# Sign Regulations in Isle of Palms, South Carolina

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Isle of Palms, South Carolina (SC)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/south-carolina/isle-of-palms
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-08
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/SC/Isle_of_Palms/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=COOR_TIT5PLDE_CH4ZO_ART7SI)

## At a glance

Isle of Palms, South Carolina regulates 22 sign types across 4 zoning districts. Permanent Real Estate Rental Signs in the SR-1 single-family residential district, SR-2 single-family residential district, SR-3 single-family residential district, PDD planned development district zoning district are capped at 40 in tall, 18.5 in wide x 12.5 in high (about 1.6 sq ft), and 18.5 in wide, with a At least 5 ft from any street, road, or alley right-of-way setback (Sec. Sec. 5-4-136(b)). Most commercial signs in Isle of Palms require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (4 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| SR-1 single-family residential district, SR-2 single-family residential district, SR-3 single-family residential district, PDD planned development district | 6 | 40 in | 28 sq ft | — |
| LC limited commercial district, GC-1 general commercial district, GC-2 general commercial district, GC-3 general commercial district | 9 | 40 in | 180 sq ft | — |
| CO conservation district | 1 | — | — | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 6 | 8 ft | 32 sq ft | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 4 zones)

### SR-1 single-family residential district, SR-2 single-family residential district, SR-3 single-family residential district, PDD planned development district

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Noncommercial Sign | 5 ft | 8 sq ft | — | — | — | — | — | Sec. 5-4-136(a) |
| Permanent Real Estate Rental Sign | 40 in | 18.5 in wide x 12.5 in high (about 1.6 sq ft) | 18.5 in | At least 5 ft from any street, road, or alley right-of-way | 1 | Attached to building or mounted on a post/rod; No closer than 5 ft to the right-of-way boundary | — | Sec. 5-4-136(b) |
| Church/Institutional Entrance or Bulletin Sign | 7 ft | 20 sq ft | — | — | 1 per 100 ft of frontage, not more than 2 per lot | — | — | Sec. 5-4-136(c) |
| Commercial/Recreational Canopy or Awning Sign (PDD only) | — | 3 sq ft per awning or canopy | — | — | — | On each awning or canopy | — | Sec. 5-4-136(d) |
| Nonconforming Use Sign | 6 ft (if freestanding) | 5 sq ft | — | — | 1 | — | — | Sec. 5-4-136(e) |
| Subdivision Entrance Sign | 7 ft | 28 sq ft | — | — | 1 | At subdivision entrance | — | Sec. 5-4-136(f) |

### LC limited commercial district, GC-1 general commercial district, GC-2 general commercial district, GC-3 general commercial district

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign (Structure > 30,000 sq ft heated floorspace) | 25 ft | 180 sq ft | — | At least 5 ft from street right-of-way | 1 | On site | — | Sec. 5-4-137(a)(1) |
| Freestanding Sign (Structure ≤ 30,000 sq ft heated floorspace) | 20 ft | 50 sq ft (may be increased by 5 sq ft for each additional business establishment on the lot, up to 85 sq ft) | — | At least 5 ft from street right-of-way | 1 | On site | — | Sec. 5-4-137(a)(2) |
| Freestanding Sign (Multifamily Development) | 7 ft | 28 sq ft | — | — | 1 per driveway, max 2 | At driveway(s) to development | — | Sec. 5-4-137(b) |
| Building-Mounted Signs - Option 1 (Lot ≤ 50 ft frontage, building set back 0–99 ft) | — | 50 sq ft | — | — | — | On building | — | Sec. 5-4-137(c) and Table |
| Building-Mounted Signs - Option 2 (Lot > 50 ft frontage, building set back 0–99 ft) | — | — | — | — | — | On building | — | Sec. 5-4-137(c) and Table |
| Building-Mounted Signs - Option 3 (Building set back 100 ft or more, lot ≤ 50 ft frontage) | — | 100 sq ft | — | — | — | On building | — | Sec. 5-4-137(c) and Table |
| Window Sign | — | 25% of area of window | — | — | — | On/inside window, visible from public right-of-way or public beach access | — | Sec. 5-4-137(d) |
| Sandwich Board Sign | 40 in | 6 sq ft | — | At least 5 ft from all property lines, not in pedestrian way | 1 per business | Setback minimum 5 ft from all property lines, max 15 ft from the main public entrance, must not obstruct pedestrian way/traveling public | — | Sec. 5-4-137(e) |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Temporary Sign - Grand Opening/Going Out of Business | — | 32 sq ft | — | — | 1 per business/service, per event | Building-mounted | — | Sec. 5-4-138(a) |
| Temporary Sign - Construction | — | 20 sq ft (residential), 32 sq ft (nonresidential) | — | — | — | At construction site | — | Sec. 5-4-138(b) |
| Temporary Real Estate For Sale/For Rent Sign | 5 ft | 5 sq ft | — | ≥5 ft from any street, road, or alley right-of-way | 1 for sale, 1 for rent per parcel | At least 5 ft from street/road/alley right-of-way | — | Sec. 5-4-138(c) |
| Political Campaign Sign | — | 8 sq ft | — | — | — | Not to obstruct motorists' line of sight; on public rights-of-way | — | Sec. 5-4-138(d) |
| Civic/Religious/Philantropic/Educational Event Sign | — | 32 sq ft | — | — | — | — | — | Sec. 5-4-138(e) |
| Temporary Freestanding Sign | 8 ft | — | — | — | — | — | — | Sec. 5-4-138(f) |

## Prohibited signs in Isle of Palms

- No sign shall be erected, placed, altered, painted or repaired within the corporate limits of the City unless a permit is secured from the City, except for exempted signs in Sec. 5-4-132(b).
- No sign shall be erected or displayed in a public right-of-way, public beach or public beach access, salt marsh area or on land subject to periodic inundation by tidal salt water, in any critical area as defined by OCRM, or in wetlands as defined by federal/state regulations, unless authorized by the City and any other agency having jurisdiction.
- No freestanding sign shall be set back less than five feet (5') from the street right-of-way.
- Awning, canopy or projecting signs shall not project over a public right-of-way.
- No sign shall be located so as to obstruct or impair driver vision at driveways or street intersections.
- Signs may be illuminated only by steady, stationary lights of reasonable intensity. Externally spotlighted signs shall use only white lights, shielded from adjacent residential buildings, beach areas, and streets, directed solely at the signs.
- Illuminated signs within residential zoning districts must be shielded to prevent illumination being cast into residences within 100 feet.
- Neon signs are prohibited, except one 'Open' and one 'Closed' sign per business.
- It is unlawful to erect, place or use within the City, when visible from any public way or beach: off-premises signs, outdoor advertising signs, billboards.
- It is unlawful to have signs within the CO conservation district unless authorized by the City or state agency.
- It is unlawful to have signs which contain moving, flashing, or animated lights, visible moving or movable parts, or give the appearance of animation.
- Inflatable signs are prohibited.
- Roof signs, or those erected upon, against, or directly above a roof or roof eaves, or above the parapet, are prohibited.
- Vehicle signs displayed in public view for the primary purpose of attracting attention are prohibited.
- Any sign which emits a sound, odor or visible matter is prohibited.
- Any sign which obstructs access to or from a required door, window, fire escape or exit way is prohibited.
- Any sign or structure which obstructs the view of, may be confused with, or purports to be a governmental or traffic sign is prohibited.
- Signs using words or symbols that mislead, confuse, or distract vehicle drivers, such as 'stop' or 'danger', are prohibited.
- Electronic message boards and moving message boards are prohibited.
- Signs painted on or attached to trees, rocks, natural features, utility poles, or painted on roofs visible from public thoroughfares are prohibited.
- Abandoned or dilapidated signs are prohibited.
- Any sign displaying obscene or pornographic content is prohibited.
- Portable signs are prohibited, except sandwich board signs that comply with section 5-4-137(e).
- Banner signs are prohibited.

## Signs exempt from permit in Isle of Palms

- Official sign or notice issued by any court, public agency or office is exempt from permit requirement.
- Directional, warning, or information signs authorized by the City or any agency of the State are exempt from permit requirement.
- No Trespassing, No Hunting, No Loitering, and like signs not exceeding one (1) square foot in sign area are exempt from permit requirement.
- Window signs which comply with the ordinance are exempt from permit requirement.
- Real estate signs and construction signs which comply with the ordinance are exempt from permit requirement.
- Political signs which comply with the ordinance are exempt from permit requirement.
- The changing of copy on a permitted changeable copy sign is exempt from permit requirement.
- The painting of the surface of a sign face or sign structure of a permitted sign to maintain its permitted appearance is exempt from permit requirement.
- Sandwich board signs which comply with the ordinance are exempt from permit requirement.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- The ordinance does not specify a requirement for a master sign plan or sign plan for all signs across all zones.
- Applicants for sign permits must provide scaled drawings showing dimensions, method of construction, illumination, and location in relation to the building and lot boundaries (Sec. 5-4-139).
- Sign area calculations and location/setback information are required as part of the application process.
- No requirement is stated for a sign variance hearing or board meeting for regular sign permit applications.
- Nonconforming signs are regulated under Sec. 5-4-49 and must be brought into compliance upon substantial renovation, change, or repair.

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

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