It is the purpose of this subchapter to permit signs of a commercial, industrial, and residential nature in appropriate sites throughout the community. Although signs are a necessary part of the community, the size and placement of signs shall be controlled in order to protect property values, to protect the physical appearance of the community, and to prohibit signs that may contribute to traffic hazards.

(1996 Code, § 155.090) (Ord. passed 5-21-1984)

   (A)   Advertising sign. A sign which directs attention to a business, commodity or product, service, profession, activity, or entertainment not conducted, sold, or offered upon the premises where such sign is located.

   (B)   Business sign. A sign which directs attention to a business, profession, commodity or product, service, activity, or entertainment conducted, sold, or offered upon the premises where such sign is located.

   (C)   Nameplate sign. An unlighted sign which states only the name and title, or address, or both, of the occupant of the lot where the sign is located.

   (D)   Directional sign. A sign indicating the direction to churches, schools, hospitals, parks, scenic or historic sites, or other such public places, including off-street parking and transportation terminals. Such signs shall contain only the name and address of the public place.

   (E)   Temporary construction sign. A sign identifying the name and address of the building or uses, the developers, and architect.

   (F)   Real estate sign. Sign advertising the property on which it is located for sale, rent, or lease.

   (G)   Public signs. Signs and notices erected by, or at the direction of, an authorized government official.

   (H)   Private signs. Signs erected other than by, or at the direction of, an authorized government official.

   (I)   Identification sign. A permanent sign announcing the name of a park, or other publicly owned or operated structure or facility located on the premises at major entrances, and limited to announcing only the name of the structure, facility, or development; the owners or developers; and the date of its establishment.

   (J)   Projecting sign. A sign which is attached to the building wall and extends more than 18 inches from the face of such a wall.

   (K)   Roof sign. Sign erected on, or over, the roof of a building.

   (L)   Freestanding sign. Sign erected on poles or other supports wholly or partially independent of a building for support.

   (M)   Wall sign. Sign erected parallel to the face or outside wall of a building, and supported throughout its entire length by the building and not projecting more than 18 inches from the building.

   (N)   Suspended sign. A sign suspended beneath a canopy or marquee.

   (O)   Illuminated sign. A sign which has characters, letters, figures, designs, or outlines illuminated by electric lighting or luminous tubes as part of the sign.

   (P)   Indirectly illuminated sign. An illuminated, nonflashing sign whose illumination is derived entirely from an external, artificial source that is arranged and designed to prevent a visual traffic hazard or create a nuisance on adjoining property.

   (Q)   Flashing sign. A sign, the illumination of which is not kept constant in intensity at all times when in use, and which exhibits sudden or marked changes in light or color effects. Illuminated signs which indicate time, temperature, weather, or similar information shall not be considered flashing signs.

(1996 Code, § 155.091) (Ord. passed 5-21-1984; Ord. 11-21-2005)

   (A)   Signs required by law.

   (B)   Signs erected by, or at the direction of, an authorized municipal official.

   (C)   Warning signs and no-trespassing signs.

(1996 Code, § 155.092) (Ord. passed 5-21-1984)

   (A)   Directional signs limited to six square feet in area, and provided they are unilluminated and of a neat construction.

   (B)   Temporary signs or displays involved in campaigns of religious, charitable, civic, fraternal, political, and similar organizations, or involved in the celebrations of holidays or other special events including the opening of new establishments.

   (C)   Temporary construction signs, unilluminated, shall be permitted on the construction site.

   (D)   In nonresidence districts, one sign shall be permitted for each separate street frontage of a lot pertaining to the sale, rent, or lease of the lot or a building thereon, provided it shall not exceed 32 square feet of surface area, and shall be unlighted. A notice indicating that a property has been sold or leased may be affixed to such sign or signs provided the area of such signs is not increased. All real estate signs shall be removed immediately upon occupancy by the new tenant or owner.

(1996 Code, § 155.093) (Ord. passed 5-21-1984)

   (A)   No private sign shall be erected or maintained which copies, imitates, or approximates official street or highway signs, such as “stop” or “caution” signs. No private sign shall be erected or maintained which involves flashing illumination.

   (B)   No private sign shall be posed on any traffic control, street lighting, power, telephone, or other utility pole, or on any tree along any street or road, nor shall any private sign be permitted to be erected which in any way interferes with any utility line.

   (C)   No sign that violates any provision of any law of the state relative to outdoor advertising shall be erected or permitted.

   (D)   No private sign shall be erected in the public right-of-way, nor project over the public right-of-way except as may be provided for under § 155.093(B). Wall signs, as defined in division (M) of § 155.091, shall be permitted to project up to 18 inches from a building wall over the public right-of-way, if such projection is necessary to the installation of the sign.

(1996 Code, § 155.094) (Ord. passed 5-21-1984) Penalty, see § 155.999

   Signs and other sources of illumination adjacent to public street and highways shall be subject to the provisions of G.S. § 136-32.2.

(1996 Code, § 155.095) (Ord. passed 5-21-1984)

   All signs and sign structures shall be kept in good repair (including the replacement of burned-out bulbs and broken plastic facing). The Zoning Enforcement Officer shall have the authority to cause the removal of any unsafe sign unless such signs are repaired and made otherwise to comply with the requirements of this subchapter.

(1996 Code, § 155.096) (Ord. passed 5-21-1984)

   All freestanding and roof signs that exceed 20 feet in height shall be structurally engineered to withstand 20 pounds per square foot of wind pressure.

(1996 Code, § 155.097) (Ord. passed 5-21-1984)

   With the exception of temporary signs, a zoning permit shall be required for all signs.

(1996 Code, § 155.098) (Ord. passed 5-21-1984)

   (A)   Applications for permits shall be submitted on forms obtained at the office of the Zoning Enforcement Officer.

   (B)   Each application shall be accompanied by plans which shall:

      (1)   Indicate the proposed site by identifying the property by ownership, location, and use;

      (2)   Show the location of the sign on the lot in relation to property lines and buildings, zoning district boundaries, right-of-way lines, and existing signs;

      (3)   Show size, character, complete structural specifications, and methods of anchoring and support; and

      (4)   If warranted, the Zoning Enforcement Officer may require additional information that will enable him or her to determine whether or not the sign will be erected in conformance with this subchapter.

(1996 Code, § 155.099) (Ord. passed 5-21-1984)

   Nonconforming on-site signs shall be removed at the discontinuance of a business use. Property owners are responsible for removal of nonconforming signs.

(1996 Code, § 155.100) (Ord. passed 5-21-1984)

   (A)   One nameplate sign shall be permitted, provided the surface area does not exceed two square feet.

   (B)   One sign for each separate street frontage of a lot and pertaining to the lease or sale of a building or property shall be permitted, provided it shall not exceed six square feet in surface area and is unilluminated.

   (C)   Temporary signs.

      (1)   Temporary signs advertising a new subdivision or apartment development on the land where it is placed shall be permitted, provided:

         (a)   Such signs do not exceed 40 square feet in surface area;

         (b)   Or no more than 15 feet nor less than two feet above ground;

         (c)   Or either unilluminated or indirectly illuminated;

      (2)   Only one such sign shall be erected at each dedicated street entrance for a new subdivision, or, in the case, of new apartment development, which does not involve a new dedicated street entrance, one such sign shall be permitted at the major driveway entrance. The sign shall only contain the name of the owner or agent causing the sign to be erected.

   (D)   One identification sign, as defined in this subchapter, not to exceed 24 square feet in surface area, shall be permitted for each major entrance to the premises. In addition, a bulletin board may be permitted, provided the total of 24 square feet is not exceeded by both bulletin board and identification sign at any major entrance to the premises.

   (E)   One identification sign for each driveway entrance to a multi-family or group housing development shall be permitted not to exceed six square feet in surface area.

   (F)   Permanent signs identifying a subdivision shall be permitted, provided such signs do not exceed 24 square feet in surface area, and are eight unilluminated or indirectly illuminated.

   (G)   Schools and churches are permitted one freestanding sign containing a maximum display area 32 square feet, and one changeable copy sign, which does not exceed 24 square feet in display area, provided that:

      (1)   Total sign height does not exceed eight feet above ground level;

      (2)   The height of a sign shall be computed as the distance from the base of the sign at normal grade to the top of the highest attached component of the sign.

         (a)   Normal grade shall be construed to be the lower of:

            1.   Existing grade prior to construction; or

            2.   The newly established grade after construction, exclusive of any filling, berming, mounding, or excavating.

         (b)   In cases in which the normal grade cannot reasonably be determined, sign height shall be computed on the assumption that the elevation of the normal grade at the base of the sign is equal to the elevation of the nearest point of the crown of a public street, or the grade of the land at the principal entrance to the principal structure on the lot, whichever is lower.

      (3)   Lighting for the sign is indirectly illuminated (no flood, spot, or other light source directed at the sign); and

      (4)   (a)   In the case of more than one use per lot, the area of individual freestanding signs shall be based on one square foot of sign area per lineal street frontage of that portion of the lot used by each use.

         (b)   In no case shall the total area of freestanding signs on a lot exceed one and one-half square feet for lineal foot of lot frontage.

(1996 Code, § 155.101) (Ord. passed 5-21-1984; Ord. passed 11-21-2005)

   (A)   Wall and projecting business signs shall be permitted, provided that the total area of such signs for any one building wall shall not exceed one-third of the surface area of that wall.

   (B)   One freestanding business sign shall be permitted for each separate street frontage of an establishment. The area of any such sign shall not exceed one and one-half square feet of surface area for each lineal foot of lot frontage on the street. In the case of more than one establishment per lot, the area of individual freestanding signs shall be based on the street frontage of that portion of the lot used by each establishment. In no case shall the total area in freestanding business signs on a lot exceed one and one-half square feet for lineal foot of lot frontage.

      (1)   Total sign shall not exceed eight feet above ground level.

      (2)   The height of a sign shall be computed as the distance from the base of the sign at normal grade to the top of the highest attached component of the sign.

         (a)   Normal grade shall be construed to be the lower of:

            1.   Existing grade prior to construction; or

            2.   The newly established grade after construction, exclusive of any filling, berming, mounding, or excavating.

         (b)   In cases in which the normal grade cannot reasonably be determined, sign height shall be computed on the assumption that the elevation of the normal grade at the base of the sign is equal to the elevation of the nearest point of the crown of a public street, or the grade of the land at the principal entrance to the principal structure on the lot, whichever is lower.

      (3)   Lighting for the sign is indirectly illuminated (no flood, spot, or other light source directed at the sign).

   (C)   One suspended business sign, not to exceed six square feet in surface area, shall be permitted for each entrance to a building.

   (D)   Roof business signs shall be permitted, provided no portion of such signs extends beyond the edge of any exterior wall, the height of the sign above the roof does not exceed one-third of the height of the building on which it is located, and the free passage from any part of the roof to any other part is not prevented.

   (E)   Outdoor advertising signs (billboards) shall be permitted, provided such signs are not located within 100 feet of any residential district or within 300 feet of each other. Further, the face of any billboard shall be limited to 400 square feet.

(1996 Code, § 155.102) (Ord. passed 5-21-1984; Ord. passed 11-21-2005)