# Sign Regulations in Kinston, North Carolina

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Kinston, North Carolina (NC)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/north-carolina/kinston
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-08
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/NC/Kinston/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=PTIIIUNDEOR_ART9PEST_PTIVSIRE)

## At a glance

Kinston, North Carolina regulates 23 sign types across 8 zoning districts. Monument or Ground Mounted Signs in the Residential Office District (RO), Office and Institutional District (O&I, O and I, O&I) zoning district are capped at 15 ft tall and 50 sq ft, with a No closer than ten (10) feet from property line or street right-of-way setback (Sec. 9.34.2). Most commercial signs in Kinston require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (8 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Residential Districts (RA-20, RA-15, RA-12, RA-8, RA-7, RA-6, RA-5) | 3 | — | 32 sq ft per sign; total for entrance: 64 sq ft | — |
| Residential Office District (RO), Office and Institutional District (O&I, O and I, O&I) | 7 | 30 ft | 60 sq ft | — |
| Business District 2 (B-2) | 8 | 30 ft | 100 sq ft | — |
| Business District 1 (B-1), Shopping Center District (SC), Industrial-Business District (I-B), Industrial District 1 (I-1), Industrial District 2 (I-2) | 11 | 30 ft | 378 sq ft per side (+15% additional allowed outside sign face for enlargement for specific display or copy) | — |
| Historic Overlay District (HO) | 1 | — | — | — |
| Arts and Cultural Overlay District | 1 | — | 6 sq ft per side | — |
| Rowhouse Overlay District | 1 | — | — | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 4 | — | 32 sq ft | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 8 zones)

### Residential Office District (RO), Office and Institutional District (O&I, O and I, O&I)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign (Per building entrance) | — | 50 sq ft | — | — | 1 | Per building entrance | — | 9.34.2 |
| Window Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Window | — | 9.34.2 |
| Projecting Sign | — | 10 sq ft | — | — | 1 | Per separate business establishment | — | 9.34.2 |
| Canopy or Awning Sign | — | Copy area limited to drip flap | — | — | 1 | Each entrance per building | — | 9.34.2 |
| ID Plaque | — | 4 sq ft | — | — | 1 | — | — | 9.34.2 |
| Monument or Ground Mounted Sign | 15 ft | 50 sq ft | — | No closer than ten (10) feet from property line or street right-of-way | 1 | Per street frontage; Shall be located no closer than ten (10) feet from property line or street right-of-way. | — | 9.34.2 |
| Freestanding Sign | 30 ft | 60 sq ft | — | — | 1 | Per premises | — | 9.34.2 |

### Business District 2 (B-2)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign (Per building entrance) | — | 100 sq ft | — | — | 2 | Per building entrance | — | 9.34.3 |
| Window Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Window | — | 9.34.3 |
| Projecting Sign | — | — | — | — | 1 | Per separate business establishment | — | 9.34.3 |
| Canopy or Awning Sign | — | Copy area limited to drip flap | — | — | 1 | Each entrance per premises | — | 9.34.3 |
| ID Plaque | — | 4 sq ft | — | — | 1 | — | — | 9.34.3 |
| Monument or Ground Mounted Sign | 25 ft | 30 sq ft | — | No closer than ten (10) feet from property line or street right-of-way | 1 | Per street frontage; Shall be located no closer than ten (10) feet from property line or street right-of-way. | — | 9.34.3 |
| Freestanding Sign | 30 ft | 60 sq ft | — | — | 1 | Per premises | — | 9.34.3 |
| Sandwich Board Sign | — | 6 sq ft per side | 2 ft | — | 1 per parcel | Public sidewalk in front of relevant parcel during normal business hours. | — | 9.31.1.6 |

### Business District 1 (B-1), Shopping Center District (SC), Industrial-Business District (I-B), Industrial District 1 (I-1), Industrial District 2 (I-2)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign (Front Facade) | — | — | — | — | — | Front facades | — | 9.34.4 |
| Projecting Sign | — | — | — | — | 1 | Per separate business establishment | — | 9.34.4 |
| Canopy or Awning Sign | — | Copy area limited to drip flap | — | — | 1 | Per premises | — | 9.34.4 |
| ID Plaque | — | 4 sq ft | — | — | 1 | — | — | 9.34.4 |
| Monument or Ground Mounted Sign (200 ft frontage or less) | 15 ft | 200 sq ft | — | No closer than ten (10) feet from property line or street right-of-way. | 1 | Street frontage of lot | — | 9.34.4 |
| Monument or Ground Mounted Sign (201 to 500 ft frontage) | 15 ft | 200 sq ft | — | No closer than ten (10) feet from property line or street right-of-way. | 2 | Street frontage of lot | — | 9.34.4 |
| Monument or Ground Mounted Sign (greater than 500 ft frontage) | 15 ft | 200 sq ft | — | No closer than ten (10) feet from property line or street right-of-way. | 3 | Street frontage of lot | — | 9.34.4 |
| Off-Premises Sign (Outdoor Advertising Sign) | 30 ft | 378 sq ft per side (+15% additional allowed outside sign face for enlargement for specific display or copy) | — | No closer than minimum building setback for the district. | — | May not be located in any district other than B-1, I-B, I-1, or I-2 | — | 9.34.5 |

## Prohibited signs in Kinston

- No sign may be erected, moved, enlarged, or substantially altered except in accordance with the ordinance and required permits, unless exempted.
- No sign within one hundred fifty (150) feet of a residential zone may be illuminated between midnight and 6:00 a.m., unless the impact is entirely inconsequential.
- Lighting for signs must be shielded so it only illuminates the sign face and does not shine directly into public rights-of-way or residential premises.
- No sign may contain or be illuminated by flashing or intermittent lights or lights of changing degrees of intensity, except for signs showing time, date, or weather (with certain limited exceptions).
- No sign (temporary nor permanent) shall be attached to a tree or utility pole, except as allowed for governmental signs.
- No sign may be located to substantially interfere with required motorist visibility at intersections or access points, nor create a visual obstruction in sight clearance areas.
- No sign may be erected with location, size, color, shape, nature, or message that may obstruct or be confused with official traffic signs.
- Freestanding signs must be securely fastened to the ground or to a substantial support to prevent wind- or force-caused movement.
- Any sign that revolves, changes copy, or is otherwise animated, or that utilizes movement or apparent movement to attract attention, is prohibited, including propellers, discs, banners, pennants, and streamers (except as specifically allowed for temporary or exempted signs).
- All portable signs, except as specifically permitted for temporary events, are prohibited.
- Vehicle signs—signs attached to, painted on, or pulled by vehicles that are parked primarily for advertising—are prohibited.
- No sign shall overhang or be erected in any public right-of-way, except for certain governmental or regulatory signage.
- All message board signs (electronic) are prohibited, except menu and sandwich board signs.
- All inflatable signs, balloons, and similar decorations are prohibited.
- All roof signs are prohibited.
- Any illuminated tubing or strings of lights outlining property lines, open sales areas, rooflines, doors, windows, edges of walls, trees, or landscaping are prohibited except for temporary holiday lighting.
- Indecent, obscene, or pornographic content on signs is prohibited.
- No sign may obstruct or interfere with any window, door, sidewalk, or fire escape.
- Beacons and spotlights are prohibited as part of any sign illumination system (except for governmental emergency purposes).
- Unshielded flood lights are prohibited as part of sign illumination, and signs must not emit glare that would impair driver vision.
- Any sign or support structure considered structurally unsafe is prohibited.
- Stacking signs on top of each other is prohibited.
- Signs painted on or attached to trees, fences/fence posts, utility/telephone poles, rocks or other natural features are prohibited. Commercial identification or advertising on benches or refuse containers is prohibited.
- Pavement markings are prohibited except for customary traffic-control uses.
- Any sign intentionally or effectively denying an adjoining property owner reasonable visual access to their existing sign is prohibited.

## Signs exempt from permit in Kinston

- Signs not exceeding four (4) square feet in area customarily associated with residential use and not of a commercial nature (such as property identification, mailbox, private parking, trespass, or warning signs).
- Signs erected by or on behalf of, or pursuant to authorization of, a governmental body, including legal notices, informational and traffic, directional, or regulatory signs.
- Official noncommercial signs erected by public utilities.
- Flags, pennants, or insignia of any governmental or nonprofit organization when not displayed in connection with commercial promotion or as an advertising device.
- Integral decorative or architectural features of buildings or works of art that do not contain letters, trademarks, moving parts, or lights.
- Signs directing and guiding traffic on private property that do not exceed four (4) square feet each.
- Church bulletin boards and church identification signs (one per abutting street, up to 32 square feet; off-premises identification signs up to 16 square feet each).
- Signs painted on or otherwise permanently attached to licensed motor vehicles and trailers not primarily used as signs.
- Signs proclaiming religious, political, or other noncommercial messages (other than certain temporary election signs) that do not exceed one per abutting street and sixteen (16) square feet, and are not internally illuminated.
- Signs located on the interior of buildings, courts, lobbies, stadiums, or other structures not intended to be seen from outside the building/structure.
- Memorial plaques or markers.
- Signs painted or attached to vending machines, gas pumps, ice machines, or similar devices indicating the contents, price, or operating instructions.
- Window signs painted directly on or attached to a window.
- Art, including murals and paintings.
- The following portable and temporary signs are permitted (without a zoning, special use, conditional use, or sign permit), subject to specific requirements: real estate for sale/lease/rent signs; construction-site/opening soon signs; holiday displays; election or political campaign signs (limited time period, size, and owner permission); special event signage; certain portable and temporary promotional signs (with restrictions and permits as required); yard sale signs; and temporary signs meeting defined restrictions regarding number, size, and duration.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- If plans submitted for a zoning permit, special use permit, or conditional use permit include sign plans in sufficient detail that the permit-issuing authority can determine compliance, issuance of the requested permit constitutes approval of the proposed sign(s).
- Signs not approved as part of the above process or not otherwise exempted require a sign permit issued by the UDO administrator (the same provisions as zoning permits apply to sign permit applications).
- No more than one off-premises sign permit per parcel may be issued within any 365-day period.
- Master sign plan/submittal is not referenced by that name, but for new or modified development, sign plans should be submitted as part of the overall permitting process (zoning, special use, or conditional use) for administrative approval.
- Sign plans must be sufficiently detailed to enable the permitting authority to determine compliance with all sign regulations.
- If not included with initial development permits, an individual sign permit is required prior to erection, movement, enlargement, or substantial alteration.
- Variance for sign regulations may be sought via board of adjustment as per general UDO variance procedures.

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

---

PermitPal — AI sign code research. Full HTML page: https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/north-carolina/kinston