General sign regulations are as follows.
(A) No sign or sign structure shall be erected or constructed to interfere with vision clearance as defined in § 153.009 of this code.
(B) No ground sign structure may be placed in the right-of-way.
(C) Individual stores in a shopping center may not have separate ground sign structures. The shopping center as a whole may display signs in accordance with this division (C).
(E) Signs and sign structures shall be maintained at all times in a state of proper repair, with all braces, bolts, clips, guys, anchors, supporting frames and fastening free from deterioration, insect infestation, rot, rust or loosening. All signs shall be kept neatly finished, with lettering intact and if of a type which requires painting, free from visible peeling or chipping. If, in the opinion of the Zoning Administrator, a sign’s general overall condition is not satisfactory, it shall be found to be in violation of this subchapter.
(F) Any sign which becomes a safety hazard or which is not kept in good general condition and a reasonably good state of repair and is not, after 60 days’ written notice to the owner of the premises or the permittee, put in a safe and good state of repair, is hereby declared a public and private nuisance and may be removed, obliterated or abated by the Zoning Administrator of the town. Any sign which, in the opinion of the Zoning Administrator, constitutes an immediate or imminent danger to life or property, may be caused to be removed or put in a safe condition by him or her immediately. In either case, the costs of the removal/repair may be charged to the owner of the premises where he or she has been afforded reasonable notice. Any charge so levied shall be collected as a tax, and any charge having been assessed and which remains unpaid shall constitute a lien against the property as provided in G.S. § 160A-193.
(G) Obsolete signs and their supporting structures shall be removed within 90 days after they have been made obsolete by reason of the activity, business, product or usage which the sign identifies or advertises being abandoned at the location to which the sign refers. This provision does not refer to billboards, until the commercial use of the billboard for rent has ceased. An extension of the 90-day time limit for removal may be granted by the Zoning Administrator for reasonable cause.
(H) Illuminated signs shall be limited to those lighted from behind to silhouette letters and internally illuminated, digital signs and spotlighted signs. All illuminated and spotlighted signs shall be placed so as to prevent the light ray, illumination or glare from being cast directly on any building or on traffic.
(I) Temporary strings of light bulbs (i.e., not permanently installed in accordance with the state’s Electrical Code) used in connection with commercial premises for commercial purposes shall not cause glare on traffic or adjoining premises. These lights may be erected for no longer than 60 days.
(Ord. 21, passed - -; Ord. 20-010, passed 11-24-2020) Penalty, see § 153.999