Are LED Signs Allowed in Auburn, Barrow County, Georgia? A Guide to Permits, Sizes, and Zoning
EMC Sign Allowed?
✅ Yes — Auburn’s sign ordinance does permit electronic message signs (EMCs), but under controlled conditions. The ordinance refers to them as “electronic signs” and includes detailed provisions about how they may be used.
Excerpt from the code:
“Electronic signs may be allowed as a sign type, subject to the restrictions and standards herein.”
🔗 Full Ordinance – City of Auburn Sign Code
🔗 Zoning & GIS Map – City of Auburn Zoning & GIS Map
EMC Sign Summary Table
| Feature | Answer |
|---|---|
| Zoning districts that allow EMCs | Nonresidential commercial districts, mixed-use zones |
| EMC sign styles allowed | Wall signs, Freestanding / Ground signs, Monument signs |
| Off-premise EMCs allowed | ❌No |
| EMCs in public right-of-way | ❌Not permitted |
| Minimum setback required | As dictated by underlying zoning |
| Use restrictions | Only for on-site businesses, must meet illumination/time rules |
Zoning District Overview
Auburn’s zoning structure defines where commercial and mixed-use activity is permitted, and those are the zones in which electronic signs may be authorized. Residential zoning does not allow EMCs under normal conditions.
You can use the City or County GIS to look up parcel zoning designation for a specific property.
Zoning-Specific Standards
| Requirement | Commercial / Mixed-Use Districts |
|---|---|
| EMC allowed | ✅Yes |
| Permitted sign types | Wall, Monument, Freestanding |
| Maximum number | Typically one EMC per street frontage |
| Maximum area | Defined by sign district (e.g. proportional to building frontage) |
| Maximum height | Follows general sign height caps in that zone |
| Static illumination | ✅Allowed |
| Animated transitions | ❌Prohibited (message change transitions must be instantaneous or as code allows) |
| Mechanical motion | ❌Not allowed |
| Off-premise content | ❌Not allowed |
| Setback requirement | Per zone’s sign setback requirements |
Permit Filing Requirements
To install an EMC in Auburn, you’ll need to:
-
Submit a Sign Permit Application (detailing sign drawings, dimensions, illumination plan)
-
Possibly an Electrical Permit if wiring or power modifications are involved
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Pay the applicable permit review fee, based on sign size, classification, or valuation
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Provide proof that the proposed sign meets illumination, brightness, and timing restrictions
Check with Auburn’s Planning / Building Department for forms and fee schedules.
Local Project Example
A small retail center in Auburn recently installed a wall-mounted electronic sign to display business hours and promotions. The installation complied with the code’s brightness limits, change interval rules, and setback guidelines. It was permitted and installed within a few weeks.
Full Ordinance Text
The full provisions on signs, including electronic signs, are in Title 17, Section 17.120 of Auburn’s Code of Ordinances.
External References
🗺️ Auburn Zoning & GIS Map
📘 Auburn Zoning Sign Code
📝 Permit Application Portal