# Sign Regulations in Robbins, North Carolina

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Robbins, North Carolina (NC)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/north-carolina/robbins
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-08
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/NC/Robbins/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=TITXVUNDE_CH152UNDEPR_SIRE)

## At a glance

Robbins, North Carolina regulates 24 sign types across 12 zoning districts. Freestanding Signs in the CBD zoning district are capped at 20 ft tall and 32 sq ft (total for all freestanding signs), with a at least 1 foot off any right-of-way or easement, on landscaped area at least 3' wide and as long as greatest sign dimension setback (Sec. Sec. 152.262(A)). Most commercial signs in Robbins require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (12 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| RA-40, RA-20, R-20, R-10, R-8 | 4 | 10 ft | 40 sq ft | — |
| CBD | 4 | 20 ft | 48 sq ft | — |
| TBD | 4 | 30 ft | 120 sq ft | — |
| O-I | 2 | 20 ft | 120 sq ft | — |
| NBD | 1 | — | — | — |
| H-I, L-I | 2 | 20 ft | 120 sq ft | — |
| Watershed Protection District (WPD) | 1 | — | — | — |
| LF-1 | 1 | — | — | — |
| Residential Agricultural District ETJ (RA-20), Residential Agricultural District ETJ (RA-40) | 1 | — | 4 sq ft | — |
| Planned Unit Development (PUD) | 1 | — | — | — |
| Floodplain and Floodway Districts | 1 | — | — | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 6 | — | 32 sq ft | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 12 zones)

### CBD

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign | 20 ft | 32 sq ft (total for all freestanding signs) | — | Must meet Sec. 152.260(A)-(B): at least 1 foot off any right-of-way or easement, on landscaped area at least 3' wide and as long as greatest sign dimension | Unlimited within allowed area | Not in public right-of-way | — | Sec. 152.262(A) |
| Attached Sign | — | 48 sq ft | — | — | 1 (from this or other category, up to 2 total signs) | Building | — | Sec. 152.262(B)(2) |
| Projecting Sign | — | 16 sq ft | — | — | 1 | Perpendicular to building wall; at least 8 ft above sidewalk | — | Sec. 152.262(B)(3) |
| Canopy Sign | 12 inches if face/side of canopy | 16 sq ft | — | — | 1 | Attached to or under canopy; at least 8 ft above sidewalk at lowest point; not attached to support structure | — | Sec. 152.262(B)(4) |

### TBD

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign | 30 ft | 64 sq ft (total for all freestanding signs) | — | Must be 1 ft off any right-of-way; on landscaped area per 152.260(A)-(B); must be 40 ft from another freestanding sign | 1 or 2 within area limit, plus 1 additional per street frontage | On premises | — | Sec. 152.263(C) |
| Attached Sign and Painted Wall Sign | — | 120 sq ft | — | — | 2 max (see canopy restriction below) | On building | — | Sec. 152.263(F) |
| Projecting Sign | — | 16 sq ft | — | — | 2 max in combination (see canopy restriction below) | Projecting from building | — | Sec. 152.263(D) |
| Canopy Sign | 12 inches (if attached to face/side of canopy) | 9 sq ft | — | — | 1 (must be one of the two allowed signs) | Attached to canopy/face/side/under (at least 8 ft above sidewalk if suspended/projection); not on support structure | — | Sec. 152.263(E) |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Real Estate Sign | — | 4 sq ft (residential zones: RA-40, RA-20, R-20, R-10, R-8); 32 sq ft (CBD, TBD) | — | — | 1 per street frontage | On property for sale or lease | — | Sec. 152.255; Sec. 152.259(1) |
| Construction Sign | — | 32 sq ft | — | — | 1 per construction entrance | On premises of construction | — | Sec. 152.259(2) |
| Political Sign | — | 32 sq ft | — | — | — | On private property, not in ROW | — | Sec. 152.255; Sec. 152.259(4) |
| Yard Sale/Open House Sign | — | — | — | — | 3 per event (2 off-premises allowed) | On or off site (see above) | — | Sec. 152.255; Sec. 152.259(5) |
| Temporary Sign for Special Event - Civic/Festival/Charity | — | 32 sq ft | — | — | No limit | On or off premises | — | Sec. 152.266(A) |
| Temporary Business Sign | — | 32 sq ft | — | — | 1 | On premises | — | Sec. 152.266(B) |

## Prohibited signs in Robbins

- No sign shall be erected which imitates or approximates official highway signs, or obscures a sign displayed by a public authority.
- No sign shall be erected which displays flashing, blinking, or intermittent lights or lights of changing intensity; no moving signs or moving parts of signs will be allowed.
- Portable signs, as defined in the ordinance, are prohibited.
- Temporary signs, except those of a temporary nature as specified in section 152.266, are prohibited.
- Displays on three-dimensional items as oversize facsimiles (e.g., chicken buckets, human figures) are prohibited unless specifically allowed as wooden signs in the CBD district.
- No sign shall be erected or placed so as to obstruct driver vision at driveways, streets, alleys, or parking lot exits.
- Commercial identification or advertising signs are prohibited on public utility poles, telephone poles, trees, parking meter poles, fences, benches, and refuse containers (with specific exceptions for benches and refuse containers).
- Pavement markings, except for traffic control, are prohibited.
- Signs containing obscene words, or words/pictures offending the public are prohibited.
- Any sign located in such a way as to intentionally deny an adjoining property owner visual access to an existing sign is prohibited.
- No billboards or off-premise advertising, as defined in section 152.255, may be erected within the town.
- Directional signs for restaurants, gasoline stations, and the like are prohibited.
- No floodlights or signs causing glare to impair driver vision on a roadway or causing a nuisance to adjacent property are permitted.
- No sign shall be placed in a public right-of-way.
- No sign shall be erected, constructed, or maintained to obstruct any fire escape/window/door/opening used for egress or ventilation.
- No sign may violate state laws relative to outdoor advertising.
- Any sign not in compliance with the regulations of the chapter is prohibited.
- Roof signs and signs that project above the roofline are prohibited.
- No sign shall be painted on or placed on a roof.
- No sign extending above the roof ridge/parapet or projecting over or above the roofline/parapet is permitted.
- No wall, marquee, or projecting sign may project over the roofline or parapet.
- No sign not integral to building design shall be fastened to or supported by/on the roof or extend over/above the roofline/parapet.
- No billboard poster board (off-premise, outdoor advertising sign) is permitted.
- All signs must be securely fastened so as not to be moved by wind or other forces of nature and cause injury to persons or property.

## Signs exempt from permit in Robbins

- Signs not exceeding four square feet in area that are customarily associated with residential use and not of a commercial nature (e.g., property identification, mailbox, no trespassing).
- Signs erected by or on behalf of or pursuant to the authorization of a governmental body (e.g., legal notices, identification and informational signs, traffic, directional, regulatory signs).
- Official noncommercial signs of public utilities.
- Flags, pennants, or insignia of any governmental or nonprofit organization not used in connection with a commercial promotion or as an advertising device.
- Integral decorative or architectural features of buildings or works of art that do not contain letters, trademarks, moving parts, or lights.
- Private traffic directional signs not exceeding four square feet, with permitted identification signs not exceeding two square feet.
- Church bulletin boards, church identification signs, and church directional signs (one per abutting street, not exceeding 16 square feet, not internally illuminated).
- Signs painted on or permanently attached to currently licensed motor vehicles not primarily used as signs.
- Signs proclaiming religious, political, or other noncommercial messages (not more than one per abutting street, not exceeding 16 square feet, not internally illuminated).
- Agri-tourism directional signs (one per abutting street, not exceeding 16 square feet, not internally illuminated, not in ROW, property owner permission required).
- Trash receptacle signs (up to two per receptacle, no more than two square feet per sign).
- Gasoline pump signs (up to two per pump, no more than two square feet per sign, both sides allowed).
- Mural society-approved painted wall signs.
- Outdoor inventory sales signs (subject to area/height restrictions, permitted only where 95% of inventory is outdoors).
- Hospitals, clinics, and certain medical facilities' directional signs (one per abutting street, not exceeding 16 square feet, not internally illuminated, not in ROW, property owner permission required).
- On-premises professionally designed temporary signs less than 12 square feet (one per premises, not in ROW, up to four feet in height).

## Sign plan & submission notes

- No sign shall be erected, attached, suspended, changed or relocated until a permit has been issued by the administrator; applications must be made on prescribed forms (Sec. 152.258).
- Signs requiring a variance or special use must be acted on by the board of adjustment following the standard variance/special use/quasi-judicial procedures (Secs. 152.031, 152.270).
- Additional signage for businesses (beyond two allowed signs) requires the applicant to submit a drawing of proposed sign locations to be reviewed for compliance (Sec. 152.260(L)).
- Temporary signs require a temporary sign permit and application providing owner information, date of erection, date for removal, and sign description (Sec. 152.266).
- Pole-mounted banners and wall-mounted sign holders require an application and permit specifying their location, size, and mounting details (Sec. 152.267).
- Relocation of permitted signs requires notification to the town planner (Sec. 152.272).
- Nonconforming sign repairs/replacement must bring the sign into compliance if damaged more than 50% of reproduction value (Sec. 152.271).
- Master sign plan is not explicitly required, but multi-tenant/commercial developments (such as shopping centers, malls, business/industrial/office parks) allow directory signs and require the sign plan to show compliance with permitted sizes/locations (Sec. 152.265).
- In cases where a special use permit for signage is sought due to building design or other circumstances, an applicant must provide sketches and supporting information to the board of adjustment (Sec. 152.270).

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

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