# Sign Regulations in Folly Beach, South Carolina

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Folly Beach, South Carolina (SC)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/south-carolina/folly-beach
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-19

## At a glance

Folly Beach, South Carolina regulates 15 sign types across 3 zoning districts. Sign on Commercial Lots in the Commercial Districts, DC, IC, MC, CC zoning district are capped at Max height for any sign not to exceed 30 ft (see § 166.08-05(D)(2)) tall and 20 sq ft per sign (DC/IC); 80 sq ft total (max 4 signs) (CC); 20 sq ft per sign (MC, business ID sign), with a 5 ft from any wall, fence, or structure; general safety and vision requirements apply setback (Sec. § 166.08-06, Table 166.10; § 166.08-03(F); § 166.08-05(D),(E),(F)). Most commercial signs in Folly Beach require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (3 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Residential Districts, RSF, RTF | 7 | — | Cumulative < 20 sq ft per lot | — |
| Commercial Districts, DC, IC, MC, CC | 5 | Max height for any sign not to exceed 30 ft (see § 166.08-05(D)(2)) | 20 sq ft per sign (DC/IC); 80 sq ft total (max 4 signs) (CC); 20 sq ft per sign (MC, business ID sign) | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 4 | Max 30 ft from established grade | 20% of front surface; 25% of side or rear | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements

### Residential Districts, RSF, RTF

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Noncommercial Sign | — | Cumulative < 20 sq ft per lot | — | Minimum 5 ft from any lot line (§ 166.08-05(H)) | — | On any residential lot | — | § 166.08-04(A)(2), § 166.08-03(E), (G), and (I); § 166.08-05(H) |
| House Number or Street Address Sign | — | — | — | — | — | On residence | — | § 166.08-04(A)(2)(a); § 166.08-03(E)(3) |
| Security and Home Protection Service Sign | — | < 3 sq ft per sign | — | — | 2 | On lot | — | § 166.08-04(A)(3) |
| Temporary Construction Sign | — | 4 sq ft | — | — | — | On property under construction | — | § 166.08-04(B)(1) |
| Temporary For Sale Sign | — | 4 sq ft | — | — | — | On lot being sold | — | § 166.08-04(B)(3) |
| Temporary Long-term Rental Sign | — | 4 sq ft | — | — | 1 per street frontage | On lot/residence offered for long-term rent (29+ days) | — | § 166.08-04(B)(7) |
| Garage or Yard Sale Sign | — | 4 sq ft | — | — | — | — | — | § 166.08-04(B)(5),(9)(a) |

### Commercial Districts, DC, IC, MC, CC

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Sign on Commercial Lot | Max height for any sign not to exceed 30 ft (see § 166.08-05(D)(2)) | 20 sq ft per sign (DC/IC); 80 sq ft total (max 4 signs) (CC); 20 sq ft per sign (MC, business ID sign) | — | 5 ft from any wall, fence, or structure; general safety and vision requirements apply | 4 per lot (max) | Freestanding or wall-mounted, on business lot | — | § 166.08-06, Table 166.10; § 166.08-03(F); § 166.08-05(D),(E),(F) |
| Sign on Vacant Lot | — | 3 sq ft (DC); 20 sq ft (IC, CC) | — | At least 5 ft from wall/fence/structure | — | Vacant commercial lots | — | § 166.08-06, Table 166.10 |
| Business Identification Sign | Not to exceed 30 ft | 20 sq ft (MC) | — | At least 5 ft from wall/fence/structure | 1 per business | MC zone, any commercial business property | — | § 166.08-06, Table 166.10 (MC) |
| Noncommercial Sign | — | Cumulative < 20 sq ft | — | — | — | On any lot | — | § 166.08-04(A)(2), § 166.08-03 |
| Temporary Signs (multiple types: construction, for sale, long-term rental, garage sale, political) | — | Construction, for sale, garage/yard sale: 4 sq ft; Public events: 12 sq ft; Long-term rental: 4 sq ft per street frontage; Political: (generally not stated, assumed follows 20 sq ft total for noncommercial temporary) | — | — | Varies by type | On lot where event/property is located | — | § 166.08-04(B)(1)-(9) |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | — | 20% of front surface; 25% of side or rear | — | — | — | On building wall (front/side/rear) | — | § 166.08-05(E) |
| Freestanding Sign | Max 30 ft from established grade | — | — | At least 5 ft from wall/fence/structure; see also 5 ft from lot lines in RSF/RTF | — | On lot (placement per specific zone and table) | — | § 166.08-05(D)(2),(F),(G); Table 166.10; § 166.10-09 |
| Directory Sign | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | § 166.08-05(A) |
| Governmental, Traffic, or Official Sign | — | Generally up to 3 sq ft; larger if approved by City Council | — | — | — | As placed by city/county/state etc. | — | § 166.08-04(A)(1) |

## Prohibited signs in Folly Beach

- Signs displaying intermittent lights resembling the flashing lights customarily used in traffic signals or in police, fire, ambulance or rescue vehicles or any sign using the words 'stop,' 'danger,' or any other word, phrase, symbol, or character in a manner that might mislead or confuse an automobile or other vehicular driver.
- Signs within any street or highway right-of-way, whether temporary or permanent, except traffic signs and signal and information signs erected by a public agency.
- Signs painted on or attached to trees, telephone or other utility poles, or signs painted on or attached to rocks or other natural features or painted on the roofs of buildings.
- Signs in the marsh or signs interrupting the vista of the marsh.
- Off-premises signs.
- It is unlawful to willfully remove, destroy, mutilate, damage or deface in any way or to any extent any monument or historical sign in, on or upon any public park, street or private property of the city.
- It is unlawful to move, alter, damage, deface, or otherwise disturb an official sign that regulates parking.
- City employees are authorized to remove, without notice, any unofficial sign attempting or appearing to attempt to restrict or prohibit parking on a street or in a right-of-way and any unofficial sign prohibiting parking in a private driveway.
- Electrical illumination of outdoor advertising off-site signs between the hours of 11:00 p.m. and sunrise is prohibited.

## Signs exempt from permit in Folly Beach

- Signs of duly constituted governmental bodies, including traffic, directional, warning, or other informational signs. These signs may be internally illuminated or feature electronic message boards and may exceed three square feet if approved by City Council by resolution.
- Official notices issued by any court, public agency, or officer of any court or public agency.
- The flag or emblem of any nation, organization of nations, state, city, religious, fraternal (i.e., clubs or associations), civic or other public or semipublic body.
- Merchandise and pictures or models of products or services incorporated in a window display.
- Works of art which in no way identify a product.
- Buildings constructed to generally resemble a product.
- Wraps, magnets, decals, and other signage on vehicles that are parked in compliance with prohibited activities section (72.10).

## Sign plan & submission notes

- No sign shall be erected, repaired, altered, relocated, maintained or displayed without first being issued a sign permit, unless it is exempted in accordance with § 166.08-04 (Standards for Permanent and Temporary Signs Not Requiring Permits).
- Review for compliance with sign standards shall occur at the time of application for a sign permit; site plan; preliminary subdivision plat; planned development; or zoning permit, whichever is appropriate.
- The Building Official may require a site plan when reviewing applications for Private No Parking Signs.
- All signs requiring Sign Permits, including wall signs, shall comply with the standards of Table 166.10.
- A sign permit application is required for all non-exempt signs; the Building Official shall review and approve or deny the permit consistent with applicable standards; inspections are required post-installation.

## Full detail

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

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