# Sign Regulations in Pine Knoll Shores, North Carolina

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Pine Knoll Shores, North Carolina (NC)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/north-carolina/pine-knoll-shores
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-08
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/NC/Pine_Knoll_Shores/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=PTIICOOR_CH74ZO_ARTIVZODIRE_DIV2REPRZO_SDIIRE_S74-286SIRE)

## At a glance

Pine Knoll Shores, North Carolina regulates 21 sign types across 11 zoning districts. Ground Sign (Principal)s in the Multifamily 1 zoning district are capped at 10 ft above ground for MF-1, 15 ft above centerline elevation of nearest public street for larger sign tall, 15 sq ft (MF-1), or up to 60 sq ft for other ground sign if meeting Sec. 74-357(d)(2), and 12 ft for larger type wide (Sec. Sec. 74-355(i), Sec. 74-357(d)(2)). Most commercial signs in Pine Knoll Shores require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (11 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Residential R-1, Residential R-2, Residential R-3, Residential R-4 | 2 | — | 15 sq ft | — |
| Recreational 1, Recreational 2, Recreational 3 | 2 | — | 8 sq ft per sign | — |
| Multifamily 1 | 5 | 10 ft above ground for MF-1, 15 ft above centerline elevation of nearest public street for larger sign | 30 sq ft | — |
| Multifamily 2 | 4 | 10 ft above ground | 15 sq ft | — |
| Commercial | 6 | 15 ft above centerline elevation of nearest street | 60 sq ft | — |
| Office professional | 4 | — | 50 sq ft | — |
| Municipal service | 4 | — | 15 sq ft | — |
| Institutional | 3 | — | 50 sq ft (per entrance from public street) | — |
| CZMF2.1 | 1 | — | — | — |
| CZMF2.2 | 1 | — | — | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 2 | 3 ft (temporary signs in ROW) | Varies: HOA signs 3 sq ft; Temporary signs in ROW 4 sq ft and 3 ft high; Election site signs 3 sq ft. | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 11 zones)

### Multifamily 1

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign (per business/separate building) | — | 30 sq ft | — | — | 1 wall sign per business | Building wall | — | Sec. 74-357(d)(3)-(4), Sec. 74-355(h) |
| Wall Sign (per business in multi-use building) | — | 15 sq ft | — | — | 1 wall sign per business | Building wall | — | Sec. 74-357(d)(5), Sec. 74-355(h) |
| Ground Sign (Principal) | 10 ft above ground for MF-1, 15 ft above centerline elevation of nearest public street for larger sign | 15 sq ft (MF-1), or up to 60 sq ft for other ground sign if meeting Sec. 74-357(d)(2) | 12 ft for larger type | — | One | At property entrance, ground mounted | — | Sec. 74-355(i), Sec. 74-357(d)(2) |
| Hanging Sign / Window Sign | — | 3 sq ft | — | — | One per business | Window or suspended at entrance | — | Sec. 74-357(d)(6)-(7), Sec. 74-355(h) |
| Other Signs | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Sec. 74-355(j) |

### Commercial

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign (Single Building, Option 1) | — | 30 sq ft | — | — | 1 per business (if not using ground sign) | Building wall | — | Sec. 74-357(d)(3)-(4),(9)-(12) |
| Wall Sign (Multi-use Building, Option 2) | — | 15 sq ft | — | — | 1 per business | Building wall | — | Sec. 74-357(d)(5) |
| Ground Sign | 15 ft above centerline elevation of nearest street | 60 sq ft | 12 ft | — | 1 ground sign per business or group | At property entrance, ground mounted | — | Sec. 74-357(d)(2) |
| Window Sign (Option 3) | — | 3 sq ft | — | — | 1 per business | Window | — | Sec. 74-357(d)(6)-(7) |
| Hanging Sign (Option 4) | 7-10 ft above walking elevation | 3 sq ft | — | — | 1 per business | Suspended at entrance | — | Sec. 74-357(d)(6) |
| Other Signs | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Sec. 74-357(d)(7)-(13) |

### Municipal service

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | — | 15 sq ft | — | No closer than 6 ft from the paved surface of the road | 1 per entrance | Building wall, near the entrance from a public street | — | Sec. 74-359(h) |
| Ground Sign | — | 15 sq ft | — | No closer than 6 ft from the paved surface of the road | 1 per entrance | Ground, near entrance from public street | — | Sec. 74-359(h) |
| Hanging Sign | — | 3 sq ft | — | No closer than 6 ft from the paved surface of the road | 1 per entrance | Suspended at entrance | — | Sec. 74-359(h) |
| Other Signs | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Sec. 74-359(i) |

## Prohibited signs in Pine Knoll Shores

- No sign shall be allowed within the town unless expressly permitted by this chapter or by state law for state road rights-of-way.
- No sign shall be placed on any municipal street right-of-way, unless erected by a governmental agency approved by the town manager or as specifically allowable in this chapter.
- No sign shall be erected, located, or maintained so as to prevent safe and free ingress to and egress from any door, window, or fire escape.
- No signs shall be painted directly on the wall, side, or structural part of any building, tank, fence, wall, or other structure not erected specifically as a sign board except for town identification on municipal property.
- All signs shall be firmly and securely attached to either the ground or a structure.
- All signs shall be built of a noncorrosive, durable material.
- No sign shall be lettered, outlined, or otherwise decorated with any reflecting paint, beads, or prisms, unless erected by a governmental agency.
- Lighting shall be for purposes of illumination only; flashing lights are prohibited.
- Lighting shall not be allowed in the line of vision of vehicular traffic.
- No sign, such as those with red and/or blue lighted lettering or images, that may be confused with an emergency vehicle shall be allowed within the town.
- No sign may be attached to any external perimeter or boundary fencing (commercial district).
- No signs shall include blinkers, flashers, or intermittent pause features such as running lights.
- The following signs are not permissible within the town: portable message boards, sandwich boards, revolving, moving, or rotating signs, electronic message boards, roof signs, and wind-driven signs, such as tethered balloons or other inflatable objects.
- No vehicles or trailers located on the site shall be used exclusively to support signs.
- For detached signs any permitted lighting shall be designed to shield the effects on approaching motorist.
- No advertising signs are permitted on a wireless support structure site, within or on the fence securing the tower site, or located anywhere on a wireless support structure.
- Signs, advertisements, flags, streamers and other decorative items shall be prohibited from a wind energy system.
- No lighting on a wind energy system shall be permitted unless required by FAA regulations.

## Signs exempt from permit in Pine Knoll Shores

- Flags on private property.
- Governmentally-erected signs on private property (and along all town and state rights of way within the town as well as on town and state property, if approved by the town manager or his designee).
- Integral, decorative, or architectural features of buildings, not to include letters, trademarks, moving lights, or moving parts.
- Signs not exceeding three square feet in area constructed by a homeowners' association, and which are located on premises owned by the association or are subject to the jurisdiction of said association.
- Signs on private property, except for homeowners' associations governed by above and excluding signs not visible from the public right-of-way, subject to: no one sign exceeding 3 sq ft, total not exceeding 9 sq ft per lot, and minimum requirements for street address identification.
- Temporary signs in the Town right-of-way, subject to specific requirements (see ordinance for details).
- Non-governmentally erected signs at the Town's designated voting site, allowed only on designated voting days, subject to specified size, duration, and spacing limits.
- Routine mowing of lawn grasses.
- Pruning of trees, shrubs, or oceanfront vegetation to clear established walkways and driveways, or to keep the same from touching a structure, but only to the minimum extent necessary for such purposes.
- Vegetable and flower gardening on existing cleared plots.
- Destruction of poison ivy when no other vegetation is materially affected.
- Removal of a hazardous or diseased tree after notice from the town under section 38-8 of the town code.
- Regulated activity approved in a major landscape permit, minor landscape permit, or single-family landscape permit issued under section 74-59 of this chapter.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A signage plan depicting all proposed sign locations and dimensional information shall be submitted with the site plan (Sec. 74-181(19)). All signs shall be constructed to comply with the applicable town building codes and building permits shall be obtained from the town building inspector before their installation.
- Applications for a commercial use structure must, as a condition for issuance of a building permit, provide to the town planning board and board of commissioners architectural plans (which include sign locations) at the same time the site plan is submitted (Sec. 74-175, 74-176).
- In commercial, office/professional, multifamily, municipal service, and institutional districts, site plans must include a general landscaping plan and can include proposed sign locations and dimensional information (Sec. 74-333(2), 74-181(19)).
- A master or site sign plan is generally required for multi-tenant/multi-use commercial properties (Sec. 74-181(19)), and sign permits must be obtained prior to installation.
- Sign permit process requirements are set forth in Sec. 74-168.
- Sign approval in commercial zones includes review by the community appearance commission and, when disputed, by the town manager and possibly the board of adjustment (Sec. 74-168).

## 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 11 zoning districts in Pine Knoll Shores — every sign type, every field — are available with a free PermitPal account: https://app.permitpal.io/?address=Pine+Knoll+Shores+NC&override=true&utm_source=landing&utm_medium=city-page&utm_campaign=city-pine-knoll-shores

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