The following signs may be allowed in all zoning districts without a permit. Signs located within the jurisdiction of a legally constituted HOA, POA, or similar entity may have additional restrictions.
11.5.1 Government signs.
A. Description. Any temporary or permanent sign erected and maintained by a federal, state, or local government, or governmental entity that does not display a commercial message.
11.5.2 Grave markers.
A. Description. Grave markers which are noncommercial in nature.
B. Standards. Meet the standards of a permitted cemetery.
11.5.3 Rags.
A. Description. A piece of durable fabric of distinctive design attached to a permanent pole that is used as a symbol or decorative feature of standard government size.
B. Standards. Flag pole shall be less than the height of the building or 50 feet, whichever is less. The length of the flag shall be less than one-third of the height of the flag pole.
11.5.4 Architectural features of buildings.
A. Description. Integral decorative or architectural features of buildings and works of art, so long as such features or works do not contain letters, trademarks, or moving parts.
B. Standards. Features of art do not contain letters, trademarks, or moving parts.
11.5.5 On-premises instructional signs.
A. Description. On-premises instructional signs giving information or direction for the convenience and necessity of the public.
B. Standards. Such signs shall not exceed six square feet in area and four feet in height.
11.5.6 Identification signs for residential uses.
A. Description. On-premises instructional signs giving information or direction for the convenience and necessity of the public (See the definition in Appendix I for further description).
B. Standards. Identification signs not to exceed four square feet.
11.5.7 Campaign/political signs.
A. Description. A sign that advocates for political action.
B. Standards. Signs shall not exceed four square feet. Such signs shall not be placed sooner than 30 days before the beginning date of one-stop early voting and must be removed before the end of the tenth day after the primary or election day. Political signs may not be illuminated.
11.5.8 On-premises fuel price signs.
A. Description. Price signs at automobile service stations or other establishments engaged in the retail sales of gasoline or other fuel for automobiles.
B. Standards. One such sign is allowed for each side of a lot fronting on a street or right-of- way, provided it does not exceed 15 square feet in area or nine feet in height. Any such sign shall be affixed to a permitted freestanding identification sign, to a canopy support in the vicinity of the gasoline pumps, or on the wall of a building. Taller signs require a permit.
11.5.9 Traffic control signs on private property (specialty signs in a subdivision, commercial development, or PUD).
A. Description. Any public notice or warning required by applicable federal, state, or local law, regulation, or ordinance.
B. Standards.
1. Planned unit developments and/or subdivisions may be permitted to install ornamental or specialty traffic control signs on all internal streets that will not be dedicated to NCDOT, including street name and directional signs.
2. The bottom of the sign blade of street name signs shall be a minimum of eight feet from the finished grade. Stop signs and other traffic control signs shall conform to the state’s Department of Transportation traffic control standards.
3. The letters and background shall be of contrasting colors.
4. All sign letters shall be capitalized. The sign letters shall be a minimum of four inches in height.
5. Highway Gothic C font is preferred, however alternative fonts may be considered.
6. Street name signs should be reflective or illuminated (not internally lit however) to show the same shape and similar color both day and night.
7. Punctuation marks should not be used.
8. Signs shall not be located closer than six feet to the back of curb (measured along the ground) and may not interfere with utility easements.
C. Separate sign. Proposed logos should be on the same blade as the street sign and should not be attached separately.
D. State standards. The face shall meet the state’s Department of Transportation standards.
11.5.10 Bulletin boards.
A. Description. A sign used to announce meetings or programs to be held on the premises of a church, school, auditorium, library, museum, community recreation center, or similar noncommercial places of public assembly.
B. Standards. Bulletin boards are restricted to a maximum area of 32 square feet with a maximum height of six feet.
11.5.11 On-premises directional signs.
A. Description. A sign designed to guide vehicular and/or pedestrian traffic by using such words as “Entrance”, “Exit”, “One-Way”, or similar directional instruction, but not including any advertising message.
B. Standards. Directional signs (for commercial and public and semi/public uses) provided that:
1. All such signs shall be located off the street right-of-way;
2. All such signs greater than three feet in height as measured from the grade of the street upon which it fronts shall be located outside the required sight triangle;
3. There shall be no more than four signs on separate supports at any means of ingress and egress;
4. No two signs hung from separate supports may be located within 25 feet of each other; and
5. No more than one sign may be placed on the same supports.
11.5.12 Cemetery sign. One directional/informational sign of six square feet or less, not to exceed ten feet in height, used as a navigational aid may be located adjacent to each public road accessing a cemetery. The sign copy is limited to the name of the cemetery and a directional arrow only and must be located a minimum of five feet from all property lines. The sign must be located in such a manner that it does not encroach into the sight triangle of an intersection.
(Ord. passed 2-3-2021; Ord. 2023-01, passed 1-4-2023)