# Sign Regulations in Burlington, North Carolina

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Burlington, North Carolina (NC)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/north-carolina/burlington
- **Data last verified:** 2025-09-11
- **Source:** [other municipal code](https://www.burlingtonnc.gov/DocumentCenter/View/27933/Burlington-UDO-5-6-25-1#page=399)

## At a glance

Burlington, North Carolina regulates 18 sign types across 6 zoning districts. Banners in the Neighborhood Business (NB) zoning district are capped at Below roof/parapet; max 12 ft if not on building; not above 1st floor tall, 20 sf, and 4 ft wide, with a 10 ft from pavement/avoid ROW setback (Sec. Section 5.6.J.2). Most commercial signs in Burlington require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (6 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Low Density Residential (LDR), Medium Density Residential (MDR), Residential Manufactured Home (RMH), Conditional Residential (CR) | 5 | On lot: 60 in; In ROW: 42 in above pavement of roadway | 60 sf per flag | — |
| High Density Residential (HDR) | 1 | Height of building | 16 sf | — |
| Office Institutional (OI), Conditional Office-Institutional (COI) | 7 | On lot: 60 in; ROW: 42 in above pavement | 60 sf per flag | — |
| Neighborhood Business (NB) | 9 | On lot: 60 in; ROW: 42 in above pavement | 60 sf per flag | — |
| General Business (GB), Central Business (CB), Central Business District (CBD), Planned Development (PD), Planned Development-Downtown (PDD), Mixed Use (MX), Medium Industrial (MI), Light Industrial (LI), Heavy Industrial (HI), Conditional Business (CB), Conditional Industrial (CI) | 17 | On lot: 60 in; ROW: 42 in above pavement | 150 sf (MX, CBD, PD, PDD, GB, Industrial, CI); 48 sf (CBD, MX districts) | — |
| Parks and Conservation (PC) | 3 | On lot: 60 in; ROW: 42 in above pavement | 60 sf per flag | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 6 zones)

### Office Institutional (OI), Conditional Office-Institutional (COI)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | Height of building | 32 sf (primary facade) | — | Same as building | Single-tenant: 1; Multi-tenant: 1 per tenant | Attached to principal facade | — | Section 5.6.J.13 |
| Ground Sign | 15 ft | 32 sf | — | 5 ft | 1 per lot | On lot | — | Section 5.6.J.5 |
| Awning Sign | Under roof or parapet wall (min 8 ft above grade) | 25% of awning area (per sign); 5% per street-facing facade (total) | — | Min 2 ft from curb if in ROW | 1 per 10 linear feet of facade | On awning, canopy, or cover over entrance/window/outdoor area | — | Section 5.6.J.1 |
| Incidental Sign | 12 ft | 1.5 sf per sign (2 signs up to 3 sf each) | — | 5 ft | Total area 36 sf | On lot | — | Section 5.6.J.6 |
| Supplemental Sign | 12 ft | 32 sf per sign | — | 10 ft from pavement/avoid ROW | 1 per lot + 1 per tenant | On lot | — | Section 5.6.J.12 |
| Political Sign | On lot: 60 in; ROW: 42 in above pavement | On lot: 32 sf; In ROW: 6 sf | — | — | 6 per lot | On lot or in ROW | — | Section 5.6.J.7 |
| Flag | 40 ft | 60 sf per flag | — | Setback equals pole/device height | 3 per lot | On lot | — | Section 5.6.J.4 |

### Neighborhood Business (NB)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | Height of building | 32 sf (primary facade) | — | Same as building | Single-tenant: 1; Multi-tenant: 1 per tenant | Attached to principal facade | — | Section 5.6.J.13 |
| Ground Sign | 15 ft | 32 sf | — | 5 ft | 1 per lot | On lot | — | Section 5.6.J.5 |
| Awning Sign | Below roof/parapet; min 8 ft above grade | 25% per awning; 5% total per street-facing facade | — | If in ROW, min 2 ft from curb | 1 per 10 linear feet | On awning/canopy/cover | — | Section 5.6.J.1 |
| Banner | Below roof/parapet; max 12 ft if not on building; not above 1st floor | 20 sf | 4 ft | 10 ft from pavement/avoid ROW | 1 per use; multi-tenant: max 3 on site | On facade, fence, wall, or as freestanding banner | — | Section 5.6.J.2 |
| Incidental Sign | 12 ft | 1.5 sf per sign; 2 signs may be up to 3 sf each | — | 5 ft | See size restrictions. | On lot | — | Section 5.6.J.6 |
| Supplemental Sign | 12 ft | 32 sf | — | 10 ft from pavement/avoid ROW | 1 per lot + 1 per tenant | On lot | — | Section 5.6.J.12 |
| Flag | 40 ft | 60 sf per flag | — | Setback equals pole/device height | 3 per lot | On lot | — | Section 5.6.J.4 |
| Sidewalk Sign | 4 ft | 8.5 sf | — | Min distance 6 in from curb | 1 per street frontage | On sidewalk, on-site pedestrian way, but not in residential district | — | Section 5.6.J.9 |

### General Business (GB), Central Business (CB), Central Business District (CBD), Planned Development (PD), Planned Development-Downtown (PDD), Mixed Use (MX), Medium Industrial (MI), Light Industrial (LI), Heavy Industrial (HI), Conditional Business (CB), Conditional Industrial (CI)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign (Primary Facade - Single Tenant) | Height of building | Max 1.5 sf/linear foot of primary facade or 300 sf | — | Same as building | 2 (single tenant); 4 (large format retail) | Primary facade | — | Section 5.6.J.13 |
| Wall Sign (Secondary/Tertiary Facade - Single Tenant) | Height of building | Max 1 sf/linear foot of secondary/tertiary facade or 150 sf | — | Same as building | 1 (single tenant); 2 (large format retail) | Secondary/tertiary facade | — | Section 5.6.J.13 |
| Wall Sign (Multi-Tenant Primary Facade) | Height of building | Max 1.5 sf/linear foot of storefront or 300 sf | — | Same as building | 1 per tenant per facade | Primary facade at tenant storefront | — | Section 5.6.J.13 |
| Wall Sign (Multi-Tenant Secondary/Tertiary Facade) | Height of building | Max 1 sf/linear foot of facade or 150 sf | — | Same as building | 1 per tenant per facade | Secondary/tertiary facade at tenant space | — | Section 5.6.J.13 |
| Ground Sign | 15 ft (MX, CBD, PD, PDD, GB, Industrial, CI) | 150 sf (MX, CBD, PD, PDD, GB, Industrial, CI); 48 sf (CBD, MX districts) | — | 5 ft | 1 per lot (see notes) | On lot | — | Section 5.6.J.5 |
| Awning Sign | Below roof/parapet; min 8 ft above grade | 25% per awning; 5% total per street-facing facade | — | If in ROW, min 2 ft from curb | 1 per 10 linear feet | On awning/canopy/cover | — | Section 5.6.J.1 |
| Banner | Below roof/parapet; max 12 ft if not on building; not above 1st floor | 20 sf | 4 ft | 10 ft from pavement/avoid ROW | 1 per use; multi-tenant: max 3 on site | On facade, fence, wall, or as freestanding banner | — | Section 5.6.J.2 |
| Electronic Message Board (EMB) | In accordance with wall or ground sign standards, max 30 ft above grade | Max 32 sf or 50% of total sign face area (see notes) | — | Must observe min 150 ft from residential | 1 per lot; eligible lots: up to 2 | On wall or ground sign; min 150 ft from residential zone | — | Section 5.6.J.3 |

## Prohibited signs in Burlington

- Freestanding or pole signs where the sign face area is mounted on one or more poles in a manner where air or open space exists between the bottom of the sign face area and the surface of the ground beneath it, except as noted for incidental signs.
- Off-premise signs or signage that advertises goods or services provided on a different lot, tract, or site from where the sign is located, except as allowed for subdivision signs and shared ground signs.
- Outdoor advertising, except for outdoor advertising lawfully established prior to November 1, 2019, which may continue only as a nonconforming use.
- Feather flags, bow signs, pennants, and streamers.
- Moving signs, excluding flags, banners, and clocks.
- Flashing, scrolling, twirling, or blinking signs.
- Gas- or air-filled balloons, figures, and other inflatable signs.
- Signs on the roof or above the parapet of a building.
- Any sign obstructing the view of bicyclists, pedestrians, or motorists or obscuring traffic signs, signals, or devices.
- Signs, lights, rotating features, words, and other devices that resemble or may be construed as traffic signals, signs, or emergency vehicle lights.
- Illuminated or highly reflective signs that hamper the vision of motorists, pedestrians, or bicyclists as determined by law enforcement.
- Any sign which interferes with free passage from or obstructs any fire escape, downspout, door, stairway, ladder, or opening intended for ingress or egress.
- Any sign placed on a utility pole, street sign post, traffic signal support, hydrant, bridge, tree, public infrastructure, or street paving that is not installed or approved by an appropriate governmental agency.
- Signage affixed to a stationary motor vehicle, boat, or trailer on a lot or site not occupied by the business being advertised, except when the vehicle is present to provide services at that location.
- Signs with speakers intended for audio playback.
- Unpainted plywood used as a sign.
- Use of vinyl or fabric material over or around a cabinet sign frame.

## Signs exempt from permit in Burlington

- Fence-wrap signs affixed to fences surrounding a construction site in accordance with Section 160D-908 of the North Carolina General Statutes.
- Farm signs within the right-of-way of a NCDOT-maintained roadway during the applicable farm sign period, in accordance with Section 136-32 of the North Carolina General Statutes.
- Legal notices required by governmental bodies, public utilities, or civic associations.
- Signage owned or maintained by any unit of government or public agency, including but not limited to flags, street signs, traffic warning signs, and other signage provided solely by governmental agencies for public health and safety.
- Building cornerstones, historical plaques, or grave markers.
- Signage associated with public transit stops.
- Holiday displays on lots within all zoning districts.
- Signage painted, magnetically attached, or mechanically affixed to a motor vehicle or trailer, provided the motor vehicle or trailer is parked or stored on the same lot or site where the business being advertised is located, and provided the signage is not a flag, banner, pennant, or other form of signage that moves.
- Signage that is not visible from any off-site areas (e.g., entirely enclosed by opaque walls that prevent the visibility of signage from any off-site areas).
- Signage associated with off-street parking spaces or the prohibition of parking in certain locations like fire lanes, bus lanes, or loading zones.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Shared ground signs require that all principal structures, lots, and site features of the uses sharing the sign be depicted on one shared site plan or planned development master plan, and the plan must identify the sign's general location.
- In multiple-lot developments subject to a single site plan or master plan, banners and supplemental signs (and sometimes other sign types) are subject to additional setback requirements from the perimeter of the development as shown on the plan.
- Some sign types specifically note that signage may be subject to additional standards identified in Section 3.20.D, Gateway Corridor Overlay (GCO) District, which may include sign plan requirements.
- The general provisions repeatedly reference Section 2.4.R, Sign Permit, for sign permit processes. No reference to master sign plans or variance meetings is found except in relation to shared ground signs and multiple-lot developments requiring a unified site or master plan.

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

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