ARTICLE VIII: SIGNS
SECTION 80-1 SIGN COMPLIANCE
80-1.1No type of exterior sign may be erected, posted, placed, replaced, hung, painted, or repainted in any district except in compliance with this Ordinance.
SECTION 80-2 GENERAL SIGN REGULATION
80-2.1No sign shall be erected or constructed to interfere with vision clearance at any street or road right-of-way.
80-2.2No sign except those erected for governmental purposes shall be permitted on any public right-of -way.
80-2.3All signs shall be at least five (5) feet from street right-of-way. Any sign less than two (2) feet from right-of-way after street widening may be moved by owner to at least five (5) feet from the right-of-way if in the opinion of the Board of Adjustment, said sign would not encumber the free and easy movement of traffic.
80-2.4All signs, together with any supports, braces, guys, and anchors shall be kept in good repair. Signs shall meet all structural requirements of the State building code.
80-2.5Illuminated signs shall be limited to those lighted from behind to silhouette letters and figures and illuminated internally, except spotlighted signs will be permitted if no glare is cast where disturbing to motorists or where if reflects on any property in separate ownership. Except for time or temperature units, no flashing or neon signs shall be permitted. All illuminated signs or structures shall be placed so as to prevent the light rays or illumination from being cast directly on any dwelling.
80-2.6No ground sign may exceed thirty-five (35) feet in height above ground level, or grade level, whichever is higher.
80-2.7Window signs may be placed only on the inside of any buildings and shall not exceed twenty-five (25) percent of the glass area of the pane on which the sign is displayed.
80-2.8An identification sign shall pertain solely to the name of the principal use of the premises or its operators and shall not advertise products or services which differ in name from the principal use.
80-2.9No sign shall be maintained for more than one hundred eighty (180) consecutive days or eighteen (18) months in a three (3) year period after it has been made obsolete for any reason.
SECTION 80-3 TYPE I: ADVERTISING SIGNS, BILLBOARDS
Type I advertising signs and billboards are located so as to be visible primarily
from federal aid primary roads (I95)
(1)Maximum height: 35 feet (In the event that unique conditions exist on a site which render the 35-foot maximum height requirement impracticable, the Board of Adjustment may, upon proper finding of facts, grant a height variance not to exceed a maximum height of 50 feet.)
(2)Minimum separation from another billboard: 750 feet measured along the same side of the road and 300 feet radius along an intersecting or adjacent road.
(3)Signs located within nonresidential zoning districts must comply with the separation standards as contained herein.
(4)Maximum sign size:
(a)672 square feet in area.
(b)14 feet in height, 48 feet in width.
(c)Top outs and side outs are permitted in addition to the above sign area dimensions. Top outs and side outs shall be confined to the immediate plane of the sign and may extend above and/or to the side of the sign face a maximum of two feet. Top outs and side outs shall not exceed a total of 32 square feet in area.
(5)Minimum setback from the road right-of-way: 5 feet
(6)Minimum separation from other structures and side or rear property lines: 15 feet.
(7)Minimum separation from utility lines shall be in compliance with the requirements of the utility having jurisdiction.
(8)All structures, blank surfaces, backs and supports shall be uniformly painted in a neutral finish when exposed to any road and shall be maintained in food repair.
(9)Minimum requirements contained within the North Carolina Outdoor Advertising Control Act (North Carolina General Statute 136-126 et seq.) which are more stringent or in addition to those contained in this Section shall apply.
SECTION 80-3a TYPE II: ADVERTISING SIGNS, BILLBOARDS
Type II advertising signs and billboards are located so as to be primarily
visible from North Carolina primary road NC 43.
(1) Maximum height: 30 feet.
(2) Minimum separation from another billboard: 750 feet measured along the same side of the road and 500 foot radius from another billboard on the opposite side of the same road and 300 feet radius along an intersecting or adjacent road.
(3)Signs located within A-1 zoning districts shall maintain a minimum
separation of 150 feet from any residence as measured along the
road beginning at a point projected perpendicular from the near side
of an existing residence to the road right-of-way and 150 feet from any
residentially zoned district boundary. Signs located within all other
nonresidential zoning districts must comply with the separation
standards as contained herein.
(4) Maximum size:
(a) 300 square feet in area.
(b) 12 feet in height, 25 feet in width.
(c) Top outs and side outs are permitted in addition to the above
sign dimensions. Top outs and side outs shall be confined to
the immediate plane of the sign and may extend above and/or
to the side of the sign face a maximum of 1 foot. Top outs and
side outs shall not exceed a total of 16 square feet in area.
(5)Minimum setback from road right-of-way: 10 feet.
(6)Minimum separation from other structures and side or rear property
lines: 15 feet.
(7) Minimum separation from utility lines shall be in compliance with the requirements of the utility having jurisdiction.
(8) Signs greater than 72 square feet in area and/or 15 feet in height
shall be of steel or wood construction.
(9)Signs 72 square feet or less in area and 15 feet or less in height may
be constructed utilizing no more than two support poles of wood or
metal.
(10) All structures, blank surfaces, backs and supports shall be uniformly
painted in a neutral finish when exposed to any road and shall be
maintained in good repair.
SECTION 80-4 TYPE III: ADVERTISING SIGNS, BILLBOARDS
Type III advertising signs and billboards are located so as to be primarily
visible from North Carolina secondary roads.
(1) Maximum height: 15 feet.
(2) Minimum separation from another billboard: 750 feet measured along
the same side of the road and 300 feet radius along the opposite side
of the same road or an intersecting or adjacent road.
(3) Signs located within A-R zoning districts shall maintain a minimum
separation of 150 feet from any residence as measured along the
road beginning at a point projected perpendicular from the near side
of an existing residence to the road right-of-way and 150 feet from any
residential zoning district boundary. Signs located within all other
nonresidential zoning districts must comply with the separation
standards as contained herein.
(4) Maximum size: 72 square feet in area.
(5)Minimum setback from road right-of-way: 10 feet.
(6) Minimum separation from other structures and side or rear property
lines: 15 feet.
(7) Minimum separation from utility lines shall be in compliance with the
requirements of the utility having jurisdiction.
(8) Signs 72 square feet or less in area and 15 feet or less in height may
be constructed utilizing no more than two support poles of wood or
metal.
(9) Any structures, blank surfaces, backs and supports shall be uniformly
painted in a neutral finish when exposed to any road and shall be
maintained in good repair.
SECTION 80-5 TABLE OF PERMITTED SIGNS
80-5.1Districts in which particular signs are permitted as a Use-By-Right, and no permit is required are indicated by “X”.
80-5.2Districts in which particular signs are permitted upon procurement of a permit are indicated by “P”.
80-5.3Districts which particular signs are permitted as a Special Use upon approval of the Board of Adjustment are indicated by “S”.
80-5.4Districts to which particular signs are prohibited are indicated by a blank.
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