# Sign Regulations in Holden Beach, North Carolina

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

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

## At a glance

Holden Beach, North Carolina regulates 20 sign types across 6 zoning districts. Freestanding Sign (Ground Sign)s in the Commercial Zoning District zoning district are capped at 10 ft tall and 32 sq ft including supporting structure, with a 10 ft from front, 5 ft from side property line setback (Sec. § 157.079(P)(3)(d)). Most commercial signs in Holden Beach require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (6 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| R-1 | 1 | 4 ft (except when attached to the structure) | 4 sq ft per dwelling unit | — |
| R-2 | 1 | 4 ft (except when attached to the structure) | 4 sq ft for first dwelling unit + 1 sq ft per additional unit (32 sq ft max) | — |
| Commercial Zoning District | 6 | 10 ft | Up to 100 sq ft; total not to exceed 25% of building frontage | — |
| C-1 | 4 | — | 5% of front facade | — |
| Other Zoning Districts (such as conservation) | 1 | — | As approved by Board of Adjustment | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 8 | 8 ft max (except when attached to principal structure) | 32 sq ft | — |

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

### Commercial Zoning District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Any sign permitted in R-1 or R-2 | Per R-1 and R-2 | Per R-1 and R-2 | — | Per R-1/R-2 | — | Per R-1/R-2 location rules | — | § 157.079(P)(3)(a), § 157.079(D)(13) |
| Wall Sign (Business, Flat Against Building) | — | Up to 100 sq ft; total not to exceed 25% of building frontage | — | — | — | Flat against building | — | § 157.079(P)(3)(b) |
| Projecting Sign | — | 20 sq ft per sign | — | 10 ft from front, 5 ft from side property line | 1 per business | One per business, attached to building, set back at least 10 ft from front property line and 5 ft from side property line | — | § 157.079(P)(3)(c) |
| Freestanding Sign (Ground Sign) | 10 ft | 32 sq ft including supporting structure | — | 10 ft from front, 5 ft from side property line | 1 per business | Set back at least 10 ft from the front property line and 5 ft from side property line | — | § 157.079(P)(3)(d) |
| Directional Signs (Parking/Access Drives) | — | 2 sq ft per sign | — | — | 1 per point of ingress/egress | At points of ingress/egress | — | § 157.079(P)(3)(e); (C)(3) |
| Commercial Center Ground Sign (Directory or On-site Directional) | 10 ft | 32 sq ft for sign and structure | — | Must meet setbacks in § 157.079(P)(3)(d); 50 ft from street intersections | 1 per commercial center | On-site, for commercial centers, must be at least 50 ft from street intersection | — | § 157.079(P)(3)(f) |

### C-1

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign (Internally Lit) | — | 2.5% of front facade | — | — | — | On building; in facade windows | — | § 157.079(T)(3) |
| Wall Sign (Externally Lit) | — | 5% of front facade | — | — | — | On building; in facade windows | — | § 157.079(T)(3) |
| Marquee Sign | — | Per percentage limit (2.5% or 5%) | — | — | — | On building at entrance | — | § 157.079(T)(4) |
| Awning Sign | — | Per percentage limit (2.5% or 5%) | — | — | — | On awning attached to building | — | § 157.079(T)(5) |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Temporary Construction Site Sign (R-1, R-2, C-1) | 8 ft max (except when attached to principal structure) | 4 sq ft (R-1, R-2, C-1); 32 sq ft in other zones with permit | — | 10 ft from front, 5 ft from side property line (32 sq ft signs) | 1 | On construction site | — | § 157.079(C)(11) |
| Real Estate Sign | 4 ft (if freestanding) | 4 sq ft | — | — | 1 (sale sign) or 1 (rental sign) | On premises for sale/rent | — | § 157.079(C)(9)-(10) |
| Directional Signs (Private Property - Traffic/Parking) | 3 ft | 2 sq ft each | — | — | 1 per point of ingress/egress | On private property, at ingress/egress | — | § 157.079(C)(3) |
| Open House / Garage Sale Sign | 4 ft | 3 sq ft | — | — | 1 | On same premises as event | — | § 157.079(C)(13) |
| Political Sign / Campaign Sign / Election Sign | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | — | On private property | — | § 157.079(C)(21) |
| Temporary Portable Sign (Public, Charitable, Educational, Religious Event) | 8 ft (ground mounted) | 32 sq ft | — | 10 ft from front, 5 ft from side property line (ground mounted) | 1 | Entirely within institution’s premises | — | § 157.079(D)(9) |
| Window Sign (Temporary Sale/Grand Opening) | — | — | — | — | 1 per message type | Window, on or through facade | — | § 157.079(G)(2) |
| Changeable Copy Sign / Bulletin Board | — | — | — | — | — | On-premises | — | § 157.079(C)(12) |

## Prohibited signs in Holden Beach

- Any commercial identification or advertising signs on benches and refuse containers, except refuse containers may display a logotype not to exceed one square foot.
- Signs attached or painted to piers or seawalls except for one on-premises building identification sign not to exceed nine square feet per establishment.
- Pavement markings, except those of a customary traffic control nature.
- Signs of any kind, except building-mounted signs and signs conforming to division (C)(7), erected or displayed in any first row sand dune or within 50 feet landward from the mean high water mark, whichever is more restrictive.
- Signs painted on or attached to trees, lampposts, parking meter posts, hydrants, traffic signs, stairways, rocks or other natural features, telephone or utility poles, or painted on the roofs of buildings visible from any public thoroughfare.
- Off-premises commercial identification or advertising signs.
- Any sign or sign structure, any portion of which extends above the top of the wall parapet or building roof line.
- Signs on roof surfaces unless the sign does not extend above the highest part of the building roof line on which it is mounted.
- Portable signs, except temporary, non-illuminated signs announcing public, charitable, educational or religious events with permit and certain placement/size/time restrictions.
- Any sign or outdoor advertising display containing obscene statements, words or pictures.
- Any private or business sign restricting or appearing to reserve any portion of the public right-of-way or public property for exclusive or private use, except for signage authorized by a public agency for driveway, loading zone, etc.
- Glass tubes filled with neon, argon, krypton or other gases used to construct a sign, except one open/closed/vacancy sign per structure no larger than three square feet.
- Illuminated signs in R-1 and R-2 districts except for signs associated with social, cultural or recreational uses.
- Name-brand outdoor signs such as ice cream, milk, cigarettes, and the like.
- Circulars, throwaways, handbills.
- Banners, balloons, streamers, spinners, placards, pennants or similar wind-activated devices are prohibited in commercially zoned areas (except certain flags, subject to size limit).
- Advertisement of illegal activities.
- Any other type or kind of sign which does not comply with the terms, conditions and provisions contained in this section.
- No floodlights for sign illumination that are not hooded or shielded; no glaring or reflective lights that impair driving vision.
- No sign illumination system using any beacon, spot, searchlight, or stroboscopic light or reflector visible from public right-of-way or adjacent property; exceptions for authorized public agencies.
- No sign shall display lights resembling those customarily associated with danger or with emergency vehicles.
- No sign is permitted which, due to its position, shape, color, format or illumination, obstructs the view of or may be confused with official traffic signs, signals, or devices.
- No sign shall rotate or otherwise move.
- No sign shall obstruct the view of motor vehicle operators entering public roadways from driveways, streets, or alleys.
- No sign or advertising display shall be attached to or placed against the outside of a building to prevent ingress/egress through any door or window, or obstruct or be attached to a fire escape.
- Except if done by a public agency, no sign shall occupy or extend into public property or the public right-of-way.
- Obsolete or abandoned signs, sign copy, or sign structures are prohibited and must be removed by the owner within 30 days after written notification from the building inspector.

## Signs exempt from permit in Holden Beach

- Traffic directional signs, identification and legal notices, and all other signs erected by or on behalf of a governmental body (except business signs on governmental property).
- Private street or road name signs.
- Signs directing and guiding traffic and parking on private property not exceeding two square feet per sign and maximum height of three feet, with copy limited to directional information and no advertising.
- Pavement markings of a traffic directional nature.
- Signs not visible beyond the boundaries of the lot or parcel or from any public right-of-way or beach.
- Welcome signs and town civic directory signs authorized by the Board of Commissioners.
- Signs designated 'no trespassing', 'no dumping', 'no loitering', and similar messages, not exceeding one square foot in area.
- Signs warning of danger, containing no advertising material, to be removed once the danger subsides.
- One real estate sign per property, subject to specified size, type, and duration restrictions.
- One rental sign for a dwelling unit, subject to specified size and placement restrictions.
- One temporary construction site sign per premises (subject to district, size, and removal upon completion).
- Changing copy on a legal bulletin board, or changing interchangeable letters on signs designed for that purpose, or changing color of illumination.
- One open house or garage sale sign per house, subject to area, height, duration, and placement restrictions.
- Holiday season decorations with no business identification or commercial message.
- Religious symbols, commemorative plaques of recognized historical agencies, or identification emblems/religious orders/historical agencies, provided placed flat against a building.
- Signs not exceeding one square foot in area bearing only property numbers, occupant names, or other non-commercial premises identification.
- Sign messages advertising discontinued activities or events to be removed within specified time frames (60 days for activities/use, seven days after event).
- Direction or information signs of a public or quasi public nature not exceeding 12 square feet, for specific indicated purposes (name/location of civic facilities/events of public interest).
- Flying of national, state, county, city, church or religious flags, except in connection with commercial promotion and subject to size limitations.
- Public service signs identifying services/conveniences, with total area limits and design/location requirements.
- Political, campaign, or election signs, subject to size, placement, and duration restrictions.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Permit required for most signs or sign structures prior to erection, placement, or alteration, unless specifically exempted in section (C).
- Permit applications must include a plan showing owner information, size, shape, configuration, design, area, height, nature, number and type of sign, value, method/type of illumination, proposed location, and additional details as needed.
- Plans for signs displaying the name of a subdivision, condominium, or housing project and located on project property must be submitted to the Planning and Zoning Board for approval.
- Application must be made to the Board of Adjustment for a special use permit to erect signs in conservation or other non-standard zoning districts.
- Replacing, relocating, constructing, changing, or altering a sign or sign structure (not exempted) requires a permit from the building inspector.
- A variance, special use permit, or approval by relevant boards may be required for signs in some scenarios (e.g., subdivision or conservation district signs).
- Failure to obtain a required sign permit prior to beginning work results in double permit fees and possible penalties.

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

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