# Sign Regulations in Union City, Georgia

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Union City, Georgia (GA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/georgia/union-city
- **Data last verified:** 2025-10-13
- **Source:** [other municipal code](https://www.unioncityga.gov/files/assets/city/v/1/code-enforcement/documents/zoning-ordinance-021825-rev-ii.pdf#page=231)

## At a glance

Union City, Georgia regulates 54 sign types across 9 zoning districts. Ground Sign (Single Business Parcel)s in the Office and Institutional District (O&I) zoning district are capped at 25 ft tall and 150 sq ft, with a No sign in right-of-way; ≥15 ft from intersection (§11-9(C)(2)) setback (Sec. §11-10(E)(1)). Most commercial signs in Union City require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (9 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 1 | Decorative façade, including posts/columns, shall not exceed 25 ft (§11-9(B)) | — | — |
| Single-Family Residential District (R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4, R-6), Residential Medium Density District (RMD-1), Manufactured Home Park/Modular Home Park District (MHP) | 7 | Flagpoles max 35 ft | Flag dimensions proportional to pole; hoist side not more than 50% of flagpole height | — |
| Residential Multifamily District (RM) | 7 | Flagpoles max 35 ft | Flag dimensions proportional to pole; hoist side not more than 50% of flagpole height | — |
| Office and Institutional District (O&I) | 19 | Flagpoles max 70 ft | 150 sq ft | — |
| Neighborhood Commercial District (NC), General Commercial District (GC) | 21 | Flagpoles max 70 ft | Max 700 sq ft per face (extensions/protrusions permitted up to 50% of basic sign area) | — |
| RegionalShopping Center District (RSC) | 18 | Flagpoles max 70 ft | 150 sq ft | — |
| Light Industrial District (M-1), Heavy Industrial District (M-2) | 20 | Flagpoles max 70 ft | Max 700 sq ft per face (extensions/protrusions permitted up to 50% of basic sign area) | — |
| Town Center Mixed Use (TCMU), Town Center Multifamily (TCMF), UDO Zoning Districts | 17 | Flagpoles max 70 ft | 150 sq ft (unless superseded by Freestanding Sign restriction above) | — |
| UDO Zoning Districts | 1 | 25 ft | 50 sq ft | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 9 zones)

### Office and Institutional District (O&I)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Ground Sign (Single Business Parcel) | 25 ft | 150 sq ft | — | No sign in right-of-way; ≥15 ft from intersection (§11-9(C)(2)) | 1 per parcel | On parcel; comply with general setbacks | — | §11-10(E)(1) |
| Ground Sign (Multi-Business Parcel) | 25 ft | 150 sq ft (includes individual business names within total square footage) | — | — | 1 per parcel | On multi-business parcel | — | §11-10(E)(1) |
| Entrance Sign (Subdivision/Development – Nonresidential Reference) | 5 ft sign height; decorative façade including posts/columns max 6 ft; if used with a wall, wall not to exceed 4 ft | 35 sq ft | — | — | Max 2 per entrance | Entrance to subdivision (as applicable) | — | §11-10(E)(1) |
| Accessory Signs (Drive-Thru Business) | 5 ft | 35 sq ft per sign | — | — | Max 5 | On parcels with drive-thru for motoring public; not legible from public thoroughfares | — | §11-10(E)(1)(g) |
| Projecting Sign | No part higher than 25 ft above average ground level along the side of building | Max 75 sq ft | — | — | 1 per primary entrance | On principal structure only; not on roof or top of any structure | — | §11-10(E)(4)(a)-(d) |
| Out-of-Store Marketing Device Sign | Not more than 2 ft above the device | 2 sq ft | — | — | 1 per device | On out-of-store marketing device | — | §11-10(E)(5); §11-6(B) |
| Flags (Nonresidential) | Flagpoles max 70 ft | Flag dimensions proportional to pole; hoist side not more than 50% of flagpole height | — | — | Max 3 without permit | On parcel | — | §11-10(E)(7); §11-6(B) |
| Temporary Development Sign (New Development) | 10 ft | 32 sq ft | — | ≥30 ft from edge of any street | 1 per new development | At least 30 ft from edge of any street, public or private | — | §11-10(G)(4) |

### Neighborhood Commercial District (NC), General Commercial District (GC)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Ground Sign (Single Business Parcel) | 25 ft | 150 sq ft | — | No sign in right-of-way; ≥15 ft from intersection (§11-9(C)(2)) | 1 per parcel | On parcel; comply with general setbacks | — | §11-10(E)(1) |
| Ground Sign (Multi-Business Parcel) | 25 ft | 150 sq ft (includes individual business names within total square footage) | — | — | 1 per parcel | On multi-business parcel | — | §11-10(E)(1) |
| Entrance Sign (Subdivision/Development – Nonresidential Reference) | 5 ft sign height; decorative façade including posts/columns max 6 ft; if used with a wall, wall not to exceed 4 ft | 35 sq ft | — | — | Max 2 per entrance | Entrance to subdivision (as applicable) | — | §11-10(E)(1) |
| Accessory Signs (Drive-Thru Business) | 5 ft | 35 sq ft per sign | — | — | Max 5 | On parcels with drive-thru for motoring public; not legible from public thoroughfares | — | §11-10(E)(1)(g) |
| Projecting Sign | No part higher than 25 ft above average ground level along the side of building | Max 75 sq ft | — | — | 1 per primary entrance | On principal structure only; not on roof or top of any structure | — | §11-10(E)(4)(a)-(d) |
| Temporary Development Sign (New Development) | 10 ft | 32 sq ft | — | ≥30 ft from edge of any street | 1 per new development | At least 30 ft from edge of any street, public or private | — | §11-10(G)(4) |
| Billboard (Interstate 85 Corridor – Static) | Max 70 ft overall height; panel max 14 ft height and 52 ft length (excluding base/apron/supports) | Max 700 sq ft per face (extensions/protrusions permitted up to 50% of basic sign area) | Max 52 ft length (excluding base/apron/supports) | ≥50 ft from right-of-way line; ≥300 ft from residence/church/school/park/cemetery; ≥1,500 ft from another billboard | — | Only on properties within the Interstate 85 corridor | — | §11-10(H)(1), (3)-(6); §11-8(B)(6) |
| Electronic Billboard (Interstate 85 Corridor) | Same height limits as static billboards (max 70 ft overall) | Same dimensional limits as static billboards (max 700 sq ft per face) | Same length limits as static billboards (max 52 ft length) | Same setbacks as static billboards | — | Only on properties within the Interstate 85 corridor | — | §11-10(H)(2); §11-8(B)(6) |

### Light Industrial District (M-1), Heavy Industrial District (M-2)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Ground Sign (Single Business Parcel) | 25 ft | 150 sq ft | — | No sign in right-of-way; ≥15 ft from intersection (§11-9(C)(2)) | 1 per parcel | On parcel; comply with general setbacks | — | §11-10(E)(1) |
| Ground Sign (Multi-Business Parcel) | 25 ft | 150 sq ft (includes individual business names within total square footage) | — | — | 1 per parcel | On multi-business parcel | — | §11-10(E)(1) |
| Accessory Signs (Drive-Thru Business) | 5 ft | 35 sq ft per sign | — | — | Max 5 | On parcels with drive-thru for motoring public; not legible from public thoroughfares | — | §11-10(E)(1)(g) |
| Projecting Sign | No part higher than 25 ft above average ground level along the side of building | Max 75 sq ft | — | — | 1 per primary entrance | On principal structure only; not on roof or top of any structure | — | §11-10(E)(4)(a)-(d) |
| Out-of-Store Marketing Device Sign | Not more than 2 ft above the device | 2 sq ft | — | — | 1 per device | On out-of-store marketing device | — | §11-10(E)(5); §11-6(B) |
| Temporary Development Sign (New Development) | 10 ft | 32 sq ft | — | ≥30 ft from edge of any street | 1 per new development | At least 30 ft from edge of any street, public or private | — | §11-10(G)(4) |
| Billboard (Interstate 85 Corridor – Static) | Max 70 ft overall height; panel max 14 ft height and 52 ft length (excluding base/apron/supports) | Max 700 sq ft per face (extensions/protrusions permitted up to 50% of basic sign area) | Max 52 ft length (excluding base/apron/supports) | ≥50 ft from right-of-way line; ≥300 ft from residence/church/school/park/cemetery; ≥1,500 ft from another billboard | — | Only on properties within the Interstate 85 corridor | — | §11-10(H)(1), (3)-(6); §11-8(B)(6) |
| Electronic Billboard (Interstate 85 Corridor) | Same height limits as static billboards (max 70 ft overall) | Same dimensional limits as static billboards (max 700 sq ft per face) | Same length limits as static billboards (max 52 ft length) | Same setbacks as static billboards | — | Only on properties within the Interstate 85 corridor | — | §11-10(H)(2); §11-8(B)(6) |

## Prohibited signs in Union City

- No sign may be erected, hung, placed, or structurally altered without a permit, except those expressly exempted in Section 11-6
- Roof signs are prohibited
- Signs or other advertising structures that contain obscene material are prohibited
- Signs or other advertising structures that contain indecent material are prohibited
- No sign or part thereof shall be located in any state, county, or city right-of-way; any privately owned sign within or partially within a road right-of-way is prohibited
- No sign shall be attached to light poles, power poles, or trees when located within or partially within a public road right-of-way
- No sign shall be erected, relocated, or maintained so as to prevent free ingress or egress from any door, window, or fire escape
- No sign may be located closer than 15 feet from an intersection as measured from the intersection of the rights-of-way
- No sign shall be constructed so as to have nails, tacks, or wires protruding
- Maintaining or permitting a sign in a dangerous or defective condition is prohibited and such signs must be removed or repaired

## Signs exempt from permit in Union City

- Signs erected by a public officer in the performance of his/her duties do not require a permit
- Numerals displayed for the purpose of identifying property location (not to exceed 8 inches in height) are exempt from permit requirements and do not count toward aggregate sign area
- Seasonal displays located outside the public right-of-way are exempt from permit requirements and do not count toward aggregate sign area
- Flags are exempt from permit requirements and do not count toward aggregate sign area (subject to quantity and height limits elsewhere)
- Window signs are exempt from permit requirements and do not count toward aggregate sign area (subject to area and placement limits elsewhere)
- Signs at the rear entrance of a business are exempt from permit requirements and do not count toward aggregate sign area
- Out-of-store marketing device signs are exempt from permit requirements and do not count toward aggregate sign area

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A Master Sign Plan is required for all commercial and Mixed Use projects that are required to file a Land Disturbance Permit or site plan
- The Master Sign Plan must include: general location and type of signs; materials; size and number of signs; style, color, and illumination; and ornamental structures and landscaping

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

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