Effective on: 1/1/1901

1. The purpose of this Article is to support and complement the various land uses allowed in the City of Morganton jurisdiction by the adoption of standards concerning the placement of signs. The outdoor placement of signs is a legitimate use of private property but shall be controlled and regulated in order to promote the health, safety, welfare, convenience and enjoyment of travel on roadways, as well as protect the public investment in such roadways. The provisions of this Article are also intended to promote the reasonable, orderly and effective display of such signs, displays and devices. It is also the intent of this section to prevent signs from dominating the visual appearance of the area in which they are located and to enhance the aesthetic environment of Morganton.
2. Except as otherwise provided in this Ordinance, it shall be unlawful for any person to construct, place, enlarge, move, or replace any sign, without first having obtained a zoning permit for such sign from the Development and Design Services Department as required by this Ordinance. A fee, in accordance with a fee schedule adopted by the City Council, shall be charged for each permit issued. The procedures for obtaining a Zoning Permit for a sign are located in Section 2.2 of this Ordinance.
3. Existing nonconforming signs shall meet the requirements of Section 6.6 of this Ordinance.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

The following types of signs are exempt from permit requirements and may be placed in any zoning district. Such signs shall otherwise be in conformance with all applicable requirements contained in this Ordinance. All such signs (except government signs) shall be located outside of the street right-of-way and shall not be illuminated.

All of the signs enumerated in this section require a Zoning Permit prior to construction or alteration of a sign. See Section 2.2 for Zoning Permit procedures.

The following signs are prohibited:

1. Materials, colors and shapes of proposed signs shall be compatible with the buildings and principal uses located on the same property and adjacent properties.
2. The sign shall not be the dominant feature of its location.
3. A uniform sign plan shall be required for all office and retail complexes and multi-tenant buildings. All tenants shall comply with the approved uniform sign plan.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

1. The surface area of a sign is computed as including the entire area within a parallelogram, triangle, circle, semi-circle or other regular geometric figure, including all of the elements of the display, but not including blank masking (a plain strip, bearing no advertising matter around the edge of a sign), frames, display of identification or licensing officially required by any governmental body, or structural elements outside the sign surface and bearing no advertising matter. The surface area of the sign structure shall not exceed two (2) times the surface area of the sign face.
2. In the case of signs mounted back-to-back, only one (1) side of the sign shall be included in the area. Otherwise, the surface area of each sign is to be separately computed.
3. In the case of multi-sided signs, cylindrical signs, signs in the shape of cubes, or other signs which are substantially three-dimensional (3-D) with respect to their display surfaces, the area is equal to the sum of the areas of any two (2) adjacent sides.
4. In the case of embellishments (display portions of signs extending outside the general display area), surface area extending outside the general display area and bearing advertising material is to be computed separately (according to the method described immediately above in this Section) as part of the total surface area of the sign.
5. If a sign is attached to an entrance wall, only that portion of that wall onto which the sign face or letters are placed shall be calculated in the sign area.

FIGURE 5.1: SIGN AREA

Effective on: 1/1/1901

1. The height of a sign shall be measured from the highest point of a sign to the ground surface beneath it.
2. For sign locations located below the grade of the adjacent street to which it has access, the height of a sign shall be measured from the highest point of the sign to the elevation of the fronting accessible street adjacent to the sign.
3. Ornamentation such as caps, spires and finials shall not extend more than two (2) feet from the top of the sign.

FIGURE 5.2: SIGN HEIGHT

Effective on: 1/1/1901

1. Every part of all signs shall be located outside of the right-of-way. The location of the right-of-way shall be determined by the Burke County tax map. The following signs are exempt except that the following:
   1. Wall signs within the CBD zoning district that meet the requirements set forth in Section 5.4.2 may project into the right-of-way
   2. Development entryway signs that meet the requirements of Section 5.4.1 shall be located in the islands within City-maintained street right-of-way upon the acceptance of an encroachment agreement by the City.
2. At intersections, no sign shall be in the sight triangle as defined by this Ordinance.
3. No freestanding sign shall be located within 50 feet of any other freestanding sign unless the Development and Design Services Department determines that practical difficulties exist for locating the sign.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

1. All illuminated signs shall have their lighting directed in such a manner as to illuminate only the face of the sign.
2. External light sources shall not be visible from the right-of-way nor cause glare hazards to pedestrians, motorists, or adjacent properties.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

1. Every sign and its support, braces, guys, anchors and electrical equipment shall be maintained in safe condition at all times. All signs shall be kept in a state of good repair and aesthetic condition, free from defective, rusting, or missing parts (i.e. broken sign facing, broken supports, loose appendages or struts, disfigured, cracked, ripped or peeling paint or poster paper) or missing letters or numbers and shall be able to withstand the wind pressure as prescribed in the North Carolina Building Code. Illuminated signs shall not be allowed to operate with only partial illumination.
2. Signs that are structurally unsafe and thereby endanger the public safety shall be removed unless they are repaired and made to comply with the requirements of the Building Code, as amended. If the Development and Design Services Department shall find that any sign is dangerous or is menace to the public, he shall give written notice of such violations to the owner of the sign, or by leaving said notice with the manager or other person who is apparently in charge of the premises or by affixing a copy of the notice to the sign, sign structure or building for a period of five (5) days. The notice shall set forth the nature of the violation and order the violator to repair the sign in such a manner to be approved by the Development and Design Services Department in conformance with the provisions of this Chapter or remove the sign forthwith in the case of imminent instability or immediate danger of falling, and in any case within 10 days of receipt. If within 10 days the notice is not complied with, the Development and Design Services Department shall have the authority to remove the sign at the recipient's expense and to destroy or otherwise dispose of same. In cases of emergency, the Development and Design Services Department may cause the immediate removal of a dangerous or unsafe sign without notice.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

1. If a conforming sign advertises a business, service, commodity, accommodation, attraction or other enterprise or activity that is no longer operating or being offered or conducted, a blank sign face shall be installed within 180 days after such discontinuation.
2. If a nonconforming sign advertises a business, service, commodity, accommodation, attraction or other enterprise or activity that is no longer operating or being offered or conducted that sign and sign structure including, but not limited to, the supporting braces, anchors or similar components shall be considered discontinued regardless of reason or intent and shall, within 180 days after such discontinuation, be removed by the owner of the property where the sign is located.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

The Development and Design Services Department or designee may remove and destroy or otherwise dispose of any sign placed on public property or within any right-of-way of any public or private street. Penalties shall be levied for each such sign as outlined in Section 2.3.5 of this Ordinance.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Signs which denote the location of religious, charitable, fraternal, military or service organizations that are located within the City of Morganton’s jurisdiction.

Max. Area

6 square feet per organization

Civic Sign

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Signs that are located on the premise/property to provide directions.

Max. Area

12 square feet

On-premises Directional Sign

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Signs that are located at a driveway entrance from a public street or internal access drive to provide directions to enter and exit the property.

Max. Area

4 square feet

Entrance/Exit Directional Sign

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Flags or insignia of any nation, organization of nations, state, county or municipality, any religious, civic or fraternal organization, or any educational or cultural facility and/or any one (1) corporate flag per lot. Flags used for advertising a particular business or service shall be regulated by Section 5.3.11 (B) (4).

Max. Area

NA

Flags

NA=Not Applicable

*The Requirements of this section shall not apply to flags on public property.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Signs posted or authorized by various local, state and federal agencies in the performance of their duties including providing community information and facilitating economic development. Such signs include but are not limited to regulatory signs, traffic signs, welcome signs, bulletin board, directory, and wayfinding signs.

Max. Area

NA

Government Sign

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Signs erected to warn of danger or hazardous conditions such as signs erected by public utility companies or construction companies; signs required for or specifically authorized for a public purpose by any law, statute or ordinance.

Max. Area

8 square feet

Warning Sign

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Signs affixed to structures, including but not limited to mailboxes, decorative light posts, driveway entrances, etc., which serve to identify the address of the structure or occupant.

Max. Area

8 square feet

Address Sign

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Small signs attached to a wall near the building entrance which displays historic designations or the name, address and/or logo, trademark, occupation or profession of the occupant or building.

Max. Area

10 square feet

Placard Sign

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Signs that cannot be read from the street right-of-way which inform or instruct customers or visitors on-site (i.e. drive-through menu boards, gas pump signs, bulletin boards, signs inside of a stadium).

Max. Area

NA

Incidental Sign

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Signs displaying support for or opposition to a candidate, political party, or referendum. These signs shall be permitted in accordance with NCGS 136-32(b).

Max. Area

6 square feet in right-of-way, 16 square feet on private property

Political Sign

Effective on: 1/1/1901

1. Temporary freestanding signs shall not be located within a public street right-of-way or sight triangle and shall not be attached to trees or utility poles or on publicly-owned property. Temporary signs shall not be illuminated except for temporary holiday decorations. Each lot of record within the jurisdiction of the City of Morganton may have up to one (1) temporary sign unless otherwise specified in this Section.
2. Temporary freestanding signs include those listed below. Temporary signs that do not fit into one (1) of the following categories are not permitted:
   1. Real Estate and Construction Signs

      Signs that advertise the sale or lease of a property or the construction of a new building.

Max. Area

6 square feet (single-family and two-family residential 18 square feet (multi-family residential and non-residential)

Real Estate Sign

• 3 feet (single-family and two-family residential
• 6 feet (multi-family residential and non-residential)

• Shall be removed upon completion of sale, event or feature being promoted
• Shall not interfere with pedestrian or vehicular circulation or sight lines

1. 2. A-frame signs

      Signs with two sides angled vertically that advertise a special sale, event, or feature that are removed at the close of business each day. This sign type includes changeable grease boards, black boards and white boards.

Max. Area

6 square feet

A-frame Sign

• Shall be removed daily at close of business
• Shall not interfere with pedestrian or vehicular circulation or sight lines

1. 3. Wire Frame Signs

      Two-sided plastic signs on a metal wire frame that affixes to the ground and advertises a special sale, event or feature.

Max. Area

6 square feet

Wire Frame Sign

• Allowed in MID and HID zoning districts only
• Shall be removed daily at close of business
• Shall not interfere with pedestrian or vehicular circulation or sight lines

1. 4. Feather Flags

      Signs on flexible material that blow in the wind like a flag and resemble the outline of a feather and advertise a business, special sale, event, or feature.

Max. Area

18 square feet

Feather Flag

• Allowed in MID, HID, and CBD zoning districts only
• Shall be removed daily at close of business
• Shall not interfere with pedestrian or vehicular circulation or sight lines

1. 5. Fundraiser signs

      Signs identifying or promoting fundraising campaigns or events for tax-exempt, non-profit organizations.

Max. Area

18 square feet

Fundraiser Sign

• Shall not interfere with pedestrian or vehicular circulation or sight lines
• Maximum of 30 days per campaign or event

1. 6. Yard Sale Signs

      Signs identifying a temporary yard sale that meets the requirements of Section 3.4.8 (D) (7). Such signs are placed no more than one (1) prior to the yard sale and are removed a maximum of (1) day after the yard sale.

Max. Area

6 square feet

Yard Sale Sign

• Shall be placed no more than 1 day prior to the yard sale and shall be removed a maximum of 1 day after the yard sale
• Shall not interfere with pedestrian or vehicular circulation or sight lines

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Permanent sign each the entrance of multiple lot neighborhoods or non-residential developments that identifies only the name and/or address of the development or neighborhood. Development entrance signs cannot be used in combination with freestanding signs.

A permanent sign that identifies a business or organization or available services or merchandise that is affixed to a building wall, window, canopy or awning. Wall signs include any combination of projecting signs, awning signs, canopy signs, window signs, and wall-mounted banners.

A permanent sign that identifies a business or organization or a group of businesses or organizations located on-site that is mounted to the ground.

A tall on-premises monopole sign within 250 feet of the Interstate 40 right-of-way intended to be visible to the traveling public on the interstate.

Off premise advertising signs legally erected and/or amortized and brought into compliance prior to October 1, 2006 may be reconstructed or replaced with a Digital Billboard under the following conditions:

1. Applicant must designate and permanently remove four (4) non-conforming off-premises signs located elsewhere within the jurisdiction of the City of Morganton; however, the removed signs cannot include nonconforming off premise signs erected within public rights-of-ways that advertise service clubs, churches and civic organizations.
2. The digital sign shall not be located closer than:
   1. 500 feet to any other outdoor advertising sign;
   2. 500 feet measured along the roadways to any residential structure;
   3. 250 feet radial to any residential structure not located on the same roadway, or roadways as the sign; and
   4. 50 feet to any free-standing sign.
3. The maximum size of the sign shall be 300 square feet.
4. The sign shall conform to all building setbacks, and in the case of a co-location with any principal commercial building and off premises advertising sign on a single lot, the sign shall also comply with a 40 foot spacing requirement from any principal commercial structure.
5. V-type signs, forming an angle of 35 degrees or less, shall be permitted provided that each panel does not exceed the maximum sign size of 300 square feet.
6. The maximum sign height shall not exceed 30 feet. For signs located below road grade the sign shall not exceed 30 feet above the nearest adjacent public road elevation.
7. The images and messages displayed must be static and must remain static for a minimum of eight (8) seconds, prior to being replaced by new images or messages.
8. Prior to issuance of a sign permit, the applicant shall provide written certification from the sign manufacturer that the light intensity has been factory pre-set not to exceed 7,500 nits.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Signs that substantially interfere with the view necessary for motorists to proceed safely through intersections or to enter onto or exit from public streets or private roads or driveways or that obstruct the motorist’s view of approaching, merging or intersecting traffic including, but not limited to, signs in excess of three (3) feet in sight triangles.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Signs with light sources or reflectivity of such brightness that result in glare, blinding or any other such adverse effect on motorist vision or into or upon any residential building not related to the signs; or which interfere with the effectiveness of, or obscures an official traffic sign, device or signal.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Signs by their location, color, illumination, size, shape, nature, message or appearance tend to obstruct the view of or be confused with official traffic, safety or warning signs or lights or other devices erected by governmental agencies. This prohibition includes signs having no bona fide safety necessity, involving the terms "CAUTION", "DANGER", "SLOW", "STOP" OR "YIELD", or which utilize geometric figures, symbols, lights, location or message not unlike official traffic, safety or warning signs, signals or lights. Provided, however, this provision is not intended to prevent the placement on private property of signs with "stop", "yield" or other such wording or design where such is necessary for traffic control or other such legitimate notice to the public.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Any sign located outdoors which interferes with free passage from or obstructs any fire escape, downspout, window, door, stairway, ladder, or opening intended as a means of ingress or egress or providing light or air.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Signs placed upon or attached to any curb, utility pole, post, fence, hydrant, bridge, another sign or other surface, public bench, streetlight, or any tree, rock or other natural object located on, over or across any public street or public property. Provided, however, this provision shall not apply to the posting of public interest, security and warning signs nor to street signs placed upon poles by governmental units for designating the names of streets.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Signs, marquees, canopies and awnings with vertical clearance of less than eight (8) feet above sidewalks and pedestrian areas and less than one (1) feet above parking or vehicular passage areas.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Signs or devices with flashing, intermittent, animated or changing intensity of illumination, provided, however, traffic signals, railroad crossing signals, other official warning or regulatory signs that present messages of public services shall not be considered flashing signs.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Any sign erected in or over any public right-of-way except for major special event signs by special permit; and governmental signs.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Signs containing words or graphics that are obscene, as defined in North Carolina General Statute 14-190.1.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Signs placed on property without permission of its owners or agent.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Portable or temporary signs except as permitted by Section 5.3.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Motion Sign

Motion signs, rotating signs, or signs that have mechanical moving parts.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Facsimile Sign

Three-dimensional objects or human figures which may or may not contain advertising matter, and may or may not contain information about products sold on the premises, and is located in such a manner as to attract attention.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Roof Sign

Signs erected in whole or in part on, upon or over the roof or parapet of a building or structure and which are wholly or partially dependent upon the roof of the building or structure for support, except in cases where pre-existing buildings constructed with mansard roofs have Wall signage upon the mansard roof which does not extend above the ridge of the roof.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Un-encased Pole Sign

Signs with a single support pole that is not wrapped in an encasement as set forth in Section 5.4.3, except as permitted for interstate signs as set forth in Section 5.4.4.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Vehicle Sign

Signs placed upon, painted on, attached to or displayed on parked vehicles or trailers, where the primary purpose of the vehicle or trailer is to advertise a product or business or to direct people to a business or activity.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Inflatable Sign

Signs inflated with air including balloons having a width, height, depth or circumference of greater than two (2) feet.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Transportable Sign

Any sign whose sign face was initially constructed and designed to be placed and/or transported on wheels, regardless if said sign face is removed from its base and placed on or in the ground so as to otherwise classify said sign as a "freestanding" sign as herein defined.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Other signs not expressly permitted in this Ordinance are prohibited.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Development Entrance Sign

Effective on: 1/1/1901

1. All development entrance signs shall be monument or arm style.
2. Development entrance signs within the River District Overlay shall incorporate stacked stone or similar material into the base and/or columns of the sign. Sand-blasted wood signs are encouraged.
3. Development entrance signs may be placed in an island located within a City-maintained public street right-of-way upon approval of encroachment agreement by the City.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Typical Wall Sign	Projecting Sign
Awning and Window Signs	Canopy Sign
Temporary Banner

Effective on: 1/1/1901

1. A.
   Wall signs may be located on any building wall.
2. B.
   Canopy and awning signs shall not cover more than 50 percent of the canopy or awning area. Signs hanging beneath a canopy shall not be greater than five (5) square feet and shall provide a minimum seven (7) foot vertical clearance. 
3. C.
   Window signs shall not comprise more than 50 percent of the window area in addition to the maximum area requirements of Section 5.4.2.1 above. Temporary banners shall not cover windows.
4. D.
   Wall signs shall not project more than 12 inches from the wall face, except for projecting signs which may project up to four (4) feet. Projecting signs shall provide a minimum eight (8) foot vertical clearance.
5. E.
   Projecting signs shall be limited to 25 square feet per façade.
6. F.
   Wall signs shall not extend above the parapet or eave of the building except in cases where pre-existing buildings constructed with mansard roofs may contain wall signage upon the mansard roof that does not extend above the ridge or peak of the roof.
7. G.
   Up to 50 percent of the allowable area of a wall sign may be manual or electronic changeable copy.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Monument Sign	Encased Pole Sign
Multi-tenant Pylon Sign	Arm Sign

Effective on: 1/1/1901

1. Lots with two (2) or more tenants shall utilize a multi-tenant sign.
2. Freestanding signs may be monument, arm, pylon, or encased pole style, except that freestanding signs located within the LID and MID zoning districts or within any zoning district in the River District Overlay or CBD zoning district shall be monument or arm style only. Pole signs shall be wrapped in an encasement a minimum of 18 inches wide, and shall not have a top to base ratio of greater than 3:1.

FIGURE 5.3: ENCASED POLE SIGN PROPORTION

3. Freestanding signs in the Corridor Overlay shall incorporate brick, stacked or mortared stone, or similar material into the base and or columns of the sign.
4. Freestanding signs in the River District Overlay shall incorporate stacked or mortared stone or similar material into the base and/or columns of the sign. Sand-blasted wood signs are encouraged.

Examples of signs that incorporate stone

5. Up to 50 percent of the allowable area of a freestanding sign may be manual or electronic changeable copy.
6. All freestanding signs shall have a minimum of 50 square feet of landscaping around the base of the sign. Landscaping shall include a minimum of eight (8) small shrubs. One (1) medium shrub may be substituted for every two (2) small shrubs. Sign landscaping requirements may also be met by the street yard requirement set forth in Section 4.4.4.

Examples of sign landscaping

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Interstate Sign

Effective on: 1/1/1901

1. Interstate signs shall not have manual or electronic changeable copy.

Effective on: 1/1/1901