(A) Advertising signs (billboards). All advertising signs (billboards) located within 660 feet of interstate or federally assisted primary highways are subject to the standards and permitting requirements of the Outdoor Advertising Control Act administered by the North Carolina Department of Transportation.
(1) For advertising signs (billboards) that are off-premise, the maximum permitted sign area, location, characteristics, and number of off-premise outdoor advertising signs shall be in accordance with the standards in this subchapter, the following regulations for such signs shall apply:
(a)
Permitted only with the issuance of a special use permit.
(b) Limited to a maximum size of:
1. Four hundred square feet along any U.S. or North Carolina designated highway.
2. Two hundred square feet along all other streets/roads.
(c) Be setback a minimum of 50 feet from the public right-of-way, or any legal private access road.
(d) Not exceed 30 feet in height.
(e) Have only 1 face per side of the sign. "Double-decker" signs with signs erected 1 over or above the other and side-by-side signs with signs erected 1 next to the other are prohibited.
(f) Be a minimum of 1,000 feet from any residential zoning district or residentially developed property, whether within the jurisdictional limits of the county or not. The distance shall be measured radially from the proposed sign location to the nearest point of the residential district or property.
(g) Shall be a minimum of 1,000 feet from any other off-premise outdoor advertising sign, located on the same or on the opposite side of the street. The distance shall be measured radially from the proposed sign location to the existing sign location.
(h) Shall be a minimum of 100 feet from any existing or proposed building, off-street parking area, or other building or structure. The distance shall be measured radially from the proposed sign location to the nearest point of the building, off-street parking area, or other building or structure.
(i) No vegetation in the public right-of-way shall be cut for the purpose of increasing or permitting visibility to such off-premises outdoor advertising sign unless approved by the chief engineer of the governmental authority having jurisdiction over such right-of-way.
(j) No outdoor advertising sign (billboard) shall be located in a required front yard setback.
(k) Outdoor advertising signs (billboards) shall meet North Carolina Building Code requirements for wind load and all supports shall be of steel, aluminum, concrete, or other non-combustible material.
(l) No outdoor advertising signs (billboards) shall be erected closer than 10 feet from any conductor of electricity, and all such signs shall comply with all requirements of the National Electrical Code with respect to clearance from overhead electrical conductors.
(B) On-premise signs-businesses (freestanding pole/ground mounted on-premise signs):
(1) Maximum height: 35 feet.
(2) Maximum sign size: 200 square feet of sign area per adjoining public road frontage. Maximum sign size is a cumulative total and shall not exceed 300 square feet in area when multiple displays are used on a single support.
(3) Maximum number of freestanding or ground mounted on-premises signs per parcel: 1 sign per adjoining public road frontage.
(4) Minimum separation from rights-of-way, property lines and structures: 10 feet.
(5) Minimum separation from utility lines shall be in compliance with the requirements of the utility having jurisdiction.
(6) No unfinished surfaces or structures shall be exposed on on-premises signs.
(7) Multiple signs (ground mounted and on the same property) for businesses: Businesses advertising special sales, special events, and promotions may display one temporary sign or banner per establishment in addition to the permitted signs, provided that such sign is not illuminated and if mounted on a building shall be flush against the building wall. Maximum size is 18 square feet and such sign may not be is not located within a street right-of-way or required sight triangle. NOTE: Signs of this nature are exempt from fees/permitting per § 156.143 (less than 32 square feet in size).
(C) Wall signs (including canopy, awning and building facade signs):
(1) Maximum area: 1 square foot of sign area per linear foot of building, canopy or awning per building side. Sign footage permitted per building side may not be used on any side other than that building side.
(2) Minimum guaranteed wall signage area at any individual premises is 32 square feet.
(3) The maximum projection of a wall sign shall not exceed 12 inches.
(4) The height of a wall sign shall not exceed the height of the building or canopy facade.
(D) Professional or occupational name plates and incidental signs:
(1) Maximum sign area: 32 square feet.
(2) Maximum height: 30 inches if ground mounted, signs in this category may also be mounted against the structure.
(3) Minimum setback from all property lines: 2 feet.
(4) Maximum number of signs per business establishment: 1.
(E) Identification signs:
(1) Maximum sign area: 32 square feet.
(2) Maximum height: 8 feet.
(3) Minimum setback: 10 feet from all property lines.
(4) Maximum number of signs per entrance: 1.
(F) Menu signs.
(1) Maximum sign area: 45 square feet.
(2) Maximum height if ground mounted: 8 feet.
(3) Minimum setback from all property lines: 10 feet.
(4) Maximum number of signs per business establishment: 1.
(Ord. 39, passed 10-3-2011; Am. Ord. 5-3-2021)