# Sign Regulations in Washington, Georgia

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Washington, Georgia (GA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/georgia/washington
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-09
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/GA/Washington/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=PTIICOOR_CH58SI)

## At a glance

Washington, Georgia regulates 20 sign types across 6 zoning districts. Portable Sign (A-frame, Sandwich Board, Sidewalk, Easel)s in the General Regulations For All Zones zoning district are capped at 5 ft tall and 12 sq ft per side, with a Minimum 2 ft from street curb setback (Sec. Sec. 58-6(5), Appendix A(9)). Most commercial signs in Washington require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (6 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| C-1, P-1 | 3 | 25 ft | 32 sq ft | — |
| C-2, C-3, C-4, M-1, M-2 | 4 | 40 ft | 300 sq ft per face | — |
| Residential Zones | 5 | 12 ft | 25 sq ft | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 7 | 25 ft | Max 300 sq ft (listing of tenants), 150 sq ft (name of facility only) | — |
| Downtown Business District (C-3 zoning district) | 6 | 5 ft | 12 sq ft | — |
| Washington Local Historic District, Historic Districts | 4 | — | — | — |

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

### Residential Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign (Ground Sign - Customary Home Occupation/Conditional Use) | 4 ft | 12 sq ft | — | — | 1 per customary home occupation/conditional use | — | — | Sec. 58-6(4)(c) |
| Freestanding Sign (Pole Sign - Customary Home Occupation/Conditional Use) | 12 ft | 12 sq ft | — | — | 1 per customary home occupation/conditional use | — | — | Sec. 58-6(4)(c) |
| Identification/Directory Sign (Home Occupation) | — | 1.5 sq ft | — | — | 1 per home occupation | — | — | Sec. 58-6(9)(b), (11)(a) |
| Residential Subdivision Entrance Sign | 5 ft above grade (from a spot 15 ft out from base) | 25 sq ft | — | — | 1 at each entrance | At entrance(s) to subdivisions of more than 2 parcels | — | Sec. 58-6(10) |
| Other Signs (General Residential Limits) | 5 ft (measured from a spot 15 ft from base) | 15 sq ft aggregate, 6 sq ft per sign | — | — | — | — | — | Sec. 58-6(11)(a) |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | — | Varies (see formula) | — | — | 1 per frontage | Each building frontage; separate calculation for each street frontage. Wall signs must not be painted directly on wall surface. | — | Sec. 58-6(8), Appendix A(5), Sec. 58-8(11) |
| Awning/Canopy/Marquee Sign | — | 24 sq ft (Awning); 6 sq ft (under-canopy, marquee, or face) | — | — | 1 per canopy/marquee/awning | On/under awning, canopy, or marquee | — | Sec. 58-6(3), Appendix A(4) |
| Projecting Sign | — | 12 sq ft | — | — | 1 per business | May project over right-of-way, min 2 ft from curb line, 9 ft clearance above sidewalk, 15 ft over road/drive/alley | — | Sec. 58-6(6), Appendix A(7) |
| Window Sign (Interior) | — | — | — | — | — | Inside or upon window facing exterior view | — | Sec. 58-5(1)(j), Appendix A(8), Sec. 58-8(4) |
| Portable Sign (A-frame, Sandwich Board, Sidewalk, Easel) | 5 ft | 12 sq ft per side | — | Minimum 2 ft from street curb | 1 per business | On sidewalk during business hours only; min 2 ft setback from street curb | — | Sec. 58-6(5), Appendix A(9) |
| Identification/Directory Sign | — | — | — | — | 1 per building side per business | Per building side adjoining street | — | Sec. 58-6(9)(a) |
| Shopping Center Sign | 25 ft | Max 300 sq ft (listing of tenants), 150 sq ft (name of facility only) | — | — | 1 per shopping center | — | — | Sec. 58-6(7) |

### Downtown Business District (C-3 zoning district)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | 2.5 ft | As above (formula) | — | — | — | Above entrance or display window, below cornice/transom | — | Sec. 58-7(a), Appendix A(1)(b), (5) |
| Awning Sign | — | — | — | — | — | On the skirt of the awning | — | Sec. 58-7(a), Appendix A(1)(a), (4) |
| Freestanding/Ground Sign | 4 ft | 12 sq ft | — | — | — | Near road, not attached to building | — | Sec. 58-7(a), Appendix A(1)(c), (6) |
| Window Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Display window or upper floor window, glazing of doors | — | Sec. 58-7(a), Appendix A(1)(d), (8) |
| Projecting Sign | — | 12 sq ft | — | — | 1 per business | Attached to building, at least 1 ft from curb-line | — | Sec. 58-7(a), Appendix A(1)(e), (7) |
| Portable Sign (A-frame, Sandwich board, Sidewalk, Easel) | 5 ft | 12 sq ft per side | — | Min 2 ft from curb | 1 per business | On sidewalk in front of business, business hours only | — | Sec. 58-7(a), Appendix A(1)(f), (9) |

## Prohibited signs in Washington

- No sign other than official signs placed by a government body may be constructed or placed within any public right-of-way.
- No sign shall be attached to or painted on any telephone pole, power pole, tree, rock, or other natural object.
- No sign giving off light resulting in glare, blinding, or any other such adverse effect on traffic shall be erected or maintained.
- The light from illuminated signs must not adversely affect adjacent properties or roadways, and no direct light shall be cast upon adjacent properties.
- No illuminated sign shall be constructed or maintained within 50 feet of any residential district.
- Lit signs must be externally illuminated with a shielded indirect light source, except internally lit signs are only allowed in the C-2 zoning district.
- Roof signs are prohibited.
- Animated signs are prohibited.
- Signs on public rights-of-way other than publicly owned or maintained signs are prohibited.
- Window signs which exceed 20 percent of the window area are prohibited.
- Signs which contain words, pictures or statements which are obscene, as defined by O.C.G.S. 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 in any manner 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 erected by nailing, fastening or affixing the sign in any manner to any tree, post, curve, utility pole or other structure except as set forth herein are prohibited.
- Signs on public right-of-way or private property, other than with permission of the property owner, will be removed.
- Internally lit signs are prohibited in all zoned districts except C-2.
- It is unlawful to erect or place any sign which does not conform to the requirements of this chapter.
- All signs must be constructed in accordance with the adopted edition of the International Building Code, Appendix H, and the adopted edition of the National Electric Code.

## Signs exempt from permit in Washington

- Announcement signs do not require a permit.
- Commemorative signs no larger than eight square feet, subject to building official approval, do not require a permit.
- Construction signs less than 16 square feet, displayed during the specified period related to construction, do not require a permit.
- Instructional/directional signs not exceeding two square feet within the public right-of-way for churches, schools, and nonprofit institutions (not erected in center parkways and subject to setback/hanging requirements) do not require a permit.
- Official signs do not require a permit.
- Political signs do not require a permit.
- Real estate signs do not require a permit.
- Special events/temporary signs less than 16 square feet, for a period of seven days prior to the event and up to two days after, do not require a permit.
- Yard sale signs do not require a permit.
- Window signs (interior) intended to be seen from the exterior do not require a permit.
- Non-permitted (exempt) signs still must comply with the remainder of the ordinance.
- Non-permitted signs do not count toward the total number of permitted signs allowed.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Application for a sign permit must be accompanied by plans showing the area of the sign, size and character, method of illumination, exact location, and (for projecting signs) method of fastening and spacing from grade and right-of-way.
- Applicants for sign permits within historic districts must obtain approval and a certificate of appropriateness from the historic preservation commission, following guidelines in Appendix B.
- Upon request of the building official, the applicant must submit any additional information deemed necessary as part of the application.
- Permit applications for signs in certain areas (e.g., downtown business district (C-3), Washington local historic district) must comply with design guidelines set forth in appendix A and B.
- Buildings with multiple tenants should consider unified signage, using a central directory sign or coordinated wall plaque or freestanding sign, as recommended in Appendix A.
- Variances can be considered for franchise agreements, national logos, or established business logos in cases where franchise signage cannot meet design guidelines.

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

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