Except where specifically excluded by other provisions of this Article, it shall be unlawful for any person, firm or corporation to post, display, substantially change, alter or erect a sign or advertising device in the City without first having obtained a permit in the manner prescribed herein. Such permit number shall be placed on the sign permitted.

The following signs and advertising devices are prohibited in all zoning districts of the city:

1.

Animated signs, including air- and gas-filled devices, without special permission by the Land Development Officer for temporary use.

2.

Banners and pennants, except official government flags, without a special permit issued by the Land Development Officer for temporary use.

3.

Billboards and off-site signs except as otherwise provided for herein.

4.

Flashing signs or lights.

5.

Trailer signs.

6.

Search lights, laser beacons, and similar devices without special permission by the Land Development Officer for temporary use.

7.

Signs on a public right-of-way except such signs as are exempt under other provisions of this Article.

8.

Signs which contain or are in imitation of an official traffic sign or signal.

9.

Signs affixed to utility poles, trees, street markers and fence posts.

10.

Signs that advertise or promote illegal activities or signs which contain indecent, scandalous, obscene or immoral matters as part of the sign or the activity the sign intends to promote.

11.

Signs that are erected, located, or maintained in such a manner as to interfere with safe and free ingress and egress of any door or emergency exit.

The following signs and advertising devices are exempt from the provisions of this Article:

1.

One temporary real estate sign or construction sign per lot or building, provided:

a.

Such signs are located on the lot or building for sale, lease or under construction;

b.

Are maintained in a manner consistent with the requirements of this Article, and;

c.

Provided further, that such signs shall be removed within ten days after the subject lot or building is leased, sold, or construction is completed.

d.

Two directional real estate sign allowed for each single house sale

2.

Real estate development sign: One sign per entrance to development must be ten feet from right-of-way.

Signs of a governmental body or agency erected or posted pursuant to requirements of law or for such similar public purpose.

3.

Community event signs, provided such signs shall not exceed 35 square feet in area and that such signs shall be approved as to location and size by the Land Development Officer and such approval shall be for a period not to exceed two weeks.

4.

On-premises public notice signs such as no trespassing, no hunting, and no solicitation signs; shall not be allowed on a public right of way.

5.

Signs advertising home occupations provided:

a.

Such sign does not exceed four square feet in area and;

b.

That only one such sign per business shall be allowed and;

c.

The sign does not obstruct view of street traffic.

6.

Political campaign signs announcing the candidates seeking public office and other data pertinent thereto, as well as signs advocating a position to be decided by ballot, provided:

a.

Such signs are placed on private property with the express permission of the owner and are removed within ten days after the election.

b.

No political campaign sign shall be permitted on public property.

7.

Building identification signs (nonadvertising) provided:

a.

They do not exceed ten square feet and

b.

Are mounted on the building they identify.

8.

Historical marker and number identification for historical tour of homes.

9.

Estate, garage or yard sale signs.

These regulations apply to all signs that are not specifically permitted in a zoning district as exempt signs.

1.

Brand names and trademarks or a combination of brand name and trademark shall constitute a sign.

2.

One fuel pricing sign per direction, per type of fuel sold shall be permitted with a maximum sign area of four (4) square feet per fuel price.

3.

All signs with changeable copy, direct illumination, indirect illumination and directory, arcade and mall signs must have prior approval of the Land Development Officer before a construction permit is issued.

4.

Conforming signs which are relocated from a business site to a new business site without a change in copy shall conform to the provisions of this Article; provided further signs which are relocated and copy change is required shall be considered as a new sign and a permit shall be required.

All signs or advertising devices not specifically permitted in a zoning district as exempt signs shall be regulated signs and are prohibited except as provided for under this Article. The Land Development Officer is authorized to issue sign permits for any sign which meets the standards and limitations set forth herein.

1.

Ground signs are defined as any sign supported by uprights or braces and not attached to any building. Such signs shall be permitted in the commercial and industrial zoning districts, provided no ground sign shall have a height greater than five feet above ground level and no ground sign shall have an area greater than thirty-five (35) square feet. No ground sign shall be located within ten feet of a street right-of-way or within 50 feet of any other sign, structure or building.

2.

Freestanding signs are defined as signs mounted on upright supports as on-site business identification. Such signs shall be permitted in the commercial and industrial zoning districts. No freestanding sign shall have a height in excess of twenty-five (25) feet above street level, nor shall such sign have a height of less than ten feet above street level. Such sign shall have an area not to exceed 50 square feet. Supports for such signs shall not project within ten feet of any street defined as a vertical line from the right-of-way upward.

3.

Wall signs are defined to include all flat signs which are placed against a building or other structure and attached to the exterior wall of any building. Wall signs shall be permitted in the commercial and industrial zoning districts. Signs shall not exceed twenty (20) percent of the square footage of each side of building.

4.

Directory signs are permitted in areas in which a group development, residential, commercial or industrial in nature, has been approved by the Land Development Officer. Such signs shall contain the name of the center and shall be of an area not to exceed sixty (60) square feet and, provided further, that each tenant located in such center shall be permitted an identification sign not to exceed eight (8) square feet in area.

5.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Article, no sign, whether permitted as a regulated sign or an exempt sign, shall be permitted within twenty-five (25) feet of state highway right-of-way or major thoroughfare without the prior approval of the Land Development Officer. In determining such applications, the Land Development Officer shall consider the standards prescribed for such signs and in addition shall determine the potential dangers presented by the proposed sign.

6.

Temporary signs shall be either a ground sign or wall type, whichever is appropriate as determined by the Land Development Officer, considering location and distance of structure from right-of-way. Provided, further no temporary sign shall have a sign face area greater than thirty-five (35) square feet.

Any sign located within the city limits on the date of adoption of this Article which does not conform to the provisions hereof shall be allowed until such time as the business is dissolved or sold. At that time all signs of this business shall conform to this Article.

1.

No other sign or advertising device shall be erected or permitted on the same property for the same business that has a nonconforming sign located thereon.

2.

A nonconforming sign shall lose its status as such when such sign is altered in structure or copy, or 50 percent of either the structure or sign face is damaged, or is relocated. However, a sign with changeable copy shall not lose its status due to a change of copy unaccompanied by some other substantial change.

Any sign which no longer advertises a bona fide business, or any sign which has become dilapidated and by its condition and state of repair is deemed to be dangerous, and any sign which has been erected in a manner which fails to meet the requirements of this Article may be ordered removed by the Land Development Officer, provided some reasonable attempt has been made to have such sign removed by the owner thereof, and provided further that such removal can be made without damage to any property or sign.

1.

In the case of a sign which cannot be removed without risk of property damage, the Land Development Officer shall cause notice of the same to be mailed to the owner of the sign or to the owner of the property upon which the sign is located of the impending action pertaining to the sign. Owners shall be given ten days from the date of receipt of such notice to take appropriate remedial action.

2.

After notification as herein prescribed, the Land Development Officer shall cause such signs to be removed and disposed of in the manner provided by law for the disposition of abandoned personal property.

3.

No sign removed under the provisions hereof shall be returned to the owner until all expenses incurred in the removal have been paid. The expense for removal will be determined by the Land Development Officer.

Applications for sign permits to permit erecting, hanging or placing of a sign within the city limits shall be submitted to the Land Development Officer on forms provided for that purpose by the city. Each application shall be accompanied by plans and drawings showing the area of the sign, size of supports, height, and method of attachment intended for use, vertical and horizontal distances between sign and the finished grade at site of location, and horizontal distances between sign and controlling right-of-way lines. The application shall include a photograph or line drawing of the sign depicting precisely what is to be portrayed on such sign.

The Land Development Officer shall issue a sign construction permit for each application which meets the requirements of this Section. After such sign is constructed and in place, applicant shall notify the Land Development Officer within five working days that the sign is ready for final approval. Final approval shall be issued within five working days, provided the sign has been constructed and located according to the provisions of this Article.

1.

Any applicant who is dissatisfied by a decision of the Land Development Officer may appeal such decision to the Planning Commission. Such appeal must be in writing and shall be filed within 30 days of the decision being appealed. The Planning Commission will schedule the matter for hearing at the next scheduled meeting.

2.

When a literal enforcement of the provisions of this Article will impose an undue hardship on an applicant or when unusual circumstances preclude an applicant from meeting the requirements of this Article, the Planning Commission may grant a variance from the provisions of this Article.

3.

The City shall collect a sign license fee, which will be set by the council and kept in the office of the city clerk, prior to issuing any sign permit.

All signs within the city limits shall be constructed to the following standards unless otherwise provided for in this Article.

1.

No sign shall be constructed in such a manner which will hinder vehicle traffic, pedestrians or block any entrances or exits from any building or sidewalks. Each sign shall be securely erected and free of any protruding nails, tacks and wire.

2.

No sign shall be constructed with any type material, finished letters, characters or surface, which will reflect sunlight or any other type of light of such intensity as to hinder vehicle traffic or in any way create a nuisance to the surrounding area.

3.

All signs containing wood in the structure or sign face and frame or any part thereof shall be painted or stained.

4.

No wall sign or its supports shall protrude more than 12 inches from the wall on which it is mounted.

5.

All signs shall be constructed in such a manner and fastened in such a way as to prevent movement by wind action.

6.

No wood, metal or any other type of supports for ground or freestanding signs shall be less than four by four inches in size for each support or less than three inches in diameter if circular.

7.

Wood signs of less then 12-inch thickness shall be framed on the two sides attached to the supports. Supports can be considered framing if the sign is so designed with supports as part of framing on both sign face areas.

An off-site advertising sign advertises goods, services, facilities or directs persons to premises other than the premises on which the sign is located. Off-site signs include, but are not limited to billboards, off-site directional signs and signs which generally advertise consumer goods.

1.

Billboards shall be prohibited in the R-1, R-2, and C-1 districts.

2.

Billboards shall be permitted on designated federal and state highways unless otherwise prohibited by this article. All billboard structures erected abutting or so as to be visible from the right-of-way of a federal or state highway shall conform to O.C.G.A. § 32-6-7 et seq., the Georgia Outdoor Advertising Code) as amended from time to time. All billboards shall meet all federal and state requirements necessary to obtain a permit from the state department of transportation under said code. In instances where the sign regulations of this article are more stringent, this article shall apply.

3.

Billboard sign surface area. Billboard shall have a maximum of 400 square foot per face.

4.

Billboards shall have a maximum height of 40 feet.

5.

Maximum number of signs. Billboards may have one sign per structure which may be single or double faced. Only one sign shall be allowed to face the same direction per location. This allows back to back or "V" formation, but prohibits two side by side signs facing the same location.

6.

Minimum spacing. Billboards shall be spaced 2,000 feet from the same side of the road from another billboard.

7.

No flashing billboard signs shall be permitted and all billboard lighting shall be indirect.

Shall be no larger than forty (40) square feet in size and shall be permitted only in the Industrial and C-2 zoning districts. General off-premises signs may not be illuminated except for indirect lighting.