# Sign Regulations in Spring Lake, North Carolina

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Spring Lake, North Carolina (NC)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/north-carolina/spring-lake
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-08
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/NC/Spring_Lake/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=PTIICOOR_CH32SI)

## At a glance

Spring Lake, North Carolina regulates 20 sign types across 14 zoning districts. Nonprofit, Noncommercial Entity Signs in the General Regulations For All Zones zoning district are capped at 4 ft including supports tall and 12 sq ft (maximum, per permitted signage within right-of-way), with a Min 20 ft from street intersection or alleys setback (Sec. Sec. 42-291(6)). Most commercial signs in Spring Lake 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 | 6 | 4 ft including supports | 32 sq ft | — |
| Residential, conservancy and mixed use or planned neighborhood development districts | 4 | — | 100 sq ft (per primary use); 50 sq ft (for each additional use on site) | — |
| Rural Residential District | 3 | — | 100 sq ft (per primary use); 50 sq ft (for each additional use on site) | — |
| Residential District | 4 | — | 100 sq ft (per primary use); 50 sq ft (for each additional use on site) | — |
| Conservancy District | 4 | — | 100 sq ft (per primary use); 50 sq ft (per additional principal use) | — |
| Mixed Use or Planned Neighborhood Development Districts | 4 | — | 100 sq ft (per principal use); 50 sq ft (per additional principal use) | — |
| O & I Office and Institutional District | 2 | — | 50 sq ft per building | — |
| C-1 Local Business District | 2 | — | 100 sq ft for sites with max 5 occupants; add 10 sq ft per occupant over 5, max 200 sq ft | — |
| CB Central Business District | 1 | — | — | — |
| C(P) Planned Commercial District, HS(P) Planned Highway Service District, C-3 Heavy Commercial District | 6 | — | 200 sq ft plus 10 sq ft per occupant over 10, max 400 sq ft | — |
| M-1(P) Planned Light Industrial District | 2 | — | As in C(P) Planned Commercial District | — |
| M(P) Planned Industrial District, M-2 Heavy Industrial District | 3 | — | Total entrance signage: 500 sq ft; individual entrance sign max: 300 sq ft | — |
| C-3 Heavy Commercial District | 1 | 35 ft | 500 sq ft | — |
| M-2 Heavy Industrial District | 1 | 35 ft | 700 sq ft | — |

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

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Temporary Sign | — | 8 sq ft | — | 5 ft from property line | — | Minimum 5 ft from property line, not within public right-of-way, not posted on trees, utility poles, traffic control signs, lights, or devices; not located where prohibited by other codes. | — | Sec. 42-291(1) |
| Temporary Real Estate Development Sign | — | 32 sq ft | — | — | One per main entrance | One sign at each main entrance to the development | — | Sec. 42-291(2) |
| Traffic Control Sign (Private Property) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Sec. 42-291(3) |
| Special Information Sign | — | — | — | — | — | On-site or off-premises as approved | — | Sec. 42-291(4) |
| Special Entrance Sign | — | 32 sq ft (per entrance, total for both signs) | — | — | Max 2 per main entrance | Integral part of a gate or entrance structure | — | Sec. 42-291(5) |
| Nonprofit, Noncommercial Entity Sign | 4 ft including supports | 12 sq ft (maximum, per permitted signage within right-of-way) | — | Min 20 ft from street intersection or alleys | One per entity per approved location | Within town street right-of-way as approved by Board of Aldermen; minimum 20 ft from intersection, alley, loading areas, etc. | — | Sec. 42-291(6) |

### Residential, conservancy and mixed use or planned neighborhood development districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Dwelling Identification Sign | — | 2 sq ft | — | 5 ft from street or property line (for 1- and 2-family) | One per dwelling unit | For 1- and 2-family: Min 5 ft from street or property line; For multifamily: Mounted flat on main wall | — | Sec. 42-293(1)a |
| Development Sign | — | 32 sq ft | — | See 42-292 | Max 2 per main entrance | Integral part of an entrance structure; located as per 42-292 | — | Sec. 42-293(1)b |
| Institutional, Commercial, and Industrial Sign - Freestanding | — | 100 sq ft (per primary use); 50 sq ft (for each additional use on site) | — | See 42-292 | 1 per principal use (100 sq ft); additional principal uses: 1 each (50 sq ft max) | Located per 42-292 | — | Sec. 42-293(1)d.1 |
| Institutional, Commercial, and Industrial Sign - Attached | — | 50 sq ft per principal use, unless in mixed use or planned neighborhood; In mixed use/planned neighborhood: 2 sq ft per front foot of structure occupied | — | — | See above; for each occupant | Can be placed on any side of the building. In case of end units with frontage, see additional requirements. | — | Sec. 42-293(1)d.2 |

### C(P) Planned Commercial District, HS(P) Planned Highway Service District, C-3 Heavy Commercial District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign - Sites with max 2 occupants | — | 100 sq ft | — | See 42-292 | One per site | Located as per 42-292 | — | Sec. 42-293(2)d.1 |
| Freestanding Sign - Sites with more than 2 and less than 10 occupants | — | 100 sq ft per sign | — | See 42-292 | Two per site | Located as per 42-292 | — | Sec. 42-293(2)d.2 |
| Freestanding Sign - Sites with more than 10 occupants (Option 1: two signs) | — | 100 sq ft per sign; total not to exceed 400 sq ft (with area for extra occupants applied) | — | See 42-292 | Two per site | Located as per 42-292 | — | Sec. 42-293(2)d.3 |
| Freestanding Sign - Sites with more than 10 occupants (Option 2: one sign) | — | 200 sq ft plus 10 sq ft per occupant over 10, max 400 sq ft | — | See 42-292 | One per site | Located as per 42-292 | — | Sec. 42-293(2)d.3 |
| Freestanding Sign - Corner Lot Additional Sign | — | 100 sq ft | — | See 42-292 | One additional allowed | Side street frontage, on corner lots | — | Sec. 42-293(2)d.4 |
| Attached Sign | — | — | — | — | One per occupant; see end-unit rule | On any side of the building; for canopy, canopy size can be used | — | Sec. 42-293(2)d.7,8 |

## Prohibited signs in Spring Lake

- No sign or advertising structure shall be erected or maintained at the intersection of any street or road so as to obstruct free and clear vision; at any location where, by reason of the position, illumination, shape or color, it may impair, obstruct the view or be confused with any authorized traffic sign, signal, or device; or that makes use of words, phrases, symbols or characters in such manner as to interfere with, mislead or confuse traffic. Signs are prohibited within 20 feet of a street intersection measured to the intersection of the two nearest street lines.
- No sign shall be erected or maintained within any public street right-of-way nor be allowed to extend over or into any public street, except for public signs necessary in the performance of a governmental function, properly permitted nonprofit noncommercial entity signs, and political signs during the permissible time period per G.S. 136-32.
- No sign shall be erected or maintained that obstructs ingress and/or egress to or from any window, door, fire escape, stairway, ladder, or opening intended to provide light, air, ingress or egress to or from any room or building as required by law.
- No sign shall be erected or maintained which bears or contains statements, words, or pictures of obscene matter.
- No sign may be erected by any person on the private property of another person without first obtaining the verbal or written consent of such owner.
- Portable signs (manifestly designed to be transported from place to place) are prohibited.
- Novelty signs (those which emit visible smoke, vapor particles, odor, or noise) are prohibited.
- No signs, except a 'No Trespassing' or 'Posted' sign, shall be attached to any tree.
- All signs must be maintained in a safe condition and kept in good repair, free from excessive rust, corrosion, peeling paint, or other surface deterioration.
- If any sign is unsafe or in violation, and the owner fails to correct it after notice, the sign may be removed by the administrative officer at the owner's expense.
- Any sign which no longer advertises a bona fide business or product must be removed by the owner within 30 days of written notification (or, for temporary signs, within 7 days of event cessation).

## Signs exempt from permit in Spring Lake

- Governmental signs.
- Lights and decorations with no commercial message temporarily displayed on traditionally accepted civic, patriotic or religious holidays.
- Signs located on the interior of buildings, courts, lobbies, stadiums, or other structures not intended to be seen from the exterior.
- Signs affixed to vehicles and trailers used in the normal transport of goods or persons where the sign is incidental and accessory to the primary use of the vehicle or trailer.
- Signs affixed to windows of vehicles displaying information on the terms of sale for those vehicles.
- Signs not legible from a public or private street.
- Flags of the governmental jurisdictions of the United States, State of North Carolina, local governmental jurisdictions, foreign nations having diplomatic relations with the United States, and other flags adopted or sanctioned by the board of aldermen, subject to U.S. Congressional protocol.
- Public information signs.
- Fence wraps displaying signage when affixed to perimeter fencing at a construction site per G.S. 160D-908.
- Political signs during the time period under G.S. 163-227.2 in the right-of-way of the state highway system per G.S. 136-32.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- No sign requiring a permit shall be erected, enlarged, replaced or relocated until a zoning permit has been issued by the administrative officer.
- Nonprofit, noncommercial entity signs to be located within street rights-of-way require approval by the board of aldermen and administrative officer; a copy of the proposed sign, content, and information as to proposed location must be submitted for approval.
- Billboards in the C-3 Heavy Commercial District require approval of a special use permit by the board of adjustment; billboards in the M(P) Planned Industrial District require approval of the site plan by the board of aldermen.

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

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