# Sign Regulations in Durham, North Carolina

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Durham, North Carolina (NC)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/north-carolina/durham
- **Data last verified:** 2025-07-31
- **Source:** [other municipal code](https://udo.durhamnc.gov/udo/art11_Sign%20Standards.htm)

## At a glance

Durham, North Carolina regulates 18 sign types across 4 zoning districts. Freestanding Sign (Monument)s in the CI - Commercial Infill, CN - Commercial Neighborhood, CG - Commercial General, OI - Office and Institutional, SRP - Science Research Park, SRP-C - Science Research Park-Center, IL - Industrial Light, I - Industrial, UC - University and College, UC-2 - University and College-2, CC - Commercial Center, IP - Industrial Park, MU - Mixed Use, GC, RSCH, RAD, NC, O&I-1, O&I-2, CT, I-1, I-2, I-3, SC zoning district are capped at 6 ft (monument); 16 ft (pylon), except 12 ft for nonresidential use in residential zones tall and 32 sq ft (frontage < 150 ft); 80 sq ft (frontage ≥ 150 ft), with a No min for ≤6 ft sign height; for >6 ft, up to 10 ft setback depending on size and adjacency setback (Sec. Sec. 11.6.2 - Freestanding Signs). Most commercial signs in Durham require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (4 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| RR - Residential Rural, RS-20 - Residential Suburban – 20, RS-10 - Residential Suburban – 10, RS-8 - Residential Suburban – 8, RS-M - Residential Suburban Multifamily, R-20, R-10, R-15, R-8, RM-8, RM-12, RM-16, RU-5 - Residential Urban – 5, RU-5(2) - Residential Urban – 5 (2) (duplexes allowed), RU-M - Residential Urban Multifamily, R-5, R-3, RM-20, RC - Residential Compact | 3 | 6 ft | 32 sq ft for single sign or 16 sq ft each if two signs | — |
| CI - Commercial Infill, CN - Commercial Neighborhood, CG - Commercial General, OI - Office and Institutional, SRP - Science Research Park, SRP-C - Science Research Park-Center, IL - Industrial Light, I - Industrial, UC - University and College, UC-2 - University and College-2, CC - Commercial Center, IP - Industrial Park, MU - Mixed Use, GC, RSCH, RAD, NC, O&I-1, O&I-2, CT, I-1, I-2, I-3, SC | 8 | 16 ft | 200 sq ft (350 sq ft in DD District) | — |
| Design districts, CD-C - Compact Design – Core, CD-S1 - Compact Design – Support 1, CD-S2 - Compact Design – Support 2, CD-P(N) - Compact Design – Pedestrian Business Sub-district (Ninth Street), CSD-C - Compact Suburban Design – Core, CSD-S1 - Compact Suburban Design – Support 1, CSD-S2 - Compact Suburban Design – Support 2, DD-C - Downtown Design – Core, DD-S1 - Downtown Design – Support 1, DD-S2 - Downtown Design – Support 2 | 4 | 6 ft (monument); 16 ft (pylon) | 40 sq ft | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 5 | 8 ft | 32 sq ft | — |

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

### CI - Commercial Infill, CN - Commercial Neighborhood, CG - Commercial General, OI - Office and Institutional, SRP - Science Research Park, SRP-C - Science Research Park-Center, IL - Industrial Light, I - Industrial, UC - University and College, UC-2 - University and College-2, CC - Commercial Center, IP - Industrial Park, MU - Mixed Use, GC, RSCH, RAD, NC, O&I-1, O&I-2, CT, I-1, I-2, I-3, SC

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | — | 15% of wall area or at least 25 sq ft | — | — | Aggregate limited by total allowed wall sign area | On wall of building | — | Sec. 11.6.1 - Wall Signs; Aggregate Sign Area formula 11.2.2(B) |
| Freestanding Sign (Monument) | 6 ft (monument); 16 ft (pylon), except 12 ft for nonresidential use in residential zones | 32 sq ft (frontage < 150 ft); 80 sq ft (frontage ≥ 150 ft) | — | No min for ≤6 ft sign height; for >6 ft, up to 10 ft setback depending on size and adjacency | 1 per street frontage (+additional per common plan/criteria) | On each street frontage; within landscaped area; not in sight triangle or buffer | — | Sec. 11.6.2 - Freestanding Signs |
| Freestanding Sign (Pylon) | 16 ft | 32 sq ft (frontage < 150 ft); 80 sq ft (frontage ≥ 150 ft) | — | No min for ≤6 ft signs; for >6 ft, see monument sign setbacks | 1 per street frontage (+additional per common plan/criteria) | On each street frontage not within sight triangle or buffer | — | Sec. 11.6.2A.1.b,c; 11.6.2A.6–7 |
| Projecting Sign | — | 40 sq ft | — | — | 1 per establishment (multiple if >1 street frontage) | Projecting from building, maintaining 7'6" side clearance | — | Sec. 11.6.1 - Projecting Signs |
| Awning Sign | — | 40 sq ft per sign | — | — | 1 per door/window | On awning, one per door/window, 7'6" clearance if over ROW | — | Sec. 11.6.1 - Awning Signs |
| Canopy Sign | — | 12 sq ft per canopy face (42 in. high for fuel canopies) | Max 2 ft vertical edge, except 42 in. for fuel canopies | — | — | On permanent canopy | — | Sec. 11.6.1 - Canopy Signs |
| Marquee Sign | 8 ft (sign face height) | 200 sq ft (350 sq ft in DD District) | — | 2 ft from curb | 1 per establishment | On marquee over building entrance; at least 7'6" vertical clearance | — | Sec. 11.6.1 - Marquee Signs |
| Suspended Sign | — | 3.5 sq ft | — | 2 ft from curb | 1 per establishment or per wall | Attached to underside of a horizontal plane | — | Sec. 11.6.1 - Suspended Signs |

### Design districts, CD-C - Compact Design – Core, CD-S1 - Compact Design – Support 1, CD-S2 - Compact Design – Support 2, CD-P(N) - Compact Design – Pedestrian Business Sub-district (Ninth Street), CSD-C - Compact Suburban Design – Core, CSD-S1 - Compact Suburban Design – Support 1, CSD-S2 - Compact Suburban Design – Support 2, DD-C - Downtown Design – Core, DD-S1 - Downtown Design – Support 1, DD-S2 - Downtown Design – Support 2

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | — | — | — | — | — | On wall of building | — | Sec. 11.2.2B(1)(a); 11.6.1 - Wall Signs |
| Freestanding Sign (Monument/Pylon) | 6 ft (monument); 16 ft (pylon) | 32 sq ft | — | — | 1 per street frontage (+additional per criteria) | On each street frontage | — | Sec. 11.6.2A(1)(a, b); 11.6.2A(6) |
| Projecting Sign | — | 40 sq ft | — | — | 1 per street frontage | Projecting from building | — | Sec. 11.6.1 - Projecting Signs |
| Moveable Sidewalk Sign | 4 ft | — | 2.5 ft | — | 1 per building street frontage | Within 10 ft of main entrance, must allow at least 5 ft of sidewalk for pedestrians | — | Sec. 11.5.2 |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Banner Sign (Noncommercial/Decorative) | — | 6–36 sq ft per banner | — | — | — | Individually attached to pole/mast arm/structure, outside public ROW/sight distance triangle | — | Sec. 11.4.2 - Banners |
| Construction Sign (Single Family) | 4 ft | 6 sq ft | — | — | 1 per lot | On lot under construction | — | Sec. 11.4.2 - Construction Signs |
| Construction Sign (Other Circumstances) | 8 ft | 32 sq ft | — | — | Subject to frontage/fence guidelines | On lot under construction. 1 per 50 linear feet of construction fence, or 1 per street frontage if no fence. | — | Sec. 11.4.2 - Construction Signs |
| Customary Identification Signs | — | 3 sq ft per sign | — | — | — | — | — | Sec. 11.4.2 |
| Farm Sign | 8 ft | 16 sq ft per side | — | 10 ft from ROW; 50 ft from intersections | 1 per 1000 ft of road frontage | On farm at least 5 acres | — | Sec. 11.4.2 - Farm Signs |

## Prohibited signs in Durham

- All signs not expressly permitted by the Ordinance are prohibited.
- Signs with animated, blinking, chasing, flashing, or moving effects are prohibited except for time/temperature displays and changeable copy as permitted.
- Rotating or revolving signs are prohibited.
- Fluttering, spinning, windblown or inflatable devices (including pennants, propeller discs, flags or banners not conforming with requirements) are prohibited unless associated with a permitted temporary use in the Downtown Tier.
- Portable signs not permanently attached to the ground or a permanent structure (including signs with wheels, A- or T-frame signs, menu/sandwich board signs, gas or hot air filled displays) are prohibited except as specifically allowed.
- Off-premise advertising signs are prohibited except where regulation is controlled by state or federal law or explicitly permitted (e.g., way-finding or certain entry signs).
- Obsolete signs (relating to businesses/events that have ceased or no longer exist) are prohibited.
- Dilapidated or damaged signs (with missing/damaged parts or inadequate maintenance) are prohibited.
- Any sign that constitutes a hazard to traffic (such as those in the sight distance triangle) is prohibited.
- Signs located in the public right-of-way are prohibited unless expressly permitted by the Ordinance.
- Signs not expressly exempt from regulation or permitted under the Ordinance are prohibited.

## Signs exempt from permit in Durham

- Internally oriented signs not legible/visible from the public right-of-way do not require a sign permit.
- Customary identification signs such as building numbers, addresses, private parking signs, no trespassing, or dangerous animal signs (up to 3 sq.ft.) are allowed in all zones without a permit.
- Historic markers conforming to specified standards and commemorating significant people, places, or events are allowed in all zones without a permit.
- Home occupation signs (one wall sign, up to 3 sq.ft.) are allowed in all zones without a permit.
- Incidental signs giving information/direction for convenience or necessity of the public (e.g., 'entrance', 'exit', 'no admittance') are allowed in all zones without a permit.
- Murals containing graphics (but not commercial text/logos/trademarks) related to goods/services provided on site are allowed without a permit.
- Public art placards subordinate to the art (not exceeding 4 sq.ft. or 5% of the art area) are allowed without permit.
- Public or non-profit announcements by public or non-profit organizations for fund-raising or special events (with limits on size, timing, number) are allowed without permit.
- Public signs erected by the federal, state, or local government (with no commercial logo/message) are allowed in all zones without a permit.
- Real estate signs on residential or nonresidential property (one per frontage, size and removal timing limitations) are allowed without permit.
- Traffic control signs or public notices required by law, including traffic control/pubic signs on private property (no commercial logo/message), are allowed without permit.
- Signs integrated into vending machines, automatic tellers, and gasoline pumps (up to 32 sq.ft./side) are allowed without permit.
- Window signs (as long as they do not exceed 10% of the facade window area and aggregate sign area limits) are allowed without a permit.
- Yard sale or garage sale signs (size, duration, and number limitations) are allowed in all zones without permit.
- Banner signs intended for decorative or noncommercial purposes (meeting consistency and size requirements) are allowed in all zones without permit.
- Construction signs (identifying construction-related info, with size, number, and timing regulations) are allowed in all zones without permit.
- Farm signs (advertising farm products on-site, with area/setback limits and only during sales seasons) are allowed in all zones without permit.
- Directional signs for sale/lease/rent of residential property (with specific content, area, location, and timing limits) are allowed in all zones without permit.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A common signage plan is required for all signs in a unified development complex (multiple buildings or businesses within a unified development), except UC, UC-2, Design districts, local Historic Districts Overlay, or SRP-C District.
- Approval of a common signage plan is required before issuance of a sign permit in applicable areas.
- Internally oriented signs not visible from the public right-of-way are not required to be included in a common signage plan.
- Applications for temporary sign permits do not require an approved common signage plan.
- For projects with a medical facility of 250 beds or more, all medical facility signs must be approved as part of a common signage plan.
- An overall signage plan must be approved when multiple banners are placed on a lot.
- A way-finding signage plan is required for way-finding signs under certain circumstances; approval is required prior to issuance of a sign permit.
- Way-finding signage plans may be approved separately or as part of a common signage plan.
- Freestanding signs in a development with a street frontage exceeding 300 feet may have additional signs only if an approved common signage plan exists (except in Design districts).
- Off-premise non-residential entry signs and way-finding signs must be included in the common signage plan or way-finding signage plan as applicable.
- If a moveable sidewalk sign is proposed in an historic district overlay, a plan (conforming to Sec. 11.8) must be reviewed by the Historic Preservation Commission.

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

---

PermitPal — AI sign code research. Full HTML page: https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/north-carolina/durham