# Sign Regulations in Conover, North Carolina

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Conover, North Carolina (NC)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/north-carolina/conover
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-07
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/NC/Conover/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=PTIICOOR_APXAZO_ARTIIGERE_DIV5SI)

## At a glance

Conover, North Carolina regulates 11 sign types across 4 zoning districts. Freestanding Sign (Monument Style)s in the P-1, MX, NC, OS, B-3, All Civic Buildings, Institutional zoning district are capped at 6 feet tall and 26 square feet, with a At least 5 feet behind public right-of-way, not to obstruct sight triangle. setback (Sec. Sec. 25.7.2, Table under subsection (j); Sec. 25.7.2(f), (h)). Most commercial signs in Conover require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (4 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| PUD-R, Subdivisions, Manufactured Home Parks | 1 | 6 feet | 8 square feet | — |
| P-1, MX, NC, OS, B-3, All Civic Buildings, Institutional | 2 | 6 feet | 26 square feet | — |
| CC, B-1, B-2, B-4, M-1, EM-1, COI, Commercial Corridor District (CC), Highway Business (B-2), General Business (B-4), General Manufacturing (M-1), Exclusive Manufacturing (EM-1) | 2 | 50 feet | 380 square feet | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 8 | — | 8 square feet per display surface | — |

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

### P-1, MX, NC, OS, B-3, All Civic Buildings, Institutional

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign (Monument Style) | 6 feet | 26 square feet | — | At least 5 feet behind public right-of-way, not to obstruct sight triangle. | One per building. | Maximum: One per building. For B-3, only monument style permitted. For multi-tenant and civic buildings, applies to whole site. | — | Sec. 25.7.2, Table under subsection (j); Sec. 25.7.2(f), (h) |
| Sandwich Board/Sidewalk Sign | 4 feet | 8 square feet | 2 feet | — | One per building. | Directly in front of building in B-3 and MX zones only. Must provide 5 ft pedestrian clearance, 10 ft from intersection/driveway. Displayed during business hours only. | — | Sec. 25.7.4(a) |

### CC, B-1, B-2, B-4, M-1, EM-1, COI, Commercial Corridor District (CC), Highway Business (B-2), General Business (B-4), General Manufacturing (M-1), Exclusive Manufacturing (EM-1)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign (Monument Style) | 8 feet | 40 square feet | — | At least 5 feet behind the public right-of-way; must not obstruct sight triangles. | One per building. | One sign per building (multiple buildings = one per building). Only monument style signs for CC. Not for zero setback buildings. | — | Sec. 25.7.2, Table under (j); (h) |
| Off-Premises Billboard Sign | 50 feet | 380 square feet | — | Min 1 ft, max 250 ft from ROW; min 20 ft from any structure. | One per lot. | Only within I-40 corridor. | — | Sec. 25.7.3 |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | — | — | — | — | Max 2 per facade; multi-tenant buildings: 1 per tenant with public entrance. | On building facade or as specified; up to 2 wall signs per wall except as above. | — | Sec. 25.7.1 |
| Wall Sign - Flush Mounted | — | — | — | — | — | Building facade | — | Sec. 25.7.1.1 |
| Wall Sign - Projecting (Hanging/Blade) | — | 8 square feet per display surface | — | — | — | May be mounted to and project from building wall. | — | Sec. 25.7.1.2 |
| Wall Sign – Canopy/Awning Sign | — | — | — | — | 1 per wall in lieu of other wall sign on that wall, or 1 per entrance in multi-tenant. | On canopy or awning. | — | Sec. 25.7.1.3 |
| Freestanding Sign (General) | — | — | — | At least 5 ft from property ROW. | One per building. | At least 5 ft behind public right-of-way; not to obstruct sight triangles. | — | Sec. 25.7.2(a)-(c) |
| Monument Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Flush with ground, not mounted on poles or berms. | — | Sec. 25.7.2.1 |
| Elevated Sign | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Sec. 25.7.2.2 |
| Temporary Sign or Banner | — | — | — | Minimum 5 ft from public ROW. | — | On building or freestanding, as long as conforming to above. | — | Sec. 25.7.4(j) |

## Prohibited signs in Conover

- Signs located in or extending into the public right-of-way, other than approved signs installed by the City of Conover for City maintained streets and the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) for State maintained streets.
- Signs that are dilapidated or in disrepair.
- Signs on roofs, chimneys, or balconies.
- Flashing or blinking signs, signs with flashing or reflective disks or signs with flashing lights or lights of changing degree of intensity or color.
- Animated, rotating or other moving or apparently moving signs.
- Portable signs, except those specifically permitted in Section 25.7.4.
- Signs that are similar in color, design or appearance to traffic control signage.
- Windblown or inflatable devices, including balloons, streamers, giant animals or any other forms or shapes.
- Posters, streamers or similar devices used to attract attention.
- Off-site signs, except for those specifically permitted in Section 25.7.3.
- Vehicular Signs. Vehicles containing business names or logos, including delivery trucks, may not be stored or parked between the public right-of-way and the normal building line for the principal structure.
- Pole Signs.
- Any sign associated with a home occupation.
- All other signs not expressly permitted in this ordinance.
- No sign or structure shall be erected or constructed as to interfere with vision clearance as defined in Section 22.5 along any street or at any intersection or junction of two (2) or more traffic arteries.
- No flashing, scrolling or intermittent illumination shall be used on any advertising sign or structure.
- The screen or type of digital, LED, or similar signs must not change more than one (1) time in a five (5) minute period; this does not include time or temperature units.
- Neon is not allowed on awnings.
- No metal bar or framing or other solid shall be less than eight (8) feet above the ground or sidewalk for canopies/awnings, cloth/canvas skirt may not be less than seven (7) feet.
- Roof mounted signs are prohibited.
- No unlawful cutting, trimming, or removal of trees, shrubs or vegetation for the purpose of increasing or enhancing the visibility of any sign if the subject vegetation is within the public right-of-way (unless done by an agency with jurisdiction), or on property not controlled by the responsible person without authorization, or if the trees/shrubs are required landscaping.
- No commercial advertising is allowed on the site of wireless support structures.
- No sign shall be constructed within or upon any street right-of-way. Additionally, no fence or wall shall be constructed within six (6) feet of any street pavement.
- No sign shall be permitted in a fully controlled access highway.
- No sign shall obscure motorist visibility at an intersection.
- No sign shall be higher than forty-two (42) inches above the edge of the pavement of the road (for political signs).
- No sign shall be larger than six (6) square feet (for political signs).
- No sign shall obscure or replace another sign.
- No sign shall block visibility—vehicular or pedestrian at any time.
- No sign shall be illuminated in districts where such lighting is not permitted or must be downcast/fully shielded to prevent light trespass.

## Signs exempt from permit in Conover

- Signs not exceeding one square foot in area and bearing only property numbers, post box numbers, or names of occupants of premises.
- Flags and insignia of any government except when displayed in connection with commercial promotion.
- Legal notice, identification information, or directional signs erected by governmental bodies.
- Integral decorative or architectural features of buildings, except letters, trademarks, moving parts or moving lights.
- Signs directing and guiding traffic and parking on private property but bearing no advertising matter.
- Signs and displays located on or within windows of a building or structure (provided they cover no more than 25% of the gross glass area).
- Sandwich boards and sidewalk signs in B-3 and MX zoning districts under specific restrictions (not illuminated, ≤8 sq ft, etc.)
- Construction site identification signs (≤4 sq ft and 3 feet high for residential construction, ≤32 sq ft and 8 feet high for non-residential/multifamily), only on active construction site, must be removed within 7 days of project completion.
- One real estate sign per street frontage on property for sale, max 4 sq ft in residential zones, 32 sq ft in commercial/industrial zones.
- Signs advertising multi-family residential and multi-tenant commercial property for lease or sale (max 4 sq ft, must match permanent signage).
- Building directory signs (max 4 sq ft, wall-mounted next to entrance, ≤6 inch projection).
- Service entrance signs or signs directing traffic that bear no logos or advertising.
- Parking directional signs (max 2 sq ft, 3 ft high, no advertising), freestanding signs must be at least 1 foot from right-of-way.
- Political signs (per specific limitations for location, time, height, area, and not blocking other signs).
- Temporary signs/banners with approved permit for up to 40 days per year (must be removed within 2 days after event, placed at least 5 feet from street right-of-way).
- Service station pumps may have up to two signs attached to pump tops, max 4 sq ft each.
- Service station canopy signs (max 15 sq ft per side, 3 sides; message limited to name/registered trademark or one gas price).

## Sign plan & submission notes

- If special site conditions exist (such as topography), the planning director may grant approval for signage so long as the signage meets the intent of the ordinance.
- All signs must be erected or altered in accordance with the requirements set out in Division 5 (requires compliance and potential permitting, but does not specify a 'sign plan' for general cases).
- Master or comprehensive sign plan requirements or references are not present in the provided text.
- For some freestanding sign types and zoning districts, signage area, height, and placement are regulated according to zoning, but a sign plan per se is not required in the general ordinance.
- For nonconforming signs: If altered, refaced, removed, moved, or changed in any way, the sign must be brought into full compliance with current regulations.
- Changeable copy or LED signs: Applicant or sign manufacturer must provide either a manufacturer certification of max light intensity or an isolux lighting plan certified by an electrical engineer.
- Signs in P-1 or B-3 districts must be lighted from behind or internally illuminated; compliance is subject to Conover Zoning Ordinance Division 5.
- The installation of temporary signs or banners requires an approved permit for up to 40 days annually.

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

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