# Sign Regulations in King, North Carolina

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

- **Jurisdiction:** King, North Carolina (NC)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/north-carolina/king
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-08
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/NC/King/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=PTIICOOR_CH32ZO_ARTIXSI)

## At a glance

King, North Carolina regulates 17 sign types across 11 zoning districts. Accessory Communication Tower Signs in the General Regulations For All Zones (CONTINUED) zoning district are capped at Accessory towers not to exceed 50 ft; see tower regulations for setback requirements tall and No advertising allowed, with a See above; 75% or 50% of tower height from property lines setback (Sec. Sec. 32-257(1)-(4)). Most commercial signs in King require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (11 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| PD-RC | 7 | 20 ft from undisturbed ground area | 120 sq ft (plus an additional 100 sq ft for sublet spaces sign area) | — |
| R-MF-A, R-MF-A7, R-MF-C, R-MF-C7, R-MF-T, R-MF-T7 | 1 | — | — | — |
| R-MH, R-MH-1, R-MH-2, R-MH-1 (Residential manufactured homes, single-section), R-MH-2 (Residential manufactured homes, multisectional) | 1 | — | — | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 2 | — | 2 sq ft | — |
| WSIV-PA(O) (Watershed IV Protected Area (Overlay) district) | 1 | — | — | — |
| Planned unit development (PUD) | 1 | 35 ft (no structures in excess of 35 ft, 3 stories) | — | — |
| R-R, R-20, R-15 | 1 | — | 2 sq ft | — |
| O-I, O-I7 | 1 | — | — | — |
| B-1, B-2, B-27 | 1 | — | — | — |
| L-I, L-I7, H-I | 1 | — | — | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones (CONTINUED) | 1 | Accessory towers not to exceed 50 ft; see tower regulations for setback requirements | No advertising allowed | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 11 zones)

### PD-RC

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Shopping Center Site Identification Sign (Primary Entrance) | 20 ft from undisturbed ground area | 120 sq ft (plus an additional 100 sq ft for sublet spaces sign area) | — | — | 1 | At access or entranceway to the shopping center. | — | Sec. 32-244(p)(1), (3), (4), (8) |
| Freestanding Shopping Center Site Identification Sign (Secondary Entrance) | 12 ft from undisturbed ground surface | 60 sq ft | — | — | 1 (with council approval) | Secondary access or entranceway, location subject to council approval. | — | Sec. 32-244(p)(2), (3), (4) |
| Directory Locator Sign | 8 ft | 24 sq ft | — | — | — | At entrances to parking lots. | — | Sec. 32-244(p)(5) |
| Directional Sign (Pedestrian or Vehicle) | 3 ft | 6 sq ft | — | — | — | As needed within the PD-RC development. Must not block sight triangles. | — | Sec. 32-244(p)(6) |
| Exterior Wall Sign | — | 90 sq ft per store | — | — | — | Front vertical surface of store/shop. | — | Sec. 32-244(p)(7), (8) |
| Freestanding Sign (Satellite Business Lot) | 12 ft from undisturbed ground surface | 60 sq ft | — | — | 1 freestanding sign per lot | Per satellite business lot | — | Sec. 32-244(r)(2) |
| Mounted Sign (Building - Satellite Business Lot) | — | 120 sq ft total for all sides (3 sides maximum) | — | — | — | Mounted on a maximum of three sides of the building (satellite lot). | — | Sec. 32-244(r)(2), (6) |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Accessory Use Communication Tower Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Prohibition applies to towers in all zones. | — | Sec. 32-256(5), 32-257(1) |
| Incidental Home Occupation Sign | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | 1 | On the dwelling unit where home occupation is conducted. | — | Sec. 32-258(3) |

### General Regulations For All Zones (CONTINUED)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Accessory Communication Tower Sign | Accessory towers not to exceed 50 ft; see tower regulations for setback requirements | No advertising allowed | — | See above; 75% or 50% of tower height from property lines | — | On the tower structure | — | Sec. 32-257(1)-(4) |

## Prohibited signs in King

- Signs must not block or interfere with the ability of motor vehicle operators to observe traffic while entering or exiting a retail area.
- No neon or animated signs are allowed on PD-RC identification signs.
- No projecting or hanging signs are allowed on exterior wall signs and PD-RC outparcel signs.
- Signs must not interfere with traffic or neighboring property owners due to lighting.
- Signs must be constructed of masonry, concrete, steel, and/or aluminum. No wood products are allowed for shopping center signage.
- Any exterior signage for adult establishments must not contain depictions of specified sexual activities, specified anatomical areas, or sexually oriented devices.
- No advertising signs or logos are permitted on any communication tower or antenna.

## Signs exempt from permit in King

- Buffers and/or screening shall not apply to residential single-family residences, unless approved as a platted subdivision.
- Existing public street or utility service lines, agricultural uses of land, and single-family residential homes and/or accessory structures on a single lot of record are exempt from landscaping/buffering requirements.
- Temporary uses that have a short-term duration and do not materially affect the area's natural environment are exempt from landscaping/buffering requirements.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A uniform shopping center signage criteria plan shall be submitted to the city for approval for retail/shopping centers (PD-RC). This plan defines and specifies all exterior signage for the retail/shopping center and sets forth guidelines and design concepts for a coordinated and complementary graphic image for the entire center.
- Proposed signage must be included as part of the architectural review submittal for PD-RC and satellite business lots, including submittal to the City of King Community Appearance Committee.
- Each facility within a medical complex must comply with sign requirements as specified in the zoning requirements in articles VII (parking) and IX (signs) of this chapter.
- All affected site and development plans must show details of proposed signage per district requirements, especially as part of master/site plan, development plan, or as required for conditional or special use permits.
- For solar energy systems as a stand-alone use, public signage (advertising, educational, safety) is permitted as allowed by the signage ordinance; see section 32-433 for specifics.
- Directory locator and directional signs within retail/shopping centers (PD-RC) must conform to the overall signage criteria plan and specified dimensional and placement limits.

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

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