Fulton County, GA Sign Regulations: Holiday Displays (2026)
Key Facts
- Status
- Exempt from lighting standards
- Applies to
- Unincorporated Fulton County only
- Other exemptions
- Pool, FAA, emergency lighting
- Duration
- Temporary/seasonal use only
Summary
Temporary holiday lighting is exempt from Fulton County's Night Sky Ordinance shielding and fixture standards in the unincorporated county.
B.Exempt Lighting. The following luminaries and lighting systems are exempt from these requirements:1.Lighting for pools used at night.2.Underwater lighting used for the illumination of swimming pools and fountains;3.Temporary holiday lighting;4.Lighting required and regulated by the Federal Aviation Administration, or other federal, state or local agency;5.Emergency lighting used by police, fire, or medical personnel, or at their direction;6.All outdoor light fixtures producing light directly from the combustion of fossil fuels, such as kerosene and gasoline;7.Security lighting controlled and activated by a motion sensor device for a duration of 10 minutes or less.C.Prohibited Lighting. The following lighting systems are prohibited:1.Aerial lasers;2.Searchlight style lights;3.Other very intense lighting, defined as having a light source exceeding 200,000 lumens or intensity in any direction of 2 million candelas or more;4.Mercury vapor lamps;5.Neon lighting.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 57).
Full Breakdown
Fulton County's Night Sky Ordinance lists temporary holiday lighting among seven exempt lighting categories, alongside pool lighting, FAA-required lighting, emergency lighting, fossil-fuel light sources, and short-duration motion-activated security lights. Holiday displays in the unincorporated county don't have to meet the ordinance's full-cutoff, glare, or foot-candle limits that apply to permanent fixtures. Atlanta, Sandy Springs and the county's other cities set their own rules for their own residents.
Violations & Fines
None under this exemption: holiday lighting isn't subject to Night Sky Ordinance enforcement, though excessive brightness could still draw a general nuisance complaint.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit for holiday lights in Fulton County?
Does the shielding rule apply to Christmas lights?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Fulton County
Compare Fulton County to another location·View the Georgia sign regulations overview
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