# Sign Regulations in Southern Shores, North Carolina

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Southern Shores, North Carolina (NC)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/north-carolina/southern-shores
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-08
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/NC/Southern_Shores/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=PTIICOOR_CH36ZO_ARTVIGEPR_S36-165REGOSI)

## At a glance

Southern Shores, North Carolina regulates 16 sign types across 4 zoning districts. Wall Sign (Nonresidential Uses)s in the Residential District zoning district are capped at 6 tall and 32 per side (maximum 64 cumulative per lot), with a 15 feet from a lot line. setback (Sec. Sec. 36-165(8), Table A.).

## Sign rules by zoning district (4 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Residential District | 9 | 35 | 32 per side (maximum 64 cumulative per lot) | — |
| Commercial District | 7 | 35 | Up to 75% of glass pane area | — |
| Government/Institutional District | 5 | 35 | 48 (including frame) | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 3 | 20 | 6 per side | — |

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

### Residential District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign (Nonresidential Uses) | 6 | 32 per side (maximum 64 cumulative per lot) | — | 15 feet from a lot line. | 2 per lot | On wall of nonresidential building. | — | Sec. 36-165(8), Table A. |
| Freestanding Sign (Nonresidential Uses) | 6 | 32 per side (maximum 64 cumulative per lot) | — | 15 feet from a lot line. | 2 per lot | On nonresidential property, not in sight distance triangle. | — | Sec. 36-165(8), Table A. |
| Freestanding Sign (Civic Association/POA Property) | 6 | 32 per side (maximum 64 cumulative per lot) | — | — | 4 per lot | On property owned by civic association or property owners association. | — | Sec. 36-165(8), Table A. |
| Freestanding Sign (Major Entrances to Subdivisions) | 6 | 32 per side | — | — | 4 per lot | Placed on property within the subdivision; allowed in town rights-of-way. | — | Sec. 36-165(8), Table B. |
| Wall Sign (Single-family, Vacation Cottages, Duplexes) | 30 | 12 | — | — | 1 wall sign per lot | On wall of dwelling. | — | Sec. 36-165(8), Table B. |
| Freestanding Sign (Single-family, Vacation Cottages, Duplexes) | 6 | 12 | — | — | 1 freestanding sign per lot | On residential lot. | — | Sec. 36-165(8), Table B. |
| Freestanding Sign (Temporary Sign) | 5 | 6 per side | — | — | 3 per lot | On residential property, outside right-of-way except during specified election period. | — | Sec. 36-165(8), Table E. |
| Banner (Temporary Sign) | 35 | 24 | — | — | 2 per lot | On residential property. | — | Sec. 36-165(8), Table E. |

### Commercial District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | Top of the wall | 20% of the exposed wall surface (including openings) | — | — | 1 per business; 2 for corner stores or end stores in group developments | On exterior wall of business. | — | Sec. 36-165(8), Table C. |
| Freestanding Sign | 12 | 32 (per face) | — | — | 1 | On lot. | — | Sec. 36-165(8), Table C. |
| Canopy Sign | — | 4 | — | — | 1 per business | Under canopy of roof. | — | Sec. 36-165(8), Table C. |
| Window Sign | — | Up to 75% of glass pane area | — | — | No limit | Affixed to window glass. | — | Sec. 36-165(8), Table C. |
| Freestanding Sign (Temporary Sign) | 5 | 32 per side | — | — | 1 | On property, outside right-of-way except during election period. | — | Sec. 36-165(8), Table E. |
| Banner (Temporary Sign) | 35 | 24 | — | — | 2 | On property. | — | Sec. 36-165(8), Table E. |
| Flag (Temporary Sign) | 35 | 24 | — | — | 2 | On property. | — | Sec. 36-165(8), Table E. |

### Government/Institutional District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign | 4 | 48 (including frame) | — | 5 feet from all lot lines. | 1 per establishment | On property; at least 5 feet from lot lines; outside of sight distance triangles. | — | Sec. 36-165(8), Table D. |
| Wall Sign | Top of wall | 24 (including frame) | — | — | 1 per establishment | On wall, government/institutional building. | — | Sec. 36-165(8), Table D. |
| Freestanding Sign (Temporary Sign) | 5 | 32 per side | — | — | 1 | On property, outside right-of-way except during election period. | — | Sec. 36-165(8), Table E. |
| Banner (Temporary Sign) | 35 | 24 | — | — | 2 | On property. | — | Sec. 36-165(8), Table E. |
| Flag (Temporary Sign) | 35 | 24 | — | — | 2 | On property. | — | Sec. 36-165(8), Table E. |

## Prohibited signs in Southern Shores

- No sign shall be erected, attached, suspended or supported on a building or structure, nor structurally altered, remodeled or relocated, without a sign permit issued by the zoning administrator, unless exempted.
- No sign shall contain, employ, or utilize lights or lighting which rotates, flashes, moves or alternates.
- No sign shall imitate or copy official highway signs carrying the words 'STOP' or 'DANGER' except those installed by the town to regulate bicycle traffic on town-owned multipurpose pathways.
- No sign shall obstruct corner visibility or visibility at a driveway between a height of two feet and ten feet.
- No sign shall be attached to any traffic sign, utility pole or structure, or tree.
- No sign shall obstruct ingress and egress to any window, door, fire escape, stairway, ladder or opening intended to provide light, air, ingress or egress as required by law.
- No sign shall violate any provision of any law of the state relative to outdoor advertising.
- No sign shall be located within a public or private right-of-way except as otherwise provided.
- No sign shall be painted on or affixed to a roof surface.
- No vehicle signs are permitted.
- No signs supported in whole or in part by water, air or gas are permitted.
- All signs requiring a permit must be constructed according to generally accepted engineering practices to withstand wind pressures and load distribution as specified in the current building code.
- Illuminated signs: The light source shall not be visible from the road right-of-way or from adjacent property.
- Temporary family health care structures: No signage advertising or otherwise promoting the existence of the temporary health care structure shall be permitted either on the exterior of the structure or elsewhere on the property.

## Signs exempt from permit in Southern Shores

- Integral decorative or architectural features of buildings, except moving parts or moving lights, are not subject to sign regulations.
- Temporary signs of less than three days duration located within a public right-of-way are exempt from sign regulations.
- Fence-wrap signs affixed to fences surrounding a construction site, and used to indicate the construction firms actively working on a development site in accordance with G.S. 160D-908, are exempt.
- Pennants are exempt.
- No permit is required for signs in residential districts, temporary signs, or any sign not exceeding three square feet in area.
- Routine maintenance of wireless support structures and facilities, including the replacement of existing wireless facilities with facilities of the same size, does not require an application or approval.
- No application, permit, or fees are required for routine maintenance, for replacement of small wireless facilities with the same size or smaller, or for installation/placement/maintenance/replacement of micro wireless facilities as described.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Each application for a zoning permit must include sufficient information about the location and dimensions of off-street parking and loading space, including all required parking and drive areas to be shown on the site plan application.
- All required parking and drive areas shall be shown on the site plan application.
- All sign applications must receive a sign permit from the zoning administrator unless in an exempt category.
- A site plan shall be required for wireless telecommunications installations and must include scaled site plans, scaled elevation views, drawings, and supporting documentation prepared and sealed by appropriate licensed professionals, showing location, dimensions, topography, setbacks, landscaping, among other required details.
- Buffer details and vegetation type and size for landscaping/buffering between zones must be submitted as part of the site plan for planning board review and approval by the town council.
- Preliminary landscape plans must be submitted as part of an application for land use entitlement, for new development, and for significant expansion/redevelopment as determined by the code enforcement officer, for planning board review no later than 14 days before the board meeting.
- A final landscape plan must be submitted as part of the building permit application and approved by the planning board and town council.
- Outdoor lighting plan is required as part of the site plan review process for all uses other than one- and two-family dwelling units.
- Temporary storage units for construction require location/number to be shown on the site plan.
- Wireless telecommunications facilities require submittal of an application with detailed documentation, including site plans, and may be subject to special use permit conditions by the town council.

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

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