South Fulton, GA Sign Regulations: Digital Billboards (2026)
Key Facts
- Static image duration
- At least 10 seconds per image
- Pixel spacing
- No more than 16 mm between pixels
- Brightness cap
- 0.30 foot-candles above ambient at 100 feet
- Motion rule
- No flashing, scrolling, or video from the street
- Certification
- NRTL testing lab certification required
- Enforcement
- City may disconnect power for violations
Summary
Digital and LED billboards in South Fulton must show only static images (no video, scrolling, or flashing) when visible from a public street, hold each image for at least ten seconds, and use pixels no more than 16 millimeters apart. A light-sensing dimmer keeps brightness at or below 0.30 foot-candles above ambient light measured 100 feet away, with a fail-safe that drops to the lowest night setting if that sensor fails.
Electronic changeable copy signs, as defined in this Article, regardless of the technology employed, must conform to the following standards:a.All electronic changeable copy signs viewable from a public street or sidewalk shall present only static displays (still pictures and printing)...b.Each static image shall be maintained for a duration of at least ten seconds...c.For signs viewable from a public street or sidewalk, no flashing, scrolling, or other variation in the static image that gives an illusion of movement or variation in light intensity during the display of a single image is allowed...Maximum distances between pixels shall be as follows for freestanding signs (including billboards): no more than 16 mm between pixels, measured center-to-center both horizontally and vertically...The sign shall not operate at a brightness level of more than 0.30 foot candles above ambient light levels measured at 100 feet from the sign (150 feet for sign faces greater than 100 square feet in area).
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 13 Update 1).
Full Breakdown
Section 706.04(c)(4) applies to every electronic changeable copy sign in the city, including LED billboards, whatever underlying technology is used. Any such sign visible from a public street or sidewalk may display only static pictures and text: video, movies, or animation are reserved for signs not visible from a street or sidewalk. Each static image must hold for at least ten seconds, with the transition between images essentially instantaneous, and the display cannot flash, scroll, or otherwise create an illusion of movement or a change in light intensity within a single image. LED signs specifically must use tri-color pixel groups of at least one red, one green, and one blue diode, spaced no more than 16 millimeters apart center-to-center, and each installation must carry certification from an OSHA-recognized testing laboratory under 29 C.F.R. 1910.7.
Brightness is separately capped: the sign must include a light-sensing device that automatically adjusts output as ambient light changes, and it cannot run more than 0.30 foot-candles above ambient light measured at 100 feet from the sign, or 150 feet for any sign face larger than 100 square feet. A fail-safe device is required to drop the sign to its lowest night-time brightness setting if the light sensor itself fails, regardless of the time of day. Applicants must submit a written installer statement confirming compliance with a sign permit application and certify actual compliance within 30 days of installation.
Violations & Fines
Operating an electronic changeable copy sign in violation of Section 706.04(c)(4), including overriding its light-sensing or fail-safe device, can result in the city disconnecting the sign's electrical power supply at the owner's expense under the Article's enforcement procedures. A sign permit issued on a false statement is revoked outright under Section 703.06, and any sign not meeting Article 7's standards loses its permit and must come down.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a digital billboard in South Fulton show video?
How bright can an LED billboard be at night?
What happens if a digital sign runs animation from the street?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in South Fulton
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Digital Billboards in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Fulton County handle digital billboards.