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Unless specifically exempt, no sign visible from a public right-of-way shall be erected, displayed, or substantially altered except in accordance with the provisions of this chapter and until a sign permit has been issued therefor.
(Ord. of 7-10-2000, § 11.4; Amend. of 9-5-2006)
(1) Signs bearing only property identification numbers and names, post office box numbers, names of occupants of the premises on which the signs are located, or other identification of premises not of a commercial nature, provided the signs are not illuminated. Such signs shall not exceed two square feet in area per display face or six feet in height if freestanding.
(2) Flags and insignia of a government, when not displayed in connection with a commercial promotion. Such signs shall not exceed 100 square feet in area per display face or 75 feet in height if freestanding. The setback shall be at least ten feet.
(3) Legal notices, identification and information signs, and traffic directional or regulatory signs erected by or on behalf of a governmental body. Such signs shall have no limitation as to sign area, height, or setback.
(4) Memorial signs or tablets, and names and construction dates of buildings when cut into any masonry surface. Such signs shall meet the sign area, height, or setback limitations for wall or freestanding signs, as appropriate.
(5) Signs directing or guiding traffic and parking on private property on which the signs are located, provided such signs are not illuminated, or are indirectly illuminated, bear no advertising matter. On private property, such signs shall not exceed four square feet in area per display face or six feet in height if freestanding. Such signs shall have no limitation as to sign area, height, or setback when located on public property.
(6) Real estate signs advertising the sale, rental, or lease of the premises on which the signs are located, provided such signs are removed immediately after sale, rental, or lease of the premises. Such residential real estate signs shall not exceed 16 square feet in area per display face or six feet in height if freestanding.
Such nonresidential real estate signs shall not exceed 32 square feet in area per display face or eight feet in height if freestanding.
(7) Construction site identification signs whose message is limited to project name, identification of architects, engineers, contractors, and other individuals or firms involved with the construction; the name of the building/development, the intended purpose of the building/development, and the expected completion date, provided such signs are removed within seven days of the issuance of the certificate of occupancy. Such signs shall not exceed 20 square feet in area per display face and shall meet the height or setback limitations for wall or freestanding signs, as appropriate.
(8) Yard or garage sale signs announcing yard or garage sales, provided such signs are removed within seven days of the sale. Such signs shall not exceed four square feet in area per display face or four feet in height if freestanding.
(9) Public event announcements by public or nonprofit organizations of special events or activities of interest to the general public, provided such signs are removed within seven [days] after the event. Such signs shall not exceed 32 square feet in area per display face or eight feet in height if freestanding.
(10) Signs announcing grand openings of new business only, provided such signs are attached to the building in which the business is located and are displayed for a period not to exceed 30 days. Such signs shall not exceed 32 square feet in area per display face and shall meet the height or setback limitations for banner, wall, or freestanding signs, as appropriate.
(11) Signs stating that a business is open or closed, provided that there is no more than one such sign per business establishment. Such signs shall not exceed four square feet in area per display face and shall meet the height or setback limitations for wall or freestanding signs, as appropriate.
(12) Political signs advertising candidates or issues, provided such signs are not erected prior to 60 days before the date of the appropriate election, and are removed within seven days after the election. Such political signs shall be mounted on poles and stakes and shall not be erected and located within any public right-of-way or within any sight distance triangle easement of intersections. Such signs shall not be placed on trees or utility poles. Such signs shall not exceed 48 square feet in area per display face or eight feet in height if freestanding. Nothing in this subsection is intended to preempt any applicable state law regarding political campaign signs. All signs placed in rights of way controlled and maintained by the North Carolina Department of Transportation shall comply with the requirements of G.S. 136-32.
Signs not permitted by this article or not removed in a timely manner will be removed by the county with the cost of removal assessed to the property owner.
(Ord. of 7-10-2000, § 11.5; Amend. of 9-5-2006; Amend. of 5-7-2007; Amend. of 9-4-2007; Amend. of - - )
Notwithstanding any other provision in this chapter, the following restrictions shall apply to signs in order to preserve the safety of pedestrian, bicycle, and vehicular movement:
(1) No sign, or part thereof, shall be located within a clear-vision area established by subsection 14-357(c).
(2) No sign shall make use of the words "stop," "slow," "caution," "danger," or any other word, phrase, symbol, or character in such manner as is reasonably likely to be confused with traffic directional and regulatory signs.
(3) No sign shall be erected so that by its location, color, nature, or message is likely to be confused with or obstruct the view of traffic signals or signs, or is likely to be confused with the warning lights of an emergency or public safety vehicle.
(4) Except as used to display time and temperature, no sign shall contain flashing lights.
(Ord. of 7-10-2000, § 11.6)
(a) Except where specifically exempted by this chapter, the subject matter of any sign shall be related to the premises on which the sign is located. When the use or establishment to which a sign is related ceases or is vacated, the advertising material shall be removed within 30 days and such sign shall be removed within 12 months of the cessation or vacating of the use or establishment, unless such sign is used by a new use or establishment on the premises in conformance with all current regulations of this chapter.
(b) Except where specifically exempted by this chapter, all signs, including its attendant supports, frames, hardware, and embellishments thereto, shall not be located within any public right-of-way or easement, nor shall any sign be attached, affixed, or painted on any utility pole, light standard, telephone or telegraph pole, any tree, rock, or other natural object.
(c) No source of illumination of a sign, such as floodlighting or spotlights, shall be directly visible from any public right-of-way, from any residential zoning district, or from adjacent properties.
(d) Animated, rotating, or other moving or apparently moving signs shall be prohibited.
(e) Devices consisting of banners, streamers, pennants, balloons, wind-blown propellers, moored blimps, strung light bulbs, and similar installations shall be prohibited unless approved by the planning director for noncommercial events.
(f) No sign shall be erected, painted, or otherwise mounted on the roof of a building or above the eaves, border or overhang.
(g) Non-commercial message. Whenever the LDC permits a commercial sign, a non-commercial message may be substituted for the commercial message. The right to substitute the non-commercial message does not waive any other requirement imposed by the LDC as to the number, size, type, construction, location, lighting, safety or other regulated attribute.
(Ord. of 7-10-2000, § 11.7; Amend. of 9-5-2006; Amend. of - - )
(a) The area of a display surface of a sign shall be computed as including the entire area visible from any one point, within a regular geometric form or combination of forms, comprising all of the display area of the surface and including all of the elements within the display area and the sign frame. Structural members not bearing a sign message shall not be included in the computation of sign area.
(b) For the purpose of determining the number of signs, a sign shall be considered to be a single display device containing elements organized, related, and composed to form a unit. Where elements are displayed in a random manner without organized relationship, each element shall be considered a single sign.
(c) The height of any freestanding sign shall be measured from the base of the sign or supportive structure at its point of attachment to the ground to the topmost element of the sign, including any architectural features, antennas, or other attachments. A freestanding sign on a manmade base shall be measured from the original grade of that base, the original grade of the graded earth mound, or the nearest street, drive, or parking area, whichever is lowest.
(d) All sign setbacks shall be measured from the public right-of-way, street easement (if there is no right-of-way), or pavement edge (if there is no right-of-way or street easement), unless otherwise stated in this article.
(Ord. of 7-10-2000, § 11.8; Amend. of 9-5-2006; Amend. of 9-4-2007)
No sign shall be erected or displayed in any residential district or planned development-housing except as allowed below:
(1) Development identification signs containing the name and/or logo of a subdivision, multifamily development, mobile home park, or planned development, provided such signs are limited to one freestanding sign at each principal point of access to the development, as follows:
a. Reserved.
b. Monument sign: 60 square feet or two signs mounted on wooden, brick or stone entry walls, 30 square feet per display surface, and a maximum height of six feet above finished grade.
c. Ground sign: 60 square feet or two signs mounted on wooden, brick or stone entry walls, 30 square feet per display surface, and a maximum height of six feet above finished grade.
(2) Home occupation signs identifying a home occupation, provided such signs are not illuminated and are limited to one wall sign per zoning lot and a maximum display surface area of four square feet. The setback shall be at least 20 feet.
(3) A place of worship bulletin board or sign not exceeding 48 square feet for the purpose of displaying the name of the institution and other related information. Such signs shall be set back at least 20 feet from the street right-of-way or easement line, at a maximum height of six feet for ground and monument signs and the roofline for wall signs.
(4) Nonresidential signs identifying nonresidential uses permitted as a principal or special use in residential districts or as an accessory use in planned development-housing developments, provided such signs are limited to one freestanding or wall sign per zoning lot and 16 square feet in area per display, at a maximum height of six feet for ground and monument signs and the roofline for wall signs.
(5) Lighting of signs in residential districts and in planned development-housing developments is permitted if illumination levels are low, all fixtures are concealed, and spillover of light is minimal.
(Ord. of 7-10-2000, § 11.9; Amend. of 9-5-2006; Amend. of 9-4-2007)
(a) Signs; erection and display; exceptions. No sign shall be erected or displayed in the office and institutional, general business, community business, industrial-1 or industrial-2 district, interstate highway interchange district, and shopping centers, except as provided below for the type of sign and zoning district in which it is located.
(b) Specific sign regulations, on-premises signs.
(1) Wall/fascia sign. Wall signs include awnings and canopies.
a. Size. No more than 25 percent of the area of any wall may be devoted to signs, up to a maximum of 200 square feet.
b. Number. More than one wall sign may be erected, provided the total surface area regulation is not exceeded.
c. Height. No sign shall extend above the parapet wall, eave line, or above the roofline of buildings without parapet walls.
d. Projection/clearance. No sign may project more than 12 inches from the building wall.
e. Illumination. Wall signs may be illuminated, provided such signs shall be lighted from behind to silhouette letters and figures, or those utilizing floodlighting or other non-internally illuminated light sources shall be contained within a concealed fixture and angled so as to prevent a direct view of the light source from a public street or adjacent property.
f. Location. Wall signs shall not cover up or interrupt major architectural features.
(2) Freestanding signs. Pole, monument, and ground signs are permitted as set forth in this section.
a. Size. The maximum surface area of a freestanding sign shall be:
1. Pole sign, 40 square feet.
2. Monument sign, 60 square feet.
3. Ground sign, 60 square feet.
b. Number. One freestanding sign shall be allowed on any lot, subject to the regulations in this section, provided a pole sign shall only be allowed on a lot which contains 100 feet or more of frontage on the street to which such sign is oriented. If a unified sign plan is approved by the planning department, two freestanding signs may be allowed on a lot or development having a minimum frontage of 300 feet on each of two adjacent streets or more than 600 linear feet of frontage on a single street, but only one may be a pole sign. When more than one freestanding sign is to be constructed, the total amount of freestanding sign area shall not exceed 0.25 square feet per linear foot frontage on the adjacent street or greatest length.
c. Setback. No portion of any freestanding sign may extend over any property line or into any public right-of-way, or be located within 15 feet of any interior side lot line. Further, no sign may be constructed within 20 feet of a right-of-way of a street.
d. Height. No pole sign nor any part of a pole sign, including base or apron, supporting structures, and trim may exceed 15 feet in height. Further, no monument sign or ground sign may exceed six feet in height.
e. Illumination. All freestanding signs may be illuminated either internally or externally. All external light sources shall be contained within a concealed fixture or box and angled so as to prevent a direct view of the light source from a street and/or adjacent property.
f. Landscaping. Shrubs, flowers or ground covers, or any combination thereof, shall be planted around the entire base of any freestanding sign. The minimum planting area shall be equal to one-half of the sign area.
(3) Window sign. Window signs shall comply with the following:
a. Size. Within any given pane of glass, window signs shall cover no more than 25 percent of the glass area.
b. Number. More than one window sign may be placed on, in front of, or behind any given pane of glass.
c. Projection/clearance. No window sign may project more than one inch from any given pane of glass.
d. Illumination. Window signs may be illuminated, provided such signs shall be neon, lighted internally or from behind to silhouette letters and figures, or externally-illuminated from within a concealed fixture and angled so as to prevent a direct view of the light source from a public street or adjacent property. Window signs shall not use LED lighting, have changeable copy, or flash or other use motion.
(c) Interstate interchange highway district (IHI) freestanding sign. In place of a freestanding sign, as allowed in subsection (b)(2), one freestanding sign may be erected and displayed on a zoning lot within the interstate highway interchange district (IHI) in accordance with the following provisions:
(1) The maximum area per display surface for freestanding signs shall be 100 square feet per sign face.
(2) Any such freestanding sign shall have no more than two sign faces upon which sign information can be placed;
(3) The maximum height of a pole sign shall be 50 feet, 16 feet for a monument sign, and 12 feet for a ground sign;
(4) Ground signs may be illuminated, provided such illumination shall be limited to internal illumination, lighted from behind to silhouette letters and figures.
(Ord. of 7-10-2000, § 11.10; Ord. of 11-13-2000, § 11.10.1; Amend. of 9-5-2006; Amend. of 9-4-2007)
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