Are LED Signs Allowed in Union City, Fulton County, Georgia? A Guide to Permits, Sizes, and Zoning
EMC Sign Allowed?
✅ Yes — contingent/qualified. According to the City’s “Sign Ordinance of Union City, Georgia” (Article XI of the Zoning Ordinance) signage is regulated and the Ordinance acknowledges electronic / illuminated types under certain conditions.
“A. Sign standards apply to all zoning districts in the City. …”
However, the text does not appear to explicitly use the term “Electronic Message Center (EMC)” and clear provisions for EMCs (changeable copy, remote programmable displays) are not obviously identified in the publicly‐available sections. Therefore, a careful review of the full Sign Ordinance text (Section 11- …) is required to confirm whether EMCs are specifically permitted, allowed only by variance, or prohibited.
Official Ordinance / Zoning Code Link: [Union City Zoning Ordinance (August 20 2024 Rev.)]
If the term EMC or “changeable copy electronic sign” is not clearly defined/allowed, then the safe position is to treat as “conditionally allowed, subject to permit/variance” until direct language is found.
🔗 Full Ordinance – City of Union City Sign Code
🔗 Zoning & GIS Map – City of Union City Zoning & GIS Map
EMC Sign Summary Table
Provided only if EMCs are clearly allowed. Because the language is ambiguous, this table should be used with caution and with verification.
| Feature | Answer |
|---|---|
| Zoning districts that allow EMCs | ❌ Not clearly defined (requires verification) |
| EMC sign styles allowed | ❌ Not explicitly defined in the ordinance (wall, monument, freestanding not specifically referenced for EMCs) |
| Off-premise EMCs allowed | ❌ Not clearly addressed |
| EMCs allowed in the public right-of-way | ❌ Not clearly addressed |
| Minimum setback required | Setbacks for signs are regulated generally in the Sign Ordinance—please check Section XI for specific values. |
| Use restrictions | Sign standards apply to all zoning districts (Residential, Commercial, Industrial) according to approved use; must comply with general Sign Ordinance rules. |
Note: Because the specific “EMC” terminology is not clearly identified, this is a high‐level summary only. Any applicant should review the full ordinance and consult the Union City Community Development Department for verification.
Zoning District Overview
Zoning Districts in Union City: According to the Zoning Ordinance, the City is divided into multiple districts. Examples include:
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R-1 Single-Family Residential District
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TCMU Town Center Mixed Use District
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TCMF Town Center Multifamily District
…and others as provided in Article IV.
Total number of commercial/industrial zoning districts: The table of contents includes many districts (commercial, mixed‐use, industrial, etc), but the exact number is not summarised in the publicly available text. Users should refer to “Official Zoning Maps – City of Union City, Georgia”.
Link to Zoning Map / Parcel Viewer: The ordinance references “Official Zoning Maps … shall be made a part of this Ordinance.”
(Screenshot of zoning map / parcel viewer would be ideal to embed here in the blog.)
Zoning-Specific Standards
Because specific EMC standards are not clearly differentiated in the ordinance text, we provide a sample structure. Users should fill in details after confirming with the Sign Ordinance.
Commercial Zoning Table
| Requirement | Example District A | Example District B |
|---|---|---|
| EMC allowed | ||
| Permitted sign types | Wall, Monument, Freestanding (?) | Wall, Monument (?) |
| Maximum number of EMCs | ||
| Maximum area (wall-mounted) | ||
| Maximum height | ||
| Static illumination allowed | ✅ Yes, per general sign rules | ✅ Yes |
| Animated signs | ❌ Not permitted unless explicitly provided | ❌ Not permitted |
| Mechanical motion | ❌ Not permitted unless explicitly provided | ❌ Not permitted |
| Off-premise content allowed | ❌ Not clearly specified | ❌ Not clearly specified |
| Right-of-way projection | Regulated by general sign‐setback rules | Regulated similarly |
| Setback requirement | Set by Section XI sign rules | Section XI sign rules |
Industrial Zoning Table, Residential Zoning Table, etc., would follow similarly with the specific values from Section 11 of the ordinance.
Permit Filing Requirements
According to the ordinance:
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The Sign Ordinance assigns permitting, issuance or denial of sign permits to the Zoning Administrator.
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A schedule of fees is established under Article XIV of the Zoning Ordinance.
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For any EMC or electronic sign installation, typical requirements may include: sign permit application, electrical permit, engineering/structural certification (if freestanding), and compliance with illumination/animation restrictions (if applicable).
Tip: Confirm whether the permit fee schedule includes “electronic message board” as a separate category, whether review/inspection fees apply, and whether there are additional escrow or compliance monitoring fees for EMCs.
Local Project Examples (Optional)
At present, no publicly documented examples of EMC installations in Union City were located in the available resources. If you (or your client) have previously permitted an electronic sign in Union City, it would be valuable to include:
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Location & address
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Zoning district
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Sign style (wall, freestanding, monument)
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Size, height, setback achieved
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Permit timeline, cost, any compliance issues
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Photos (before/after)
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Client/testimonial statement
Full Ordinance Text (Verbatim)
Below are some of the key provisions from the Sign Ordinance of Union City, Georgia:
Section 11-2 Name. This Ordinance shall be known and cited as “The Sign Ordinance of Union City, Georgia” and is hereafter referred to as “The Sign Ordinance”.
Section 11-3 Purpose.
“The City Council of Union City understands that signs are an integral part of the ability of every person to exercise their right to freedom of speech. It is however important to understand that there is a fundamental need to protect Union City as a whole from the unchecked proliferation of unregulated signage.”(Additional specific sections regarding the definitions of signs, illumination, changeable copy, electronic signs, as well as Section VI (On-Premise/Off-Premise Signs) should be reproduced here verbatim once located in the ordinance text.)
External References
🗺️ Union City Zoning & GIS Map
📘 Union City Zoning Sign Code
📝 Permit Application Portal