Thanks to Georgia lawmakers, Peachtree City has had to water down its sign ordinance.

A new statute passed by the General Assembly has forced the city to remove its time limit restrictions for political signs, according to City Attorney Ted Meeker. The newly amended ordinance was adopted Thursday night by the council.

The city previously allowed political signs only during an election period that began on the first day of qualifying for office and ended on election day.

But House Bill 1097 changed that. So now anyone can erect a “political” sign and leave it up for an unlimited amount of time under the new law, Meeker confirmed.

“So we need to be contacting our local legislators,” said Councilwoman Judi-ann Rutherford.

“We’re going to hear complaints,” added Councilwoman Cyndi Plunkett.

Three legislators representing part of Fayette County voted in favor of the bill: Representatives Virgil Fludd, Darryl Jordan and John Yates. Rep. Dan Lakly didn’t vote on the measure and Senator Ronnie Chance and Rep. Robert Abdul-Salaam were excused from voting on the measure.

The size limit for political signs, limited to no more than 16 square feet for residentially-zoned lots and 32 square feet for non-residentially zoned lots, will not change.

The original version of House Bill 1097 did not include the language forbidding cities and counties from restricting the time frame for political signs. Instead, it was added by an amendment when the bill was considered in the Senate. The amendment was authored by Senators John J. Wiles of Marietta, David J. Shafer of Duluth and Chip Pearson of Dawsonville.

Meeker said the newly revised ordinance also includes more supporting language trying to explain the city’s goals for the sign ordinance. That language is necessary because courts which are deciding similar cases are looking for such information ... and determining whether the ordinances in question actually meet that criteria, Meeker explained.