Unless otherwise expressly exempted, the sign regulations of this Section shall be applied to every building owner, every lessee and every person responsible for or who causes the construction, repair, relocation or alteration of any sign within the jurisdiction of the County of Wayne. No type of exterior sign may be erected, posted, reposted, placed, replaced, hung, painted, or repainted in any district except in compliance with this ordinance. All signs described below shall be outside of a public right of way and sight triangles at traffic intersections.

The following types of signs may be allowed in any district without a permit:

a.

Any sign not exceeding two (2) square feet in area and bearing only property numbers, names of occupants, or business and professional signs.

b.

Temporary real estate signs, such as "For Sale" or "For Rent" signs, not exceeding thirty-two (32) square feet in a residential zone or sixty-four square feet in a commercial zone in area and non-illuminated may be placed on the premises. These signs shall be removed within 7 days after sale or rental of the property. Off-premise[s] signs advertising an open house may be erected no more than 3 days prior to the open house date. These signs shall be removed at the end of the open house.

c.

Directional or informational signs of a public or quasi-public nature, not exceeding eight (8) square feet in area containing information such as a community's name, place of worship, meeting place of a civic body, or event of public interest.

d.

Signs for churches, schools, or public buildings, including bulletin boards, lighted or unlighted, not exceeding twenty (20) square feet in area. Such signs must be placed on the premises and may not be placed closer than fifteen (15) feet to the property line.

e.

Signs advertising agricultural products for sale, which were produced on the premises, not exceeding twenty (20) square feet in area shall be non-illuminated and permitted only during the harvest season.

f.

Legal notices, identification, informational, or directional signs required by governmental bodies.

g.

Signs directing and guiding traffic to parking areas on private property, but bearing no advertising matter, provided that they conform to the following criteria:

1)

One sign per driveway cut per lot; or

2)

Two signs per 100 feet, or fraction thereof, of lot frontage of all immediately adjacent public streets;

3)

Total sign area shall not exceed four square feet; maximum height of 42 inches, unless

4)

If a common driveway is shared, total sign area shall not exceed eight square feet;

5)

Sign shall not be erected closer than two feet from property line.

h.

Memorial signs, plaques or grave markers which are non-commercial in nature.

i.

Signs painted or displayed on store windows provided that such signs cover no more than 25% of the glass area of the entire storefront.

j.

Flags and insignia of any existing domestic government.

k.

Integral decorative or architectural features of building, except letters, trademarks, moving parts or flashing/moving lights.

l.

Incidental signs indicating warnings, hazards and other general information provided that no such signs shall include any commercial message or logos.

m.

Governmental signs.

n.

One freestanding sign displaying the time and temperature, bearing no advertising matter unless otherwise specified, in addition to other freestanding signs.

o.

Construction or contractor's and subdivision project signs shall be non-illuminated and may be located in any district. Maximum size shall be thirty-two square feet in a residential zone or sixty-four square feet in a commercial zone. Sign shall be removed upon issuance of a certificate of occupancy for the final structure.

p.

Political campaign signs announcing candidates that are not illuminated. Signs shall be displayed no sooner than sixty days prior to an election and must be removed no later than 14 days after the election. The maximum total size per parcel shall be 32 square feet and 6 feet in height.

q.

Special event signs and banners for religious, charitable, civic, fraternal, or similar non-profit organizations. The sign(s) shall be erected no sooner than 10 days prior to the event and removed no later than 2 days after the event. The maximum size of the sign shall be 32 square feet and a maximum height of 6 feet. The signs shall be non-illuminated and limited to 1 per street frontage for on-premise[s] and 10 off-premise[s]. The maximum number of events per year shall be limited to four.

r.

Yard sale signs may be placed on or off premises provided they shall be non-illuminated. These signs are limited to three per sale, may remain in place for only three days in any 30 day period and must be removed when sale is over. The maximum size is four square feet.

s.

Temporary signs, banners, lighting and displays as part of a customary holiday decoration or annual civic event.

t.

Temporary banners, pennants, or poster tied, posted, or mounted tightly flat against existing buildings shall be allowed for a period of 14 days to advertise a sale, grand opening or other special event provided that the sign shall be located on the premises of the subject property and shall be non-illuminated. These temporary special event signs shall be permitted for a total of 90 days in any calendar year. The maximum size of such signs is 32 square feet. Only one temporary banner, pennant or poster is allowed per business.

For the purposes of this section, the term "grand opening" shall be construed as a singular event of limited (10-day maximum) duration designed and intended to attract public attention to a recently established office, commercial, industrial or multi-family land use. Expansion of an existing principle shall not be construed as a grand opening event. No temporary use shall be construed as a grand opening event. Such use shall commerce not later than 60 days following any occupancy for use to qualify for a grand opening sign. No grand opening sign(s) shall be displayed for more than ten total and continuous days. No maximum sign surface shall be established for such sign(s). Pennants, streamers, balloons and other advertising devices are acceptable for grand openings. Search lights and flashing lights are prohibited for grand opening events.

u.

Large inflatable balloons, blimps and tethered balloons used as advertising shall be allowed twice a year for a period of seven days per occurrence.

No sign, except those listed in Section 91 A through U, shall be erected without a permit obtained from the Wayne County Planning Department.

Application for permits shall be submitted on forms obtainable at the Planning Department office. Each application shall be accompanied be plans which show the following:

a.

indicate the proposed site by identifying the property owner, location and present use;

b.

show location of the sign on the lot in relation to property lines and existing signs;

c.

show complete structural specifications; and

d.

additional information needed to determine if such sign to be erected is in conformance with this ordinance.

In addition to the application a fee may be charged as established by the Board of Commissioners for the sign permit and renewal.

For the purpose of this ordinance, the square footage area of any sign shall be measured to include the entire sign, excluding latticework, fencing, or wall work incidental to its decoration. The allowable sign area computed by applying the square feet/linear feet multiplier shall cover all signs on the building or structure and freestanding signs, except where high rise signs are specifically added to the allowable signs.

95.1

General Standards.

a.

Wall signs.

1.

If a building does not have frontage facing a public street, a permitted wall sign may be placed on a wall containing the main entrance, provided the size of the wall sign was calculated as if it faced a public street. Wall signs may be place on end walls, provided the total sign area does not exceed the total allowable sign area.

b.

Canopy/Awning Signs.

1.

One canopy/awning sign may be allowed only in lieu of all other signage permitted on the wall to which the canopy or awning is attached.

2.

The valence or apron for any canopy or awning shall in no case exceed 12 inches in height. Individual letters or symbols on these valences shall not exceed 9 inches in height. This provision shall apply only to valences to which an advertising message is attached.

3.

Canopy signage may not extend above or below the facia of the canopy.

c.

Freestanding signs (on-premises).

1.

All freestanding signs shall stand in a landscaped area at least thirty feet in area. This area shall contain low growing shrubs, ground covers, perennials etc.

2.

No freestanding sign shall be placed within 50 feet of an existing ground sign.

3.

All uses within a combined development (includes more than one establishment on a common parcel) shall share the permitted freestanding sign. These regulations shall not apply to out parcels of the development.

4.

Lots with more than one street frontage shall be allowed to erect one freestanding sign per frontage, provided that each frontage is at least 100 feet in length at the street right of way. Two ground signs shall not be placed on the same frontage. The total area of both signs shall not exceed the permitted area for the district in which the signs are located.

d.

Electronic Changeable Copy Signs.

1.

May be allowed as part of any freestanding or wall sign provided the sign is included in the overall area calculations for that sign.

2.

The minimum time between message changes shall be 8 seconds.

3.

No animation shall be allowed.

4.

The sign shall in no way flash, blink, rotate or use scintillating lights or lights of varying intensities that may distract drivers.

95.2

Permitted Signs by District.

a.

Residential Districts.

1.

Boarding House/Bed and Breakfast signs shall be limited to one unilluminated identification sign located either on the exterior wall of the residence or as a ground sign. If freestanding, the sign shall be no greater than 4 feet in height and a maximum size of 10 square feet.

2.

Home occupation signs shall be limited to one unilluminated sign not exceeding three square feet in area.

3.

Apartment complex shall be limited to one sign located on the wall of the building or one freestanding sign, no greater than six feet in height and set back a minimum of 10 feet from the street right of way. The maximum size shall be 16 square feet for complexes 3 units of less and 32 square feet for larger complexes. Either sign may be internally illuminated or flood-lit provided such sign do not create glare.

4.

Subdivision signs shall be limited to one per entrance. The sign may be illuminated, but shall be ground mounted and no greater than 6 feet in height. The sign shall conform to all NCDOT location standards. Signs must be maintained be a home owners association.

b.

Commercial Districts.

1.

Community Shopping and Airport district signs shall be limited to wall, canopy, awning and freestanding signs. The freestanding sign in this district shall be limited to 64 square feet or 20 percent of the total allowable area, which ever is more. Any such freestanding sign will be counted in the total allowable area.

If the building has 2 street frontage, one additional freestanding sign, not to exceed 32 square feet will be permitted, provided the total allowable area is not exceeded. The maximum height of either sign shall be 20 feet.

The total allowable area for all signs, excluding exempt signage, is this district shall be one and a half square feet of sign area per linear foot of building frontage on the public street.

2.

Highway Business district signs shall be limited to wall, canopy, marquee, or freestanding signs. Primary freestanding signs may be up to 200 square feet for shopping centers and 80 square feet for all other uses and 25 feet in height.

If a use has two street frontages exceeding 500 linear feet in length each, one secondary freestanding sign not exceeding 100 square feet will be permitted. Such signs shall be a minimum of 500 feet apart as measured along the public street. Neither of the freestanding signs shall be located within 300 feet of any residentially zoned or developed property, or 500 feet from a church or school.

For all uses with two street frontages less than 500 feet one additional ground mounted sign will be permitted. Only one ground mounted sign per street frontage is permitted.

One freestanding directory sign may also be permitted in shopping centers. It shall be located near to the parking area's principle entrance. Such sign shall be located away from any public right of way, so that drivers can conveniently pull up to and read the sign without impeding traffic on any driveway or entrance. Such sign shall not exceed 32 square feet in area and six feet in height and shall not count against the total allowable signage for the shopping center.

The total allowable area for all signs, excluding exempt signage, in this district shall be two square feet of sign area per linear foot of building frontage on the street.

In addition to the signs described above, one on premise high rise sign shall be permitted per parcel that is contiguous to a controlled access highway. Such a sign shall not exceed 250 square feet in area and be over 100 feet in height.

2[3].

Light and Heavy Industry district signs shall be limited to wall, canopy, awning and ground signs. In addition one freestanding sign not exceeding 40 square feet and six feet in height will be permitted in the Light Industry zone. One freestanding sign not exceeding 80 square feet will be allowed in the Heavy Industry zone. The maximum height in either zone shall be 25 feet. For the buildings that have two street frontages one additional free standing may be erected. The total allowable area for all signs shall be one and a half square feet for each lineal foot of building frontage on the street.

a.

No signs, except those erected for orderly traffic control and other governmental purposes, shall be permitted on any public right-of-way or sight distance triangle;

b.

Any sign that copies, imitates an official sign, or purports to have official status;

c.

Any sign attached to an accessory structure, except as a private informational or directional traffic sign if such is not visible from off the subject site;

d.

Any mobile, temporary or portable sign except as permitted in Section 91;

e.

Any roof mounted signs;

f.

Any sign advertising an activity, business, product or service no longer conducted on the premises upon which the sign is located; such sign shall be removed within a six month period;

g.

Pavement markings for purposes other than traffic control;

h.

Banners, posters, pennants, ribbons, streamers, strings of lights, spinners or other similar moving devices unless permitted for a special event;

i.

Signs with flashing, moving, blinking, rotating, of scintillating lights that may distract drivers;

j.

Signs that cause nuisance or disabling glare for traffic or on adjacent property;

k.

Signs that exhibit images or languages of an obscene or sexual nature according to NC General Statutes;

l.

Signs that obstruct or substantially interfere with any window, door, fire escape, stairway or opening intended to provide ingress or egress to any building;

m.

Civil defense style searchlights;

n.

Moving or rotating signs;

o.

Any vehicle parked in a location or manner for the purpose of serving as an advertising sign.

97.1.

No sign shall be placed within ten (10) feet of the right-of-way of a public street or highway, except signs necessary for public safety.

97.2.

No advertising or business identification sign shall be place within one hundred (100) feet of a lot upon which a residential dwelling, church or school is situated unless approval is obtained from the adjoining property owner.

All signs and components thereof, including without limitation supports, brackets, braces, and anchors shall be maintained in a state of good repair. Upon determination that a sign is structurally unsafe, hazardous or endangers the safety of the public or property, the building inspector shall order the sign to be made safe or removed. Such action shall be required by notice delivered by hand or by certified mail to the registered sign owner, occupant or property owner of the premises on which the sign is located or the person or firm that initially received the sign permit. Failure to repair or remove the offending hazardous sign within 14 days after receipt of written notification shall constitute a zoning violation and be punishable by any remedy set forth in this ordinance. If such order is not complied within 14 days, the building inspector shall remove the offending sign at the expense of the owner or lessee thereof.

All illuminated signs shall bear the seal of approval from a nationally recognized electrical testing laboratory and must be installed in accordance with the North Carolina Building Code. All wiring to freestanding signs or to lighting equipment must be underground.

External lighting directed toward a sign shall be shielded so that it illuminates only the face of the sign and does not shine directly into or cause glare onto a public right of way or any adjacent properties. In addition, such lighting shall be shielded to prevent the direct view of the light source from any residence, residential district or public right of way.

Internal lighting shall be limited to lighting from behind to silhouette letters and figures or lighted internally with glass, or plastic faces bearing the advertising message. Provided, however, that exposed neon tubing not exceeding fifteen watts shall be permitted.