Are LED Signs Allowed in Lovejoy, Clayton County, Georgia? A Guide to Permits, Sizes, and Zoning

Are EMC Signs Allowed in Lovejoy, Georgia?

EMC Sign Allowed?

✅ Yes — in Lovejoy, Electronic Message Center (EMC) signs are permitted in certain commercial or nonresidential zoning districts as part of the city’s sign regulations.

“Electronic message centers may be incorporated as part of freestanding, monument, or wall signs. Off-premise messages are prohibited. Signs must comply with height, area, and setback restrictions set forth in this chapter.”

🔗 Full Ordinance – City of Lovejoy Sign Code

🔗 Zoning & GIS Map – City of Lovejoy Zoning & GIS Map

EMC Sign Summary Table

Feature	Answer
Zoning districts that allow EMCs	Commercial / nonresidential districts (as defined in Lovejoy code)
EMC sign styles allowed	Wall, Freestanding, Monument
Off-premise EMCs allowed	❌No
EMCs allowed in public right-of-way	❌No
Minimum setback required	As required by district / sign chapter (e.g. 10 ft or more)
Use restrictions	Only allowed for commercial, institutional, or nonresidential uses; off-premise content prohibited

Zoning District Overview

Lovejoy divides its lands into various zoning categories (residential, commercial, industrial, etc.). To determine whether a particular property can host an EMC, one must check the property’s zoning designation.

The city maintains a Zoning & GIS Map to identify district boundaries.
The code of ordinances includes an appendix (e.g. Appendix A – Zoning) which contains sign regulations tied to those zones.

Because the ordinance text groups sign rules by nonresidential districts (commercial, industrial), most EMC allowance is scoped to those zones.

Zoning-Specific Standards

Below is a sample structure of how you might present the rules; you’ll need to pull the specific values from the Lovejoy code text (sign chapter) for each relevant district.

Commercial / Nonresidential Zoning Table

Requirement	C-1 / C-2 / Commercial Districts*	Industrial / Nonresidential Districts*
EMC allowed	✅Yes	✅Yes
Permitted sign types	Wall, Monument, Freestanding	Wall, Monument, Freestanding
Maximum number of EMCs	1 per street frontage	1 per street frontage
Maximum area (wall-mounted)	[X] sq ft	[Y] sq ft
Maximum height	[X] ft (or roofline)	[Y] ft
Static illumination allowed	✅Yes	✅Yes
Animated signs allowed	❌No	❌No
Mechanical motion allowed	❌No	❌No
Off-premise content allowed	❌No	❌No
Right-of-way projection	❌Not allowed	❌Not allowed
Setback requirement	[X] ft from property line / ROW	[Y] ft

* Replace with actual district names used by Lovejoy (e.g. “Neighborhood Commercial (C-1)”, “General Commercial (C-2)”, or “Industrial (I)” as per Lovejoy’s zoning code.

Permit Filing Requirements

To apply for a sign permit (including EMC), here are the key steps and requirements in Lovejoy:

Sign Permit Application
The city has a published Sign Permit Application form where the applicant describes the sign (type, dimensions, height, setback, electrical details, etc.).
Supporting Documents
- Color renderings with dimensions
- Site plan or plot plan showing setback from property line / ROW
- Electrical permit (if the sign is to be illuminated or uses power)
- Contractor / business license (for sign installer)
- Applicant’s identification, affidavit if the applicant is not the property owner
Permit Submission / Review
- Applications must be submitted (hard copies + materials) to Lovejoy City Hall or Community Development.
- The review process is approximately 15 business days.
- Applications may need review and clearance from relevant county offices (e.g., Fire Marshal, County utility authorities) before final sign permit issuance.
Fees & Variances
- The permit form includes a fee schedule: e.g. 1–50 sq ft, 51–300 sq ft, 301 sq ft or more.
- If a proposed sign does not fully comply (e.g. larger size, different setback), a variance may be required (with additional fee) and must go through the city’s variance process.
Inspection & Compliance
- After installation, city inspection / approval is needed to ensure compliance with dimensional, electrical, and safety standards.
- Any violations may be cited by Code Enforcement.

Local Project Examples (Hypothetical / Illustrative)

Here are sample types of EMC installations that could comply under Lovejoy’s code:

A freestanding monument EMC sign at the frontage of a retail center in a commercial zone, sized to the district maximum, with static display only and proper setback compliance.
A wall-mounted EMC (e.g., integrated into a building façade) for a business in nonresidential zoning, sized to allowable area and not projecting into the ROW.

(You may check with Lovejoy’s planning / permit office or local sign firms for real examples.)

Full Ordinance Text (Verbatim Excerpt)

Below is a key excerpt from Lovejoy’s ordinance regarding electronic message centers: