# Sign Regulations in Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina

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

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

## At a glance

Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina regulates 14 sign types across 5 zoning districts. Freestanding Sign (Churches Only)s in the R-1 Residential District (R-1), R-2 Residential District (R-2) zoning district are capped at 8 ft above street centerline tall and 64 sq ft (single street frontage), with a Not less than 10 ft from street lot line and not within side yard or within 10 ft of side property line. setback (Sec. Section 155.10.6(A)). Most commercial signs in Wrightsville Beach require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (5 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 4 | — | 2 sq ft per display surface | — |
| R-1 Residential District (R-1), R-2 Residential District (R-2) | 3 | 8 ft above street centerline | 64 sq ft (single street frontage) | — |
| S-1 Shore Zone | 1 | — | 4 sq ft | — |
| P-1 Conservation Zone | 1 | — | 4 sq ft | — |
| C-1 Zoning District | 5 | No higher than one building story nor hang closer than 10 ft to sidewalk | 32 sq ft per use (in aggregate for all canopy, wall, window, pedestrian, and awning signs) | — |

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

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Directional and Informational Signs (Erected by Public Agencies) | — | — | — | — | — | Erected and maintained by public agencies and governmental bodies | — | Section 155.10.5(A)(1) |
| Memorial Signs or Tablets | — | — | — | — | — | Cut into masonry surface | — | Section 155.10.2(D) |
| Legal Notices, Identification, and Informational Signs (Government) | — | — | — | — | — | Erected by or on behalf of a governmental body | — | Section 155.10.2(C) |
| Property Identification Sign (Non-commercial) | — | 2 sq ft per display surface | — | — | 2 per zoning lot | On premises not of a commercial nature | — | Section 155.10.2(A) |

### R-1 Residential District (R-1), R-2 Residential District (R-2)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Residential Exempt Sign | — | 4 sq ft | — | — | 2 per property | On the property | — | Section 155.10.2(E)(1) |
| Identification Sign (Existing Nonconformity, Multi-unit R-2) | — | — | — | — | — | Permitted non-conforming properties in R-2 with more than two units | — | Section 155.10.2(E)(2) |
| Freestanding Sign (Churches Only) | 8 ft above street centerline | 64 sq ft (single street frontage) | — | Not less than 10 ft from street lot line and not within side yard or within 10 ft of side property line. | 1 or 2 depending on street frontage | May be located on lot within 300 ft of the main entrance of the church and on a lot owned, used, and occupied solely by the church. | — | Section 155.10.6(A) |

### C-1 Zoning District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | — | 32 sq ft per use (in aggregate for all canopy, wall, window, pedestrian, and awning signs) | — | — | — | Attached to building wall | — | Sections 155.10.6(B), (C), (F), (J) |
| Marquee Sign | Lowest point at least 8 ft above sidewalk/ground | — | May extend entire length and width of marquee | — | — | Attached to or hung from marquee | — | Sections 155.10.3, 155.10.6(E), (J) |
| Canopy Sign | No higher than one building story nor hang closer than 10 ft to sidewalk | 32 sq ft in aggregate for all such sign types | — | — | — | On or attached to canopy | — | Sections 155.10.6(B), (E), (J) |
| Window Sign (C-1) | — | No more than 30% of window or door on which sign is located; included in aggregate max | — | — | — | Window/door | — | Sections 155.10.6(B), (L)(2), (J) |
| Awning Sign | — | 32 sq ft in aggregate for all such sign types | — | — | — | On awning | — | Sections 155.10.6(B), (J) |

## Prohibited signs in Wrightsville Beach

- Flashing, intermittently illuminated, or moving (spectacular) signs are prohibited in all districts.
- Strings of electric light bulbs are not permitted in any district.
- No signs advertising or directing persons to services, places, or products not in the town limits are permitted (except 'For Sale' or 'For Rent' signs for specific real estate).
- Roof signs are prohibited in all districts.
- Billboard signs are prohibited in all districts.
- Portable signs are prohibited in all districts except as otherwise permitted.
- Signs may not use the words 'STOP,' 'SLOW,' 'CAUTION,' 'DANGER,' or other words/phrases/symbols/characters that could be confused with traffic signs.
- Signs may not be erected where their location, color, nature, or message is likely to be confused with or obstruct the view of traffic signals or signs, or with warning lights of emergency/public safety vehicles.
- Flags, festoons, balloons, or banners are prohibited in all districts except as allowed as exempt signs.
- Signs are not permitted within the rights-of-way of streets or roads except for traffic regulation signs approved by the Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices.
- Mobile signs are not permitted in any district.
- Snipe signs are not permitted in any district.
- Wind signs are not permitted in any district.
- No outdoor advertising display sign may obstruct fire escapes, windows, doors, or other means of egress, nor interfere with legal ventilation or free passage on a roof.
- No sign may be attached to a fire escape or placed to interfere with any opening required for legal ventilation.
- Combustible freestanding signs and roof signs are not permitted in designated Fire Districts.
- No exterior illuminated advertising sign shall remain on between 1:00 a.m. and 7:00 a.m.
- Illuminated signs must not create glare or offensive light on residences; illumination must be directed, hooded, or shaded to prevent glare within 200 feet of a residence.
- All signs must comply with outdoor lighting standards in Article 155.9.
- No person shall place, maintain, or display any unauthorized sign, signal, marking, or device which imitates or resembles official traffic signs or signals, or directs traffic, or hides/interferes with official traffic signs.
- No person shall place/maintain any traffic sign or signal bearing commercial advertising on any street or highway.
- No person shall injure, tamper with, remove, paint upon, or deface any sign, sign post, street light, traffic signal, bulletin board, or other municipal property upon the streets and sidewalks, except town employees performing their duties.

## Signs exempt from permit in Wrightsville Beach

- Signs bearing only property identification numbers and names, post office box numbers, names of occupants, or non-commercial identification of premises, provided not illuminated and not exceeding two signs per lot or two square feet per display surface.
- Official government flags and insignia of a government, when displayed per federal law, with owner or lawful controller consent, and not exceeding 100 square feet in area.
- Legal notices, identification/informational signs, and traffic signs erected by or on behalf of a governmental body.
- Memorial signs or tablets, building names and construction dates when cut into masonry surfaces.
- For residential (R-1 or R-2 District): Up to two non-illuminated/indirectly illuminated signs of no more than 4 square feet each per lot (e.g., directional, instructional, yard/garage sale, for sale/rent signs).
- For non-conforming R-2 properties with more than two residential units: existing property ID sign(s) as of 11/14/2019, if size, location, and display are not altered.
- For non-residential (except S-1 and P-1): Up to two signs of 4 square feet each (menu, sandwich board, sidewalk or curb signs, A-frame, yard signs; may be illuminated).
- Fence wraps displaying signage affixed at construction sites—exempt until certificate of occupancy or up to 24 months after installation; after 24 months town may regulate.
- Information bulletin boards (erected by/on behalf of government) on public property or right-of-way in Town Center for handbills/community interest, max 6 sq ft per display, 72 sq ft per board.
- Signs, banners, flags, and pennants for group activities as approved by Board of Aldermen, on town/public property or right-of-way, displayed no more than 60 days as part of a special event permit process.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Where a lot contains more than one principal use or establishment, the owner must submit a sign plan to the UDO Administrator showing all signs located or proposed; the plan must show that all signs are in harmony and consistent with each other.

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

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