Littleton City Zoning Code
SIGNS
§ 153.125 SCOPE.
No sign or sign structure may be erected, posted, hung, painted, rehung, repainted, repaired, replaced, changed or maintained in any district except in compliance with this subchapter.
(Ord. 21- , passed - -2021) Penalty, see § 153.999
§ 153.126 GENERAL REGULATIONS.
General sign regulations are as follows.
(A) No sign or sign structure shall be erected or constructed to interfere with vision clearance as defined in § 153.009 of this code.
(B) No ground sign structure may be placed in the right-of-way.
(C) Individual stores in a shopping center may not have separate ground sign structures. The shopping center as a whole may display signs in accordance with this division (C).
(E) Signs and sign structures shall be maintained at all times in a state of proper repair, with all braces, bolts, clips, guys, anchors, supporting frames and fastening free from deterioration, insect infestation, rot, rust or loosening. All signs shall be kept neatly finished, with lettering intact and if of a type which requires painting, free from visible peeling or chipping. If, in the opinion of the Zoning Administrator, a sign’s general overall condition is not satisfactory, it shall be found to be in violation of this subchapter.
(F) Any sign which becomes a safety hazard or which is not kept in good general condition and a reasonably good state of repair and is not, after 60 days’ written notice to the owner of the premises or the permittee, put in a safe and good state of repair, is hereby declared a public and private nuisance and may be removed, obliterated or abated by the Zoning Administrator of the town. Any sign which, in the opinion of the Zoning Administrator, constitutes an immediate or imminent danger to life or property, may be caused to be removed or put in a safe condition by him or her immediately. In either case, the costs of the removal/repair may be charged to the owner of the premises where he or she has been afforded reasonable notice. Any charge so levied shall be collected as a tax, and any charge having been assessed and which remains unpaid shall constitute a lien against the property as provided in G.S. § 160A-193.
(G) Obsolete signs and their supporting structures shall be removed within 90 days after they have been made obsolete by reason of the activity, business, product or usage which the sign identifies or advertises being abandoned at the location to which the sign refers. This provision does not refer to billboards, until the commercial use of the billboard for rent has ceased. An extension of the 90-day time limit for removal may be granted by the Zoning Administrator for reasonable cause.
(H) Illuminated signs shall be limited to those lighted from behind to silhouette letters and internally illuminated, digital signs and spotlighted signs. All illuminated and spotlighted signs shall be placed so as to prevent the light ray, illumination or glare from being cast directly on any building or on traffic.
(I) Temporary strings of light bulbs (i.e., not permanently installed in accordance with the state’s Electrical Code) used in connection with commercial premises for commercial purposes shall not cause glare on traffic or adjoining premises. These lights may be erected for no longer than 60 days.
(Ord. 21, passed - -; Ord. 20-010, passed 11-24-2020) Penalty, see § 153.999
§ 153.127 PROHIBITED SIGNS.
The following types of signs are expressly prohibited.
(A) Signs with moving, revolving or rotating parts or any sign which moves or gives an illusion of movement, except for time and temperature units and traditional barber poles, shall be prohibited in all districts.
(B) Signs which obstruct the view of or could be confused with any authorized traffic sign, signal or device or make usage of the words “stop,” “look,” “danger” or any other word, phrase, symbol or character in a manner as to interfere with, mislead or confuse traffic.
(C) Signs which obstruct openings required to be left uncovered or unobstructed by building codes, the housing code or other laws relating to buildings.
(Ord. 21, passed - -; Ord. 20-010, passed 11-24-2020) Penalty, see § 153.999
§ 153.128 OFF-SITE ADVERTISING SIGNS.
(A) Off-site advertising signs (billboards) shall be permitted only as a special use in the C and LI districts. The conditions in § 153.062 of this code are not applicable to off-site advertising signs.
(B) A special use permit shall be granted provided the following conditions are met.
(1) The property on which the sign is to be located must be adjacent to an interstate or federal aid primary highway.
(2) The sign must be located within 660 feet of the edge of the right-of-way of the highway.
(3) The sign shall comply with all regulations of the state’s Department of Transportation and General Statutes.
(4) No two structures shall be placed less than 500 feet apart. Distance shall be measured as specified in the state’s Administrative Code Title 19A, Ch. 2E, § 200.
(5) The sign will be compatible with the general neighborhood in which it is located and will not have a detrimental effect on adjoining properties.
(Ord. 21- , passed - -2021) Penalty, see § 153.999
§ 153.129 NONCONFORMING SIGNS.
Nonconforming signs, when removed for other than normal maintenance, may not be erected again, or may any sign be replaced with another nonconforming sign.
(Ord. 21- , passed - -2021) Penalty, see § 153.999
§ 153.130 PERMITTED SIGNS.
Signs shall be permitted as follows:
Type of Sign | Maximum Area (Square Feet) | Maximum Height (Feet) | District | Other Requirements |
Type of Sign | Maximum Area (Square Feet) | Maximum Height (Feet) | District | Other Requirements |
Advertising, off-site (billboards) | 50 | 12 | Special use in LI | Maximum height of structure is 35 feet; see § 153.128 of this code |
Agricultural, advertising products produced on premises | 32 | 8 | Permitted use in RA and LI | |
Awning, silk screened or sewn on the front of awning | NA | NA | Permitted use in C and LI | |
Bulletin board, church or public | 32 | 8 | Permitted use in all districts | |
Canopy signs (may also be placed on non-raising marques) | 4 | NA | Permitted use in C and LI | Identification only; one per entranceway; bottom of sign must be seven feet above sidewalk level, moreover public right-of-way if required by town regulations |
Construction site placards | 64 | 12 | Permitted use in all districts | Must be removed when construction has been completed |
Directional Signs Containing No Advertising Matter: | ||||
A sign may be painted on the inside and outside front door face of the closed tire rack, but shall not be painted on the sides or rear | NA | NA | Permitted use in C and LI | |
Entrance or monument-type signs to subdivisions, neighborhoods, public, commercial, institutional establishments | 32 | Signs and pillars may not exceed eight feet in height | Permitted use in all districts | No more than two per entrance allowed |
Ground signs | 60 | 20 | Permitted use in C | Must be at least 30 feet from any other ground sign; must meet vision clearance of § 153.009 of this code |
Ground signs | 150 | 35 | Permitted use in LI | No more than one per street frontage containing entrance to use; may be used only for identification or on-site advertising |
House numbers | 4 | NA | Permitted use in all districts | May contain no advertising matter |
Memorial signs, tablets, name of building and date of construction | NA | NA | Permitted use in all districts | Must be cut into a masonry surface or cast of metal and affixed flat against a surface |
Name of occupant of residential premises | 2 | NA | Permitted use in all districts | |
Newspaper names on newspaper tubes | NA | NA | Permitted use in all districts | |
No trespassing | NA | NA | Permitted use in all districts | |
No vacancy/vacancy signs | NA | NA | Permitted use in all districts | |
Off-site directional to churches, meeting halls, civic clubs | 12 | NA | Permitted use in all districts | |
One double-faced on-site advertising sign per street frontage showing the current price of fuel sold on the premises; sign shall be located off the right-of-way | 20 | 5 | Permitted use in C and LI | |
Pedestrian, public | NA | NA | Permitted use in all districts | |
Political signs | 4 | NA | Permitted use in all districts | Must be removed within 15 days after last election to which they pertain |
Portable signs, including signs mounted on a vehicle or a trailer or trailer-type device | 32 | 10 | Permitted use in C and LI | Nonrenewable permit from Zoning Administrator required; ten-day time limit; no more than one sign per establishment per street frontage; same establishment may not have temporary sign(s) again for 30 days after removal of sign(s); signs shall not have colored or flashing lights or lights which cause glare on traffic or adjacent properties; signs shall not be located on the public right-of-way nor obstruct vision clearance as indicated in § 153.126(A) of this code |
Professional or announcement signs | 4 | NA | Permitted use in all districts | One per establishment |
Projecting signs | 20 | NA | Permitted use in C and LI | Signs may be no more than nine feet from wall at farthest point; one sign per face on street, or two per establishment, whichever is less; the sign may be hung on corner of building but shall count against the maximum allowed above; establishments may not have a wall or roof sign on same face as projecting sign; corner sign shall count as one face |
Real estate signs | 32 | NA | Permitted use in C and LI | |
Real estate signs | 6 | NA | Permitted use in residential districts | |
Religious symbols at formal places of worship | NA | NA | Permitted use in all districts | |
Roof signs-see wall signs | ||||
Service station signs, automobile or truck | NA | NA | Permitted use in all districts when accessory to a service station | |
Signs on pumps and/or pump islands concerning the type and price of fuel | NA | NA | Permitted use in C and LI | |
Signs on open portable tire racks provided the signs are no longer than the rack | NA | NA | Permitted use in C and LI | |
Signs or racks for the orderly display of engine oil, provided signs are no longer than the rack | NA | NA | Permitted use in C and LI | |
Temporary banners, pennants, streamers, excluding portable commercial signs | NA | NA | Permitted use in C and LI | Only for opening of new business; may remain for no more than four weeks |
Temporary directional to garage sales and similar events in residential area, excluding portable commercial signs | 4 | NA | Permitted use in all districts | |
Temporary signs relating to farm auctions, agricultural production sales, annual charitable, civic or fraternal events, excluding portable commercial signs | 20 (off-site) | NA | Permitted use in all districts | Off-site: no more than one per lot |
32 (on-site) | On-site: no more than three per lot; may remain for no more than 45 days in all | |||
The flag, pennant or insignia of any nation or organization of nations, state, county, city, religious, civic or fraternal organization or educational institution when not used in connection with a commercial promotion, or as an advertising device or as an integral part of another sign | NA | NA | Permitted use in all districts | In RA, R-15, R-10 and RMH districts, wall and projecting insignia may not exceed ten square feet in area nor may the project be more than nine feet from wall at farthest point; in business and industrial districts, insignia may be placed on signs permitted in those districts. In any district flags or pennants shall not exceed 15 square feet or, if on a pole, one-fourth the height of the pole, whichever is greater. |
Traffic and pedestrian, private | NA | NA | Permitted use in all districts | |
Traffic, safety, utility warning, public | NA | NA | Permitted use in all districts | |
Vending machine signs painted or mounted on the machine related to the products in the machine; bank machine or book depository signs which instruct customers or patrons | NA | NA | Permitted use in all districts | |
Wall or roof signs | One and one- quarter square feet of sign area per running foot of building frontage | Signs shall not project over the roof line of the building to which they are attached | Permitted use in C | Wall signs must be mounted on area of wall free of window, doors or other architectural detail; may not interrupt or cover major architectural features; only one wall, roof or projecting sign per establishment per street frontage is permitted other than those specifically mentioned elsewhere in this table; signs may be used only for identification or on-site advertising, and at least 80% of sign face shall be for identification |
Window signs | NA | NA | Permitted use in C and LI | Shall not exceed 20% of window area |
(Ord. 21, passed - -; Ord. 20-010, passed 11-24-2020) Penalty, see § 153.999
§ 153.999 PENALTY.
(A) Any person violating any provisions of this chapter shall be subject to § 10.99 of this code. Each day a violation continues shall be deemed a separate offense.
(B) In case any building or structure is erected, constructed, reconstructed, repaired, converted or any building, structure or land is used in violation of this chapter, the Zoning Administrator or any other appropriate town authority, or any person who would be damaged by the violation, in addition to other remedies, may institute injunction, mandamus or other appropriate action in proceeding to prevent the violation.
(C) Any notice of violation shall be in writing and shall be issued pursuant to G.S. § 160D-404(a).
(Ord. 21- , passed - -2021)