# Sign Regulations in Lexington, South Carolina

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Lexington, South Carolina (SC)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/south-carolina/lexington
- **Data last verified:** 2026-04-27
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/sc/lexington/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=TITXVLAUS_CH159SI)

## At a glance

Lexington, South Carolina regulates 40 sign types across 5 zoning districts. Residential Subdivision/Group Development/Apartment Complex Entrance Sign (Permanent)s in the General Regulations For All Zones zoning district are capped at 4 ft (if within required setback); 6 ft (if elsewhere) tall and 50 sq ft, with a minimum 10 ft from intersecting road ROW setback (Sec. § 159.06.02). Most commercial signs in Lexington 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 | 19 | Flagpole height limited to either 35 ft or 50 ft as determined by zoning ordinance; PRD noncommercial residential flag displays are exempt from these limits. | 50 sq ft | — |
| Intense Development District (IDD) — General Commercial (GC), Industrial (IND), High-Density Residential (HDR) | 20 | 50 ft above highest elevation of interstate or interchange | 150/225/300 sq ft (based on 1/2/3+ frontages) | — |
| Restricted Development District (RDD) — Office Commercial (OC), Neighborhood Commercial (NC), Limited Commercial (LC) | 20 | 50 ft above highest elevation of interstate or interchange | 100/150/200 sq ft (based on 1/2/3+ frontages) | — |
| Protected Residential District (PRD) — Protected Residential (PR) | 1 | 4 ft (within required setback); 6 ft (outside required setback) | 50 sq ft | — |
| Protected Residential District 2 (PRD2) — Protected Residential Two (PR2) | 1 | 4 ft (within required setback); 6 ft (outside required setback) | 50 sq ft | — |

## 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 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Exempt Wall Identification Sign (at customer entrance) | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | 1 per business or tenant space | On the exterior wall next to the customer entrance of the business/tenant space. | — | § 159.03.02(A) |
| Flags | Flagpole height limited to either 35 ft or 50 ft as determined by zoning ordinance; PRD noncommercial residential flag displays are exempt from these limits. | — | — | — | Max 3 flags | On flagpoles on private property. | — | § 159.03.02(G); § 159.05.06(A)-(F) |
| Exempt Small Contractor/Trades Sign (while work is in progress) | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | 1 per tradesperson is implied; ordinance says 'one sign not exceeding 6 sq ft each' for contractors/subcontractors. | On the premises where repair/remodeling/repainting/improvement work is ongoing. | — | § 159.03.02(K) |
| Weekend Directional Sign (WEDS) | 3 ft | 4 sq ft per face | — | At least 1 ft from ROW | — | On private property; not closer than 1 ft from the road ROW; placed only where the direction changes; not more than 2 miles from the specified property. | — | § 159.03.02(M)(1)-(6); § 159.03.08(C) |
| Temporary Sign — Contractor’s Sign (PRD/RDD) | — | 16 sq ft | — | — | 1 per site | On the premises of the work in PRD and RDD. | — | § 159.05.01; § 159.03.08(C) |
| Temporary Sign — Contractor’s Sign (IDD) | — | 50 sq ft | — | — | 1 per site | On the premises of the work in IDD. | — | § 159.05.01; § 159.03.08(C) |
| Temporary Sign — Temporary Subdivision | — | 32 sq ft | — | Minimum 20 ft from all external subdivision property lines | Multiple allowed if spaced ≥500 ft apart | On premises of the subdivision. | — | § 159.05.04; § 159.03.08(C) |
| Residential Subdivision/Group Development/Apartment Complex Entrance Sign (Permanent) | 4 ft (if within required setback); 6 ft (if elsewhere) | 50 sq ft | — | If placed in a median dividing entrance lanes: minimum 10 ft from intersecting road ROW | 1 per street frontage | At subdivision/group development/apartment complex entrance(s). | — | § 159.06.02 |

### Intense Development District (IDD) — General Commercial (GC), Industrial (IND), High-Density Residential (HDR)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Total Sign Area Allowance (Individual Business) | — | 150/225/300 sq ft (based on 1/2/3+ frontages) | — | — | See related entry for maximum number per frontage | Applies to the business' total signage on the lot. | — | § 159.07.02(A), (D)(1)-(2) |
| Wall Sign (Individual Business) | — | 10% of first-story wall area | — | — | Counts toward the per-frontage maximum and aggregate area cap | Attached to exterior building wall; projection ≤12 inches per definition of wall sign; cannot extend above roofline/parapet. | — | § 159.07.02(B); § 159.07.06; § 159.04.05, § 159.04.20 |
| Freestanding Sign (Individual Business) | 10 ft (up to +20% allowance for copy extensions) | 64 sq ft (without changeable copy); 84 sq ft (with manual changeable copy) | — | Min 5 ft from all property lines | Counts toward max 2 per frontage | Permanently secured to the ground (monument/ground sign). | — | § 159.02.03 (definition of freestanding sign); § 159.07.02(C) and (E); § 159.07.01 |
| Manual Changeable Copy (on any permitted business sign) | — | Up to 75% of the sign’s area (manual changeable copy) | — | — | One manual changeable copy area per sign face as part of overall sign | On a permitted business sign face (e.g., freestanding or wall). | — | § 159.07.07; but see prohibitions § 159.04.22 (moving message boards prohibited) |
| Information Sign (Business Lot) | 4 ft | 6 sq ft | — | — | Not counted toward sign number cap | On the business lot to provide information/directions. | — | § 159.02.03 (information sign def.); § 159.07.10 |
| Commercial Center — Freestanding/Directory Sign | 20 ft (up to +20% for copy extensions) | 150 sq ft | — | Min 5 ft from all property lines | 1 per road frontage | At the commercial center frontage(s). | — | § 159.07.03(A) (table for IDD); § 159.07.01; § 159.07.02(E) |
| Gasoline Price/Service Ground Sign (Additional) | — | — | 12 ft (maximum length) | Must meet IDD setback and other sign standards | 1 additional ground sign (if site not within a shopping center) | On-site at a place other than the pump island (not within shopping center exception). | — | § 159.07.04(B) |
| Freestanding Sign (Interstate Oriented) | 50 ft above highest elevation of interstate or interchange | 100 sq ft | — | General setbacks apply | 1 additional interstate-oriented sign per qualifying business lot | On business lot along an interstate corridor. | — | § 159.07.11; § 159.10.01(B) |

### Restricted Development District (RDD) — Office Commercial (OC), Neighborhood Commercial (NC), Limited Commercial (LC)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Total Sign Area Allowance (Individual Business) | — | 100/150/200 sq ft (based on 1/2/3+ frontages) | — | — | See related entry for maximum number per frontage | Applies to the business' total signage on the lot. | — | § 159.07.02(A), (D)(1)-(2) |
| Wall Sign (Individual Business) | — | 10% of first-story wall area | — | — | Counts toward per-frontage maximum and aggregate area cap | Attached to exterior building wall; projection ≤12 inches; cannot extend above roofline/parapet. | — | § 159.07.02(B); § 159.07.06; § 159.04.05, § 159.04.20 |
| Freestanding Sign (Individual Business) | 10 ft (up to +20% allowance for copy extensions) | 64 sq ft (without changeable copy); 84 sq ft (with manual changeable copy) | — | Min 10 ft from all property lines | Counts toward max 2 per frontage | Permanently secured to the ground (monument/ground sign). | — | § 159.02.03 (freestanding sign def.); § 159.07.02(C) and (E); § 159.07.01 |
| Automated Mechanical Changeable Copy (Monument Sign Portion) | — | 18 sq ft (maximum automated mechanical portion) | — | Same as the host monument sign (10 ft from property lines in RDD) | — | Within the face of a monument (freestanding) sign. | — | § 159.07.13 |
| Information Sign (Business Lot) | 4 ft | 6 sq ft | — | — | Not counted toward sign number cap | On the business lot to provide information/directions. | — | § 159.02.03 (information sign def.); § 159.07.10 |
| Commercial Center — Freestanding/Directory Sign | 15 ft (up to +20% for copy extensions) | 100 sq ft | — | Min 10 ft from all property lines | 1 per road frontage | At the commercial center frontage(s). | — | § 159.07.03(A) (table for RDD); § 159.07.01; § 159.07.02(E) |
| Gasoline Price/Service Ground Sign (Additional) | — | — | 12 ft (maximum length) | Must meet RDD setback and other sign standards | 1 additional ground sign (if site not within a shopping center) | On-site at a place other than the pump island (not within shopping center exception). | — | § 159.07.04(B) |
| Freestanding Sign (Interstate Oriented) | 50 ft above highest elevation of interstate or interchange | 100 sq ft | — | General setbacks apply | 1 additional interstate-oriented sign per qualifying business lot | On business lot along an interstate corridor. | — | § 159.07.11; § 159.10.01(B) |

## Prohibited signs in Lexington

- Signs imitating or resembling traffic or emergency signals or lights
- Signs that unduly confuse, distract, or divert motorists
- Signs obstructing fire escapes, downspouts, windows, doors, stairways, ladders, openings for light/air, or pedestrian views of roads
- Audible signs detectable off-site
- Signs with strobe, flashing, blinking, pulsating, fluctuating, animated, or moving lights
- Moving signs or signs presenting the illusion of movement (except windblown signs allowed under §159.04.16 and mechanical signs under §159.07.13)
- Signs attached to utility poles or street signs; or attached to/painted on trees, rocks, or other natural objects
- Portable signs (except as allowed for special events under §159.05.05)
- Signs advertising a discontinued product, place, activity, person, institution, or business (must be removed within 30 days of termination)
- Home occupation signs (no display pertaining to the commercial activity in the dwelling)
- Exposed neon tubes or materials with the appearance of exposed neon on the exterior
- Roof signs and signs projecting above the roofline
- Any sign placed on or in the public right-of-way
- Vehicle signs conspicuously parked to advertise to passing motorists or pedestrians
- Signs with fluorescent-colored letters and/or backgrounds
- Windblown signs (except permitted banners per §159.05.05 and banners exempted per §159.03.02(H))
- Bench signs
- Balloons and gas-filled figures used to draw attention (with limited exceptions in §159.04.18)
- Searchlights
- Animated signs and moving message boards
- Off-premise/advertising signs (all prohibited except Weekend Directional Signs authorized by §159.03.02(M)); existing off-premise signs only as nonconforming (no enlargement or conversion to electronic)
- Temporary signs shall not be illuminated
- Signs placed within required intersection sight areas (per §159.03.09; IDD has specific encroachment limits)

## Signs exempt from permit in Lexington

- One wall sign per business/tenant next to the customer entrance not exceeding 2 sq ft
- Hiring signs with total area not exceeding 6 sq ft, posted for no more than 30 days
- Legal notices, identification, informational, or directional signs required by governmental bodies
- Integral decorations or architectural features of buildings (excluding letters, trademarks, moving parts/lights, or otherwise prohibited signs)
- On-site traffic/directional signs on private property not exceeding 4 sq ft and bearing no commercial matter
- Wall identification signs and commemorative plaques not more than 4 sq ft; memorial cornerstones/tablets with building or commemorative information
- Flags in compliance with §159.05.06
- Banners erected or authorized by the Town of Lexington
- Temporary governmental signs (e.g., zoning, traffic)
- Civic club, religious, public, and eleemosynary signs not exceeding 6 sq ft (on or off premises) and not located in the public right-of-way
- One sign not exceeding 6 sq ft for craftsmen, artisans, house painters, contractors or subcontractors while work is being performed on the premises
- Political campaign signs on private property; must be removed within 7 days after the election or referendum
- Weekend Directional Signs (WEDS) for in-Town places or events, allowed Fri 6:00 p.m. to Sun 11:59 p.m.; owner name on sign; max 4 sq ft area and 3 ft height; stand-alone and secured; durable/waterproof materials; directional content only (no advertising); placed within 2 miles of destination, at least 1 ft from right-of-way, and only where direction changes

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A Town sign permit is required for any sign unless specifically stated otherwise; application must include property owner authorization, owner info, site plan with exact location, and exact sign size/type (§159.10.01).
- State permits are required for businesses and advertising signs on federal highways; proof must be provided to the Town before erection (§159.10.01(B)).
- Approval expiration: if a building permit is not obtained within 1 year of sign plans being approved, the approval expires (§159.10.01(D)).
- Permit expiration: permitted work must start within 6 months and be completed within 12 months (§159.10.01(E)).
- Variances from sign regulations may be granted by the Zoning Board of Adjustment; appeals of administrator decisions go to the Board (§§159.10.05–159.10.06).
- No master sign plan requirement is specified in the provided text.

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

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