# Sign Regulations in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Mount Pleasant, South Carolina (SC)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/south-carolina/mount-pleasant
- **Data last verified:** 2026-02-10
- **Source:** [amlegal municipal code](https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/mtpleasantsc/latest/mpleasant_sc/0-0-0-137645)

## At a glance

Mount Pleasant, South Carolina regulates 21 sign types across 1 zoning district. Freestanding Sign (General Use - Non-Residential Uses)s in the General Regulations For All Zones - (AB-1, AB-2, CC, CL, CO, CR-O, ED, LI, MD, NC-2, NZ, OP-1, OP-2, PD, PI-I, PI-2, R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4, RC-2, RM, RR) zoning district are capped at 8 ft. tall and 35 sq. ft., with a Minimum 10 ft from curb and/or street right-of-way; must conform to SCDOT Access and Roadside Management Standards Sight Distance Formula. setback (Sec. § 156.825(A)-(B), Table 156.825-1 (General Use); § 156.825(F)-(G); § 156.816(A)-(B)). Most commercial signs in Mount Pleasant require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (1 zone)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones - (AB-1, AB-2, CC, CL, CO, CR-O, ED, LI, MD, NC-2, NZ, OP-1, OP-2, PD, PI-I, PI-2, R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4, RC-2, RM, RR) | 21 | Flagpole height max 35 ft (in areas limited to 40 ft or less on the Building Height Plan Map); 50 ft in all other Building Height Plan Map Areas | 150 sq. ft. | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements

### General Regulations For All Zones - (AB-1, AB-2, CC, CL, CO, CR-O, ED, LI, MD, NC-2, NZ, OP-1, OP-2, PD, PI-I, PI-2, R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4, RC-2, RM, RR)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign (General Use - Non-Residential Uses) | 8 ft. | 35 sq. ft. | — | Minimum 10 ft from curb and/or street right-of-way; must conform to SCDOT Access and Roadside Management Standards Sight Distance Formula. | 1 per platted lot for the use; see multiple frontages allowance for second sign on secondary opposing frontage | On subject property; minimum 10 ft setback from curb and/or street right-of-way; may not be installed within the right-of-way or project into the vertical plane of the right-of-way. | — | § 156.825(A)-(B), Table 156.825-1 (General Use); § 156.825(F)-(G); § 156.816(A)-(B) |
| Freestanding Sign (Multi-Tenant Development < 40,000 sq. ft.) | 10 ft. | 50 sq. ft. | — | Minimum 10 ft from curb and/or street right-of-way; SCDOT sight distance requirements apply. | 1 for the development | On subject property; minimum 10 ft setback from curb and/or street right-of-way. | — | § 156.825(B)(1), Table 156.825-1 (Multi-Tenant Development < 40,000 sq. ft.); § 156.825(C)(2); § 156.825(E)-(F); § 156.861 |
| Freestanding Sign (Multi-Tenant Development ≥ 40,000 sq. ft.) | 20 ft. | 150 sq. ft. | — | Minimum 10 ft from curb and/or street right-of-way; SCDOT sight distance requirements apply. | 2 for the development | On subject property; minimum 10 ft setback from curb and/or street right-of-way. | — | § 156.825(B)(1), Table 156.825-1 (Multi-Tenant Development ≥ 40,000 sq. ft.); § 156.825(C)(2); § 156.825(E)-(F); § 156.861 |
| Freestanding Sign (US 17/IOP Connector) | 20 ft. | 50 sq. ft. | — | Minimum 10 ft from curb and/or street right-of-way; SCDOT sight distance requirements apply. | 1 per platted lot | On lots adjacent to Johnnie Dodds Boulevard (U.S. 17) and the Isle of Palms Connector (SC 517); minimum 10 ft setback from curb and/or street right-of-way. | — | § 156.825(D), Table 156.825-1 (US 17/IOP Connector); § 156.825(F); § 156.816(B) |
| Incidental Sign - Perimeter (Non-Residential Uses) | 4 ft. | 4 sq. ft. | — | Perimeter placement: between property line and applicable sign setback; must be within 15 ft of driveway entrance to public street. | Max 2 per entrance/exit | Within 15 ft of a driveway entrance to a public street; located between the property line and the applicable sign setback; only at driveway entrances where on-site traffic patterns are strictly limited to one-way. | — | § 156.845(B), Table 156.845-1 (Perimeter Signs); § 156.845(C)(2)-(3), (D)(1), (E) |
| Incidental Sign - Small Interior (Residential Uses) | 5 ft. | 3 sq. ft. | — | Must be located at least 10 ft from any property line (interior to lot). | 1 per lot | Interior to lot (not within sign setback); oriented internally to the development. | — | § 156.845(B), Table 156.845-1 (Small Interior Signs - Residential Uses); § 156.845(C)(3), (D)(2)(a), (E)(1), (E)(5)-(7) |
| Incidental Sign - Small Interior (Non-Residential Uses) | 4 ft. | 4 sq. ft. | — | Must be located at least 10 ft from any property line (interior to lot). | Up to 20 per acre | Interior to lot (not within sign setback); oriented internally to the development. | — | § 156.845(B), Table 156.845-1 (Small Interior Signs - Non-Residential Uses); § 156.845(C)(3), (D)(2)(a), (E) |
| Incidental Sign - Large Interior (Non-Residential Uses) | 8 ft. | 35 sq. ft. | — | Minimum 30 ft setback from any property line. | Multi-tenant developments ≥ 40,000 sq. ft: max 2; < 40,000 sq. ft: max 1 | Interior to the development; oriented internally; at least 30 ft from any property line. | — | § 156.845(B), Table 156.845-1 (Large Interior Signs); § 156.845(C)(3), (D)(2)(b), (E) |

## Prohibited signs in Mount Pleasant

- Use of illumination that simulates traffic control devices or emergency vehicles is prohibited for any sign.
- All sign illumination must be from a steady, stationary light source; flashing, blinking, or moving illumination is prohibited.
- Illuminated signs may not use light-reflecting backgrounds or letters; internally illuminated signs must have opaque backgrounds and matte finishes.
- For externally illuminated signs, light sources must be shielded and not visible from any street right-of-way, must not cause glare hazardous to pedestrians or vehicle drivers or create a nuisance to adjacent properties, and the light color must be white.
- Signs may not obstruct any fire escape, or any window, door, or opening used as a means of ingress or egress for firefighting, and may not be attached to a fire escape or placed where they interfere with required ventilation openings.

## Signs exempt from permit in Mount Pleasant

- Signs required by local, state, or federal law are not prohibited by this subchapter.
- Exempt signs listed in § 156.812 are exempt from the applicability of this subchapter (specific list not provided in the excerpt).
- Sign permits are not required for exempt signs listed in § 156.812.
- Customary maintenance of a sign that does not change the dimensions of the sign or the copy displayed by the sign does not require a sign permit.
- Changing the copy on readerboard signs does not require a sign permit.
- Flags do not require a permit for either residential or non-residential uses.
- All temporary signs other than A-frame signs do not require a permit for either residential or non-residential uses.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A master sign program is required for all multi-tenant developments.
- All multi-tenant developments require a master sign program approved by the Design Review Board through the design review process.
- A master sign program is a required condition of approval of any new signs within a multi-tenant development and must be processed prior to installation of any signs.
- A master sign program shall be a condition of approval of any planned development, design review, use permit, or other application required by the town for multi-tenant developments.
- Approval of architectural plans that include signs does not constitute signage approval; a separate request for signage approval is required if approval is necessary for the sign type.
- Approval of a master sign program does not waive individual sign permit requirements for specific signs.
- After approval of a master sign program (or amendment), no signs may be erected, placed, painted, or maintained except in conformance with the approved plan.
- A master sign program submittal must include: site plan; locations of buildings/parking/driveways/landscaped areas; locations and elevations for proposed/existing signs; color scheme; sign style; lighting; materials; and sign dimensions.
- Comprehensive development project signs may be allowed on a lot outside of the development site via a master sign program, and such a sign will not be considered an off-premises sign.
- The Design Review Board has authority to review and approve master sign programs; the Zoning Administrator may approve signs that do not require a master sign program, and may refer applications to the Design Review Board.

## Full detail

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