# Sign Regulations in Murphy, North Carolina

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

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

## At a glance

Murphy, North Carolina regulates 18 sign types across 4 zoning districts. Freestanding Detached Signs in the G-B General Business District zoning district are capped at 50 feet tall and 1 sq ft per linear foot of building frontage (max 100 sq ft), with a 10 feet from right-of-way, or attached if building is within setback. setback (Sec. § 153.068(C), § 153.063, § 153.064). Most commercial signs in Murphy require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (4 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 12 | 50 feet | 16 square feet total surface area | — |
| G-B General Business District | 3 | 50 feet | May not exceed 50% of allowed sign face area (i.e., up to 50 sq ft if max sign is 100 sq ft) | — |
| H-B Highway Business District, I-H-C Industrial and Heavy Commercial District | 3 | 50 feet | May not exceed 50% of allowed freestanding sign face area (i.e., up to 24 sq ft if freestanding sign is 48 sq ft) | — |
| Residential (R) District | 3 | — | 16 square feet | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 4 zones)

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Temporary or Nonpermanent Sign | — | — | — | Minimum 10 feet from right-of-way of street or highway. | — | No closer than ten feet back of the right-of-way of any street or highway. | — | § 93.01(A)(1) and (2), § 153.064 |
| All Signs (General Setback) | — | — | — | Minimum 10 feet from right-of-way, or 15 feet from edge of roadway if no formal right-of-way. | — | Setback required: ten feet from right-of-way of any street or highway unless attached to a building within the setback. | — | § 153.067(G), § 153.068(K)-(L) |
| Roof Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Above roofline of building. | — | § 153.067(F) |
| All Signs (Maximum Height) | 50 feet | — | — | — | — | Measured from road grade to uppermost point of sign or standard. | — | § 153.068(J) |
| Home Occupation Sign | — | 16 square feet total surface area | — | — | — | — | — | § 153.068(A) |
| Incidental Sign | 3 feet (freestanding), 6 feet (attached) | 3 square feet per face, 2 faces per sign | — | — | — | On-premises only, to direct/inform users regarding private regulations or traffic. | — | § 153.066(A)(1) |
| Private Information Sign | 3 feet if freestanding; 6 feet if attached | 3 square feet per face, 2 faces per sign | — | — | — | On-premises | — | § 153.066(A)(1) |
| Menu Sign (Restaurant) | — | 4 square feet | — | — | 1 per restaurant | Attached or sandwich type. | — | § 153.066(A)(1) |

### G-B General Business District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | — | 1 sq ft per linear foot of building frontage (max 100 sq ft) | — | — | — | Attached to wall of building | — | § 153.068(C), § 153.063 (attachment), § 153.064 (permits) |
| Freestanding Detached Sign | 50 feet | 1 sq ft per linear foot of building frontage (max 100 sq ft) | — | 10 feet from right-of-way, or attached if building is within setback. | — | Freestanding, placed with minimum 10 foot setback from right of way. | — | § 153.068(C), § 153.063, § 153.064 |
| Electronic Changeable Message Sign (ECMS) | 50 feet (if freestanding) | May not exceed 50% of allowed sign face area (i.e., up to 50 sq ft if max sign is 100 sq ft) | — | 10 feet from right-of-way (unless attached to building). | — | As part of freestanding or building sign if for theater or public event facility; otherwise, only freestanding. | — | § 153.069 (esp. § 153.069(A), (B), (C), (D)) |

### H-B Highway Business District, I-H-C Industrial and Heavy Commercial District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Detached Sign | 50 feet | 48 square feet | — | 10 feet from right-of-way, or attached to building within setback. | — | Freestanding, detached; 10 foot minimum setback from right-of-way. | — | § 153.068(D)(1), § 153.063, § 153.064 |
| Wall Sign (Attached Sign) | — | 20% of attaching wall | — | — | — | Attached to a building wall | — | § 153.068(D)(2), § 153.063, § 153.064 |
| Electronic Changeable Message Sign (ECMS) | 50 feet (if freestanding) | May not exceed 50% of allowed freestanding sign face area (i.e., up to 24 sq ft if freestanding sign is 48 sq ft) | — | 10 feet from right-of-way. | — | As part of freestanding sign only. | — | § 153.069(A), (C)-(D) |

## Prohibited signs in Murphy

- It is unlawful to construct, set, place, keep, or maintain, or permit any temporary or nonpermanent sign, billboard, bulletin board, or marquee closer than ten feet back of the right-of-way of any street or highway within the town.
- It is unlawful to place, construct, or maintain any temporary or nonpermanent sign, billboard, bulletin board, or marquee in or on specified pocket parks or on adjacent sidewalks in the town square.
- Any non-governmental sign that resembles a public safety warning or traffic sign is prohibited.
- Signs, whether temporary or permanent, are prohibited within any public street or highway right-of-way or placed upon a utility pole except as specifically permitted.
- Any sign which may be confused with or obstruct the view of any public traffic signal or sign, or constitutes a hazard to traffic, is prohibited.
- Any sign that obstructs or substantially interferes with any window, door, fire escape, stairway, or opening intended for light, air, ingress, or egress is prohibited.
- Flashing signs are prohibited.
- Roof signs are prohibited.
- All signs must be set back ten feet from the right-of-way of any street or highway unless attached to a building within the setback.
- Any sign or sign structure which does not conform to the building codes or creates an unsafe distraction, or obstructs motor vehicle operators' view, is prohibited.
- Abandoned signs (business/activity ceased for 180 or more days) are prohibited.
- New billboards are prohibited.
- Portable signs are prohibited except as provided (§153.066(A)).
- Signs on fences are prohibited except for public-owned ball field advertising/sponsorship fence signs and delivery directional signage in specified districts.
- Political signs cannot be closer than three feet from the edge of pavement or higher than 42 inches above road edge or larger than six square feet when in road right-of-way.
- No sign shall obscure motorist visibility at an intersection.
- No political sign shall be permitted in the right-of-way of a fully controlled access highway.

## Signs exempt from permit in Murphy

- Signs not visible from beyond the boundaries of the property on which they are located.
- Signs of a governmental body, including but not limited to traffic, health and public safety, crime control and prevention, building identification, directional, informational, and welcome signs, official notices or advertisements related to any court actions, the location of underground utilities, historical markers or monuments, and other community service signs approved by the Board of Commissioners.
- Trade names and graphics located on gas pumps, newspaper, soft drink and similar vending devices.
- Flags, badges, or insignia of any governmental, non-profit, or religious organization.
- Seasonal/holiday signs and decorations associated with a national or religious holiday.
- Warning of danger signs posted by utility or construction companies.
- Signs painted on or attached to licensed operational vehicles used in normal day-to-day operations unless the primary purpose is the display of signs.
- Signs required by law, statute, or ordinance.
- No trespassing, no loitering, and similar private warning signs.
- Incidental signs.
- Construction site identification signs.
- Signs painted on or displayed in windows.
- Temporary lighting and displays as part of customary holiday decorations displayed up to 45 days prior to the holiday.
- For-sale signs on private vehicles.
- Names and lettering on mail boxes and newspaper tubes.
- Signs denoting a product being sold out of a vending machine, telephone booth, gasoline pump, or newspaper stand and actually located on same.
- Signs displayed inside a business not visible from any public street or walkway.
- Signs related to trespassing or public safety, such as danger from animals.
- Church signs located on church property.
- Signs promoting municipal, school, or civic events.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- All signs, except as otherwise provided in § 153.066 (which exempts specific classes), require a sign permit prior to being located or erected on any property subject to these codes.
- Permit applications must include a sketch of the proposed sign to scale, and a general sketch of the sign's placement on the parcel.
- If a sign permit is denied, the applicant may appeal the decision to the Board of Adjustment.
- No explicit reference to a required Master Sign Plan or sign plan for multi-tenant developments is found in the provided text; the code relies on per-sign permitting except as exempted.

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

---

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