# Sign Regulations in Richlands, North Carolina

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

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

## At a glance

Richlands, North Carolina regulates 11 sign types across 4 zoning districts. Freestanding Signs in the Residential zoning district zoning district are capped at 30 ft tall and 2 sq ft per lot, with a At least 5 ft from any public right-of-way setback (Sec. § 153.181, § 153.186(B), § 153.190, § 153.191). Most commercial signs in Richlands require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (4 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Residential zoning district | 5 | 30 ft | 50 sq ft at primary entrance for <400 units; 75 sq ft for 400-749 units; 100 sq ft for 750+ units | — |
| Agricultural district | 3 | 30 ft max (or 6, 8, 10 ft for ground signs, see below) | Up to 100 sq ft (side), depending on frontage; total signage also subject to overall lot maximum | — |
| Commercial district, Office and institutional district, Industrial district | 5 | Balloon/blimp: max 50 ft display height, or 20 ft for certain devices | Up to 100 sq ft (side), depending on frontage; total signage also subject to lot maximum | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 4 | Balloon: 50 ft; sidewalk sign per wind safety and Board approval if on right-of-way | Subject to freestanding sign area maximums, up to 100 sq ft per § 153.187 | — |

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

### Residential zoning district

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | — | 2 sq ft per lot | — | — | — | On building wall, one side visible. | — | § 153.181, § 153.186(B), § 153.185, § 153.191 |
| Freestanding Sign | 30 ft | 2 sq ft per lot | — | At least 5 ft from any public right-of-way | 1 per lot except as allowed for subdivisions/multi-family (see below) | At least 5 ft from public right-of-way | — | § 153.181, § 153.186(B), § 153.190, § 153.191 |
| Subdivision/Multi-Family Entrance Sign (Primary) | — | 50 sq ft at primary entrance for <400 units; 75 sq ft for 400-749 units; 100 sq ft for 750+ units | — | — | 1 per primary entrance | Primary subdivision/multi-family entrance | — | § 153.189(A)-(C) |
| Subdivision/Multi-Family Entrance Sign (Secondary) | — | 25 sq ft for <400 units; 32 sq ft for 400+ units | — | — | Each secondary entrance may have one sign | Secondary entrance(s) to subdivision/multi-family | — | § 153.189(A)-(C) |
| Temporary Sign | — | See General Regulations for all zones for maximums | — | — | See § 153.183 for event types | On lot | — | § 153.183 |

### Commercial district, Office and institutional district, Industrial district

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | — | Per formula; but not to exceed 25% of wall surface | — | — | — | On building wall, 1 side visible | — | § 153.186(C), (F), § 153.191 |
| Freestanding Sign | 30 ft max above street grade; ground sign: see below. | Up to 100 sq ft (side), depending on frontage; total signage also subject to lot maximum | — | 5 ft from public right-of-way | 1 per lot; more for corners/double-fronted or >300 ft frontage (min 100 ft separation between signs). | At least 5 ft from public right-of-way | — | § 153.186(C), § 153.187, § 153.188, § 153.190, § 153.191 |
| Freestanding Sign (Indirect Frontage / Entrance Easement) | — | 50 sq ft | — | — | 1 per development entrance | Driveway access area or sign easement at entrance from public street | — | § 153.187(D) |
| Shopping Center Freestanding Sign (Building Frontage alternative) | — | — | — | — | — | At shopping center | — | § 153.187(F), § 153.181(B)(2) |
| Temporary Sign | Balloon/blimp: max 50 ft display height, or 20 ft for certain devices | 32 sq ft for real estate/construction; banners/pennants/balloons - 32 sq ft; sidewalk sign - 6 sq ft; political - 12 sq ft; religious/noncommercial - 16 sq ft | — | — | Per event type, see § 153.183 | On the lot; sidewalk sign must be within 5 ft of commercial building | — | § 153.183(C), § 153.183(A)-(C) |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Exempt Signs (No Permit Required) | — | 2 sq ft (property ID, mailbox, etc.); 6 sq ft (help wanted, restrictions apply) | — | — | — | On lot | — | § 153.182 |
| Temporary Sign (General) | Balloon: 50 ft; sidewalk sign per wind safety and Board approval if on right-of-way | 4 sq ft (residential real estate); 32 sq ft (commercial/industrial real estate and construction); 16 sq ft (religious/noncom); 12 sq ft (political, 1 per street), 32 sq ft (banner, not to exceed 30 days/year), 6 sq ft (sidewalk A-board/portable sign), 36 sq ft (advertising balloon >20 ft high), 75–100 sq ft (special event banners/balloons per event) | — | — | 1 per event/type, per event | On lot, not within right-of-way unless approved | — | § 153.183 |
| Off-Premises Sign (Billboard) | — | Subject to freestanding sign area maximums, up to 100 sq ft per § 153.187 | — | — | 1 per qualified nonresidential development | Not within 1,000 ft of another off-premises sign or within 1,000 ft of a residential district unless additional requirements | — | § 153.192(A), § 153.187 |
| Shingle Sign | — | 3 sq ft | 2 ft (any dimension max) | — | — | Hanging/protruding, both sides visible, or mounted as wall sign | — | § 153.180 (definition) |

## Prohibited signs in Richlands

- No sign may be erected, moved, enlarged, or substantially altered except in accordance with the ordinance and unless exempted or with required permits (§ 153.181).
- No sign may extend above any parapet or be placed upon any roof surface, except for certain holiday displays on residential roofs (§ 153.190(A)).
- No sign or supporting structure may be located in the traveled portion of any public right-of-way unless attached to a building and with an encroachment permit (§ 153.190(B)).
- No part of a freestanding sign may exceed a height of 30 feet, measured from the grade of the street from which access to the property is provided (§ 153.190(C)).
- All freestanding signs must be placed at least five feet from any public right-of-way (§ 153.190(D)).
- No sign may substantially interfere with motorists’ view at intersections or entrances/exits from public or private roads (§ 153.192(B)).
- All signs must be constructed and erected in accordance with the Southern Building Code and related State Building Code amendments (§ 153.192(C)).
- No sign may be erected on town-maintained or private rights-of-way if, by location, color, size, shape, nature, or message, it would obstruct the view of or be confused with official traffic signs or signs erected by governmental agencies (§ 153.192(D)).
- Freestanding signs must be securely fastened to the ground or a substantial support to prevent movement by wind or other forces that could cause injury (§ 153.192(E)).
- Outdoor advertising signs must maintain horizontal and vertical clearance of all overhead electrical conductors according to the National Electrical Code; they may not be closer than ten feet from any conductor or public utility guy wire (§ 153.192(F)).
- Structurally unsafe outdoor advertising signs must be made safe or removed within ten days of written notice by the Building Inspector (§ 153.192(G)).
- No sign may contain or be illuminated by flashing lights or lights of changing intensity, with specific exceptions (§ 153.191(E)).
- Lighting for signs shall be shielded such that it only illuminates the sign's face and does not shine into a public right-of-way or residential premises; sign reflection must not exceed 25% of the lumens directed toward the sign as measured from the property line (§ 153.191(B)).
- Non-conforming signs may not be enlarged, altered to increase non-conformity, moved, or replaced except to become conforming; if destroyed, they may not be repaired or replaced except per current codes (§ 153.038).
- No person shall injure, tamper with, remove, paint upon, or deface any sign, sign post, street light, traffic signal, bulletin board, or other municipal property, except town employees performing duties (§ 91.097).

## Signs exempt from permit in Richlands

- Signs not exceeding two square feet in area customarily associated with residential use and not of a commercial nature (e.g., property identification, occupant names, mailbox signs, private parking/trespassing/danger warnings) (§ 153.182(A)).
- Signs erected by or on behalf of or pursuant to the authorization of a governmental body (legal notices, identification, informational signs, traffic, directional, or regulatory signs) (§ 153.182(B)).
- Official informational signs erected by public utilities (§ 153.182(C)).
- Flags, pennants, or insignia of any governmental or non-profit organization when not used in connection with a commercial promotion or as an advertising device (§ 153.182(D)).
- Signs directing and guiding traffic on private property, not exceeding two square feet each, that bear no advertising information (§ 153.182(E)).
- Signs painted on or permanently attached to currently licensed motor vehicles not primarily used as signs (§ 153.182(F)).
- Temporary help wanted signs, not exceeding six square feet, without company name or logo (or not exceeding 30% sign area for name/logo if on multi-tenant property) (§ 153.182(G)).
- Temporary signs listed under § 153.183(A) (certain real estate signs, construction site signs, non-commercial messages, holiday displays, election/political campaign signs, special event signs) are exempt from needing a zoning, special use, or sign permit, though subject to content and location rules (§ 153.183(A)).
- Displays of a non-commercial nature, including lighting, erected for observance of holidays (§ 153.183(A)(4)).
- Parade, picketing, and bystander signs made of cardboard no thicker than 1/4 inch and sized no larger than 24 x 24 inches, with specific non-metal support requirements (§ 92.13).

## Sign plan & submission notes

- On lots occupied or intended to be occupied by multiple business enterprises (e.g., shopping centers), the owner must apply for a master sign plan allocating permissible sign surface area among the various buildings or businesses within the development (§ 153.181(B)(2)).
- If the owner is unwilling or unable to devise a master sign plan for a multi-tenant development, the Zoning Administrator will develop such a plan using building frontage as the basis for total sign surface area allocation (§ 153.181(B)(2)(b)).
- Sign permits may only be issued to individual tenants in accordance with the allocation in the approved master sign plan (§ 153.181(B)(2)(b)).
- A proposed planting plan must be submitted for approval as part of the required sign permit application documents for subdivision and multi-family development entrance signs (§ 153.189(D)).

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

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