(A) Generally.
(1) Except as otherwise provided in this subchapter, it shall be unlawful for any person to erect, construct, enlarge, move, or replace any sign or cause the same to be done, without first having obtained a sign permit for such sign from the Director of Planning and Community Development or his or her designee as required by this subchapter. A fee, in accordance with a fee schedule adopted by the City Council, shall be charged for each sign permit issued.
(2) Notwithstanding the division (A)(1) of this section, changing or replacing the copy on an existing lawful sign shall not require a permit, provided that the copy change does not change the nature of the sign such as to render the sign in violation of this subchapter.
(3) Direction signs shall be permitted for government offices and installations, non-profit secular organizations such as museums, Chamber of Commerce, etc. and for established religious facilities (churches) on or near city R/W at least ten feet off the pavement. In the case of NC DOT R/W that agency will control location on state R/W.
(a) The signs must be directional only (no advertisement) and may contain the name of the facility (church name) and a direction arrow and the distance (not more than 0.5 miles).
(b) Only two directional signs are allowed for each non-profit organization or church.
(c) The signs may not be more than eight square feet in area, located not more than six feet above the natural ground level to the bottom of the sign and not block sight of traveling public in any manner.
(d) Such signs and their design and location must be approved by the Planning Director before they are erected. Any sign not approved prior to erection shall be removed immediately by the Planning Director or his representative.
(e) The color of the sign shall be white background with black letters or brown background with white letters or blue background with white letters.
(B) Specific types of signs.
(1) Wall sign.
(a) The maximum permitted aggregate area of wall signs per premises shall be 20% of the wall or walls facing a public street, unless otherwise specified.
(b) No wall sign shall project more than 18 inches from the building wall. Further, no wall sign or its supporting structure shall cover any window or part of a window, nor shall it extend beyond the highest point of a roofline, parapet, or mansard roof.
(c) Canopy and awning signs may be substituted for part or all of the allowable wall signage per premises. Signs may be painted or printed onto a canopy or awning. In no instance shall a canopy or awning sign extend into a street right-of-way. This subdivision shall not apply to the CBD/Central Business District. For canopy and awning sign regulations for the CBD/Central Business District, see § 92.042(B).
(d) A projecting sign may be substituted for part or all of the allowable wall signage per premises. A projecting sign shall not project more than six feet from a building. In no instance shall a projecting sign extend into a street right-of-way.
(e) Some of the wall signage allowed on sides of a building facing a public street may be moved to sides or rear of the building.
(2) Ground mounted signs.
(a) Ground-mounted signs shall be located a minimum of ten feet behind the street right-of-way, except for the CBD/Central Business District wherein no setback will be required and the R-O/Residential Office District wherein setbacks shall be ten feet from the curb line or edge of pavement if there is no curb. For each of these exceptions, the sign must also be outside of the public right-of-way.
(b) No ground mounted sign greater than five square feet in area shall be located closer than ten feet to any adjacent lot line. A 15-foot side-yard setback shall be required if the side lot line abuts a residential district. Greater setbacks shall be provided if otherwise required.
(c) An arm sign may be substituted for a ground-mounted sign but shall meet all height and area requirements as provided.
(3) Pole signs. All pole signs shall be located 25 feet from the curb or ditch line and not be on city or Department of Transportation right-of- way.
(4) Service station canopies. Service stations shall be permitted the use of a canopy, provided that the following conditions are met:
(a) The features, materials, colors, and designs used in a canopy shall be similar to the principle structure.
(b) The maximum letter height shall not exceed 18 inches.
(c) The canopy shall not encroach upon any publicly dedicated rights-of-way.
(5) Special promotion signs.
(a) Sign permit fee of $15.00 is required prior to display of sign.
(b) Each business may locate special event signs of their property outside public right-of-way. The maximum number of days allowed during a calendar year is 60 and these days may be divided into a maximum of four different intervals (i.e. 15-day intervals).
(c) Types of signs allowed include metal, wood and plastic. Streamers, streams of flags and temporary cardboard signs are not allowed.
(d) If a banner is used, it must be attached to the building and only commercial logos for the organization obtaining the permit shall be allowed.
(e) No such sign shall exceed 32 square feet. The maximum height will be eight feet unless attached to a building.
(f) New businesses are allowed a "coming soon" or "grand opening" sign for a maximum of 60 days with a sign permit but without a permit fee.
(6) Changeable face signs. An old changeable face sign described in § 92.038
(B)(14) or a similar new changeable face sign can be used only if it is integrated into a new ground-mounted or pole sign by covering the outer frame with the frame of a new sign or by removing the two changeable faces from the old frame and using one or both of them in a newly permitted sign.
(Ord. 01-44, passed 12-17-01; Am. Ord. 04-52, passed 11-15-04; Am. Ord. 05-32, passed 7-18- 05; Am. Ord. 09-34, passed 10-19-09; Am. Ord. 09-42, passed 12-21-09; Am. Ord. 10-02, passed 11-15-10; Am. Ord. 15-12, passed 5-4-15; Am. Ord. 21-02, passed 1-19-21; Am. Ord. 21-26, passed 7-12-21; Am. Ord. 22-01, passed 1-3-22) Penalty, see § 10.80