# Sign Regulations in Fountain Inn, South Carolina

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Fountain Inn, South Carolina (SC)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/south-carolina/fountain-inn
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-08
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/SC/Fountain_Inn/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=COOR_APXAZO_ART6RESI)

## At a glance

Fountain Inn, South Carolina regulates 13 sign types across 12 zoning districts. Wall Signs in the C-1, Central Business District (C-1) zoning district are capped at Cannot extend above roofline; must not be lower than minimum 7' clearance if projecting tall and No single wall/window sign may exceed 150 sq ft; the total of all signage cannot exceed 10% of the building face; for double frontage, area is based on primary facade (Sec. Section 5:5.4-8.2 to 5:5.4-8.12). Most commercial signs in Fountain Inn require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (12 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| R-15 Residential District (R-15), R-12 Residential District (R-12), R-10 Residential District (R-10), R-7.5 Residential District (R-7.5), R-6 Residential District (R-6) | 1 | — | — | — |
| R-M Residential, Multifamily District (R-M) | 1 | — | — | — |
| R-MHP, Residential Manufactured Home Park District (R-MHP) | 1 | — | — | — |
| O-D, Office District (O-D) | 1 | — | — | — |
| C-1, Central Business District (C-1) | 5 | Cannot extend above roofline; must not be lower than minimum 7' clearance if projecting | No single wall/window sign may exceed 150 sq ft; the total of all signage cannot exceed 10% of the building face; for double frontage, area is based on primary facade | — |
| C-2, Commercial District (C-2) | 1 | — | — | — |
| S-1, Services District (S-1) | 1 | — | — | — |
| I-1, Industrial District (I-1) | 1 | — | — | — |
| Planned Development District (PD), Planned Office District (POD), Neighborhood Commercial District (NC) | 2 | 6 ft (single tenant); 12 ft (group sign) | 50 sq ft for single sign; aggregate not specified but subject to 10% rule | — |
| Flexible Review District (FRD) | 2 | 8 ft (single tenant); group sign max height 16 ft | 80 sq ft | — |
| Gateway Corridor Overlay District (GCO) | 3 | 6 ft | 100 sq ft | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 1 | — | — | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 12 zones)

### C-1, Central Business District (C-1)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | Cannot extend above roofline; must not be lower than minimum 7' clearance if projecting | No single wall/window sign may exceed 150 sq ft; the total of all signage cannot exceed 10% of the building face; for double frontage, area is based on primary facade | — | — | Max 2 permanent/business (one + one additional for double frontage); one temporary | Attached to building-façade or storefront; not to cross columns, cornices, windowsills, or balconies | — | Section 5:5.4-8.2 to 5:5.4-8.12 |
| Hanging/Projecting Sign | Minimum 7' clearance over sidewalk, projects ≤ 36" from building face | — | — | — | Included in overall sign count | Perpendicular to building over sidewalk, not over driveway/alley/parking | — | Section 5:5.4-8.8 |
| Sandwich Board/A-frame/Menu Board | 4 ft | 8 sq ft per side | — | — | 1 per business | May be placed in landscape buffer; not on sidewalk where it hinders pedestrians | — | Section 5:5.4-8.10 |
| Ground Sign / Monument Sign | 6 ft | 35 sq ft per sign | — | — | — | On site, calculation includes sign face and supports (unless brick/stone matching facade) | — | Section 5:5.4-8.13/15 |
| Window Sign | — | ≤ 25% of total window area; menu signs ≤ 4 sq ft per entrance (not included in total) | — | — | — | On windows | — | Section 5:5.4-8.9/11/12/17 |

### Planned Development District (PD), Planned Office District (POD), Neighborhood Commercial District (NC)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign (Single Tenant) | 6 ft (single tenant); 12 ft (group sign) | 35 sq ft (single tenant); 80 sq ft (group sign) | — | — | — | On the property, not within right-of-way. | — | Section 5:9.2.11, 5:9.3.11, 5:10.14 |
| Facade Mounted Sign | — | 50 sq ft for single sign; aggregate not specified but subject to 10% rule | — | — | — | On building facade | — | Section 5:9.2.11, 5:9.3.11, 5:10.14 |

### Gateway Corridor Overlay District (GCO)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign (GCO Overlay) | — | 100 sq ft | — | — | 2 per business (Wall/Canopy + Freestanding/Post) | On building wall or canopy face | — | Section 5:12.10-2 |
| Canopy Sign (GCO Overlay) | — | 12 sq ft | — | — | See above | On canopy face | — | Section 5:12.10-2 |
| Freestanding Sign (GCO Overlay) | 6 ft | 24 sq ft | — | — | See above | On property | — | Section 5:12.10-2 |

## Prohibited signs in Fountain Inn

- No commercial signs or other structures shall project beyond any right-of-way line of any street. No shrubbery shall project into any public street right-of-way. (Section 5:9.14)
- No signs are allowed to have flashing lights or movable display parts in NC (Neighborhood Commercial), POD (Planned Office District) districts, and the Gateway Corridor Overlay. (Sections 5:9.2.11, 5:9.3.11, 5:10.14, 5:12.10-3)
- Within the Central Business District (CBD), bench signs (except for certain placards), flashing, blinking, or traveling signs, portable/mobile/trailer signs, and roof signs are prohibited. (Section 5:5.4-8.18)
- Neon lighting and electronic message signs are exclusively prohibited in the Gateway Corridor Overlay District. (Section 5:12.10-3)
- Temporary signage shall not be posted for more than 30 consecutive days and shall not account for more than 10 percent of a building's façade in the Gateway Corridor Overlay. (Section 5:12.10-4)
- Neon signs in CBD may not flash or blink and may not cover more than one-fourth of a window surface area. (Section 5:5.4-8.17)
- Internally illuminated signs are strongly discouraged in the Central Business District. (Section 5:5.4-8.16)
- The following lighting fixtures are prohibited in the Gateway Corridor Overlay: neon lighting, searchlights, laser source lights, flood lights, wall packs, or any similar high-intensity light, except in emergencies. (Section 5:12.11-4)

## Signs exempt from permit in Fountain Inn

- Automobile sales and storage lots are exempt from the landscaping requirements for interior plantings. (Section 5:9.10.8 A)
- Parking structures (multi-level) are exempt from the landscaping requirements for interior plantings. (Section 5:9.10.8 B)
- Existing healthy trees retained in buffer areas can be credited toward meeting buffer yard requirements. (Section 5:11.5)
- Variances for landscaping requirements may be granted by the Board of Zoning Appeals due to site hardships, with proper plans and specifications. (Section 5:9.10.12)
- The buffer requirement does not apply to any property in a Planned Development (PD) or Neighborhood Commercial District (NC) for properties in Section 5:9.8.3.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Signs in most districts are subject to the provisions of Article 6, which likely covers master sign plan requirements. (Multiple sections, e.g., Section 5:1.1, 5:2.1, etc.)
- The applicant shall submit a sign plan that meets the guidelines and provisions set forth in Article 6 for the Central Business District; the zoning administrator reviews and approves sign plans. Requests for variances are reviewed by the board of zoning appeals. (Section 5:5.4-8.19)
- For POD and NC districts, identification and business signs are allowed subject to Planning Commission review and to the provisions in Article 6, likely requiring submission of a sign plan. (Sections 5:9.2.11, 5:9.3.11, 5:10.14)
- Site plan review for PD, POD, NC, and FRD districts must include a sign plan that details all exterior signage of the development. (Section 5:9.7.2 H, 5:10.20-2 H)
- Development plans in PD, POD, NC, and FRD districts must include a sign plan for site plan review and approval prior to issuance of permits. (Sections 5:9.2.17-2 H, 5:9.3.17-2 H, 5:9.7.2 H)
- All final development plans in the Planned Development, Flexible Review, Neighborhood Commercial, and Planned Office Districts require site plan review and approval, and the site plan must include a sign plan. No building permit is issued until approval. (Sections 5:9.1.7, 5:9.4.7, 5:9.7.2, 5:10.20-2)
- Variance requests for signs are reviewed by the Board of Zoning Appeals, per Section 11:5.2, and may be necessary where a master sign plan or sign regulations are not met.

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

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