(A) Exempt signs. The following signs and/or displays shall be exempt from the regulations of this subchapter:
(1) Signs not visible beyond the boundaries of the property on which they are located;
(2) Signs erected by a duly-constituted governmental body;
(3) Signs erected within a residential home; and
(4) Historic signs as defined in this subchapter, provided that the message, background, colors, dimensions, orientation, location and design of the support structure of such signs shall not be altered in any way. Normal maintenance, however, is permitted.
(B) Exceptions. Particular features or concerns regarding the following types of signs provide compelling reasons for their regulation in a different manner from other signs of similar duration of display or located within a common zoning district.
(1) Private traffic directional signs located on private property not to exceed three square feet. The town finds there is a compelling need for private property owners to be able to control aspects of traffic on private property in order to avoid damage to property and inconveniences and potential dangers caused by the restriction of ingress and egress to a property by methods such as designating parking spaces and restricting "no parking" areas, identifying "one-way" driveways and the like with the standard, commercially available signage commonly associated with these purposes. Therefore, these signs need not comply with material and style requirements, limitations on number, and other requirements and are exempt from this section.
(2) Signs erected to prohibit trespassing displayed in accordance with North Carolina State law. The town finds that there is a compelling need for private property owners to be able to avail themselves of the protection from liability offered by NC state law in the manner prescribed in such laws or statutes. Therefore, these signs need not comply with material and style requirements, limitations on number, and other requirements and are exempt from this section, provided that the number, size, or other features of such signs is not in excess of that prescribed by state law.
(3) Non-illuminated trade names and graphics which are customarily painted on newspaper and soft drink dispensers and similar outdoor amenities. The town finds there is a compelling interest in exempting these signs from regulation due to their ubiquitous nature and the impracticality or inability to obtain soft drink dispensers and the like without such trade names or graphics. Therefore, these signs are exempt from the requirements of this section.
(a) Parties affected. All structures, residential, multi-family, and commercial are required to display the assigned street number in the manner described in this section.
(b) Visibility. Street numbers shall be displayed so as to be conspicuously visible and legible from the street from both directions. Numbers must maintain contrast to the background and be reflective.
(c) Number type. All numbers shall be displayed in Arabic form (0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9).
(d) Number location.
1. Structures visible from the street. Where the structure is visible from the road and at such a distance that numbers are legible from the road, numbers shall be affixed to the structure. Numbers shall be reflective and a minimum of three inches high and may be mounted either horizontally or vertically.
2. Structures not visible from the street. Where a structure is not visible from the street or is otherwise situated to make number display on the building ineffective, the number shall be displayed at the access entrance. Numbers may be combined with property or business identification signs. Where signs are perpendicular to the street, numbers shall be displayed on both sides of the sign. Numbers shall be a minimum of three inches high, reflective, and may be mounted wither horizontally or vertically.
3. Mailboxes. Numbers of a minimum of three inches in height, reflective, and shall be affixed to both sides of the mailbox serving the primary structure. When the mailbox is clustered with other mailboxes or is across the street from the primary structure, the numbers will be placed on the front of the mailbox. There could be confusion as to the primary structure access by using numbers on the mailbox than prudence would dictate placing the numbers on a post at the primary structure access point on the street. Mailboxes across the street or otherwise located across the street are not adequate for the purposes of this section.
4. Trash bins. Numbers of a minimum of three inches in height, reflective, and shall be affixed to both sides of the trash bins serving the primary structure.
(e) Unauthorized building numbers prohibited. No person shall affix or allow to remain upon any building in the Town of Beech Mountain any different number from the one designated by this section, with the exception of dates affixed for historical purpose.
(1989 Code, Title V, Ch. 51, Art. XIX, § 1903) (Ord. passed 11-18-1986; Ord. passed 4-11-1989; Ord. passed 10-13-2009; Ord. passed 4-12-2011; Ord. 2016-03, passed 2-9-2016; Ord. 2017-08, passed 10-10-2017; Ord. 2019-02, passed 2-11-2019)