# Sign Regulations in Duncan, South Carolina

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Duncan, South Carolina (SC)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/south-carolina/duncan
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-07
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/SC/Duncan/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=PTIILAUSCO_CH117SIRE)

## At a glance

Duncan, South Carolina regulates 14 sign types across 7 zoning districts. Subdivision Entrance Signs in the Residential Districts zoning district are capped at 6 ft tall and 100 sq ft (total per entrance), with a See fence code for entrance wall signs setback (Sec. Sec. 117-30; Sec. 117-34(3)). Most commercial signs in Duncan require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (7 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 5 | — | 6 sq ft | — |
| Residential Districts | 4 | 6 ft | 100 sq ft (total per entrance) | — |
| Nonresidential Districts | 2 | — | 20 sq ft for 'for sale/lease/rent' signs, 100 sq ft for construction project signs | — |
| Commercial Districts, Industrial Districts | 3 | 35 ft | 360 sq ft per sign structure | — |
| GBD | 1 | — | 360 sq ft per sign structure | — |
| CBD Central Business District | 3 | — | 30 sq ft | — |
| Mobile Home Parks | 2 | 6 ft | 100 sq ft total per entrance | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 7 zones)

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Front, side, or rear surface of building. Signs may project over sidewalks in CBD with at least 10 ft clearance. | — | Sec. 117-28; Sec. 117-2(1); Sec. 117-90 |
| Freestanding Sign | — | — | — | No closer than 5 feet to any property line. | — | — | — | Sec. 117-2(3), Sec. 117-32 |
| Portable Sign | — | — | — | — | One per business or parcel | On site for which permitted. | — | Sec. 117-33 |
| Private Directional Sign | — | 6 sq ft | 4 ft | — | 1 per 500 ft of frontage | — | — | Sec. 117-31 |
| Signs for which permits are not required | — | — | — | Certain signs (e.g., for sale/lease) at least 10 ft from ROW unless on building. | See individual limitations in ordinance | — | — | Sec. 117-4 |

### Residential Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Business Identification Sign or Bulletin Board (Multiple/Group/Other Non-Dwelling Buildings) | — | 60 sq ft | — | At least 10 ft from street right-of-way | One per entrance | At or near each entrance to multiple-family, group, or non-dwelling building | — | Sec. 117-34(2) |
| Subdivision Entrance Sign | 6 ft | 100 sq ft (total per entrance) | — | See fence code for entrance wall signs | 1-2 per entrance | At each subdivision entrance | — | Sec. 117-30; Sec. 117-34(3) |
| Mobile Home Park Entrance Sign | 6 ft | 100 sq ft (total per entrance) | — | See fence code for entrance wall signs | 1-2 per entrance | At each mobile home park entrance | — | Sec. 117-30; Sec. 117-34(4) |
| Private Directional Sign | — | 6 sq ft | 4 ft | — | 1 per 500 ft of frontage | — | — | Sec. 117-31; Sec. 117-34(3) |

### Commercial Districts, Industrial Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| All Permitted Residential Signs | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Sec. 117-57(1) |
| Freestanding (Detached) Sign | 35 ft | 150 sq ft per permitted sign | — | No closer than 10 ft to street right-of-way. | 1 per 300 ft of frontage for each road; if under 300 ft total, only 1 | Within front or side setback area; no closer than 10 ft to street right-of-way. | — | Sec. 117-57(2), (5) |
| Off-Premises Freestanding Sign (GBD/Industrial - No Business Enterprise on Lot) | — | 360 sq ft per sign structure | — | — | — | On any lot in GBD or industrial district without business enterprise | — | Sec. 117-57(4) |

## Prohibited signs in Duncan

- No sign shall be erected or maintained unless it is in compliance with the regulations of this chapter, except that existing nonconforming signs may be maintained if in compliance with provisions set forth in chapter 125 relating to nonconforming uses.
- No sign shall display intermittent lights resembling the flashing lights customarily used in traffic signals or in police, fire, ambulance, or rescue vehicles.
- No sign shall use the words 'stop,' 'danger,' or any other phrase, symbol, or character in a manner that might mislead or confuse the driver of an automobile.
- No sign, whether temporary or permanent, except traffic signs and signals and information signs erected by a public agency approved by the zoning administrator, is permitted within any street or highway right-of-way.
- Signs painted on or attached to trees, fence posts, telephone or other utility poles, or rocks or other natural features or painted on the roofs of buildings are prohibited.
- Fluttering ribbons and banners and similar devices are prohibited, except the flags of governments and their agencies and except as listed in this chapter.
- Signs placed or painted on a motor vehicle or trailer and parked with the primary purpose of providing a sign not otherwise allowed by this chapter are prohibited.
- Signs must be constructed of durable materials, maintained in good condition, and not permitted to become dilapidated.
- No part of a freestanding sign shall be located closer than five feet to any property line.
- No signs, except as otherwise provided, shall exceed the height limitations of the district in which they are located.
- Sign illumination devices shall be placed and shielded so that rays therefrom or from the sign itself will not be directly cast into any residential district, sleeping room in any district, or in the eyes of an automobile driver.
- The placement of signs shall ensure visibility at intersections and ingress and egress drives in accordance with chapter 125, article V.

## Signs exempt from permit in Duncan

- Traffic, directional, warning, or information signs authorized by any public agency approved by the zoning administrator.
- Official notices issued by any court, public agency, or public office.
- One non-illuminated 'for sale,' 'for rent,' or 'for lease' sign not exceeding six square feet in area in residential districts and 20 square feet in other than residential districts and located at least ten feet back from the street right-of-way line, unless attached to the front wall of a building.
- Signs erected in connection with elections or political campaigns, provided they are removed within seven days following the election or conclusion of the campaign, do not exceed 16 square feet in surface area, and are not placed in the public right-of-way.
- On-site directional signs, provided that such sign bears no commercial message and does not exceed four square feet in area.
- Identification sign indicating the name and street number or owner or occupant of a parcel, as long as such sign does not exceed four square feet of copy area.
- Bulletin board, which primarily displays the name of a noncommercial place of public assembly and announces upcoming events of that organization, and does not exceed 36 square feet of copy area or five feet in height (restricted to one per parcel).
- Sign identifying a project under construction (denoting project, architect, etc.), not exceeding 25 square feet in residential districts or 100 square feet in nonresidential zones, not illuminated, and removed within seven days of completion.
- Signs attached or integrated into a gasoline pump, automatic bank teller machine, or drive-through component of a fast food restaurant, which give operational instructions, price, brand name, or descriptive information.
- Signs on the interior side of window glass.
- Decorative flags and banners which contain no commercial message when displayed on a residence.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A permit is required for the erection, alteration, or reconstruction of any sign intended for view from the public right-of-way unless otherwise noted, and shall be issued by the zoning administrator in accordance with this chapter.
- Applications for sign permits must include a scaled drawing depicting size, shape, colors, materials, copy/wording and designs, illumination type/electrical detail, and location on building (if attached).
- Permit applications for detached signs must include a plot plan or site sketch showing sign location on the lot, scale, parcel lines, sign height, support structures, electrical sources, and base landscaping.
- The zoning administrator may waive application requirements deemed unnecessary but must create a written public record of such waiver and the reason.

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

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