Whitfield County, GA Sign Regulations: Freeway-Facing Signs (2026)
Key Facts
- Allowed corridors
- I-75 and SR 2, 3, 52, 71, 201, 286
- Zoning districts
- C-2, M-1, M-2 only
- Max height
- 70 feet
- Max sign face
- 14 ft by 48 ft
- Interchange cap
- 3 billboards per quadrant
- State permit
- GDOT outdoor-advertising permit required first
Summary
Billboards in unincorporated Whitfield County are allowed only along the Interstate I-75 corridor and six named Georgia DOT state routes (SR 2, 3, 52, 71, 201 and 286), and only inside the C-2, M-1 or M-2 zoning districts. On I-75, a billboard must sit within a defined 1,200-foot zone in each interchange quadrant, starting 500 feet past where the ramp widening begins.
(2)Billboards (Outdoor Advertising Signs) are permitted only along the Interstate I-75 corridor and Georgia DOT State Routes (SR 2, 3, 52, 71, 201, and 286,) pursuant to the following conditions:(a)Billboards on Interstate I-75 shall be restricted to an area in each entrance/exit quadrant 1,200 feet long beginning 500 feet beyond the point where the pavement begins to widen upon the main travel way of the roadway to accommodate the longest exit or entrance ramp for that particular interchange. ... (c)No more than three billboards may be located in each quadrant of an Interstate I-75 interchange.
Full Breakdown
§ 32-6-70 et seq. Section 16-4(2) confines billboards to those same corridors and, within them, to the C-2, M-1, or M-2 zoning districts. On I-75, placement is further limited to a 1,200-foot band in each interchange quadrant that starts 500 feet beyond where the pavement begins to widen for the exit or entrance ramp, and no more than three billboards may stand in any one interchange quadrant. Structures must sit no more than 200 feet from the I-75 right-of-way, or 60 feet from a state route right-of-way, may not exceed 70 feet in height, and must be spaced at least 500 feet from any other billboard on the same side of the road within the same quadrant.
A billboard needs a Georgia Department of Transportation outdoor-advertising permit before the county will issue a building permit, and, except along I-75 itself, only two sign faces per side are allowed, with back-to-back or 'V' formation faces limited to a 45-degree angle and side-by-side faces barred outright.
Violations & Fines
A billboard erected outside the I-75 or listed state-route corridors, or one that violates the spacing, height, or permit conditions of Section 16-4(2), is a Chapter 16 violation. The Whitfield County zoning administrator can issue a citation to Magistrate Court, where conviction under O.C.G.A. § 36-1-20(b) carries a fine of up to $1,000, up to 60 days in jail, or both, treating each day of the violation separately, and the county can also pursue an injunction or removal action.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a billboard be built anywhere along a Whitfield County road?
How close together can billboards be placed near I-75 in Whitfield County?
Does a Whitfield County billboard need state approval too?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Whitfield County
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