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Sign Regulations of DeKalb County, GA
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In DeKalb County, Georgia, electronic signs—often referred to as Electronic Message Centers (EMCs)—are subject to specific regulations based on zoning districts and sign types.Dekalb County Law
Permitted Zoning Districts: EMCs are allowed only in the following zoning districts:
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C-1 (Local Commercial)
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C-2 (General Commercial)
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M (Light Industrial)DeKalb County GA
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M-2 (Heavy Industrial)
These signs must comply with all applicable requirements set forth in the county's sign ordinance.
Height Regulations: The maximum allowable height for ground signs, which include both pole and monument signs, varies depending on the zoning district and specific location. Generally, the height restrictions are as follows:
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Non-Residential Zoning Districts: Ground signs are typically limited to a maximum height of 20 feet.
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Planned Commercial Centers: In these developments, ground signs may also have a maximum height of 20 feet.
It's important to note that these height limits can be influenced by factors such as the sign's distance from street pavement and the presence of authorized curb cuts.
Additional Considerations:
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Setback Requirements: All signs must adhere to specific setback regulations, including maintaining a minimum distance from electrical transmission lines and ensuring visibility at intersections.
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Aggregate Sign Area: There are limitations on the total signable area permitted on a lot, which varies based on the property's size and use.
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Permit Acquisition: Before installing an EMC, obtaining a sign permit from DeKalb County's Department of Planning & Sustainability is mandatory. This process involves submitting detailed plans and ensuring compliance with all relevant codes and ordinances.
📏 Sec. 21-14: Height and Setback Requirements
➤ General Setbacks (All Zoning Districts):
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10 ft from curb line where a curb cut exists.
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If right-of-way is >10 ft from curb, sign must be 1 ft behind the ROW line.
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In residential districts (if building is <15 ft from ROW), sign must be set back ⅔ of the distance between curb and principal structure.
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Signs along non-street lot lines must be placed within the buildable area.
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Corner visibility: No sign taller than 3 ft within 15 ft of intersection of two ROW lines.
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Exception: 10" diameter support allowed if sign is at least 12 ft above ground.
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🏪 Sec. 21-15: Signs for Convenience Stores & Gas Stations
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Canopy Signs:
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1 per canopy face facing a street
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Max: 6 sq ft per sign
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Pump Island Signs:
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Max 2 signs per island
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Each sign ≤ 4 sq ft
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Total per site: 24 sq ft
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Accessory Car Wash Signs:
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1 wall sign per side
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Max 5 sq ft each
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🕊️ Sec. 21-16: Non-Commercial Messages
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Any allowed sign in any district may carry non-commercial content.
🧱 Sec. 21-17: Wall & Projecting Signs
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Must be securely fastened to the surface.
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Wall signs >180 sq ft not allowed below the 12th story.
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Projecting signs may extend up to 2 ft, but must maintain:
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10 ft clearance above pedestrian areas
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14 ft clearance above vehicle access
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No sign may extend above parapet wall.
🌳 Sec. 21-18: Ground Signs
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Max Height:
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20 ft in non-residential zones
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If ground is lower than street, height can be measured from pavement level
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Directional Signs: Max height 3 ft
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Placement:
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Primary signs must face the primary street
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Secondary signs must face the secondary street
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🏗️ Sec. 21-19: Canopy Signs
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Must maintain 8 ft clearance over pedestrian areas
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Must maintain 14 ft clearance over vehicle service areas
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May not extend above parapet wall
🏢 Sec. 21-20: Signs in Non-Residential Districts
(a) For lots NOT part of a planned commercial center
| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Width | Max Area | Max Allowed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ground Sign | 20 ft | 15 ft | 160 sq ft | 1 per facade |
| Canopy/Wall Sign | N/A | 80% of wall/canopy width | 30 sq ft or 4 sq ft/linear ft, max 150 sq ft (<12 stories), 500 sq ft (≥12 stories) | 1 primary, 1 secondary |
| Projecting Sign | 20 ft | N/A | 40 sq ft | 1 primary, 1 secondary |
| Directional Sign | 3 ft | 3 ft | 6 sq ft | 2 per curb cut |
| Entrance Sign | 8 ft | 8 ft | 32 sq ft | 1 per entrance |
| Subdivision Sign | 12 ft | 15 ft | 100 sq ft | 1 per subdivision |
| Window Sign | N/A | N/A | 10% of window area | N/A |
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Setback from transmission lines: Ground and directional signs must be 10 ft away
(b) For Planned Commercial Centers
| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Width | Max Area | Max Allowed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ground Sign | 20 ft | 20 ft | 200 sq ft | 1 per facade |
| Canopy/Wall Sign | N/A | 80% of wall/canopy width | Same as above | 1 primary, 1 secondary |
| Directional Sign | 3 ft | 3 ft | 6 sq ft | 2 per curb cut |
| Entrance Sign | 8 ft | 8 ft | 32 sq ft | 1 per entrance |
| Window Sign | N/A | N/A | 30% of window area (<50K sq ft buildings); 10% for larger buildings | N/A |
Additional Limits:
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Only 1 ground sign per street frontage is allowed
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Total signage on any commercial lot is limited to the greater of:
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450 sq ft, or
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2 sq ft per 100 sq ft of floor area
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Here is the snippet of the regulations
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Sec. 21-14. - Height and setback requirements.
(a)
All signs shall be set back as follows:
(1)
Ten (10) feet from the curb line of each street adjacent to the lot upon which the sign is situated where an authorized curb cut exists; (applicable to all zoning districts);
(2)
If the right-of-way is more than ten (10) feet from the curb line as described in (1) above, the sign, including its footing or foundations, shall be setback at least one (1) foot from the right-of-way (applicable to all zoning districts);
(3)
In a residential zoning district, if the distance between the right of way to the front of the principal structure is less than fifteen (15) feet, signs shall be setback two-thirds (⅔) of the distance between the curbline and the front of the principal structure on the lot on which the sign is located;
(4)
Along all lot lines which are not adjacent to a road with an authorized curb cut, any and all signs shall be within the buildable area of the lot. All signs shall be so located and shall provide such vertical clearance as to provide for safe, convenient and unobstructed passage for pedestrians and vehicles.
(b)
No sign or sign structure above a height of three (3) feet shall be maintained within fifteen (15) feet of the intersection of the right-of-way lines extended of two (2) streets, or of a street intersection with a railroad right-of-way. However, a sign support structure not more than ten (10) inches in diameter may be located within the required comer visibility area if all other requirements of this chapter are met and the lowest elevation of the sign surface is at least twelve (12) feet above the ground level.
(c)
Window signs are only allowed on the ground floor of a building.
(d)
Also see regulations in section 21-18 below.
(Ord. No. 13-03, Pt. I, 6-10-03)
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Sec. 21-15. - Convenience stores and service stations with pump islands.
In addition to the signs otherwise allowed in this chapter, convenience stores and service stations with pump islands may have signage subject to the following limitations:
(1)
Within the limits of the canopy covering the pump islands, one (1) sign per canopy face per public street frontage with a maximum of six (6) square feet.
(2)
Within the limits of the canopy covering the pump islands, pump-island signs shall be limited to no more than two (2) signs per island, not to exceed four (4) square feet per sign. However, total square footage of all pump island signs shall not exceed twenty-four (24) square feet.
(3)
Accessory car wash, if a separate drive-through car wash building is on site, one (1) additional wall sign per face of car wash, not to exceed five (5) square feet, may be permitted.
(Ord. No. 13-03, Pt. I, 6-10-03)
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Sec. 21-16. - Non-commercial messages.
Any sign provided for in any zoning district may contain non-commercial messages.
(Ord. No. 13-03, Pt. I, 6-10-03)
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Sec. 21-17. - Wall or projecting signs.
Wall or projecting signs shall be securely fastened to the building surface.
(b)
No wall sign greater than one hundred eighty (180) square feet shall be placed below the twelfth story of a building.
(c)
Projecting signs may project from the building up to two (2) feet; provided that no projecting sign shall be maintained less than ten (10) feet above the ground level when erected over pedestrian walkways or driveways and no less than fourteen (14) feet above vehicle access.
(d)
No wall or projecting sign shall extend above the parapet wall.
(Ord. No. 13-03, Pt. I, 6-10-03)
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Sec. 21-18. - Ground signs.
(a)
The height of all ground signs at their highest point above the level of the ground shall not exceed twenty (20) feet in non-residentially zoned districts; however, when the ground level is lower than the level of the adjoining street pavement, then a sign may be raised so as to be no more than twenty (20) feet above the level of the pavement. Residentially zoned districts shall be governed by section 21-13 above. The level of the ground shall not be altered in such a way to provide additional sign height. The height of monopole sign structures shall be measured from the base of the pole at ground level to the top of the pole or top of the highest sign face, whichever is higher. The height of any multi-pole sign structure shall be measured the same as a monopole structure, except that the measurement shall be made using the shortest pole. Ground signs shall be measured from the ground level base of the sign structure (deemed to include any skirting) to the highest point of the sign.
(b)
The height of any directional sign shall not be more than three (3) feet above the ground.
(c)
All ground signs allowed for primary facades shall place between the primary facade and the street the primary facade faces.
(d)
All ground signs allowed for secondary facades shall place between the secondary facade and the street the secondary facade faces.
(Ord. No. 13-03, Pt. I, 6-10-03)
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Sec. 21-19. - Canopy signs.
Canopy signs shall be no less than eight (8) feet above the ground when erected over pedestrian walkways and fourteen (14) feet above areas of vehicle service access at the lowest extremity of the sign. No canopy sign shall extend above the parapet wall.
(Ord. No. 13-03, Pt. I, 6-10-03)
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Sec. 21-20. - Non-residential zoning district regulations.
(a)
In addition to all other applicable regulations in this chapter, all lots that are located in non-residential districts not developed as a planned commercial center are limited to the following signs:
(b)
In lieu of the sign regulations of Table (a) above, a lot located in a non-residential district and developed as a planned commercial center shall be allowed the following:
(c)
No property zoned for non-residential use may have more than one (1) ground sign that is oriented towards travelers along the same street.
(d)
In addition to those regulations set forth in subsection (a) and (b) above, no person may maintain a lot zoned for commercial use where the aggregate signable area exceeds four hundred fifty (450) square feet, or two (2) square feet of signage for each one hundred (100) square feet of floor area, which ever is greater, regardless of the construction, placement or type of sign or signs.
(Ord. No. 13-03, Pt. I, 6-10-03)