Dougherty County, GA Sign Regulations: Political Signs (2026)
Key Facts
- Timing window
- 60 days before to 7 days after election
- Size limit
- 6 sq ft residential, 16 sq ft other districts
- Lighting
- Not permitted, direct or indirect
- Placement
- Private property only, one per candidate
- Right-of-way removal
- Without notice, cost to candidate
Summary
Political signs in unincorporated Dougherty County cannot go up earlier than sixty days before a primary, general election, or referendum and must come down within seven days afterward. The county sign ordinance also caps size at six square feet in residential districts and sixteen square feet elsewhere, bans lighting, and limits placement to one sign per candidate or referendum per premises.
(14)Political signs provided as follows:a.The sign shall not be displayed earlier than sixty (60) days prior to the primary election, general election or referendum it concerns.b.The sign must be removed no later than seven (7) days following the date of the primary election, general election or referendum it concerns. ... c.The sign shall not be lighted, either directly or indirectly.d.The sign shall be located entirely on private property. It shall not be located, in whole or in part, on any public lands or public right-of-way and shall not be located on any trees, rocks or like objects.e.The number of signs displayed shall be restricted to one (1) sign per premises per candidate, or per referendum.f.Political signs shall not exceed six (6) square feet in area in residential districts. In all other zoning districts, political signs shall not exceed sixteen (16) square feet.
Full Breakdown
3-31(b)(14) of the Dougherty County Code sets out the county's full political sign rule. requires removal "no later than seven (7) days following the date" of that election or referendum, making the property owner and the candidate jointly responsible for removal unless the sign was placed without the owner's consent. confines placement to private property only, prohibiting signs "in whole or in part, on any public lands or public right-of-way" or on trees or rocks. sets the size ceiling: six square feet in residential zoning districts and sixteen square feet in every other district.
's right-of-way ban is treated separately, the building official may remove a right-of-way violation "without notice" and bill the removal to the candidate under subsection g. 3-33.
Violations & Fines
A political sign posted before the sixty-day window, left up more than seven days after the election, illuminated, oversized for its district, or placed on public right-of-way is a violation of Section 2-13.3-31(b)(14). Right-of-way signs may be removed immediately without notice at the candidate's expense; any violation is otherwise enforced under Sections 2-13.3-33 and 2-13.3-34, carrying a fine of one hundred to one thousand dollars per offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
When can I put up a political yard sign in unincorporated Dougherty County?
How big can a political sign be?
What happens if a political sign is left on the right-of-way?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Dougherty County
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