# Sign Regulations in Salisbury, North Carolina

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Salisbury, North Carolina (NC)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/north-carolina/salisbury
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-08
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/NC/Salisbury/codes/Land_Development_Ordinance?nodeId=CH12SI)

## At a glance

Salisbury, North Carolina regulates 32 sign types across 14 zoning districts. Monument Sign (Boulevard)s in the Residential District (OSP, RR, MHD, GR, HR, UR, RMX, NMX, TND) zoning district are capped at 6 ft tall and 32 sq ft (Sec. Sec. 12.20). Most commercial signs in Salisbury require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (14 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 3 | 8 ft (96 inches) | 6 sq ft | — |
| Residential District (OSP, RR, MHD, GR, HR, UR, RMX, NMX, TND) | 12 | 10 ft | 32 sq ft | — |
| Non-Residential District (CMX, HB, LI, HI, HS, CI) | 14 | 15 ft | 80 sq ft | — |
| Community and Institution District (CI) | 5 | 15 ft | 80 sq ft | — |
| Mixed-Use Zoning Districts | 1 | — | 20 sq ft (per banner); 30 sq ft total per building (maximum 2 banners) | — |
| Downtown Mixed-Use District (DMX) | 5 | — | 20 sq ft (per banner), 30 sq ft total per building (max 2 banners) | — |
| Local Historic Overlay District (LHO) | 7 | — | 8 sq ft (in DMX); presumed same for LHO | — |
| Brooklyn-South Square (BSS) | 3 | — | 8 sq ft presumed | — |
| Ellis Street Graded School (ESGS) | 1 | — | — | — |
| North Main (NM) | 1 | — | — | — |
| West Square (WS) | 1 | — | — | — |
| Downtown (D) | 2 | — | 8 sq ft presumed | — |
| Sign Overlay District 'A' (along portions of Interstate 85; LI, HI only for billboards) | 1 | 30 ft | 400 sq ft per sign face | — |
| Sign Overlay District 'B' (E. Innes Street, Jake Alexander Boulevard, Julian Road interchanges; CMX, HB only for pylon signs) | 4 | 70-90 ft | 200 sq ft | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 14 zones)

### Residential District (OSP, RR, MHD, GR, HR, UR, RMX, NMX, TND)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Monument Sign (Boulevard) | 6 ft | 32 sq ft | — | — | 1 per street frontage | Per street frontage | — | Sec. 12.20 |
| Pole Sign (Boulevard) | 10 ft | 32 sq ft | — | — | 1 per street frontage | Per street frontage | — | Sec. 12.20 |
| Pylon Sign (Boulevard) | 10 ft | 32 sq ft | — | — | 1 per street frontage | Per street frontage | — | Sec. 12.20 |
| Monument Sign (Major Thoroughfare) | 6 ft | 32 sq ft | — | — | 1 per street frontage | Per street frontage | — | Sec. 12.20 |
| Pole Sign (Major Thoroughfare) | 10 ft | 32 sq ft | — | — | 1 per street frontage | Per street frontage | — | Sec. 12.20 |
| Pylon Sign (Major Thoroughfare) | 10 ft | 32 sq ft | — | — | 1 per street frontage | Per street frontage | — | Sec. 12.20 |
| Monument Sign (Minor Thoroughfare) | 5 ft | 16 sq ft | — | — | 1 per street frontage | Per street frontage | — | Sec. 12.20 |
| Monument Sign (Local Road) | 5 ft | 16 sq ft | — | — | 1 per street frontage | Per street frontage | — | Sec. 12.20 |

### Non-Residential District (CMX, HB, LI, HI, HS, CI)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Monument Sign (Boulevard) | 10 ft | 80 sq ft | — | — | 1 per street frontage (+1 if >400 ft frontage) | Per street frontage | — | Sec. 12.20 |
| Pole Sign (Boulevard) | 15 ft | 80 sq ft | — | — | 1 per street frontage (+1 if >400 ft frontage) | Per street frontage | — | Sec. 12.20 |
| Pylon Sign (Boulevard) | 15 ft | 80 sq ft | — | — | 1 per street frontage (+1 if >400 ft frontage) | Per street frontage | — | Sec. 12.20 |
| Monument Sign (Major Thoroughfare) | 10 ft | 60 sq ft | — | — | 1 per street frontage (+1 if >400 ft frontage) | Per street frontage | — | Sec. 12.20 |
| Pole Sign (Major Thoroughfare) | 15 ft | 60 sq ft | — | — | 1 per street frontage (+1 if >400 ft frontage) | Per street frontage | — | Sec. 12.20 |
| Pylon Sign (Major Thoroughfare) | 15 ft | 60 sq ft | — | — | 1 per street frontage (+1 if >400 ft frontage) | Per street frontage | — | Sec. 12.20 |
| Monument Sign (Minor Thoroughfare) | 5 ft | 32 sq ft | — | — | 1 per street frontage (+1 if >400 ft frontage) | Per street frontage | — | Sec. 12.20 |
| Pole Sign (Minor Thoroughfare) | 12 ft | 32 sq ft | — | — | 1 per street frontage (+1 if >400 ft frontage) | Per street frontage | — | Sec. 12.20 |

### Community and Institution District (CI)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Monument Sign (Boulevard) | 10 ft | 80 sq ft | — | — | 1 per street frontage (+1 if >400 ft frontage) | Per street frontage | — | Sec. 12.20 |
| Pole Sign (Boulevard) | 15 ft | 80 sq ft | — | — | 1 per street frontage (+1 if >400 ft frontage) | Per street frontage | — | Sec. 12.20 |
| Pylon Sign (Boulevard) | 15 ft | 80 sq ft | — | — | 1 per street frontage (+1 if >400 ft frontage) | Per street frontage | — | Sec. 12.20 |
| Wall Sign (with EMC accessory) | — | — | — | — | — | Accessory to any on-premise, freestanding sign. | — | Sec. 12.11, Table 12.20 |
| Wall Sign | — | — | — | — | Total area on wall not to exceed allowed formula. | Mounted parallel to building wall. May wrap building corner. | — | Sec. 12.13.B.3 |

## Prohibited signs in Salisbury

- All signs are subject to review, applicable fees, and the issuance of a Sign Permit, except when specifically stated elsewhere in this Ordinance.
- Where the Ordinance is silent or does not provide a basis for concluding that a sign is allowed, that sign is presumed prohibited.
- Signs containing strobe lights or mirrors are prohibited unless specifically permitted elsewhere in this Ordinance.
- Abandoned sign structures are prohibited.
- Signs placed on or painted on a motor vehicle or trailer that is parked, where the primary purpose of the vehicle is to advertise a product, service, or other activity, are prohibited.
- Signs that imitate or resemble official traffic lights, signs, or signals or that interfere with the effectiveness of any official traffic light, sign, or signal are prohibited.
- Mechanically moving signs, including environmentally activated displays and search lights, are prohibited.
- Flashing signs (as defined) are prohibited. (A sign that has a change rate or dwell time of four seconds or longer does not fit within this prohibition.)
- Signs and other objects that are inflated, including balloons, are prohibited. (Exception: Balloons may be used in temporary non-commercial situations, such as special occasions at a residence.)
- Roof signs are prohibited (not to be confused with fascia signs on roof-like projections).
- Any sign which may be confused with, or obstruct the view of, any authorized traffic sign or signal, or which obstructs the sight-distance triangle at any road intersection, or which extends into the public right-of-way, is prohibited.
- Wheeled portable signs are prohibited except as described under Temporary Signs.
- Signs that prevent free ingress or egress from any door, window, fire escape, or that prevent free access from one part of a roof to any other part are prohibited. No sign other than a safety sign shall be attached to a stand-pipe or fire escape.
- Signs that emit smoke, visible vapors, particles, sound, or odor are prohibited. Open flames or high-intensity spot lights used to attract public attention require a Special Sign Permit.
- Neon tubing is prohibited except when used inside the building.

## Signs exempt from permit in Salisbury

- Temporary or permanent signs erected, maintained, or posted by federal, state or local government authorities.
- Signs inside a building.
- Signs carved into a building or raised in integral relief on a building, provided they are part of the physical construction of the building.
- Architectural projections designed as a structural component of the building, but not including attached architectural projections such as a canopy or marquee.
- Building signs for the duration of a permitted temporary use, not exceeding six square feet in area.
- Flags and individual pennants (not on a string) that have been adopted by the federal government, the state of North Carolina, or the City of Salisbury. (Interpretation: All flags are exempt, regardless of adoption status.)
- Temporary banners in residential districts.
- Painted and/or applied wall accents and decorations.
- Illuminated building accents and decorations.
- Public art, including wall murals.
- Occupancy signs at each building entryway.
- Decals and/or logos affixed to windows or door glass panels, such as those indicating business group membership or accepted credit cards.
- On-premise incidental signs, limited to two per driveway entrance, not exceeding two square feet in area.
- On-premise security and warning signs (e.g., 'no trespassing', 'no hunting', 'no soliciting'), not exceeding one sign of two square feet in area in residential districts and one sign of five square feet in area in commercial and industrial districts. (Exemptions for 'no trespassing' signs per state law.)
- Scoreboard signs or other signage placed on the interior of a recreational field.
- Seasonal holiday decorations.
- Signs on the interior of a campus within the Community and Institution (CI) district, provided they do not face onto a public street.
- Specific temporary and portable signs, subject to Section 12.14 of this Ordinance.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- All signs are generally subject to review, applicable fees, and the issuance of a Sign Permit unless specifically exempted elsewhere in the Ordinance.
- A Certificate of Appropriateness from the applicable authority is required prior to issuance of any sign permit in Local Historic Overlay (LHO) districts.
- Applications for signs with Electronic Message Centers (EMCs) require submission of surface luminosity measurements at the time of Sign Permit application.
- Special Sign Permits (SSP) may be required for unique, creative signs (Uncommon Signs/U-Signs) or to permit specific exceptions to the Sign Ordinance provisions, subject to review and approval by the Alternate Methods of Design Commission (AMDC).
- Special Sign Permits may be required for Electronic Message Centers (EMCs) and certain methods of illumination or sign design (see Sec. 12.11 and 12.16).
- An application for a variance or exception from standard sign limits (e.g., for alternative area, height, or illumination) requires individual review by the AMDC.
- Design review and issuance of a Certificate of Appropriateness by the Historic Preservation Commission is required for historic signs and for any sign in LHO districts.
- Temporary pole banners and temporary banners (except certain exemptions) require the issuance of a Sign Permit.
- Signs under Section 12.14C (Temporary Freestanding Signs) are generally exempt from permit issuance if they comply with the stated provisions.
- An SSP (Special Sign Permit) is required for Uncommon Signs and for alternative methods of compliance as described in Section 12.16.

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

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