Sign Regulations in Pickens, South Carolina
Pickens, South Carolina has specific sign regulations covering 23 sign types across 8 zoning districts. Regulated sign types include Wall Sign, Sandwich Board Sign, Bed and Breakfast Inn Sign. Height restrictions apply. Permits are required for most commercial signs. Use PermitPal to get instant access to the complete regulations.
Data last verified: May 8, 2025
Sign Regulation Overview for Pickens, South Carolina
Sample Sign Requirements in Pickens
| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Setback |
|---|---|---|---|
| Residential Wall Sign | — | 1 sq ft | — |
| Temporary Sign (Residential) | — | 6 sq ft | 10 ft from street right-of-way |
| Construction Sign (Residential) | — | 25 sq ft | — |
* Sample data shown. Actual requirements may vary by zone. Use PermitPal for complete, location-specific regulations.
PermitPal Coverage for PickensFull Coverage
Sign Types Covered
23
- Wall Sign
- Sandwich Board Sign
- Bed and Breakfast Inn Sign
- Freestanding/Detached Monument Sign
- +2 more types
Zoning Districts
8
Different zoning districts with specific sign regulations
Data Includes
- Permit requirements
- Height restrictions
- Illumination rules
Official Resources for Pickens
Other Cities in South Carolina
Frequently Asked Questions
Sign height limits in Pickens vary by zone and sign type. Wall signs typically range from 25-40 feet, while monument signs are usually limited to 6-10 feet. Use PermitPal to get exact requirements for your property.
To get a sign permit in Pickens, submit an application to the local building or planning department with sign dimensions, location, and design specifications. Our data confirms permits are required for most commercial signs. Processing typically takes 1-4 weeks. PermitPal helps you identify specific requirements and prepare complete applications.
In Pickens, regulated sign types include Wall Sign, Sandwich Board Sign, Bed and Breakfast Inn Sign, Freestanding/Detached Monument Sign, and 2 more types. Most commercial signs require permits. Temporary signs and certain small signs may be exempt. Use PermitPal for specific exemptions.
Sign setback requirements in Pickens vary by zone and sign type, typically ranging from 5-15 feet from property lines. Use PermitPal for specific setback requirements at your location.
Digital and LED signs in Pickens are regulated with specific requirements for brightness, animation, and message duration. Pickens has documented illumination rules in our database. Use PermitPal to see the exact requirements for electronic message centers.
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Pickens, South Carolina Sign Rules at a Glance
Pickens, South Carolina regulates 23 sign types across 8 zoning districts. Subdivision Entrance Signs in the R-20 zoning district are capped at 6 ft tall and 100 sq ft (per entrance), with a See fence regulations if attached to fence/wall setback (Sec. Sec. 604.C). Most commercial signs in Pickens require a permit.
Detailed Sign Ordinance Requirements for Pickens, South Carolina
Sign Rules by Zoning District in Pickens (8 zones)
| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| R-20 | 6 | 6 ft | 100 sq ft (per entrance) | — |
| R-12, R-10, R-8, RM-8, RM-16 | 8 | 6 ft | 100 sq ft (per entrance) | — |
| CBD | 5 | 42 in | 30 sq ft | — |
| NBD | 5 | 42 in | 150 sq ft | — |
| GBD, RLI, GI | 6 | 42 in | 360 sq ft per sign | — |
| Gateway Overlay District | 4 | 42 in | 36 sq ft (single business), 72 sq ft (multi-business), changeable copy max 24 sq ft | — |
| City Center Overlay District | 5 | 42 in | 25 sq ft per face | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 5 | 5 ft | 60 days (see specific size by use: 6 sq ft residential, 20 sq ft non-residential) | — |
Zone-by-Zone Sign Requirements in Pickens(sample of 3 of 8 zones)
R-20
| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Premium Details(Illumination, Size Formula, Permit Requirements, Additional Requirements — available with a free PermitPal account) | Ordinance Citation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Residential Wall Sign | — | 1 sq ft | — | — | 1 | Mounted flat against wall of dwelling | — | Unlock | Sec. 820.E |
| Temporary Sign (Residential) | — | 6 sq ft | — | 10 ft from street right-of-way | 1 | Yard or building wall | — | Unlock | Sec. 603.C; Sec. 601 |
| Construction Sign (Residential) | — | 25 sq ft | — | — | 1 | Premises of work under construction | — | Unlock | Sec. 604.B |
| Subdivision Entrance Sign | 6 ft | 100 sq ft (per entrance) | — | See fence regulations if attached to fence/wall | Up to 2 per entrance | Subdivision entrance | — | Unlock | Sec. 604.C |
| Private Directional Sign | — | 6 sq ft | 4 ft length | — | 1 per 500ft frontage | Off-premises, not upon the premises being directed to. | — | Unlock | Sec. 604.D |
| Bed and Breakfast Inn Sign | — | 3 sq ft | — | — | 1 | On-site | — | Unlock | Sec. 413.3.e(7) |
R-12, R-10, R-8, RM-8, RM-16
| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Premium Details(Illumination, Size Formula, Permit Requirements, Additional Requirements — available with a free PermitPal account) | Ordinance Citation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Residential Wall Sign | — | 1 sq ft | — | — | 1 | Mounted flat against wall of dwelling | — | Unlock | Sec. 820.E |
| Temporary Sign (Residential) | — | 6 sq ft | — | 10 ft from street right-of-way | 1 | Yard or building wall | — | Unlock | Sec. 603.C; Sec. 601 |
| Construction Sign (Residential) | — | 25 sq ft | — | — | 1 | Premises of work under construction | — | Unlock | Sec. 604.B |
| Subdivision Entrance Sign | 6 ft | 100 sq ft (per entrance) | — | See fence regulations if attached to fence/wall | Up to 2 per entrance | Subdivision entrance | — | Unlock | Sec. 604.C |
| Private Directional Sign | — | 6 sq ft | 4 ft length | — | 1 per 500ft frontage | Off-premises, not upon the premises being directed to. | — | Unlock | Sec. 604.D |
| Multi-Family Entrance/Identification Sign | — | 60 sq ft per entrance | — | 10 ft from right-of-way | 1 per entrance | Entrance, set back at least 10 ft from street right-of-way | — | Unlock | Sec. 605.B |
| Bed and Breakfast Inn Sign | — | 20 sq ft (NBD), 3 sq ft (other residential) | — | — | 1 | On-site | — | Unlock | Sec. 401.4.A.7; Sec. 407.4.A.7; Sec. 413.3.e(7) |
| Home Occupation Sign | — | 1 sq ft | — | — | 1 | Mounted flat to wall | — | Unlock | Sec. 820.E |
GBD, RLI, GI
| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Premium Details(Illumination, Size Formula, Permit Requirements, Additional Requirements — available with a free PermitPal account) | Ordinance Citation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wall Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Building facade | — | Unlock | Sec. 604.A; Sec. 606.C |
| Freestanding/Detached Monument Sign | 35 ft | 150 sq ft per sign | — | 10 ft from ROW, per district | 1 per 300 ft | Within front/side setback; commercial or industrial parcels | — | Unlock | Sec. 606.B |
| Off-premise Freestanding Sign | — | 360 sq ft per sign | — | 500 ft from res/parcels as stated | — | Lot with no business | — | Unlock | Sec. 606.D |
| Temporary Sign (Business) | — | 20 sq ft | — | 10 ft from right-of-way | 1 | Yard or wall | — | Unlock | Sec. 603.C |
| Off Premise Sign (Option 1) | — | 360 sq ft | — | — | — | Lot with no business | — | Unlock | Sec. 606.D |
| Sandwich Board Sign | 42 in | 10 sq ft | 2 ft | — | 1 per street frontage | Within 5–10 ft of entrance | — | Unlock | Sec. 602.D.6 |
PermitPal covers all 8 zoning districts in Pickens — full sign requirements for every zone, plus illumination rules, size formulas, and permit requirements for every sign type — with a free account.
See all 8 zones for Pickens — start freeProhibited Signs in Pickens
- No sign shall display intermittent lights resembling the flashing lights customarily used in traffic signals or in police, fire, ambulance, or rescue vehicles, nor shall any sign use the words 'stop,' 'danger,' or any other phrase, symbol, or character in a manner that might mislead or confuse the driver of an automobile.
- No sign, whether temporary or permanent, except traffic signs and signals and information signs erected by a public agency approved by the zoning administrator, is permitted within any street or highway right-of-way.
- Signs painted on or attached to trees, fence posts, and telephone or other utility poles or signs painted on or attached to rocks or other natural features or painted on the roofs of buildings are prohibited.
- Signs placed or painted on a motor vehicle or trailer and parked with the primary purpose of providing a sign are not allowed.
- Nonpolitical corrugated plastic signs with the metal wiring are prohibited within the City of Pickens.
- Temporary signs cannot be placed on utility poles or street signs.
- Temporary signs cannot be placed in rights-of-way.
- No more than five (5) temporary signs are allowed per applicant in the City of Pickens at one time and must be located on the property of the business.
- Obsolete or abandoned signs, sign copy or sign structures are prohibited and shall be removed by the owner of the property within thirty (30) days after written notification from the zoning administrator.
- All signs and/or sign support structures shall be maintained in sound structural condition and shall not be allowed to deteriorate to a condition in which it is unsightly in appearance or requires repairs or renovations in an amount that exceeds seventy-five (75) percent of its current replacement costs.
- No building, sign, or other structure shall be erected, moved, added to, or structurally altered without a permit issued by the zoning administrator.
- All signs must conform to the regulations of Article VI in all zoning districts unless specifically exempted.
- The use of portable and temporary signs as a permanent sign is prohibited.
- A new business will be given ninety (90) days to use a temporary sign when the business opens. A permanent sign must be approved within the first ninety (90) days.
Exempt Signs in Pickens
- A permit is not required for traffic, directional, warning, or information signs authorized by any public agency approved by the zoning administrator.
- Official notices issued by any court, public agency, or public office are exempt from sign permit requirements.
- One non-illuminated 'for sale,' 'for rent' or 'for lease' sign not exceeding six (6) square feet in area in residential districts and twenty (20) square feet in other than residential districts and located at least ten (10) feet back from the street right-of-way line (unless attached to the front wall of a building) does not require a permit.
- Signs erected in connection with elections or political campaigns do not require a permit, provided they are erected no more than thirty (30) days prior and are removed within seven (7) days following the election or campaign, do not exceed sixteen (16) square feet, and are not placed in the public right-of-way.
- On-site directional signs bearing no commercial message and not exceeding four (4) square feet in area are exempt from permit requirements.
- Identification signs indicating the name and street number or owner or occupant of a parcel, as long as such sign does not exceed four (4) square feet of copy area, do not require a permit.
- A bulletin board for a noncommercial place of public assembly, not exceeding thirty-six (36) square feet or five (5) feet in height, restricted to one per parcel, does not require a permit.
- A sign identifying a project under construction that does not exceed twenty-five (25) square feet in residential districts or one hundred (100) square feet in nonresidential zones, is not illuminated, and is removed within seven (7) days of completion is exempt from permit.
- Signs attached or integrated into a gasoline pump, ATM, or drive-through component of a fast food restaurant, which give operational instructions to users, the price of the product, the brand name, or descriptive product information, do not require a permit.
- Signs on the interior side of window glass are exempt from permit requirements.
- Decorative flags and banners containing no commercial message when displayed on a residence are exempt from permit requirements.
- Now hiring signs, for sale signs, and for rent signs do not require a permit.
Sign Plan & Submission Notes for Pickens
- Applications for sign permits must include a scaled drawing of the sign depicting size, shape, colors, materials, copy/wording and designs, illumination type and electrical detail, and location on building if attached.
- In overlay districts, a certificate of approval is required before a building permit or sign application can be approved; applications or certificates of approval shall be submitted through the zoning administrator and the board of architectural review will need to review applications.
- A zoning compliance form must be on file with a site plan of where features such as donation bins or attended collection sites will be located.
- For master developments or multi-tenant/phas ed developments, signs should be consistent in terms of materials, design features, and scale, suggesting sign plans may be required for large projects to demonstrate consistency.
- All new development within the RM-16, MHP, NBD, CBD, GBD, RLI, and GI districts, and non-residential development in the R-12 and R-10 districts, requires submission and approval of site plans before a building permit is issued.
- For cellular towers, a site plan is required as part of the application for placement of antenna and towers.
- Any alteration that increases impervious area or gross floor area, or new exterior signs in overlay districts, requires review by the board of architectural review and a certificate of approval prior to issuance of any permits.
- If a variance or special exception is needed regarding signs (in the case of request for deviation from code), an application must be made to the board of zoning appeals, which will hold a public hearing as part of the process.
Source: municode municipal code