# Sign Regulations in Kenly, North Carolina

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

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

## At a glance

Kenly, North Carolina regulates 23 sign types across 5 zoning districts. Billboard (Off-premises)s in the Non-residential zoning districts (includes Industrial, Business, or Office and Institutional zone) zoning district are capped at 25 ft (top to ground/base/highway grade) tall, 200 sq ft (per side); max 20 ft width; max 15 ft height; max height above grade: 25 ft, and 20 ft (per side) wide, with a At least 50 ft off state ROW setback (Sec. § 156.403(E)(2)(a)). Most commercial signs in Kenly require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (5 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Residential District | 8 | 12 inches above parapet walls or roof lines (if no parapet wall). If projects more than 6 inches, minimum clear height of 8 ft above grade. | 40 sq ft (sum of 1 face for 2 signs per street frontage) | — |
| Business District (B-1) | 9 | Awning/Marquee: not above top of structure; Hanging: 18 in high, 8ft clear height | Awning/Marquee: 75% of awning/marquee face; Hanging: 6 sq ft per side | — |
| Non-residential zoning districts (includes Industrial, Business, or Office and Institutional zone) | 8 | 25 ft (top to ground/base/highway grade) | 200 sq ft (per side); max 20 ft width; max 15 ft height; max height above grade: 25 ft | — |
| Downtown Overlay District | 4 | — | 12 sq ft | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 3 | 8 ft | 32 sq ft aggregate per lot | — |

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

### Residential District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall/Fascia Sign | 12 inches above parapet walls or roof lines (if no parapet wall). If projects more than 6 inches, minimum clear height of 8 ft above grade. | — | — | N/A | More than one allowed per building, provided total surface area regulation not exceeded. | Inside or outside of window or wall; permitted in all zoning districts; illumination restrictions apply near residential uses. | — | § 156.403(E)(1)(a) |
| Home Occupation Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Permitted in residential districts in accordance with § 156.305. | — | § 156.403(E)(1)(c)8 |
| Tract Identification Sign | — | 40 sq ft (sum of 1 face for 2 signs per street frontage) | — | — | Up to 2 per street frontage | On-premises | — | § 156.403(E)(3)(b) |
| Temporary Construction Project Sign | — | 20 sq ft | — | — | 1 per construction project | On-premises | — | § 156.403(E)(3)(a)1 |
| Political Sign | 8 ft | 32 sq ft aggregate per lot | — | Not within or over public right-of-way (except at polls) | — | Permitted in all zoning districts (not in right-of-way except at polls) | — | § 156.403(E)(3)(a)2 |
| Temporary Special Event Sign | — | 32 sq ft | — | — | 1 per event | On-premises, residential districts allowed | — | § 156.403(E)(3)(a)3 |
| Yard Sale Sign (Off-site) | — | 4 sq ft | — | — | — | Off-site, outside public rights-of-way | — | § 156.403(E)(3)(a)4 |
| Real Estate, Church or Nonprofit Direction Sign (Off-site) | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | 1 per intersection | Off-site; 1 sign per intersection | — | § 156.403(E)(3)(a)5 |

### Business District (B-1)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall/Fascia Sign | 12 inches above parapet wall. No sign may extend above roof lines of buildings without parapet walls. If projects more than 6 inches, 8ft clear height. | — | — | — | More than one allowed per building, total area not to exceed max. | Inside/outside of window; B-1 district specifically allows illumination exceptions. | — | § 156.403(E)(1)(a); Illumination rule: § 156.403(E)(1)(a)7 |
| Projecting Sign | 15 ft above ground; not above roof/parapet line | 10 sq ft per side | — | Min 3 ft from curb line. | 1 per business establishment | Projecting perpendicular from wall, B-1 is non-residential and allows projecting signs. | — | § 156.403(E)(1)(b); Illumination rule: § 156.403(E)(1)(b)7 |
| Freestanding Sign (Ground Sign) | 4 ft | 0.25 sq ft/linear ft of street frontage (single side) | — | 20 ft, but not within 30 ft of right-of-way; 15 ft from side lot line | 1 per lot; up to 2 on large lots with common signage plan and minimum frontage; total freestanding sign area limits apply | B-1 District: allowed, see pole sign restriction. | — | § 156.403(E)(1)(c) |
| Freestanding Sign (Monument Sign) | 8 ft | 0.20 sq ft/linear ft of street frontage (single side) | — | 20 ft, but not within 30 ft of right-of-way; 15 ft from side lot line | See above | — | — | § 156.403(E)(1)(c) |
| Freestanding Sign (Pole Sign) | — | — | — | — | — | Not permitted in B-1 district | — | § 156.403(E)(1)(c)8 |
| Awning/Marquee/Canopy/Hanging Sign | Awning/Marquee: not above top of structure; Hanging: 18 in high, 8ft clear height | Awning/Marquee: 75% of awning/marquee face; Hanging: 6 sq ft per side | — | — | Awning/Marquee: one per side; Hanging: one per business | Non-residential zones only (B-1 included) | — | § 156.403(E)(1)(d) |
| Tract Identification Sign | — | 40 sq ft total (sum of 1 face for 2 signs per frontage) | — | — | Up to 2 per street frontage | On-premises | — | § 156.403(E)(3)(b) |
| Product and Information Sign | — | 48 sq ft total; no single sign > 16 sq ft | — | — | — | On-premises | — | § 156.403(E)(3)(c) |

### Non-residential zoning districts (includes Industrial, Business, or Office and Institutional zone)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall/Fascia Sign | 12 in above parapet wall or roof line | — | — | — | Multiple, cumulatively not to exceed max area | On-premises, parallel to and not extending more than 12 in from building wall. | — | § 156.403(E)(1)(a) |
| Projecting Sign | 15 ft above ground | 10 sq ft per side (max 2 sides) | — | Min 3 ft from curb | 1 per business establishment | Intersect wall at right angles | — | § 156.403(E)(1)(b) |
| Freestanding Sign (Pole Sign) | 20 ft | 0.125 sq ft/linear ft street frontage (single side) | — | 20-30 ft from right-of-way; 15 ft from side lot line | 1 per lot, up to 2 or 3 on larger lots with frontage and approved signage plan | Permitted only on lots with 100 feet or more of street frontage. | — | § 156.403(E)(1)(c) |
| Freestanding Sign (Monument Sign) | 8 ft | 0.20 sq ft/linear ft | — | 20-30 ft from right-of-way; 15 ft from side lot line | See above | — | — | § 156.403(E)(1)(c) |
| Freestanding Sign (Ground Sign) | 4 ft | 0.25 sq ft/linear ft | — | 20-30 ft from right-of-way; 15 ft from side lot line | See above | — | — | § 156.403(E)(1)(c) |
| Awning/Marquee/Canopy/Hanging Sign | Awning/Marquee: not above structure; Hanging: 18 in high, 8ft clearance. | Awning/Marquee: 75% of face; Hanging: 6 sq ft per side | — | — | — | Non-residential districts | — | § 156.403(E)(1)(d) |
| Window Sign | — | No more than 25% of any window (included in wall/fascia max area) | — | — | — | — | — | § 156.403(E)(1)(a) |
| Billboard (Off-premises) | 25 ft (top to ground/base/highway grade) | 200 sq ft (per side); max 20 ft width; max 15 ft height; max height above grade: 25 ft | 20 ft (per side) | At least 50 ft off state ROW | Spacing min 500 ft apart | Permitted in all zoning districts by Special Use only | — | § 156.403(E)(2)(a) |

## Prohibited signs in Kenly

- No person shall expose, offer for sale, or advertise any article or service in a park except for regularly licensed concessionaires or with a permit from the director.
- No person shall paste, glue, tack, or otherwise post any sign, placard, advertisement, or inscription in a park except as authorized by the director.
- All signs must comply with the North Carolina Building Code, National Electric Code, and local code.
- No sign may hinder or obstruct the visibility of the right-of-way, intersections, or ingress/egress points from parking lots.
- Portable signs are prohibited, including those painted on or displayed on vehicles or trailers parked primarily for display, except where provided by exemptions. Prohibited portable signs may not be altered to become permanent.
- Roof signs are prohibited.
- Windblown signs (banners, pennants, streamers, spinners, blimps, gas balloons) and more than 2 flags are prohibited unless specifically provided under exemptions.
- Any sign or device set into motion by mechanical, electrical, or other means is prohibited.
- Flashing signs or devices displaying flashing or intermittent lights or lights of changing degrees or intensity are prohibited, except for time/temperature signs with messages alternating no less than a 5-second cycle.
- Any sign that is a copy or imitation of an official sign, or which purports to have official status is prohibited.
- Off-premises signs are prohibited unless specifically allowed in the ordinance.
- All signs must be maintained in good repair; signs determined to be in violation must be repaired or removed per notice.
- Signs presenting obsolete messages (business closed, event passed, product/service no longer available) must be removed within 90 days of notice, unless found historically/culturally significant by the Planning Board.
- Signs deemed deteriorated/unmaintained (structurally unsound, unsafe, or in violation of the Building Code) must be repaired or removed within 30 days of notice.
- A sign may not have more than 20% of its surface area covered with disfigured, cracked, ripped, or peeling surfaces for more than 30 successive days.
- No sign shall stand with bent/broken facing, broken supports, loose appendages, or more than 15% out of plumb for more than 10 successive days.
- No sign may be obscured by weeds, trees, vines, or vegetation for more than 30 successive days.

## Signs exempt from permit in Kenly

- Signs erected by or on behalf of or pursuant to the authorization of a governmental body.
- Flags, pennants, or insignia of any governmental or nonprofit organization, when not displayed in connection with a commercial promotion or as an advertising device.
- Signs directing and guiding traffic on private property that do not exceed 4 square feet in size each and that bear no advertising message.
- Signs painted on or permanently attached to licensed motor vehicles that are not primarily used as signs.
- Signs not exceeding 4 square feet in size that are customarily associated with residential use and are not commercial, such as nameplates, mailbox signs, paper tube signs, and warning/parking/trespassing/danger signs on private property.
- "Yard Sale" signs located on-site and not exceeding 4 square feet in area not used in connection with any continuous commercial activity.
- Signs containing the message that the real estate on which the sign is located is for sale, lease, or rent, together with information identifying the owner or agent, provided size and number restrictions are met.
- Displays, including lighting, erected in connection with the observance of holidays, provided they are removed within 10 days after the holiday.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- An application for a common signage plan must be filed with the Planning Director for properties with multiple signs; the plan must indicate standards of consistency for colors, letter/graphics style, sign locations, construction materials, maximum dimensions/proportion, number of freestanding signs per street frontage, and any imposed restrictions.
- Any freestanding sign which exceeds 8 feet in height may be erected only after a plan for such sign has been approved by the Planning Board.
- If a common signage plan is approved by the Planning Director, multiple freestanding signs may be allowed for lots with sufficient frontage as detailed in the ordinance.
- A common signage plan shall not be required for applications for temporary sign permits.
- A sign permit is required for most new or altered signs, generally issued by the Planning Director for signs under 8 feet in height, or by the Planning Board for signs 8 feet or taller.
- All erected signs must display a sticker issued by the Planning Department as evidence of approval.
- Final action on a sign permit may be appealed to the Board of Adjustment.
- Billboards and certain off-premises signs are permitted only as a special use, requiring approval through the appropriate process.

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

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