# Sign Regulations in Walnut Cove, North Carolina

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

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

## At a glance

Walnut Cove, North Carolina regulates 20 sign types across 6 zoning districts. Freestanding Signs in the NB-1 zoning district are capped at 10 ft tall and 36 sq ft, with a 5 ft setback from property line setback (Sec. § 156.049; § 156.050; § 156.051; § 156.052; § 156.048(F)). Most commercial signs in Walnut Cove require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (6 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| RA, R-20 | 6 | 6 ft | 48 sq ft (RA), 36 sq ft (R-20) | — |
| R-8, R-8(O) | 6 | 6 ft | 36 sq ft | — |
| R-7 MHE, R-6, R-6 MH | 6 | 6 ft | 36 sq ft | — |
| NB-1 | 12 | Not higher than second story or 28 ft | 36 sq ft | — |
| NB-2, B-1, I-1 | 12 | Not higher than second story or 28 ft | 48 sq ft (NB-2, B-1, I-1) | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 12 | Not higher than second story or 28 ft | 32 sq ft | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 6 zones)

### NB-1

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Canopy/Awning Sign | — | 30% of awning/canopy/window area | — | — | 1 per awning/canopy/window section | On canopy, awning, or window | — | § 156.049 Table; § 156.048(B); (Z = Zoning permit) |
| Directory Sign | 4 ft | 12 sq ft | — | — | 1 | On private property | — | § 156.049; § 156.050; § 156.051; § 156.052 |
| Flag | 1 ft | — | — | — | 4 | On private property | — | § 156.049; § 156.050; § 156.051 |
| Freestanding Sign | 10 ft | 36 sq ft | — | 5 ft setback from property line | 2 per zoning lot per street front | On private property, minimum 5 ft from property line, minimum 15 ft from other structures | — | § 156.049; § 156.050; § 156.051; § 156.052; § 156.048(F) |
| Incidental/Directional Sign | 4 ft | 2 sq ft | — | — | 21 | On private property, not impeding visibility | — | § 156.049 Table (P = No permit) |
| Marquee Sign | — | 1 sq ft | — | — | 1 | Over entrance or window | — | § 156.049; § 156.050; § 156.051; § 156.052 |
| Monument Sign | 5 ft | 36 sq ft | — | — | 1 | On private property | — | § 156.049; § 156.051; § 156.052 |
| Planned Development Sign | 5 ft | 36 sq ft | — | — | 1 | At development entrance | — | § 156.049; § 156.052; § 156.051 |

### NB-2, B-1, I-1

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Canopy/Awning Sign | — | 30% of awning/canopy/window area | — | — | 1 per awning/canopy/window section | On canopy, awning, or window | — | § 156.049 Table; § 156.048(B); (Z = Zoning permit) |
| Directory Sign | 6 ft (NB-2); 6 ft (B-1); 6 ft (I-1) | 12 sq ft | — | — | 11 | On private property | — | § 156.049 Table; § 156.050 Table; § 156.051 Table (NB-2, B-1, I-1 = 11 directories); § 156.052 Table |
| Flag | 1 ft | — | — | — | 4 | On private property | — | § 156.049; § 156.050 Table; § 156.051 |
| Freestanding Sign | 10 ft | 36 sq ft | — | 5 ft setback from property line | 2 per zoning lot per street front | On private property, minimum 5 ft from property line, minimum 15 ft from other structures | — | § 156.049; § 156.050; § 156.051; § 156.052; § 156.048(F) |
| Incidental/Directional Sign | 4 ft | 2 sq ft | — | — | 21 | On private property, not impeding visibility | — | § 156.049 Table (P = No permit); § 156.051 Table; § 156.052; § 156.050 |
| Marquee Sign | — | 1 sq ft | — | — | 1 | Over entrance or window | — | § 156.049; § 156.050; § 156.051; § 156.052 |
| Monument Sign | 8 ft (NB-2); 5 ft (B-1, I-1) | 48 sq ft (NB-2, B-1, I-1) | — | — | 1 per zoning lot per street front | On private property | — | § 156.049 Table; § 156.051; § 156.052; § 156.050 |
| Planned Development Sign | 8 ft (NB-2, B-1); 10 ft (I-1) | 48 sq ft (NB-2, B-1); 36 sq ft (I-1) | — | — | 1 per street front or development entrance | At development entrance | — | § 156.049 Table; § 156.050 Table; § 156.052 Table; § 156.051 Table |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Permanent Window Sign | — | 30% of window area/section/door/grouping | — | — | 1 per awning/canopy/window section/door/grouping | On windowpane, section, door or grouping | — | § 156.048(B) |
| Awning/Canopy Sign | — | 30% of awning/canopy area | — | — | 1 per awning/canopy | On awning or canopy | — | § 156.048(B) |
| Projecting Sign | Not higher than second story or 28 ft | — | — | — | 1 per building frontage | May extend up to 3 ft from building, 1.5 ft into ROW | — | § 156.048(C) |
| Temporary Sign - Real Estate | 6 ft per sign | 6 sq ft per sign, 4 sq ft for lead-in | — | — | 2 per property; 1 per frontage | On property for sale only, lead-in signs allowed with owner permission | — | § 156.054(A)(2) |
| Temporary Sign - Construction | 6 ft | 6 sq ft per sign (residential); 1 sq ft per 5 linear ft frontage up to 32 sq ft (multi-family, nonresidential) | — | — | 1 per street front | On construction site | — | § 156.054(A)(3) |
| Temporary Farm Product Sign | 5 ft | 24 sq ft | — | — | 1 | On property where products sold and produced | — | § 156.054(A)(4) |
| Temporary Special Event Sign/Banner | 5 ft | 32 sq ft | — | — | — | On property for event | — | § 156.054(A)(5) |
| Temporary Directional Sign (Planned Dev.) | 6 ft | 12 sq ft | — | — | — | Within development, not visible from road | — | § 156.054(A)(6) |

## Prohibited signs in Walnut Cove

- Signs extending into the public right-of-way other than those expressly permitted by this section or otherwise approved by the Board of Commissioners, if placed along public streets.
- Roof signs.
- Portable signs, except that a portable sign may be used as a temporary sign for special community events, open to the general public and sponsored by noncommercial civic, charitable, religious, community or similar organizations in accordance with the regulations contained in § 156.054(B)(2).
- Flashing, fluttering, swinging, wind activated, rotating, animated signs including flashing time and/or temperature signs, and other digital or electronic message boards.
- Any sign which obstructs the view of motorists, pedestrians or cyclists using any street, sidewalk, bike path or driveway, or which obstructs the approach to any street intersection or railroad crossing, or which interferes with the effectiveness of any traffic sign, device or signal.
- Illuminated or highly reflective signs which hamper the vision of motorists or cyclists.
- Any sign that resembles traffic signals, traffic signs or emergency vehicle lights and any other sign not erected by a public authority which may be erroneously construed as governmental signs or emergency warning signs.
- Beacons, pennants and strings of lights not permanently mounted to a rigid background, except those permitted as temporary signs.
- Any sign that interferes with free passage from or obstructs any fire escape, down spout, window, door, stairway, ladder or opening intended as a means of ingress or egress or providing light or air except for permitted window signs.
- Any sign placed on any curb, sidewalk, post, pole, hydrant, bridge, tree or other structure or surface located on, over or across any public street right-of-way or property unless expressly authorized by this section or the Board of Commissioners.
- Off-premises signs advertising adult establishments.
- Off-premises signs on parcels of land which are zoned residential, used primarily for residential purposes, or which do not include an active permitted use as established by this section.
- Inflatable devices or balloons.
- High intensity searchlights.
- Any object displayed in a manner which is intended to attract attention to a site, product or event.
- Any sign listed as not permitted in § 156.049.
- Any sign not expressly permitted by this subchapter.

## Signs exempt from permit in Walnut Cove

- Historical markers, regulatory signs, public interest signs and warning signs erected and maintained by the town or state or an agent of such.
- On-premises directional signs not exceeding four feet in height nor two square feet in area.
- Identification signs not exceeding two feet in height nor two square feet in area.
- Incidental signs.
- Flags on permanent poles.
- Any sign not legible or easily noticeable from public property or a public right-of-way and obviously not intended to attract the attention of the public.
- Any public notice or warning required by a valid and applicable federal, state or local law, regulation or ordinance.
- Traffic control signs on private property, the face of which meets Department of Transportation standards and which contain no commercial message of any kind.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A zoning permit is required for the installation of any permanent sign not expressly listed as permitted without a permit (see § 156.053(B)).
- A zoning permit is required for certain temporary signs not expressly permitted without a permit (see § 156.054(B)).
- Sign types not specifically listed in the sign type tables are not permitted.

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

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