# Sign Regulations in North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina

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

- **Jurisdiction:** North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina (SC)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/south-carolina/north-myrtle-beach
- **Data last verified:** 2026-05-26
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/sc/north_myrtle_beach/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=COOR_CH23ZO_ARTIIISIRE)

## At a glance

North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina regulates 66 sign types across 18 zoning districts. Subdivision Entrance Sign (More than 10 lots) — Wall-Mounted on Masonry Entrance Walls in the R-1 zoning district are capped at 7 ft tall and 20 sq ft per sign face; aggregate 40 sq ft per entrance, with a No part of sign within public right-of-way; at least 4 ft from curb/roadway setback (Sec. Sec. 23-36(10)(a)1; Sec. 23-36(5)(a)1–6; Sec. 23-36(4)(a)). Most commercial signs in North Myrtle Beach require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (18 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 19 | 30 inches above the general level of the roadway | 40 sq ft | — |
| R-1 | 24 | 30 ft for freestanding sign(s) | Combined area 100 sq ft | — |
| R-1A | 24 | 30 ft for freestanding sign(s) | Combined area 100 sq ft | — |
| R-2 | 24 | 30 ft for freestanding sign(s) | Combined area 100 sq ft | — |
| R-2A | 24 | 30 ft for freestanding sign(s) | Combined area 100 sq ft | — |
| R-3 | 24 | 30 ft for freestanding sign(s) | Combined area 100 sq ft | — |
| Resort Residential (R-4) | 24 | 30 ft for freestanding sign(s) | Combined area 100 sq ft (wall signs existing prior to Feb 1, 1989 in R-4 do not count toward total) | — |
| R-4I | 29 | 30 ft for freestanding sign(s) | Up to 300 sq ft (1 sq ft per linear foot of primary street frontage) | — |
| OC Districts | 18 | 30 inches | 40 sq ft | — |
| NC Districts | 20 | 30 inches | Counts toward total signage area per location (40 sq ft) | — |
| LI Districts | 22 | 30 ft | Up to 300 sq ft (per formula) | — |
| Resort Commercial (RC) | 22 | 30 ft | Up to 300 sq ft (per formula) | — |
| BC Districts | 22 | 30 ft | Up to 300 sq ft (per formula) | — |
| HC district | 10 | 40 ft | Up to 300 sq ft for a single sign; up to 350 sq ft combined for two signs where eligible | — |
| GC Districts | 7 | 22 ft | Up to 300 sq ft per freestanding sign based on primary street frontage | — |
| Off-Premises Overlay Zone | 1 | — | — | — |
| PUD (Planned Unit Development) | 1 | — | — | — |
| Zero Lot Line Overlay Zone | 1 | — | Within 1.5 sq ft per linear foot of frontage and the 100 sq ft total per location cap applicable to LI/RC/BC when used for single commercial/industrial uses | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 18 zones)

### R-1

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Subdivision Entrance Sign (More than 10 lots) — Wall-Mounted on Masonry Entrance Wall | 7 ft | 20 sq ft per sign face; aggregate 40 sq ft per entrance | — | No part of sign within public right-of-way; at least 4 ft from curb/roadway | Up to 2 per principal entrance (wall-mounted); 1 per entrance if double-faced freestanding without walls | On a masonry entrance wall at the principal entrance(s) to the subdivision | — | Sec. 23-36(10)(a)1; Sec. 23-36(5)(a)1–6; Sec. 23-36(4)(a) |
| Subdivision Identification Sign (10 lots or fewer) | 5 ft | 20 sq ft | — | Outside public right-of-way; at least 4 ft from curb/roadway | 1 per subdivision | At subdivision entrance | — | Sec. 23-36(10)(a)2; Sec. 23-36(5)(a) |
| Identification Sign — Religious, Public, Educational, Public Recreational Uses | 10 ft (if freestanding) | 50 sq ft per sign face | — | Outside public right-of-way; at least 4 ft from curb/roadway | 1 per principal use | On premises of the institutional/public use | — | Sec. 23-36(10)(a)3; Sec. 23-36(4)(a); Sec. 23-36(5)(a) |
| Building/Development Identification — Multifamily Structures and Group Developments | 10 ft (for the one freestanding sign per street frontage) | 64 sq ft | — | Outside public right-of-way; at least 4 ft from curb/roadway | 1 freestanding per street frontage | On premises of the multifamily or group development | — | Sec. 23-36(10)(a)4; Sec. 23-36(4), Sec. 23-36(5)(a) |
| Business Identification — Hotels, Motels, Inns, Lodges | 30 ft for freestanding sign(s) | Combined area 100 sq ft | — | Freestanding outside public right-of-way; at least 4 ft from curb/roadway | 1 freestanding per street frontage (wall signs also allowed within combined area limit, except as noted for pre-1989 R-4 wall signs) | On the premises; freestanding sign(s) at street frontage; wall signs on building | — | Sec. 23-36(10)(a)5; Sec. 23-36(4)(a); Sec. 23-36(5)(a) |
| Real Estate Sign (Nonresidential Use) | 8 ft | 20 sq ft | — | Minimum 10 ft from curb/roadway | 1 per premises | On the premises being sold/leased; set back at least 10 ft from curb or roadway | — | Sec. 23-36(6)(b)1; Sec. 23-36(5)(a) |
| Real Estate Sign (Residential Use — For Sale) | 4 ft (single unit) or 8 ft (multifamily) | 6 sq ft for first dwelling unit + 1 sq ft for each additional unit; max 20 sq ft | — | 10 ft minimum | 1 per abutting street frontage | On the premises; at least 10 ft from curb/roadway | — | Sec. 23-36(6)(b)2 |
| On-site Private Traffic Directional Sign | 30 inches | 4 sq ft | — | 4–10 ft from curb/road edge | 1 per ingress/egress | 4–10 ft from curb/road edge within site | — | Sec. 23-36(6)(d) |

### R-1A

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Subdivision Entrance Sign (More than 10 lots) — Wall-Mounted on Masonry Entrance Wall | 7 ft | 20 sq ft per sign face; aggregate 40 sq ft per entrance | — | Outside public right-of-way; at least 4 ft from curb/roadway | Up to 2 per principal entrance (wall-mounted); 1 per entrance if double-faced freestanding without walls | On a masonry entrance wall at the principal entrance(s) to the subdivision | — | Sec. 23-36(10)(a)1; Sec. 23-36(5)(a); Sec. 23-36(4)(a) |
| Subdivision Identification Sign (10 lots or fewer) | 5 ft | 20 sq ft | — | Outside public right-of-way; at least 4 ft from curb/roadway | 1 per subdivision | At subdivision entrance | — | Sec. 23-36(10)(a)2; Sec. 23-36(5)(a) |
| Identification Sign — Religious, Public, Educational, Public Recreational Uses | 10 ft (if freestanding) | 50 sq ft per sign face | — | Outside public right-of-way; at least 4 ft from curb/roadway | 1 per principal use | On premises of the institutional/public use | — | Sec. 23-36(10)(a)3; Sec. 23-36(4)(a); Sec. 23-36(5)(a) |
| Building/Development Identification — Multifamily Structures and Group Developments | 10 ft (for the one freestanding sign per street frontage) | 64 sq ft | — | Outside public right-of-way; at least 4 ft from curb/roadway | 1 freestanding per street frontage | On premises of the multifamily or group development | — | Sec. 23-36(10)(a)4; Sec. 23-36(4), Sec. 23-36(5)(a) |
| Business Identification — Hotels, Motels, Inns, Lodges | 30 ft for freestanding sign(s) | Combined area 100 sq ft | — | Outside public right-of-way; at least 4 ft from curb/roadway | 1 freestanding per street frontage | On the premises; freestanding at street frontage; wall signs on building | — | Sec. 23-36(10)(a)5; Sec. 23-36(4)(a); Sec. 23-36(5)(a) |
| Real Estate Sign (Nonresidential Use) | 8 ft | 20 sq ft | — | 10 ft from curb/roadway | 1 per premises | On premises; at least 10 ft from curb/roadway | — | Sec. 23-36(6)(b)1 |
| Real Estate Sign (Residential — For Sale) | 4 ft (single unit) or 8 ft (multifamily) | 6 sq ft + 1 sq ft per additional unit (max 20 sq ft) | — | 10 ft from curb/roadway | 1 per abutting street | On premises; 10 ft minimum setback | — | Sec. 23-36(6)(b)2 |
| On-site Private Traffic Directional Sign | 30 inches | 4 sq ft | — | 4–10 ft from curb/road edge | 1 per ingress/egress | 4–10 ft from curb/road edge within site | — | Sec. 23-36(6)(d) |

### R-4I

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Subdivision Entrance Sign (More than 10 lots) — Wall-Mounted on Masonry Entrance Wall | 7 ft | 20 sq ft per sign face; aggregate 40 sq ft per entrance | — | Outside public right-of-way; at least 4 ft from curb/roadway | Up to 2 per principal entrance (wall-mounted); 1 per entrance if double-faced freestanding without walls | On a masonry entrance wall at the principal entrance(s) to the subdivision | — | Sec. 23-36(10)(a)1; Sec. 23-36(5)(a); Sec. 23-36(4)(a) |
| Subdivision Identification Sign (10 lots or fewer) | 5 ft | 20 sq ft | — | Outside public right-of-way; at least 4 ft from curb/roadway | 1 per subdivision | At subdivision entrance | — | Sec. 23-36(10)(a)2; Sec. 23-36(5)(a) |
| Identification Sign — Religious, Public, Educational, Public Recreational Uses | 10 ft (if freestanding) | 50 sq ft per sign face | — | Outside public right-of-way; at least 4 ft from curb/roadway | 1 per principal use | On premises of the institutional/public use | — | Sec. 23-36(10)(a)3; Sec. 23-36(4)(a); Sec. 23-36(5)(a) |
| Building/Development Identification — Multifamily Structures and Group Developments | 10 ft (for the one freestanding sign per street frontage) | 64 sq ft | — | Outside public right-of-way; at least 4 ft from curb/roadway | 1 freestanding per street frontage | On premises of the multifamily or group development | — | Sec. 23-36(10)(a)4; Sec. 23-36(4), Sec. 23-36(5)(a) |
| Business Identification — Hotels, Motels, Inns, Lodges | 30 ft for freestanding sign(s) | Combined area 100 sq ft | — | Outside public right-of-way; at least 4 ft from curb/roadway | 1 freestanding per street frontage | On the premises; freestanding at street frontage; wall signs on building | — | Sec. 23-36(10)(a)5; Sec. 23-36(4)(a); Sec. 23-36(5)(a) |
| Freestanding Sign (Commercial Use, not a shopping center) | 12 ft | Counts toward total sign area per location (150 sq ft max for GC/R-4I non-center standard below does not apply here; see shopping center standard below for freestanding area calc in centers) | — | Outside public right-of-way; at least 4 ft from curb/roadway and meet clear zone rules | 1 per location | On the premises at street frontage | — | Sec. 23-36(10)(g)1(a)–(d) |
| Shopping Center Freestanding Identification Sign (R-4I Shopping Centers) | 22 ft | Up to 300 sq ft (1 sq ft per linear foot of primary street frontage) | — | Outside public right-of-way; general clear zone rules apply; at least 4 ft from curb/roadway (§23-36(5)(a)1) | 1 per shopping center location | On the premises at primary street frontage | — | Sec. 23-36(10)(g)2(a)–(c) |
| Real Estate Sign (Nonresidential Use) | 8 ft | 20 sq ft | — | 10 ft from curb/roadway | 1 per premises | On premises; at least 10 ft from curb/roadway | — | Sec. 23-36(6)(b)1 |

## Prohibited signs in North Myrtle Beach

- No sign may be placed unless allowed by this article.
- No sign illumination may use unhooded/unshielded flood lights visible from a public right-of-way or adjacent property; lighting may not emit glare that impairs driver vision.
- No sign may use beacon, spot, search, or stroboscopic lights or reflectors visible from a public right-of-way or adjacent property; such lights may not be operated outdoors except by authorized public agencies.
- No animated signs are allowed, except in Planned Development Districts over 25 acres fronting U.S. Highway 17 when specifically approved as part of a PDD sign package.
- No sign may obstruct the view of motorists entering a public roadway from a driveway, street, or alley.
- No sign may be confused with an official traffic sign/signal/device or use words like “stop,” “warning,” “danger,” or “caution” implying danger or the need to stop or maneuver.
- Signs painted on or attached to trees, fences or fence posts, utility/telephone poles, rocks, or other natural features are prohibited.
- Commercial identification or advertising on benches and refuse containers is prohibited.
- Pavement markings are prohibited except customary traffic-control markings.
- Roof signs are prohibited.
- Banners, fluttering ribbons, and similar devices are prohibited, except government flags (up to three per location), certain temporary uses, flags/pennants expressly permitted in section 23-36(10)(e)(5), and approved banner/sponsorship packages in public park/sports complexes.
- Signs attached to or painted on piers and seawalls are prohibited, except one on-premise building identification sign up to 6 sq ft per establishment; signs on buildings on piers must otherwise conform to this article.
- Portable signs are prohibited, except temporary, nonilluminated signs for public, charitable, educational, or religious events that meet specific location, size, timing, and safety limits.
- Obscene, indecent, or immoral sign content is prohibited.
- Decorative lighting is prohibited except as seasonal decorations from November 1 through January 7.
- No sign may be located or designed to intentionally or effectively deny an adjoining property owner reasonable visual access to an existing sign.
- Obsolete or abandoned signs (including sign structures without copy) are prohibited; special seasonal-business intent exception applies; upon relocation or removal, all structural components must also be removed or relocated as required.
- Vehicle signs (signs attached to, painted on, or pulled by vehicles parked primarily to advertise) are prohibited.
- Any sign not complying with the chapter’s terms is prohibited.
- No sign, signal, or informational device may be within or protrude into a public right-of-way, or be closer than 4 feet to the curb/edge of roadway, except as otherwise provided; additional clearance, support-size/spacing, and clearance-plane restrictions apply; no protrusion into the right-of-way is permitted.
- Projecting signs must meet construction/material standards; no projecting sign may extend above the roof line or parapet wall, project more than 4 feet beyond the wall face, be located above the second story or 24 feet (whichever is less), or intersect building corners other than at right angles to the building front.
- No wall sign may extend above parapet walls or above the lower eave line of a pitched roof (except flat against a mansard roof without extending above it).
- Signs may not be erected/maintained so as to obstruct any fire escape or any window/door/opening used as a means of egress.
- All signs must be kept in good repair and safe condition; deteriorated, unsafe, or disrepaired signs are declared a nuisance and subject to repair/removal.

## Signs exempt from permit in North Myrtle Beach

- Signs not visible beyond the boundaries of the lot/parcel on which they are situated or from any public thoroughfare, right-of-way, or beach are exempt from this article.
- Traffic signs and other signs erected or maintained by a municipal or governmental body or agency, including danger signs and signs of businesses on governmental property, are exempt; commercial signs are not exempt.
- Temporary signs customarily associated with the Sun Fun and Can Am Festivals and other council-recognized festivals during the duration of those festivals are exempt.
- Animated signs are exempt from this article, except in PDDs over 25 acres fronting U.S. Highway 17 when approved as part of a PDD sign package.
- The following signs are exempt from permit requirements citywide: traffic/directional/warning/information signs authorized by a public agency (informational signs may include corporate sponsorship names/logos when approved by city council or other public agency); real estate signs during active sale/rental/lease periods subject to stated size/height/setback and number limits; temporary nonilluminated signs for public/charitable/educational/religious events subject to stated location/size/timing/safety limits; on-site private traffic directional signs (and noncontiguous parking signage) subject to location/height/area and content limits; private street/road name signs; small ‘no trespassing/no dumping/no loitering’ signs up to 1 sq ft; ‘open house’ and ‘garage sale’ signs at residential locations subject to number/size/height limits; holiday season decorations (Nov 1–Jan 2) with no business identification or commercial message; construction signs (one per site) subject to content/size/setback/removal limits; flat-mounted building identification and occupant/street number and multi-unit identification signs without advertising/commercial amplification up to 4 sq ft per building; required informational pump signs on gasoline pumps; off-premises directional signs for churches and schools subject to location/number/size/approval limits; campaign signs subject to placement/attachment/size/height/number/timing/removal limits; temporary window signs; towing informational signs between 4 and 4.5 sq ft.

## 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 18 zoning districts in North Myrtle Beach — every sign type, every field — are available with a free PermitPal account: https://app.permitpal.io/?address=North+Myrtle+Beach+SC&override=true&utm_source=landing&utm_medium=city-page&utm_campaign=city-north-myrtle-beach

---

PermitPal — AI sign code research. Full HTML page: https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/south-carolina/north-myrtle-beach