Augusta, GA Holiday Decorations: Lawn Ornament Rules (2026)

Decorative lawn ornaments—flamingos, gnomes, religious statuary, garden art, seasonal figurines—are unregulated at the municipal level in Augusta-Richmond County. The Augusta Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance does not impose limits on quantity, height, or material for non-commercial yard ornaments at single-family residences. The principal constraints are: (1) ornaments cannot be placed in the public right-of-way (sidewalks, planting strips between sidewalk and curb, or street shoulders) without an encroachment permit; (2) ornaments cannot obstruct the sight-distance triangle at corner-lot intersections, which the zoning ordinance requires to remain clear for traffic safety; and (3) any ornament that includes commercial advertising or off-premises messaging may be classified as a sign and become subject to the ordinance's sign regulations including permitting and size limits. HOA covenants in Augusta-area subdivisions frequently impose more restrictive rules on lawn ornaments (quantities, types, removal deadlines) and are enforced privately. State law (O.C.G.A. 41-1-1) provides a private nuisance remedy if ornaments materially interfere with neighboring property use, though courts typically require substantial interference, not mere aesthetic objection. There is no Masters-tournament-specific lawn ornament rule.