The following sign types are permitted on property located in all zoning districts, except lots or parcels containing a single-unit residence or duplex. Permanent signs shall be permitted in accordance with Table 9.2-1, subject to the applicable standards of this Section 9.2.5 and the provisions of any Master Sign Plan applicable to the site.
Sign Type | Sign Permit | Conditions | |
Sign Type | Sign Permit | Conditions | |
Awning Sign | Required | 9.2.5(A) | |
Directional Sign | Vehicle-oriented Directional Ground Sign | Required | 9.2.5 (B)(1) |
Wall-Mounted Directional Sign | Required | 9.2.5 (B)(2) | |
Pedestrian-oriented Directional Ground Sign | Not Required | 9.2.5 (B)(3) | |
Permanent Flagpoles With Flags | Not Required | 9.2.5 (C) | |
Incidental Sign | Not Required | 9.2.5 (D) | |
Drive-through Lane Sign | Required | 9.2.5 (E) | |
Principal Ground Sign | Required | 9.2.5(F) | |
Entry Monument Alternative to Principal Ground Sign | Required | 9.2.5 (G) | |
New Construction Alternative to Permanent Ground Sign | Required | 9.2.5 (H) | |
Projecting Sign | Required | 9.2.5 (I) | |
Suspended Sign | Required | 9.2.5 (J) | |
Verandah Sign | Required | 9.2.5 (K) | |
Wall Sign | Buildings with 3 or Fewer Floors | Required | 9.2.5(L)(1) |
Buildings with More Than 3 Floors | Required | 9.2.5(L)(2) | |
Multi-family or Institutional Buildings in Residential Districts or PDDs | Required | 9.2.5(L)(3) | |
Theatres | Required | 9.2.5(L)(4) | |
Mixed-use Buildings | Required | 9.2.5(L)(5) | |
Façade Renovation Alternative to Permanent Wall Sign | Required | 9.2.5(M) | |
New Business Alternative to Permanent Wall Sign | Required | 9.2.5(N) | |
Window Sign | Not Required | 9.2.5(O) | |
Mailbox Sign | Not Required | 9.2.5(P) | |
(A) Awning Sign
Awning signs shall be allowed, provided that:
(1) On a single-occupant property, one (1) awning sign may be allowed only in lieu of all other signage otherwise permitted on the wall to which the awning is attached.
(2) On a multi-occupant property, one (1) awning sign may be allowed over each occupant entrance, in lieu of other wall signs, and if so shown on the Master Sign Plan.
(3) The maximum area of an awning sign shall not exceed ten percent (10%) of the total awning face front and side area.
(4) Awning signs may be illuminated only with direct surface lighting and not with any form of backlighting.
(5) Awning signs may project over a public right-of-way provided that no element of the sign hangs lower than seven (7) feet above the ground or pedestrian walkway.
(B) Directional Sign
(1) Vehicle-oriented Directional Ground Signs
Vehicle-oriented directional ground signs shall be allowed in addition to Principal Ground Signs near each principal entrance to a parking area or at principal intersections within the parking area of a development project, or as shown on an approved Master Sign Plan. Such signs shall be located at least fifty (50) feet away from any public right-of-way in a manner that drivers can conveniently pull up to and read the sign without impeding traffic on any driveway or entrance serving the development.
(a) Vehicle-oriented directional ground signs shall be allowed as follows:
(i) Vehicle-oriented directional ground signs may have a maximum height of five (5) feet, a maximum sign area of ten (10) square feet, and a maximum letter height of four (4) inches that shall not be legible from the public right-of-way.
(2) Pedestrian-oriented Directional Ground Signs
Pedestrian-oriented directional ground signs shall be allowed within multi-tenant sites in accordance with the following:
(a) Such signs shall not be legible from the public right-of-way or private street or drive aisle;
(b) Such signs shall have a maximum sign area of fifteen (15) square feet;
(c) The sign structure shall have a maximum height of seven (7) feet; and
(d) The location and design characteristics of such signs shall be included in the uniform sign plan for the development.
(3) Wall-mounted Directional Signs
(a) General
Wall-mounted directional signs shall be permitted for buildings with multiple tenants and shall be allowed in addition to Primary Wall Signs provided that the total size of the wall-mounted directional sign does not exceed ten percent (10%) of the total wall area to which the sign is affixed.
(b) Additional Requirements in the Town Center
(i) The sign shall be located next to the principal entrance.
(ii) The sign shall not project outward from the wall more than six (6) inches.
(iii) The sign shall not extend above the parapet, eave or building facade.
(iv) All area over three (3) square feet shall be considered as part of the property's overall allowed sign area.
(v) The sign shall not be illuminated separately.
(C) Permanent Flagpoles with Flags
Permanent flagpoles with flags shall be allowed in accordance with the following:
(1) Sites Not Showing Flags and Flagpoles on Development Plans
In a non-residential or multi-family residential site not showing flags on an approved development plan, there shall be no more than three (3) flagpoles and two (2) flags per pole. Poles for such flags shall be located on the principal building wall on the site or within twenty (20) feet of the main building entrance.
(2) Sites Showing Flags and Flagpoles on Development Plans and Master Sign Plans
Flags may be included on a development plan and located as shown on that development plan, provided that:
(a) Flagpoles shall be limited to three (3) per principal building or multi-family residential complex;
(b) Flags are limited to two (2) flags per pole; and
(c) Flagpoles shall be located outside of the public street right-of-way.
(3) Flagpole Height and Flag Size
Flagpoles shall not exceed twenty-five (25) feet in height, and flags shall not exceed five (5) feet by eight (8) feet in size, except for:
(a) Venues for recreational and entertainment uses that provide structured spectator seating to support spectator viewing. Such sites are allowed one (1) flagpole up to fifty (50) feet in height displaying flag(s) no larger than ten (10) feet by fifteen (15) feet, provided that the flagpole meets a setback from the property line of two (2) feet for every one (1) foot of flagpole height.
(b) Non-residential buildings are allowed two (2) flagpoles extending up to twenty-five (25) feet above the height of the building, displaying flag(s) no larger than eight (8) feet by twelve (12) feet, provided that the building is setback from a thoroughfare by a minimum of three hundred (300) feet or the building contains a minimum of three (3) stories.
(4) Memorial Parks
Public parks that serve as a memorial to a particular event, individual(s) or group(s) may contain more than three (3) flagpoles; however, the total number of flags displayed may not exceed six (6).
(5) Public Athletic Fields/Complexes
A total of two (2) additional flags shall be allowed for each playing field containing permanent seating for spectators; the additional flags may be displayed on separate poles or on the same pole; the additional flags may be displayed at such field(s) only while used for games.
(D) Incidental Sign
Incidental signs shall be allowed provided that they contain no logo or commercial message and do not exceed two (2) square feet in area, except that signs providing notice that cars parked illegally may be towed may comply with provisions of North Carolina statutes that require that such notice be four (4) square feet in area. Incidental ground signs shall not exceed three (3) feet in height.
(E) Drive-through Lane Sign
Drive-through lane signs shall be allowed only as an accessory use to a use having a drive- through window, provided that:
(1) Such signs shall not exceed forty-two (42) square feet in area and five (5) feet, six (6) inches in height.
(2) Such signs shall not be legible from a public right-of-way or adjacent residential property.
(3) There shall be no more than two (2) such signs per drive-through lane.
(4) The color of the back and side frames of such signs shall have ties to the main building or other signage for the project.
(5) Businesses within the Town Center may substitute one (1) permitted A-frame sign for a drive-through lane sign but shall not use both.
(F) Principal Ground Sign
Principal ground signs shall be allowed in accordance with the following:
(1) Such signs may not exceed thirty-two (32) square feet per side or sixty-four (64) square feet total in area, and fifty-four (54) inches in height. In the Town Center, any sign area in excess of sixteen (16) square feet in total shall be counted as part of the property's total allowed sign area. Where the height of the sign exceeds forty-two (42) inches, one (1) square foot of landscape area for each square foot of sign area shall be provided in the vicinity of the sign. At least fifty percent (50%) of the plant material shall be evergreen. Both sides of a two (2) sided ground sign shall be identical with regard to materials and design.
(2) Setbacks shall be adequate to protect the clear sight triangle, in accordance with the Town's Standard Specifications and Details Manual.
(3) For a single-occupant property, there shall be only one (1) principal ground sign per entrance to the project, provided that no two (2) ground signs shall be within three hundred (300) feet of each other.
(4) For a multi-occupant project, there shall be only one (1) ground sign per entrance from a public street or a private street which meets the Town's Site Design Standards provided that no two (2) ground signs shall be within three hundred (300) feet of each other, except as provided in Section 9.2.5(F)(6) below.
(5) Outparcels in shopping centers shall not be allowed principal ground signs.
(6) Principal ground signs for residential or non-residential subdivisions, general shopping centers, and multi-family developments may be allowed on one (1) or both sides of each principal entrance. Where placed on both sides of a principal entrance, such signs shall be placed on an entry wall and/or column like features which are identical in design and materials and approved on a development plan.
(7) Principal ground sign(s) at the entrance to a residential or non-residential subdivision shall be located:
(a) in common open space, on dedicated sign easements, or, in the absence of an owner's association, on private property within the subdivision; or
(b) in the median strip of a public or private street right-of-way provided that:
(i) the median strip is at least fifty (50) feet in length and ten (10) feet in width, unless this requirement is reduced by the Planning Director; and
(ii) the sign is located at least ten (10) feet from the right-of-way line when projected across the entrance; and
(iii) if in a public right-of-way, the sign location is approved by the Director of Transportation and Facilities based upon traffic safety considerations and the location of utilities.
(8) A principal ground sign displaced due to road widening projects may be replaced with an interim ground sign located on the same property during the duration of the road widening project. Such interim sign shall be located on private property and shall not be subject to Section 9.2.2 (Materials). After completion, such interim ground sign shall be replaced with a permanent ground sign meeting the provisions of this Chapter 9.
(G) Entry Monument Alternative to Principal Ground Sign
An entry monument meeting requirements of Section 7.2.7 of this Ordinance may be approved in lieu of a permitted principal ground sign for residential subdivisions, non-residential subdivisions and general shopping centers with a minimum of sixty thousand (60,000) square feet of non-residential floor area, and non-residential parcels fifteen (15) acres or greater, with frontage on a road classified as a collector avenue or higher on the Comprehensive Transportation Plan.
(1) Verification of location must be demonstrated on a survey or development plan.
(2) A minimum of seventy-five percent (75%) of the monument structure shall be constructed of masonry material that is compatible with materials found in the principal buildings on the site.
(3) The height of the entry monument structure and the amount of signage visible from any vantage point shall not exceed the following:
HEIGHT AND SIGN AREA LIMITS FOR ENTRY MONUMENT ALTERNATIVE TO PRINCIPAL GROUND SIGN | ||
Max. Height of Monument | Max. Sign Area Visible From Any Vantage Point | |
Non-residential subdivisions and general shopping centers (excluding outparcels) with over 130,000 non-residential square feet of floor area. | 16 feet | 50 Sq. Ft. |
Non-residential subdivisions and general shopping centers (excluding outparcels) with between 100,000 and 130,000 square feet of floor area | 14 feet | 40 Sq. Ft. |
Non-residential subdivisions and general shopping centers (excluding outparcels) with between 60,000 and 99,999 square feet of floor area and non-residential parcels 15 acres or greater | 12 feet | 32 Sq. Ft. |
Residential subdivisions | ||
(4) One (1) square foot of landscape area for each square foot of sign area shall be provided in the vicinity of the sign. At least fifty percent (50%) of the plant material shall be evergreen.
(5) No more than one (1) Entry Monument Alternative to Principal Ground Sign is allowed along each street frontage with the exception of general shopping centers with over one hundred thirty thousand (130,000) square feet of non-residential floor area which may have one (1) additional monument sign along a public street.
(H) New Construction Alternative to Principal Ground Sign
Signs associated with new subdivision development or site construction shall be allowed on sites with a Town-approved development plan provided that:
(1) Such signs shall be permitted in addition to, and in the same location and subject to the same size and other conditions applicable to, a "principal ground sign," per Section 9.2.5(F) except that limitations on the color shall not apply to this type of sign.
(2) Such signs shall be removed the earlier of two (2) years from the date of approval of the sign permit, or upon the issuance of Certificates of Occupancy for seventy-five percent (75%) of the development phase or development plan, whichever occurs first.
(3) In single-unit residential districts, including planned development districts allowing single-unit residences, a single sign shall be permitted as an accessory use to a subdivision real estate sales office, as long as such office is permitted in the LDO and is actually used. Such sign shall not exceed sixteen (16) square feet in area and forty-two (42) inches in height.
(I) Projecting Sign
(1) Projecting signs shall be allowed under canopies or along pedestrian arcades, provided that:
(a) Such signs shall not exceed one (1) per tenant in a multi-tenant building entrance.
(b) Such signs shall not be separately illuminated.
(c) The height of the top edge of the signboard or bracket shall not exceed the height of the wall from which the sign projects.
(d) Projecting signs may project over a public right-of-way provided that no element of the sign hangs lower than seven (7) feet above the ground or pedestrian walkway.
(e) Such signs shall be mounted and attached to buildings in a secure manner. The sign, brackets and mounting devices shall be maintained in good repair for both safety and appearance. Such signs shall be mounted so that the method of installation is concealed to the extent practical.
(f) The signboard or the bracket shall not project more than thirty-six (36) inches from the wall.
(g) In all zoning districts except the Town Center, such signs shall not exceed two (2) square feet per side.
(h) In the Town Center Zoning District, such signs shall not exceed six (6) square feet per side.
(2) Projecting signs shall be allowed as an alternative to a wall sign for vertically mixed-use buildings provided that:
(a) Such signs shall not exceed forty-five (45) square feet per side.
(b) No element of the sign hangs lower than nine (9) feet above grade.
(c) The signboard or bracket shall not project more than six (6) feet from the wall.
(d) A projecting sign placed on a building corner when the building corner abuts the intersection of two (2) streets may intersect with a forty-five (45) degree angle to the corner of the building.
(e) No projecting sign is allowed to extend above the roof line or the parapet wall.
(f) No projecting signs may be located higher than the second story or twenty-four (24) feet, whichever is less.
(g) Such signs shall be mounted and attached to buildings in a secure manner. The sign, brackets and mounting devices shall be maintained in good repair for both safety and appearance. Such signs shall be mounted so that the method of installation is concealed to the extent practical.
(J) Suspended Signs
(1) Suspended signs shall be allowed under canopies or along pedestrian arcades, provided that:
(a) Such signs shall not exceed one (1) per tenant in a multi-tenant building entrance.
(b) Such signs shall not be separately illuminated.
(c) The height of the top edge of the signboard or bracket shall not exceed the height of the wall from which the sign projects.
(d) No element of the sign shall hang lower than seven (7) feet above the ground or pedestrian walkway.
(e) Such signs shall be mounted and attached in a secure manner. The sign, brackets and mounting devices shall be maintained in good repair for both safety and appearance. Such signs shall be mounted so that the method of installation is concealed to the extent practical.
(f) Where mounted to a wall, the signboard or the bracket shall not project more than thirty-six (36) inches from the wall.
(g) In all zoning districts except the Town Center, such signs shall not exceed four (4) square feet in area.
(h) In the Town Center zoning district, such signs may be larger than four (4) square feet in total area, but all area over two (2) square feet shall be considered as part of the property's overall allowed sign area.
(2) In the Town Center, suspended signs shall also be allowed to hang vertically from upright posts that are securely anchored in the ground. Such suspended ground signs are allowed provided that:
(a) Only one (1) suspended sign is permitted per street frontage.
(b) Such signs shall only be permitted if the buildings or structures housing the principal use(s) on the property are set back at least ten (10) feet from the abutting street right-of-way.
(c) Such signs shall only be hung from decorative upright posts, and may not be hung from other objects such as trees or be attached to a wall.
(d) Such signs shall not exceed sixteen (16) square feet of display area, and may be two (2)-sided.
(e) No portion of the sign shall exceed eight (8) feet in height. No portion of the supporting post shall exceed ten (10) feet in height.
(f) Suspended ground signs used in lieu of a principal ground sign shall not be deducted from a property's overall allowed sign area. If a suspended ground sign is used in addition to a principal ground sign, then the display area of the suspended ground sign shall count as part of the property's total allowed sign area.
(g) Such signs may not extend or protrude into a sidewalk or a pedestrian walkway.
(K) Verandah Sign
Shall be allowed as an alternative to a permitted wall sign when located above the outer fascia of a verandah or balcony as long as the sign face does not project above the highest portion of the facade.
(1) The combined area of all verandah signs visible from a given vantage point shall not exceed one and one-half (1.5) square feet per linear foot of building frontage.
(L) Wall Sign
Wall Signs are allowed on principal buildings and accessory buildings as provided below:
(1) Buildings with Three or Fewer Floors
(a) General Wall Sign Area Limitations
(i) One (1) wall sign is allowed for a single-tenant building or a multi-tenant building space with an individual entrance, with additional signs allowed on a second wall facing a street right-of-way that contains a door or a window, except where additional signage is allowed pursuant to Section 9.2.5(L)(1)(b).
(ii) Except where additional sign area is allowed pursuant to Section 9.2.5(L)(1)(b), the combined area of all wall signs visible from a given vantage point shall not exceed one and one-half (1.5) square feet per linear foot of building frontage.
(b) Wall Sign Limitations for Commercial Buildings Containing Architecturally Distinct Building Segments
Additional signage is allowed for single-tenant buildings or individual tenant spaces in multi-tenant buildings with district architectural segments that incorporate at least three (3) of the following:
(i) Façade which projects above and outwards from the primary building wall plane;
(ii) Vertical and horizontal design elements;
(iii) Different surface materials and textures to distinguish the storefront from the remainder of the building wall;
(iv) Windows (whether false or otherwise) to give the appearance of an individual storefront; and
(v) Building side provides functional access to customers and the public.
Signage is allowed on tenant spaces meeting the above requirements as provided below:
(i) Two (2) wall signs are allowed on each architecturally distinct building segment in a general shopping center. One (1) wall sign is allowed on each architecturally distinct building segment on other commercial buildings or tenant spaces.
(ii) For general shopping centers, wall signs may not exceed two (2) square feet per linear foot of building frontage.
(iii) For commercially-used single tenant spaces with a building footprint of at least one hundred thousand (100,000) square feet, the combined area of all wall signs may not exceed three (3) square feet per linear foot of building frontage.
(iv) No individual sign may exceed sixty percent (60%) of the available wall area on the architecturally-distinct building segment to which it is attached.
(v) The amount of sign area visible from any given vantage point may not exceed the allowable sign area.
(c) Office Buildings
Multi-tenant buildings serving primarily office uses are allowed signs on two (2) separate walls of the building, and more than one (1) sign per façade may be permitted provided the facade is divided into architecturally distinct segments with more than one (1) principal entrance serving interior offices or businesses.
(2) Buildings With More than Three Floors
(a) Multi-story buildings with more than three (3) floors shall be allowed a maximum of one and one-half (1.5) square feet in area for each linear foot of building frontage and may have a maximum of four (4) signs across the building facade provided that the total square feet of all signs combined does not exceed the maximum of one and one-half (1.5) square feet in area for each linear foot of building frontage and all signs are arranged so they share a common horizontal centerline along the facade.
(b) For buildings displaying more than one (1) sign, one (1) of the following criteria shall be met:
(i) Signs shall be spaced evenly across the building facade; or
(ii) Signs shall be separated from all other signs a minimum of two times (2X) the length of the longest sign by facade.
(3) Multi-family or Institutional Buildings in Residential Zoning Districts and PDDs
Multi-family residential or institutional uses located in residential zoning districts, including planned developments designated for such use, shall be permitted one (1) wall sign per public entrance, provided that:
(a) Such sign shall not exceed six (6) square feet in area; and
(b) Each such sign may be illuminated only by direct, external illumination.
(4) Theatres
In addition to other permitted walls signs, marquee signs with internally-illuminated or back-lit changeable copy, and internally-illuminated or back-lit poster boxes may be allowed on theatres subject to the following:
(a) Changeable copy on marquee signs shall be limited to three (3) lines of text, and shall not be subject to total wall sign area limits.
(b) Poster boxes shall not exceed thirty-six (36) by fifty-four (54) inches each in size, shall not extend more than ten (10) feet above ground, and shall be permanently mounted to the building wall.
(5) Vertically Mixed-Use Buildings - Upper Story Signage
In lieu of the signs permitted by Section 9.2.5{L)(1)-(4), wall signs are allowed on the second floor and above of vertically mixed-use buildings as provided below:
(a) Vertically mixed-use buildings shall be allowed a maximum of one and one-half (1.5) square feet in area for each linear foot of building frontage.
(b) A maximum of one (1) sign is permitted per façade.
(c) Such signs must be located on the second floor or higher.
(d) Sign area for ground floor tenants is permitted in addition to the signage defined in this section and shall be calculated separately based on the individual tenant frontage pursuant to Section 9.2.5(L)(1).
(M) Façade Renovation Alternative to Permanent Wall Sign
One (1) banner shall be allowed for a business undergoing a façade change or exterior renovation, as an alternative to a permitted permanent wall sign allowed pursuant to Section 9.2.5(L), provided that:
(1) Such signs for businesses undergoing a façade change or exterior renovation shall be limited to a maximum of ninety (90) days. The Planning Director shall have the authority to extend the duration of the temporary sign permit for businesses undergoing exterior renovation for up to a maximum of sixty (60) additional days.
(2) Such signs shall be attached to and parallel with a wall of the building on which wall signs are permitted and shall not exceed thirty-two (32) square feet or half (½) the size of a previously-permitted sign removed in order to construct the façade replacement, whichever is greater.
(N) New Business Alternative to Permanent Wall Sign
(1) One (1) banner shall be allowed for a new business provided that:
(a) Such banner for new businesses shall be limited to a duration of thirty (30) days within the first sixty (60) days after issuance of a Certificate of Occupancy for that location.
(b) Such banner shall be attached to and parallel with a wall of the building on which wall signs are permitted and shall not exceed thirty-two (32) square feet in surface area.
(a) only one (1) of the two (2) banners is visible from any given vantage point; and
(b) both banners are approved for display during the same time period.
(O) Window Sign
Signs shall be allowed on the inside or outside of window glass provided that they cover no more than twenty-five (25) percent of the glass area of each individual window pane and they are not separately illuminated. Signs permanently affixed to the external side of windows shall be a medium or premium grade vinyl, digital image using solvent coloring, or other similar type material and shall be maintained in good order.
(P) Mailbox Sign
Signage on mailboxes shall be limited to individual name(s) and the address of the property served by the mailbox, as allowed by the US Postal Service.