# Sign Regulations in Bald Head Island, North Carolina

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Bald Head Island, North Carolina (NC)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/north-carolina/bald-head-island
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-19

## At a glance

Bald Head Island, North Carolina regulates 25 sign types across 3 zoning districts. Sandwich Board Signs in the Commercial, Not-for-Profit Business/Tax Exempt Business zoning district are capped at 3 ft (per side) tall, 12 sq ft, and 2 ft (per side) wide (Sec. Sec. 32-403(6)(a)-(f)). Most commercial signs in Bald Head Island require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (3 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 11 | 6 ft | 128 sq ft per sign | — |
| Residential | 5 | 5 ft | 24 sq ft (project signs); if double-faced: 15 sq ft per face | — |
| Commercial, Not-for-Profit Business/Tax Exempt Business | 9 | 5 ft | 24 sq ft (project signs); if double-faced: 15 sq ft per face | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Temporary Sign - Construction | 6 ft | 7.5 sq ft | — | — | — | Construction site | — | Sec. 32-401(1)a |
| Temporary Sign - Special Event | — | 128 sq ft per sign | — | — | Up to 3 per event | — | — | Sec. 32-401(1)b |
| Temporary Sign - Real Estate (Bollard Cap) | 4 ft (bollard) | 1 sq ft per side | — | — | — | On site of property being sold, rented, or leased | — | Sec. 32-401(1)c |
| Temporary Sign - Open House (Bollard Cap) | 4 ft | 1 sq ft per side | — | — | — | On site of property being advertised for open house | — | Sec. 32-401(1)e |
| Permanent Sign - Traffic Sign (Private Property) | — | — | — | — | — | Private or public street with approval by village manager | — | Sec. 32-401(2)a |
| Permanent Sign - Directional | 5 ft | 4 sq ft | — | — | 1 per residential development | Off road right-of-way | — | Sec. 32-401(2)e |
| Permanent Sign - Golf Course Related | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | — | On golf course property | — | Sec. 32-401(2)f |
| Permanent Sign - Bulletin Board (Not Commercial) | — | 5 ft x 7 ft (35 sq ft) | — | — | — | Not visible from right-of-way | — | Sec. 32-401(2)l |

### Residential

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Building-Mounted Sign - Single-Family Dwelling Unit Identification | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | 1 per dwelling unit | On building | — | Sec. 32-402(1) |
| Freestanding Sign - Single-Family Dwelling Unit Identification | 2 ft | 2 sq ft | — | — | 1 per dwelling unit | On property | — | Sec. 32-402(1) |
| Building-Mounted Sign - Multifamily Building Identification | — | 4 sq ft per building | — | — | 1 or more per building | On building | — | Sec. 32-402(2) |
| Wall-Mounted Decorative Flag | — | 10 sq ft | — | — | 1 per dwelling unit | Wall-mounted | — | Sec. 32-402(4) |
| Freestanding Ground-Mounted Sign - Subdivision/Project Identification | 5 ft | 24 sq ft (project signs); if double-faced: 15 sq ft per face | — | — | Max 1 per entrance, 2 per project | At the entrance to project, on project property | — | Sec. 32-402(5) |

### Commercial, Not-for-Profit Business/Tax Exempt Business

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Building-Mounted Sign - Single Business | — | 9 sq ft | — | — | 1 per business (up to 2 if >1 entrance/frontage) | Building | — | Sec. 32-403(1)a, b, c |
| Door Sign - Single Business | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | 1 per entrance (max 2) | Exterior or glass door | — | Sec. 32-403(1)a, b, c |
| Building-Mounted Sign - Multiple Businesses | — | 9 sq ft per business | — | — | 1 per business with entrance / shared if applicable | Building | — | Sec. 32-403(2)a, b, c |
| Door Sign - Multiple Businesses | — | 2 sq ft per business | — | — | 1 per business with entrance / shared if applicable | Exterior or glass door | — | Sec. 32-403(2)a, b, c |
| Freestanding Ground-Mounted Sign - Commercial Subdivision or Complex Identification | 5 ft | 24 sq ft (project signs); if double-faced: 15 sq ft per face | — | — | Max 1 per entrance, 2 per project | At the entrance to project | — | Sec. 32-403(3) |
| Building-Mounted Sign - Not-for-Profit Business/Tax Exempt Business | — | 9 sq ft | — | — | 1 per business | Building | — | Sec. 32-403(4)a, b, c |
| Bulletin Board - Not-for-Profit Business/Tax Exempt Business | — | 20 sq ft | — | — | 1 per business | On site | — | Sec. 32-403(4)a, b, c |
| Sandwich Board Sign | 3 ft (per side) | 12 sq ft | 2 ft (per side) | — | 1 per business or 1 shared | On a sidewalk/pedestrian walkway directly in front of the business | — | Sec. 32-403(6)(a)-(f) |

## Prohibited signs in Bald Head Island

- Any sign not expressly authorized by the article is prohibited in all zoning districts.
- Any sign which obstructs the view of pedestrians, bicyclists, and vehicles at any street intersection or which interferes with or obscures traffic signs.
- Any sign located so as to deny visual access to an existing sign.
- Any sign (other than a government sign) placed on any curb, sidewalk, post, pole, hydrant, bridge, tree, or other surface and located in, over, or across any public or private street or right-of-way, unless expressly authorized by the ordinance.
- Temporary, nonpermanent signs, including over-head streamers, unless expressly authorized by the ordinance.
- Any sign attached to or mounted on a roof or projecting above the plane of the building facade.
- Any sign which contains or consists of strings of light bulbs.
- Moored balloons or other floating signs that are tethered.
- Portable or freestanding signs, including signs painted or displayed on vehicles if such vehicle is parked primarily to display the sign advertising or identifying a specific commercial event.
- Separate signs attached to a freestanding sign or its supporting structure advertising services.
- Neon or internally lit signs.
- Off-premises commercial signs, or other off-premises signs unless expressly authorized.
- Window signs.
- Revolving signs.
- Electrically operated, mounted, and illuminated signs.
- Any moving sign, windblown sign, or device to attract attention (including propellers and discs), whether or not the device carries a written message, set in motion by wind, mechanical, electrical, or other means.
- Any flashing sign or device displaying flashing or intermittent lights or lights of changing intensity, including searchlights.
- No person may damage, destroy, or remove any trees, shrubs, or other vegetation located within the right-of-way of any public or private street or road for the purpose of increasing or enhancing the visibility of any sign, unless specifically approved by the village manager.
- All nonconforming signs are prohibited from being changed, altered, expanded, modified, relocated (except in conformance), or replaced with another nonconforming sign.
- Nonconforming temporary signs are not permitted and must be removed.

## Signs exempt from permit in Bald Head Island

- Government signs do not require a permit but require approval by Development Services.
- Seasonal and holiday decorations that meet specified restrictions do not require a permit.
- Bulletin boards not visible from a right-of-way do not require a permit.
- Construction signs (if included in the building permit application) may not require a separate permit.
- Temporary signs in the form of bollard caps advertising real estate sale or open house do not require a permit.
- Informational signs of a public utility regarding its lines, pipes, or facilities do not require a permit.
- Golf course signs relating to play and conduct up to two square feet do not require a permit.
- Historical markers, monuments, or signs erected by public authority do not require a permit.
- Sandwich board signs (in commercial districts) that comply with section 32-403(6) do not require a permit.
- Vending machines shielded from view from a right-of-way or adjacent property are exempt from the neon and internally lit sign prohibition.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- In multifamily developments and nonresidential developments where occupants are subject to legally enforceable restrictions imposed by covenant or lease, the planning board may approve project signage guidelines consistent with the ordinance and constructed in accordance with a uniform plan of control and approval.
- Merchant's Row, The Bald Head Island Club, and The Shoals Club are required to comply with master signage plans reviewed and adopted by the planning board to promote creative and attractive signage, in accordance with a uniform plan of control and approval.
- The planning board may, after an evidentiary hearing, grant modifications to signage regulations in hardship cases related to lot location, topography, or configuration.

## Full detail

Complete sign requirements for Bald Head Island, including every field PermitPal tracks for each sign type, are available with a free PermitPal account: https://app.permitpal.io/?address=Bald+Head+Island+NC&override=true&utm_source=landing&utm_medium=city-page&utm_campaign=city-bald-head-island

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