DeKalb County, GA Sign Regulations: Window Signs (2026)
Key Facts
- Max window coverage
- 30% of window area (§ 21-11(2))
- Placement limit
- Ground floor only (§ 21-14(c))
- Permit
- Exempt from permit under § 21-9(b)(1)
- Still subject to
- All other Chapter 21 rules
- Max fine
- $1,000 and/or 120 days jail (§ 1-10)
- Enforcement
- Development department director (§ 21-8)
- Applies to
- Unincorporated DeKalb County only
Summary
In unincorporated DeKalb County, a window sign cannot cover more than 30% of the window area it is displayed on or through. Window signs are exempt from the sign permit itself but must still meet every other Chapter 21 rule, including a ground-floor-only placement limit.
The following types of signs are prohibited throughout the unincorporated county: ... (2)Window signs which exceed thirty (30) percent of the window area; ... Sec. 21-14. - Height and setback requirements. ... (c)Window signs are only allowed on the ground floor of a building.
Full Breakdown
DeKalb County Code Chapter 21 defines a "window sign" as any sign displayed to an outside observer on or through a window or covering a window (§ 21-1). " A business can post window signage, but once the graphics, paper, or vinyl covering that pane cross the 30% coverage line, the sign becomes unlawful under this section regardless of its message or how long it has been up. Separately, § 21-14(c) restricts placement: "Window signs are only allowed on the ground floor of a building," so second-story or upper-floor window displays are not permitted anywhere in the unincorporated county even if they stay under the coverage cap.
Window signs get one procedural break: § 21-9(b)(1) lists them among the categories exempt from the permit requirement in § 21-3, meaning no application or permit fee is required before installing one. ) still apply in full. This chapter only reaches the unincorporated county. Property inside Dunwoody, Brookhaven, Tucker, Stonecrest, Decatur, Chamblee, Doraville, Clarkston, Avondale Estates, Lithonia, Pine Lake, Stone Mountain, or the DeKalb sliver of Atlanta is regulated by that city's own sign code, not this chapter.
Violations & Fines
The director of the development department may issue a citation for a window sign exceeding the 30% cap or displayed above the ground floor (§ 21-8(a)). A conviction draws the Code's general penalty under § 1-10: up to $500 for a citation served by posting/mailing, or up to $1,000 and/or 120 days in county jail for a personally served citation, with each sign and each day of a continuing violation counted as a separate offense. The county may also seek injunctive relief to force removal (§ 21-8(d)). A denied or revoked sign permit can be appealed to the zoning board of appeals under Chapter 27, with further review by writ of certiorari to superior court (§ 21-6).
Frequently Asked Questions
How much of my storefront window can I cover with signage in DeKalb County?
Do I need a permit for a window sign in unincorporated DeKalb County?
Can I put a sign in a second-floor window in DeKalb County?
What happens if my DeKalb County window sign violates Chapter 21?
Does this window sign rule apply inside Decatur or Dunwoody?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in DeKalb County
Compare DeKalb County to another location·View the Georgia sign regulations overview
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