-1, C-2, MIX)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign (<3 acres) | 6 ft | 32 sq.ft. | — | See Sec. 706.01; minimum 10 ft from right-of-way, 25 ft from intersection. | 1 per lot (<3 acres) | — | — | Sec. 707.02, Table 7-2 |
| Freestanding Sign (3 to 15 acres) | 8 ft | 44 sq.ft. | — | See Sec. 706.01; minimum 10 ft from right-of-way, 25 ft from intersection. | 1 per lot (3 to 15 acres) | — | — | Sec. 707.02, Table 7-2 |
| Freestanding Sign (>15 acres, Primary Frontage) | 8 ft | 64 sq.ft. | — | See Sec. 706.01; minimum 10 ft from right-of-way, 25 ft from intersection. | 1 per street (primary frontage) | — | — | Sec. 707.02, Table 7-2 |
| Freestanding Sign (>15 acres, Secondary Frontage) | 6 ft | 32 sq.ft. | — | See Sec. 706.01; minimum 10 ft from right-of-way, 25 ft from intersection. | 1 per street (secondary frontage) | — | — | Sec. 707.02, Table 7-2 |
| Freestanding Sign (Option: 2 single-faced signs/primary frontage) | 6 ft | 32 sq.ft. each, 2 maximum | — | — | 2 per primary frontage | Primary frontage only | — | Sec. 707.02, Table 7-2 |
| Small Temporary Sign | 3 ft | 4 sq.ft. | — | Can be placed up to property edge; see Sec. 706.01 | 2 per lot (up to 4 with multiple businesses); unlimited during elections | — | — | Sec. 707.02, Table 7-2; Sec. 704 |
| Internal Development Sign | 6 ft (primary), 4 ft (additional) | 20 sq.ft. and 6 ft high (primary); 10 sq.ft. and 4 ft high (additional); hospitals/emergency care may have internal dev signs up to 20 sq.ft. | — | — | 1 primary, multiple additional | Not legible from public right-of-way | — | Sec. 707.02, Table 7-2 |
| Drive-Thru/Drive-In Sign | 6 ft | 32 sq.ft. | — | — | 1 per drive-through lane | Drive-through lane | — | Sec. 707.02, Table 7-2 |

### M-1 Zoning District, M-2 Zoning District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign (up to 500 ft frontage) | 20 ft | 32 sq.ft. | — | See Sec. 706.01; minimum 10 ft from right-of-way, 25 ft from intersection. | 1 per street (≤500 ft frontage) | Per street frontage | — | Sec. 707.03, Table 7-3 |
| Freestanding Sign (>500 -1,000 ft frontage) | 20 ft | 64 sq.ft. | — | See Sec. 706.01; minimum 10 ft from right-of-way, 25 ft from intersection. | 1 per street (>500-1000 ft frontage) | Per street frontage | — | Sec. 707.03, Table 7-3 |
| Freestanding Sign (>1,000 ft frontage) | 20 ft | 72 sq.ft. | — | See Sec. 706.01; minimum 10 ft from right-of-way, 25 ft from intersection. | 1 per street (>1,000 ft frontage) | — | — | Sec. 707.03, Table 7-3 |
| Freestanding Sign (Spin Site/Out-parcel) | 8 ft | 32 sq.ft. | — | — | 1 per approved site/out-parcel | — | — | Sec. 707.03, Table 7-3 |
| Small Temporary Sign | 3 ft | 4 sq.ft. | — | Can be placed up to property edge; see Sec. 706.01 | 4 per lot (unlimited elections) | — | — | Sec. 707.03, Table 7-3; Sec. 704 |
| Internal Development Sign | 6 ft (primary), 4 ft (additional) | 20 sq.ft. and 6 ft high (primary); 10 sq.ft. and 4 ft high (additional) | — | — | 1 primary, multiple additional | Not legible from public right-of-way | — | Sec. 707.03, Table 7-3 |
| Drive-Thru/Drive-In Sign | 6 ft | 32 sq.ft. | — | — | 1 per drive-through lane | Drive-through lane | — | Sec. 707.03, Table 7-3 |
| Billboard | According to district standards | up to 672 sq.ft. | — | 100 ft from right-of-way; 1,500 ft from other billboards. | — | Along state/national highways only; not allowed within 500 ft of AG/Residential | — | Sec. 707.03, Table 7-3; Sec. 706.07 |

## Prohibited signs in South Fulton

- All signs, other than legal non-conforming signs, which are not in compliance with this Article are prohibited and illegal and shall not be erected or maintained.
- Any sign placed or erected on a property without the permission of the property owner.
- Balloons, streamers or air or gas filled figures.
- String lights: Signs consisting in whole or in part of a series, line, or row of lights, whether supported by cables or other physical means, within 150 feet of a street right-of-way and visible therefrom. (Holiday lights and decorations for up to 30 days before or after a holiday are exempt from this prohibition.)
- Promotional beacons, search lights or laser lights or images.
- Audible signs.
- Signs in a public right-of-way, other than official City signs or those belonging to a government, public service agency, or railroad.
- Signs mounted or located on a tree, utility or light pole, retaining wall, fence, rock, or other similar structure.
- Roof signs and signs which extend vertically above any portion of a roof or parapet of the applicable wall. (Exception for flat roof signs as specified.)
- Portable signs.
- Signs which depict obscene material as defined by local or state law.
- Signs not in good repair, in violation of codes, or containing or exhibiting broken panels, visible rust, visible rot, damaged support structures, or missing letters.
- Abandoned signs.
- Animated signs, with the exception of electronic changeable copy signs and feather flag signs as may be regulated by this Article.
- Flashing signs.
- Changeable copy signs which change more than once per 24 hours within 150 feet of a road right-of-way.
- Signs that are a threat to public safety, such as: signs containing or imitating an official traffic sign/signal or use certain words to resemble traffic control signs; display intermittent or blinking lights similar to emergency vehicles; obscure/interfere with official traffic signs or with a driver’s view of approaching or merging traffic.
- Signs which are erected, relocated, or maintained so as to prevent free ingress or egress from any door, window, or fire escape.
- Vehicular signs.

## Signs exempt from permit in South Fulton

- Property address numerals, not to exceed eight inches in height or as required by the applicable building code, required by the City and considered 'official governmental signs'.
- Flags.
- Not more than one incidental door sign.
- Small temporary signs (in all districts).
- Temporary signs during building construction.
- Signs which are not visible from a public right-of-way, private drive, or from neighboring properties are not subject to the standards of this Article.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- No reference to a general master sign plan requirement was found in the ordinance text provided.
- Applications for sign permits must be filed for all permanent or temporary signs unless specifically listed as not requiring a permit (e.g., certain exemptions, small temporary signs, flags, etc.).
- Variance requests for signs must be heard by the Zoning Board of Appeals, pursuant to Article 8, and are only permitted as to number, set back, building material, height, and size or sign style.
- Permit is required for most sign types as indicated in the appropriate tables for allowed signs per zoning district.
- For billboards, a permit from the State of Georgia is required as a prerequisite for issuance of a building permit by the City.

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

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