Are LED Signs Allowed in College Park, Clayton County, Georgia? A Guide to Permits, Sizes, and Zoning
EMC Sign Allowed?
✅ Yes, with restrictions.
College Park’s municipal code permits digital displays / EMCs within certain commercial and nonresidential zones, provided the signs comply with the city’s sign chapter and Downtown Design Guidelines.
"Properties having digital billboards permitted hereunder shall be unaffected by the square footage of any digital billboard permitted by the City of College Park as concerns compliance with the limitation of five hundred (500) square feet of aggregate sign area for every ten (10) contiguous acres."
🔗 Full Ordinance – City of College Park Sign Code
🔗 Zoning & GIS Map – City of College Park Zoning & GIS Map
EMC Sign Summary Table
| Feature | Answer / Limitation |
|---|---|
| Zoning districts that allow EMCs | Nonresidential zones where monument, freestanding, or wall signs are permitted (subject to sign chapter requirements) |
| EMC sign styles allowed | Monument, Freestanding, Wall |
| Off-premise EMCs allowed | ❌No, unless specifically permitted under a special exception |
| EMCs in ROW | ❌Not permitted; signs must be placed on a lot |
| Aggregate sign area | Counts toward 500 sf per 10 contiguous acres maximum |
| Repair/replacement | Allowed without a new permit if size and weight remain unchanged |
| Compliance | Must follow all other sign chapter regulations (height, setbacks, design guidelines) |
Zoning District Overview
College Park has multiple zoning districts, including:
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Residential
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Mixed-use
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Commercial
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Industrial
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Downtown Overlay / TOD (Transit-Oriented Development)
Digital display allowances are conditional on the zoning district and compliance with general sign regulations. The City’s interactive zoning map allows property owners to verify district classification and applicable signage rules.
Zoning-Specific Standards
The ordinance integrates EMC rules into general sign regulations:
| Requirement | Standard / Constraint |
|---|---|
| Lot requirement | Signs must be on a legal lot; not allowed on lots with only interstate frontage |
| Compatibility | Must comply with Downtown Design Guidelines for signs in overlay districts |
| Aggregate area | Counts toward the 500 sf per 10 contiguous acres limit |
| Repair/replacement | Permitted only if size and weight are unchanged |
| Nonconflict | Cannot alter or override other sign chapter rules (height, setback, etc.) |
Note: EMCs are governed as part of the broader sign chapter rather than by a separate zoning-specific table.
Permit Filing Requirements
To install an EMC in College Park:
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Required forms: Sign Permit Application, Electrical Permit (if applicable)
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Fees: Determined by city planning office at time of application
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Conditional use/variance: Required if proposal does not fully comply with ordinance
Applicants must ensure all installations meet size, height, setback, and design requirements in addition to EMC-specific provisions.
Local Project Examples
Currently, no publicly available examples of EMC installations in College Park have been documented. Prospective applicants can:
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Consult the City Planning Department for permit records
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Review commercial corridors via Google Street View for existing digital signage
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Contact local sign companies for case studies or recent projects
Full Ordinance Text (Verbatim)
“Properties having digital billboards permitted hereunder shall be unaffected by the square footage of any digital billboard permitted by the City of College Park as concerns compliance with the limitation of five hundred (500) square feet of aggregate sign area for every ten (10) contiguous acres.”
“The repair or replacement of permitted digital displays shall be allowed without permit so long as neither the size nor weight of the display is increased.”
“All signs must be placed upon a lot, as defined in the zoning ordinance … No sign may be placed upon any lot that has road frontage only on an interstate or intrastate highway.”
“The provisions of the City of College Park Downtown Design Guidelines … pertaining to signage … are hereby incorporated herein and made a part hereof as if fully set out in their entirety.”
External References
🗺️ College Park Zoning & GIS Map
📘 College Park Zoning Sign Code
📝 Permit Application Portal