Brookhaven, GA Sign Regulations: Holiday Displays (2026)
Key Facts
- Lights within 150 feet of a street
- Prohibited unless the holiday exemption applies
- Put up
- Not more than 30 days before a holiday
- Take down
- Within 12 days after a holiday
- Air or gas filled figures
- Same 30 days before, 12 days after window
- Right-of-way
- Holiday-period signs under (15) and (20) are allowed
- Enforcement
- Director's citation; penalty under § 1-11
Summary
In the City of Brookhaven, Georgia, Brookhaven Code § 21-62 bans strings and rows of lights within 150 feet of a street and visible from it, but exempts holiday lights and decorations displayed not more than 30 days before a holiday and removed within 12 days after a holiday. Air or gas filled figures follow the same 30 and 12 day window.
(1)Signs placed in the dedicated right-of-way of any public road other than publicly owned or maintained signs and signs pertaining to railroad crossings. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the signs permitted during holiday periods as listed in subsections (15) and (20), below, may be placed within the right-of-way; ... (15)Balloons, pennant streamers or air or gas filled figures and any sign constructed of non-durable material including, but not limited to, paper, cardboard or flexible plastic. This provision does not apply to flags, banners, or special event signs. Notwithstanding the foregoing, air or gas filled figures displayed not more than 30 days before a holiday and removed within 12 days after a holiday shall be exempted from this section; ... (20)Signs consisting in whole or in part of a series, line, or row of lights, whether supported by cables or other physical means, within 150 feet of a street and visible therefrom. Notwithstanding the foregoing holiday lights and decorations displayed not more than 30 days before a holiday and removed within 12 days after a holiday shall be exempted from this section;
Full Breakdown
The holiday rule sits in the prohibited signs list in § 21-62, in the signs chapter administered by the director of the community development department. Subsection (20) prohibits signs consisting in whole or in part of a series, line or row of lights, whether supported by cables or other physical means, within 150 feet of a street and visible from it. The exemption follows in the same sentence: holiday lights and decorations displayed not more than 30 days before a holiday and removed within 12 days after a holiday are exempted from the section. The exemption is written as a window with two separate ends, 30 days ahead of the holiday and 12 days after it.
Subsection (15) applies the same timing to inflatables. Balloons, pennant streamers and air or gas filled figures are prohibited, along with signs made of non-durable material such as paper, cardboard or flexible plastic, but air or gas filled figures displayed not more than 30 days before a holiday and removed within 12 days after a holiday are exempted. The exemption names air or gas filled figures only. Subsection (1) then allows the signs permitted during holiday periods under subsections (15) and (20) to be placed within the dedicated right-of-way, which is otherwise closed to private signs.
Two related rules matter for a holiday display. Section 21-80(g) provides that on officially designated city, state or federal holidays there is no maximum flag size or number or other limitations on display. Section 21-76 bars any sign from giving off light that glares, blinds or has any other adverse effect on traffic or adjacent properties, and it requires illuminated signs within 75 feet of any single-family lot property line to be externally illuminated.
Violations & Fines
Under § 21-28(a), the director can issue a citation to any person, including the owner, manager or tenant of the lot, for a sign used in violation of the chapter. A conviction is punished under § 1-11: a fine not exceeding $1,000.00 or jail not to exceed six months, or both, unless the Code or state law provides otherwise. Each sign in violation is a separate violation, and citations issued on separate days for a continuing violation count separately.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long can holiday lights stay up in Brookhaven?
Do inflatable holiday figures follow the same timing in Brookhaven?
Can I place a holiday sign in the right-of-way in Brookhaven?
Is there a limit on holiday flag displays in Brookhaven?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Brookhaven
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