Sign Regulations in Atlanta, GA (2026)
4 verified sign regulations for Atlanta, Georgia, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Holiday Displays
Atlanta's sign ordinance flatly bans inflatable signs and balloons as a display category citywide, but lights and non-advertising holiday decorations are exempt from the sign permit rule entirely.
Atlanta Bans Inflatable Signs, Not Decorations
Significant RestrictionsAtlanta Code of Ordinances Sec. 16-28A.009(5)-(6)
All signs not expressly permitted under this chapter 28A are prohibited. Such signs include but are not limited to: (1)Banners, except as authorized in section 16-28A.012(a)(5) and 16-28A.007;(2)Beacons, except as authorized in section 16-28A.007(a);(3)Pennants;(4)Strings of lights not permanently mounted to a rigid background, except as authorized in section 16-28A.008(3);(5)Inflatable sign...
Digital Billboards
Atlanta restricts billboards to I-1 and I-2 industrial zoning and closely regulates electronic message changes: each display must hold static for ten seconds, transitions must finish within two seconds, and animated or full-motion video content is banned outright.
Atlanta Digital Billboard & Electronic Sign Rules
Significant RestrictionsAtlanta Code of Ordinances § 16-28A.007(b), (x)(1),(3),(4)
Billboard signs are permitted only in the I-1 and I-2 industrial districts... Each message displayed on any changing sign display shall remain static for at least ten seconds following the completion of its transition from the previous message... When a message is changed electronically, the transition... shall be accomplished in two seconds or less... No changing sign may include animated, fla...
Window Signs
In Atlanta, illuminated or electronically changing window signs cannot cover more than 30% of the window or door, must stay under 12 square feet total, and no single sign can exceed 6 square feet.
Atlanta Window Sign Coverage Limits
Some RestrictionsAtlanta Code of Ordinances § 16-28A.007(q)(1)
Illuminated and changing signs may not exceed 30 percent of the area of any window or door where such sign is installed and shall be less than 12 square feet in total size regardless of the size of the window; provided however that no one sign shall exceed six square feet and further provided that where district regulations impose stricter controls on signs inside of a building or window signs,...
Freeway-Facing Signs
Atlanta bans animated, flashing, changing, and rotating signs within 660 feet of any limited-access freeway or expressway inside city limits, with a narrow temporary exception during construction.
Freeway-Facing Sign Restrictions in Atlanta
Significant RestrictionsAtlanta Code of Ordinances § 6-27
It shall be unlawful for any person to build, use or maintain, within a distance of 660 feet from any portion of the limited access freeway or expressway system within the city, any animated sign, any flashing sign, any changing sign or any rotating sign as defined in part 16 of this Code. Any sign which involves direct or indirect illumination shall have the approval of the director, bureau of...
Looking for Fulton County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Atlanta city rules.
Sign Regulations in Fulton County →