# Sign Regulations in Winterville, Georgia

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Winterville, Georgia (GA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/georgia/winterville
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-09
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/GA/Winterville/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=PTIICOOR_CH38LADE_ARTIISI)

## At a glance

Winterville, Georgia regulates 12 sign types across 6 zoning districts. Ground Signs in the C-1 on individual lot zoning district are capped at 5 ft. tall and 32 sq. ft. per sign face, 60 sq. ft. total area of all sign faces, with a 5 ft from public right-of-way, must comply with zoning side and rear setbacks. setback (Sec. Sec. 38-21(1) Table; Sec. 38-22(a)(4); Sec. 38-27.). Most commercial signs in Winterville require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (6 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| R12H, R15H, R18H, R20H | 1 | 3 ft. | 6 sq. ft. per sign face, 12 sq. ft. total area of all sign faces | — |
| C-1 on individual lot | 3 | 5 ft. | 32 sq. ft. per sign face, 60 sq. ft. total area of all sign faces | — |
| C-1 in Planned Center | 3 | 10 ft. | 50 sq. ft. per sign face, 100 sq. ft. total for all faces (aggregate); each business may be named but total area of all faces is 100 sq. ft. max. | — |
| PLC | 3 | 5 ft. | 32 sq. ft. (Wall Sign); 6 sq. ft. (Projecting Sign) | — |
| G | 1 | — | — | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 7 | 8 ft. | 32 sq. ft. | — |

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

### C-1 on individual lot

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Ground Sign | 5 ft. | 32 sq. ft. per sign face, 60 sq. ft. total area of all sign faces | — | 5 ft from public right-of-way, must comply with zoning side and rear setbacks. | 1 per lot street frontage; double frontage lots may have one additional sign per road front. | On individual lot, at least 5 ft from public right-of-way. Not in public right-of-way. | — | Sec. 38-21(1) Table; Sec. 38-22(a)(4); Sec. 38-27. |
| Window Sign | — | — | — | — | — | In or attached to window glass, facing road frontage. | — | Sec. 38-21(1) Table. |
| Wall Sign or Projecting Sign | — | 32 sq. ft. (Wall Sign); 6 sq. ft. (Projecting Sign) | — | — | 1 per business | Affixed to or projecting from the exterior wall of the building. | — | Sec. 38-21(1) Table. |

### C-1 in Planned Center

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Ground Sign (Entrance Sign) | 10 ft. | 50 sq. ft. per sign face, 100 sq. ft. total for all faces (aggregate); each business may be named but total area of all faces is 100 sq. ft. max. | — | Set back from right-of-way at least height of sign plus one foot (so 11 ft minimum if 10 ft sign); other setbacks per zoning. | 1 per entrance road or access point | At each entrance road or access point of planned center. Minimum setback of sign height plus one foot. | — | Sec. 38-21(1) Table, Footnote 2; Sec. 38-21(2). |
| Window Sign | — | — | — | — | — | In or attached to window glass, facing road frontage. | — | Sec. 38-21(1) Table. |
| Wall Sign or Projecting Sign | — | 32 sq. ft. (Wall Sign); 6 sq. ft. (Projecting Sign) | — | — | 1 per business | Affixed to or projecting from the exterior wall of each business. | — | Sec. 38-21(1) Table. |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Entrance Sign (Subdivision or Planned Center) | 6 ft. | 32 sq. ft. | — | Set back from right-of-way at least sign height plus 1 foot. | One per entrance road or access point. | At entrance to subdivision or planned center. Ground sign constructed of brick, stucco, wood, stone or similar material. | — | Sec. 38-21(2). |
| Weekend Temporary Sign | 3 ft. | 4 sq. ft. per side, up to 2 sides | — | At least 5 ft from curb/pavement, not in public right-of-way. | 1 per lot street frontage. | Not within 5 ft of the curb or pavement or within the public right-of-way. One per lot street frontage. | — | Sec. 38-21(4). |
| Election Cycle Temporary Sign | 3 ft. | 6 sq. ft. per side, up to 2 sides | — | At least 5 ft from curb/pavement, not in public right-of-way. | 1 per 10 ft of frontage. | Not within 5 ft of curb/pavement or within public right-of-way. One sign per 10 feet of lot public street frontage. | — | Sec. 38-21(5). |
| Construction Phase Temporary Sign | 8 ft. | 20 sq. ft. per face | — | At least 10 ft from right-of-way and 25 ft from adjacent property lines. | 2 per development/subdivision | At entrance to development or subdivision. | — | Sec. 38-21(6). |
| Internal Sign (Not Visible from Street/Public) | — | Unlimited | — | — | Unlimited | Not visible from outside structure or from the street right-of-way. | — | Sec. 38-21(3). |
| Awning and Marquee Signs | — | — | — | — | — | Projecting from building, over pedestrian walkways | — | Sec. 38-22(b)(1). |
| Wall Sign or Projecting Sign (General Height/Projection Rule) | — | — | — | — | — | Affixed to or projecting from building wall. | — | Sec. 38-22(b)(2). |

## Prohibited signs in Winterville

- Signs are not permitted in the public right-of-way.
- No portion of a sign or sign structure erected on private property shall encroach on or overhang the public right-of-way or any other person's property.
- Signs may not be placed on any property without the property owner’s permission.
- Signs which contain or are in imitation of an official traffic sign or signal, or can be confused with an official traffic sign, are prohibited.
- No sign or sign structure may be erected or maintained which obstructs any fire escape, emergency exit, ventilation, or door; nor shall any sign or sign structure be attached to a fire escape.
- No sign or sign structure above a height of three feet shall be maintained within 15 feet of the intersection of the right-of-way lines.
- No sign shall obstruct the view of vehicles entering the roadway or of vehicles entering or leaving the driveways.
- Signs must comply with all side and rear setbacks of the underlying zoning ordinance.
- Roof signs are prohibited.
- Rotating signs, including signs with rotating elements or parts, and signs where the entire sign face or structure rotates, are prohibited.
- Portable signs, including printed banners attached to vehicles and trailers, are prohibited.
- Changeable electronic copy, moving signs, or signs with moving parts (including animated signs, 'trivision'-type signs, signs displaying moving pictures, electronic directories or images, LED signs, EVMC signs, signs with content that changes more than once daily, signs with moving words, waving elements) are prohibited. Non-electronic changeable copy signs are only permitted if copy is not changed more than once per day.
- Flashing, blinking, or signs of varying light intensity, or signs containing exposed neon tubing except signs less than four square feet and total not to exceed four square feet per business, are prohibited.
- Signs with reflective elements that sparkle in sunlight or that contain luminous paint that glows in the dark are prohibited.
- Signs that spell words or create images with numerous small lights or other illumination are prohibited.
- Signs on courtesy benches, trash cans, and similar devices are prohibited.
- Vehicle signs are prohibited.
- Inflatable figures and objects are prohibited.
- Signs that produce noise or any sound capable of being heard are prohibited.
- Signs that produce smoke, vapor, particles, or odor are prohibited.
- Signs created by projecting light onto an object, a wall, a cloud, or other matter, where the light creates the sign copy, are prohibited.
- Signs that are tacked, painted, posted, marked, or otherwise affixed on trees, utility poles or other similar structures, rocks, or other natural features are prohibited.
- Pennants and streamers are prohibited.
- Signs must be kept in good repair; all burned-out bulbs or damaged panels must be replaced and all missing copy must be replaced.
- The city may remove a sign in violation of this article or posing an immediate safety threat from public property without notice.

## Signs exempt from permit in Winterville

- Government signs are exempt from compliance with the sign ordinance.
- Internal signs (any sign not visible from the outside of a structure or to the passing public) are allowed in unlimited numbers.
- Weekend temporary signs and election cycle temporary signs are allowed in any zoning district and may be erected without a sign permit, subject to specific regulations.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A sign permit is required for any person to erect, repair, alter, or relocate a sign unless otherwise exempt by the ordinance.
- Applications for sign permits must include scale drawings showing plans, specifications, methods of construction and attachment, and site features.
- Signs with electrical wiring must have the application submitted by a licensed electrician and must be reviewed by the planning and zoning commission.
- The planning and zoning commission reviews and approves/denies sign permits at its regular meetings.
- If a sign permit is denied based on a regulation that can be varied, the property owner or sign contractor may apply for a variance; the final decision is made by the mayor and council in a public hearing.
- Variance may be granted only for sign setback, height, placement, and/or type. Variance is not allowed for maximum square footage, total number of signs, site maximum square footage, or public safety regulations.

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

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