# Sign Regulations in Toccoa, Georgia

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Toccoa, Georgia (GA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/georgia/toccoa
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-09
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/GA/Toccoa/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=PTIICOOR_CH5BUBURE_ARTIIISIRE)

## At a glance

Toccoa, Georgia regulates 23 sign types across 6 zoning districts. Electronic Message Board Signs in the Commercial zoning areas (B-II) zoning district are capped at 8 ft. (monument overall incl. base and electronic board) tall, 9.6 sq. ft. (portion); must not exceed 20% of the monument sign face. Monument base max 8 ft H x 10 ft L, and 10 ft. (monument overall) wide, with a At least 10 ft. from right-of-way setback (Sec. Sec. 5-192(g)). Most commercial signs in Toccoa require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (6 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Historic district (B-III), Central business district (CBD) | 9 | Not to be mounted higher than 18 feet or above the parapet wall; cannot extend laterally beyond facade | 150 sq. ft. | — |
| Main Street District Area | 5 | Not to be mounted higher than 18 feet or above the parapet wall | 90 sq. ft. per façade | — |
| Residential zoning districts | 3 | 6 ft above grade | 25 sq. ft. | — |
| Commercial zoning areas (B-II) | 10 | 50 ft. above road grade | 160 sq. ft. per side | — |
| Industrial zoning districts (MI, MII) | 9 | Not to project above parapet wall; see also 35 ft zone max sign height separately | 150 sq. ft. per business | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 4 | 10 inches | 40 sq. ft. | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 6 zones)

### Historic district (B-III), Central business district (CBD)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | Not to be mounted higher than 18 feet or above the parapet wall; cannot extend laterally beyond facade | 90 sq. ft. per façade (historic district balance, not residential) | — | — | One wall sign per street-facing wall per tenant | Exterior building wall, not to project beyond exterior façade | — | Secs 5-181, 5-182, 5-191(4), 5-192(f), 5-183(12), 5-197, 5-192(n) |
| Awning Sign | 7 ft above sidewalk or grade | — | — | — | One awning sign per street-facing wall per tenant (in lieu of wall sign) | On awning; must not project above or lateral beyond building face more than 4 ft | — | Secs 5-181, 5-182, 5-191(4), 5-192(f), 5-183(12), 5-197, 5-192(n) |
| Monument Sign | 6 ft. | 50 sq. ft. (includes signage and structure) | — | — | 1 per parcel per street frontage | Per parcel per street frontage | — | Sec. 5-192(e); 5-183(12) |
| Sandwich Board Sign | 3 ft | 6 sq. ft. (2 ft wide x 3 ft high) | 2 ft | — | 1 per business | Must be located in front of business served (on sidewalk, not on right of way) | — | Sec. 5-181 (definition), 5-196(13) |
| Marquee Sign | Shall not extend above parapet wall; lowest point must be at least 10 ft above grade | 45 sq. ft. | Overhang not to exceed 8 ft from façade | — | — | On front façade of theater/entertainment buildings | — | Sec. 5-192(m) |
| Window Sign | — | No more than 30% of window area (per window) | — | — | 1 per window | Interior face of windows, visible from exterior | — | Sec. 5-181 (definition), 5-196(2), 5-188(4) |
| Door Sign | — | 1 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per door | On or adjacent to door | — | Sec. 5-192(l), 5-196(14) |
| Freestanding Sign | 18 ft. max (historic downtown etc.), elsewhere in commercial/industrial: 35 ft. max | 150 sq. ft. | — | May not be within 30 ft. of intersection of street rights-of-way | — | Permanent, ground-mounted | — | Sec. 5-181 (definition), 5-192, 5-191(4) |

### Commercial zoning areas (B-II)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign (Single-Tenant/Multi-Tenant, <100 ft frontage) | Not to project above parapet wall; see also 35 ft zone max sign height separately | 100 sq. ft. per business | — | — | One per street-facing wall per tenant | Building facade | — | Sec. 5-192(f), 5-191(1) |
| Wall Sign (Multi-Tenant, >=100 ft frontage) | Not to project above parapet wall | 150 sq. ft. per business | — | — | One per street-facing wall per tenant | Building facade | — | Sec. 5-192(f), 5-191(1) |
| Freestanding Sign (Stanchion) (Parcel >3 acres) | 35 ft. | 150 sq. ft. | — | Cannot be within 30 ft of intersection of street rights-of-way | 1 per parcel per street frontage | One per parcel per street frontage | — | Sec. 5-192(d), 5-191(1) |
| Freestanding Sign (Stanchion) (Parcel >=30,000 sq ft <3 acres) | 35 ft. | 150 sq. ft. | — | Cannot be within 30 ft of intersection of street rights-of-way | 1 per parcel per street frontage | One per parcel per street frontage | — | Sec. 5-192(d), 5-191(1) |
| Freestanding Sign (Stanchion) (Parcel <30,000 sq ft) | 35 ft. | 100 sq. ft. | — | Cannot be within 30 ft of intersection of street rights-of-way | 1 per parcel per street frontage | One per parcel per street frontage | — | Sec. 5-192(d), 5-191(1) |
| Monument Sign | 6 ft. | 50 sq. ft. (includes signage and structure) | — | — | 1 per parcel per street frontage | One per parcel per street frontage | — | Sec. 5-192(e) |
| Billboard Sign | 50 ft. above road grade | 160 sq. ft. per side | — | — | One two-sided per lot | Only on parcels adjacent to designated state or federal highways | — | Sec. 5-192(c) |
| Electronic Message Board Sign | 8 ft. (monument overall incl. base and electronic board) | 9.6 sq. ft. (portion); must not exceed 20% of the monument sign face. Monument base max 8 ft H x 10 ft L | 10 ft. (monument overall) | At least 10 ft. from right-of-way | One per qualifying location | Only on specified corridors (Big A Road, Currahee Street as described), on monument base, minimum 10 ft. from right-of-way | — | Sec. 5-192(g) |

### Industrial zoning districts (MI, MII)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign (Single-Tenant/Multi-Tenant, <100 ft frontage) | Not to project above parapet wall; see also 35 ft zone max sign height separately | 100 sq. ft. per business | — | — | One per street-facing wall per tenant | Building facade | — | Sec. 5-192(f), 5-191(1) |
| Wall Sign (Multi-Tenant, >=100 ft frontage) | Not to project above parapet wall | 150 sq. ft. per business | — | — | One per street-facing wall per tenant | Building facade | — | Sec. 5-192(f), 5-191(1) |
| Awning Sign | 7 ft above sidewalk or grade | — | — | — | One per street-facing wall per tenant (in lieu of wall sign) | Mounted on awning; not above building face/lateral | — | Sec. 5-192(f) |
| Freestanding Sign (Stanchion) (Parcel >3 acres) | 35 ft. | 150 sq. ft. | — | Cannot be within 30 ft of intersection of street rights-of-way | 1 per parcel per street frontage | One per parcel per street frontage | — | Sec. 5-192(d), 5-191(1) |
| Freestanding Sign (Stanchion) (Parcel >=30,000 sq ft <3 acres) | 35 ft. | 150 sq. ft. | — | Cannot be within 30 ft of intersection of street rights-of-way | 1 per parcel per street frontage | One per parcel per street frontage | — | Sec. 5-192(d), 5-191(1) |
| Freestanding Sign (Stanchion) (Parcel <30,000 sq ft) | 35 ft. | 100 sq. ft. | — | Cannot be within 30 ft of intersection of street rights-of-way | 1 per parcel per street frontage | One per parcel per street frontage | — | Sec. 5-192(d), 5-191(1) |
| Monument Sign | 6 ft. | 50 sq. ft. (includes signage and structure) | — | — | 1 per parcel per street frontage | One per parcel per street frontage | — | Sec. 5-192(e) |
| Window Sign | — | No more than 30% of window area | — | — | 1 per window | Inside window, visible from exterior | — | Sec. 5-181, 5-196(2) |

## Prohibited signs in Toccoa

- Animated signs are prohibited throughout the city.
- Signs on public rights of way other than publicly owned or maintained signs are prohibited.
- Window signs which exceed 30 percent of the window area are prohibited.
- Signs containing words, pictures, or statements that are obscene, as defined by the Official Code of Georgia Annotated § 16-12-80, are prohibited.
- Signs which simulate an official traffic control or warning sign or hide from view any traffic or street sign, signal, or public service sign are prohibited.
- Signs which emit or utilize any sound capable of being detected on any traveled road or highway by a person with normal hearing are prohibited.
- Signs which interfere with road or highway visibility or obstruct or otherwise interfere with the safe and orderly movement of traffic are prohibited.
- Signs that are more than six square feet, attached to or painted onto a vehicle parked on or adjacent to and visible from a street for the purpose of advertising onto said street, except signs advertising the vehicle for sale, are prohibited.
- Roof signs are prohibited.
- Signs erected by nailing, fastening, or affixing the sign in any manner to any tree, post, curb, utility pole, or other structure except as set forth herein are prohibited.
- Multiple message billboards are prohibited.
- Double stacked billboards are prohibited.
- Signs which emit smoke, vapor, particles, or odor are prohibited.
- Portable signs are prohibited, except in the industrial zoning districts MI and MII with restrictions.
- Trailer signs are prohibited.
- Signs painted directly on exterior walls for a building or structure located in the historic district are prohibited, except under specific conditions.
- Signs with revolving or rotating beams of light located in the historic district are prohibited.
- Flying signs and paraphernalia or inflatable signs except as used by legally constituted governmental agencies and authorities are prohibited.
- Pennants and streamers are prohibited.
- LED light strips around windows are prohibited.
- Hand written signs are prohibited.
- Abandoned signs (any sign on a property which becomes vacant and is unoccupied for a period of six months or more, or any sign which pertains to a time, event, or purpose which no longer applies) are prohibited and in violation of the article.

## Signs exempt from permit in Toccoa

- Flags and insignia of any government, religious, charitable, fraternal, or other organizations are exempt from regulation.
- Non-illuminated signs having a sign area of less than 15 square feet, provided they are not located in the public right-of-way, are exempt from permit requirements.
- Window signs installed for purposes of viewing from outside the premises, not exceeding 30 percent of available window space, are exempt from permit requirements.
- Numerals displayed for purposes of identifying property location and not exceeding four inches in height in residential districts and ten inches in height in nonresidential districts are exempt from permit requirements.
- Seasonal displays located outside of the public rights of way that are erected for a maximum period of thirty days no more than twice a year are exempt from permit requirements.
- Temporary signs including banners and promotional signs, not exceeding 40 square feet and not erected more than 30 days during a six month calendar period, are exempt from permit requirements.
- Instructional or directional signs not exceeding six square feet in area and three feet in height are exempt from permit requirements.
- Drive thru menu and gasoline signs are exempt from permit requirements.
- Kiosks are exempt from permit requirements.
- Holiday lights and decorations are exempt from permit requirements.
- Signs on private premises directing and guiding traffic and parking on private property are exempt from permit requirements.
- Any sign with a total square area of two square feet or less is exempt from permit requirements.
- Sandwich board signs are exempt from permit requirements.
- Door signs (not to exceed one square foot and not more than one sign per door) are exempt from permit requirements.
- Any other sign exempted by law is exempt from permit requirements.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- All signs allowed by this article, except those exempted from obtaining a permit, shall require a permit issued by the city prior to posting, displaying, substantially changing, or erecting a sign in the city.
- Applications for sign permits are to be filed by the sign owner or their agent with the city planning department, and a rendering or scaled drawing of the proposed sign is required.
- For all signs in the historic district, historic preservation commission approval is required via a Certificate of Appropriateness (COA) prior to issuance of a permit or erection of the sign.
- If a variance is requested from compliance with the sign regulations, such application shall be submitted to the city planning commission and may involve a public hearing before the planning commission; appeals may be made to the city commission.
- Variance applications for signs within the historic district require review and recommendation from the Historic Preservation Commission prior to consideration by the city commission.

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

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