This Article shall be known and may be cited as the "Town of Pine Knoll Shores Sign Regulations."

This Article applies to all signs erected in the Town of Pine Knoll Shores. The purpose of this Ordinance is to ensure the installation of safe and effective signage that promotes both business activity and the aesthetic character of the Town, as well as communicating essential information to the public. The following statements elaborate on this purpose.

(A)

To provide opportunities for neighborhoods and commercial endeavors to be identified in an effective and equitable fashion.

(B)

To promote public safety by reducing hazards associated with distracting or excessive signage.

(C)

To establish and promote enhanced community character through signage that is reflective of the adopted goals of the Town and its scale of development.

(D)

To promote the integration of signage with the architectural characteristics and aesthetic quality of the Town's development.

(E)

To provide for flexibility in amount, type and scale of signage depending on the context of the development and the surrounding area.

(F)

To facilitate efficient, thorough, consistent and effective enforcement of the sign regulations.

The following signs shall be allowed without the necessity of approval by the town or without the necessity of the purchase of a permit from the town:

(A)

Flags on private property.

(B)

Governmentally erected signs on public property, public right-of-ways, and private property. If on private property, these signs shall not count against the nine square foot limit imposed by subsection (E)(2).

(C)

Integral, decorative, or architectural features of buildings, not to include letters, trademarks, videos, moving lights, or moving parts.

(D)

Signs not exceeding three square feet in area constructed by a homeowners' association, and which are located on premises owned by the homeowners' association or are subject to the jurisdiction of said homeowners' association.

(E)

Signs on private property, except for homeowners' associations governed by subsection (D) above and excluding signs not visible from the public right-of-way, subject to the following:

(1)

No one sign shall exceed three square feet in area; and

(2)

The cumulative area of all signs on a zoning lot shall not exceed nine square feet; and

(3)

At least one sign identifying street address is required for all properties which have a dwelling unit or other substantial development; for new construction, a certificate of occupancy shall not be authorized until such a sign is in place. Signs identifying street address shall not count against the nine square foot limit imposed by subsection (2). These signs may be placed permanently in the Towns right-of-way.

(F)

Non-governmentally erected signs at the Town's designated voting site, allowed only on designated voting days. Such signs may not exceed three square feet in size and must be removed by 8:00 a.m. the morning after the designated voting day. Such signs shall also conform to state elections law regarding placement. Signs may not be placed closer than three feet from a paved surface, and there must be a minimum of five feet between signs.

(A)

One temporary sign is allowed for each property adjacent to the Town right-of-way.

(B)

Signs must be placed at least 12 feet from the paved surface of the road, unless this puts the sign in a wooded area, in which case, the sign must be located no further than two feet from the line of the wooded area, but in no case shall signs be located within six feet of the edge of the paved surface of the road.

(C)

A sign may not be installed without the permission of the property owner or the property owner's agent of the property abutting the right-of-way where the sign is installed.

(D)

Such signs shall not exceed four square feet in size, nor shall the height of the top of the sign exceed three feet from grade.

(E)

Temporary signs shall not be installed in such a way as to impair vehicular visibility and must be oriented parallel to the street.

(F)

Allowable temporary signs must be of professional quality and easily removable, not permanently installed in the right-of-way. These signs may not be placed on a utility pole or pedestal.

(A)

Within zones I, MU-1, MU-2, R-1, R-2, and R-3, each subdivision, upon application by its homeowners' association or developer, shall be allowed one ground sign, not to exceed 15 square feet in size at subdivision accesses from a major thoroughfare. These signs may not be placed on the Towns' public right-of-way.

(B)

Within zones C, MU-1, and MU-2, commercial establishments, upon application by the owner or its authorized agent, shall be allowed one ground sign not to exceed 60 square feet in size and one wall sign not to exceed 30 square feet in size.

(1)

The ground sign shall not exceed 12 feet in width, nor shall it extend to its top no more than 15' above the centerline elevation of the nearest public street, at the point nearest the sign.

(2)

No sign may be attached to any external perimeter or boundary fencing.

(3)

No sign shall include blinkers, flashers, or intermittent pause features such as running lights.

(4)

No vehicles or trailers located on-site shall be used exclusively to support signs.

(5)

For detached signs, any permitted lighting shall be designed to shield effects on approaching motorists.

(C)

Unless expressly permitted by this article or state law, no sign shall be placed on any municipal street right-of-way or North Carolina State Right-of-Way.

(D)

The following signs are not permissible within the town: portable message boards, revolving, moving, or rotating signs, electronic message boards, video displays, signs which change copy more than once per hour, roof signs, and wind-driven signs, such as tethered balloons or other inflatable objects.

(A)

Unless specifically excluded in section 17.3, no sign shall be constructed without the issuance of a permit by the town, and payment of a fee to the town as set by the Board of Commissioners in the town's fee schedule.

(B)

Sign permit applications must include the following information:

(1)

Name, mailing address, and telephone number of the applicant;

(2)

Location of building, structure, or lot to which or upon which the sign is to be attached or erected.

(3)

One comprehensive layout of the design in color to include lettering and illustrating styles, and one black and white copy of the design, plus two copies of plans and specifications, showing methods of construction and attachment to the building or structure;

(4)

Name and contact information of person erecting the sign.

(C)

It shall be the duty of the Planning Administrator upon the filing of an application for a permit to examine plans, specifications, other data, and the premises upon which it is proposed to erect the sign.

(D)

If the plans appear to comply with all of the requirements set forth in section 17.5, all requirements of the Pine Knoll Shores Unified Development Ordinance and North Carolina State Building Code, then the Planning Administrator will request the applicant submit two plan drawings to the Appearance Commission. The Appearance Commission shall consider the sign's size, shape, color, message, illumination, location on the premises, its appearance in conjunction with other signs previously erected in the area, and its general suitability to the surroundings in which it will be placed. If the Appearance Commission rejects the sign plan, then their ruling can be appealed to the Board of Adjustment.