(A) Purpose. The purpose of these regulations is to preserve the legibility and usefulness of necessary signs, to prevent commercial signs from conflicting with or obscuring signs related to the public safety or convenience, to ensure that signs do not become a public hazard or nuisance by reason of their size, placement number or condition and to protect and enhance the overall appearance of the community.
(B) Location.
(1) No sign shall be erected or constructed so as to interfere with visual clearance along any street or at any intersection.
(2) Non-governmental signs shall not be attached to or painted on power poles, light poles, telephone poles, traffic signs or other objects not intended to support a sign. Signs shall not be placed on trees.
(C) Condition. All signs shall be maintained in a legible and safe condition. Any sign in a deteriorated, rusting or unsafe condition shall be in violation of this section and the Town Administrator shall order that such sign be repaired or removed. Wherever a sign becomes structurally unsafe or endangers the safety of a building or the public, the Town Administrator shall order that such sign be made safe or removed within ten days.
(D) Prohibited signs.
(1) Signs that obstruct any window, door, fire escape, stairway, ladder or opening intended to provide light, air, entrance or exit for any building as required by law are prohibited.
(2) Signs that obstruct sight distances at intersections or along public rights-of-way are prohibited.
(3) Signs that use the words “stop” or “danger,” or which are a copy or imitation of or for any reason are likely to be confused with any sign displayed by public authority are prohibited.
(E) Illumination. All lighted signs shall have their lighting directed in such a manner as to illuminate only the face of the sign and shall be shielded so that the source of the light is not visible and does not create a hazard or nuisance for motorists or nearby residents. All lighted signs shall meet North Carolina Electrical Codes.
(F) Campaign signs.
(1) Campaign signs shall not exceed 16 square feet in area.
(2) All campaign signs shall be removed within ten days after the election for which they were made.
(G) Outdoor advertising.
(1) Freeways. Off-premises outdoor advertising signs shall be allowed only on U.S. 117 Bypass.
(2) All other highways. Outdoor advertising shall be allowed in all commercial zones including Highway Business, Industrial and Community Shopping.
(3) Spacing of signs. No outdoor advertising sign shall be located closer than 750 feet from any other outdoor advertising sign as measured along the same side of a road or highway.
(4) Total area. The maximum area for the face of any outdoor advertising sign shall be 400 square feet. The area shall be calculated by using the smallest rectangle which will encompass the entire sign face. Any extensions to the sign or any advertising message or copy on the sign structure, including the name of the outdoor advertising company on the border or trim, shall be included as part of the sign’s total area.
(5) Height. The maximum height of an outdoor advertising sign shall be 50 feet and shall be measured as the vertical distance from the ground below the sign to the highest part of the sign.
(6) Sign size.
(a) The maximum vertical height of the outdoor advertising sign face shall be ten and one-half feet.
(b) The maximum horizontal length of the outdoor advertising sign face shall be 40 feet.
(7) Separation from other uses. The minimum distance between outdoor advertising signs and existing churches, schools or public institutions shall be no less than 500 feet. The minimum distance between outdoor advertising signs and existing residences shall be 300 feet, however, if written permission is obtained from the owner of affected residence(s) within the 300 foot minimum distance, allowing the outdoor advertising sign to be placed closer than 300 feet, then such permission to place the sign may be granted by the town as long as all other requirements of this section have been met.
(8) Setback. All parts of each outdoor advertising sign shall be set back no less than 15 feet from any highway right-of-way line.
(9) General requirements.
(a) Color of structure. A freestanding sign structure, including the back, shall be painted in a neutral color to blend in with the background environment of the site.
(b) Illumination. Outdoor advertising signs may be illuminated in accordance with the following requirements.
1. Lighting shall be directed to the face of the sign and shall be shielded so that the source of the light is not visible and does not created a hazard or nuisance for motorists or nearby residents.
2. No flashing, rotating or intermittent illumination shall be permitted.
3. Any illuminated sign shall meet the requirements of the North Carolina Building Code (Vol. 4) as amended.
(10) Number and arrangement of signs. Outdoor advertising signs may be of single face, double-faced back-to-back or V-type design. If signs on the same structure face opposite directions, they shall be considered one sign.
(11) Obstructions. Regardless of the requirements of this section, no outdoor advertising sign shall obscure or interfere with official traffic signs, signals or devices or create a traffic hazard.
(12) Structural requirements. All outdoor advertising signs shall be of unipole design.
(H) Variances. The Town Planning Board, in instances where practical difficulties or unnecessary hardships would result from the strict application of these regulations, may modify or waive certain provisions if such modification or waiver preserves the purpose and intent of these regulations and will not negatively affect the public safety and welfare of the residents of the town.
(Ord. passed 12-3-2012)