# Sign Regulations in Surfside Beach, South Carolina

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Surfside Beach, South Carolina (SC)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/south-carolina/surfside-beach
- **Data last verified:** 2026-02-13
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/SC/Surfside_Beach/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=VOII_CH17ZO_ARTVISI)

## At a glance

Surfside Beach, South Carolina regulates 36 sign types across 4 zoning districts. Freestanding Sign (Unit or Complex Identification — Multi-Family)s in the Residential Districts (R-1, R-2, R-3, MH) zoning district are capped at 5 ft. tall and 32 sq. ft., with a 5 ft. from property line setback (Sec. Chart 17-623(A) Residential — Multi-Family Uses (Freestanding Unit/Complex Identification)). Most commercial signs in Surfside Beach require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (4 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Residential Districts (R-1, R-2, R-3, MH) | 7 | 35 ft. | Up to 100 sq. ft. | — |
| Commercial Districts (C-1, C-2, C-3, C-4) | 13 | 35 ft. | Up to 200 sq. ft. | — |
| Mixed Use District (MU) | 8 | 5 ft. | Up to 100 sq. ft. | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 8 | — | 6 sq. ft. | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 4 zones)

### Residential Districts (R-1, R-2, R-3, MH)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign (One- and Two-Family & Manufactured Homes) | — | 10 sq. ft. | — | — | One (1) per dwelling | On dwelling | — | Chart 17-623(A) Residential — One, Two Family & Manufactured Home Uses |
| Wall Sign (Multi-Family Uses) | — | 10 sq. ft. | — | — | One (1) per dwelling | On dwelling | — | Chart 17-623(A) Residential — Multi-Family Uses |
| Freestanding Sign (Unit or Complex Identification — Multi-Family) | 5 ft. | 32 sq. ft. | — | Front Setback: 5 ft. from property line | One (1) per entrance | At complex entrance | — | Chart 17-623(A) Residential — Multi-Family Uses (Freestanding Unit/Complex Identification) |
| Freestanding Sign (Permitted Non-Residential Use in Residential Zones) | 35 ft. | Up to 100 sq. ft. | — | Front Setback: 5 ft. from property line | One (1) | On lot frontage | — | Chart 17-623(A) Residential — Permitted Non-Residential Uses |
| Wall Sign (Permitted Non-Residential Use in Residential Zones) | — | Up to 100 sq. ft. | — | — | Two (2) | On building walls; awning/canopy allowed within total area | — | Chart 17-623(A) Residential — Permitted Non-Residential Uses (Wall Sign) |
| Window Sign (Permitted Non-Residential Use in Residential Zones) | — | 25% of each window | — | — | Per window | Attached to glass/pane area | — | Chart 17-623(A) Residential — Permitted Non-Residential Uses (Window Sign) |
| Freestanding Sign (Subdivision Identification — Residential) | 5 ft. | 32 sq. ft. | — | Front Setback: 5 ft. from property line | One (1) | Subdivision entrances | — | Chart 17-623(A) Residential — Subdivision Identification |

### Commercial Districts (C-1, C-2, C-3, C-4)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign (Commercial) | 35 ft. | Up to 200 sq. ft. | — | Front Setback: 5 ft. from property line | One (1) | On lot frontage | — | Chart 17-623(B) Commercial — Freestanding |
| Wall Sign (Front — Commercial) | No height above roof line | Up to 150 sq. ft. | — | — | Two (2) front | Building frontage | — | Chart 17-623(B) Commercial — Wall |
| Wall Sign (Rear of Structure — Commercial) | No height above roof line | Up to 30 sq. ft. | — | — | One (1) | Rear facade | — | Chart 17-623(B) Commercial — Wall (rear allowance) |
| Wall Sign (Corner Lot Side — Commercial) | No height above roof line | Up to 75 sq. ft. | — | — | One (1) | Side facade facing secondary street (corner lots) | — | Chart 17-623(B) Commercial — Wall (corner lot allowance) |
| Electronic Message Board (Wall — Commercial) | Cannot extend over roofline | Within wall sign max | — | — | One (1) | Wall | — | Chart 17-623(B) Commercial — Electronic Message Boards; Sec. 17-620(a)(1)(j) |
| Electronic Message Board (Freestanding — Commercial) | Subject to freestanding requirements (35 ft.) | Within freestanding sign max (up to 200 sq. ft.) | — | Front setback subject to freestanding requirements (5 ft. from property line) | One (1) | Freestanding | — | Chart 17-623(B) Commercial — Electronic Message Boards; Sec. 17-620(a)(1)(j) |
| Directional Sign (Freestanding or Wall — Commercial) | 4 ft. | 4 sq. ft. per sign | — | Front Setback (freestanding): 5 ft. from property line | Up to Four (4) | On-site for entrances, parking, one-way drives, etc. | — | Chart 17-623(B) Commercial — Directional Signs |
| Freestanding Sign (Subdivision/Complex ID — Residential Use in Commercial Districts) | 5 ft. | 32 sq. ft. | — | Front Setback: 5 ft. from property line | One (1) per entrance | Residential subdivision/complex entrances within commercial districts | — | Chart 17-623(B) (Residential uses follow Chart 17-623(A)) |

### Mixed Use District (MU)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign (Non-Residential — MU) | 5 ft. | — | — | Front Setback: 5 ft. from property line | One (1) | On lot frontage | — | Chart 17-623(C) Mixed Use — Freestanding (non-residential) |
| Wall Sign (Non-Residential — MU) | — | Up to 100 sq. ft. | — | — | Two (2) | On building walls; awning/canopy allowed within total area | — | Chart 17-623(C) Mixed Use — Wall (non-residential) |
| Window Sign (MU) | — | 25% of each window | — | — | Per window | Attached to glass/pane area | — | Chart 17-623(C) Mixed Use — Window Sign |
| Directional Sign (Freestanding or Wall — MU) | 4 ft. | 4 sq. ft. per sign | — | Front Setback (freestanding): 5 ft. from property line | Up to Four (4) | On-site for entrances, parking, one-way drives, etc. | — | Chart 17-623(C) Mixed Use — Directional Signs |
| Wall Sign (Residential Use — MU) | — | 10 sq. ft. | — | — | One (1) per dwelling | On dwelling unit within MU district | — | Chart 17-623(C) (Residential uses follow Chart 17-623(A)) |
| Freestanding Sign (Unit/Complex Identification — Residential Use in MU) | 5 ft. | 32 sq. ft. | — | Front Setback: 5 ft. from property line | One (1) per entrance | At residential complex entrance within MU district | — | Chart 17-623(C) (Residential uses follow Chart 17-623(A)) |
| Window Sign (Residential Use — MU) | — | 25% of each window | — | — | Per window | Attached to glass/pane area | — | Chart 17-623(C) (Residential uses follow Chart 17-623(A)) |
| Freestanding Sign (Subdivision Identification — Residential Use in MU) | 5 ft. | 32 sq. ft. | — | Front Setback: 5 ft. from property line | One (1) | Residential subdivision entrances within MU | — | Chart 17-623(C) (Residential uses follow Chart 17-623(A)) |

## Prohibited signs in Surfside Beach

- Any sign which by color, location or design resembles, imitates, or conflicts with an official traffic-control sign or signal.
- Privately owned signs located within any street, road, or public right-of-way, including a public beach access.
- Any sign which obstructs free ingress or egress from a required door, window, fire escape or other required exit way.
- Portable signs, including fluttering ribbons, pennants, streamers, inflated or tethered balloons, inflatable signs, spinners or other attention-seizing devices.
- Signs painted on or attached to trees, rocks or other natural features, fences, fence posts, or utility poles.
- Flashing signs and/or signs involving rotation, animation, or other forms of movement or moving illumination (excluding electronic message boards that comply with ordinance requirements).
- Abandoned, obsolete, or dilapidated signs.
- Beacons/spotlights.
- 'Spin' advertising: persons standing on street corners or on private property with a sign to advertise a business who toss, twirl or maneuver the sign to attract attention.
- Off-premise signs, outdoor advertising signs and billboards.
- Any sign which exhibits any pornographic pictures or words.
- Any sign that violates any laws of the State of South Carolina.
- Signs erected upon, against, or above a roof or roof eaves, or on top of the parapet.
- Any sign which emits a sound, odor or visible matter.
- Any vehicle sign where the sign projects beyond the manufacturer's profile of the vehicle and is displayed in public view primarily to attract attention rather than to serve the business in the customary manner (parade floats excluded).

## Signs exempt from permit in Surfside Beach

- Governmental signs erected by or at the order of a public officer or employee for traffic control, regulatory purposes, street signs, warning signs, and public service company danger/safety signs; may be of any type, number, area, height, location, or illumination as provided by law or code.
- Public signs required by governmental bodies or specifically authorized for a public purpose by federal, state, or local law or code (e.g., handicapped parking, flammable/high-voltage/emergency exit warnings); may be of any type, number, area, height, location, or illumination as provided by law or code.
- Interior signs located inside an enclosed building or structure, provided such signs are not intended primarily to entice customers into the business.
- No trespassing, no dumping, no parking, no loitering, towing, and similar signs: not exceeding 2 sq. ft. per lot for residential uses and not exceeding 4 sq. ft. per lot for nonresidential uses.
- Building identification numbers used to mark the address so public safety can identify the property from the public street.
- Routine maintenance activities (repainting, cleaning, normal maintenance) of existing signs.
- Vehicle/trailer signs used in the normal course of business, provided: the primary purpose of the vehicle/equipment is not the display of signs and it is not used as a static display or for storage/shelter/distribution; the sign is painted upon or applied directly to an integral part of the vehicle and does not alter or project beyond the vehicle body; the vehicle/equipment is operable, currently registered and licensed for public streets, and actively used in the daily function of the business; it has current insurance; and during inactivity exceeding five working days it is not parked or placed so the signs are displayed to the public.

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

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