Are LED Signs Allowed in Johns Creek, Fulton County, Georgia? A Guide to Permits, Sizes, and Zoning
EMC Sign Allowed?
✅ Yes — EMC (Electronic Message Center) signs may be permitted in Johns Creek, subject to meeting the general sign-regulations of the city. The city’s sign ordinance, Appendix A — Zoning, Article XXXIII. “Signs”, regulates signs via size, setback, height, illumination and other criteria.
However: the ordinance does not appear to mention EMCs or digital message boards explicitly (e.g., text-changing LED displays). Because of this, you should contact the city’s Community Development / Planning & Zoning department to confirm that an EMC is compliant, to determine whether it is treated as an “illuminated sign” or a “changing message sign,” and whether any special review/variance is required.
If there is a variance or conditional use review process for signage beyond the standard permit, you may wish to review the city’s amendments and contact the department for guidance. See the “Sign Ordinance Amendment Highlights – Jan 13 2025.”
🔗 Full Ordinance – City of Johns Creek Sign Code
🔗 Zoning & GIS Map – City of Johns Creek Zoning & GIS Map
EMC Sign Summary Table
(Because EMCs are not explicitly defined in the ordinance, the answers below are based on general sign rules and should be verified.)
| Feature | Answer |
|---|---|
| Zoning districts that allow EMCs | Commercial, Office-Institutional, Mixed-Use, Industrial (per city’s sign guidebook) |
| EMC sign styles allowed | Presumably: Wall, Freestanding, Monument (subject to standard sign types) |
| Off-premise EMCs allowed | ❌ Not explicitly stated — likely no unless approved by variance |
| EMCs allowed in the public right-of-way | ❌ Not allowed: signs must be on private property, not within public right-of-way. |
| Minimum setback required | Freestanding sign: minimum 10 ft from right‐of‐way (per guidebook) |
| Use restrictions | Business signs must meet permit, business license, zoning district allowances; EMC-specific restrictions not defined |
Zoning District Overview
In Johns Creek, the sign regulations are contained in Appendix A — Zoning, Article XXXIII “Signs”.
The city includes a variety of zoning districts: agricultural, single family, townhouse, office-institutional, commercial business, mixed use, industrial/light industrial, etc.
You should refer to the city’s interactive zoning map to determine the specific zoning district of your property.
How to identify zoning designation:
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Visit the city’s GIS parcel viewer or zoning map.
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Enter the address of your property.
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Note the zoning district designation on the parcel (e.g., C-2, MIX, O-I, M-1) as used in the zoning ordinance.
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Match the zoning district to the sign table/standards in Article XXXIII to verify allowed sign types.
Zoning-Specific Standards
Here are some of the general standards from Johns Creek’s sign guidebook for commercial/office/industrial zones; for EMC use you must check for compliance with illumination, message change, etc.
Commercial / Office / Mixed Use (example)
| Requirement | Standard |
|---|---|
| Freestanding sign | One (1) sign per street frontage; max 32 sq ft; height not to exceed 6 ft; minimum 10 ft setback from right-of-way. |
| Wall signs | Each business may have up to two (2) wall signs; maximum of the smaller of 5% of the applicable wall area or 100 sq ft. |
| Construction/temporary signs | Max 16 sq ft and 8 ft height; shall not be internally illuminated. |
You should structure similar tables for Industrial and Institutional/Civic zones if your property is in such a zone.
Permit Filing Requirements
If you intend to install an EMC sign, you must submit a proper sign permit to the city – here are key items from the guide:
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Submit a Sign Permit Application via the Customer Self-Service Portal.
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For Freestanding/Monument sign: site plan showing street address, proposed sign location, distance to property line or right-of-way; drawing of sign details incl. height and size.
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For Wall/Canopy sign: building elevations showing façade, width/height dimensions, drawing of proposed sign, square footage.
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Ensure you have a current business license (for business signs) and property-owner consent.
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Fee: The publicly available guide does not list a standard fee for EMC or digital signs; you may need to contact the City’s Permit Division for the current fee schedule.
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Note: Because EMCs involve electronic/digital messaging, you may also need to provide electrical permit and possibly additional structural/illumination documentation.
Local Project Examples
At this time, no publicly documented EMC-specific installations in Johns Creek were identified. If you have a client example, you may highlight it here (location, zoning district, permit timeline, photo).
(You may wish to reach out locally to signage contractors or the city’s permit records for example case studies.)
Full Ordinance Text (Verbatim)
Here is an excerpt from the ordinance:
“Such signs shall not be illuminated.” (Construction signs)
Appendix A – Zoning, Article XXXIII “Signs” regulates the erection, location, size, height, materials and illumination of signs within the City of Johns Creek.
You should include the full text of relevant sections (e.g., Sec. 33.23 Measurement of Sign Area; Sec. 33.26 Wall Sign Area Calculation) at the end of your blog post.
External References
🗺️ Johns Creek Zoning & GIS Map
📘 Johns Creek Zoning Sign Code
📝 Permit Application Portal