Rockdale County, GA Sign Regulations: Political Signs (2026)
Key Facts
- Category
- Political sign is a 'free speech sign' (Sec. 230-4)
- Permit
- None required (Sec. 230-17(d)(6))
- Residential height limit
- 4 feet (Table 20-2)
- Residential area limit
- 16 sq ft aggregate; 6-12 sq ft per face
- Nonresidential limits
- 8 feet tall; 16-32 sq ft aggregate (Table 20-1)
- Penalty if oversized
- $25-$1,000 fine and/or up to 180 days
Summary
Rockdale County treats a political sign as an example of a 'free speech sign' under Sec. 230-4, and Sec. 230-17(d)(6) exempts these signs from needing a permit, but they still must meet Sec. 230-20's dimensional table: 4 feet tall and 16 square feet of total sign area per lot in residential districts, with per-face limits from 6 to 12 square feet based on acreage.
Free speech sign: ... A sign intended to be displayed for a finite period of time, such as a real estate for sale sign, a campaign sign, a political sign, or a yard sale sign, by way of examples. ... Free speech signs, providing they meet the dimensional requirements set forth in tables 20-1 and 20-2 of this chapter. ... Free speech signs 4 feet Lot acreage Max. aggregate sign area of all free speech signs Max. sign area per face ... No permit required, but subject to enforcement and penalties Less than 3 acres 16 sq. feet 6 sq. ft. 3—5 acres 16 sq. feet 9 sq. ft. Greater than 10 acres 16 sq. feet 12 sq. ft.
Full Breakdown
Sec. 230-4 of the Unified Development Ordinance (Title 2 of the Code) defines a 'free speech sign' as a sign intended to be displayed for a finite period of time, giving a real estate for-sale sign, a campaign sign, a political sign, and a yard sale sign as examples, meaning a political sign is regulated under this single content-neutral category rather than singled out by subject matter. Sec. 230-17(d)(6) then exempts free speech signs from the permit requirement that applies to most other signs in the county, so a homeowner or campaign does not need to file a sign permit application with the Department of Planning and Development before putting up a political sign.
That exemption is not unlimited, though: it applies only if the sign meets the dimensional requirements set out in Sec. 230-20's Table 20-1 for nonresidential districts and Table 20-2 for residential districts. In residential zoning districts, Table 20-2 caps a free speech sign at 4 feet in height and 16 square feet of aggregate sign area per lot, with the maximum area of any single sign face set on a sliding scale by lot acreage: 6 square feet per face on lots under 3 acres, 9 square feet per face on lots of 3 to 5 acres, and 12 square feet per face on lots greater than 10 acres.
In nonresidential districts, Table 20-1 sets a taller allowance, 8 feet, with aggregate area rising from 16 square feet on lots under 5 acres up to 32 square feet on lots over 10 acres, while the per-face maximum stays at 16 square feet. Sec. 230-17(a) also makes clear that exemption from permitting does not mean exemption from enforcement: a free speech sign that exceeds these size or height limits is still subject to the enforcement and penalty provisions in Sec. 230-24 like any other sign.
The ordinance also includes a severability clause aimed specifically at the free speech sign definition, providing that if a court strikes any part of the definition tied to commercial versus noncommercial speech, the rest of the sign chapter stays in force.
Violations & Fines
A political sign that exceeds the height or area limits in Table 20-2 (4 feet, 16 square feet aggregate, 6 to 12 square feet per face depending on lot acreage) is still a Sec. 230-24 violation even though it needs no permit. The director of planning and development can order correction or removal, and a court conviction carries a fine of $25.00 to $1,000.00, up to 180 days' confinement, or both, per day.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit for a political yard sign in Rockdale County?
How big can a political sign be in my yard?
Can the county still cite me for an oversized political sign even though it's permit-exempt?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Rockdale County
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