# Sign Regulations in Lancaster, South Carolina

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Lancaster, South Carolina (SC)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/south-carolina/lancaster
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-08
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/SC/Lancaster/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=COOR_CH44ZO_ARTXSI)

## At a glance

Lancaster, South Carolina regulates 14 sign types across 5 zoning districts. Freestanding Signs in the General Regulations For All Zones zoning district are capped at 1/2 distance from nearest street centerline or 20 feet, whichever is greater, not to exceed 60 feet tall and 200 sq ft per mounting apparatus; total sign area for lot per zone requirements, with a 5 ft from street right-of-way, 10 ft from all property lines setback (Sec. Sec. 44-383(b)(3)). Most commercial signs in Lancaster require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (5 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 10 | 20 feet above roof | 350 sq ft per sign; aggregate cannot exceed district max area per lot frontage | — |
| R-15, R-10, R-6, MF, MHP | 2 | — | 25 sq ft | — |
| B-1 | 4 | — | 120 sq ft (for business) | — |
| B-2, PO | 6 | More than 9 ft above pavement | 120 sq ft (business); per-event/organization limits in Sec. 44-370 | — |
| B-3, IND | 6 | 1/2 distance from street centerline or 30 ft, whichever is greater, max 60 ft | 350 sq ft per sign (conditioned on zone, lot frontage formula applies) | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 5 zones)

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | — | — | — | Setback not required if attached to building | No explicit limit per building or frontage | On building wall (front, side, or rear) | — | Sec. 44-371, 44-373, 44-377, 44-379, 44-383(b)(1) |
| Roof Sign | 20 feet above roof | 300 sq ft | — | — | 1 per building | On roof | — | Sec. 44-383(b)(2) |
| Freestanding Sign | 1/2 distance from nearest street centerline or 20 feet, whichever is greater, not to exceed 60 feet | 200 sq ft per mounting apparatus; total sign area for lot per zone requirements | — | 5 ft from street right-of-way, 10 ft from all property lines | 1 per lot, or 1 per street frontage | Setback from right-of-way | — | Sec. 44-383(b)(3) |
| Canopy Sign | Must be more than 9 ft above pavement | 8 sq ft per entrance | — | — | 1 per building entrance | Under canopy/awning at entrance | — | Sec. 44-383(b)(4) |
| Projecting Sign | Not projecting more than 20 feet above roofline | 32 sq ft | — | — | 1 per lot frontage | Projecting from building wall; may project over right-of-way under restrictions | — | Sec. 44-383(b)(5) |
| Banner Sign | — | 120 sq ft or district maximum sign area, whichever is less (for business); max size per event: 32 sq ft (if temporary/civic) | — | — | 1 per business (zoning districts permitting banners) | On business, or over street with building official approval | — | Sec. 44-370 (definition), 44-382(6), 44-383(b)(6) |
| Mobile/Portable Sign | — | 50 sq ft | — | 5 ft from street right-of-way | 1 per lot at a time | Not placed on building roof | — | Sec. 44-371(b)(2), 44-383(b)(8) |
| Advertising Sign | 1/2 distance from street centerline or 30 ft, whichever is greater, max 60 ft | 350 sq ft per sign; aggregate cannot exceed district max area per lot frontage | — | 15 ft from ROW, 500 ft from any residence | See sign frontage/separation formula | Not closer than 15 ft to ROW, not closer than 500 ft to any residence | — | Sec. 44-383(a) |

### B-2, PO

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Exempt Signs | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Sec. 44-384(3)a.1, 44-382 |
| Wall Sign | — | 40 sq ft per sign | — | — | — | Building wall | — | Sec. 44-384(3)a.2.i, 44-384(3)b-c |
| Freestanding Sign | — | 40 sq ft | — | 5 ft from ROW, 10 ft from property lines (per general rules) | — | On lot per applicable setback | — | Sec. 44-384(3)a.2.ii, 44-384(3)b-c |
| Canopy Sign | More than 9 ft above pavement | 8 sq ft per entrance | — | — | 1 per entrance | Under canopy/awning | — | Sec. 44-384(3)a.2.iii, 44-383(b)(4) |
| Banner Sign | — | 120 sq ft (business); per-event/organization limits in Sec. 44-370 | — | — | 1 per business | On lot, or over street with approval | — | Sec. 44-384(3)a.3, 44-383(b)(6) |
| Political Sign | — | 100 sq ft | — | 5 ft from street right-of-way | — | — | — | Sec. 44-384(3)a.4, 44-383(b)(7), 44-371(b) |

### B-3, IND

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Exempt Signs | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Sec. 44-384(4)a.1; 44-382 |
| Business Sign (all types permitted) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Sec. 44-384(4)a.2; 44-383(b); 44-384(4)b,c |
| Advertising Sign | 1/2 distance from street centerline or 30 ft, whichever is greater, max 60 ft | 350 sq ft per sign (conditioned on zone, lot frontage formula applies) | — | 15 ft from ROW, 500 ft from residences | Formula: 1 per 150 ft of frontage, 1 per additional 200 ft, not less than 1500 ft from other ad signs | Not closer than 15 ft from ROW, not closer than 500 ft to residences | — | Sec. 44-384(4)a.3; 44-383(a) |
| Mobile Sign | — | 50 sq ft per sign | — | 5 ft from street right-of-way | 1 per lot at a time | — | — | Sec. 44-384(4)a.4, 44-383(b)(8), 44-371(b)(2) |
| Banner Sign | — | 120 sq ft business; civic/edu/religious banners as per 44-370, 44-382 | — | — | 1 per business | As permitted by code | — | Sec. 44-384(4)a.5; 44-370, 44-383(b)(6) |
| Political Sign | — | 100 sq ft | — | 5 ft from street right-of-way | — | — | — | Sec. 44-384(4)a.6, 44-383(b)(7), 44-371(b) |

## Prohibited signs in Lancaster

- It is unlawful to erect, make repairs exceeding 50 percent of the cost of replacement, alter or relocate any sign or other advertising structure without first obtaining a general sign permit from the building official, except for certain listed exemptions.
- Any sign which, for a continuous 90-day period, no longer advertises or identifies a bona fide business conducted or a product sold shall be deemed abandoned and must be removed.
- No sign may be attached, placed, painted, printed, written, stamped or pasted on any part of a public right-of-way, sidewalk, curb, post, pole, tree, fire hydrant, bridge, or overpass except as allowed for governmental or designated signs.
- No sign shall display intermittent lights resembling the flashing lights customarily used in traffic signals or in police, fire, ambulance or rescue vehicles.
- No sign may use the words 'stop', 'danger', or any other word, phrase, symbol or character in a manner that might mislead or confuse vehicular drivers.
- Signs which flash, scintillate, blink, flicker, vary in intensity, vary in color or use electrical pulsations are prohibited, except for time, temperature, and date signs, traditional barber poles and electronically controlled message centers.
- Illumination devices must be placed and shielded so light rays or the sign itself will not be directly cast into any residential district, sleeping room, or into motorists’ eyes.
- No sign shall be erected within a corner triangle that is six feet or more in height unless the bottom is at least ten feet above the ground, and the width of supporting members shall not exceed 12 inches.
- No sign shall obstruct the free and clear vision of pedestrians or vehicular traffic.
- No sign or sign structure shall be erected in a street or highway right-of-way, except for specifically exempt signs.
- All permanent signs must comply with applicable building and electrical codes.
- Signs painted on or attached to trees, telephone or utility poles, rocks or other natural features, or painted on building roofs are prohibited, with specified exemptions.
- No sign or advertising device may be placed on the property of another without first obtaining permission of the property owner.
- No nonconforming sign shall be changed to another nonconforming sign.
- No nonconforming sign shall have changes made to its message (with specified exceptions).
- No nonconforming sign shall be enlarged, reconstructed, or structurally altered except to bring it into conformance.
- No nonconforming sign shall be reestablished after use has been discontinued for 90 days or longer.
- No nonconforming sign shall be moved unless the move brings the sign into compliance.
- No nonconforming sign shall be reestablished after damage or destruction exceeding 50 percent of reproduction cost.
- No new advertising signs are allowed within the city limits.

## Signs exempt from permit in Lancaster

- Signs erected to regulate traffic.
- Any sign that is required by law.
- Any warning signs; utility identification signs for public use; and no trespassing, no hunting, neighborhood watch or other safety signs.
- Nonilluminated directional off-premises signs not exceeding four square feet in sign area or six feet in height limited exclusively to the identification of a church, school, or public institution.
- Community bulletin boards and public signs erected at the direction of a governmental agency.
- Nonilluminated temporary signs (up to 32 sq ft) related to civic, educational, or religious events, posted up to 30 days prior and removed within 7 days after event ends.
- Religious symbols at a place of worship or church-operated facility.
- Institutional signs (up to 32 sq ft), for any public, charitable, educational or religious institution, with only one such sign per premises.
- Two residential family name and address signs, each not exceeding two square feet per dwelling unit, allowed on mailboxes or else set back five feet from property line.
- Two street number signs per premises, each not exceeding one square foot, allowed on mailboxes or else set back five feet from property line.
- One nonilluminated for sale, for rent or for lease sign not exceeding six square feet in residential districts or 20 square feet in nonresidential, per lot frontage, with setback requirements.
- One sign displaying the name, address, and other information pertinent to the operation of multiple-family development, condominium, or mobile home parks per lot frontage (not exceeding 32 sq ft, up to 10 ft in height, exterior lighted only).
- Nonilluminated signs not exceeding 50 square feet announcing a land subdivision development, on-site, placed not less than 500 feet apart, and removed when 50 percent of lots are conveyed.
- One nonilluminated sign not exceeding 60 sq ft, displaying names and information for work under construction, removed within seven days after completion.
- Temporary signs of mechanics, painters and other artisans (up to 12 sq ft) maintained during work only, removed within seven days of work completion.
- Posters, bills, placards, signs, banners or similar devices attached to or painted on windows (for temporary on-site promotion) for nonresidential uses, with area limited to 25 percent of window surface.
- Private traffic directional signs (up to 3 sq ft), and horizontal directional signs on paved areas with unlimited area.
- Building name, date of erection, monumental citations, commemorative tablets, when made integral to the structure.
- Signs attached to machinery or equipment necessary or customary to the business and referring exclusively to on-premises products or services.
- Signs intended for on-premises viewing, not readily visible to vehicular traffic along public roadways.
- Signs on litter receptacles and benches in nonresidential areas on private property, integral to the receptacle or bench.
- Signs on vehicles of any kind, attached directly to the body of the vehicle.
- Permanent signs painted on a structure's exterior, provided total signage does not exceed allotted area per ordinance.
- Menu reader board signs up to 50 square feet and not over six feet in height, meeting setback requirements.
- One A-frame sign (up to six sq ft per face) per business, placed immediately adjacent to building wall on sidewalks without impeding pedestrian traffic.
- One A-frame sign up to six sq ft per sign face, per street frontage, set back at least five feet from street right-of-way without impeding vehicular traffic.
- Promotional type gimmicks (e.g., balloons, blow-up figures), subject to other ordinance provisions.
- No more than two real estate type signs per street frontage, not exceeding four square feet each, intended for motoring public, subject to other provisions.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A general sign permit is required for all signs, alterations, repairs exceeding 50 percent of replacement, or relocations, except for exempt signs and those specifically listed as not requiring a permit.
- Application for a sign permit must include drawings and specifications showing location, placement, methods of fastening, dimensions, and total area of all signs on the property.
- Temporary sign permits are required for political signs and mobile/portable signs, with stated time limits and application requirements.
- There is no explicit mention of a master sign plan, required sign plan review by a body, or required variance/meeting for a sign plan in the provided ordinances.

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

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