Overview
Signs provide an opportunity for businesses to advertise and be identified and are a useful tool to alert and guide customers. The City of Snellville Sign Ordinance allows for adequate and effective signage while encouraging standards that support pleasant and attractive residential and business neighborhoods. Also, the Snellville City Code regulates signage to ensure signs are constructed, installed and maintained so that public safety and traffic safety is maintained.
What Types of Signs Can I Use to Promote My Business?
Examples of the most commonly permitted signs include:
• Wall signs
• Window & Door signs
• Monument signs
• Awning signs
• Canopy signs
• Projecting signs
• Portable signs
• Electronic Message Board signs
• Temporary Banner signs
• Temporary Feather Flag signs
• Other Temporary signs
Certain Signs are Prohibited
Please don’t make the mistake of using the following prohibited signs to identify or advertise your business:
• Roof signs
• Animated or Flashing signs
• Mobile sign
• Bench sign
• Air or Gas Filled Device signs
• Beacon sign
• Swinging or Rotating sings
• Building Wrap signs or Murals
• Spinsock or Windsock
• Signs placed in the public right-of-way
• Signs attached to retaining walls
• Signs attached to any street sign or marker, traffic control sign or device, or attached to or painted on any pole, post, tree, rock, shrub, plant or other natural object or feature
• LED lighting or neon lighting where the light source is visible from the public right-of-way
• Attention Getting Device (any pennant, valance, propeller, spinner, ribbon, streamer, balloon, or search light) or similar device or ornamentation designed for or having the effect of attracting the attention potential customers or the general public.
Do I Need a Permit?
The City of Snellville regulates the permitting, design, location, construction, erection, modification, use, maintenance, and removal of signs within the City. A permit is required to verify that a sign does confirm with the sign ordinance. A sign may only be erected, placed, established, painted, created, or maintained in conformance with the requirements of the ordinances. A Building Permit may also be required for certain signs.
What Signs are Exempt from Permitting?
The following sign types are exempt from the permit requirements of the sign ordinance; however these signs shall meet sign area, height and setback requirements of the ordinance. See Section 12.3 of the Sign Ordinance for details on exempt signs.
• Signs within a business, office, mall or totally enclosed area.
• Signs not visible from public thoroughfares or intended to be seen by the traveling public.
• Portable signs
• Flags (as defined in Section 12.2)
• Temporary signs (not including banners and feather flags which do require a permit)
• Swinging or projecting signs
• Signage on coin-operated beverage dispensers
• Official sign (one) as required by the State of Georgia for vehicle emissions stations
Can I use a Sign Spinner or Costumed Character to help Advertise and Identify my Business?
Businesses may utilize sign spinners, wavers, costumed characters or street performers with signage devices and do not require a permit.
However, these activities are prohibited within the public right-of-way, and include the roadway or street, public sidewalk and crosswalk, and area between the roadway and boundary line of private property.
Any persons involved in this activity must remain on the property of the business they are advertising on a hard surfaced paved area and away from entry and exit drives.
I Want to Utilize an Electronic Message Board Sign for my Business, What are the Requirements?
Electronic Message Board Signs, defined as "any sign that uses changing lights or colors to form a sign message or messages wherein the sequence of messages and the rate of change is electronically programmed and can be modified by electronic processes" are permitted as an element of a monument, free standing, or window sign. However, the Electronic Message Board sign may not exceed fifty percent (50%) of the allowable sign area of the monument, free standing, or window sign. Please see Section 12.8 of the Sign Ordinance for additional information.