# Sign Regulations in Spartanburg, South Carolina

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Spartanburg, South Carolina (SC)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/south-carolina/spartanburg
- **Data last verified:** 2025-06-04
- **Source:** [other municipal code](https://www.cityofspartanburg.org/DocumentCenter/View/430/City-Signage-Ordinance-PDF?bidId=)

## At a glance

Spartanburg, South Carolina regulates 35 sign types across 8 zoning districts. Business Sign (Wall or Freestanding)s in the Neighborhood Shopping District (B-1), Downtown Transition District (D-T4, D-T5, D-T6), General Business District (B-3), Highway Business District (B-4) zoning district are capped at Freestanding ground sign: 20 ft above curb or street centerline or ground level at sign tall and 200 sq ft; 250 sq ft if lot line >500 ft, with a Freestanding ground/pole sign 10' min. from lot line setback (Sec. 503.43(A), Table C). Most commercial signs in Spartanburg require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (8 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Residential Districts (R-15, R-12, R-8 SFD, R-8, R-6) | 8 | — | 50 sq ft (individual sign), Aggregate for senior high schools: 400 sq ft (max 215 sq ft per sign) | — |
| General Institutional District (GID), Limited Office District (LOD), Limited Commercial District (LC) | 5 | Freestanding ground sign: 20 ft above either curb/street centerline or ground level, whichever is higher | 250 sq ft | — |
| Neighborhood Shopping District (B-1), Downtown Transition District (D-T4, D-T5, D-T6), General Business District (B-3), Highway Business District (B-4) | 7 | Freestanding ground sign: 20 ft above curb or street centerline or ground level at sign | 500 sq ft (100,000-124,999 sq ft GFA), 600 sq ft (125,000-145,999 sq ft GFA), 700 sq ft (150,000+ sq ft GFA) | — |
| Light Industrial District (I-1), Heavy Industrial District (I-2) | 1 | Freestanding ground sign: 20 ft above curb/street centerline/ground at sign | 200 sq ft; 250 sq ft if lot >500 linear feet | — |
| Interstate 26 Corridor Overlay Zoning District (B-1, B-3) | 2 | 45 ft from base | 200 sq ft total/100 sq ft per face | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 15 | — | 200 sq ft | — |
| B-3, B-4, I-1, I-2 | 1 | 35 ft | 300 sq ft per face (panel sign up to 378 sq ft + 95 sq ft extended copy) | — |
| D-T4, D-T5, D-T6 | 1 | — | 20 sq ft | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 8 zones)

### Residential Districts (R-15, R-12, R-8 SFD, R-8, R-6)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Home Occupation/Professional Office Sign | — | 1 sq ft | — | — | — | On the premises where home occupation/professional office is permitted | — | 503.31(A) |
| Resident Name/House Number Sign | — | 1 sq ft | — | — | — | At residential address | — | 503.31(B) |
| Development Identification Sign (while under development) | — | 32 sq ft | — | — | One per entrance | At development entrance | — | 503.31(C) |
| Neighborhood/Association/Apartment/Condominium Identification Sign | — | 36 sq ft | — | — | Two per entrance | At development entrance | — | 503.31(D) |
| Temporary Real Estate Sign | — | 4 sq ft | — | 20 feet from street right-of-way unless attached to building | One per lot per selling agent | On the lot/building offered for sale or rent | — | 503.31(E) |
| Traffic and Parking Control Sign (Residential) | — | 4 sq ft | — | — | — | On property | — | 503.31(F) |
| Agricultural Produce Sign | — | 20 sq ft | — | 25 feet inside any lot line; 50 feet from intersection | — | At least 25' inside any lot line, at least 50' from any intersection | — | 503.31(G) |
| Institution/Church/Public/Semi-Public Sign | — | 50 sq ft (individual sign), Aggregate for senior high schools: 400 sq ft (max 215 sq ft per sign) | — | 10 feet inside all lot lines | — | At least 10' inside any lot line | — | 503.31(H) |

### Neighborhood Shopping District (B-1), Downtown Transition District (D-T4, D-T5, D-T6), General Business District (B-3), Highway Business District (B-4)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Business Sign (Wall or Freestanding) | Freestanding ground sign: 20 ft above curb or street centerline or ground level at sign | 200 sq ft; 250 sq ft if lot line >500 ft | — | Freestanding ground/pole sign 10' min. from lot line | — | Wall or freestanding, on premises | — | 503.43(A), Table C |
| Strip Center Freestanding Sign | — | 60 sq ft | — | — | One per street frontage | Freestanding; one per strip center | — | 503.43(A), Shopping Center provisions |
| Shopping Center Freestanding Sign (5-20 acres) | — | 250 sq ft | — | — | — | Per street frontage | — | 503.43(A) |
| Super Store Wall Sign | — | 500 sq ft (100,000-124,999 sq ft GFA), 600 sq ft (125,000-145,999 sq ft GFA), 700 sq ft (150,000+ sq ft GFA) | — | — | — | Wall | — | 503.43(A) |
| Super Store Freestanding Sign | — | 100 sq ft | — | — | — | Freestanding, in addition to business signs | — | 503.43(A) |
| Mall Anchor Store Sign | — | 200 sq ft per building wall | — | — | — | Wall of building | — | 503.43(A) |
| Changeable Copy Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Affixed to superstructure of principal sign; 10 ft minimum above ground | — | 503.43(J) |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Property Promotion/Contractor Notice (Residential) | — | 4 sq ft | — | — | One per lot | One per single lot in residential area | — | 503.23(B) |
| Property Promotion/Contractor Notice (Non-Residential) | — | 32 sq ft | — | — | One per lot | One per single lot in non-residential area | — | 503.23(B) |
| Church Bulletin Board | — | 12 sq ft | — | — | — | On the same zoning lot as place of worship | — | 503.23(C) |
| Church Directional Sign | — | 3 sq ft | — | — | Three per church/synagogue | Erected within city limits | — | 503.23(E) |
| Hospital Directional Sign | — | 18 sq ft | — | — | — | Erected by public or private hospital | — | 503.23(F) |
| Temporary Building Contractor Sign | — | 20 sq ft | — | 10 ft inside any lot line | — | At least 10 ft inside lot line | — | 503.23(G) |
| Event Banner (Non-Profit) | — | 24 sq ft (at designated location); 1.5 sq ft/linear ft for banners on building (max 200 sq ft) | — | — | Max 4 per event | Designated right-of-way locations; on or at a building | — | 503.7A |
| Event Banner (Office/Commercial) | — | 200 sq ft | — | — | 2 per location | On-premise (office/commercial) | — | 503.7B |

## Prohibited signs in Spartanburg

- Signs imitating official traffic signs or signals, or containing words or symbols displayed in a manner which might mislead or confuse drivers.
- Signs or devices employing confusing, distracting or intense illumination when visible from the public right-of-way, including intense flashing lights, spotlights, floodlights, or any type of pulsating or moving light which may impair the vision or otherwise interfere with vehicle operation.
- Signs with illumination that casts intense light onto any residential premises in a manner incompatible with residential character.
- Roof mounted signs.
- Vehicular signs placed or painted on a motor vehicle or trailer and parked primarily to provide signage not otherwise allowed.
- Abandoned signs.
- Signs located in the road right-of-way or yard signs, unless unique circumstances exist and approved by the Zoning Administrator and State authority, and provided they do not cause a traffic hazard or are not within sight triangles.
- Swinging signs.
- No sign shall project into the public right-of-way.
- Signs containing obscene, indecent or immoral statements, words, pictures, or depictions which offend public morals or decency.
- Electronic variable message signs and electrical fixed message signs, except electrical fixed message signs displaying gasoline prices.
- All non-conforming signs must be removed within 90 days after an establishment goes out of business, or immediately if the business goes out of business.
- Display surface areas and support structures of signs which have not contained sign copy for any period of 12 consecutive months must be removed.
- Sign copy that no longer relates to products/services sold on site must be removed, except with Historic Board approval for certain historic signs.
- No planting, fence, structure, earth mound, or grade change may obstruct visibility at intersections between 2 and 10 feet above grade.
- Advertising signs in required yards or setback areas.
- Advertising signs violating corner visibility restrictions.
- No advertising sign may have more than two faces, with only one face visible from each traffic direction.
- Portable signs with flashing lights or lights of red, amber, or green color.
- Portable signs may not be permanently attached to ground, building, or other structure.
- Political signs may not be placed on public property or right-of-way, except where maintained by private property owner with consent.
- No sign may be erected or installed, displayed, structurally altered, or changed without a permit unless specifically exempted.

## Signs exempt from permit in Spartanburg

- Public signs or notices posted by or at the discretion of a governmental agency.
- Property promotion and contractor's notices (within size limits by zoning).
- Church bulletin boards (up to 12 sq ft, on same zoning lot as place of worship).
- Historical markers erected by bona fide historical associations or government agencies.
- Church directional signs (up to 3 sq ft, not more than three per church/synagogue, within city limits, for directional information only, kept in good repair).
- Hospital directional signs (up to 18 sq ft, 7 ft minimum clearance, no advertising).
- Temporary non-illuminated signs of persons connected with work on buildings under construction or alteration (up to 20 sq ft, at least 10 ft inside lot line).
- Civic club signs at designated highway/road locations, clustered in a frame not exceeding 100 sq ft.
- Advertising signs on bus shelters authorized by the City.
- Signs permitted in any district as listed above are excluded from the computation of the total sign area requirements.
- On-site directional signs for businesses (no commercial message or logo, not exceeding 2 sq ft and 2 ft in height) are not included in the computation of allowable square footage.
- Window signs up to 25% of total window area (included in total permitted sign area).
- Bonus pole signs in the Interstate 26 Corridor Overlay Zoning District (with specific restrictions).
- Banners for non-profit organizations at approved designated city/county locations (following permit standards; permit required but no fee).

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A sign permit must be obtained prior to erection, installation, display, structural alteration, or change of any sign unless the sign type is specifically exempted.
- Any sign not listed as exempt or already permitted in a district must acquire proper permitting through the Development Services Division.
- An illumination plan by foot-candle must be provided as part of the sign permit package for electronic message board signs for institutional uses.
- Landscaping at base of electronic message board signs for institutional uses must be included as part of the sign permit package and installation.

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

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