# Sign Regulations in Nashville, North Carolina

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Nashville, North Carolina (NC)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/north-carolina/nashville
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-08
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/NC/Nashville/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=PTIICOOR_CH18LAUSRE_ARTIIZO_DIV5SI)

## At a glance

Nashville, North Carolina regulates 23 sign types across 7 zoning districts. Freestanding Sign (Nonresidential Use)s in the A-1 Agricultural district, R-30 Low-density residential district, R-15 Medium-density residential district, R-10 Medium-density residential district, R-6M High-density residential and manufactured home park district, R-6 High-density residential district, R-4 High-density residential district, MF Multifamily residential district, O-I Office and institutional district zoning district are capped at 7 ft tall and 40 sq ft, with a At least 5 ft from all lot lines and street right-of-way lines; at least 20 ft from a residentially zoned lot if adjacent setback (Sec. Sec. 18-137(p); Sec. 18-137(a); Sec. 18-137(c); Sec. 18-137(d); Sec. 18-137(j); Sec. 18-138). Most commercial signs in Nashville require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (7 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| A-1 Agricultural district, R-30 Low-density residential district, R-15 Medium-density residential district, R-10 Medium-density residential district, R-6M High-density residential and manufactured home park district, R-6 High-density residential district, R-4 High-density residential district, MF Multifamily residential district, O-I Office and institutional district | 9 | 7 ft | Lesser of 50% of total allowable sign face area or 32 sq ft | — |
| B-1 General business district | 7 | 100 ft | 400 sq ft | — |
| B-2 Central business district | 6 | — | 32 sq ft or 50% of total sign face area | — |
| I-1 Light industrial district | 3 | 12 ft | 32 sq ft or 50% of sign face | — |
| WS Watershed overlay district | 1 | — | — | — |
| A-1(SU), R-30(SU), R-15(SU), R-10(SU), R-6M(SU), R-6(SU), R-4(SU), MF(SU), O-I(SU), B-1(SU), B-2(SU), I-1(SU) | 1 | — | — | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 1 | 12 ft (business/industrial), 7 ft (residential/office/institutional) | — | — |

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

### A-1 Agricultural district, R-30 Low-density residential district, R-15 Medium-density residential district, R-10 Medium-density residential district, R-6M High-density residential and manufactured home park district, R-6 High-density residential district, R-4 High-density residential district, MF Multifamily residential district, O-I Office and institutional district

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign (Nonresidential Use) | 7 ft | 40 sq ft | — | At least 5 ft from all lot lines and street right-of-way lines; at least 20 ft from a residentially zoned lot if adjacent | 1 per street frontage; if abutting 2+ thoroughfares, 1 additional sign per additional street, max 1 per street | Set back at least 5 feet from all lot lines and street right-of-way lines; if adjacent to residential zone, 20 ft setback from residential property line | — | Sec. 18-137(p); Sec. 18-137(a); Sec. 18-137(c); Sec. 18-137(d); Sec. 18-137(j); Sec. 18-138 |
| Wall Sign (Nonresidential Use) | — | 1 sq ft per horizontal linear foot of the wall | — | — | 1 per street frontage, max 1 per street | Flat/flush mounted to building | — | Sec. 18-137(p); Sec. 18-137(a); Sec. 18-138 |
| Freestanding Sign (Subdivision Entrance) | — | 32 sq ft (double-faced) OR 16 sq ft (single-faced) | — | At least 5 ft from all street right-of-way lines unless DOT standards apply | 1 double-faced or 2 single-faced per entrance | At any street entrance to a residential subdivision | — | Sec. 18-137(o) |
| Temporary Sign (General) | — | 20 sq ft (general); 32 sq ft for some events | — | — | 1 per lot at a time | — | — | Sec. 18-137(n); Sec. 18-138(2) |
| Incidental Sign (Residential Use) | — | 3 sq ft (residential districts) | — | — | — | Mounted flat against the building | — | Sec. 18-138(1); Sec. 18-138(4)c.1 |
| Incidental Sign (Professional Announcement) | 6 ft (nonresidential districts) if freestanding | 3 sq ft (residential); 4 sq ft (nonresidential districts) | — | 15 ft minimum (freestanding, nonresidential districts) | — | Mounted flat against the building (residential); may be freestanding in nonresidential districts, set back 15 ft from street right-of-way | — | Sec. 18-138(4)c |
| Real Estate Sign (Temporary/Portable) | — | 8 sq ft | — | — | 1 per street frontage | On property for sale, lease, rent, or barter (1 per street frontage) | — | Sec. 18-138(2)b |
| Electronic Message Sign | — | Lesser of 50% of total allowable sign face area or 32 sq ft | — | — | — | May be permitted as part of a freestanding business identification sign | — | Sec. 18-137(q) |

### B-1 General business district

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign (General Use) | 12 ft (30 ft for special use extended height sign; see separate type) | 2 sq ft per linear foot of lot frontage | — | 10 ft from property line if freestanding | 1 per street frontage | 10 ft from front property line if freestanding; must not obstruct motorist line of sight. | — | Sec. 18-140 Table; Sec. 18-137(d) |
| Freestanding Sign (Shopping Center) | 12 ft | 40 sq ft | — | — | 1 per shopping center | — | — | Sec. 18-140 Table |
| Flush-Mounted/Wall Sign | — | 2 sq ft per linear foot of building frontage | — | — | 1 flush-mount per building face | Flat-mounted on building | — | Sec. 18-140 Table |
| Entrance Sign | — | 6 sq ft per entrance sign | — | — | 1 per building entrance | Flat-mounted on building | — | Sec. 18-140 Table |
| Freestanding Extended Height Sign (Special Use Permit) | 100 ft | 400 sq ft | — | — | 1 per location | Within 1,000 ft of certain highway intersections (see ordinance for locations) | — | Sec. 18-111(20) |
| Off-Premises Multitenant Freestanding Sign | 30 ft | 200 sq ft (max, including multitenant shopping center name; each tenant placard: max 20 sq ft, shopping center name: max 20 sq ft) | — | — | 1 per multitenant development entrance | At primary entrance of multitenant developments | — | Sec. 18-139 |
| Electronic Message Sign | — | Maximum: 32 sq ft or 50% of total sign face area | — | — | As part of allowed freestanding sign | As part of freestanding sign | — | Sec. 18-137(q) |

### B-2 Central business district

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Projecting Sign | — | 2 sq ft per linear foot of building frontage, up to 100 sq ft | — | — | 1 per street frontage | Per street frontage | — | Sec. 18-140 Table |
| Freestanding Sign | — | — | — | — | 1 per street frontage | Per street frontage | — | Sec. 18-140 Table |
| Flush-Mounted Sign | — | One fourth the area of the building face between canopy line and parapet | — | — | — | — | — | Sec. 18-140 Table |
| Entrance Sign | — | 6 sq ft per entrance | — | — | 1 per building entrance | — | — | Sec. 18-140 Table |
| Parking Area Directional Sign | — | 10 sq ft | — | — | Max 2 per lot | Directing public to off-street parking areas. Max 2 per lot. | — | Sec. 18-140 Table |
| Electronic Message Sign | — | 32 sq ft or 50% of total sign face area | — | — | — | As part of freestanding/business identification sign | — | Sec. 18-137(q) |

## Prohibited signs in Nashville

- No exterior sign may be erected, painted, repainted, posted, reposted, placed, replaced, or hung in any district, except in compliance with Division 5 (Signs).
- No sign is permitted on any public right-of-way except as specifically authorized in the ordinance.
- No sign attached to or painted on any telephone pole, telegraph pole, power pole, or other manmade object not intended to support a sign, nor on any tree, rock or other natural object, except as specifically authorized.
- No sign shall obstruct any window, door, fire escape, stairway, ladder or opening intended to provide light, air, ingress or egress for any building, structure or lot (except for temporary paper signs).
- No sign shall be erected or continued that would tend by its location, color or nature to be confused with or obstruct the view of traffic signs or signals, or would tend to be confused with a flashing light of an emergency vehicle.
- No sign shall use admonitions such as 'stop,' 'go,' 'slow,' 'danger,' etc., which might be confused with traffic directional signs or signals.
- No sign shall obstruct the line of sight of motorists at intersections or along a public right-of-way.
- No part of a freestanding sign may exceed the maximum height allowed by district (7 feet for residential/office-institutional districts, 12 feet for business/industrial districts).
- No projecting sign shall be less than 10 feet above grade of any sidewalk or walkway (or 8 feet if attached to underside of a canopy).
- No projecting sign (where permitted to project over a public street or sidewalk right-of-way) may remain after notification by town that removal is necessary.
- No sign may be illuminated with flashing lights (except signs showing only time and temperature).
- No sign within 150 feet of a residential zone may be illuminated between 12:00 midnight and 6:00 a.m. unless lighting impact beyond property boundaries is inconsequential.
- No illuminated sign shall shine lighting directly into a public right-of-way or residential premises.
- If a lot with a nonresidential sign is immediately adjacent to a residentially zoned lot, at least 20 feet must separate the sign from the residential property line.
- No sign shall be continued which becomes structurally unsafe and endangers the safety of the public or property.
- No nonconforming sign erected before January 5, 1993, or any amendments to this article, shall be moved, replaced or repaired in excess of 50 percent of its original cost in any calendar year without complying with the provisions of this article.
- Any unauthorized portable sign, banner or windblown sign must be removed within 90 days after the effective date of the ordinance.
- No temporary and/or portable sign shall be located within a public right-of-way, unless it announces an event of public interest and is approved/permitted by the zoning administrator.
- No temporary and/or portable sign shall be electrified.
- The maximum length of time any location may have temporary/portable signs is 60 days per calendar year.
- No sign shall be erected that obstructs the line of sight of motorists at intersections or along a public right-of-way, regardless of other regulations.
- Off-premises commercial signs are not permitted, except as specifically allowed for multitenant centers in B-1 districts.
- Electronic message signs shall not be allowed to flash and/or animate. Transition between messages must be instantaneous; each message must be displayed for at least ten seconds.
- Electronic message signs are prohibited on off-premises advertising signs.
- Electronic message signs are not permitted on sites where existing freestanding signs are nonconforming unless such signs are made conforming.
- No sign shall be attached to or painted on any tree or natural object, unless specifically authorized.
- No sign shall be attached to or painted on any utility pole, unless specifically authorized.
- Signs must not be erected or maintained in a manner that becomes structurally unsafe.
- All signs must be maintained in a state of good repair.
- Temporary and/or portable signs not removed by deadline may be removed and disposed of by the Town; any posted cash bond is forfeited.

## Signs exempt from permit in Nashville

- Legal notices, identification, information, directional or regulatory signs erected or required by governmental bodies are exempt from the requirements for permits under Division 5 (Signs) but must comply with other applicable provisions.
- Signs not exceeding three square feet in area and bearing only property numbers, post office box, number of occupants of premises or other identification of premises are exempt from the certificate of zoning compliance requirement.
- Political signs, if not illuminated, and within size limits (20 sq ft on residential, 32 sq ft on nonresidential lot), do not require a permit. Election-related signs must be removed within seven days of the election.
- One temporary real estate sign and one temporary directional sign not exceeding eight square feet each may be placed on property for sale/lease/rent, per street frontage, and do not require a permit but must be removed within 15 days after sale.
- Temporary construction signs during period of construction do not require a permit if within area limitations and are removed within 15 days after construction completion.
- Other residential signs for estate/court/yard sales within 20 sq ft per lot and removed within 7 days after event do not require a permit.
- Directional or informational signs of a public or quasi-public nature not exceeding 15 square feet in area are exempt from permit requirements (e.g., for city, school, church names, etc.), but need zoning admin permission for mounting over rights-of-way.
- One incidental sign advertising sale of farm products grown on premises, up to 24 sq ft, is exempt from permit; farm sign may be freestanding, but no closer than 15 ft to street.
- One identification sign per multiple-dwelling unit, up to 16 sq ft, is exempt; certain conditions apply.
- One incidental professional announcement sign up to three (residential) or four (other districts) square feet is exempt; location and mounting restrictions apply.
- Incidental sign for tourist home or bed-and-breakfast in certain residential districts, up to 4 sq ft and suitably located, is exempt; illumination must be nonflashing.
- Subdivision development signs up to 60 sq ft calling attention to the opening of a new subdivision are exempt, meet setback, must be non-illuminated, and be removed when 70% of lots are sold.
- Ballfield or stadium advertising signs (max 4x8 ft, only one face, 6-month max, facing interior of field, <7 ft in residential and <12 ft in other zones) are exempt from permit reqs.
- Some government-required or government-erected signs are generally exempt. (As in 'identification, information, directional or regulatory signs erected or required by governmental bodies.')

## Sign plan & submission notes

- No mention is made of a 'Master Sign Plan' in this ordinance, but for certain uses (e.g., special use permits or commercial centers), plans showing sign location and size are often required as part of the use approval process.
- Sec. 18-110(b)(2)(a): 'Where plans are required to be submitted and approved as part of the application for a special use permit...the site plan shall show...the size and proposed location of any signs to be visible from a public right-of-way.'
- Sec. 18-111(3)(e): For uses such as racetracks, junkyards, landfills, etc., plans required must show: 'Signing (size and locations)'.
- Sec. 18-111(4)(e): For automobile parking lots in residential districts: 'Plans required must show... (1) Location and size of proposed sign.'
- Sec. 18-111(6)(f)(2): For cemeteries/mausoleums, 'Structures. Location of sign, entrance, and buildings must be shown on the plan.'
- Sec. 18-111(16)(i)(6)(ii): For planned unit development/commercial, 'size and proposed location of any signs to be visible from a public right-of-way' must be shown as part of required plan submittals.
- Business identification signs in O-I, B-1, B-2, I-1 are subject to a table of maximum number/area/location requirements, but submission of a sign plan is not explicitly required except as part of broader site plan/application compliance.
- Special use permits for freestanding extended height signs in B-1 require application and review by Town council (Sec. 18-111(20)).

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

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