# Sign Regulations in Villa Rica, Georgia

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Villa Rica, Georgia (GA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/georgia/villa-rica
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-09
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/GA/Villa_Rica/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=PTIICOOR_CH16NU_ARTIIISMEEAI_S16-79POSI)

## At a glance

Villa Rica, Georgia regulates 33 sign types across 8 zoning districts. Pylon Sign (Single Tenant)s in the Commercial District (CBD, CMU, C1, C2, OMI, PUD) zoning district are capped at 20 ft tall, 100 sq ft, and 2 ft minimum width wide, with a 10 ft setback (Sec. Table 9.1, Sec. 9.24). Most commercial signs in Villa Rica require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (8 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Agricultural District (AG) | 6 | 6 ft sign, 8 ft with decorative elements | 50% of Awning | — |
| Residential District (R1, R2, SFA, MF1, MF2, PUD) | 5 | 6 ft sign, 8 ft w/ decorative elements | 32 sq ft | — |
| Commercial District (CBD, CMU, C1, C2, OMI, PUD) | 18 | 65 ft | 672 sq ft | — |
| Industrial District (I1, I2) | 8 | 65 ft | 672 sq ft | — |
| Highway 61 Corridor | 2 | 25 ft | 100 sq ft (single dev), 125 sq ft (multi-tenant <3 units), 200 sq ft (multi-tenant >3 units) | — |
| Highway 78 Corridor | 1 | 10 ft | 75 sq ft (single dev), 100 sq ft (multi-tenant <3 units), 150 sq ft (multi-tenant >3 units) | — |
| Mirror Lake Boulevard Corridor | 2 | 25 ft | 75 sq ft (single dev), 100 sq ft (multi-tenant <3), 150 sq ft (multi-tenant >3) | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 4 | 25 ft (single family residential) or height of principal structure; 60 ft (nonresidential) | Planning Commission Approval, max 16 sq ft if courtyard entry | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 8 zones)

### Agricultural District (AG)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Awning Sign | — | 50% of Awning | — | 3 ft from edge of pavement or curb | 1 per awning | Attached to awning, not closer than 3 ft from edge of curb or pavement, flat against awning surface | — | Table 9.1, Sec. 9.20 |
| Monument Sign (Entrance Sign Only) | 6 ft sign, 8 ft with decorative elements | 32 sq ft | — | 10 ft | 1 | At entrance | — | Table 9.1, Sec. 9.22 |
| Home Business Sign (Post Sign) | — | 6 sq ft | — | 10 ft | 1 | On lot of home business | — | Table 9.1, Sec. 9.23 |
| Suspended Single-Post Sign | 6 ft (lots <100 ft width), 8 ft (lots 100 ft+) | 6 sq ft (lots 50-99 ft wide), 12 sq ft (lots 100 ft+ if substituted for monument sign) | — | 10 ft | 1 per frontage | Behind right-of-way | — | Table 9.1, Sec. 9.27 |
| Wayfinding Sign | Planning Commission approval | Planning Commission approval | — | 2 ft | Per Planning Commission | Planning Commission approval | — | Table 9.1, Sec. 9.30 |
| Directional/Incidental Sign | 4 ft | 6 sq ft | — | 2 ft | — | — | — | Table 9.1 |

### Commercial District (CBD, CMU, C1, C2, OMI, PUD)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Awning Sign | — | 50% of Awning | — | 3 ft from edge of pavement/curb | 1 per awning | On awning, not less than 3 ft from edge of pavement/curb, flat against awning surface | — | Table 9.1, Sec. 9.20 |
| Monument Sign (Commercial) | 6 ft sign, 8 ft with decorative elements | 50 sq ft (primary), 24 sq ft (secondary); 25% more for multi-tenant | — | 10 ft, 50 ft from residential | 1 per frontage | On property, not in right-of-way | — | Table 9.1, Sec. 9.22 |
| Monument Sign (Institutional Use) | 6 ft sign, 8 ft w/ decorative elements | 50 sq ft | — | 10 ft, 50 ft from residentials | 1 | On property, not in right-of-way | — | Table 9.1, Sec. 9.22, 9.37 |
| Pylon Sign (Single Tenant) | 20 ft | 100 sq ft | 2 ft minimum width | 10 ft | 1 | Not in CBD or CMU | — | Table 9.1, Sec. 9.24 |
| Pylon Sign (Multiple Tenant) | 20 ft | 150 sq ft | 2 ft minimum width | 10 ft | 1 | Not in CBD | — | Table 9.1, Sec. 9.25 |
| Menuboard (Drive-thru) | 8 ft | 72 sq ft | — | 10 ft | 2 | — | — | Table 9.1 |
| Wayfinding Sign | Planning Commission approval | Planning Commission approval | — | 2 ft | Per Planning Commission Approval | Planning Commission approval | — | Table 9.1, Sec. 9.30 |
| Billboard | 65 ft | 672 sq ft | 48 ft | 25 ft from interstate ROW | 1 sign with 2 faces | 25 ft setback from interstate ROW | — | Table 9.1; Sec. 9.37 |

### Industrial District (I1, I2)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign (Single Tenant / Multiple Tenant) | — | — | — | — | 1 per tenant frontage | — | — | Table 9.1, 9.29 |
| Pylon Sign (Single Tenant) | 20 ft | 100 sq ft | 2 ft minimum | 10 ft | 1 | — | — | Table 9.1, 9.24 |
| Pylon Sign (Multiple Tenant) | 20 ft | 150 sq ft | 2 ft minimum | 10 ft | 1 | — | — | Table 9.1, 9.25 |
| Suspended Single-Post Sign | 6 ft / 8 ft | 6 sq ft (50-99 ft frontage), 12 sq ft (100+ ft if substituted for monument) | — | 10 ft | 1 per frontage | Behind right-of-way | — | Table 9.1 |
| Post Sign | 5 ft | 20 sq ft | — | 10 ft | 1 per frontage | — | — | Table 9.1 |
| Directional/Incidental Sign | 4 ft | 6 sq ft | — | 2 ft | — | — | — | Table 9.1 |
| Wayfinding Sign | Planning Commission approval | Planning Commission approval | — | 2 ft | — | Planning Commission approval | — | Table 9.1 |
| Billboard | 65 ft | 672 sq ft | 48 ft | 25 ft from interstate ROW | 1 sign with 2 faces | 25 ft from interstate ROW | — | Table 9.1; Sec. 9.37 |

## Prohibited signs in Villa Rica

- No sign may be permitted or posted on property without the consent of the property's owner or authorized agent.
- Signs placed in the dedicated right-of-way of any public road other than publicly owned or maintained signs and signs pertaining to railroad crossings are prohibited.
- Window signs which exceed twenty-five (25) percent of the total window area per façade of a business are prohibited.
- Signs that contain words, pictures, or statements which are obscene are prohibited.
- Signs that simulate an official traffic control device, warning sign, or regulatory sign or which hide from view any traffic control device, signal or public service sign are prohibited.
- Signs that emit or utilize in any manner any sound capable of being detected on any traveled road or highway by a person with normal hearing abilities are prohibited.
- Signs that interfere with road or highway visibility, obstruct or otherwise interfere with the safe and orderly movement of traffic, or pose a hazard to traffic due to structural deficiencies are prohibited.
- Signs erected by nailing, fastening, or affixing in any manner to any tree, curb, utility pole, natural feature, or other structure except as allowed by ordinance are prohibited.
- Animated signs are prohibited.
- Signs that obstruct any fire escape, means of egress or ventilation or prevent free passage from one part of a roof to another, or are attached to any fire escape are prohibited.
- Signs that do not conform to city building and electrical codes are prohibited.
- Signs for which a permit is required that do not display the sign permit number are prohibited.
- Roof signs are prohibited.
- Multi-faced signs such as Tri-vision signs and certain LED signs not meeting standards are prohibited.
- Signs erected after the effective date of the ordinance that are in violation are prohibited.
- Balloons, pennant streamers, air or gas filled figures, air dancers, or any sign constructed of non-durable material such as paper, cardboard, or flexible plastic, except as allowed for flags, banners, or special event signs, are prohibited.
- Portable signs are prohibited.
- Bench signs are prohibited.
- Signs in the public right-of-way except as otherwise allowed are prohibited.
- Abandoned signs, including sign structures, defined as those with broken panels, rust, rot, missing letters, dilapidated condition, or lack of maintenance responsibility, or relating to discontinued businesses for twelve months, are prohibited.
- Any sign that is structurally unsound or is a hazard to traffic or pedestrians is prohibited.
- Illegal signs are prohibited.
- Signs consisting in whole or in part of a line or row of lights within 150 feet of and visible from a street are prohibited (except patio/bistro lights).
- Use of string, rope, neon or LED sequenced lighting to outline windows, doors, or architectural features below the upper cornice is prohibited (except for holiday lights up to 30 days and static window displays/store merchandising).
- Twirler and/or curb-cut signs held or worn by a person with the following restrictions: only in nonresidential districts, maximum area of 6 sf, one per parcel/tenant, not combined with temporary signage, not on public street/right-of-way, not obstructing visibility, not within 25 feet of another sign, located near establishment, not standing on objects or using noise devices, no illumination or attachments, held/worn at all times, not twirled unless on private property, and subject to removal as safety hazard.
- No sign manufactured, designed, and otherwise intended for use as a temporary sign shall be used as a permanent sign.
- Temporary signs: No temporary sign may be illuminated or have electric service, may not be affixed to a permanent sign or its structure, may not be affixed to permanently installed poles/posts/structures, may not be placed so as to obstruct required sight triangle, may not be placed on roof, vehicle, tree, utility pole, street sign, or government property, and may not be installed within any public right-of-way except as provided.
- Temporary signs attached to building walls (other than permitted window signs) may not obstruct any window, door, sprinkler connection, or street number sign.
- Temporary lawn signs must not obstruct, impede, or create hazardous conditions for traffic, must not be erected on private property without owner consent, on tree/utility pole/fences, government-owned property, or right-of-way adjoining vacant or abandoned parcels.

## Signs exempt from permit in Villa Rica

- Window signs are exempt from the permit requirement but must comply with all other code provisions.
- Standard informational signs are exempt from the permit requirement but must comply with all other provisions.
- One suspended sign per tenant of a multi-tenant building under six square feet per side, with a common design approved by the public authority, is exempt from the permit requirement.
- Signs solely displaying street numbers assigned by the USPS, not exceeding six inches in height for residential and twelve inches for nonresidential, are exempt from the permit requirement.
- Flags (all lots, any district) and banners (single family residential zoning districts) are exempt from the permit requirement.
- Nongovernmental traffic control devices in or adjacent to parking areas and driveways, and signs at railroad crossings, are exempt from the permit requirement.
- Historic signs, where the property/building/structure is designated as historic and a previous sign existed, if an exact replica as documented, are exempt from the permit requirement.
- Signs and warning devices meeting Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices standards and installed or used by governmental authority, or by authorized persons/entities on public rights-of-way while work is in progress, are exempt from the permit requirement.
- Sidewalk signs are exempt from the permit requirement.
- Out-of-store marketing devices are exempt from the permit requirement.
- A-frame or easel style signs are exempt from the permit requirement.
- Wayfinding signs are exempt from the permit requirement.
- Public facilities, including City-owned property and buildings, public schools, libraries, public safety, and other public facilities at all government levels, are exempt from flag requirements.
- Signs installed by local government and mounted to light standards or placed on public property are permitted and exempt.
- Exceptions for public events sponsored or promoted by local government may be exempted at the discretion of the Community Development Director.
- Government and special-purpose local governments may be exempt from illuminated sign regulation requirements.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- All applications for new construction or reconstruction of shopping centers, business and industrial parks, and other multi-tenant developments must be accompanied by a master signage or common signage plan or amendments thereto, subject to approval by the Community Development Director or designee.
- The master signage plan is required as part of a site plan application for applicable development projects and must include details on plot plan, building locations, sign computations, placements, setbacks, dimensions, and coordinated landscaping.
- The owner of the property is responsible for allocating sign area to tenants within a master signage plan.
- Sign area bonuses (10%) may be available if the master plan demonstrates uniform signage/graphics within multi-tenant developments.
- Wayfinding signs require approval from the Planning Commission prior to installation.

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

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