# Sign Regulations in Central, South Carolina

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Central, South Carolina (SC)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/south-carolina/central
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-07
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/SC/Central/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=THE_CODE_CH13PLDE_ARTIISCHI9318DECO_S13-34SIPEDECO)

## At a glance

Central, South Carolina regulates 5 sign types across 3 zoning districts. Freestanding Monument Sign (Single Business)s in the Development Corridors zoning district are capped at 10 ft tall, 60 sq ft (including up to 16 sq ft of changeable copy or electronic message board), and 20 ft wide, with a 10 feet from any public road right-of-way and property line setback (Sec. Sec. 13-34, (3), (5), (6), (7), (8), (9), (10)). Most commercial signs in Central require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (3 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Development Corridors | 4 | 15 ft | 120 sq ft (including up to 24 sq ft of changeable copy or electronic message board) | — |
| Core Commercial (CC) Zoning District | 4 | 15 ft | 120 sq ft (changeable copy/electronic: 24 sq ft included) | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 1 | — | — | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements

### Development Corridors

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign (Front Surface) | — | — | — | — | — | Flat against or painted on the front surface of a building | — | Sec. 13-34, (1), (6), (7), (8), (9) |
| Wall Sign (Rear/Side Surface) | — | — | — | — | — | Flat against or painted on rear or side surfaces fronting directly on a public road or parking lot with 5+ stalls | — | Sec. 13-34, (2), (6), (7), (8), (9) |
| Freestanding Monument Sign (Single Business) | 10 ft | 60 sq ft (including up to 16 sq ft of changeable copy or electronic message board) | 20 ft | 10 feet from any public road right-of-way and property line | One | On-premises of the business, may be located in a buffer yard | — | Sec. 13-34, (3), (5), (6), (7), (8), (9), (10) |
| Freestanding Monument Sign (Multiple Businesses) | 15 ft | 120 sq ft (including up to 24 sq ft of changeable copy or electronic message board) | — | 10 feet from any public right-of-way and property line | One | On-premises of the businesses, may be located in a buffer yard | — | Sec. 13-34, (3), (5), (6), (7), (8), (9), (11) |

### Core Commercial (CC) Zoning District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign (Front Surface) | — | — | — | — | — | Mounted flat against or painted on the front surface of a building | — | Sec. 13-34(1), Sec. 13-29(5), (6), (7), (8), (9) |
| Wall Sign (Rear/Side Surface) | — | — | — | — | — | Flat against or painted on rear/side surfaces fronting directly a public road or parking lot with 5+ stalls | — | Sec. 13-34(2), (6), (7), (8), (9) |
| Freestanding Monument Sign (Single Business) | 10 ft | 60 sq ft (changeable copy/electronic: 16 sq ft included) | 20 ft | 10 feet from public road right-of-way and property line | One | On premises of the business, in buffer yard allowed | — | Sec. 13-34(3), (10), (5), (6), (7), (8), (9) |
| Freestanding Monument Sign (Multiple Businesses) | 15 ft | 120 sq ft (changeable copy/electronic: 24 sq ft included) | — | 10 feet from public right-of-way and property line | One | On premises of the businesses, in buffer yard allowed | — | Sec. 13-34(3), (11), (5), (6), (7), (8), (9) |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Portable/Trailer Signs and Balloon Signs | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Sec. 13-34(4) |

## Prohibited signs in Central

- No portable/trailer signs or balloon signs are allowed (excluding A-frame signs or banners classified as temporary signs).
- No more than three colors are permitted on any one sign (excluding the color white).
- If signs are to be illuminated either internally or externally, the lighting shall be limited to one color.
- For externally lighted signs, the lighting shall originate from the ground upward to the sign face and not have any lights attached to or hanging from or on the sign.
- Neon banding shall not be incorporated within or around the sign.
- Sign lighting shall be positioned so that no light shines on adjacent streets and roadways or properties.
- Freestanding signs must be permanently mounted to the ground.
- Signs and their location/design must not restrict visibility to vehicular or pedestrian traffic.

## Signs exempt from permit in Central

- A-frame signs or banners which are classified as temporary signs are not considered portable/trailer or balloon signs for prohibition purposes.
- If a building permit is sought for construction, rehabilitation, or the remodeling of a single-family home, the regulations of this article do not apply.
- If a building is in existence prior to the adoption of this article and situated less than 55 feet from the highway right-of-way, the street tree planting requirements are waived, but a minimum five-foot-wide grass planting strip must be installed and maintained adjacent to the highway right-of-way.
- If an application for a zoning change is filed, the subject parcel is not required to be brought into conformance with this article until a building permit is sought, or until the parcel is used for a non-single-family residential activity.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- For a berm sign, a landscape plan for the berm area located around the sign must be submitted along with the sign application.
- Any parcel within the development corridors must be brought into compliance with all rules and regulations (including sign regulations) upon requesting a building permit or filing an application for rezoning (with certain exemptions).
- Variance or relief from sign regulations may be sought through the board of adjustments of the town as per official zoning ordinance procedures.

## Full detail

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

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