# Sign Regulations in Swansboro, North Carolina

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

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

## At a glance

Swansboro, North Carolina regulates 32 sign types across 3 zoning districts. Subdivision Sign (Permanent)s in the RA, All Residential Districts, PUD, MHP, MHS, MHS-15SF, MHS-O zoning district are capped at 8 ft (support column) tall and 16 sq ft copy area; 64 sq ft max extremity, one per entrance (or two if >400 ft frontage and two entrances), with a Not in right-of-way. setback (Sec. §152.270(M); Table.). Most commercial signs in Swansboro require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (3 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| RA, All Residential Districts, PUD, MHP, MHS, MHS-15SF, MHS-O | 13 | 42 inches | 324 sq in (18"x18") | — |
| B1, B2, B3, B2 HDO, MI, CON, O/I, G/E | 30 | 42 inches | 324 sq in (18" x 18") | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 1 | — | — | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements

### RA, All Residential Districts, PUD, MHP, MHS, MHS-15SF, MHS-O

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Agricultural Sign | — | 32 sq ft total | — | — | — | On the property where agricultural products are sold. | — | §152.269(D); Table of Permitted and Special Use Signs. |
| Church, School, or Public Building Sign | — | Monument: 64 sq ft; Building: 1 sq ft per 1 linear ft building frontage | — | — | One monument sign per tract | On church/school/public building property. | — | §152.270(P); §152.277 Table. |
| Construction Sign | — | Residential: 32 sq ft total; Commercial: 100 sq ft total | — | — | — | Must be on the property where construction is taking place. | — | §152.269(G); Table. |
| Directional Sign | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | — | Entirely on parcel or tract to which it applies. | — | §152.269(B); Table. |
| Home Occupation Sign | 18 inches | 324 sq in (18"x18") | 18 inches | — | 1 per parcel | Attached flat to wall of building. | — | §152.269(H); Table. |
| Political Campaign Sign | 42 inches | 6 sq ft | — | — | 1 per candidate per parcel | Confined to private property; not in right-of-way unless permitted by state law. | — | §152.268(C); Table. |
| Subdivision Sign (Temporary) | — | 32 sq ft per side (2-sided) | — | — | One per major approach | At major approach to the subdivision. | — | §152.269(I); Table. |
| Subdivision Sign (Permanent) | 8 ft (support column) | 16 sq ft copy area; 64 sq ft max extremity, one per entrance (or two if >400 ft frontage and two entrances) | — | Not in right-of-way. | See additional | At each entrance to subdivision. | — | §152.270(M); Table. |

### B1, B2, B3, B2 HDO, MI, CON, O/I, G/E

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Billboard | 20 ft | 100 sq ft (<150 ft from ROW); 200 sq ft (>=150 ft from ROW) | 20 ft | — | No more than 2 facing same direction per mile | — | — | §152.270(B); Table. |
| Home Occupation Sign | 18 inches | 324 sq in (18" x 18") | 18 inches | — | 1 per parcel | Attached flat to wall of building. | — | §152.269(H); Table. |
| Monument Sign | 12 ft max; vertical height cannot exceed total width at ground | 64 sq ft | — | Not in any part of side yard or beyond property line. | 1 per frontage for multi-tenant establishments | — | — | §152.270(G); Table. |
| Multiple Use Sign | 12 ft max (see monument sign) | 160 sq ft (properties >3 acres) | — | No part of sign beyond property line or in easement. | — | On non-residential property. | — | §152.270(H); Table. |
| Political Campaign Sign | 42 inches | 6 sq ft | — | — | 1 per candidate per parcel | On private property; not in right-of-way unless per state law. | — | §152.268(C); Table. |
| Portable Sign (Sandwich Board/Post-Mounted) | — | 16 sq ft | — | No part may extend beyond property line or into easement. | 1 per business | On business property. | — | §152.270(K); Table. |
| Subdivision Sign (Permanent) | 8 ft (support column) | 16 sq ft copy area per sign; 64 sq ft max extremity; 1 per entrance (2 if >400 ft frontage and 2 entrances) | — | — | See additional | At subdivision entrance(s) | — | §152.270(M); Table. |
| Temporary Festival/Event Sign | 6 ft | 32 sq ft | — | — | Up to 8 per event | Business, office, institutional/government zoning districts along NC 24 or major thoroughfares. | — | §152.269(F); Table. |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Fence Wrap Sign (Construction) | — | — | — | — | — | Affixed to perimeter fencing at construction site. | — | §152.268(D) |

## Prohibited signs in Swansboro

- No signs which are visible from any street, road, highway, sidewalk, or other public way may be erected, posted, reposted, placed, replaced, hung, painted, or repainted in any district except in compliance with this chapter.
- No sign can exceed the allowed square footage without a variance.
- No principal use signs, canopies, wooden or metal marquees, or other structures shall project beyond any public right-of-way line or into an easement.
- No signs shall occupy any of the area required as side yard.
- Signs which are a copy of or deceptively similar to any official highway sign.
- Signs with flashing or moving lights if visible from any residence or any street or thoroughfare open to vehicular traffic.
- Signs that obstruct visibility on any street, highway, or thoroughfare or at any intersection thereof.
- Signs which are erected or maintained upon trees, painted or drawn upon rocks or other natural features, or attached to utility poles.
- Signs that obstruct access to or from any window, door, fire escape, or any other opening intended to provide light, air, ingress, or egress to or from any room or building as required by law.
- Signs located in or over any street, highway, or any other public right-of-way.
- Signs which are illegal under state or federal law.
- Signs not in good repair.
- Signs not securely affixed to a substantial structure, except for mobile signs allowed as a special use.
- Signs which are painted on buildings which conduct a use not advertised by said sign.
- Signs which are not designed or constructed according to generally accepted engineering practices to withstand wind pressures and load distribution as set forth in the North Carolina Building Code and other applicable codes, except certain freestanding signs as specified.
- Signs which do not meet the National Electric Code, when wiring or electrical connections are used.
- Primary freestanding signs which are not monument signs unless located in the Historic District and subject to the Historic District Design Guidelines.
- Signs commonly referred to as 'yard signs' unless related to a town approved festival or non-profit event.
- No neon or internally illuminated sign may be allowed to stand with only partial illumination for a period of more than 30 successive days.
- No sign shall have more than 20% of its surface area covered with disfigured, cracked, ripped, or peeling paint or plastic or banner material for a period of more than 30 successive days.
- No sign shall be allowed to stand with bent or broken sign facing, broken supports, loose appendages or struts or be allowed to stand more than 15 degrees away from the perpendicular for more than 30 successive days.
- No sign shall be allowed to have weeds, vines, landscaping, or other vegetation growing upon it and obscuring its view from the street or highway for more than 30 successive days.
- If a sign or sign structure is damaged such that more than 50% of the value is lost, any repair or replacement must be done in conformance with the ordinance.
- Any sign erected, constructed, altered, or maintained without the proper permit may be impounded.
- No sign shall be erected, constructed, altered, or maintained except as provided in this chapter, until a permit for the sign has been issued by the Administrator and the fee paid.
- Erection and maintenance of signs must be by a properly licensed contractor, except for certain cases where owners may construct and erect principal use identification signs at their own business property.
- No signs shall be allowed to remain in violation of this section; such signs may be impounded.
- No sign may extend beyond property lines or into any easement.

## Signs exempt from permit in Swansboro

- Real estate residential signs meeting specified conditions (e.g., located on advertised property, no more than two sides, area six square feet or less per side, not illuminated, not a banner/pennant/mobile/flag/balloon sign, removed within five days after transaction is final).
- Festival area signs: temporary advertising, directional, and public information signs and banners at town-approved festival areas during festivals, provided they do not create unsafe conditions and do not exceed 32 square feet per booth/building/structure.
- Political campaign signs provided multiple conditions are met (e.g., confined to private property unless otherwise permitted by state law, size and height limits, not placed on windshields/utility poles/trees/other signposts, removed within prescribed times, not illuminated, etc.).
- Fence wraps displaying signage when affixed to perimeter fencing at a construction site (exempt until certificate of occupancy or 24 months, whichever is shorter, with certain advertising restrictions).

## Sign plan & submission notes

- No explicit language in the provided sections indicates a general requirement for a master sign plan or sign plan for all zones; however, complex signage scenarios such as shopping centers, multiple use signs, or signage for developments may imply a need for coordinated signage and proportional allocation, typically managed via a sign plan at the discretion of the Administrator.
- Variance or special use permits are required for certain sign types (e.g., exceeding square footage, mobile signs, roof signs), which would require a formal review process possibly including a sign plan or specific application materials.
- Permit applications are required for most sign types beyond those specifically exempted. The application must include descriptions and design details (area, size, layout, proposed design, method and type of illumination, and other info as required).

## Full detail

Complete sign requirements for Swansboro, including every field PermitPal tracks for each sign type, are available with a free PermitPal account: https://app.permitpal.io/?address=Swansboro+NC&override=true&utm_source=landing&utm_medium=city-page&utm_campaign=city-swansboro

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