# Sign Regulations in Florence, South Carolina

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Florence, South Carolina (SC)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/south-carolina/florence
- **Data last verified:** 2025-08-25
- **Source:** [other municipal code](https://online.encodeplus.com/regs/florence-sc/doc-viewer.aspx#secid-318)

## At a glance

Florence, South Carolina regulates 16 sign types across 11 zoning districts. Identification Signs in the All Residential Zones zoning district are capped at 12 ft. tall and 20 sq. ft., with a 5 ft. from property line setback (Sec. Table 5-17.2.1A Notes A, Table 5-17.2.1B). Most commercial signs in Florence require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (11 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| All Residential Zones | 7 | 12 ft. | 20 sq. ft. | — |
| INS (Institutional and non-residential uses permitted in residential zoning districts) | 4 | 12 ft. | 90 sq. ft. | — |
| CR | 2 | 12 ft. | 20 sq. ft. | — |
| CA/DS | 2 | 24 ft. | 32 sq. ft. | — |
| CG | 3 | 40 ft. (100 ft. if within 600 ft. of Interstate Highway ROW) | 378 sq. ft. (672 sq. ft. if within 600 ft. of Interstate Highway ROW) | — |
| CBD/AC | 2 | 24 ft. | 80 sq. ft. | — |
| IL/HI | 3 | 40 ft. (100 ft. if within 600 ft. of Interstate ROW) | 378 sq. ft. (672 sq. ft. if within 600 ft. of Interstate Hwy ROW) | — |
| AR | 2 | — | 32 sq. ft. | — |
| OSR | 2 | 12 ft. | 20 sq. ft. | — |
| PD (Planned Development District) | 1 | — | Varies (+25% max allowed by applicable district regulations) | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 3 | — | 12 sq. ft. | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 11 zones)

### All Residential Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Identification Sign | 12 ft. | 20 sq. ft. | — | 5 ft. from property line | 1 per lot | At entrance of subdivision, residential project, or agricultural operation; outside of public right-of-way | — | Table 5-17.2.1A Notes A, Table 5-17.2.1B |
| Authorized Flags | — | — | — | Must meet setbacks | — | Ground or wall mounted flag poles | — | Table 5-17.2.1A Note 5 |
| Real Estate Sign (Residential Use) | 6 ft. | 6 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per property | On property or grass plot in front | — | Table 5-18.1.3 O |
| Political Sign (Residential Use) | — | 6 sq. ft. | — | — | — | On private property | — | Table 5-18.1.3 G |
| "Open House," "Garage Sale," "Yard Sale" Sign | — | 3 sq. ft. | — | — | — | On private property (not public right-of-way) | — | Table 5-18.1.3 N |
| Poster | — | 6 sq. ft. | — | At least 5 ft. from street or curb | — | At least 5 ft. from street/curb; not on utility poles or public right-of-way | — | Table 5-18.1.3 C |
| Real Estate Directional Sign | 3 ft. | 3 sq. ft. | — | — | Up to 4 per event | Along the route to open house; not in public right-of-way | — | Table 5-18.1.3 Q |

### INS (Institutional and non-residential uses permitted in residential zoning districts)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Identification Sign | 12 ft. | 1-90 sq. ft. | — | 5 ft. from property line | Up to 2 per lot | On premises | — | Table 5-17.2.1A Note B, Table 5-17.2.1B (L), 5-17.2.1A Note 9 |
| Wall Sign | — | 90 sq. ft. | — | — | Up to 2 per lot | On premises | — | Table 5-17.2.1B Note L |
| Banner | — | 32 sq. ft. | — | At least 5 ft from property line | 1 per 300 ft frontage | On premises | — | Table 5-18.1.3 I, J, K, L, M |
| Directional Sign | 5 ft. | 2 sq. ft. | — | — | 3 stacked max per sign | On premises, not in sight triangle | — | Table 5-17.2.1A and Table 5-17.2.1B Note I |

### CG

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Billboard | 40 ft. (100 ft. if within 600 ft. of Interstate Highway ROW) | 378 sq. ft. (672 sq. ft. if within 600 ft. of Interstate Highway ROW) | — | 10 ft. | 1 per 1,200 ft of street frontage | Within CG zone; must front or be within 600 ft. of Interstate ROW or U.S. designated highways | — | Table 5-17.2.1A Note 2, Table 5-17.2.1B (F, H) |
| Other Free-standing Sign | 40 ft. | 160 sq. ft. | — | 5 ft. | One per lot, or one per 300 linear ft of street frontage | On premises | — | Table 5-17.2.1B (D, G, H) |
| Wall Sign | — | See formula | — | — | Up to 4 per structure (1 per tenant wall) | On tenant walls; not above roof line | — | Table 5-17.2.1B Note J |

## Prohibited signs in Florence

- All signs not expressly permitted under this Ordinance are prohibited.
- Signs painted on or attached to trees, fence posts, telephone or other utility poles, stationary vehicles, or natural features.
- Signs displaying intermittent lights resembling the flashing lights customarily used in traffic signals or in police, fire, ambulance, rescue vehicles or other warning signals, and signs using the words 'stop,' 'danger,' or any word, phrase, symbol, or character in a manner that might mislead or confuse motorists.
- Signs which have been abandoned, and no longer correctly direct or exhort any person, advertise a bona fide business, lessor, owner, product, or activity conducted or product available.
- Signs which have fallen into disrepair (dilapidated), are not properly maintained, are insecure or otherwise structurally unsound, have defective parts in the support, guys and/or anchors, or which are unable to meet minimum safety requirements of the Standard Building Code.
- Signs which contain or consist of spinners or strings of light bulbs, except during the holiday season from November 1st to January 2nd, or indirect illumination of buildings.
- No sign shall be allowed in the public right-of-way or on public property, except as specifically permitted.
- No sign or advertising display shall be placed to prevent ingress or egress through a door or window, nor obstruct or be attached to a fire escape or interfere with any opening required for legal ventilation.
- All signs shall comply with the design, structure, and wind load requirements of the City's Standard Building Code of current adoption and/or any additional structural requirements specified by a registered engineer.
- Permanent and temporary identification signs must be constructed of durable all-weather materials and comply with applicable provisions of the Building and National Electrical Codes.
- Illuminated signs shall not directly shine on abutting properties.
- No illumination simulating traffic control devices or emergency vehicles shall be used, nor lights which flash, change intensity or color, or otherwise create the illusion of flashing or movement.
- No flood lights shall be used as part of a sign illumination system which are not hooded or shielded so that the light source is not visible from any public right of way or adjacent property; nor shall sign illumination impair driver vision.
- Signs may not be placed in such manner as to conflict with required sight distance or sight clearance.

## Signs exempt from permit in Florence

- Public signs erected by or on behalf of a governmental body to post legal notices, identify public property, convey public information, and direct or regulate pedestrian or vehicular traffic in the public right-of-way.
- Bus stop signs erected by a public transit company in the public right-of-way.
- Informational signs of a public agency or utility regarding its facilities in the public right-of-way.
- Awning, canopy, marquee signs, and projecting signs in the CBD and AC Districts or where a building has no setback due to highway widening or was constructed prior to adoption, provided such signs project no closer than 1 ½ feet to the street curb or pavement, in the public right-of-way.
- Historical signs and markers in the public right-of-way.
- Emergency signs in the public right-of-way.
- Certain signs allowed without a permit as shown in the ordinance tables (such as identification signs, authorized flags, certain directional signs, gas station service signs, window signs, political signs, real estate signs, and other listed temporary signs) when they meet the conditions stated in applicable ordinance sections and tables.
- Authorized flags including national, state, county, city, church, official company flags displayed using normal proper methods and meeting setback requirements.
- Temporary signs as provided in Table 5-18.1.3, when complying with dimensions, location, and event conditions therein (e.g., open house, garage sale signs, event-related real estate directional signs, political signs if removed within seven days after election, etc.).

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A common signage plan is required before issuance of any sign permit involving: (1) two or more contiguous lots or parcels under the same ownership; (2) a single lot or parcel with more than one principal use or building or qualifying for more than one free-standing sign; (3) a Planned Development (PD) project approved prior to this Ordinance.
- The common signage plan must be approved by the Director and include standards for consistency for all signs on the affected lots regarding lettering or graphic style, lighting, location, material, and proportions.
- The common signage plan limits free-standing signs to one per street frontage (with shared/common use) but allows a 25% increase in maximum sign area.
- An approved common signage plan becomes binding on all occupants and can be amended only by submitting a new or revised plan.
- Amendments to the signage plan for properties with existing nonconforming signs must include a schedule to bring all nonconforming signs into compliance within three years.

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

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