# Sign Regulations in Wake Forest, North Carolina

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Wake Forest, North Carolina (NC)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/north-carolina/wake-forest
- **Data last verified:** 2026-02-09
- **Source:** [other municipal code](https://online.flippingbook.com/view/703728449/169/)

## At a glance

Wake Forest, North Carolina regulates 38 sign types across 17 zoning districts. Monument Signs (Single-Use or Single Building Site)s in the HB, HB-CD zoning district are capped at 12 ft tall and 70 sq ft, with a Minimum 5 ft from right-of-way setback (Sec. 11.10.10). Most commercial signs in Wake Forest require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (17 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 17 | 4.5 ft | 32 sq ft | — |
| Residential Districts | 6 | 8 ft | 32 sq ft | — |
| Urban Districts | 5 | See 11.10.11 | Shall not comprise more than 25% of the primary sign area | — |
| Rural / Suburban Districts | 3 | 6 ft | 12 sq ft for non-residential uses | — |
| PUD | 3 | 12 ft | 70 sq ft | — |
| OS, RD, GR3, GR5, GR10, UR | 2 | 6 ft | 12 sq ft for non-residential uses | — |
| HB, HB-CD | 13 | 12 ft | 70 sq ft | — |
| NB | 13 | 12 ft | 70 sq ft | — |
| RMX | 4 | 10 ft | 40 sq ft | — |
| NMX | 4 | 10 ft | 40 sq ft | — |
| UMX | 5 | 6 ft | 40 sq ft per lane | — |
| RA-HC | 5 | 6 ft | 40 sq ft per lane | — |
| RA | 3 | 6 ft | 15 sq ft | — |
| HC | 3 | 6 ft | 15 sq ft | — |
| LI | 12 | 12 ft | 70 sq ft | — |
| HI | 12 | 12 ft | 70 sq ft | — |
| ICD | 4 | 12 ft | 70 sq ft | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 17 zones)

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Address / Tenant Identification Signs | — | 1 sq ft per tenant, owner, location or business | — | — | 1 per tenant | All Districts | — | 11.10.1 |
| Historic Identification Plaques | 2 ft | 4 sq ft per plaque | — | — | One per historic site | All Districts – on historic sites only | — | N/A |
| Banners - Special Event | 4 ft | 32 sq ft | — | — | 1 banner per street frontage | All Districts | — | 11.11.1.A |
| Banners - Grand Opening | 4 ft | 32 sq ft | — | — | 1 banner per street frontage | All Districts | — | 11.11.1.B |
| Banners - Utility Pole | To be determined by utility provider | 3’x8’ or 3 1/2 ”x 5’1/2” (all within development same dimensions) | — | — | Single Light Pole: 1 banner; Double Light Pole: 2 banners | All Districts | — | 11.11.1.C |
| Portable / A-Frame Signs | 4.5 ft | 12 sq ft per side | — | — | 1 per tenant | All Districts | — | 11.11.7 |
| Real Estate Signs | 4 ft for residential <2 acres; 8 ft for non-res or res >2 acres (if freestanding) | 4 sq ft for residential <2 acres; 16 sq ft for non-res or res >2 acres | — | — | 1 per street frontage | All Districts | — | 11.11.9 |
| Yard Sale Signs | 4 ft | 4 sq ft | — | — | 1 per street frontage | All districts | — | 11.11.11 |

### HB, HB-CD

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Monument Signs (Single-Use or Single Building Site) | 12 ft | 70 sq ft | — | Minimum 5 ft from right-of-way | 1 per street frontage | HB | — | 11.10.10 |
| Electronic Message Boards | See 11.10.11 | Shall not comprise more than 25% of the primary sign area | — | — | One per sign | HB, NB | — | 11.10.6 |
| Drive-Thru Menu Boards | 6 ft | 40 sq ft per lane | — | — | 2 per drive-thru lane | NB, HB, RA-HC, NMX, UMX, PUD | — | 11.10.4 |
| Directional Signs | 3 ft | 4 sq ft per face | — | Minimum 5 ft from right-of-way | Max of 2 signs per entrance or exit | All commercial projects | — | 11.10.3 |
| Construction Project Signs - Non-Residential New Construction | 8 ft | 32 sq ft | — | — | 1 per street frontage | All Commercial Districts | — | 11.11.2.A |
| Construction Project Signs - Non-Residential Renovation | 6 ft | 16 sq ft | — | — | 1 per project | All Commercial Districts | — | 11.11.2.A |
| Monument Signs (Multiple Non-Residential Buildings Site) - Option 1 | 12 ft | 70 sq ft | — | Minimum 5 ft from right-of-way | 1 per street frontage | HB, NB, NMX, LI, HI, RMX, UMX, ICD | — | 11.10.10 |
| Monument Signs (Multiple Non-Residential Buildings Site) - Option 2 | 6 ft | 32 sq ft | — | Minimum 5 ft from right-of-way | 1 per street frontage and 1 per outparcel | HB, NB, NMX, LI, HI, RMX, UMX, ICD | — | 11.10.10 |

### NB

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Monument Signs (Single-Use or Single Building Site) | 10 ft | 40 sq ft | — | Minimum 5 ft from right-of-way | 1 per street frontage | NB, RMX, NMX | — | 11.10.10 |
| Electronic Message Boards | See 11.10.11 | Shall not comprise more than 25% of the primary sign area | — | — | One per sign | HB, NB | — | 11.10.6 |
| Drive-Thru Menu Boards | 6 ft | 40 sq ft per lane | — | — | 2 per drive-thru lane | NB | — | 11.10.4 |
| Directional Signs | 3 ft | 4 sq ft per face | — | Minimum 5 ft from right-of-way | Max of 2 signs per entrance or exit | All commercial projects | — | 11.10.3 |
| Construction Project Signs - Non-Residential New Construction | 8 ft | 32 sq ft | — | — | 1 per street frontage | All Commercial Districts | — | 11.11.2.A |
| Construction Project Signs - Non-Residential Renovation | 6 ft | 16 sq ft | — | — | 1 per project | All Commercial Districts | — | 11.11.2.A |
| Monument Signs (Multiple Non-Residential Buildings Site) - Option 1 | 12 ft | 70 sq ft | — | Minimum 5 ft from right-of-way | 1 per street frontage | HB, NB, NMX, LI, HI, RMX, UMX, ICD | — | 11.10.10 |
| Monument Signs (Multiple Non-Residential Buildings Site) - Option 2 | 6 ft | 32 sq ft | — | Minimum 5 ft from right-of-way | 1 per street frontage and 1 per outparcel | HB, NB, NMX, LI, HI, RMX, UMX, ICD | — | 11.10.10 |

## Prohibited signs in Wake Forest

- Abandoned signs or sign structures are prohibited
- Animated, flashing, or signs of illusion are prohibited
- Billboards are prohibited
- Handheld signs are prohibited
- Lighter-than-air signs are prohibited except those subject to FAA regulations
- Neon exterior signs are prohibited
- Off-premises signs are prohibited unless specifically allowed elsewhere
- Pole signs are prohibited
- Signs resembling official signs are prohibited
- Signs resembling traffic signals are prohibited
- Signs obstructing access to driveways, windows, doors, or required openings are prohibited
- Signs on public property or within public right-of-way are prohibited
- Signs on roadside appurtenances such as utility poles, trees, or benches are prohibited unless specifically allowed
- Signs with exposed electrical wiring are prohibited
- Windblown devices such as streamers, pennants, or flutter flags are prohibited
- Flashing or intermittent illumination is prohibited on any advertising sign
- Internal illumination is prohibited within a National Register Historic District
- Non-governmental signs shall not be attached to or painted on power poles, light poles, telephone poles, traffic signs, or other objects not intended to support a sign

## Signs exempt from permit in Wake Forest

- Cleaning, electrical repair, resurfacing, and other maintenance of a sign shall not require a permit
- Changing of tenant name panels on multiple-tenant development signage and change of copy on signs designed for changeable copy shall not require a permit
- Address/Tenant Identification Signs do not require a permit in all districts
- Governmental Signs do not require a permit in all districts
- Historic Identification Plaques do not require a permit in all districts on historic sites
- Incidental Signs do not require a permit in all districts
- Legal & Warning Signs do not require a permit in all districts
- Occupant/Street Number Signs do not require a permit in all districts
- Vending Machine/Automatic Teller & Gasoline Pump Signs do not require a permit when located on the machine
- Flags do not require a permit in all districts (up to certain sizes)
- Holiday Decorations do not require a permit in all districts
- Political Signs do not require a permit in all districts
- Portable/A-Frame Signs do not require a permit in all districts
- Real Estate Signs do not require a permit in all districts
- Yard Sale Signs do not require a permit in all districts
- Window/Door Signs do not require a permit in all districts for businesses

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A master sign plan shall be required for Planned Unit Development Districts to establish parameters for size, location, and design of signs for large developments

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

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