Columbus, GA Sign Regulations: Freeway-Facing Signs (2026)
Key Facts
- Interchange setback
- 500 feet
- Gateway corridor ban
- 660 feet
- Right-of-way setback
- 15 feet
- Permitted zones
- GC, LMI, HMI only
Summary
Columbus, Georgia's billboard ordinance keeps outdoor advertising structures at least 500 feet from any interchange, at-grade intersection, or safety rest area along limited-access roads such as I-185 and the J.R. Allen Parkway.
2.Limited Access Road Locations.(A)Minimum Distance Required. Billboards located along limited access roads shall not be located within 500 feet of an interchange, intersection at grade, or safety rest area.(B)Measurement of Distance. The foregoing 500-foot zone shall be measured along the highway from the point at which the pavement commences or ceases to widen at exits from or entrances to the main traveled way.3.Intersections. Measuring from the center point of an intersection, no outdoor advertising structure shall be located within a 650 feet radius of said center point. Said minimum separation for billboard signs at intersections are indicated in Figure 4.4.2.
H.Sign Facing Orientation. Any permitted, outdoor advertising structure facing shall face perpendicular to the street to which it has been permitted. Said sign facing orientation for billboard signs is indicated in Figure 4.4.3.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 75).
Full Breakdown
UDO § 4.4.13.G.2 sets a minimum-distance rule specific to freeway-facing billboards: on limited-access roads, a billboard cannot stand within 500 feet of an interchange, an intersection at grade, or a safety rest area, with the 500-foot zone measured along the highway from where the pavement begins or stops widening at an exit or entrance. Billboards are separately confined to GC, LMI, and HMI zoning districts, banned within 660 feet of designated gateway corridors (2nd Avenue, the J.R. Allen Parkway/U.S. 80 corridor, and River Road north of the Parkway), and must sit at least 15 feet from the right-of-way and 1,250 feet from another billboard.
Violations & Fines
A billboard erected within 500 feet of a freeway interchange, at-grade intersection, or safety rest area violates § 4.4.13.G.2 and is subject to UDO Article 4 sign enforcement and removal.
Frequently Asked Questions
How close can a billboard be to a freeway exit in Columbus, GA?
Are billboards allowed anywhere in Columbus, GA?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Columbus
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