# Sign Regulations in Tybee Island, Georgia

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Tybee Island, Georgia (GA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/georgia/tybee-island
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-09
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/GA/Tybee_Island/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=PTIICOOR_APXALADECO_ART6SIRE)

## At a glance

Tybee Island, Georgia regulates 31 sign types across 6 zoning districts. Construction Sign (Residential)s in the General Regulations For All Zones zoning district are capped at 10 ft tall and 12 sq ft, with a 5 ft from property line setback (Sec. Sec. 6-040(J)). Most commercial signs in Tybee Island require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (6 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Residential District | 6 | 35 ft for flagpoles | 24 sq ft | — |
| Commercial District, C-2 District, Neighborhood Grocery Store District, South End Overlay District, Maritime District | 13 | 25 ft | max 150 sq ft or 12 sq ft per use, whichever is greater | — |
| Neighborhood Marina District (NM) | 1 | 15 ft above grade or structure foundation | 32 sq ft | — |
| Parks-Conservation District | 2 | — | 32 sq ft | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 10 | 10 ft | Max 50% of window area | — |

_1 additional zoning district is covered in PermitPal (free account)._

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

### Residential District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Building Identification Marker | — | 4 sq ft | — | — | 1 per business or residence | On building/residence | — | Sec. 6-040(A) |
| Flags (non-commercial) | 35 ft for flagpoles | — | — | — | — | On habitable building or flagpole | — | Sec. 6-040(C) |
| Real Estate Sign | — | 6 sq ft per face, 2 faces per frontage; up to 50 sq ft total if combining lots | — | — | 1 per street frontage | On-premises, one per street frontage | — | Sec. 6-040(H) |
| Temporary Yard Sale/Garage Sale Sign | — | 4 sq ft | — | — | 1 per parcel | On premises, one per parcel | — | Sec. 6-040(I) |
| Permanent Subdivision Entrance Sign | — | 24 sq ft | — | — | 1 per roadway entrance | Subdivision entrance | — | Sec. 6-080(D)(2) |
| Political Sign | — | 6 sq ft | — | 5 ft off unimproved public ROW | — | On-premises, 5 ft off right-of-way | — | Sec. 6-040(K) |

### Commercial District, C-2 District, Neighborhood Grocery Store District, South End Overlay District, Maritime District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | 20 ft or not higher than wall, whichever is less | 10% of building wall area or 200 sq ft, whichever is less | — | — | One per principal building, or one per street abutted | Affixed to building wall | — | Sec. 6-080(E)(1) |
| Freestanding Sign (Class I - 0–20 mph, 50 ft frontage) | 12 ft | 10 sq ft | — | — | One per principal building | On premises | — | Sec. 6-080(E)(2), Table |
| Freestanding Sign (Class II - 20–35 mph, 80–150 ft frontage) | 12 ft | 20 sq ft | — | — | One per principal building | On premises | — | Sec. 6-080(E)(2), Table |
| Freestanding Sign (Class III - 20–35 mph, 150+ ft frontage) | 20 ft | 50 sq ft | — | — | One per principal building | On premises | — | Sec. 6-080(E)(2), Table |
| Freestanding Sign (Class IV - 36–54 mph, 150 ft frontage) | 25 ft | 60 sq ft | — | — | One per principal building | On premises | — | Sec. 6-080(E)(2), Table |
| Freestanding Sign (Class V - 55 mph, 150 ft frontage) | 25 ft | 60 sq ft | — | — | One per principal building | On premises | — | Sec. 6-080(E)(2), Table |
| Projecting Sign (<=125 ft building frontage) | Not higher than wall; lowest point min 10 ft above grade | 45 sq ft per sign face | — | — | — | Attached to building | — | Sec. 6-080(E)(3) |
| Service Island Identification Sign | 15 ft | 12 sq ft | — | — | 1 per service or pump island | On service island | — | Sec. 6-080(E)(5) |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Building Identification Marker | — | 4 sq ft | — | — | 1 per business or residence | — | — | Sec. 6-040(A) |
| Legal Notice/Official Instrument | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Sec. 6-040(B) |
| Directional Sign | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | — | — | — | Sec. 6-040(G) |
| Construction Sign (Residential) | 10 ft | 12 sq ft | — | 5 ft from property line | 1 per street frontage | On premises where construction is occurring | — | Sec. 6-040(J) |
| Construction Sign (Commercial) | 10 ft | 32 sq ft | — | 5 ft from property line | 1 per street frontage | On premises where construction is occurring | — | Sec. 6-040(J) |
| Window Sign (Exempt) | — | Max 50% of window area | — | — | — | Inside window | — | Sec. 6-040(P) |
| Canopy/Awning Sign (Exempt when as part of canopy/awning) | — | — | — | — | — | On canopy/awning | — | Sec. 6-040(Q) |
| Sandwich Board Sign (A-frame), business only | — | — | — | — | — | On private property connected to business | — | Sec. 6-040(R) |

## Prohibited signs in Tybee Island

- No sign structure shall be placed or maintained within the city except in conformity with this sign ordinance.
- No sign as regulated by this article shall be erected or continued to be displayed at the intersection of any street or any public right-of-way in such a manner as to obstruct free and clear vision.
- No sign may be placed so as to interfere with, obstruct the view of, or be confused with any authorized traffic sign, signal or device.
- No sign may make use of the words, 'stop,' 'look,' 'drive-in,' 'danger,' or any other word, phrase, symbol or character in such manner as to interfere with, mislead, or confuse traffic.
- Signs displaying any words, characters, or illustrations of an obscene, indecent, or immoral nature as defined by the City Code of the City of Tybee Island are prohibited.
- Signs which advertise or encourage an illegal activity as defined by local, state, or federal laws are prohibited.
- Animated signs, including those that flash, blink, change image, or show any form of movement (excluding historic signs and those officially designated for public service), are prohibited.
- Signs that resemble any official traffic control device or emergency vehicle markings are prohibited.
- Unshielded illuminated devices that produce glare or create a hazard or nuisance to motorists or occupants of adjacent properties are prohibited.
- Signs or advertising devices attached to any vehicle or trailer parked so as to be visible from a public right-of-way for the purpose of providing advertisements are prohibited (with certain exceptions for common carriers and service vehicles).
- No signs on trailers or other non-motorized vehicles will be allowed other than for vehicles used specifically for a service business (landscaping, construction, delivery, etc.), not for advertising businesses.
- Snipe signs, which are off-premises signs tacked, nailed, posted, pasted, glued, or otherwise attached to trees, poles, stakes, fences, or other objects, are prohibited.
- Temporary signs are prohibited except real estate, political campaign signs, and signs allowed under subsection 6-040(D).
- Roof signs or any non-freestanding sign which extends above the roof line of a building are prohibited.
- Signs which emit visible smoke, vapor, particles, or odor are prohibited.
- Signs with lighting or control mechanisms which cause radio, television, or other communications interference are prohibited.
- Motion picture mechanisms used in a manner that allows images to be visible from a public right-of-way or sidewalk are prohibited.
- Signs located on benches or other forms of street furniture are prohibited.
- Handbills are prohibited.
- All signs must conform to the Georgia Outdoor Advertising Law and the rules and regulations of the state department of transportation, with the more stringent law prevailing.

## Signs exempt from permit in Tybee Island

- One building identification marker for each business or residence not to exceed four square feet with basic information (name, address, suite, unit number, occupant).
- Legal notices and official instruments.
- Flags as specified, including official governmental flags, flags depicting affiliation or membership in a non-profit and not conveying a commercial message, etc. (subject to height, area, and placement restrictions).
- Decorative flags, banners, and bunting for city-wide celebrations, conventions, public service announcements, or events, yard of the month, and commemorations, when specifically authorized by the community development director for a prescribed period of time not to exceed 30 days.
- Holiday lights and decorations.
- One 'building marker' per building.
- Non-advertising directional signs or symbols (e.g., entrance, exit, caution, slow, no trespassing) on a parcel of private property not to exceed two square feet in area.
- One non-illuminated real estate sign per street frontage, each containing a maximum of two sign faces back to back, subject to size and removal requirements.
- Signs for temporary yard sales, garage sales, permitted private parking lots and similar, located in residential districts and subject to area and placement restrictions.
- One single-sided construction sign per street frontage located on property where building is in progress under a current building permit, subject to size, height, and removal requirements.
- Political signs, subject to area, placement, and removal requirements.
- Signs incorporated on machinery and equipment at the manufacturer’s or distributor’s level, and which only identify or advertise.
- Historic signs.
- Municipal and other government agency signs.
- Signs painted or otherwise attached to motor vehicles which are not conspicuously parked in proximity to a right-of-way and not parked so as to advertise any business or service to motorists or pedestrians.
- Window signs using 50% or less of the window space for signage.
- Canopy/Awning signs when the sign is part of the canopy/awning itself and not attached or affixed separately.
- Sandwich board signs ('A-frame signs') located in connection with a business and not encroaching onto city rights-of-way unless specifically allowed.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A permit must be obtained from the designated city department prior to erecting, enlarging, moving, converting, or replacing any sign in the city except those signs specifically exempted under Sec. 6-040.
- A permit is required for any new business making any changes on an existing sign.
- Permanent subdivision signs must be shown on the preliminary plat during subdivision review.
- Before a permanent sign is placed on a lot or parcel in the parks-conservation district, the applicant shall appear before mayor and council at a regularly scheduled meeting and, if approved, must then obtain a sign permit prior to any work.
- A special banner permit is required for banners; limited to 3 per business location per year, maximum 90 days display in total.
- Banners exceeding maximum allowable days or size at museums or educational facilities require approval of a banner plan by the mayor and council, reviewed and approved annually.
- Commercial murals in certain districts require review by the Main Street design committee and board, followed by approval by the planning and zoning department, and a permit prior to installation.
- Relief from strict design standards for height/area may be granted where application is made and criteria met under Sec. 6-100.
- Damage repairs to legal nonconforming signs require necessary permits to be obtained within six months (may be extended by mayor and council).

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

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