# Sign Regulations in Kenansville, North Carolina

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Kenansville, North Carolina (NC)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/north-carolina/kenansville
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-20

## At a glance

Kenansville, North Carolina regulates 30 sign types across 6 zoning districts. Freestanding sign (Single use on an individual lot)s in the General Commercial (GC) District zoning district are capped at 15 ft. tall and 75 sq. ft. per side, with a At least 5 feet behind ROW and at least 5 feet from any property line setback (Sec. § 152.335 Table; § 152.335(B)(3)(a)). Most commercial signs in Kenansville require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (6 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Commercial (GC) District | 11 | 20 ft. | 100 sq. ft. | — |
| Central Business (CB) District, OI District | 11 | 8 ft. | 50% of awning area | — |
| AG District | 6 | 20 ft. | 100 sq. ft. | — |
| I District | 7 | 25 ft. | 150 sq. ft. | — |
| R-3 District, R-10 District, R-15 District, Residential base zoning district | 4 | 6 ft. (*Up to 15 ft. if allowed by Zoning Administrator and lot fronts highway and doesn't create safety hazard) | 48 sq. ft. | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 13 | Pole max 35 ft. | 75 sq. ft. | — |

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

### General Commercial (GC) District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Awning sign | Limited to awnings associated with the 1st floor | 50% of awning area | — | — | — | Awning associated with 1st floor | — | § 152.335 Table; § 152.331 |
| Canopy sign | — | 10% of canopy area | — | — | 1 per street frontage | Commercial use with fuel sales | — | § 152.335 Table |
| Directory sign | 4 ft. | 6 sq. ft. | — | — | 2 | 5 feet behind curb or 10 feet from edge of pavement | — | § 152.335 Table |
| Directory sign (Commercial) | 6 ft. | 10 sq. ft. per tenant, up to max 50 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per street entrance | 1 per street entrance, not visible from outside of the development | — | § 152.335 Table |
| Freestanding sign (Single use on an individual lot) | 15 ft. | 75 sq. ft. per side | — | At least 5 feet behind ROW and at least 5 feet from any property line | 1 per street frontage (max 2) | At least 5 feet behind ROW and at least 5 feet from any property line | — | § 152.335 Table; § 152.335(B)(3)(a) |
| Monument sign | 8 ft. (*Zoning Administrator may permit up to 15 ft. if lot fronts a highway and doesn't create a safety hazard) | 60 sq. ft. | — | At least 5 feet behind ROW and at least 10 feet from any property line | 1 per street frontage (min 200' separation) | At least 5 feet behind ROW and at least 10 feet from any property line | — | § 152.335 Table; § 152.335(B)(2) |
| Projecting sign | 8 ft. | 15 sq. ft. | — | Min 2' from back face of curb/pavement edge | 1 per establishment | Above sidewalks; min 8-foot clearance when above sidewalk | — | § 152.335 Table; § 152.335(B)(4) |
| Wall sign (front) | 1-story: below roof; 2+ stories: below sill of 2nd floor windows | 1.5 sq. ft. per linear foot of building facing a street | — | — | 4 | — | — | § 152.335 Table; § 152.335(B)(1) |

### Central Business (CB) District, OI District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Awning sign | Limited to awnings associated with the 1st floor | 50% of awning area | — | — | — | Awning associated with 1st floor | — | § 152.335 Table |
| Canopy sign | — | 10% of canopy area | — | — | 1 per street frontage | Commercial use with fuel sales | — | § 152.335 Table |
| Directory sign | 4 ft. | 6 sq. ft. | — | — | 2 | 5 feet behind curb or 10 feet from edge of pavement | — | § 152.335 Table |
| Directory sign (Commercial) | 6 ft. | 10 sq. ft. per tenant, up to max 50 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per street entrance | 1 per street entrance, not visible from outside of the development | — | § 152.335 Table |
| Hanging sign | 7 ft. above sidewalk (minimum) | 16 inches x 36 inches | — | — | 1 per establishment | Under awnings; must be 7 ft. minimum above sidewalk | — | § 152.335 Table |
| Monument sign | 6 ft. (*Up to 15 ft. if allowed by Zoning Administrator and lot fronts highway and doesn't create safety hazard) | 36 sq. ft. | — | At least 5 feet behind ROW and at least 10 feet from any property line | 1 per street frontage (min 200' separation) | At least 5 feet behind ROW and at least 10 feet from any property line | — | § 152.335 Table; § 152.335(B)(2) |
| Monument sign (Multi-tenant buildings) | 6 ft. | 48 sq. ft. | — | At least 5 feet behind ROW and at least 10 feet from any property line | — | At least 5 feet behind ROW and at least 10 feet from any property line | — | § 152.335 Table |
| Projecting sign | 8 ft. | 15 sq. ft. | — | Min 2' from back face of curb/pavement edge | 1 per establishment | Above sidewalks; min 8-foot clearance when above sidewalk | — | § 152.335 Table; § 152.335(B)(4) |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Sandwich Board Sign (GC and CB Districts, exempt) | 4 ft. | 12 sq. ft. (total for both sides) | — | — | 1 per establishment | On lot, minimum 5 feet clearance for pedestrian travel | — | § 152.332(D) |
| Temporary Yard Sign (Base Exemption) | — | 2 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per lot | At least 5 ft. behind ROW, out of any sight triangle | — | § 152.332(E)(1) |
| Temporary Yard Sign (For sale/lease/rent/construction, residential district) | — | 10 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per street frontage | At least 5 ft. behind ROW; corner lots: 100 ft. separation between signs | — | § 152.332(E)(2)(a)(2-4) |
| Temporary Yard Sign (For sale/etc., non-residential) | — | 32 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per street frontage | At least 5 ft. behind ROW; corner lots: 100 ft. separation between signs | — | § 152.332(E)(2)(a)(2-4) |
| Temporary Yard Sign (Election season) | — | 12 sq. ft. | — | — | 2 additional per lot (election) | — | — | § 152.332(E)(2)(b) |
| Temporary Banner | Not above second floor | 75 sq. ft. | — | — | 2 per establishment per year | Attached to primary facade or set back 50 ft. from right-of-way; not attached to roof or another sign face | — | § 152.332(E)(4) |
| Agricultural Use Sign | — | 9 sq. ft. | — | At least 10 feet from side lot line | 1 per lot | Outside ROW and at least 10 feet from any side lot line | — | § 152.332(F) |
| Flag/Pennant (Exempt) | Pole max 35 ft. | Flags: 60 sq. ft. | — | — | 3 flags per site | — | — | § 152.332(B) |

## Prohibited signs in Kenansville

- Any sign that obstructs the view of bicyclists or motorists using any street, approach to any street intersection or which interferes with the effectiveness of or obscures any traffic sign, device or signal as determined by the Ordinance Administrator.
- Signs which contain lights, rotating disks, words and other devices not erected by a public authority which may be erroneously construed as regulatory signs or emergency warning signs.
- Any sign (other than a regulatory sign), banner or display placed on any curb, sidewalk, post, pole, hydrant, bridge, tree or other surface located on, over or across any street or right-of-way, or any banner, placed on stakes on a property, unless otherwise permitted.
- Any sign located in such a way as to intentionally deny visual access to another existing sign.
- Signs with flashing or reflective disks, signs with flashing lights or lights of changing degree of intensity or color (except regulatory signs).
- On- or off-premise pole signs or signs on metal or wood stakes not affixed to a permanent foundation (excluding regulatory signs and temporary signs).
- Portable signs, including marquee signs with the wheels and axles that have been removed and placed on permanent foundations.
- Vehicular signs placed or parked in such a manner to advertise from any street right-of-way. This also includes billboards or outdoor advertising signs mounted to the bed of a truck.
- Signs which rotate or have any mechanical or wind driven components that cause the sign to move or transform.
- Roof signs that extend above the soffit of a pitched roof, or above the highest point of a mansard roof or parapet wall.
- Off-premises commercial advertising signs (e.g., billboards) of any size and in any area, except those signs part of the Federal Aid Primary System (FAP) and subject to the requirements of the Highway Beautification Act.
- Inflatable signs (including inflated balloons with a diameter of greater than two feet), except as allowed as part of a temporary display as part of a holiday or civic event.
- Any structurally-unsafe sign that endangers the public safety must be immediately removed or repaired.
- No sign shall be located so as to impair traffic visibility.
- Signs within a public right-of-way are prohibited unless authorized.
- Signs must not obscure architectural features of a building.

## Signs exempt from permit in Kenansville

- Internally directed device signs which are not intended to be read from a public right-of-way and do not exceed 32 square feet in area.
- Public interest and incidental signs less than two square feet in size.
- Flags and pennants, provided no display pole exceeds 35 feet in height, flags do not exceed 60 square feet in size, and a maximum of three flags per site are allowed.
- Any sign installed by public or governmental agencies.
- Sandwich board signs on lots within the General Commercial (GC) and Central Business (CB) Base Zoning Districts, limited to 12 square feet (for both sides), not exceeding four feet in height, maintaining at least five linear feet of pedestrian clearance, limited to one per establishment, and removed each evening after business closes.
- One temporary yard sign per lot at any time, provided the sign face is no larger than two square feet, signs are placed at least five feet behind the right-of-way and out of any sight triangles, and no sign is illuminated.
- Additional temporary yard signs when a property is for sale, lease, rent, or during construction, under specific conditions regarding size, number, and removal.
- Two additional temporary yard signs are permitted 60 days before and seven days after an election, provided no sign exceeds 12 square feet in area.
- On-premises pennants, flags, and streamers permitted for one consecutive 30-day period per establishment per calendar year.
- Temporary banners permitted with specific size and location limitations, and for limited periods.
- Signs where agriculture is the primary use, limited to one per lot, outside street right-of-way and at least ten feet from any side lot line, has a maximum area of nine square feet, and is not illuminated.
- Window signs on the ground floor of a commercial use provided the window sign(s) occupies less than 50% of the total window area on the building side.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- No sign allowed by this subchapter shall be constructed, erected, moved, enlarged, illuminated, altered, maintained, or displayed without first being issued a zoning permit, unless exempted.
- This subchapter includes the standards on the types of signs required to obtain a zoning permit prior to construction, erection, enlargement, display, alteration, or illumination.
- For computation and permitting, all signs are subject to general design, placement, and dimensional standards described in §§ 152.330 through 152.335 unless specifically exempted.
- Non-conforming signs may only be repaired, maintained, or replaced under specific conditions and must be brought into conformity upon certain triggers (e.g., change in use, substantial damage, or abandonment).

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

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