# Sign Regulations in Monroe, North Carolina

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

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

## At a glance

Monroe, North Carolina regulates 8 sign types across 6 zoning districts. Monument/Community Signs in the OM, NB, PUD, PCD zoning district are capped at 15 feet tall, See RR/RLD/RMD/RHD, and 25 feet wide, with a 10 ft from right-of-way setback (Sec. Table 8.2.5.1, 8.2.8.A). Most commercial signs in Monroe require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (6 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| RR, RLD, RMD, RHD | 2 | 15 feet (total, including structure) | See Table 8.2.6.1: Up to 100 linear feet of frontage: 2 SF/linear foot per tenant, not to exceed 100 SF; 101-200 linear feet: 1 SF/linear foot per tenant, not to exceed 200 SF; For freestanding single tenant buildings >50,000 SF: 1 SF/linear foot or 500 SF, whichever is less | — |
| OM, NB, PUD, PCD | 6 | Max 24 ft or top of 2nd story (whichever is less) | Max 20% of all windows combined | — |
| GB, GI, HI, General Business (GB), General Industrial (GI) | 6 | 24 ft / top of 2nd story (whichever is less) | Max 20% total window area | — |
| DC-MX | 5 | 24 ft or top of 2nd story (whichever less) | Max 20% of all windows | — |
| DG-MX, CC-MX, RC-MX, MD-MX | 6 | 24 ft or top of 2nd story (whichever is less) | Max 20% of all windows | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 2 | 10 ft | 20 SF per sign | — |

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

### OM, NB, PUD, PCD

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | — | See Table 8.2.6.1 | — | — | Max 3 building signs per tenant/business | On wall above entrance, not above parapet wall, max 6 in. projection | — | Table 8.2.5.1, 8.2.6.B, 8.2.7.A |
| Window Sign | — | Max 20% of all windows combined | — | — | — | First floor, public street frontage, parallel to window and within 12 in. of inside | — | Table 8.2.5.1, 8.2.7.B |
| Canopy/Awning Sign | Max 4 ft above clearance; min 9 ft clearance from ground | — | — | — | — | On canopy/awning | — | Table 8.2.5.1, 8.2.7.C, 8.2.2.F |
| Projecting/Blade Sign | Max 24 ft or top of 2nd story (whichever is less) | — | — | — | Counts toward building sign max | Perpendicular to building wall (>1 ft extension) | — | Table 8.2.5.1, 8.2.7.D |
| Monument/Community Sign | 15 feet | See RR/RLD/RMD/RHD | 25 feet | 10 ft from right-of-way | See 8.2.8.A | Min 10 ft from right-of-way | — | Table 8.2.5.1, 8.2.8.A |
| Sidewalk Sign | 4 ft | 8 SF/side; max 2 ft width | 2 ft | — | 1 per business/tenant | Directly in front/adjacent to entrance | — | Table 8.2.5.1, 8.2.8.B |

### GB, GI, HI, General Business (GB), General Industrial (GI)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | — | See Table 8.2.6.1 | — | — | Max 3 building signs per tenant/business | On wall above entrance, not above parapet wall, max 6 in. projection | — | Table 8.2.5.1, 8.2.6.B, 8.2.7.A, 8.2.2.F |
| Window Sign | — | Max 20% total window area | — | — | — | First floor, public street frontage, parallel to window within 12 in. of inside | — | Table 8.2.5.1, 8.2.7.B |
| Canopy/Awning Sign | 4 ft above 9 ft clearance; vertical edge max 2 ft (36 in for fuel canopies) | Max sign area per canopy face 12 SF, limited to 2 faces for changeable copy (vertical edge max 2 ft or 36 in. for fuel canopy; sign cannot extend beyond edge); counts toward wall sign area max | — | — | — | On canopy/awning | — | Table 8.2.5.1, 8.2.7.C, 8.2.2.F.4 |
| Projecting/Blade Sign | 24 ft / top of 2nd story (whichever is less) | — | — | — | Counts toward max building signs | Perpendicular to building wall (>1 ft) | — | Table 8.2.5.1, 8.2.7.D |
| Monument/Community Sign | 15 ft | Up to 5 acres: 50 SF (single tenant), 100 SF (multi-tenant); 5+ acres: 100 SF (single tenant), 200 SF (multi-tenant); secondary: max 50% of primary | 25 ft | 10 ft min. from right-of-way | See 8.2.8.A | Min 10 ft from right-of-way, outside visibility triangle | — | Table 8.2.5.1, 8.2.8.A |
| Sidewalk Sign | 4 ft | 8 SF per side, max width 2 ft | 2 ft | — | 1 per tenant/business | In front/adjacent to entrance, does not block pedestrian flow | — | Table 8.2.5.1, 8.2.8.B |

### DG-MX, CC-MX, RC-MX, MD-MX

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | — | See Table 8.2.6.1 | — | — | Max 3 building signs per tenant | On wall above entrance, not above parapet, up to 6 in. out from wall | — | Table 8.2.5.2, 8.2.6.B, 8.2.7.A |
| Window Sign | — | Max 20% of all windows | — | — | — | Inside or within 12 in. of window | — | Table 8.2.5.2, 8.2.7.B |
| Canopy/Awning Sign | 4 ft above 9 ft minimum clearance | — | — | — | — | Affixed to canopy/awning | — | Table 8.2.5.2, 8.2.7.C |
| Projecting/Blade Sign | 24 ft or top of 2nd story (whichever is less) | — | — | — | Counts toward building sign max | Perpendicular to building wall, >1 ft extension | — | Table 8.2.5.2, 8.2.7.D |
| Monument/Community Sign | 15 ft | Up to 5 acres: 50 SF (single tenant), 100 SF (multi-tenant); 5+ acres: 100 SF (single tenant), 200 SF (multi-tenant); secondary: max 50% of primary | 25 ft | 10 ft min. from right-of-way | See 8.2.8.A | Min 10 ft from right-of-way, outside visibility triangle | — | Table 8.2.5.2, 8.2.8.A |
| Sidewalk Sign | 4 ft | 8 SF per side, max width 2 ft | 2 ft | — | 1 per tenant/business | In front/adjacent to entrance | — | Table 8.2.5.2, 8.2.8.B |

## Prohibited signs in Monroe

- It is unlawful to distribute handbills, circulars, samples, or other advertising matter within the city boundary, except outside the fire limits.
- It is unlawful to distribute handbills or advertisements by placing or throwing them on any street or lot or otherwise distributing them promiscuously.
- Handbills or advertisements must not be distributed except when enclosed in an envelope or clipped and placed under or in the door of each house.
- It is unlawful to place advertising matter in or on any motor vehicle parked on any street or in public places.
- Posting bills, signs, or advertisements on any buildings, fences, or other property belonging to another is unlawful without written consent of the owner.
- It is unlawful to tack, nail, or post any sign, notice, or advertisement upon any structure in the public right-of-way, or to or on any telegraph, telephone, or electric light pole, or on any tree.
- It is unlawful to tear, deface, mutilate, take down, or in any manner injure or destroy any advertisement or notice posted for public view, except by the property owner or public safety officers removing unauthorized advertisements.
- It is unlawful to advertise by marking or painting on any of the streets or sidewalks of the city.
- Any type of sign not expressly permitted or exempted in the UDO is prohibited.
- Fluorescent or iridescent colors including outline or strip lighting and neon tubes are prohibited.
- No sign structure may obstruct any cross-visibility area or traffic control device; no signs are permitted in the visibility triangle at intersections.
- Illumination that shines directly into, or causes glare onto, a public right-of-way or a residential use is prohibited.
- Internally illuminated signs are prohibited in residential districts.
- Video, animated, scrolling, or moving changeable electronic variable messages are not permitted; messages must remain static.
- Audio components are prohibited as part of any sign except for drive-through menu signs.
- Non-governmental signs, including temporary signs, may not be placed in public rights-of-way.
- Abandoned, dilapidated signs are prohibited and must be removed.
- Signs prohibited by federal or state law are prohibited.
- Signs that emit sound, vapor, smoke, odor, particles or gaseous matter are prohibited.
- Revolving, flashing, inflatable, and wind signs, including feather signs, are prohibited.
- Portable signs are prohibited (except for certain human-held signs).
- Roof signs are prohibited.
- Any sign located on real property without the permission of the property owner is prohibited.
- Signs within City landscaped areas are prohibited.
- Pole or pylon signs are prohibited.
- Off-premise signs that advertise goods provided on a different lot or site from the sign are prohibited (but free-standing signs and certain nonconforming billboards may be allowed by state law).
- Signs placed, maintained, or displayed upon a highway which imitate, resemble, or interfere with official traffic-control devices, or which bear commercial advertising, are prohibited.

## Signs exempt from permit in Monroe

- Usual and customary sales of newspapers and periodicals are not affected by the sign regulations.
- Distribution of advertising matter in business buildings and delivery to persons in residences is not affected by the sign regulations.
- Signs required by federal, state, or local laws, ordinances, codes, or regulations are exempt.
- Street address signs are exempt.
- Professional nameplates not exceeding six square feet in area are exempt.
- Identification signs at the entrance of property limited to three square feet in area are exempt.
- Signs inside a building or structure or located so they are not visible from a public rights-of-way are exempt.
- On-site directional signs not exceeding three square feet in area and three feet in height are exempt.
- On-site parking space signs not exceeding one square foot of sign face per sign; one per parking space.
- Emergency warning signage erected by a governmental agency, public utility, or contractor performing work within right-of-way is exempt.
- Regulatory signage erected by the City of Monroe is exempt.
- Signage erected by the North Carolina Department of Transportation is exempt.
- Flagpoles and flags (meeting stated area, height, and location standards) are exempt.
- Signage on fence wraps affixed to perimeter fencing at construction sites exempt per G.S. § 160D-907.
- Signs, lights, figurines, and decorations temporarily displayed for up to 60 days at a time, three times per year, maximum four square feet per sign, are exempt.
- For residential uses: up to 12 square feet of signage placed in a window or yard is exempt; plus an additional 12 square feet during specific periods (election, as for sale/rent, for garage/yard sale) with defined timing.
- Human held signs that do not obstruct vehicular or pedestrian traffic are exempt.
- Government signs may be closer than five feet from front lot line; but for other exempt signs, must not be closer than five feet from front lot line, driveway, curb, or edge of pavement.
- Signs erected on private property adjacent to highways giving legitimate directional information that cannot be mistaken for official traffic signs are exempt from traffic code commercial sign prohibitions.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A common signage plan is required as part of a site and development plan.
- The common signage plan must specify the number, type, size, height, setbacks, locations, designs, and illumination of signs.
- Signs within a development must utilize coordinated colors throughout the development.
- A design alternative may be permitted by the Director for permitted sign type, total number of signs, size, setbacks, location and design, but not for illumination.
- Subdivision entrance signs within the right-of-way must comply with Section 8.2: Signs, and require an executed encroachment agreement.

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

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