Notwithstanding the above, changing or replacing the permanent copy on a lawful sign shall not require a permit, provided the copy change does not change the nature of the sign to render it in violation of this chapter.
(a) The following types of signs are exempt from permit requirements and allowed in all zones but shall be in conformance with all other requirements of this Chapter.
(1) Historical markers erected by a government body, memorial signs, plaques, or grave markers.
(2) Public interest signs.
(3) Public information kiosks on public or private property, subject to design approval by the Town Council and written permission of the owner of the property upon which the kiosk is to be placed.
(4) On-premises directional and instructional signs not exceeding 6 square feet in area, unless such sign is a monument sign, in which case it may not exceed 9 square feet. Maximum height: 4 feet.
(5) Identification signs not exceeding 2 square feet in area, not of a commercial nature, and bearing only property identification numbers and names, post office box numbers, and names of occupants of the premises. Maximum height: 4 feet.
(6) Window signs shall be allowed on the inside or outside window glass of non-residential properties, provided that they cover an area with a total copy area not exceeding 50 percent of the window or glass. Open/closed signs shall be included in the total window sign area.
(7) Incidental signs used in conjunction with equipment or other functional elements of use or operation. These shall include but are not limited to drive-thru window menu boards, signs of automatic teller machines, gas pumps, express mailboxes, vending machines, or newspaper delivery boxes.
(8) Official flags on permanent poles, emblems, or insignia of government, corporation, professional, fraternal, civic, religious organizations.
(9) Campaign or Election Signs provided that:
a. Each sign shall not exceed 16 square feet in area or 6 feet in height
b. All such signs shall be removed within 7 days after the election for which they were made.
c. Signs may be erected no earlier than 45 days before the election date.
d. Campaign signs prohibited on town owned property, except when town properties are being used as polling sites. In such case, campaign signs may be placed on the property the day before the election.
e. Campaign signs are permitted within street right of way.
f. Campaign signs along NCDOT maintained roads are subject to G.S. 136-32.
(10) Real estate signs, other than the temporary signs described in Section 12.8
a. Signs advertising a single-family home or lot, a duplex, triplex, or quad, or an individual unit within an attached housing development shall not exceed 6 square feet. Maximum height: 4 feet.
b. Signs advertising all other uses shall not exceed one square foot for every 5 linear feet of frontage of the advertised property, up to a maximum sign face area of 32 square feet and a maximum height of 6 feet.
c. Only one sign per street front of the advertised property shall be erected.
d. Properties having a continuous frontage over 850 linear feet may be allowed additional sign so long as such sign is no closer than 850 feet from another real estate sign on the property
e. Signs shall not be illuminated
f. Signs shall be removed within 7 days after the sale is closed or rent or lease transaction is finalized.
(11) Construction signs, other than Temporary Planned Development Signs, Section 9-3098, provided:
a. Signs located on single-family lots or duplex, triplex, or quadruplex lots shall not exceed six (6) square feet in area. Rider signs not exceeding two (2) square feet in area shall be permitted in addition to the six (6) square feet. Maximum height: four (4) feet.
b. Signs for all other uses shall not exceed one square foot for every five (5) linear feet of frontage of property under construction, up to a maximum sign face area of thirty-two (32) square feet and a maximum height of six (6) feet.
c. Signs are confined to the site of construction
d. Only one sign per street front of the property under construction shall be erected.
e. Signs shall not be illuminated.
f. Signs shall be removed within seven (7) days of the termination of a project.
(12) Temporary farm product signs provided:
a. Signs are located on the premises where the products are sold in conjunction with a bona fide farm use.
b. Signs shall not exceed thirty-two (32) square feet in area or six (6) feet in height.
c. Only one sign shall be erected.
d. Signs shall be removed within seven (7) days of the termination of sale activities.
(13) Temporary special event signs or banners for religious, charitable, civic, fraternal, or similar organizations, provided:
a. No more than one sign per street front shall be permitted per event.
b. Signs shall be located on the property on which the event will occur.
c. Signs shall not exceed thirty-two (32) square feet in area or six (6) feet in height.
d. Signs shall be erected no sooner than fourteen (14) days before and removed seven (7) days after the event.
(14) Temporary banners in the commercial and mixed-use district, provided:
a. Only one banner per establishment shall be allowed at a time.
b. All banners shall be attached in total to a building wall or permanent canopy extending from a building.
c. No paper banners shall be allowed.
d. Banners shall be erected for a period not to exceed two (2) weeks.
e. No more than six (6) such signs per establishment shall be erected within a calendar year.
f. No banner shall extend above the second occupiable floor level of a building.
g. Banners displayed at the time of adoption of this chapter are not excluded from the provisions above.
h. All banners shall be considered temporary banners.
(15) Public service and advertising signs in association with athletic fields. Signs may be attached to the interior face of any fence which encloses or partially encloses an athletic playing field upon the property of a school or public park subject to the following conditions:
a. No sign face area shall be visible from any public street or any adjoining property in a residential or mixed-use district.
b. No sign shall extend above the top of the enclosing fence.
(16) Open/closed signs.
a. Illuminated or non-illuminated.
b. Shall not exceed two (2) square feet in surface area.
(Ord. of 1/10/05; Ord. of 1/5/09; Ord. of 12/6/10; Ord. of 10/5/15; Ord. of 6/28/21)