The purpose of this article is to permit signs that will not, by the their size, location and construction, endanger the public safety of individuals; confuse, mislead or obstruct the vision necessary for traffic safety; or otherwise endanger public health, safety, or welfare; and to permit and regulate signs in such a way as to support and complement the aesthetic quality of Georgetown-Quitman County.

The location of signs shall conform to state law. (See Ga. DOT regulations) In general, except for signs as allowed by state law, all signs shall be located on private property.

In any district, no sign or sign structure (above a height of three feet) shall be maintained within 15 feet of the intersection of the right-of-way lines of two streets, or of a street with a railroad right-of-way.

Lighted, neon or luminous signs giving off light resulting in glare, blinding or any other adverse effect on traffic shall not be erected.

Section 10.4.1 The light from illuminated signs shall be established in such a way that adjacent properties and roadways are not adversely affected and that no direct light is cast upon adjacent properties and roadways.

Section 10.4.2 No internally illuminated ground or pole signs shall be erected within 50 feet of any dwelling within a residential district.

Section 10.4.3 No sign shall be erected if it contains, or is illuminated by any flashing intermittent or moving light or lights except an electronic message board sign.

Section 10.4.4 No sign shall be erected which simulates an official traffic control or warning sign so as to confuse or mislead the traffic or hide from view any traffic or street sign or signal.

No sign shall be erected, attached or maintained which obstructs any fire escape, any means of egress or ventilation or which prevents free passage from one part of a roof to any other part thereof.

Section 10.5.1 No sign shall be erected, attached, painted or drawn on any tree, rock or other natural feature, retaining wall, fence or utility post along the public right-of-way.

The following sign standards apply to all districts except as specified elsewhere in this article. If any other standards in this Ordinance conflict with the standard in this article the stricter regulation shall apply:

Section 10.6.1 Pole Signs. Pole signs shall not extend over a public right-of-way. All signs abutting the right-of-way line shall have the display area ten feet or more above ground level measured from the grade at the right-of-way line. Any signs with any portion of the display area less than ten feet above ground level must be erected 15 feet from the right-of-way line. If the location of the sign structure is below the grade of the road, the height of the sign shall be measured from the nearest adjacent roadway. The maximum area of a pole sign shall be 200 square feet. The maximum height of a pole sign shall be 35 feet.

Section 10.6.2. Ground Signs. Ground signs less than three feet high shall be set back at least three feet from the right-of-way line. Otherwise, such signs shall be set back 15 feet from the right-of-way line. The maximum total area of a ground sign located in commercial zoning districts shall be 40 square feet. The maximum total area of a ground sign located in a residential zoning district is 16 square feet.

Section 10.6.3. Wall Signs and Flush-Mounted Canopy Signs. Wall signs and flush-mounted canopy signs (including signs attached flat against the wall or canopy and painted signs) shall be securely fastened by metal supports to the building surface along the sign's greatest dimension. They may project from the building up to 12 inches; however, if they project more than four inches from the building surface, they shall maintain a clear height of eight feet above ground level. Wall signs may not extend more than four feet above the parapet roof wall.

Section 10.6.4.2 Individual Business. Where a structure is located in commercial zoning district the total number of wall signs or canopy signs on all facades of a building is counted as one sign, and the total sign display area of each wall shall not exceed ten percent of the wall area up to a maximum of 200 square feet.

Section 10.6.4.3 Multi-Business/Shopping Center. Where several structures are built jointly with connecting walls and zero lot lines located in commercial zoning district and commonly called a shopping center the maximum display area of wall signs or canopy signs for each business shall not exceed ten percent of the front facade of each individual business.

All hanging canopy signs shall not exceed six square feet in size and the lowest extremity of the sign shall not be less than eight feet above the ground.

Each business located in commercial zoning district having glass directly orientated to a street may use all of that glass area as one allowable sign.

Nonanimated portable signs are to be located in commercial or industrial zoning districts and any that are less than three feet high shall be set back at least three feet from the right-of-way line. Otherwise, such signs shall be set back 15 feet from the right-of-way line. The maximum total area of a nonanimated portable sign shall be 40 square feet.

Section 10.10.1 Commercial Use Signs. Commercial use signs are permanently mounted or placed signs which, are permitted in all districts allowing commercial uses. In this regard, a home occupation shall not be considered a commercial activity to allow the use of a sign. Except as specified below, all commercial use signs shall meet the standards according to section 10.1. The maximum number of commercial use signs for an establishment or development is listed in Table 10.1.

Table 10.1 Maximum Number of Signs in Commercial or Industrial Zoning Districts

P = Permitted

NP = Not permitted

For sign standards, please refer to section 10.1 sign types and standards

Table 10.2 Maximum Number of Signs in Residential Zoning Districts

Any sign that will pose public safety hazards are prohibited. The following types of prohibited signs shall be removed 180 days after the effective date of the ordinance from which this section derives. The following types of signs and displays, as they are defined herein, are unlawful to erect or maintain in all zoning districts:

Animated signs. Animated, series, lines, or rows of electric or neon lights that involve motion.

Section 10.12.1 State Codes. All billboards shall conform to all state and federal laws and regulations. All structural components shall comply with the applicable construction codes. Any abandoned billboard shall be removed within six months.

Section 10.12.2 Location. Billboards shall be allowed as a conditional use in commercial, industrial and agricultural districts. No billboard shall be erected within 300 feet of the nearest property line of any public park, public playground, public school, recreational area, historic site, church or similar institution. No billboard shall be placed within 100 feet of a residential district.

Section 10.12.3 Size and Number. No single billboard (display area and attached trim) shall exceed 420 square feet (10 feet × 30 feet) in size. No more than one sign per sign structure will be allowed to face the same direction.

Section 10.12.4 Linear Spacing. No billboard shall be erected within 500 feet of another billboard on the same side of the street as measured along a line parallel to such street.

Section 10.12.5 Setback and Height. All billboards shall be setback ten feet from the right-of-way line of any street or highway and shall be eight feet or more above the adjacent pavement level of the street or highway to which it is oriented. The total height of the billboard shall not be greater than 50 feet when measured from the grade level of the adjacent street or highway or at the grade of the sign site if such grade is above the grade of the street.

Section 10.12.6 Extrusion Prohibited. Extrusions beyond the face of the sign, excluding aprons, are prohibited.

Section 10.12.7 Illumination. All illuminated signs shall use base mounted fluorescent or mercury vapor lights and may be activated by photoelectric cells. Additional lighting including, but not limited to, neon, animation and running lights are prohibited. In addition, the light shall be arranged to prevent glare or direct illumination into any residence or thoroughfare.

Each application shall contain an agreement to indemnify and hold the county harmless of all damages, demands or expenses of every character, which may in any manner be caused by the sign or sign structure.

Section 10.14.1 All signs for which a permit is required, together with all their supports, braces, guides, and anchors shall be kept in constant repair.

Section 10.14.2 The provisions and regulations of this section shall not apply to the ordinary servicing, repairing, cleaning or changing of the message without a change in structure.

Section 10.14.3 A sign permit is required before a sign may be erected, attached to, suspended from, or supported on a building or structure; and before an existing sign may be enlarged, relocated or materially improved to an extent of 40 percent of its total replacement value. Listed below are signs that require a permit:

Signs located in all commercial and industrial zoning districts.

Billboards.

Section 10.14.4 A sign permit shall be issued by the building official when the plans, specifications and intended use of the applied sign or part thereof conforms to the applicable provisions of this article and the building code as certified by the building official officer. The application shall be accompanied by plans which identify the locations of signs and other applicable information that the enforcement officer may require in the exercise of sound discretion in acting upon the application.

Section 10.14.5 Each application shall contain an agreement to indemnify and hold the county harmless of all damages, demands or expenses of every character which may in any manner be caused by the sign or sign structure.

Section 10.14.6 A sign permit shall become null and void if the sign for which the permit was issued has not been completed within a period of six months after the date of issuance.

No permit shall be issued until an application accompanied with a sign plan is approved by the Georgetown-Quitman County building department and fees paid as established by the Georgetown-Quitman County Board of Commissioners.

A nonconforming sign shall not be replaced by another nonconforming sign except that the substitution or interchange of poster panels, painted boards, or replacement of removable letters and numbers on nonconforming signs shall be permitted.

Repairs and maintenance of nonconforming signs shall be permitted to maintain a safe condition and neat appearance so long as the sign remains substantially the same as it was on the effective date of the adoption of the ordinance from which this section derives. However, no changes in the size or shape of a nonconforming sign shall be permitted except to make the sign comply with the requirements of this section.

If any sign is erected or maintained in violation of the provisions of this section, the enforcement officer shall have the power to give the owner thereof written notice of such violation. The notice shall include a brief statement of the particulars in which such violation is to be remedied. If a sign has been erected with a valid building permit, notice to the registered owner or the person or firm receiving the permit shall be sufficient. If a sign has not been registered and the owner is not known, affixing a copy of the notice to the sign, graphic structure or building for a period of ten days shall be sufficient.

Section 10.18.1 Fines: If such violation is not remedied within 30 days after such notice, the owner shall remove the sign immediately or be subject to a $100.00 a day fine, for each day, with each act or omission considered a separate violation.

If the sign in violation of this article is not removed by the owner, the enforcement officer shall have the right to remove such sign at the expense of the owner thereof and to destroy or otherwise dispose of the sign. In addition to the above provisions, the enforcement officer may cause the sign or structure to be removed which:

a.

Is structurally unsafe;

b.

Constitutes a hazard to safety or health by reasons of inadequate maintenance, dilapidation or abandonment;

c.

Is not kept in good repair; or

d.

Capable of causing electrical shock, to be removed following notice of 24 hours to the owner at the expense of the owner and to destroy or otherwise dispose of the same.