(a)

The purpose of this article is to provide sign regulations for the town in order to:

(1)

Protect the public welfare and town property values by preserving the aesthetic and environmental qualities of the town.

(2)

Promote safety by eliminating traffic hazards or hazards due to collapse, decay, or abandonment of signs.

(3)

Maintain the economic viability of businesses in our community through the availability of appropriate signage.

(4)

Promote the efficient transfer of public and commercial information through sign management.

(b)

The regulations herein shall apply and govern all zoning districts. No sign shall be erected or maintained unless it is in compliance with the regulations of this article.

(Ord. No. 2014-08, 12-1-2014)

Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, it shall be unlawful for any person to erect, construct, enlarge, move or replace any sign or cause the same to be done, without first having obtained a sign permit for such sign from the mayor or his designee. A fee, in accordance with a fee schedule adopted by the town council, shall be charged for each sign permit issued.

(Ord. No. 2014-08, 12-1-2014)

If an application for a sign permit is denied by the mayor or his designee, a letter stating the reasons for the denial and the relevant Code section number relating to the denial shall be sent by first class mail to the applicant.

(Ord. No. 2014-08, 12-1-2014)

The following regulations shall apply to all permitted signs in the town:

(1)

Materials, colors, and shapes of proposed signs should be architecturally compatible with the buildings and the surrounding area of its location and be made of durable materials.

(2)

The sign shall not be the dominant feature of its location and shall be scaled in accordance with the size of conforming signs on adjacent and nearby properties.

(3)

A sign plan shall be submitted to the mayor or his designee for all major site plans, major subdivisions, office and retail complexes, multitenant buildings, and multifamily developments conforming to this article.

a.

The development plans shall denote maximum total sign area permitted for the project.

b.

All tenants shall comply with the approved uniform sign plan.

(Ord. No. 2014-08, 12-1-2014)

(a)

In the case of signs mounted back-to-back, only one side of the sign is to be used for computation of the area. Back-to-back signs shall be defined as double-faced signs. Otherwise, the surface area of each sign is to be separately computed.

(b)

In the case of cylindrical signs, signs in the shape of cubes, or other signs that are substantially three-dimensional with respect to their display surfaces, the entire display surface is included in computations of area.

(c)

If a sign is attached to an entrance wall or fence, only that portion of that wall or fence onto which the sign face or letters are placed shall be calculated in the sign area.

(d)

Entrance wall or fence area outside of the sign area width shall not be considered a part of the sign. The entrance wall or fence outside of sign area shall conform with DOT standards and line of sight requirements.

(Ord. No. 2014-08, 12-1-2014)

The height of a sign shall be measured from the highest point of a sign to the point of ground surface beneath it. Ornamentation such as caps, spires, and finials shall not extend more than two feet from the top of the sign. The use of berms or raised landscape areas is only permitted to raise the base of the sign to the mean elevation of the fronting street.

(Ord. No. 2014-08, 12-1-2014)

All signs shall be set back a minimum five feet from the right-of-way of a public or private street. At intersections, no sign shall be in the sight triangle as defined by this chapter in section 90-268.

(Ord. No. 2014-08, 12-1-2014)

All signs and all components thereof, including supports, braces, anchors, etc., shall be kept in a good state of repair, in compliance with all building and electrical codes, and in conformance with the requirements of this chapter. Any sign which is determined by the mayor or his designee as being unsecure, in danger of falling or otherwise endangering the public safety shall be immediately removed by its owner unless it is repaired and made to otherwise comply with the requirements of this chapter.

(Ord. No. 2014-08, 12-1-2014)

(a)

Illuminated signs shall conform to the following:

(1)

The light source shall not cause glare hazards to pedestrians, motorists, or adjacent properties.

(2)

Only one exterior light shall be permitted per sign face for signs 32 square feet or less and two exterior lights for sign faces that exceed 32 square feet in size. additional lights may be approved after review of the planning commission.

(3)

Channel letters may be internally illuminated.

(4)

All lighting shall meet all applicable electrical codes.

(b)

A commercial sign within 100 linear feet of a pre-existing residential structure shall not be illuminated between the hours of 11:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. A residence shall be deemed pre-existing for purposes of this section if it has a valid building permit in effect for construction of said structure or if construction of said structure was complete on or prior to the effective date of the ordinance from which this chapter is derived.

(Ord. No. 2014-08, 12-1-2014)

The following signs are prohibited in the town:

(1)

Signs imitating warning signals. No sign shall display intermittent lights resembling the flashing lights customarily used in traffic signals or in police, fire, ambulance, or rescue vehicles, nor shall any sign use the words "stop," "danger," or any other phrase, symbol, or character in a manner that might mislead or confuse the driver of an automobile.

(2)

Signs within street or highway right-of-ways. No sign, whether temporary or permanent, except traffic signs and signals and information signs erected by a public agency, the Mayor or his designee, is permitted within any street or highway right-of-way.

(3)

Certain attached and painted signs. Signs painted on or attached to trees, fence posts, and telephone or other utility poles or signs painted on or attached to rocks or other natural features or painted on the roofs of buildings.

(4)

Signs placed or painted on a motor vehicle or trailer and parked with the primary intent of providing a sign not otherwise allowed by this chapter.

(5)

Billboards.

(Ord. No. 2014-08, 12-1-2014; Ord. No. 2016-08, 6-13-2016)

A permit is not required for the following types of signs in any zoning district. However, such signs shall conform to the applicable requirements set forth in this article.

(1)

Traffic, directional, warning, or information signs authorized by any public agency approved by the mayor or his designee.

(2)

Official notices issued by any court, public agency, or public office.

(3)

One non-illuminated "for sale," "for rent," or "for lease" sign not exceeding six square feet in area in residential districts and 20 square feet in other than residential districts and located at least five feet back from the street right-of-way line, unless attached to the front wall of a building.

(4)

Signs erected in connection with elections or political campaigns. These signs may only be erected 45 days prior to an election. Such signs shall be removed no later than seven days following the election or conclusion of the campaign. Signs are not permitted in the public right-of-way. Signs may only be placed on property with the permission of the property owner. A person who wishes to place political or campaign signs in the town shall first deposit $100.00 with the town treasurer. The deposit will be refunded at the discretion of the police chief if such signs are removed no later than seven days after the election. In the event of a runoff election, signs for candidates in the runoff election are not required to be removed until seven days following the runoff election. Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to unlawfully regulate the content of a sign or to prohibit political content on properly permitted temporary or permanent signs.

(5)

On-site directional signs, provided such sign bears no commercial message and does not exceed four square feet in area.

(6)

Identification sign indicating the name and street number or owner or occupant of a parcel, as long as such sign does not exceed four square feet of copy area.

(7)

Bulletin board, which is defined as a permanent signs which primarily displays the name of a noncommercial place of public assembly and announces the upcoming events of that organization. To not require a permit, such a sign shall not exceed 36 square feet of copy area or five feet in height. Signs of this type shall be restricted to one per parcel of land.

(8)

Sign identifying a project under construction which denote the name of the project, the architect, engineer, contractor, owner, etc., as long as such sign does not exceed 25 square feet in residential districts or 100 square feet in nonresidential zones, is not illuminated, and is removed within seven days of completion of the project.

(9)

Signs attached or integrated into a gasoline pump, automatic bank teller machine, or drive through component of a fast food restaurant, which give operational instructions to users, the price of the product, the brand name of the product, or descriptive information about the product.

(10)

Signs on the interior side of window glass.

(11)

Decorative flags and banners which contain no commercial message when displayed on a residence.

(12)

Restaurant menu boards not exceeding nine square feet. Menu boards shall not be placed on public sidewalks or otherwise impede pedestrian traffic.

(Ord. No. 2014-08, 12-1-2014; Ord. No. 2016-08, 6-13-2016)

The following types of signs are permitted in all residential zoning districts:

(1)

Signs for which permits are not required.

(2)

For multiple-family dwellings, group dwellings, and for buildings other than dwellings, one non-illuminated business identification sign or bulletin board per entrance, not exceeding 60 square feet in area. Such sign or bulletin board shall be set back at least five feet from any street right-of-way line.

(3)

Subdivision signs and private directional signs, under the provisions of section 90-198(f) and (g).

(Ord. No. 2014-08, 12-1-2014)

The following types of signs are permitted in all commercial and industrial zoning districts:

(1)

All signs permitted in residential districts are permitted in commercial and industrial districts.

(2)

Within the front or side setback area of any parcel in the commercial or industrial districts, a maximum of one permanently mounted detached sign of the type required to secure a permit shall be permitted for each 300 feet of road frontage for each road fronted, except that only one such sign shall be permitted if total road frontage is less than 300 feet. The maximum allowable sign copy area for signs permitted under this provision shall be 150 square feet multiplied by the number of signs permitted. No such sign shall be located closer than five feet to any street right-of-way. The maximum height of detached signs shall be 35 feet, as measured from the top of the sign to the ground.

(3)

Wall signs, in no case, shall exceed the requirements of section 90-198, pertaining to regulations applying to specified types of signs.

(4)

Signs in any commercial or industrial district may be illuminated.

(Ord. No. 2014-08, 12-1-2014)

The central business district is defined as all properties zoned CC — core commercial and RC — residential/commercial by the planning commission. The following regulations shall apply to all signs located within the central business district, in addition to the regulations listed in section 90-198:

(1)

Signs shall be constructed of such materials which complement and are coordinated with the architectural style of the existing building or land use.

(2)

No more than two lettering styles are permitted.

(3)

Copy area for canopy signs shall not exceed 25 percent of the overall canopy size.

(4)

No more than one freestanding or detached sign per building or site shall be permitted.

(5)

Signs shall be permanently mounted.

(6)

Signs shall not be placed to obscure building ornamentation or detail.

(7)

Canopy sign and awnings shall not extend beyond the curb line of any public right-of-way, nor shall they interfere with the growth or maintenance of street trees.

(Ord. No. 2014-08, 12-1-2014; Ord. No. 2017-19, § 4, 11-6-2017)

(a)

Wall signs. Signs on the wall of a building (including signs attached flat against the wall, painted wall signs and projecting signs) shall meet the following requirements:

(1)

In calculating the maximum permitted aggregate area of wall signs for shop front buildings, the square footage of windows and doorways shall be included. The residential portion of mixed use buildings shall not be used to calculate the aggregate wall area.

(2)

No wall sign shall be attached to any cupola, tower, chimney, or other architectural structure that is above the roofline.

(3)

Canopy and awning signs may be substituted for part or all of the allowable wall signage per premises. Signs may be painted or printed onto a canopy or awning.

(4)

Wall signs should reflect the proportional and dimensional relationships of the structure.

(b)

Ground-mounted signs.

(1)

All ground-mounted signs shall be located a minimum of five feet behind the street right-of-way.

(2)

No ground-mounted sign shall be located closer than ten feet to any adjacent lot line. A 15-foot side-yard setback shall be required if the side lot line abuts a residential district.

(3)

An arm sign may be substituted for a ground-mounted sign but shall meet all height and area requirements as provided.

(c)

Projecting signs.

(1)

The projecting sign shall be a minimum of eight feet from the bottom of the sign above the finished grade of the sidewalk.

(2)

One projecting sign per business entrance.

(3)

The projecting sign shall not project more than four feet from the wall and shall not exceed 12 square feet.

(d)

Arm signs.

(1)

Arm signs shall not exceed 12 square feet.

(2)

Arm signs shall be located a minimum of five feet behind the street right-of-way.

(3)

A ten-foot side-yard setback shall be required if the side lot line abuts a residential district.

(e)

Banners. The mayor or his designee shall issue special banner permits for banners and flags for civic and nonprofit special events, grand openings and going-out-of business sales used in conjunction with a commercial building, project, or enterprise for a period not to exceed 30 days provided that:

(1)

No banner shall exceed 32 square feet;

(2)

Maximum of two banners;

(3)

All banners shall be securely attached to the ground or attached to the frontage wall of a principal structure; and

(4)

No such banner shall be attached to a roof structure or above the second floor level.

(f)

Subdivision entrance signs. One or two signs shall be permitted at each entrance of a residential subdivision, provided that such signs do not exceed a total of 100 square feet at any subdivision entrance. Further, such signs shall have a maximum height of six feet if illuminated. If such subdivision entrance sign is built into a decorative wall or fence, the maximum copy area will be 50 percent of the area of the wall or fence and setback requirements shall comply with regulations for fences contained herein.

(g)

Private directional signs. Signs indicating the location and direction of premises available for or in the process of development, but not erected upon such premises, and having inscribed thereon the name of the owner, developer, builder, or agency, may be erected and maintained, provided:

(1)

The size of any such sign is not in excess of six square feet, nor in excess of four feet in length;

(2)

Not more than one such sign is erected for each 500 feet of street frontage.

(h)

Temporary signs. Temporary signs are permitted in the town. A temporary sign is defined as a sign which conforms to the requirements in this subsection (h) and which is used to advertise a unique event or business sale of short duration.

(1)

All temporary signs must receive a temporary sign permit prior to being displayed or erected, and may not be permanently attached to the ground, buildings, or other structures. All temporary signs must display in a conspicuous location a decal issued by the Town of Williamston clearly displaying the date that the sign permit will expire.

(2)

Temporary signs shall be permitted for not more than 30 days in any six-month period in increments of not less than ten business days (Monday through Friday).

(3)

No signs may be placed in the public right-of-way.

(4)

A person, business, or organization may only be issued one temporary sign permit at a time and shall have only one temporary sign erected at a time. For example, a business may not have both a temporary banner and a balloon sign at the same time. A business may only have one temporary sign for 30 days in a six-month period. A business may not have a temporary banner sign for 30 days and then a balloon sign for 30 days. Only static balloon signs will be allowed with no motion.

(5)

Portable signs are permitted to be erected only with a temporary sign permit. A portable sign is defined as any sign that is not permanently attached to the ground or other permanent structure, or a sign designed to be transported, including, but not limited to, signs designed to be transported by means of wheels; signs converted to A-frame or T-frame; umbrellas used for advertising; signs attached to or painted on vehicles parked and visible from the public right-of-way, unless said vehicle is used in normal day-to-day operations. A sign that is manufactured or designed as a portable sign and modified to be permanently attached to the ground or on a building shall be considered a portable signs for the purpose of this chapter.

(6)

All temporary signs must conform to any other applicable law and regulation, and shall not violate S.C. Code 1976, § 16-17-530, which prohibits the use of obscene or profane language on any highway or at any public place or gathering or in hearing distance of any schoolhouse or church. All temporary signs must comply with the above listed code section. For purposes of this subsection (h), in the town, the use of obscene or profane language on any highway or at any public place or gathering or within hearing distance of any schoolhouse or church is prohibited as is the use of obscene or profane language on a sign visible from any highway or public street or visible from any public place or gathering or visible from any schoolhouse or church.

(7)

This subsection (h) does not regulate signs which provide directions to a business or an event which are erected on private property with written permission signed by the landowner or his agent where the sign is located.

(i)

Electronic signs. Electronic signs are permitted in the town subject to the following regulations:

(1)

All electronic signs shall come equipped with automatic dimming technology which automatically adjusts the sign's brightness in direct correlation with ambient light conditions.

(2)

No electronic signs shall exceed a brightness level of 0.3 foot candles above ambient light as measured using a foot candle (Lux) meter at a preset distance depending on sign area measured as follows:

(3)

For signs with an area in square feet other than those specifically listed in the table above, the measurement distance may be calculated with the following formula: the square root of the product of the sign area and 100.

(4)

Within 30 days of the date installation of an electronic sign, the installer of the sign shall certify to the mayor or his designee that the sign is in compliance with the regulations of this subsection (i). Failure to provide such certification within 30 days of the date of installation of an electronic sign shall result in the mayor or his designee rescinding the permit for said sign.

(5)

Electronic signs shall not be permitted in any residential zoning districts.

(Ord. No. 2014-08, 12-1-2014; Ord. No. 2016-08, 6-13-2016; Ord. No. 2019-05, § 5, 7-8-2019)

(a)

General. Applications for sign permits shall include a scaled drawing of the sign which depicts and describes:

(1)

Size.

(2)

Shape.

(3)

Colors.

(4)

Materials to be utilized.

(5)

Copy/wording and designs.

(6)

Illumination type, and electrical detail.

(7)

Location on building, if attached.

(b)

Detached signs. In addition, permit applications for detached signs shall be accompanied by a plot plan or sketch of the site, to show:

(1)

The location of the sign on the lot.

(2)

Scale.

(3)

Dimensions of parcel lines.

(4)

Height of the sign.

(5)

Any support structure to be utilized.

(6)

Electrical sources.

(7)

Base landscaping.

(Ord. No. 2014-08, 12-1-2014)

The mayor or his designee may grant a variance or exception to the provisions of this article only under exceptional circumstances, where practical difficulty or unnecessary hardship is so substantial, serious, and compelling that relaxation of the regulations of this article should be granted. The variance granted shall be the minimum variance that will make possible the legal use of the land, building, or structure.

(Ord. No. 2014-08, 12-1-2014)

Any person or business whose permit is denied by the mayor or his designee or any person aggrieved by a decision of the mayor or his designee may file an appeal to the planning commission within 30 days of the date of the denial of permit or other decision that is appealed. Such appeal shall be made by the filing with the mayor or his designee and with the planning commission, notice of appeal specifying the grounds thereof.

The concurring vote of a majority of members of the planning commission present and voting shall be necessary to reverse any denial of permit or decision of the mayor or his designee. Upon taking any official action, the planning commission shall file all of its proceedings and accompanying materials with the town clerk. These materials shall become public record and a copy of all materials and findings shall be sent to the mayor or his designee. On all appeals brought before the planning commission, planning commission shall inform in writing all parties involved of its decisions and the reason for its decisions.

(Ord. No. 2014-08, 12-1-2014)

Any person who may have a substantial interest in any decision of the planning commission may appeal any decision of the planning commission in accordance with the appeals provisions of article XI of the Code of Ordinances and the South Carolina Code of Laws. Such appeal shall be filed within 30 days after the decision of the planning commission is rendered.

(Ord. No. 2014-08, 12-1-2014)

(a)

The regulations of this article shall apply to all signs erected on or after January 1, 2014.

(b)

The regulations of this article shall not apply to pre-existing nonconforming signs with the exception of portable signs as defined in section 90-193(6), banners as defined in section 90-198(e), and temporary signs as defined in section 90-198(h). The regulations of this article shall apply begin to apply to a pre-existing nonconforming sign in the event that the sign is replaced, repaired, altered, damaged, destroyed, abandoned, or the ownership of the sign changes. However, maintaining or upgrading a pre-existing nonconforming sign in a manner that does not materially alter the overall size and appearance of the sign shall not be an event that causes the regulations of this article to begin to apply to said sign.

(c)

Any preexisting portable signs as defined in section 90-193(6) located in the town must be removed no later than six months after the effective date of this article and may not be modified, changed, or reworded during this six-month period. Any modification, change, or rewording of a portable sign will eliminate ipso facto the six-month period for its removal, and it must be removed immediately. In the event of damage to a sign by motor vehicle, wind, or other forces or acts of God, the sign shall be removed immediately.

(Ord. No. 2014-08, 12-1-2014)