# Sign Regulations in James Island, South Carolina

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

- **Jurisdiction:** James Island, South Carolina (SC)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/south-carolina/james-island
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-19

## At a glance

James Island, South Carolina regulates 18 sign types across 8 zoning districts. Subdivision/Multi-family ID Signs in the General Regulations For All Zones zoning district are capped at 12 ft. tall and 32 sq. ft., with a Minimum 5 ft. setback setback (Sec. Table 153.341.D). Most commercial signs in James Island require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (8 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 11 | 35 ft., or 15 ft. above highest point of roof | See Table 153.341.C | — |
| OR Zoning District, CN Zoning District, CT Zoning District | 1 | 6 ft. | 40 sq. ft. | — |
| CC Zoning District | 1 | 8 ft. | 50 sq. ft. | — |
| Commercial Zoning Districts, Industrial Zoning Districts | 2 | 10 ft. | 100 sq. ft. | — |
| Agricultural Zoning Districts | 1 | — | — | — |
| Multi-family Zoning Districts | 3 | 35 ft. or 15 ft. above highest point of roof | 60 sq. ft. | — |
| Office Zoning Districts | 3 | 35 ft. or 15 ft. above highest point of roof | 100 sq. ft. | — |
| Residential Zoning Districts | 5 | 35 ft. or 15 ft. above roof | 60 sq. ft. | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 8 zones)

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | — | See Table 153.341.C | — | Size formula incorporates setback in Table 153.341.C. | Maximum two per wall/facade; maximum four per building. | On building wall or awning; awning signs must be above display window or entryway and text/graphic limited to face of awning. | — | §153.341(C), Table 153.341.C |
| Directional Sign | 4 ft. | 3 sq. ft. | — | — | Unlimited | Typically parking lots or driveways. | — | §153.341(B)(6), Table 153.341.D, Table 153.341.D |
| Sandwich Board/Sidewalk Sign | 3 ft. | 9 sq. ft. per sign face | — | — | Maximum two per lot or business | In commercial zoning districts on subject parcel or in front of business being advertised; cannot be in right-of-way or pedestrian way. | — | §153.341(D)(2) |
| Subdivision/Multi-family ID Sign | 12 ft. | 32 sq. ft. | — | Minimum 5 ft. setback | 2 per entrance | — | — | Table 153.341.D |
| Civic/Institutional Sign | 12 ft. | 100 sq. ft.; 50 sq. ft. in residential or agricultural uses | — | Minimum 5 ft. setback | 1 per zoning lot | — | — | Table 153.341.D |
| Flags | 35 ft., or 15 ft. above highest point of roof | 60 sq. ft. per flag | — | — | 3 per zoning lot | Flagpole locations must be shown on site plan and approved. | — | §153.341(D)(1), Table 153.341.D |
| Temporary Special Event Sign | 12 ft. (6 ft. in residential zoning districts) | 100 sq. ft.; 50 sq. ft. in residential or agricultural districts; no internal illumination. | — | Minimum 5 ft. setback | 1 per zoning lot | — | — | Table 153.341.E, §153.341(E)(3) |
| Real Estate Sign | 12 ft. (6 ft. in residential zoning districts) | 48 sq. ft. | — | Minimum 5 ft. setback | 1 per 1,500 ft. frontage; max 3 per lot | — | — | Table 153.341.E, §153.341(E)(4) |

### Multi-family Zoning Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Subdivision/Multi-family ID Sign | 12 ft. | 32 sq. ft. | — | Minimum setback: 5 ft. | 2 per entrance | At entrances to subdivisions or multi-family developments. | — | Table 153.341.D |
| Flags | 35 ft. or 15 ft. above highest point of roof | 60 sq. ft. | — | — | 3 per zoning lot | Flagpole locations shown on site plan; not in right-of-way. | — | §153.341(D)(1), Table 153.341.D |
| Civic/Institutional Sign (Residential/Agricultural Scale) | 12 ft. | 50 sq. ft. | — | Minimum 5 ft. setback. | 1 per zoning lot | — | — | Table 153.341.D |

### Residential Zoning Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Subdivision/Residential ID Sign | 12 ft. | 32 sq. ft. | — | Minimum setback: 5 ft. | 2 per entrance | At entrances to subdivisions/complexes. | — | Table 153.341.D |
| Civic/Institutional Sign (Residential/Agricultural Scale) | 12 ft. | 50 sq. ft. | — | Minimum 5 ft. setback. | 1 per zoning lot | — | — | Table 153.341.D |
| Flags | 35 ft. or 15 ft. above roof | 60 sq. ft. | — | — | 3 per zoning lot | Flagpoles must be shown on site plan; not in right-of-way. | — | §153.341(D)(1), Table 153.341.D |
| Temporary Special Event Sign (Residential) | 6 ft. | 50 sq. ft.; no internal illumination | — | Minimum 5 ft. setback | 1 per zoning lot | — | — | Table 153.341.E, §153.341(E)(3) |
| Real Estate Sign (Residential) | 6 ft. | 48 sq. ft. | — | Minimum 5 ft. setback | 1 per 1,500 ft. frontage; max 3 per lot | — | — | Table 153.341.E, §153.341(E)(4) |

## Prohibited signs in James Island

- Flashing signs are prohibited.
- Pennants, streamers, and other animated signs are prohibited.
- Signs imitating traffic devices (signals) are prohibited.
- Signs imitating traffic signs are prohibited.
- Signs located in marshes are prohibited.
- Signs located in rights-of-way are prohibited.
- Snipe signs are prohibited.
- Vehicle signs are prohibited.
- Roof signs are prohibited.
- Banners are prohibited (except when permitted per division (E)).
- Flutter feather banner flags are prohibited.
- LED message boards are prohibited (except for civic/institutional uses when approved by Zoning Administrator).
- Inflatables used for advertisement purposes are prohibited.
- No sign shall be erected in a way that interferes with the vision of drivers along any highway, street, road, or driveway, or at any intersection with a railroad track.
- No sign shall obscure the travel vision from 30 inches to ten feet above ground in triangular areas near the entrance of a driveway (as defined in the ordinance).
- Signs in disrepair must be repaired, renovated, or removed within 60 days following notice by the Zoning Administrator.
- Abandoned signs (signs advertising defunct businesses/events, or containing outdated/inaccurate information) must be removed or remedied within 30 days (with a follow-up 30 days if notified by the Zoning Administrator).
- No sign or structure may be erected in a location or way that does not comply with the requirements of the ordinance.
- Objects may not be hung from or attached to signs unless shown on approved construction drawings and compliant with the ordinance.

## Signs exempt from permit in James Island

- Campaign signs are not considered snipe signs and are not regulated by this chapter provided they are located outside any right-of-way, but must be removed within 15 days after the election.
- The American flag and the state flag are exempt from the provisions for maximum size of flags and maximum size of flagpoles.
- House numbers required on permanent, free-standing, on-premises signs do not count towards maximum sign area.
- Real estate signs less than 12 square feet do not require a zoning permit.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A zoning permit is required for the erection of all signs except real estate signs.
- Applicants for flagpoles or flag display devices in multi-family, office, commercial, or industrial use must submit a scaled site plan as part of the permit application.
- Off-premises agricultural use signs require submission of a plan drawn to scale showing the proposed sign location as part of the permit process.
- For temporary signs (balloons, pennants, streamers, banners, portable signs), a site plan and letter of intent indicating type, amount, and location must be submitted for review before installation.
- All permanent signs must meet the structural and installation standards of the Standard Building Code and National Electrical Code as enforced by the Town Building Inspector.
- A reader board may be allowed only if attached to permanent free-standing signs and included in site’s total sign area allowance.
- The hanging or attachment of objects is not permitted unless shown on the drawings approved for sign construction and meeting ordinance requirements.
- For standing signs, the predominant materials used must complement the principal structure as reviewed and approved through the site plan review process.
- Upon request, the owner of any existing sign must provide the Zoning Administrator with documentation showing size, location, and date of construction for all existing signs on the premises.

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

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