# Sign Regulations in Chester, South Carolina

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Chester, South Carolina (SC)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/south-carolina/chester
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-07
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/SC/Chester/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=COOR_CH50STSIOTPUPL_ARTIVAD_S50-89SIST)

## At a glance

Chester, South Carolina regulates 24 sign types across 10 zoning districts. Freestanding Sign (Institutional, Public, Church, School, Multi-family, Tourist Home)s in the One Family Residential District (R-10, R-8) zoning district are capped at 20 sq ft (non-illuminated); 80 sq ft (illuminated, church/institutional/public), with a 10 ft from street right-of-way (tourist home 5 ft) setback (Sec. Sec. 2-606.14 (b, c, h, i), Sec. 2-606.13(j), Sec. 2-605.2 et seq.). Most commercial signs in Chester require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (10 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| One Family Residential District (R-10, R-8) | 6 | — | 100 sq ft | — |
| One and Two Family Residential District (R-6) | 6 | — | 100 sq ft | — |
| General Residential District (GR) | 6 | — | 100 sq ft | — |
| Multi-family Residential District (MF) | 6 | — | 100 sq ft | — |
| Neighborhood Commercial District (NC) | 8 | — | 600 sq ft (total) | — |
| Neighborhood Commercial Historic District (NCH) | 4 | — | 20 sq ft (non-illuminated); 80 sq ft (illuminated, church/institutional/public) | — |
| Core Commercial District (CC), Highway Commercial District (HC), Limited Industrial District (LI), Basic Industrial District (BI) | 7 | May not extend more than 20 ft above principal roof peak | 600 sq ft per lot or unoccupied sign; 300 sq ft per sign face; up to 750 sq ft by special exception | — |
| Planned Development District (PD) | 1 | — | — | — |
| Historic Overlay (-H) | 1 | — | — | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 1 | 100 ft (residential); 180 ft (commercial); 360 ft (industrial); building-mounted ≤30 ft above structure | — | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 10 zones)

### One Family Residential District (R-10, R-8)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign (Home Occupation, Bed and Breakfast) | — | 4 sq ft | — | — | 1 per home occupation or bed and breakfast | Wall-mounted, flat against building | — | Sec. 2-606.14, Sec. 2-605.2 (Conditional uses, R-10) and Sec. 2-605.4 (Conditional uses, R-8); Sec. 2-606.13(a)(g) |
| Freestanding Sign (Institutional, Public, Church, School, Multi-family, Tourist Home) | — | 20 sq ft (non-illuminated); 80 sq ft (illuminated, church/institutional/public) | — | 10 ft from street right-of-way (tourist home 5 ft) | 1 per principal use/building | Setback: 10 ft from street right-of-way (except tourist home, which is 5 ft) | — | Sec. 2-606.14 (b, c, h, i), Sec. 2-606.13(j), Sec. 2-605.2 et seq. |
| Freestanding Sign (Temporary Subdivision) | — | 20 sq ft | — | 10 ft from street right-of-way | Multiple, if spaced appropriately | 10 ft from street right-of-way or subdivision boundary line, minimum 300 ft apart | — | Sec. 2-606.13(h), Sec. 2-606.14(d) |
| Freestanding Sign (Construction Sign) | — | 100 sq ft | — | — | 1 per construction site | On the premises of construction, alteration, or removal work | — | Sec. 2-606.13(f) |
| Private Directional Sign | — | 6 sq ft | 4 ft | — | Multiple, if spaced appropriately | On private property, minimum 500 ft apart | — | Sec. 2-606.13(i) |
| Real Estate Sign | — | 6 sq ft | — | 10 ft from street right-of-way | 1 per lot | At least 10 ft from street right-of-way or on front wall | — | Sec. 2-606.13(d) |

### Neighborhood Commercial District (NC)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign (Retail/Personal Service/Offices, etc.) | — | — | — | — | See CC sign regulations | Attached/painted on exterior | — | Sec. 2-606.14 (f) |
| Freestanding Sign (Retail/Service/Personal Service) | — | 600 sq ft (total) | — | 25 ft from street right-of-way | Up to 4 signs max (per lot); total area 600 sq ft | Setback min. 25 ft from street right-of-way | — | Sec. 2-606.14 (f); see CC sign regulations for details |
| Freestanding Sign (Unoccupied Lot) | — | 600 sq ft (total), 300 sq ft per face | — | 25 ft from street right-of-way; 350 ft from similar sign on same street | 1 | Minimum 25 ft from street right-of-way; Min. 350 ft from another such sign on same street/side | — | Sec. 2-606.14 (f) |
| Freestanding Sign (Business Identification Pylon) | — | — | — | 10 ft from street right-of-way | See total sign area limit | At least 10 ft setback from right-of-way | — | Sec. 2-606.14 (f)(d) |
| Freestanding Sign (Institutional, Public, Church, Multi-family, Tourist Home) | — | 20 sq ft (non-illuminated); 80 sq ft (illuminated, church/institutional/public) | — | 10 ft from street right-of-way (tourist home 5 ft) | 1 | Setback min. 10 ft from right-of-way (tourist home 5 ft) | — | Sec. 2-606.14 (b,c,e) |
| Real Estate Sign | — | 20 sq ft | — | 10 ft from street right-of-way | 1 per lot | At least 10 ft from street right-of-way or on front wall | — | Sec. 2-606.13(d) |
| Temporary Construction Sign | — | 100 sq ft | — | — | 1 per site | On construction site | — | Sec. 2-606.13(f) |
| Private Directional Sign | — | 6 sq ft | 4 ft | — | Multiple if spaced | On private property, 500 ft apart | — | Sec. 2-606.13(i) |

### Core Commercial District (CC), Highway Commercial District (HC), Limited Industrial District (LI), Basic Industrial District (BI)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign (Business/Commercial/Industrial) | — | — | — | — | See total sign area limitation per lot | On wall, attached/painted/surface mounted (≤24 in from wall) | — | Sec. 2-606.13(g), Sec. 2-606.14, CC/HC/LI/BI district regulations |
| Freestanding Sign (Business, Commercial, Industrial) | — | 600 sq ft per lot or unoccupied sign; 300 sq ft per sign face; up to 750 sq ft by special exception | — | 25 ft from right-of-way | Up to 4 per lot (aggregate area limits); 1 per unoccupied lot | Min 25 ft from right-of-way; 350 ft spacing (applies to freestanding single decked signs). | — | Sec. 2-606.14, CC/HC/LI/BI district regs |
| Roof Sign | May not extend more than 20 ft above principal roof peak | — | — | — | 1 per building | On roof | — | Sec. 2-606.13(e) |
| Freestanding Sign (Institutional/Public/Church/Multi-family/Tourist Home) | — | 20 sq ft (non-illuminated); 80 sq ft (illuminated, church/institutional/public) | — | 10 ft from right-of-way; tourist home 5 ft | 1 | 10 ft from right-of-way (tourist home 5 ft) | — | Sec. 2-606.14(b,c,e) |
| Construction Sign (Temporary) | — | 100 sq ft | — | — | 1 per construction site | On construction site | — | Sec. 2-606.13(f) |
| Private Directional Sign | — | 6 sq ft | 4 ft | — | Multiple if spaced | On private property, 500 ft apart | — | Sec. 2-606.13(i) |
| Real Estate Sign | — | 20 sq ft | — | 10 ft from right-of-way | 1 per lot | At least 10 ft from street right-of-way or on front wall | — | Sec. 2-606.13(d) |

## Prohibited signs in Chester

- No sign shall be erected, altered or reconstructed without a permit issued by the Codes Administrator and compliance with all applicable regulations.
- No private sign shall be permitted which imitates or gives the appearance of an official traffic or emergency sign or signal.
- No private sign shall be permitted within twenty-five (25) feet of a public right-of-way which utilizes flashing, blinking, or moving lights which are distracting to drivers of vehicles.
- No private sign shall be permitted which casts into a residential district illumination of intensity or duration incompatible with the residential district.
- No sign shall be painted on or attached to a tree, fence, utility pole, tower, tank, roof, rock or other natural feature.

## Signs exempt from permit in Chester

- A permit is not required for the following signs: traffic, directional, street, warning, or information signs authorized by a public agency.
- A permit is not required for official notices issued by a court, public agency or office.
- A permit is not required for one non-illuminated for sale, for rent, for lease, or similar sign not exceeding six (6) square feet in area in a residential district, or twenty (20) square feet in a non-residential district, and located at least ten (10) feet from a street right-of-way or on the front wall of the building.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- No sign shall be erected, altered or reconstructed without a permit issued by the Codes Administrator and compliance with all applicable regulations.
- Applications for sign permits shall be accompanied by plans in duplicate drawn to scale showing the actual dimensions and shape of the lot to be used, the sizes and locations of existing structures on the lot, and the location and dimensions of a proposed structure or alteration. The application shall include such other information as may be required by the Codes Administrator to determine conformance with this ordinance.
- In NCH Neighborhood Commercial Historic District and -H Historic Overlay districts, plans for a new structure or alteration of an existing structure, including signs, must be reviewed and approved by the Historic Preservation Commission prior to issuance of a zoning permit.
- Regulations in Section 2-605.27 for -H Historic Overlay districts and application requirements in Section 2-605.28 apply to proposed signs in historic districts.
- In Planned Development (PD) districts, signage is subject to the approved development plan and descriptive statement, as well as approval procedures described for planned development.

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

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