# Sign Regulations in Bessemer City, North Carolina

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Bessemer City, North Carolina (NC)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/north-carolina/bessemer-city
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-07
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/NC/Bessemer_City/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=COORBENOCA_TITIIIAD_CH34FIPU_PUPOPR_S34.22SIRE)

## At a glance

Bessemer City, North Carolina regulates 17 sign types across 4 zoning districts. Industrial/Business Park Entrance Signs in the CC, HC, BCP zoning district are capped at 6 ft tall and 72 sq ft (per principal sign at entrance); 8 sq ft per building within park on the principal sign, with a 10 ft from right-of-way setback (Sec. Table 3-11).

## Sign rules by zoning district (4 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| R, NR, UR | 3 | 6 ft | 32 sq ft | — |
| CC, HC, BCP | 14 | 20 ft | Up to 100 sq ft on street wall, 36 sq ft on side wall (subject to 5% wall area) | — |
| I | 7 | 20 ft | Up to 100 sq ft on street wall, 36 sq ft on side wall (subject to 5% wall area) | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 2 | 10 ft | 60 sq ft | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 4 zones)

### CC, HC, BCP

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Directional Sign | 6 ft | 24 sq ft | — | 40 ft from public right-of-way | — | At least 40 feet from the public right-of-way in multiple occupant buildings or shopping centers | — | Table 3-10, 3-11 |
| Industrial/Business Park Entrance Sign | 6 ft | 72 sq ft (per principal sign at entrance); 8 sq ft per building within park on the principal sign | — | 10 ft from right-of-way | 1 per park entrance | Park entrance | — | Table 3-11 |
| Menu Board | 6 ft | 32 sq ft | — | — | 2 per drive-thru lane | Drive-thru facility, rear or side yard only | — | Table 3-11 |
| Multi-tenant Monument Sign | 20 ft | 64 sq ft primary; 32 sq ft secondary on corner lots | — | 10 ft minimum from right-of-way | 1 per multi-tenant building, 1 per primary street frontage | Multi-occupancy buildings of 50,000 sq ft or more; per primary street frontage | — | Table 3-11 |
| Principal/Monument Ground Sign | 6 ft | 32 sq ft (per sign) | — | 10 ft from right-of-way, 5 ft from property line | 1 per parcel, possibly 1 additional (see additional requirements) | Monument ground sign | — | Table 3-11 |
| Sandwich Board Sign | — | 8 sq ft | — | — | 1 per tenant | Sidewalks in CC District, directly in front of associated establishment. Restaurant/coffee shops/farm products only. | — | Table 3-10, Table 3-11 |
| Building/Identification Sign | — | 5 sq ft | — | — | 1 per building | On the building | — | Table 3-10, Table 3-11 |
| Projecting Sign | — | 8 sq ft | — | 2 ft minimum from street or parking area | 1 per primary entrance | CC, HC, & BCP Districts, on facade | — | Table 3-10, Table 3-11, 3.8.C.10 |

### I

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Directional Sign | 6 ft | 24 sq ft | — | 40 ft from public right-of-way | — | At least 40 feet from the public right-of-way in multiple occupant buildings or shopping centers | — | Table 3-10, Table 3-11 |
| Industrial/Business Park Entrance Sign | 6 ft | 72 sq ft (per principal sign at entrance); 8 sq ft per building within park on the principal sign | — | 10 ft from right-of-way | 1 per park entrance | Park entrance | — | Table 3-11 |
| Multi-tenant Monument Sign | 20 ft | 64 sq ft primary; 32 sq ft secondary on corner lots | — | 10 ft minimum from right-of-way | 1 per multi-tenant building, 1 per primary street frontage | Multi-occupancy buildings of 50,000 sq ft or more; per primary street frontage | — | Table 3-11 |
| Principal/Monument Ground Sign | 6 ft | 32 sq ft (per sign) | — | 10 ft from right-of-way, 5 ft from property line | 1 per parcel, possibly 1 additional (see additional requirements) | Monument ground sign | — | Table 3-11 |
| Building/Identification Sign | — | 5 sq ft | — | — | 1 per building | On the building | — | Table 3-10, Table 3-11 |
| Wall Sign | — | Up to 100 sq ft on street wall, 36 sq ft on side wall (subject to 5% wall area) | — | — | 1 per primary business entrance | On building wall, street front and one other side. | — | Table 3-10, Table 3-11 |
| Temporary Sign | — | — | — | — | — | On private property, except where specified | — | Table 3-10, 3.8.F.20 |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Arm Sign | 6 ft | 8 sq ft | — | 5 ft behind right-of-way | 1 per primary business | CC, UR, NR, HC, BCP, & I Districts; five feet behind any right-of-way | — | Table 3-11 |
| Electronic Message Board Sign | 10 ft | 60 sq ft | — | 10 ft from right-of-way and property line | 1 per primary business | All districts, but only city government, parks, government, religious institutions, educational facilities (excluding daycares/preschools), and service stations | — | Table 3-11, 3.8.D.5, 3.8.C.13 |

## Prohibited signs in Bessemer City

- All signs not expressly permitted under this chapter or otherwise exempt from regulation are prohibited.
- Any sign that obstructs the view of bicyclists or motorists or interferes with the effectiveness or visibility of any traffic sign or device.
- Signs, other than traffic regulatory signs, that may be construed as government or emergency-warning signs (e.g., signs containing lights, rotating disks, words like 'Stop' or 'Yield').
- Any sign located outdoors that interferes with or obstructs fire escapes, downspouts, windows, doors, stairways, ladders, or other means of ingress, egress, light, or air.
- Any sign placed on curbs, sidewalks, posts, poles, hydrants, bridges, trees, or other surfaces on, over, or across any public street or right-of-way unless specifically authorized. Signs placed in sight distance triangles without approval are also prohibited.
- Any sign intentionally denying an adjoining property owner visual access to an existing sign.
- Signs that blink, flash, or move in any manner, or have portions that appear to move. Flashing signs, signs with changing lights or intensity, scrolled messages, or reflective disks.
- Portable signs, excluding temporary signs otherwise permitted, and any attempt to convert a portable sign to a permanent sign by securing it.
- Vehicular signs.
- Rotating signs.
- Electric signs not installed and/or wired in accordance with the national electric code.
- Signs not installed in accordance with the building code.
- Roof signs in all districts.
- Signs with obscene language or pictures as per NCGS 14-190.1.
- Signs advertising an activity or business no longer conducted on the property.
- Off-premises advertising signs.
- Inflatable objects, including balloons with a diameter of two feet or greater.
- Any other sign not expressly permitted by this chapter.
- Pole signs in all districts.
- No sign may be placed within a public right-of-way or required sight distance triangle unless specifically authorized.
- No sign may exceed above any parapet or be placed on any roof surface, except holiday displays on residential structures.

## Signs exempt from permit in Bessemer City

- Official or public notice or warning signs required by law or utility/court order.
- Building marker signs (name, date, historical data) cut or etched in masonry, bronze, or similar material.
- On-premises decorative, seasonal, or corporate logo flags up to 24 square feet.
- Governmental signs.
- On-premises public interest signs (e.g., entrances/exits, parking, no trespassing) up to 4 square feet, not at driveway entrance/instruction points.
- Memorial signs, plaques, or grave markers that are noncommercial.
- Flags, pennants, insignia, or religious symbols of government/nonprofit/not-for-profit organizations not used as commercial advertising. Max flag pole height: 30 ft (commercial), 15 ft (residential). Max flag area: 40 sq ft (commercial), 15 sq ft (residential).
- On-premises ground or wall identification signs for residential uses (name, address), up to 6 sq ft aggregate area.
- Incidental signs for public convenience (restrooms, hours, etc.), up to 6 sq ft each, may be illuminated, limited to service information, trade names, logos.
- Political signs per prescribed state law (e.g., size, height, placement, timing, no obstruction, not in fully controlled-access highways, removed timely).
- Signs for agricultural products for sale (1 sandwich board per property with products grown; 2 signs on other private property with permission, during sale season only, up to 4 sq ft each, unilluminated).
- Commercial signs in athletic fields/enclosed outdoor facilities not visible from public street.
- Seasonal and holiday decorations (no commercial messages, not in street right-of-way, must not flash/imitate motion as traffic distraction).
- Noncommercial copy ground signs up to 16 sq ft, not prohibited under section 3.8.G.
- Internal building signs not visible from outside.
- Breezeway or entryway signs located within the foundation line and not visible from outside.
- Mailbox signs per U.S. Postal Service (limited to names/addresses, no commercial/directional info).
- External bulletin boards (max 16 sq ft) for government, nonprofit or not-for-profit, on-site for public access.
- Signage related to sidewalk cafes/umbrellas/tables/chairs normally associated with commercial venues.
- Temporary signs (not illuminated) for banners, special events, yard sales, real estate, meeting prescribed requirements (max sizes, times, placement, removal).
- Recreation signs in stadiums/fields only readable from inside, max 32 sq ft.
- Other internal or ancillary signs meeting the chapter's criteria.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A uniform sign plan is required for all office and retail complexes and multi-tenant buildings. All tenants must comply with the approved uniform sign plan.
- Multi-tenant monument signs must be consistent with principal structure architecture (may imply sign plan required/approval for overall design consistency).
- Exact location of neighborhood identification signs must be approved during the permitting process (sign plan or permit required).
- For any permitted sign, a sign application is required as indicated by 'P' in the permitted sign types table (though not explicitly a sign plan, a permit process applies).

## 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 4 zoning districts in Bessemer City — every sign type, every field — are available with a free PermitPal account: https://app.permitpal.io/?address=Bessemer+City+NC&override=true&utm_source=landing&utm_medium=city-page&utm_campaign=city-bessemer-city

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