# Sign Regulations in Charleston, South Carolina

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Charleston, South Carolina (SC)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/south-carolina/charleston
- **Data last verified:** 2026-05-14
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/sc/charleston/codes/zoning?nodeId=ART4SIRE)

## At a glance

Charleston, South Carolina regulates 54 sign types across 9 zoning districts. Freestanding Monument Signs in the Daniel Island Town Center (DI-TC); Gathering Place (GP) zoning district are capped at 5 ft tall and 12 sq ft per face (24 sq ft total if double-faced), with a On private property and outside vision clearance triangle setback (Sec. Sec. 54-414(a)(1)-(2); Sec. 54-410(a)-(c)). Most commercial signs in Charleston require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (9 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 13 | 10 ft | Electronic message board component ≤ 60 sq ft per sign face; maximum of 2 faces | — |
| Residential Office (RO) | 9 | 10 ft | 48 sq ft per banner | — |
| Commercial Transitional (CT) | 12 | 10 ft | Per Sec. 54-411(b)-(d): 3–32 sq ft per face depending on use; banners up to 48 sq ft | — |
| Daniel Island Town Center (DI-TC); Gathering Place (GP) | 17 | 36 inches | Per Sec. 54-411: produce ≤ 20 sq ft total; event signs 32 sq ft/face; real estate/project 3–32 sq ft/face; banners 48 sq ft; temporary window ≤ 20% of window | — |
| Job Center (JC) | 15 | 36 inches | Per Sec. 54-411: produce ≤ 20 sq ft total; event signs 32 sq ft/face; real estate/project 3–32 sq ft/face; banners 48 sq ft; temporary window ≤ 20% of window | — |
| Heavy Industrial (HI); Light Industrial (LI); General Business (GB); Limited Business (LB); General Office (GO); Business Park (BP); Mixed Use 1 (MU-1); Mixed Use 2 (MU-2); Mixed Use 1 Workforce Housing (MU-1/WH); Mixed Use 2 Workforce Housing (MU-2/WH); Urban Commercial (UC); Conservation (C); Daniel Island Business Park (DI-BP); Daniel Island General Office (DI-GO); Daniel Island Light Industrial (DI-LI); Daniel Island Conservation (DI-C) | 17 | 36 inches | 100 sq ft per face (200 sq ft total if double-faced) | — |
| Agricultural (AG-8); Agricultural Special (AG-S) | 4 | 12 ft | Per Sec. 54-411: produce ≤ 20 sq ft total; event signs 32 sq ft/face; real estate/project 3–32 sq ft/face; banners 48 sq ft; temporary window ≤ 20% of window | — |
| Rural Residential (RR-1); Single Family Residential (SR-1); Single Family Residential (SR-2); Single Family Residential (SR-3); Single Family Residential (SR-4); Single Family Residential (SR-5); Single Family Residential (SR-6); Single Family Residential (SR-7); Single Family Residential (SR-8); Single And Two Family Residential (STR); Diverse Residential (DR-1); Diverse Residential (DR-1F); Diverse Residential (DR-2); Diverse Residential (DR-2F); Diverse Residential (DR-3); Diverse Residential Elderly Housing (DR-4); Diverse Residential (DR-6); Diverse Residential (DR-9); Diverse Residential (DR-12); Daniel Island Residential (DI-R); Daniel Island Residential (DI-RI) | 5 | Produce/event up to 10/8 ft respectively; real estate/project up to 3–8 ft depending on category | Per Sec. 54-411: produce ≤ 20 sq ft total; event signs 32 sq ft/face; real estate/project 3–32 sq ft/face; banners 48 sq ft; temporary window ≤ 20% of window | — |
| General Business (GB) — Off-premises Signs (Billboards) within HI district only (cross-reference zone) | 1 | ≤ 25 ft above the roadbed toward which the advertising is directed or ≤ 35 ft above the ground, whichever is less | ≤ 150 sq ft of advertising surface on one side | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 9 zones)

### Daniel Island Town Center (DI-TC); Gathering Place (GP)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Monument Sign | 5 ft | 12 sq ft per face (24 sq ft total if double-faced) | — | On private property and outside vision clearance triangle | 1 per lot | On private property at the lot frontage | — | Sec. 54-414(a)(1)-(2); Sec. 54-410(a)-(c) |
| Façade Sign — Upper-floor business | — | 1 sq ft per upper-floor business unit | — | — | 1 per upper-floor business | At the ground-floor entrance serving the upper-floor business | — | Sec. 54-414(b)(2) |
| Sandwich Board Sign — Private property | 36 inches | — | 24 inches | — | 1 per ground-floor business (if multiple occupants) or 1 per single-tenant building | On private property directly in front of the ground-floor business | — | Sec. 54-414(h)(1) |
| Sandwich Board Sign — Public right-of-way (encroachment) | 36 inches | — | 24 inches | — | 1 per ground-floor business | On public sidewalk immediately in front of the subject ground-floor business | — | Sec. 54-414(h)(2) |
| Freestanding Directory Sign — Multi-tenant shopping centers | 5 ft | 12 sq ft per face | — | — | 1 per driveway entrance | At driveway entrances of shopping center | — | Sec. 54-414(i) |
| Reader Board (as part of a monument sign) — Option 1 | — | Up to 50% of allowable freestanding sign face (except public schools may exceed 50% of the freestanding sign face) | — | Freestanding sign setbacks apply | Option 1 | Integrated into an allowed freestanding monument sign | — | Sec. 54-414(l) (exception referencing Sec. 54-415(a)(5)(c)); Sec. 54-415(a)(5)(c) |
| Residential Subdivision/Multi-family Development Identification Sign | 6 ft | 24 sq ft per sign face (single-faced) | — | On private property and outside vision clearance triangle | 2 per entrance | At development entrances | — | Sec. 54-415(j)(1)-(4) (applies citywide) |
| Temporary Sign allowances (all types in Sec. 54-411) | Produce/event up to 10/8 ft respectively; real estate/project up to 3–8 ft depending on category | Per Sec. 54-411: produce ≤ 20 sq ft total; event signs 32 sq ft/face; real estate/project 3–32 sq ft/face; banners 48 sq ft; temporary window ≤ 20% of window | — | Freestanding temporary signs on private property outside vision triangles | — | On private property (street banners by City only) | — | Sec. 54-411(a)-(g) |

### Job Center (JC)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Monument Sign (≤ 3 business units) | 5 ft | 12 sq ft per face (24 sq ft total if double-faced) | — | On private property and outside vision clearance triangle | 1 per lot | On private property at the lot frontage | — | Table 1.2 (DI-TC, GP, ND, JC column — JC note); Sec. 54-410(a)-(c) |
| Freestanding Monument Sign (> 3 business units) | 5 ft | 20 sq ft per face (40 sq ft total if double-faced) | — | On private property and outside vision clearance triangle | 1 per lot | On private property at the lot frontage | — | Table 1.2 (DI-TC, GP, ND, JC column — JC special: > 3 businesses 20 sq ft/face, 5 ft height); Sec. 54-410(a)-(c) |
| Façade Sign — Upper-floor business | — | 1 sq ft per upper-floor business unit | — | — | 1 per upper-floor business | At the ground-floor entrance serving the upper-floor business | — | Applied by Table 1.2 grouping JC with DI-TC/GP/ND; detailed standards from Sec. 54-414(b)(2) |
| Right Angle Sign — Individual business unit (ground-floor) | — | 9 sq ft per face | — | — | 1 per business unit | Projected perpendicular from building façade | — | Applied by Table 1.2; detailed from Sec. 54-414(e) |
| Right Angle Sign — In lieu of Freestanding Sign (Development Identification) | — | 18 sq ft per face (standard); 40 sq ft per face if qualifying large building | — | — | 1 per development | Mounted to building façade | — | Applied by Table 1.2; detailed from Sec. 54-415(f) analog as grouped; DI-TC/GP/ND/JC column in Table 1.2 allows this option |
| Sandwich Board Sign — Private property | 36 inches | — | 24 inches | — | 1 per ground-floor business (if multiple occupants) or 1 per single-tenant building | On private property directly in front of the ground-floor business | — | Table 1.2 (Sandwich Board allowed in DI-TC/GP/ND/JC); detailed placement rules from Sec. 54-414(h)(1) |
| Sandwich Board Sign — Public right-of-way (encroachment) | 36 inches | — | 24 inches | — | 1 per ground-floor business | On public sidewalk immediately in front of the subject ground-floor business | — | Table 1.2 (Sandwich Board allowed in DI-TC/GP/ND/JC); detailed from Sec. 54-414(h)(2) |
| Temporary Sign allowances (all types in Sec. 54-411) | Produce/event up to 10/8 ft respectively; real estate/project up to 3–8 ft depending on category | Per Sec. 54-411: produce ≤ 20 sq ft total; event signs 32 sq ft/face; real estate/project 3–32 sq ft/face; banners 48 sq ft; temporary window ≤ 20% of window | — | Freestanding temporary signs on private property outside vision triangles | — | On private property (street banners by City only) | — | Sec. 54-411(a)-(g) |

### Heavy Industrial (HI); Light Industrial (LI); General Business (GB); Limited Business (LB); General Office (GO); Business Park (BP); Mixed Use 1 (MU-1); Mixed Use 2 (MU-2); Mixed Use 1 Workforce Housing (MU-1/WH); Mixed Use 2 Workforce Housing (MU-2/WH); Urban Commercial (UC); Conservation (C); Daniel Island Business Park (DI-BP); Daniel Island General Office (DI-GO); Daniel Island Light Industrial (DI-LI); Daniel Island Conservation (DI-C)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Monument Sign (≤ 3 business units) | 12 ft | 40 sq ft per face (80 sq ft total if double-faced) | — | On private property and outside vision clearance triangle | 1 per development | On private property at site frontage | — | Sec. 54-415(a)(1); Sec. 54-410(a)-(c) |
| Freestanding Monument Sign (4–19 business units) | 14 ft | 60 sq ft per face (120 sq ft total if double-faced) | — | On private property and outside vision clearance triangle | 1 per development | On private property at site frontage | — | Sec. 54-415(a)(2); Sec. 54-410(a)-(c) |
| Freestanding Monument Sign (≥ 20 business units or ≥ 150,000 sq ft floor area) | 14 ft | 100 sq ft per face (200 sq ft total if double-faced) | — | On private property and outside vision clearance triangle | 1 per development | On private property at site frontage | — | Sec. 54-415(a)(3); Sec. 54-410(a)-(c) |
| Additional Monument Sign — Additional street frontage(s) with driveway access | 10 ft | 35 sq ft per face (70 sq ft total if double-faced) | — | On private property and outside vision clearance triangle | 1 additional per qualifying frontage | On private property along each additional qualifying frontage | — | Sec. 54-415(a)(4) |
| Reader Board (as part of a monument sign) — Option 1 | — | Up to 50% of allowable freestanding sign face area (except public schools may exceed 50%) | — | Freestanding sign setback rules apply | Option 1 | Integrated into a permitted monument sign | — | Sec. 54-415(a)(5)(c)1–3 |
| Sandwich Board or Pedestal Sign — Private property | 36 inches | — | 24 inches | — | 1 per business (multi-tenant) or 1 per single-tenant building | On private property immediately adjacent to the business | — | Sec. 54-415(h)(1)-(2) |
| Residential Subdivision/Multi-family Development Identification Sign | 6 ft | 24 sq ft per sign face (single-faced) | — | On private property and outside vision clearance triangle | 2 per entrance | At subdivision or multi-family development entrances | — | Sec. 54-415(j)(1)-(4) |
| Temporary Sign allowances (all types in Sec. 54-411) | Produce/event up to 10/8 ft respectively; real estate/project up to 3–8 ft depending on category | Per Sec. 54-411: produce ≤ 20 sq ft total; event signs 32 sq ft/face; real estate/project 3–32 sq ft/face; banners 48 sq ft; temporary window ≤ 20% of window | — | Freestanding temporary signs on private property outside vision triangles | — | On private property (street banners by City only) | — | Sec. 54-411(a)-(g) |

## Prohibited signs in Charleston

- Snipe signs are prohibited (Sec. 54-404(a)).
- Sandwich board and pedestal signs are prohibited except where expressly allowed in §§54-414(h) and 54-415(h) (Sec. 54-404(b)).
- Off-premises signs are prohibited, except billboards as allowed in §54-414.1 or nonconforming signs per §54-420 (Sec. 54-404(c)).
- Signs with flashing or animated lights, or that give the appearance of movement, are prohibited (Sec. 54-404(d)).
- Electronic/digital message signs using individual bulbs or electronic means to produce a message are prohibited (time/temperature excepted), with narrow exceptions for large schools and certain accommodations near Hwy 17/I-526 (Sec. 54-404(e)).
- Signs projecting above the peak of a roof are prohibited (Sec. 54-404(f)).
- Vehicle signs and signs pulled behind vehicles, motorcycles, ATVs, golf carts, low-speed vehicles, mopeds, scooters, motor driven cycles, or bicycles are prohibited (Sec. 54-404(g)).
- Signs that emit sound, odor, or visible matter are prohibited (Sec. 54-404(h)).
- Signs that obstruct required doors, windows, fire escapes, or other required exits are prohibited (Sec. 54-404(i)).
- Signs using words such as “stop” or “danger,” or similar, in a way that could mislead or distract drivers are prohibited (Sec. 54-404(k)).
- Signs within any street right-of-way are prohibited unless by a public agency or with city approval and an encroachment permit (Sec. 54-404(l)).
- Signs painted on or attached to trees, rocks, natural features, or utility/telephone poles are prohibited (Sec. 54-404(m)).
- Signs in salt marsh areas or on land subject to periodic tidal saltwater inundation are prohibited (Sec. 54-404(n)).
- Abandoned or dilapidated signs are prohibited (Sec. 54-404(o)).
- Portable and temporary signs are prohibited except as allowed in §54-411 (Sec. 54-404(p)).
- Fluttering signs (pennants, balloons, ribbons) are prohibited except as allowed in §54-411 (Sec. 54-404(r)).
- Banners are prohibited except as allowed in §§54-405(e) and 54-411 (Sec. 54-404(s)).
- Gas-filled figures are prohibited (Sec. 54-404(t)).
- Flags that advertise a business, service, or product are prohibited (Sec. 54-404(u)).
- Television or computer monitors oriented toward a public right-of-way to display a commercial message/image are prohibited (Sec. 54-404(v)).
- Freestanding signs located within the vision-clearance triangle at intersections or off private property are prohibited (Sec. 54-410(a)).
- Unshielded or excessively bright illumination that causes glare to pedestrians/drivers or creates a nuisance to adjacent residential districts is prohibited (Sec. 54-410(b)).
- Light-reflecting sign backgrounds are prohibited; reflective lettering is allowed (Sec. 54-410(c)).

## Signs exempt from permit in Charleston

- Exempt signs must not be placed in the public right-of-way unless there is an encroachment agreement (Sec. 54-405).
- Flags (other than flags that advertise a business/service/product, which are prohibited) (Sec. 54-405(a); see §54-404(u)).
- Special-event flags, banners, pennants, balloons, and ribbons as provided in §54-411(e–f) (Sec. 54-405(b)).
- Street banners as provided in §54-411(c) (Sec. 54-405(c)).
- Real estate banners as provided in §54-411(d) (Sec. 54-405(d)).
- Architecturally integral banners of unique quality/design approved by the Board of Architectural Review or Commercial Corridor Design Review Board (Sec. 54-405(e)).
- Political signs (see City Code §19-441) (Sec. 54-405(f)).
- Official notices posted by a court, public agency, or officer (Sec. 54-405(g)).
- Historic plaques (Sec. 54-405(h)).
- Traffic, directional, warning, or informational signs authorized by a public agency (Sec. 54-405(i)).
- Permit-exempt, citywide temporary signs: (1) real estate or project signs meeting §54-411(b); (2) opening-event banners per §54-411(d); (3) City/nonprofit special-event aerial devices per §54-411(e); (4) residential-district aerial devices without commercial text/graphics per §54-411(f); and (5) temporary window signs meeting §54-411(g) (Sec. 54-402(a), §54-411).

## Sign permit fees & timelines in Charleston

| Item | Details | Citation |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Zoning and Application Review | $345 | — |

_The full published fee and review-timeline schedule for Charleston is available in PermitPal (free account)._

## 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 9 zoning districts in Charleston — every sign type, every field — are available with a free PermitPal account: https://app.permitpal.io/?address=Charleston+SC&override=true&utm_source=landing&utm_medium=city-page&utm_campaign=city-charleston

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