# Sign Regulations in Dallas, North Carolina

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Dallas, North Carolina (NC)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/north-carolina/dallas
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-19

## At a glance

Dallas, North Carolina regulates 44 sign types across 5 zoning districts. Campaign/Political/Election Sign (In ROW)s in the General Regulations For All Zones zoning district are capped at 36 inches (30 inches if within 12 feet of intersection) tall and 5 sq ft, with a Not within 15 feet of fire hydrant; Not within 2 feet of any public street sign setback (Sec. § 153.080 (B)(10)(a)). Most commercial signs in Dallas require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (5 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 31 | 36 inches (30 inches if within 12 feet of intersection) | 60 sq ft | — |
| Medical and Office Institutional (M O and I),Office and Institutional (O and I-2),Neighborhood Business (B-1),Highway Business (B-2),Central Business (B-3),Central Business District Perimeter (B-3P),General Business (B-4),Light Industrial (I-1),General Industrial (I-2),General Industrial Limited (I-2L),Exclusive Industrial (EI-1) | 5 | 30 ft | 100 sq ft | — |
| Residential District | 7 | — | 12 sq ft | — |
| B-3: Central Business zone | 2 | Same as other permitted sign | 50 sq ft (detached); 60 sq ft or 20% facade width x 10 ft (attached) | — |
| B-2: Highway Business zone | 1 | Max 40 ft; up to 80 ft if area ≤ 200 sq ft | Back-to-back or V-type: 2 displays/facing; if >40 ft high, max 200 sq ft; otherwise, max 40 ft high. | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 5 zones)

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Campaign/Political/Election Sign (In ROW) | 36 inches (30 inches if within 12 feet of intersection) | 5 sq ft | — | Not within 15 feet of fire hydrant; Not within 2 feet of any public street sign | — | Within street right-of-way (with conditions) | — | § 153.080 (B)(10)(a) |
| Temporary Real Estate Sign (Residential) | — | 4 sq ft | — | At least 10 ft from any street ROW line | 1 per street frontage | On the property being advertised; behind street ROW line | — | § 153.080 (B)(11)(a)(2); § 153.085 (C) |
| Off-Premises Temporary Directional Sign - Residential Development | 4 ft | 3 sq ft | — | — | Up to 8 per development (time limited) | Up to 8 per development; attached to own support, anchored; allowed 6pm Fri to 6pm Sun | — | § 153.080 (B)(11)(a)(5) |
| Off-Premises Directional Sign - Individual Dwelling | 2.5 ft | 2 sq ft | — | — | 2 per dwelling | Up to 2 per dwelling for sale; attached to own support, anchored | — | § 153.080 (B)(11)(a)(6) |
| Open House Sign | 4 ft | 3 sq ft | — | — | Up to 4 per event | Off-premises, 6pm Fri to 6pm Sun | — | § 153.080 (B)(11)(b) |
| Sandwich Board Sign | 5 ft | 10 sq ft per side | 2 ft | — | — | In sidewalk or within street ROW (outside vehicular travel way) | — | § 153.080 (B)(15) |
| Electronic Variable Messaging (EVM) Sign - Detached | Same as other permitted sign of same type/location | 50 sq ft | — | — | 1 per property | Min 25 ft from street/highway intersection, 150 ft from residential zone/area | — | § 153.082 (A)-(F) |
| Electronic Variable Messaging (EVM) Sign - Attached | 10 ft | 60 sq ft | — | — | 1 per property | Building facade; with general EVM location restrictions | — | § 153.082 (B)-(F) |

### Medical and Office Institutional (M O and I),Office and Institutional (O and I-2),Neighborhood Business (B-1),Highway Business (B-2),Central Business (B-3),Central Business District Perimeter (B-3P),General Business (B-4),Light Industrial (I-1),General Industrial (I-2),General Industrial Limited (I-2L),Exclusive Industrial (EI-1)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Detached Business Sign | 30 ft | 100 sq ft | — | — | 1 per establishment per street front | Behind property line; at least 10 ft above ground level if within 15 ft of street ROW line | — | Appendix D, Type 7 & § 153.085(H) |
| Attached Business Sign | — | — | — | — | No limit | On building | — | Appendix D, Type 7 |
| Commercial Use - Not in or Associated With Building Sign | — | 100 sq ft | — | — | 1 per establishment | Behind property line | — | Appendix D, Type 8 |
| Identification Sign - Industrial | — | — | — | — | No limit | Behind property line | — | Appendix D, Type 9 |
| Electronic Variable Messaging (EVM) Sign | Same as other permitted sign of same type/location; 10 ft (attached) | 50 sq ft (detached); 60 sq ft or 20% of facade width x 10 ft, whichever is less (attached) | — | — | 1 per property | See General Regulations for set distances and facade rules | — | § 153.082; Appendix D |

### Residential District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Identification Sign - Single Family Dwellings | — | 1.5 sq ft | — | — | 1 per dwelling unit | Behind street right-of-way line | — | Appendix D, Type 1 |
| Identification Sign - Multi-family Dwellings | — | 3 sq ft | — | — | 1 per building | Behind required setback | — | Appendix D, Type 2 |
| Identification Sign - Group Housing Projects | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | 1 per street front | Behind required setback | — | Appendix D, Type 3 |
| Church/School/Community Facility Identification Sign | — | 12 sq ft | — | — | 1 per building | Behind street right-of-way | — | Appendix D, Type 4 |
| Cemetery Identification Sign | — | 12 sq ft | — | — | 1 per street front | Behind required setback | — | Appendix D, Type 5 |
| Nursing Home/Daycare/Similar Identification Sign | — | 12 sq ft | — | — | 1 per establishment | Behind required setback | — | Appendix D, Type 6 |
| Temporary Real Estate Sign (Residential) | — | 4 sq ft | — | At least 10 ft from any street ROW line | 1 per street frontage | On property being advertised; at least 10 ft from ROW | — | § 153.085 (C) |

## Prohibited signs in Dallas

- Signs that are structurally unsafe and thereby endanger the public safety shall be removed unless repaired and made to comply with code.
- No sign shall be erected or maintained at any location where, by reason of its position, wording, illumination, shape, symbol, color, form or character, it may obstruct, impair, obscure, interfere with the view of, or be confused with, any authorized traffic-control sign, signal or device, or interfere with, mislead, confuse, or disrupt traffic.
- No sign having flashing, intermittent, or animated illumination shall be permitted within 75 feet of a street or highway intersection or within 300 feet of any residential zone unless the sign is not visible from such zone.
- No advertising sign shall be permitted in any area designated by the Board of Aldermen as one of scenic beauty or historical interest.
- No person shall injure, tamper with, remove or paint upon or deface any sign, sign post, street light, traffic signal or bulletin board or other municipal property upon the streets and sidewalks except employees of the town in performance of their duties.
- Any digital display containing animation, streaming video, or text or images which flash, pulsate, move, or scroll is prohibited. Each complete message must fit on one screen.
- No message center sign may contain text which flashes, pulsates, moves, or scrolls. Each complete message must fit on one screen.
- Addition of any digital display to a nonconforming sign is prohibited.
- Signs shall not be located in such a manner as to obscure or physically interfere with the effectiveness of an official traffic sign, signal or device; obstruct or physically interfere with the driver's view of approaching, merging or intersecting traffic.
- No signs are allowed on telephone poles, sign poles, etc. These signs must be free standing (on their own supports).
- No such sign shall obstruct the safe vision of motorists.
- Signs shall not be placed in a street median (i.e., in a street right-of-way), unless otherwise specified.
- No sign structure shall be located within 75 feet to a residential structure or a residential zone boundary (certain zones).
- No sign allowed under certain temporary exemptions shall be illuminated (as specified in those subsections).

## Signs exempt from permit in Dallas

- Official or public notices or warning signs required by Federal, State, or local law, public utility company, or court.
- Building marker signs including building name, date of construction, or historical data, up to 6 square feet.
- On-premises decorative, seasonal, or corporate logo flags up to 16 square feet.
- Governmental signs erected and maintained by or on behalf of US, State, County, or Town for traffic regulation or civic purposes.
- On-premises public interest signs (e.g., entrance/exit, no trespassing, help wanted) up to 4 square feet.
- Memorial signs, plaques or grave markers that are noncommercial.
- Flags, pennants, insignia, or religious symbols of any nonprofit or not-for-profit organization or government, not displayed as an advertising device or feature for commercial purposes.
- On-premises identification signs for residential uses, up to 4 square feet, and mailbox signs limited to names and addresses.
- Incidental on-premise signs for public convenience (visitor center, restroom, hours, etc.), unilluminated, up to 4 square feet each, maximum 2 per property.
- Campaign, political, and election signs, subject to detailed restrictions based on placement.
- Temporary real estate signs advertising property for sale, lease, rent or development, or open houses, with detailed restrictions.
- Construction/improvement signs (including financing/future development signs), subject to size and duration limits.
- Subdivision/multifamily/planned residential identification signs, subject to location, area, and type restrictions.
- On-premises temporary banners and signs for nonresidential uses for promotional or grand opening events, under specified limits (periods, area, number, location).
- Sandwich board signs within requirements for area, height, materials, placement, and removal.
- Commercial signs in athletic fields/outdoor spaces visible to event attendees.
- Noncommercial holiday decorations placed outside of right-of-way and displayed between November 15 and January 15.
- Off-premises permanent directional signs for public, nonprofit uses, following durability, illumination, and number/location requirements.
- Special event signs for public/quasi-public/not-for-profit organizations for specific events, within area, illumination, and timing limits.
- Window signs placed on the inside of glass windows and doors (not exterior wall signs).
- Yard sale/garage/estate/auction signs within area, number, timing, consent, and placement restrictions.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Installation of a new electronic variable messaging sign, or conversion of permitted non-digital sign to a digital sign, requires a zoning permit.
- Zoning permits may be revoked for illuminated signage installed without required building and electrical permits and inspections.
- The owner of any illuminated sign must arrange for an independent certification of compliance with brightness standards before issuance of a sign permit.
- EVM signage located within the B-3 zone requires approval by the Board of Aldermen in addition to other requirements.
- Signs must comply with the Schedule of Sign Regulations set forth in Appendix D.
- No mention found of a required 'master sign plan' or 'sign plan' submittal for multiple businesses or developments, except as may be implied by the zoning permit process or the approval of the Board of Aldermen for certain sign types and zones.
- Variance or special exception meetings are referenced only regarding areas designated by the Board of Aldermen (e.g., areas of scenic beauty or historical interest).

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

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