Every outdoor sign in Riverdale is governed by the municipality’s sign ordinance, which sets how large a sign may be, how tall it may stand, how far it must sit from the property line, whether it may be illuminated, and which sign types are permitted in each zoning district. This page summarizes those requirements in plain language and links each value back to the section of the Riverdale code it came from.
Sign rules here are layered. The base zoning district — commercial, industrial, or residential — sets the default limits, and overlay districts such as historic or downtown districts can tighten them further. Because the most specific jurisdiction controls, a freestanding monument sign on a commercial parcel and a wall sign in a historic overlay can face very different limits even on the same street in Riverdale.
Use the figures below as a fast first check, then run a full address lookup to confirm the exact limits for a specific parcel in Riverdale, Georgia. The full report also covers permit requirements, prohibited sign types, and illumination rules — each cited to the source ordinance so your permit application can reference it directly.
Before you order or install a sign in Riverdale, confirm three things: the maximum sign area and height allowed in the parcel’s zoning district, the minimum setback from the right-of-way, and whether the sign type you want — freestanding, monument, wall, projecting, or awning — is permitted there at all. Many permit denials come from missing a setback or an overlay-district restriction rather than from the size of the sign itself, so checking the governing section before applying saves a costly resubmittal.
Census snapshot
Population
14,933
Median household income
$61,622
Median home value
$145,800
Time zone
Eastern Time
Demographic figures are from the U.S. Census Bureau (American Community Survey) and are provided as jurisdiction context for Riverdale; they do not affect sign-code requirements.
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Authority
Sign Chapter Scope
Source-backed sign ordinance/chapter scope: n safety as it may be affected by distracting signs.\n(5)\nTo prevent the destruction of the natural beauty and environment of the city.\n(6)\nTo protect the public health, safety, and general welfare.\n(7)\nTo restrict the continued existence of abandoned or nonconforming signs unless in\ncompliance with the terms of this section.\n(8)\nTo ensure the fair and consistent enforcement of sign standards; and\n(9)\nTo ma
Sign Chapter Scope 2
Source-backed sign ordinance/chapter scope: he continued existence of abandoned or nonconforming signs unless in\ncompliance with the terms of this section.\n(8)\nTo ensure the fair and consistent enforcement of sign standards; and\n(9)\nTo make it easy, quick, and economically efficient to apply for a sign permit.\n(b) Findings.\n(1)\nThe city finds that signs are a proper use of private property, are a means of personal\nfree expression and a necessary compo
Source-backed freestanding/ground/monument sign rules: in lighting effects.\nFreestanding sign. Any sign supported by structures or supports that are placed on, or\nanchored in, the ground and that are independent from any building or other structure. The\nbase shall be at least as wide as the sign. Also called a ground sign or monument sign.\n§ 58-3\nSIGNS\nCD58:7\nSupp. No. 35\n\nIlluminated sign, external. A sign illuminated by an external light source. Such source\nc
Freestanding Ground Monument 2
Source-backed freestanding/ground/monument sign rules: ects.\nFreestanding sign. Any sign supported by structures or supports that are placed on, or\nanchored in, the ground and that are independent from any building or other structure. The\nbase shall be at least as wide as the sign. Also called a ground sign or monument sign.\n§ 58-3\nSIGNS\nCD58:7\nSupp. No. 35\n\nIlluminated sign, external. A sign illuminated by an external light source. Such source\ncannot be a devi
Ground Signs
Ground Sign Type
Monument sign (also called freestanding sign); pole signs prohibited
Permit Process
Permit Time Frame
30 business days
Permits
Permit Required
Source-backed sign permit requirement: bric, or other material, whether or not\ncontaining a message of any kind, suspended from a rope, wire, or string, usually in a series,\ndesigned to move in the wind.\nPermanent sign. Any sign which, when installed, is intended for permanent use. A\npermanent freestanding sign shall be of a type and construction so as not to be easily or\nreadily removed from the lot on which it has been erected.\nPermit. A sign perm
Permit Required 2
Source-backed sign permit requirement: ve in the wind.\nPermanent sign. Any sign which, when installed, is intended for permanent use. A\npermanent freestanding sign shall be of a type and construction so as not to be easily or\nreadily removed from the lot on which it has been erected.\nPermit. A sign permit reviewed, approved, and issued by the city.\nPermittee. The person and/or entity owning or leasing the land on which the sign is erected\nor for whi
Source-backed prohibited signs: a public right-of-way, other than official city signs or\nthose belonging to a government, public service agency or railroad.\n(5)\nSigns on tree or utility pole. Signs mounted or located on a tree, utility pole, or other\nsimilar structure.\n(6)\nRoof signs. Roof signs and signs which extend vertically above any portion of a roof\nor parapet of the applicable wall. Except that signs may be attached to mansard type\n
Prohibited Signs 2
Source-backed prohibited signs: other\nsimilar structure.\n(6)\nRoof signs. Roof signs and signs which extend vertically above any portion of a roof\nor parapet of the applicable wall. Except that signs may be attached to mansard type\nroofs, either real or simulated.\n(7)\nPortable signs. Portable signs, including signs attached to any parked vehicle or\ntrailer, so as to be visible from a public right-of-way.\n(8)\nObscene signs. Signs which depi
Temporary
Temporary Signs
Source-backed temporary sign rules: ls, industries, or\nother entities located within a planned center.\nDouble-faced sign shall mean a sign which has two display areas placed back to back\nagainst each other and the interior angle formed by the display areas is less than 60 degrees,\nwhere one sign face is designed to be seen from one direction and the other face from another\ndirection.\nDrive-through/drive-in facility. A location where products and/
Temporary Signs 2
Source-backed temporary sign rules: a property\nwithout the permission of the property owner is prohibited.\n(18) Bench signs.\n(19) Air and gas filled device signs.\n(20) Manual or electronic reader board/changeable copy signs; any signs that have the\ncapability to change text or copy.\n(21) Temporary signs. Except as specifically allowed in section 58-27, temporary signs are\nprohibited.\n(22) Pole signs.\n(23) Attention getting devices. Any pennant
Prohibited except as specifically allowed in section 58-27
Wall Signs
Wall Signs 2
Source-backed wall sign rules: nstructed of satisfactory materials in order to\npromote the health, safety, and welfare of the city. All signs shall be subject to inspection at\nany time by the department to ensure that the signs within the city are not constructed of\nany inferior mat --- SIGN CODE FOCUSED SLICE --- , which is supported\nby such wall or building, and which displays only one sign surface. Wall signs may be allowed\nto extend up to
Wall Signs 3
Source-backed wall sign rules: be subject to inspection at\nany time by the department to ensure that the signs within the city are not constructed of\nany inferior mat --- SIGN CODE FOCUSED SLICE --- , which is supported\nby such wall or building, and which displays only one sign surface. Wall signs may be allowed\nto extend up to 15 inches from any wall, building or structure when a raceway is utilized.\nRaceways shall be painted to match the co
Source-backed window sign rules: ilitates the movement of traffic throughout the\ndevelopment.\nWindow sign. Any sign that is placed inside a window or upon the windowpanes or glass,\neither inside or outside the building, and is visible from the exterior of the structure. Not\nmore than two window signs per business shall be allowed and shall not be larger than four\nsquare feet or cover more than 20 percent of the area of each window in which a si
Window Sign Allowable Area
4 square feet maximum per sign; not more than 20 percent of window area per sign; maximum 2 signs per business
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