# Sign Regulations in Winder, Georgia

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

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

## At a glance

Winder, Georgia regulates 24 sign types across 7 zoning districts. A-frame Signs in the B-1, B-2 zoning district are capped at 4 feet tall, 2 feet wide by 4 feet high, and 2 feet wide, with a Not in road/public parking, not within 3 feet of crosswalk/ramp setback (Sec. Sec. 10-23 Table; Sec. 10-31). Most commercial signs in Winder require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (7 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 6 | 12 inches (height of numerals) | 30 square feet per sign | — |
| AG, R-1, R-1A, R-1B, R-2, R-3, MH, TNPD | 4 | 9 feet | 32 square feet | — |
| B-1, B-2 | 8 | 6 feet (B-1) or 8 feet (B-2) | Up to 150 sq ft (max 500 sq ft for >10 acres) | — |
| DT | 7 | 4 feet | 150 sq ft (max 500 sq ft > 10 acres) | — |
| I | 7 | 8 feet | 400 square feet | — |
| G | 8 | 8 feet | 150 square feet total (maximum over all secondary walls) | — |
| Historic District Overlay | 5 | 8 feet | — | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 7 zones)

### B-1, B-2

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| A-frame Sign | 4 feet | 2 feet wide by 4 feet high | 2 feet | Not in road/public parking, not within 3 feet of crosswalk/ramp | 1 per business | Within 1 foot of pedestrian entrance to business | — | Sec. 10-23 Table; Sec. 10-31 |
| Standard Informational Sign | — | 4 square feet | — | — | 1 per curb cut; max 6 per lot | — | — | Sec. 10-23 Table: B-1, B-2 |
| Monument Sign | 6 feet (B-1) or 8 feet (B-2) | 125 square feet | — | 10 feet from property lines and rights-of-way | Max 2 per lot, max 1 per drive entrance, max 1 per 500 feet of frontage | Per drive entrance | — | Sec. 10-23 Table; Sec. 10-21.C |
| Wall Sign | — | Up to 150 sq ft (max 500 sq ft for >10 acres) | — | — | 1 per public street-facing façade | 1 per façade facing public street | — | Sec. 10-23 Table: B-1, B-2 |
| Canopy Sign | — | 20 square feet | — | — | 1 per building entrance | 1 per building entrance | — | Sec. 10-23 Table: B-1, B-2 |
| Banner | — | 48 square feet per banner | — | — | 2 per lot | — | — | Sec. 10-23 Table: B-1, B-2; Sec. 10-29 |
| Roof Sign | — | 100 square feet | — | — | 1 per business | Rooftop | — | Sec. 10-23 Table: B-1, B-2 |
| Projecting Sign | — | 36 square feet | — | — | 1 per business per façade | Per façade | — | Sec. 10-23 Table: B-1, B-2; Sec. 10-19.E |

### DT

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| A-frame Sign | 4 feet | 2 feet wide by 4 feet high | 2 feet | — | 1 per business | Within 1 foot of pedestrian entrance | — | Sec. 10-23 Table: DT; Sec. 10-31 |
| Standard Informational Sign | — | 4 square feet | — | — | 1 per curb cut, max 6 per lot | — | — | Sec. 10-23 Table: DT |
| Monument Sign | 4 feet | 125 square feet | — | 10 feet from property lines and rights-of-way | Max 2 per lot, 1 per drive entrance, 1 per 500 feet | Per drive entrance | — | Sec. 10-23 Table: DT; Sec. 10-21.C |
| Wall Sign | — | 150 sq ft (max 500 sq ft > 10 acres) | — | — | 1 per façade, up to two facades | 1 per façade, up to two facades | — | Sec. 10-23 Table: DT |
| Canopy Sign | — | 20 square feet | — | — | 1 per building entrance | 1 per building entrance | — | Sec. 10-23 Table: DT |
| Banner | — | 48 square feet per banner | — | — | 2 per lot | — | — | Sec. 10-23 Table: DT; Sec. 10-29 |
| Projecting Sign | — | 45 square feet | — | — | 1 per business per façade | Per façade | — | Sec. 10-23 Table: DT; Sec. 10-19.E |

### G

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Standard Informational Sign | — | 4 square feet | — | — | 2 per lot | — | — | Sec. 10-23 Table: G |
| Freestanding Sign | 8 feet | 100 square feet | — | 10 feet from property/ROW lines | Max 2 per lot, 1 per drive entrance, 1 per 500 feet (or 1 if <500) | Per drive entrance | — | Sec. 10-23 Table: G; Sec. 10-21.C |
| Monument Sign | 8 feet | 125 square feet | — | 10 feet from property/ROW lines | Max 2 per lot, 1 per drive entrance, 1 per 500 feet | At drive entrance | — | Sec. 10-23 Table: G; Sec. 10-21.C |
| Wall Sign (Front Wall) | — | 100 square feet | — | — | 1 per business per front wall | Front wall | — | Sec. 10-23 Table: G |
| Wall Sign (Other Walls) | — | 150 square feet total (maximum over all secondary walls) | — | — | Max 3 (on other walls), total not to exceed 150 sq ft | Other than front wall (up to 3 walls) | — | Sec. 10-23 Table: G |
| Canopy Sign (Flush or Hanging) | — | 20 square feet | — | — | 1 per entrance/service bay | Per building entrance or service bay | — | Sec. 10-23 Table: G |
| Banner | — | 48 square feet | — | — | 2 per lot | — | — | Sec. 10-23 Table: G; Sec. 10-29 |
| Projecting Sign | — | 30 square feet | — | — | 1 per business per façade | Per business per façade | — | Sec. 10-23 Table: G; Sec. 10-19.E |

## Prohibited signs in Winder

- Rotating signs are prohibited.
- Flashing signs, scrolling, and electronic changeable signs which change more than once per 10 seconds are prohibited. No sign shall be permitted which is flashing or blinking.
- Signs that are an imitation of an official traffic sign or signal or contain words like 'stop,' 'go,' 'slow,' etc., in a manner that resembles official traffic control signs are prohibited.
- Signs which emit audible sound, fog/smoke, or odor are prohibited.
- Cardboard or paper signs with handwriting of ink, paint, or chalk, placed on a structure (except in residential zoning districts) are prohibited.
- Promotional beacons, search lights, or projected laser lights or images are prohibited.
- Window signs exceeding 20% of the individual window area are prohibited.
- Wind activated devices (other than flags, banners, and streamers) are prohibited.
- Signs that cast light directly on streets and roads so as to adversely affect traffic movement and safety are prohibited.
- Portable and trailer signs are prohibited.
- Dilapidated or neglected signs are prohibited.
- Abandoned signs or sign structures are prohibited.
- Sign structures without a sign are prohibited.
- Any sign exceeding permitted size or height is prohibited.
- Any sign placed or erected on property without the permission of the owner is prohibited.
- Signs depicting obscene material or advertising illegal activities are prohibited.
- Signs attached to, painted on, or positioned in or on any vehicle or truck (when placed for the purpose of advertising to passing motorists or pedestrians except temporarily for events) are prohibited.
- Signs or sign structures for which permits have been revoked are prohibited.
- Signs posted on the support poles of a fuel station canopy are prohibited.
- No person shall erect or maintain any sign that does not comply with the standards of this article.
- No person shall maintain any sign in a dangerous or defective condition.
- No sign shall be erected, relocated, or maintained so as to interfere with ingress/egress, prevent free passage on roofs, block traffic or views, block emergency access, or interfere with public utilities.
- No sign shall be attached to any fire escape, fence, freestanding sign, street sign, pole, post, tree, or shrubbery.
- No private sign shall be placed in any government right-of-way or on City property.
- No sign or part thereof, except authorized public or emergency signs, shall be located in any government right-of-way or extend across the right-of-way of a public road or street.
- No sign shall be allowed to remain if it poses an immediate threat to the life or health of the public.

## Signs exempt from permit in Winder

- Flags (maximum of four per lot, must comply with height and setback restrictions).
- Markers and informational signs within public and private cemeteries.
- Signs on residential structures or premises and mailboxes identifying the name and address of the occupant, not to exceed one square foot in area.
- Public utility signs indicating danger, serving as an aid to public safety, or showing location of utilities or public telephones.
- Non-illuminated standard informational signs (one per lot; unlimited during a political election period).
- Numerals displayed for property identification, not to exceed 12 inches in height.
- Directional signs within a subdivision, lot, or parcel, not exceeding 6 square feet.
- Door signs not exceeding 2 square feet, maximum one per door.
- Signs inside a building not displayed on the window or intended for external advertising.
- Public and emergency signs.
- Seasonal decorations/displays for up to 45 consecutive days in a year and not advertising a product/service/entertainment.
- One sign during construction, up to 32 sq ft and 9 ft height, allowed during construction period without a separate permit if a building permit has been purchased.
- Two signs during active listing/marketing for sale/lease (size limits per zoning district).
- Historic signs meeting specific criteria (built before 1950, certificate of appropriateness, documentation).
- Signs depicting address information required for emergency services.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A sign permit is required before attaching, suspending, supporting, erecting, enlarging, relocating, or materially improving a sign (except for signs exempted by ordinance).
- All signs requiring a sign permit must have sign review prior to installation, relocation, renovation, expansion, enlargement, construction, or reconstruction.
- Master sign plans are required for all subdivisions, multi-family developments, and multi-tenant commercial developments.
- Master sign plans must specify total number, type, size, materials, locations, and, if applicable, engineering certification for monument sign footings.
- Master sign plans are reviewed by staff for compliance; if any variance is needed, plan must be reviewed by City Council.
- Variances from sign provisions must be applied for, with site inspection and recommendation, and decided by City Council.
- Sign permit required for any change to an existing business sign (design, size, location, illumination, or content changes), or change in property use if it results in different/additional signage.
- Application for permit must include property, contractor, owner, and sign company info, scaled drawings, and, for wall/freestanding/billboard/subdivision signs, specific additional documentation.
- A-Frame signs/sidewalk sign permits are valid for 12 months.
- Wall signs, freestanding signs, billboards, and subdivision entrance signs each have additional submittal requirements for permit as detailed in Sec. 10-8.

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

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