# Sign Regulations in Leland, North Carolina

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Leland, North Carolina (NC)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/north-carolina/leland
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-08
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/NC/Leland/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=PTIICOOR_CH66ZO_ARTXISI)

## At a glance

Leland, North Carolina regulates 35 sign types across 7 zoning districts. Flags in the General Regulations For All Zones zoning district are capped at Flagpole: 60 ft tall and Official: Any size; Corporate/logo: 3 ft x 4 ft., with a Flagpole height setback equal to flag fly width setback (Sec. Sec. 66-358(6)). Most commercial signs in Leland require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (7 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 17 | Flagpole: 60 ft | 48 sq ft per sign; total sign area for all such signs not to exceed 64 sq ft | — |
| C-1, O&I | 6 | 8 ft | 55 sq ft | — |
| C-2, C-3 | 7 | 35 ft | 378 sq ft | — |
| M-F, R-6, R-15, R-20, RMH | 8 | 8 ft (exclusive of ornamental supports) | 128 sq ft | — |
| PUD | 11 | 8 ft (exclusive of ornamental supports) | 128 sq ft | — |
| Residential | 1 | 8 ft (exclusive of ornamental supports) | 128 sq ft | — |
| US Hwy 17 Overlay District | 6 | 28 ft; secondary sign max includes 2 ft base | 210 sq ft; secondary max area is one-half of first sign; includes name and tenants | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 7 zones)

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| A-frame Sign | — | 10 sq ft | — | Not in sight distance triangle or public right-of-way | 1 per building frontage | Outside of right-of-way and sight triangle; in compliance with all applicable codes. | — | Sec. 66-358(4) |
| Business Identification Sign | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | 1 per entrance | Attached to building; one per entrance. | — | Sec. 66-358(2) |
| Construction/Contractor's and Subdivision Project Sign | — | 48 sq ft per sign; total sign area for all such signs not to exceed 64 sq ft | — | — | Max 4; total area not to exceed 64 sq ft | Any district; on site of construction | — | Sec. 66-358(5) |
| Flag | Flagpole: 60 ft | Official: Any size; Corporate/logo: 3 ft x 4 ft. | — | Flagpole height setback equal to flag fly width | — | Flagpoles must be set back at least the fly width of the flag from all property boundaries, rights-of-way, and electrical easements | — | Sec. 66-358(6) |
| Incidental Sign | 3 ft | 4 sq ft | — | — | Max 2 per entrance/exit | Immediate vicinity of entrance/exit or item delineated; not in sight triangle or right-of-way. | — | Sec. 66-358(8) |
| Real Estate Sign (Residential Property <2 Acres) | 10 ft | 4 sq ft | — | — | 1 per street frontage | On property for sale/lease; not in sight triangle or right-of-way. | — | Sec. 66-358(13) |
| Real Estate Sign (Residential Property 2+ Acres) | 10 ft | 24 sq ft | — | — | 1 per street frontage | On property for sale/lease; not in sight triangle or right-of-way. | — | Sec. 66-358(13) |
| Real Estate Sign (Nonresidential) | 10 ft | 24 sq ft | — | — | 1 per street frontage | On property for sale/lease; not in sight triangle or right-of-way. | — | Sec. 66-358(14) |

### C-2, C-3

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Ground Sign (Individual Businesses) | 8 ft | 48 sq ft | — | — | 1 per business | Outside street right-of-way and sight triangle | — | Table 2; Sec. 66-359(5) |
| Ground Sign (Combined Developments) | 15 ft | 32 sq ft + 10 sq ft per additional tenant, up to 100 sq ft max | — | — | 1 per property frontage | Outside street right-of-way and sight triangle | — | Table 2; Sec. 66-359(6) |
| Residential Identification Sign | 6 ft | 32 sq ft | — | — | 2 per entrance | 2 per entrance, outside right-of-way and sight triangle | — | Table 2 |
| Wall Sign | Not to exceed above the vertical wall | 110 sq ft | — | — | 1 per building frontage, 1 per side/rear parking lot | 1 per building frontage and 1 per side/rear parking lot | — | Table 2; Sec. 66-359(1) |
| Canopy/Awning Sign | — | 12 sq ft | — | — | 1 | 1 per canopy/awning; clearance per state building code | — | Table 2; Sec. 66-359(2) |
| Projecting/Suspended Sign | — | 15 sq ft | — | 2 ft from curb/edge of pavement; not in ROW/easements | 1 | Outside right-of-way and sight triangle; clearance min 9 ft | — | Table 2; Sec. 66-359(3) |
| Billboard Sign (Off-premises/Outdoor Advertising) | 35 ft | 378 sq ft | — | — | 1 | Major thoroughfare | — | Table 2; Sec. 66-360 |

### PUD

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Ground Sign (Residential Identification) | 8 ft (exclusive of ornamental supports) | 128 sq ft | — | — | 2 per entrance | At entrance, outside ROW/sight triangle | — | Table 4 |
| Ground Sign (Combined Development) | 8 ft | 32 sq ft + 8 sq ft per additional tenant, up to 64 sq ft | — | — | 1 per property frontage | Outside street right-of-way and sight triangle | — | Table 4 |
| Ground Sign (Group Care, Rooming, B&B, Similar) | 4 ft | 16 sq ft | — | — | 1 per premises | Outside ROW/sight triangle | — | Table 4 |
| Ground Sign (Church, School, Community Center, Public Building, Similar) | 6 ft | 32 sq ft | — | — | 1 per premises | Outside ROW/sight triangle | — | Table 4 |
| Ground Sign (Other Uses) | 4 ft | 16 sq ft | — | — | 1 per premises | Outside ROW/sight triangle | — | Table 4 |
| Wall Sign (Home Occupation) | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | 1 per premises | — | — | Table 4 |
| Wall Sign (Group Care, Rooming, B&B, Similar) | — | 4 sq ft | — | — | 1 per premises | — | — | Table 4 |
| Wall Sign (Commercial Uses) | Not to exceed above the vertical wall | 55 sq ft | — | — | 1 per building frontage | 1 per building frontage per Section 66-359 | — | Table 4 |

## Prohibited signs in Leland

- Signs which approximate official highway signs, warning signs or regulatory devices.
- Signs displaying blinking, flashing or intermittent lights, animation and moving parts, except as provided for in section 66-359(1)g. and (5)d.
- Portable signs, except as specifically permitted in this article.
- Wraparound signs or other continuous wall signs that extend around a building corner or radii.
- Off-premises signs, except as specifically permitted in this article.
- Facsimile signs.
- Signs placed within any required sight distance triangle.
- Signs attached to, or painted on telephone poles, trees, parking meters, bridges and overpasses, rocks, other signs, benches and refuse containers, except benches and refuse containers may contain a logotype and donor names. No signs except vertical banner signs are allowed on utility poles.
- Roof signs.
- Pavement markings for purposes other than traffic control.
- Signs placed within or extending into town maintained easements or the right-of-way of town and state-maintained streets and roads, except signs erected by a duly constituted governmental body or as specifically permitted in this article.
- Signs that contain language or pictures obscene to the general public in accordance with G.S. 14-190.1.
- Signs that advertise an activity or business no longer conducted on the property on which the sign is located.
- Indirect illumination, such as floodlights, erected in such a manner as to cause glare that impairs driver vision on streets and roadways, or that causes a nuisance to adjoining property.
- Signs that obstruct fire escapes, windows, doors or other openings used as a means of egress or as required legal ventilation.
- Signs containing or consisting of pennants, ribbons, streamers, festoon lighting, balloons or inflatable signs, feather flags or spinners.
- Off-premises real estate signs, except as specifically permitted in this article.
- Any exterior illuminated tubing or strings of lights, including, but not limited to, those outlining property lines, buildings, structures, open sales areas, rooflines, doors, windows, or the edges of walls except holiday lights.
- New outdoor advertising structures.
- Digital or LED outdoor advertising structures are not allowed except as specifically permitted in this article.
- Signs that do not conform to the provisions of this article.

## Signs exempt from permit in Leland

- Building marker signs, including only building name, date of construction or historical data, and cut or etched into masonry, bronze or similar material.
- Pedestrian-oriented business identification signs attached to buildings containing only trade names and logotype, one per entrance, maximum 6 sq. ft.
- Special event signs for public, quasi-public or nonprofit organizations for promoting scheduled sales events, public events, or special seasonal events, with duration and size limits and further restrictions.
- One A-frame sign per business building frontage, not illuminated, maximum 10 sq. ft., for on-premises business sales, specials, or promotions.
- Construction/contractor's and subdivision project signs during construction, not illuminated, maximum 48 sq. ft. per sign (up to four total, 64 sq. ft. aggregate).
- Flags of the United States, state, county, town or foreign nations having diplomatic relations with the U.S., and other flags adopted or sanctioned by legislative bodies, subject to specified display and location requirements.
- Governmental signs posted by local, state, or federal agencies (e.g., regulatory, welcome, and traffic control signs).
- Incidental signs indicating entrances/exits, parking, one-way, no trespassing/loitering, etc., maximum 4 sq. ft. in area and 3 ft. height, subject to conditions.
- Directional signs located outside of the right-of-way in developments with approved master land use plan and meeting location, size, and other requirements.
- Occupant/street number signs affixed to structures/mailboxes, not illuminated, identifying address, required to be visible from street.
- Off-premises directional signs for churches (permanent, non-portable, freestanding, non-illuminated, construction/materials limits, number and size limits).
- Political signs (not illuminated, not in ROW, not attached to trees/utility poles, max 4 ft. tall, max 6 sq. ft.).
- Real estate signs for sale or lease on residential property (not illuminated, not in ROW or sight triangle, one per frontage, max 4 sq. ft. or up to 24 sq. ft. for parcels 2 acres or larger, max 10 ft. tall), removed within 7 days of sale/lease.
- Real estate signs for nonresidential properties (not illuminated, not in ROW or sight triangle, one per frontage, max 24 sq. ft., max 10 ft. tall), removed within 7 days of sale/lease.
- Window signs covering no more than 30% of storefront glass (if more, then regulated as wall signs).
- Yard, garage, and moving sale signs (not in ROW or sight triangle, not attached to trees/utility poles, not illuminated, up to 72 hours per 90 days, max 4 sq. ft.).
- Murals not intended for advertising or promoting a business, service or product (building names permitted if not explicit advertising).
- Vertical banner signs on streetlight/utility poles owned or maintained by the banner owner, not containing off-premises advertising, max 14 sq. ft. per face.
- Civic service club display signs (not internally illuminated, not in ROW/sight triangles, limited locations and design, up to 32 sq. ft. and 6 ft. tall, club logos only, with restrictions and town approval).

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Combined development signs require a sign permit and a signage plan as outlined in section 66-352.
- Combined developments require a signage plan representing all ground signs in a development project. Locations of all existing and proposed ground signs of any type should be shown on a site plan.
- The sign permit applicant shall submit a signage plan to the code enforcement officer for review with the first combined development sign permit application for a development.
- Proof of combined development as described in the definition must be provided by the applicant with a signage plan and other documentation as required by the code enforcement officer.
- If any non-conforming signs exist on the property or properties included in the signage plan, those signs must be brought into compliance prior to the issuance of a sign permit.
- Additional information may be requested by the code enforcement officer on a case-by-case basis.
- For tenants not included on a combined development sign, the code enforcement officer shall review these signs on the signage plan in accordance with section 66-352 and may require additional information on a case-by-case basis.

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

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