# Billboard Permits in Georgia: Rules, Spacing and Fees

URL: https://gabie.ai/learn/billboard-permits-georgia
Type: Permits by state · Published: 2026-10-08 · Updated: 2026-10-12 · By: Gabie Research

Short answer: In Georgia, GDOT's Outdoor Advertising Office in Atlanta issues billboard permits, and since September 2025 it takes applications online only. A permit costs $300 to apply and $85 a year to renew. Signs must be 500 feet apart on Interstates. Digital signs must hold each message 10 seconds and sit 5,000 feet apart.

Key takeaways:
- GDOT's Outdoor Advertising Office takes applications only through its online portal since September 15, 2025.
- A permit costs $300 to apply and $85 a year to renew. Permits expire April 1.
- Spacing is 500 feet on Interstates, 300 feet on primary roads outside cities and 100 feet inside.
- Digital signs must hold 10 seconds and sit 5,000 feet from other digital signs on the same side.
- Tree cutting needs a $400 vegetation permit and payment for the trees' appraised value.

GDOT issues billboard permits in Georgia. You apply online and pay $300. Renewal is $85 a year per sign. The local government must also certify that your site is allowed. Georgia is strict on digital signs: they must sit 5,000 feet apart.

## Who issues billboard permits in Georgia?

The state Department of Transportation runs the [outdoor advertising program](https://www.dot.ga.gov/GDOT/Pages/OutdoorAdvertising.aspx). The Outdoor Advertising Office sits in GDOT's Office of Maintenance. Its address is One Georgia Center, 600 West Peachtree Street NW, Atlanta. You can email ODA@dot.ga.gov or call (404) 631-1392.

Since September 15, 2025, GDOT takes billboard applications online only. You file and pay through its [customer portal](https://gdot-portal.synodas.com/). Vegetation applications can still go on paper.

The rules come from the Georgia [Outdoor Advertising Control Act](https://law.justia.com/codes/georgia/title-32/chapter-6/article-3/part-2/), O.C.G.A. 32-6-70 to 32-6-97. GDOT's rules are in [Chapter 672-6](https://rules.sos.ga.gov/gac/672-6) and Chapter 672-14.

## Which roads need a state permit?

GDOT controls signs along these roads:

- Interstates
- Federal-aid primary routes as of June 1, 1991
- National Highway System routes, including those added in 2012
- Routes of strategic importance

Those routes come from federal law, [23 U.S.C. 131](https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/23/131). The control zone is 660 feet from the edge of the right-of-way. Outside urban areas, billboards farther out are banned if built to be read from the road. An urban area is a city of 5,000 people or more.

## Where can a billboard go?

A billboard must sit in a zoned or unzoned business or industrial area. Zoned land counts only under a comprehensive zoning plan. Strip zoning, a narrow band no more than 250 feet wide, doesn't count.

Unzoned land counts if it has a working business. The area runs 600 feet out from the edge of the business, in each direction. The business must be open at least 90 days before the site qualifies. It needs a business license, road access and parking. Farms, homes and cell towers don't count.

In unzoned areas, you need written consent from any home owner within 300 feet.

## Georgia billboard rules at a glance

| Rule | Georgia limit | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Control zone | 660 ft from the right-of-way; farther outside urban areas | O.C.G.A. 32-6-72, 32-6-73 |
| Spacing, Interstate and limited-access roads | 500 ft, same side of the road | O.C.G.A. 32-6-75(a)(17) |
| Spacing, primary roads outside cities | 300 ft | O.C.G.A. 32-6-75(a)(19) |
| Spacing, primary roads inside cities | 100 ft | O.C.G.A. 32-6-75(a)(20) |
| Interchanges and rest areas (Interstate, outside cities) | No sign within 500 ft | O.C.G.A. 32-6-75(a)(18) |
| Parks, forests, scenic areas, cemeteries | No sign within 500 ft if visible from them | O.C.G.A. 32-6-75(a)(14) |
| Homes near unzoned sites | Owner's written consent within 300 ft | O.C.G.A. 32-6-75(a)(13) |
| Unzoned business area | 600 ft from the edge of a business, each direction | O.C.G.A. 32-6-71(25) |
| Maximum sign size | 1,200 sq ft, 30 ft high, 60 ft long | O.C.G.A. 32-6-75(a)(11) |
| Stacked faces | No new ones since July 1, 2006 | O.C.G.A. 32-6-75(a)(12) |
| Setback | Not in the right-of-way; no set distance published | O.C.G.A. 32-6-51 |
| Digital hold time | At least 10 seconds | O.C.G.A. 32-6-75(c) |
| Digital change time | 2 seconds (electronic); 3 seconds (mechanical) | O.C.G.A. 32-6-75(c) |
| Digital spacing | 5,000 ft, same side of the road | O.C.G.A. 32-6-75(c) |
| Digital brightness | No number; dim within 48 hours if GDOT asks | Rule 672-6-.06 |
| Application fee | $300 | GDOT Schedule of Fees; O.C.G.A. 32-6-74 |
| Annual renewal | $85 per sign | GDOT Schedule of Fees; O.C.G.A. 32-6-74 |
| Build deadline | 12 months, plus one 12-month extension for $35 | Rule 672-6 |

## What are the digital billboard rules?

Georgia calls these multiple message signs. Its rules are some of the strictest in our guides:

- Each message holds at least 10 seconds.
- An electronic change happens within 2 seconds.
- Digital signs sit 5,000 feet apart on the same side of the road.
- The sign must freeze if it breaks.
- Static images only, with no movement.

Georgia has no brightness number. If GDOT asks, you must dim the sign within 48 hours. You must also name a contact who can change the display.

To add a digital face, file a Multiple Message Supplement before you build. GDOT charges nothing for it. The sign must run within 12 months of approval. Georgia's 10 seconds is the top of [FHWA's 2007 range](https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/real_estate/policy_guidance/offprmsgsnguid.cfm) of 4 to 10 seconds.

## What does a permit cost?

GDOT's [fee schedule](https://www.dot.ga.gov/PartnerSmart/permits/Documents/ODA/ScheduleofFees.pdf) sets these fees:

- Application: $300
- Yearly renewal: $85 per sign
- Extension of the build deadline: $35
- Replacement tag: $35, or make your own to GDOT's specs
- Permit transfer: free

Permits expire on April 1 each year. GDOT mails a renewal list in December. You renew between January 1 and April 1. There is no late fee. If you don't pay, GDOT sends a certified notice. After 45 days the permit ends and the sign becomes illegal.

The law sets a $25 renewal fee for nonconforming signs. The fee schedule lists only $85. Check with the agency.

## Can you cut trees in front of a sign?

Yes, with a vegetation management permit. See GDOT's [vegetation page](https://www.dot.ga.gov/GDOT/pages/VegetationManagement.aspx). The terms come from [O.C.G.A. 32-6-75.3](https://law.justia.com/codes/georgia/title-32/chapter-6/article-3/part-2/section-32-6-75-3/) and [Rule 672-14-.06](https://rules.sos.ga.gov/gac/672-14-.06):

- The application fee is $400. Renewal is $50 a year, due September 1.
- You pay the appraised value of the trees, or plant to make up the gap.
- Credits for removing old signs can lower the bill, but not below $4,000.
- The cut zone is up to 250 feet along the fence line and 350 feet along the pavement.
- Signs permitted after 2010 must wait five years before applying.
- Signs over 75 feet tall must be lowered to 75 feet within 60 days of the work.
- Cutting without a permit brings a fine of $10,000 to $20,000.

## What about nonconforming signs?

A [nonconforming sign](https://gabie.ai/glossary/nonconforming-sign) was legal when built but fails today's rules. It must stay substantially the same. You may paint, clean, tighten bolts and change the ad. You may not enlarge it, add lights, or rebuild its poles or base. You can't make any change that adds value.

The sign is destroyed if 60% or more of its uprights are damaged. Vandalism doesn't count. It is abandoned after six months with no ad and no ad within 30 days of notice. A "for rent" panel doesn't count as an ad. A city or county can't remove a lawful nonconforming sign without paying for it.

## Do you need a local permit too?

Yes, you need local sign-off first. GDOT's rule requires a Local Government Certification. A local official must confirm the site is allowed under local rules. Or the official confirms there are no such rules.

GDOT's permit is not a building permit. Get any local permits before you build. Local rules that are stricter than state law still apply.

## How do you apply for a billboard permit in Georgia?

1. Check that the road is a controlled route.
2. Confirm the zoning, or find a business that meets the unzoned test.
3. Get the landowner's consent and a right of entry for GDOT.
4. Get the Local Government Certification signed.
5. Prepare a shop drawing, GPS coordinates and a location sketch by milepost.
6. File online with a W-9 and the $300 fee.
7. GDOT must issue or deny the permit within 60 days.
8. Put the tag on the support nearest the road before the face goes up.
9. Build within 12 months. Send photos within 10 days of finishing.

Read [how to start a billboard business](https://gabie.ai/learn/how-to-start-a-billboard-business) for the steps before a permit. See [billboard lease rates](https://gabie.ai/learn/billboard-lease-rates) for what landowners get paid.

## Other state billboard permit guides

- [Billboard permits: the national overview](https://gabie.ai/learn/billboard-permits)
- [Tennessee](https://gabie.ai/learn/billboard-permits-tennessee)
- [Texas](https://gabie.ai/learn/billboard-permits-texas)
- [Florida](https://gabie.ai/learn/billboard-permits-florida)
- [California](https://gabie.ai/learn/billboard-permits-california)
- [North Carolina](https://gabie.ai/learn/billboard-permits-north-carolina)
- [Ohio](https://gabie.ai/learn/billboard-permits-ohio)
- [Pennsylvania](https://gabie.ai/learn/billboard-permits-pennsylvania)
- [Illinois](https://gabie.ai/learn/billboard-permits-illinois)
- [New York](https://gabie.ai/learn/billboard-permits-new-york)

> How Gabie handles this: A booking can't outlive the permit behind it. [Gabie Inventory](https://gabie.ai/platform/inventory) blocks any hold or booking that runs past a [ground lease](https://gabie.ai/glossary/ground-lease) or an expired permit.

This is a summary, not legal advice. Check with the agency before you build or sign.

## Questions people ask
### Who issues billboard permits in Georgia?
The Georgia Department of Transportation does, through its Outdoor Advertising Office in the Office of Maintenance in Atlanta. You can reach it at ODA@dot.ga.gov or (404) 631-1392.

### How much does a Georgia billboard permit cost?
The application fee is $300 and renewal is $85 per sign each year. A replacement tag is $35, and transfers are free.

### How far apart must digital billboards be in Georgia?
At least 5,000 feet from another digital sign on the same side of the highway. That is much wider than the 500-foot spacing for static signs on Interstates.

### How long must a digital billboard message stay up in Georgia?
At least 10 seconds. An electronic change must happen within 2 seconds, and a mechanical change within 3 seconds.

### Can I cut trees in front of my billboard in Georgia?
Only with a GDOT vegetation management permit. The application fee is $400, and you pay the appraised value of the trees, with a floor of $4,000 after credits.

### Do I need local approval for a Georgia billboard permit?
Yes. GDOT requires a local government certification that the site is allowed under local rules. GDOT's permit is not a building permit.

## Sources
1. Outdoor Advertising, Georgia Department of Transportation. https://www.dot.ga.gov/GDOT/Pages/OutdoorAdvertising.aspx (accessed 2026-10-08)
2. Outdoor Advertising Schedule of Fees (Jan. 11, 2016), Georgia Department of Transportation. https://www.dot.ga.gov/PartnerSmart/permits/Documents/ODA/ScheduleofFees.pdf (accessed 2026-10-08)
3. Vegetation Management, Georgia Department of Transportation. https://www.dot.ga.gov/GDOT/pages/VegetationManagement.aspx (accessed 2026-10-08)
4. Outdoor Advertising Customer Portal, Georgia Department of Transportation. https://gdot-portal.synodas.com/ (accessed 2026-10-08)
5. O.C.G.A. Title 32, Chapter 6, Article 3, Part 2, Outdoor Advertising (2025 Code of Georgia), Justia. https://law.justia.com/codes/georgia/title-32/chapter-6/article-3/part-2/ (accessed 2026-10-08)
6. O.C.G.A. 32-6-75.3, Vegetation management, Justia. https://law.justia.com/codes/georgia/title-32/chapter-6/article-3/part-2/section-32-6-75-3/ (accessed 2026-10-08)
7. Rules of GDOT Chapter 672-6, Permits for Outdoor Advertising, Georgia Secretary of State. https://rules.sos.ga.gov/gac/672-6 (accessed 2026-10-08)
8. Rule 672-14-.06, Vegetation management fees, Georgia Secretary of State. https://rules.sos.ga.gov/gac/672-14-.06 (accessed 2026-10-08)
9. 23 U.S.C. 131, Control of outdoor advertising, Legal Information Institute, Cornell Law School. https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/23/131 (accessed 2026-10-08)
10. Guidance on Off-Premise Changeable Message Signs (Sept. 25, 2007), FHWA. https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/real_estate/policy_guidance/offprmsgsnguid.cfm (accessed 2026-10-08)