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Sign Permits

Sign Ordinance Purpose

The Mayor and Council find that signs provide an important medium through which individuals may convey a variety of noncommercial and commercial messages. However, left completely unregulated, signs can become a threat to public safety as a traffic hazard and a detriment to property values and the city's overall public welfare as well as an aesthetic nuisance.

Therefore the City Council has enacted a sign ordinance which is intended to balance the rights of individuals to convey their messages through signs and the right of the public to be protected against the unrestricted proliferation of signs as well as promoting the aesthetic qualities of the city. The sign ordinance is also designed to promote economic development and protect property values by minimizing the possible adverse effects and visual blight caused by signs.

When Permit Required

A sign permit is required prior to the installation, relocation, expansion, construction or structural alteration of any sign regulated by the City of Chamblee except for those signs specifically exempted under City Code Section 1311(B).

Permits are issued by the Permits and Inspections Department.

Temporary Event Signs

A sign permit is not generally required for temporary event signs placed on residential or commercial property by an individual property owner or tenant or with the property owner’s permission for the duration of a temporary event (as defined in the city code), such as the sale or lease of a property, an election, a yard sale, a public announcement and other temporary events other than a special business promotion.

These temporary signs must still conform to the following standards:

  • Must be placed a minimum of 10 ft back from curb or out of the right of way, whichever is greater (utility poles are always in the right of way so if the sign is closer to the road than the utility pole, it is in the right of way as well)
  • Non-permanent but water resistant construction materials may be used;
  • The words, letters, figures, etc. shall be permanently applied to the sign’s face;
  • May not be illuminated;
  • Shall not exceed four (4) square feet in area, and three (3) feet in height;

Number of signs allowed:

  • Sale or lease of a building or premises. - One (1) freestanding sign per street frontage;
  • Election cycle signs. - One (1) election cycle sign (which may be double-faced) per road frontage, per candidate or ballot question;
  • Yard sale signs:
    • May be placed two (2) days prior to the announced date of the sale, and must be removed the day after the sale or by 8:00 a.m. Monday;
    • Signs for yard sales relating to the same property shall not be placed more often than once each four (4) months;
    • One (1) sign per street frontage on the property related to the yard sale and a maximum of ten (10) signs per yard sale citywide.

Commercial Signs

Number of Signs Allowed Per Business:

  • Single tenant buildings are permitted to have one principal wall sign and one ground sign per road frontage with a curb cut.  Multi-tenant buildings are permitted one principal sign per storefront and a panel on a directory sign.  Only one ground/directory, per road frontage with a curb-cut, sign is allowed for multiple building properties or buildings with multiple tenants.  Sign design must meet the standards of the property owner and have the owner's approval.

Restrictions (Summary):

  • Wall signage is calculated at 1 sq. ft. per one linear foot of store or building frontage at entrance level.
  • Freestanding signs must be monument signs, no higher than 8 feet with a base of brick, stone or stucco.
    • A two foot landscaping bed is required at the base of the sign.
      • Maximum area is 40 sq. ft. for lots with less than 200' road frontage and 64 sq. ft. for lots with over 200'
  • Window signs may not exceed 20% of the window area with individual signs no larger than 8 sq. ft.
  • Swinging or projecting signs may not exceed 16 sq. ft.
  • Setback for freestanding sign is 10 feet from curb or behind the right-of-way, whichever is greater.
  • Signs may not obstruct a clear view from any public road.
  • No illuminated sign shall create a hazard for motor vehicle or air traffic.
  • All signs must be maintained in good condition, or the Building Inspector may order it removed.
  • Illuminated signs must meet NEC requirements - an electrical permit is required.
  • The permit decal must be visibly displayed on the sign.

Temporary Signs for Business Promotion:

  • For special business promotions, banners are permitted for use as temporary signs.  Maximum allowed size is 32 sq. ft.  Streamers, pennants, festoons, flags (except American Flag), air or gas-filled balloons, wind or motion devices, searchlights and high flying balloons are prohibited.  Only one sign or device is permitted per lot if freestanding.  For single tenant buildings, only one Temporary Sign may be attached to the building or canopy.  For multi-tenant buildings, each business with frontage on a street or walkway may have a banner.  Banners can be permitted for up to 16 consecutive days maximum for existing businesses.  Temporary signs for the initial opening of a new business maybe displayed for a maximum of 45 days.  For final closing of a business, a sign may be displayed for a maximum of 30 days.  No such special permit may be issued at the same location a less than four month intervals.  All signs or advertising devices must be set back at least 10 feet or out of the right-of-way, whichever is greater - or attached to the building.  Ground signs may not  be higher than 6 feet.  Banners may not be on a roof.  The fee for the temporary sign is $25.  Applicants must complete the sign application form and provide drawings showing the location, dimensions and wording of the sign.

    Temporary Sign Application
      

Prohibited Signs
Certain types of signs are prohibited. The following are some of the more common types which are prohibited. For the entire list please refer to the sign ordinance.

  • Signs attached to utility poles or trees;
  • Signs painted on trees, curbs, utility poles, rocks or other natural formation;
  • Air or gas-filled balloons or other devices which have a capacity for air or gas which exceeds three (3) cubic feet and then with a maximum of one such device per lot;
  • Animated and flashing signs;
  • Banners (see the sign ordinance for exceptions);
  • Strings of ribbons, pennants, streamers, etc. designed to move in the wind;
  • Inflatable signs with a capacity for greater than three (3) cubic feet of air or gas;
  • Obscene signs as defined by GA State Code 16-12-80(b)