# Sign Regulations in Havelock, North Carolina

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

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

## At a glance

Havelock, North Carolina regulates 9 sign types across 4 zoning districts. LED-LCD and Electronic Message Signages in the Highway-Commercial District (H-C, HC), Light Industrial District (L-I, LI), Heavy Industrial District (H-I, HI) zoning district are capped at 30 feet tall and 60 sq ft or 30% of total allowable sign area, whichever is less, with a 10 ft from front property line setback (Sec. §157.09(H)(1)). Most commercial signs in Havelock require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (4 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Highway-Commercial District (H-C, HC), Light Industrial District (L-I, LI), Heavy Industrial District (H-I, HI) | 4 | 50 feet from ground to highest point (unless otherwise specified) | 378 sq ft | — |
| Government Services District (GS) | 2 | 50 feet from ground to highest point (unless otherwise specified) | 60 sq ft or 30% of total allowable sign area, whichever is less | — |
| Office and Institutional District (O&I) | 2 | 50 feet from ground to highest point (unless otherwise specified) | 60 sq ft or 30% of total allowable sign area, whichever is less | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 4 | 42 inches | 64 sq ft total per entrance | — |

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

### Highway-Commercial District (H-C, HC), Light Industrial District (L-I, LI), Heavy Industrial District (H-I, HI)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Fixed Advertising/Business Sign | 50 feet from ground to highest point (unless otherwise specified) | See formula | — | — | — | On property, not in public right-of-way unless otherwise permitted. | — | §157.09(D)(2)(a), §157.09(B)(5), §157.09(B)(2)(b), §157.09(D)(1) |
| Portable Sign | — | 32 sq ft per lot | — | — | 1 per business or occupancy | On property, not in right-of-way; excludes portable signs for lease/rent/sale/construction/remodeling of non-commercial property (see Additional Requirements). | — | §157.09(D)(2)(b) |
| LED-LCD and Electronic Message Signage | 30 feet | 60 sq ft or 30% of total allowable sign area, whichever is less | — | 10 ft from front property line | — | Setback minimum 10 ft from front property line; not to exceed 30 ft in height. Must comply with all other side and rear yard setback requirements. | — | §157.09(H)(1) |
| Billboard/Commercial Off-Premises Sign (Extraterritorial H-C Districts only) | 50 feet (from adjacent edge of pavement of main traveled way) | 378 sq ft | — | 20 ft from right-of-way, 50 ft from residential | — | Setback 20 ft from public right-of-way, 50 ft from residentially zoned/used property. | — | §157.09(E)(2) |

### Government Services District (GS)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Fixed Advertising/Business Sign | 50 feet from ground to highest point (unless otherwise specified) | See formula | — | — | — | On property, not in public right-of-way unless otherwise permitted. | — | §157.09(D), §157.09(B)(5), §157.09(B)(2)(b), §157.09(D)(1) |
| LED-LCD and Electronic Message Signage | 30 feet | 60 sq ft or 30% of total allowable sign area, whichever is less | — | 10 ft from front property line | — | Setback minimum 10 ft from front property line; not to exceed 30 ft in height. Must comply with all other side and rear yard setback requirements. | — | §157.09(H)(1) |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Signs Not Requiring Permit | — | Mostly 4 sq ft or less, with some exceptions (see additional) | — | — | — | See additional requirements | — | §157.09(C)(2) |
| Political Sign (Right-of-Way During Election) | 42 inches | 6 sq ft | — | Minimum 3 ft from pavement edge | — | Right-of-way of state highway or city street (not closer than 3 ft from pavement edge; not in controlled access highways); during specified election-related periods. | — | §157.09(C.1)(1)-(2) |
| Political Sign (Non-exempt) | — | 32 sq ft | — | — | — | — | — | §157.09(C.1)(3) |
| Subdivision and PUD Identification Sign | — | 64 sq ft total per entrance | — | 15 ft from right-of-way (5 ft if sign ≤12 sq ft and ≤36" tall) | 2 per entrance | Within subdivision or PUD, not on public thoroughfare, easement, or recreation land | — | §157.09(D)(2)(c) |

## Prohibited signs in Havelock

- No sign shall obstruct the sight distance along a public right-of-way or at intersections.
- No sign shall be located in the public right-of-way, except government traffic signs.
- No sign shall be located, colored, or of a nature that could be confused with, or obstruct the view of, traffic signs or signals, or be confused with a flashing light of an emergency vehicle.
- No sign shall use words or symbols such as 'stop', 'go', 'slow', 'danger', or similar, which might be confused with traffic directional signals or signs.
- No flashing or intermittent illumination is permitted on any advertising or business sign or structure visible from any public right-of-way.
- A sign shall not be higher than 50 feet from the ground to the highest point, except as specified elsewhere.
- No sign shall exceed 200 square feet in sign area, except as specified for certain types of signs.
- Signs and their structures must be maintained in a mechanically safe state of repair and preservation.
- A sign may not be located on any sidewalk, in any doorway, or in any required parking space.
- A sign may not be placed, located, or erected so as to materially impair vision between a height of 2.5 and 10 feet above the centerline of grade of intersecting streets, drives, or access ways in areas bounded by street lines.
- A sign that requires a permit shall not be erected on a property without an existing establishment or business on the same property.
- Removal or destruction of a violating sign does not relieve the responsible person from liability for violation, including applicable fines.
- Billboards and commercial off-premises signs are prohibited within city limits.
- Portable LED signs are prohibited.
- No person shall post any bill, placard, poster, sign, or advertisement on any telegraph, telephone, or electric light pole, tree, or any traffic-control sign or supporting structure thereof along streets or sidewalks.
- No sign may be hung or suspended at less than eight feet from the ground over or above the sidewalks or streets.
- No person shall injure, tamper with, remove, paint upon, or deface any sign, signpost, street light, traffic signal, or other municipal property upon the streets and sidewalks, except city employees in performance of duty.

## Signs exempt from permit in Havelock

- Signs not exceeding four square feet in area that are customarily associated with residential use and that are not of a commercial nature (e.g., property identification, private parking, warning signs).
- Signs erected by or on behalf of or pursuant to authorization of the city or other governmental body, including legal notices, identification and informational signs, and traffic, directional, or regulatory signs.
- Official signs of an informational nature erected by public utilities.
- Flags, pennants, or insignia of any governmental or non-profit organization when not displayed in connection with commercial promotion or as an advertising device.
- Signs painted on or permanently attached to currently licensed motor vehicles.
- Memorial plaques, cornerstones, historical tablets, and similar devices.
- Noncommercial signs posted in conjunction with doorbells, mailboxes, or paper-tubes, not exceeding one square foot in area.
- Signs, not exceeding six square feet, displayed strictly for direction, safety, or convenience of the public (e.g., restrooms, telephones, parking entrances and exits, freight entrances).
- Signs required by law to be posted, unless specifically prohibited, limited, or restricted.
- Noncommercial direction or information signs of a public or quasi-public nature not exceeding 32 square feet in area used only for identifying public buildings, locations of public interest, events, or similar (e.g., hospitals, schools, churches, events, projects).
- Home occupation and professional signs not exceeding two square feet, unilluminated, and mounted flat against the principal building.
- Unilluminated portable signs not exceeding two square feet, providing direction to a lot for sale or lease (limited to one per lot).
- Signs not exceeding one square foot associated with a service regularly provided at the sign's location (e.g., landscaping contractor signs), not located more than ten feet from the principal building.
- Signs on fences enclosing recreational facilities operated by governmental or non-profit organizations, including schools.
- Menu boards for drive-in sale of foods and beverages prepared on the premises, not exceeding 50 square feet and with menu information as the primary content (not included in total sign area calculations).
- The portion of a sign containing fuel price and octane rating info within ten feet of the related fuel pump (not exceeding 12 square feet; not included in sign area calculations).
- The portion of a sign with basic service or product description or price on items such as newspaper racks, air pumps, ice boxes, car vacuums, ATMs, not exceeding six square feet (not included in sign area calculations).
- Certain political signs (as specified in division C.1(2)(a) and during specified election periods) do not require permits. See ordinance for detailed conditions.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A sign permit, with a sign permit application prepared in accordance with Appendix A, is required for any sign requiring a permit (see Chapter 157) before the sign may be erected, altered, or maintained, unless permit is expressly waived.
- The Zoning Administrator reviews and approves sign permits unless the requested permit is not in compliance with requirements or the application is incomplete.
- Plot plans and site plans (when required) must be submitted with zoning permit applications; requirements are described in Appendix A and approval authority may vary based on size or type of site.
- The Zoning Administrator may waive site plan or plot plan requirements if deemed unnecessary for review.
- Detailed construction drawings are not required for sign permit application review unless otherwise specified by the UDO.
- A site plan (minor or major) or plot plan may be required depending on the context of development, as governed by Chapter 153.10.
- For LED-LCD and electronic message signage, written certification regarding light standards must be included with the sign permit application.
- Applicants denied a waiver for nonconforming LED-LCD/electronic signage may appeal to the City Board of Adjustment.
- Waivers and/or variances for requirements must be obtained if site/plot plan is not in conformance.
- No sign shall be erected, altered or maintained until a sign permit is issued, except in those instances where the requirement for a zoning permit is expressly waived.

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

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