# Sign Regulations in Atlantic Beach, North Carolina

Sign permit rules, size and height limits, setbacks, and ordinance citations for Atlantic Beach, North Carolina, compiled by PermitPal from the jurisdiction's published municipal code.

- **Jurisdiction:** Atlantic Beach, North Carolina (NC)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/north-carolina/atlantic-beach
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-07
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/NC/Atlantic_Beach/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=PTIICOOR_CH5BESHRE_ARTIIVETR_S5-27SIBEPO)

## At a glance

Atlantic Beach, North Carolina regulates 14 sign types across 7 zoning districts. Portable Signs in the Commercial Districts (CIR, CPY, COR) zoning district are capped at 4 feet above grade tall, 6 sq ft per side, and 36 inches wide, with a 5 ft from lot line, 10 ft from street ROW setback (Sec. Table 18.5.10.K; Section 18.5.10.K). Most commercial signs in Atlantic Beach require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (7 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Residential Districts | 3 | 7 feet | 20 square feet | — |
| Mixed-Use Districts (MUN, MHI) | 6 | Below roof/soffit/parapet; must maintain at least 8 ft clearance above grade/walkway | 32 sq ft per sign | — |
| Commercial Districts (CIR, CPY, COR) | 10 | 20 feet above grade | 100/125/150 sq ft depending on tenant count | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 1 | 7 inches high (minimum 4 inches, maximum 7 inches) | — | — |

_3 additional zoning districts are covered in PermitPal (free account)._

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 7 zones)

### Residential Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Ground-mounted/Monument Sign (Entrance) | 7 feet | 20 square feet | — | — | 1 per entrance | Per entrance | — | 18.5.10.I.1 |
| Wall Sign (Principal Structure) | — | 4 square feet | — | — | 1 per principal structure | On the structure | — | 18.5.10.I.2 |
| Temporary Sign | — | 6 square feet per sign | — | — | 1 per street frontage | Per street frontage | — | 18.5.10.F.4.a-c |

### Mixed-Use Districts (MUN, MHI)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign (Front Façade) | Below the roof, soffit, or parapet | 5% of wall area; 40 sq ft maximum total per development | — | — | No limit on number, but subject to area limits | Front façade only | — | Table 18.5.10.J; Section 18.5.10.J |
| Window Sign | Top of ground floor window/door | 10% of total window and glass door area | — | — | No limit on number, but subject to area limits | Window/glass door, ground floor | — | Table 18.5.10.J; Section 18.5.10.J |
| Projecting Sign | Below roof/soffit/parapet; must maintain at least 8 ft clearance above grade/walkway | 12 sq ft per side | — | — | 1 per lot | Front façade | — | Table 18.5.10.J; Section 18.5.10.J |
| Awning Sign | Ground floor awnings only | — | — | — | 1 per lot | Ground floor awning | — | Table 18.5.10.J; Section 18.5.10.J |
| Monument Sign | 3.5 feet above grade | 12 sq ft per side | — | At least 5 ft from lot line, 10 ft from street ROW | 1 per lot | At least 5 ft from lot line and 10 ft from street right-of-way | — | Table 18.5.10.J; Section 18.5.10.J |
| Temporary Sign | — | 32 sq ft per sign | — | — | 1 per street frontage | Per street frontage | — | 18.5.10.F.4.b |

### Commercial Districts (CIR, CPY, COR)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign (Front Façade) | Below roof, soffit, or parapet | Greater of 1 sq ft per linear foot, or 5% of wall area; 200 sq ft maximum per development | — | — | No limit per lot, but subject to total area restrictions | Front façade | — | Table 18.5.10.K; Section 18.5.10.K |
| Wall Sign (Side or Rear Façade fronting a street) | Below roof, soffit, or parapet | 1/2 sq ft per linear foot of wall frontage; counts toward maximum 200 sq ft per development | — | — | No limit per lot, totals count toward overall area | Side/rear façade that fronts a street | — | Table 18.5.10.K; Section 18.5.10.K |
| Window Sign | Top of ground floor window or door | 25% of total window and glass door area | — | — | No limit per lot, subject to area and total sign area limit | Window/glass door, ground floor | — | Table 18.5.10.K; Section 18.5.10.K |
| Projecting Sign | Below the roof, soffit, or parapet; minimum 8 ft clearance above grade/walkway | 12 sq ft per side | — | — | 1 per lot/business entrance | Building wall facing street | — | Table 18.5.10.K; Section 18.5.10.K; Section 18.5.10.L.3 |
| Freestanding Sign | 15 feet above grade | 50 sq ft | — | 5 ft from lot line, 10 ft from street ROW | 1 per lot | At least 5 ft from lot line and 10 ft from street right-of-way | — | Table 18.5.10.K; Section 18.5.10.K; Section 18.5.10.L.2 |
| Freestanding Sign (Multi-Building Use) | 20 feet above grade | 100/125/150 sq ft depending on tenant count | — | — | 1 per street frontage | 1 per street frontage | — | Table 18.5.10.K; Section 18.5.10.K |
| Portable Sign | 4 feet above grade | 6 sq ft per side | 36 inches | 5 ft from lot line, 10 ft from street ROW | 2 per lot | At least 5 ft from lot line and 10 ft from street right-of-way | — | Table 18.5.10.K; Section 18.5.10.K |
| Monument Sign (Outparcel) | 4 feet above grade | 50 sq ft | — | 10 ft from street ROW | 1 per outparcel | At least 10 ft from street ROW | — | Table 18.5.10.K; Section 18.5.10.K |

## Prohibited signs in Atlantic Beach

- Any sign that obstructs the view of bicyclists, pedestrians, or motorists, or interferes with the effectiveness of or obscures any traffic sign, device, or signal.
- Illuminated, highly reflective signs or spotlights that hamper the vision of motorists, pedestrians, or bicyclists.
- Signs, lights, rotating disks, words, and other devices, which resemble traffic signals, traffic signs, or emergency vehicle lights.
- Signs (other than government signs) containing lights, rotating disks, words, or devices that may be erroneously construed as government or emergency warning signs.
- Any sign that interferes with free passage from or obstructs any fire escape, downspout, door, stairway, ladder, or opening intended as ingress/egress or providing light, drainage, or air.
- Any sign placed on any curb, sidewalk, utility pole, street sign post, hydrant, bridge, tree, or public street paving.
- Any sign located in such a way as to intentionally deny an adjoining landowner visual access to an existing sign.
- Flashing, fluttering, swinging, rotating signs.
- Signage in or affixed to a motor vehicle, boat, or trailer.
- Roof signs or signs above the parapet of a building.
- Electronic message boards in a residential district.
- Sign or flag that is significantly worn, torn, dilapidated, damaged, tattered, or in disrepair.
- Banners.
- Windblown devices such as pennants, streamers, spinners, balloons, gas- or air-filled figures, and similar devices.
- Off-premises signs, including billboards.
- Glare: Lighting shall not be oriented so as to direct glare or excessive illumination onto streets, in a manner that may distract or interfere with the vision of drivers, bicyclists, or pedestrians.
- No planting, structure, fence, wall, slope, embankment, parked vehicle, or other obstruction to vision between 2.5 and 10 feet above the centerline grades may be located within a required sight distance triangle.
- No structure or object, regardless of its size, which obstructs visibility within a required sight distance triangle to the detriment of vehicular or pedestrian traffic.
- Fences or walls shall not alter or impede the natural flow of water in streams, creeks, swales, or ditches.
- No fence or wall shall be located within a required sight distance triangle.
- No fence or wall within the public right-of-way (except for public fences/walls, or as needed for soil retention).
- Fences made of debris, junk, rolled plastic, sheet metal, untreated or unpainted plywood, flammable material, tarp, or waste materials (unless recycled into an approved product) are prohibited.
- No sign shall contain or be illuminated by flashing or intermittent light or lights of changing degrees of intensity.
- No wall sign or its supporting structure shall cover any window or part of a window, nor shall it extend on the roofline, parapet, or mansard roof.
- No wall sign shall be attached to any cupola, tower, or architectural feature that is above the roofline.
- No electric sign located with relation to pedestrian traffic so as to permit it to be easily reached.
- No sign (freestanding/monument) greater than 3.5 feet in height as measured from the grade shall be located inside a required sight distance triangle.
- All illuminated signs: lighting must illuminate only the face of the sign and not shine directly/glare onto a public right-of-way or residential uses.
- No sign serving or within 150 feet of a residential use shall be illuminated between midnight and 6:00 a.m. unless there is no spillover of lighting or glare into the residential area beyond the lot boundary.
- No planting materials for required landscaping shall be invasive species.
- Failure to maintain required landscaping areas is a violation.

## Signs exempt from permit in Atlantic Beach

- Temporary or permanent signs erected and maintained by or required by the Town, County, State, or Federal government.
- Fence-wrap signs affixed to fences at construction sites (per North Carolina General Statute).
- Flags and insignia of any governmental agency.
- Legal notices required by governmental bodies, public utilities, or civic associations.
- Historical markers, memorial signs, plaques, or grave markers.
- Integral decorative or architectural features of buildings, except moving parts or moving lights.
- Signs that are not visible from off-site areas.
- Handicapped parking signs.
- Up to one incidental sign per residential/commercial establishment not exceeding 4 sq. ft. with the top within 5 ft of grade.
- Up to two non-permanent, sandwich board-style signs (up to 6 sq. ft. per side) per business in a nonresidential district.
- Special events and holiday displays (lighting).
- Exterior lighting used exclusively for recreational activities, concerts, plays, or other outdoor events open to the public (with conditions).
- FAA-required lighting on buildings, towers, or structures.
- Security lighting activated by motion sensor for 15 minutes or less.
- Public street lighting.
- Lighting of official government flags.
- Temporary lighting for construction or emergencies.
- Exterior lighting for single-family and duplex dwellings (except those forms are subject to prohibited lighting standards).
- Signs on government property for Town-sponsored events, information, or decorative use.
- Solid waste collection facilities and mechanical equipment serving single-family detached and duplex dwellings are exempted from screening requirements (but standards apply within manufactured home parks).
- Temporary fences for construction sites (including soil erosion, sedimentation control, and tree protection).
- Existing or proposed single-family detached or duplex dwelling on a residentially-zoned lot are exempt from landscaping standards.
- Routine maintenance of existing vegetation outside the public right-of-way is exempt from landscaping standards.
- Removal of dead/irreparably diseased trees/shrubs, provided the screening function is maintained/re-established, is exempt from landscaping standards.
- Repaving or restriping a parking lot (no increase in size/spaces) is exempt from landscaping standards.
- Lot lines abutting unopened platted rights-of-way (unopened 10+ years) are exempt from streetscape buffer requirements.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A sign permit is required unless the sign is specifically exempted or permitted without a permit; all permitted signs must comply with the standards; application requires a detailed drawing showing size, height, and site location.
- Existing signs must meet sign requirements if changed or altered (except for routine maintenance or copy changes).
- Some signs may require building and electrical permits as determined by the Building Inspector.
- Inspection by the UDO Administrator is required after installation to verify conformance; Building Inspector inspects signs for electrical/structural compliance as applicable.
- A sign permit is required in accordance with Section 18.2.4.O prior to construction, installation, or display for signs not otherwise exempt/permitted.
- Master sign plans or sign variances are not directly mentioned; however, shared parking and shared off-site parking require submission of a written parking plan approved by the UDO Administrator.
- Landscape plans depicting required landscaping must be submitted with site plan, preliminary plat, zoning permit, or building permit applications.
- Tree survey required with site/development plan seeking to use existing vegetation towards landscaping requirements for multi-family, nonresidential, or major subdivisions.
- Exterior lighting plan is required as part of an application for all illuminated areas exceeding 10,000 sq. ft. (or combined areas exceeding 10,000 sq. ft.).

## Full detail

This page publishes an overview of every zoning district plus a sample of 3 districts in full. Complete zone-by-zone requirements for all 7 zoning districts in Atlantic Beach — every sign type, every field — are available with a free PermitPal account: https://app.permitpal.io/?address=Atlantic+Beach+NC&override=true&utm_source=landing&utm_medium=city-page&utm_campaign=city-atlantic-beach

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