Sign Regulations in DeKalb County, GA (2026)
5 rules for unincorporated DeKalb County, Georgia.
Verified from official government sources
Political Signs
DeKalb County bans political posters, signs and advertisements in public rights-of-way and on public property, and requires the property owner's written permission before placing them on private land countywide.
DeKalb County Political Sign Placement Rules
Significant RestrictionsDeKalb County Code, Appendix B, Sec. 702
It shall be unlawful for any person within the territorial limits of DeKalb County to place political posters, signs and advertisements: (a)Within the right-of-way of any public streets located within such county;(b)On any public property or building; and(c)On any private property unless the owner thereof has given written permission to place such political campaign posters, signs and advert...
Garage Sale Signs
DeKalb County's zoning ordinance allows exactly two temporary signs for a yard sale, both on private property with the owner's permission, never in the public right-of-way or on a utility pole, and both removed immediately once the sale wraps up.
DeKalb County Yard Sale Sign Rules
Some RestrictionsDeKalb County Code § 27-4.3.6.B.1
Two (2) temporary signs are permitted during the yard sale, provided that such signs shall be on private property with permission of the owner, not within the public right-of-way or attached to a utility pole. Signs must be removed immediately following the conclusion of the sale.2.All unsold yard sale merchandise remaining at the conclusion of the sale must be removed immediately. Purchased ya...
Holiday Displays
In unincorporated DeKalb County, seasonal holiday decorations are excluded from the sign code's definition of a 'sign,' so residents don't need a sign permit to put up lights, wreaths, or yard displays.
DeKalb County Sign Code Exempts Holiday Decorations
Few RestrictionsDeKalb County Code § 21-2 (Definitions)
Sign shall mean a device, structure or representation for visual communication which is used for the purpose of bringing the subject thereof to the attention of others. For purposes of this chapter, the term "sign" shall include the structure upon which a sign face is located. Flags and banners shall be included within this definition only as provided elsewhere herein. Seasonal holiday decorati...
Digital Billboards
DeKalb County limits digital and electronic signs to commercial and industrial zoning districts, bans them in historic residential districts, and sets strict timing and brightness rules for the ones that are allowed.
DeKalb County Electronic Sign Standards
Significant RestrictionsDeKalb County Code § 21-22(a)
Electronic signs shall be allowed only in C-1, C-2, M, and M-2 zoning districts, but only if the electronic sign complies with all of the following requirements: (1) No message may be displayed for less than one (1) second; (2) No message may be repeated at intervals less than two (2) seconds; (3) No segmented message may last longer than ten (10) seconds; and (4) No traveling message may trave...
Window Signs
In unincorporated DeKalb County, a window sign cannot cover more than 30% of the window area it is displayed on or through. Window signs are exempt from the sign permit itself but must still meet every other Chapter 21 rule, including a ground-floor-only placement limit.
DeKalb County Window Sign Coverage Limit
Some RestrictionsDeKalb County Code § 21-11(2); § 21-14(c)
The following types of signs are prohibited throughout the unincorporated county: ... (2)Window signs which exceed thirty (30) percent of the window area; ... Sec. 21-14. - Height and setback requirements. ... (c)Window signs are only allowed on the ground floor of a building.
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