# Sign Regulations in Thomaston, Georgia

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Thomaston, Georgia (GA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/georgia/thomaston
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-09
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/GA/Thomaston/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=PTIICOOR_CH98ZO_ART98-21SIOR)

## At a glance

Thomaston, Georgia regulates 19 sign types across 10 zoning districts. Ground Signs in the C-1 Neighborhood Commercial District (C-1) zoning district are capped at 12 feet tall, 24 square feet, and 8 feet wide, with a 6 feet from right-of-way setback (Sec. Sec. 98-21.12.C.1; Table 3). Most commercial signs in Thomaston require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (10 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| R-1 Low Density Residential District (R-1, ES estate subdivision—Class one, ES estate subdivision—Class two), R-2 Medium Density Residential District (R-2) | 3 | 8 feet | 32 square feet | — |
| R-CT Residential Condominium-Townhouse District (R-CT, C-TH), M-R Multifamily Residential District (M-R) | 3 | 8 feet | 32 square feet | — |
| C-1 Neighborhood Commercial District (C-1) | 9 | 12 feet | 30% of window area | — |
| C-2 General Commercial District (C-2) | 8 | 35 feet | 50% of awning face | — |
| DT Downtown District (DT) | 9 | 8 feet | 32 square feet | — |
| P-I Professional-Institutional District (P-I) | 8 | 16 feet | 32 square feet | — |
| PD Planned Development (PD) | 1 | — | — | — |
| M-1 Light Industrial District (M-1), M-2 Heavy Industrial District (M-2) | 8 | 20 feet | 72 square feet | — |
| Thomaston Gateway North Overlay | 9 | 35 feet | Varies, max 300 square feet per Sec. 98-21.11 | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 5 | Pole: 20 ft residential, 24 ft small commercial/institutional, 40 ft others | 32 square feet | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 10 zones)

### C-1 Neighborhood Commercial District (C-1)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Ground Sign | 12 feet | 24 square feet | 8 feet | 6 feet from right-of-way | 1/100 feet of street frontage | On property, commercial location. | — | Sec. 98-21.12.C.1; Table 3 |
| Wall Sign | — | 10% of the area of the facade on which the sign(s) is installed | 50% of facade | — | 1/tenant space (per facade) | On building wall (primary and secondary facade) | — | Sec. 98-21.12.C.2; Table 3 |
| Projecting Sign | — | 16 square feet | 4 feet | 1 foot from right-of-way | 1/tenant space (primary facade) | Perpendicular to building face (primary facade) | — | Sec. 98-21.12.C.4; Table 3 |
| Awning Sign | — | 16 square feet; maximum 50% of awning face | 50% of awning face | — | 1/awning or max 2/tenant space (primary facade) | Painted or attached directly to awning | — | Sec. 98-21.12.C.5, Table 3; Sec. 98-21.13.B |
| Entrance Sign (Monument Style) | 6 feet | 24 square feet | 8 feet | 10 feet from right-of-way | 1/entrance, max 2/road frontage | At entrance | — | Sec. 98-21.12.C.6; Table 3 |
| Temporary Sign | 8 feet | 24 square feet | 8 feet | 6 feet from right-of-way | 1/50 feet of frontage | Per frontage, on property | — | Sec. 98-21.12.C.7; Table 3; Sec. 98-21.9.1, .13.O |
| Canopy Sign | — | Per formula; typically 0.5 sq ft/linear foot | 25% canopy width | — | 1 per canopy face, max 3 | On canopy face | — | Sec. 98-21.12.C.8; Table 3 |
| A-frame Sign | 3 feet | 6 square feet (2ft x 3ft) | — | — | 1 per tenant space (ground floor front) | Within 10 feet of the primary entrance to the business, on the same lot | — | Sec. 98-21.12.C.9; Table 3; Sec. 98-21.13.A |

### DT Downtown District (DT)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Ground Sign (Monument Style) | 6 feet | 24 square feet | 8 feet | 4 feet from right-of-way | 1/100 feet of street frontage | On property | — | Sec. 98-21.12.E.1; Table 5 |
| Wall Sign | — | 10% of area of the facade on which sign(s) installed | 50% of facade | — | 1/tenant space (per facade) | On building wall (primary and secondary facade) | — | Sec. 98-21.12.E.2; Table 5 |
| Window Sign | — | 30% of window area | — | — | 2/tenant space (primary), 1/tenant space (secondary) | Within window area | — | Sec. 98-21.12.E.3; Table 5 |
| Projecting Sign | — | 16 square feet | 6 feet | 1 foot from right-of-way | 1/tenant space (primary facade) | Perpendicular to building face (primary facade) | — | Sec. 98-21.12.E.4; Table 5 |
| Awning Sign | — | 16 square feet; maximum 50% of awning face | 50% of awning face | — | 1/awning or 2/tenant space (primary facade) | Painted or attached directly to awning | — | Sec. 98-21.12.E.5; Table 5; Sec. 98-21.13.B |
| Entrance Sign (Monument Style) | 8 feet | 24 square feet | 8 feet | 4 feet from right-of-way | 1/entrance, max 2/road frontage | At building entrance | — | Sec. 98-21.12.E.6; Table 5 |
| Temporary Sign | 6 feet | 32 square feet | 8 feet | 4 feet from right-of-way | 1/50 feet of frontage | Per street frontage, on property | — | Sec. 98-21.12.E.7; Table 5; Sec. 98-21.9.1, .13.O |
| A-frame Sign | 3 feet | 6 square feet (2ft x 3ft) | — | — | 1 per tenant space (ground floor front) | Within 10 feet of the primary entrance to the business, on the same lot | — | Sec. 98-21.12.E.9; Table 5; Sec. 98-21.13.A |

### Thomaston Gateway North Overlay

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Ground Sign (Pole & Pylon, not Billboard) | 20 feet | 32 square feet | 8 feet | 6 feet from right-of-way | 1/200 feet of street frontage | On property | — | Sec. 98-21.12.I.1; Table 8 |
| Ground Sign (Billboard) | 35 feet | Varies, max 300 square feet per Sec. 98-21.11 | — | Minimum 25 feet from state route right-of-way and other billboard setbacks. | See Billboard spacing/separation requirements | Only per Billboard regulation | — | Sec. 98-21.12.I.1, Table 8; Sec. 98-21.11 |
| Wall Sign | — | 10% of area of the facade on which sign(s) installed | 50% of facade | — | 1/tenant space (per facade) | On building wall (primary and secondary facade) | — | Sec. 98-21.12.I.2; Table 8 |
| Window Sign | — | 30% of window area | — | — | 2/tenant space (primary), 1/tenant space (secondary) | Within window area | — | Sec. 98-21.12.I.3; Table 8 |
| Projecting Sign | — | 16 square feet | 4 feet | 4 feet from right-of-way | 1/tenant space (primary facade) | Perpendicular to building face (primary facade) | — | Sec. 98-21.12.I.4; Table 8 |
| Awning Sign | — | 16 square feet; maximum 50% of awning face | 50% of awning face | — | 1/awning or 2/tenant space (primary facade) | Painted or attached directly to awning | — | Sec. 98-21.12.I.5; Table 8; Sec. 98-21.13.B |
| Entrance Sign (Monument Style) | 8 feet | 32 square feet | 8 feet | 6 feet from right-of-way | 1/entrance, max 2/road frontage | At entrance | — | Sec. 98-21.12.I.6; Table 8 |
| Temporary Sign | 6 feet | 16 square feet | 8 feet | 6 feet from right-of-way | 1/50 feet of frontage | Per street frontage, on property | — | Sec. 98-21.12.I.7; Table 8; Sec. 98-21.9.1, .13.O |

## Prohibited signs in Thomaston

- Abandoned signs.
- Animated signs, including rotating signs or animated signs involving motion of any part of the sign.
- Any billboard greater than 300 square feet or any stacked or side-by-side billboard.
- Any sign nailed, mounted, tacked on, painted, posted, or otherwise affixed to a fence, utility pole, street sign or similar structure or affixed to a tree, rock or other natural feature.
- Any sign on or over public property except where specifically allowed by the entity with control over such property, and except for projecting, hanging and awning signs in the historic downtown district that may overhang public sidewalks or an alley, provided the sign does not prevent safe vehicle traffic along a public right-of-way or pedestrian travel on sidewalks.
- Any sign that by reason of size, shape, height, location, color or illumination interferes with motorist, cyclist or pedestrian vision; obstructs or detracts from view or simulates any traffic control or warning sign or device; any signal or public service sign on public streets or otherwise constitutes a traffic hazard.
- Any sign resembling an official traffic control sign, signal or device that contains words or symbols displayed in a manner that could mislead or confuse motorists, cyclists or pedestrians.
- Any sign that displays intermittent lights resembling the flashing lights customarily used in emergency vehicles that might mislead or confuse motorists, cyclists or pedestrians.
- Any sign resembling the color, size, shapes, or order of lights customarily used on law enforcement vehicles that creates a safety risk to motorists or otherwise interferes with the safe and orderly movement of traffic except as part of a public or private traffic-control sign.
- Any sign that features flashing, blinking, intermittent, scrolling, animated illumination or effect or signs using varying light intensities, provided signs meeting all standards of the Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices and installed for the safety or control of traffic shall be exempt from this prohibition.
- Any sign that advertises any activity, service or product prohibited by the laws or regulations of the United States or the State of Georgia or by the ordinances or resolutions of the city.
- Automatic changeable copy signs within the geographic area defined on the downtown development authority map.
- Beacons, searchlights and laser lights or similar devices.
- Dilapidated signs that are not maintained; in disrepair; in violation of city codes; or containing broken panels, visible rust, visible rot, damaged support structures, or missing copy.
- Any sign that displays a false statement or statements calculated to mislead the public as to anything sold, services to be performed or information disseminated.
- Feather flag signs.
- Festoons.
- Flags, except as allowed under section 98-21.13, sign standards by sign type.
- Any sign attached to a pole or other structure on which sign displays are not the intended purpose.
- Any attention seeking device that is wind-activated or an air- or gas-filled device such as inflatable figures and balloons greater than two feet in diameter or that exceed three cubic feet per device.
- Any LED light strips, light strings, lights part of a series, ropes, row of lights or other configurations; any such light that flashes, scrolls or crawls; and any such sign placed in the interior of a building within 12 feet of any transparent or translucent window or door in a manner clearly visible from a street or public right-of-way, except that a single sign having a maximum area of three square feet that may be illuminated shall be allowed. Notwithstanding the foregoing, white non-LED string lights consisting in whole or in part of a series, line or row of lights, whether supported or connected by cables, wires or other physical means for nighttime use for lighting outdoor seating areas and colored string lights and decorations displayed during the months of November, December and January are exempted from this section.
- Non-shielded illuminated signs affecting pilot visibility or creating a hazard to air navigation.
- Obscene signs, as defined by O.C.G.A. § 16-12-80(b).
- Pennants and streamers.
- Portable signs except A-frame, sidewalk and sandwich signs, but including signs in excess of three square feet attached to any parked vehicle or any sign mounted on a trailer so as to be visible from a public right-of-way.
- Roof signs or any sign that extends vertically above any portion of a roof or parapet wall.
- Any sign attached or affixed to bus shelters or bus benches, with the exception of signs approved by the appropriate governing authority.
- Any sign that emits or produces in any manner any sound capable of being detected from the public right-of-way by a person with normal hearing.
- Any sign that emits an odor or a visible substance such as smoke or vapor.
- Any sign on public rights-of-way, other than publicly owned or maintained signs.
- Any sign or device using confusing, distracting, or intense illumination or distracting motion when visible from a public right-of-way. No sign or device shall be permitted that utilizes intense flashing (strobe type) lights, spot lights, floodlights, search lights, flashing or blinking lights, or any type of pulsating or moving light that may impair vision, cause glare or otherwise impact public safety.
- Any sign that obstructs free access to or from any building, door, window or fire escape or that prevent free passage from one part of a roof to any other part. No sign shall interfere with any opening required for ventilation or used for fire prevention or suppression, nor shall any such sign be attached to any standpipe or fire escape.
- Any sign within public rights-of-way or any other public property, other than those belonging to a government, public service agency or signs within a railroad right-of-way and serving a railroad purpose.
- Any sign, fliers, bills, posters, or any other such object placed on or affixed to any feature within the public right-of-way or any publicly owned building located within or outside a public right-of-way. Such signs shall be removed immediately upon written notice by the Thomaston building official. Any damage or defacement resulting from such prohibited placement shall be immediately repaired or otherwise corrected by the responsible party.
- Snipe signs.
- Sign spinners, wavers, costumed characters or street performers with sign devices, including hand held devices.
- Temporary signs, except as allowed by subsection 98-21.9.1, temporary signs.
- Any sign placed on a security fence associated with a telecommunications facility or compound, a telecommunications monopole or lattice tower or any telecommunications antenna, except that one sign having a maximum area of four square feet may be placed on each side of a security fence enclosing a telecommunications facility or compound.
- No sign shall be erected by nailing, fastening or affixing in any manner to any rock, tree, or utility pole.
- No sign shall be erected, relocated or maintained to prevent free access to any door, window, or fire escape; nor shall any sign be attached to any standpipe or fire escape.
- No message shall be displayed on any portion of the structural supports of a sign.
- No sign or sign structure of any kind shall be located less than ten feet from a side or rear property line or within a required landscape area or buffer.
- It shall be unlawful for any person to place, erect, locate, or allow any sign within the city that does not fully comply with the provisions of this article.

## Signs exempt from permit in Thomaston

- A permit is not required for the following signs, provided all standards of this article are met: temporary signs mandated by federal law, state law or by this Code; notices posted by any railroad or other transportation or transmission entity essential for protecting public safety; signs not exceeding six square feet in area placed on a lot; wall signs with a sign area of not more than two square feet placed on a building located on a lot; window signs, subject to the standards of this article; door signs not to exceed one square foot in area and not more than one sign per door; flags, subject to the provisions of section 98-21.13, sign standards by sign type; replacement of removable sign panels on a sign structure such that the sign structure is not replaced or modified; numerals displayed for the purpose of identifying the property address not to exceed a six-inch maximum for residential uses and a 12-inch maximum for non-residential uses; A-frame, sidewalk or sandwich signs located within ten feet of the entrance to a place of business on the same lot; balloons having a maximum area of two cubic feet each and up to five per non-residential lot (these may only be displayed for a maximum of two weeks following the opening of a business or while a business has an approved event permit in effect).
- Promotional event signs (banners, streamers, beacons, searchlights and laser lights or similar devices, flags, feather flag signs, festoons, sign spinners, wavers, costumed characters or street performers with sign devices, including handheld devices for promotion of a grand opening or similar event of community interest) may be displayed two weeks prior to the event and through the period of the event (not to exceed 30 days following the date of the grand opening or similar event), subject to approval by the city manager. Application for a permit is required, but the permit is issued at no cost.
- The following signs are exempt from the standards of this article unless otherwise provided and may be displayed without a permit: signs not visible from the public right-of-way and not intended to be seen by the public; signs within a business, office, mall or other totally enclosed area; signs erected by, or on the order of, a public official in the performance of his or her duty (such signs may be located within the public right-of-way); signs on all buildings, structures and property owned or operated by the city; swinging or projecting signs not exceeding three square feet or projecting more than four feet from the building and attached under the eave or awning of a building above a business entrance; one official sign as required by the state for licensed vehicle emissions stations (not exceeding 24 inches in width and 36 inches in height); signs affixed to an automated teller kiosk and accompanying canopy serving as an accessory use to a bank or financial institution on the same lot; signs on coin-operated vending machines and fuel pumps provided the pumps are designed to accommodate such signs and the signs are integral to the pump structure and no larger than the fuel pump structure.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A survey or scaled site plan indicating the proposed location of the sign on the property with setbacks from any property line, lot frontage along any street, footprint of all buildings on the property, and size of the property must be submitted with the sign permit application (Sec. 98-21.14.3).
- Plans required for issuance of a sign permit shall be certified as to conformance with all structural and wind load-resistant standards of the building code by a qualified structural engineer or prepared using standard drawings by a structural engineer or other qualified professional meeting all requirements of the building code (Sec. 98-21.14.3.B.1).
- In Planned Development (PD) zoning districts, permitted sign types and standards are as approved in the planned development agreement, which may reference a master or unified sign plan (Sec. 98-21.12.G).
- All applications for billboards shall require submission of a survey performed by a surveyor licensed in the state, showing distances and sign heights; such survey must accompany the sign permit application (Sec. 98-21.11.A.15).
- Section 98-21.14 provides that a sign permit application must include a scaled site plan or survey and potentially a number of other plans or engineering drawings depending on the size and type of sign.
- Variance applications relating to sign standards are subject to a public hearing before the Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA), which acts as the variance review committee (Sec. 98-21.18).
- Sign standards in Planned Development (PD) districts, including requirements for sign plans or master sign plans, are set by the development agreement for the district (Sec. 98-21.12.G).

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

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