# Sign Regulations in Wesley Chapel, North Carolina

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Wesley Chapel, North Carolina (NC)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/north-carolina/wesley-chapel
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-09
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/NC/Wesley_Chapel/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=TITXVLAUS_CH156ZO_ARTVIIISI)

## At a glance

Wesley Chapel, North Carolina regulates 20 sign types across 5 zoning districts. Drive-Thru Menu Boards in the B-2 Local Shopping Center District, O-I Office-Institutional District zoning district are capped at 6 ft from drive surface or 5 ft curb side tall, 4' x 6' (24 sq. ft.), and 6.6 ft (80 inches) for sign panel wide, with a 15 ft from adjacent lot line setback (Sec. Sec. 156.162). Most commercial signs in Wesley Chapel require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (5 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| R-80 Single-Family and Agricultural, R-60 Single-Family and Agricultural, R-40 Single-Family and Agricultural, R-20 Single-Family and Agricultural, RA-40 Single-Family District, RA-20 Single-Family District, RUC Residential Union County District | 6 | 10 ft. | 30 sq. ft. for sign face; Max 100 sq. ft. for total structure | — |
| B-1 General Business District, L-1 Light Industrial District | 5 | 5 ft. | 20 sq. ft. for sign face; 25 sq. ft. for total structure | — |
| B-2 Local Shopping Center District, O-I Office-Institutional District | 7 | 20 ft. | 75 sq. ft. for sign face; 200 sq. ft. total structure | — |
| Airport Overlay (AO) District, AO-A Precision Instrument Runway Approach Zone, AO-AN Non-Precision Instrument Runway Approach Zone, AO-T Transitional Zones, AO-H Horizontal Zone, AO-C Conical Zone | 1 | Subject to airport overlay height regulations (varies by sub-zone; e.g., 50:1, 34:1, 7:1, etc. slopes and fixed elevation/altitude restrictions) | — | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 4 | 10 ft | 24 sq. ft. | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 5 zones)

### R-80 Single-Family and Agricultural, R-60 Single-Family and Agricultural, R-40 Single-Family and Agricultural, R-20 Single-Family and Agricultural, RA-40 Single-Family District, RA-20 Single-Family District, RUC Residential Union County District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Professional Name Plate | — | 3 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 | Single-family residential property | — | Sec. 156.162 |
| Monument Sign (Residential Subdivision or Neighborhood Entrance) | 10 ft. | 30 sq. ft. for sign face; Max 100 sq. ft. for total structure | — | 10 ft from adjacent lot line | 2 | Approved as part of a preliminary plat/entrance; must be set at least 10 ft from adjacent lot line. | — | Sec. 156.162 |
| Changeable Copy Sign (Residential Subdivision or Neighborhood Entrance) | 5 ft. | 20 sq. ft. for sign face; 25 sq. ft. for total structure | — | 10 ft from adjacent lot line | 1 | Approved as part of a preliminary plat/entrance; must be set at least 10 ft from adjacent lot line. | — | Sec. 156.162 |
| Permanent Local Historic Sign | — | 6 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 | — | — | Sec. 156.162 |
| Small Wall Sign (Identification, Name, or Address Signs) | — | 1.5 sq. ft. | — | — | — | — | — | Sec. 156.160 |
| Incidental Sign | — | 2 sq. ft. | — | — | — | — | — | Sec. 156.160 |

### B-1 General Business District, L-1 Light Industrial District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign (Type 1) | — | — | — | — | No explicit limit; area capped as % of wall | Attached or painted on building wall | — | Sec. 156.162 |
| Freestanding Monument Sign | 5 ft. | 20 sq. ft. for sign face; 25 sq. ft. for total structure | — | 10 ft from adjacent lot line | 1 | Freestanding on site | — | Sec. 156.162 |
| Projecting Sign | — | 3 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 | Perpendicular to building facade | — | Sec. 156.162 |
| Under Canopy Sign | — | 8 sq. ft. | — | — | — | Attached beneath canopy | — | Sec. 156.162 |
| Sandwich Board Sign | — | — | — | — | 1 per entrance | Within 35 ft of principal entrance | — | Sec. 156.160 |

### B-2 Local Shopping Center District, O-I Office-Institutional District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign (Type 2) | — | — | — | — | No explicit limit; area capped as % of wall | Attached or painted on building wall | — | Sec. 156.162 |
| Freestanding Monument Sign (Standard) | 5 ft. | 20 sq. ft. for sign face; 25 sq. ft. for total structure | — | 10 ft from lot line | 1 | Freestanding on site | — | Sec. 156.162 |
| Monument Sign (B-2 Shopping Center) | 20 ft. | 75 sq. ft. for sign face; 200 sq. ft. total structure | — | 10 ft from adjacent lot line | 1 | Freestanding on site (Entrance/center) | — | Sec. 156.162 |
| Drive-Thru Menu Board | 6 ft from drive surface or 5 ft curb side | 4' x 6' (24 sq. ft.) | 6.6 ft (80 inches) for sign panel | 15 ft from adjacent lot line | 2 per lane | Internal, on side of building opposite main thoroughfare | — | Sec. 156.162 |
| Projecting Sign | — | 3 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 | Perpendicular to building facade | — | Sec. 156.162 |
| Under Canopy Sign | — | 8 sq. ft. | — | — | — | Attached beneath canopy | — | Sec. 156.162 |
| Sandwich Board Sign | — | — | — | — | 1 per entrance | Placed within the segment of paved sidewalk adjacent to principal structure's facade (does not impede clear path for pedestrian/ADA). | — | Sec. 156.160 |

## Prohibited signs in Wesley Chapel

- All off-premises signs, including billboards, except where expressly allowed, are prohibited within all zoning districts.
- All portable signs, except those authorized elsewhere in the code, are prohibited.
- Flashing signs are prohibited. (Electronic message board signs are not considered flashing signs.)
- Any sign that the Zoning Administrator determines obstructs visibility is prohibited.
- Exposed neon, incandescent or non-changing LED signs exceeding two square feet are prohibited (except certain window signs).
- Any sign placed upon a traffic control sign, tree, or utility pole is prohibited, except as provided.
- Any permanent sign that is an inflatable device is prohibited.
- Animated signs are prohibited.
- Signs temporarily attached to vehicles are prohibited.
- Awning signs are prohibited.
- Handwritten signs, including temporary and window signs, are prohibited (with exceptions for temporary uses in specific sections).
- Roof signs are prohibited.
- Window signs covering more than 50% of window area are prohibited.
- No sign, except those specified, shall be located within the established right-of-way of any public road.
- No sign may impair traffic visibility, be located in required site triangles, or otherwise endanger public safety.
- No sign shall be constructed, placed, established, painted, created, displayed, altered, or maintained except in conformance with Sections 156.155 through 156.165.
- No sign shall be illuminated by a flashing, intermittent, rotating or moving light.
- Any lighted sign or lighting device shall be so oriented as not to cast light upon a public right-of-way so as to cause glare, intensity or reflection that may constitute a hazard.
- No unauthorized signs may be placed on public property or within a public right-of-way.
- No sign, except as permitted, shall be erected so as to obstruct required air or light or to constitute a hazard.

## Signs exempt from permit in Wesley Chapel

- Official government, emergency, safety, and signs required to be posted by law, or established by governmental agencies, are exempt from permitting.
- Posted signs such as warning, no trespassing, private property, directional signs up to 2 sq. ft. are exempt.
- Signs for candidates seeking public office are exempt as temporary signs; political-type signs are posted according to G.S. § 136-32.
- Small wall signs for identification, name, or address (up to 1½ sq. ft.) are exempt.
- Yard signs (e.g., for sale/rent, produce, yard sales, lost pet, etc.), up to 6 sq. ft., are exempt as temporary signs.
- Incidental signs (up to 2 sq. ft.) are exempt.
- Window coverings in B-1, B-2, O-1, and L-1 districts covering less than 50% of the window area are exempt.
- Historical plaques, tablets, or markers placed by a federal or state government agency are exempt.
- Vehicular signs are exempt.
- Internal signs in B-1 and B-2 districts, up to 4 sq. ft., are exempt (does not include banner signs).
- Sandwich board signs under specific district and location conditions are exempt.
- Certain signs owned and erected by the Village itself are exempt from display duration and frequency limitations.
- Temporary signs of less than eight sq. ft. and less than six feet high are allowed without a permit (with number limitations, except for political periods).
- Temporary freestanding signs meeting certain setback and size requirements are not regulated.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A sign permit is required prior to the construction, placement, establishment, creation, display or modification of a sign, unless it is expressly exempted by the ordinance.
- A single application and fee may be submitted for multiple signs at one location, provided construction/display is simultaneous and at the same property or event.
- For new construction, a sign permit application cannot be submitted prior to the submittal for construction plan review.
- For new subdivisions, monument entrance signs are reviewed by the Planning Board as part of the preliminary plat approval.
- Permanent residential development monument and changeable copy signs must be approved as part of a preliminary plat.
- Approval for some shopping center and subdivision signage is incorporated into the respective development plan/planning board approval process.
- For conditional zoning or special use permit applications, detailed information about signs (including number, location, type, and size of all commercial signs) is to be included in the application and reviewed as part of the site plan process; but actual approval of signs is part of the site plan review process.
- Non-conforming signs must comply with the replacement and alteration requirements outlined in Section 156.110 upon alteration or replacement.
- No sign may be constructed, placed, or altered unless in compliance with all zoning, building, and electric codes.

## 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 5 zoning districts in Wesley Chapel — every sign type, every field — are available with a free PermitPal account: https://app.permitpal.io/?address=Wesley+Chapel+NC&override=true&utm_source=landing&utm_medium=city-page&utm_campaign=city-wesley-chapel

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