# Sign Regulations in Westminster, South Carolina

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Westminster, South Carolina (SC)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/south-carolina/westminster
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-09
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/SC/Westminster/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=TITXVLAUS_CH152SIRE)

## At a glance

Westminster, South Carolina regulates 17 sign types across 4 zoning districts. Civic Sign (Public Facilities Activity)s in the Residential Districts zoning district are capped at Ground sign: 4 ft; if integrated into brick/stone/wood/berm, up to 7 ft tall and Ground sign: 48 sq ft; Wall sign: 32 sq ft, with a 10 ft setback (Sec. § 152.024(D)). Most commercial signs in Westminster require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (4 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 5 | 42 in (3.5 ft) | 32 sq ft | — |
| Residential Districts | 5 | 4 ft for ground sign; if integrated into brick/stone/wood feature, up to 7 ft | 75 sq ft per sign | — |
| Commercial Districts, Industrial Districts, Neighborhood Commercial (NC), Highway Commercial (HC), Core Commercial (CC), Light Industrial (LI) | 7 | 42 in | NC/CC: 75 sq ft; HC/LI: 32 sq ft (per frontage) | — |
| Core Commercial (CC) | 4 | 5 ft | 75 sq ft | — |

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

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | — | Not to exceed 20% of exterior front surface or 25% of side/rear surface, subject to maximum allowed by zoning district | — | — | One per frontage; subject to wall length and area limits | Applied to wall, facade, awning, canopy, or portico. Must not project more than 24 inches, or 14 inches if flat. Projecting signs may not extend above building roof. Projecting signs in CC must be at least 10 ft above grade/sidewalk. | — | § 152.021; § 152.010(E); § 152.080; § 152.023(A) |
| Ground Sign | Max 35 ft in any district | — | — | Minimum 10 ft from property lines or right-of-way. | One per developed site or parcel per street frontage; more for multiple frontages | Not closer than 10 ft to any property line or public right-of-way. Landscaped islands required. One per street frontage. | — | § 152.022; § 152.010(C); § 152.067; § 152.081 |
| Temporary Sign | — | 32 sq ft | — | 10 ft from right-of-way (unless lesser front setback applies to zone) | Construction/development: one per road frontage; banners: one per lot | No closer than 10 ft from right-of-way, unless district setback is less than 10 ft; then as per front setback. | — | § 152.040; § 152.042; § 152.043 |
| Sandwich Board Sign | 42 in (3.5 ft) | 9 sq ft per side | — | — | 1 per business | Not more than 5 ft from the business entrance; not allowed in roadway or right-of-way unless permit for sidewalk given (must not reduce walkable sidewalk below 4 ft or block access). | — | § 152.013(B)(8) |
| Window Sign | — | No more than 25% of total window area per side | — | — | — | On or within 2 ft of exterior window/door, located on glass or within window frame | — | § 152.013(B)(13); § 152.032(B) |

### Residential Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Subdivision/Residential Entrance Sign | 4 ft for ground sign; if integrated into brick/stone/wood feature, up to 7 ft | 75 sq ft per sign | — | — | One on each side of any entrance | At main entrances to subdivisions or planned unit/multi-family developments (36+ units), on private property. One each side of entrance. | — | § 152.024(B) |
| Business Identification Sign (Multi-Family/Group Dwellings/Non-dwellings) | — | 24 sq ft | — | 10 ft | One per entrance | Set back at least 10 ft from street right-of-way line | — | § 152.024(C) |
| Civic Sign (Public Facilities Activity) | Ground sign: 4 ft; if integrated into brick/stone/wood/berm, up to 7 ft | Ground sign: 48 sq ft; Wall sign: 32 sq ft | — | 10 ft | One ground sign and one wall sign per activity | Ground sign: not in right-of-way; set back at least 10 ft; wall sign on building | — | § 152.024(D) |
| Home Occupation Sign | — | 4 sq ft | — | — | 1 per residence | Principal building wall | — | § 152.024(E); § 152.013(B)(18) |
| Temporary Real Estate Sign | — | 6 sq ft | — | 10 ft | 1 per lot | On property | — | § 152.013(B)(4) |

### Commercial Districts, Industrial Districts, Neighborhood Commercial (NC), Highway Commercial (HC), Core Commercial (CC), Light Industrial (LI)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Ground Sign (Freestanding) | 35 ft | NC/CC: 75 sq ft; HC/LI: 32 sq ft (per frontage) | — | Minimum 10 ft from property line/right-of-way; 5 ft right-of-way in CC for ground sign; 15 ft side yard if adjacent to residential district. | One per street frontage (multiple allowed for multiple street frontages) | One per street frontage; not closer than 10 ft to property line or right-of-way; must have landscaped island. | — | § 152.030(B), Table; § 152.031(D); § 152.032(D) |
| Wall Sign | — | Subject to calculation and may not exceed 20% of front exterior or 25% of side/rear (and not over zone max). | — | — | One per street frontage, subject to area calculations | Mounted to wall/awning/canopy/portico; projecting signs allowed, subject to above; projecting signs over public sidewalks allowed only in CC, min 10 ft above grade/sidewalk. | — | § 152.030(A); § 152.021; § 152.031(A); § 152.031(C) |
| Electronic Message Board Sign (Option 1) | — | NC/CC: up to 37.5 sq ft per frontage; HC/LI: up to 16 sq ft per frontage. Wall sign EMB: up to 50% of allowed wall sign area. | — | — | 1 per developed lot | As wall sign or part of ground/freestanding sign. | — | § 152.030(C) |
| Sandwich Board Sign | 42 in | 9 sq ft per side | — | — | 1 per business | Not more than 5 ft from the front entrance; not allowed in roadway or right-of-way unless Zoning Administrator approves sidewalk placement (must not reduce width below 4 ft or block access). | — | § 152.013(B)(8) |
| Window Sign | — | 25% of total window area per side | — | — | — | On or within 2 ft of exterior window/glass; interior allowed (including painted/hung/signs inside). | — | § 152.013(B)(13); § 152.032(B) |
| Temporary Real Estate Sign | — | 20 sq ft | — | 10 ft from ROW | 1 per lot | On property | — | § 152.013(B)(4) |
| Temporary Special Event Sign | Banner: 15 ft; Gas/air: 15 ft | Banner: 32 sq ft; Gas/air device: n/a | — | — | Up to 3 per approved event | Banner may be wall, window, ground sign, or freestanding between 2 poles; gas/air device on lot. | — | § 152.041 |

## Prohibited signs in Westminster

- No sign is permitted in the city except in conformity with this section.
- No sign shall be allowed to deteriorate to a condition in which it requires repairs or renovations in an amount that exceeds 50 percent of its current replacement cost.
- No signs, except as otherwise provided, shall exceed the height limitations of the district in which they are located.
- Illuminated signs or sign lighting devices shall employ only lights emitting a light of constant intensity and no sign shall be illuminated by or contain flashing, intermittent rotating or moving light or lights.
- No sign or lighting device shall be placed or directed to permit the beams and illumination to be beamed upon a public road, highway, sidewalk or adjacent premises or residence, or skyward so as to cause a traffic hazard or nuisance.
- No sign shall be erected, repaired, altered, relocated, maintained or displayed without first being issued a sign permit and complying with the relevant standards of this section, unless exempted in accordance with the chapter.
- Signs considered abandoned must be removed or covered within 180 days of vacation of the site.
- No sign shall display intermittent lights resembling the flashing lights customarily used in traffic signals or in police, fire, ambulance, or rescue vehicles, nor use the words 'stop', 'danger', or any other phrase, symbol, or character in a manner that might mislead or confuse the driver of a motor vehicle.
- Flashing, animated, nonstationary, or rotating signs or appurtenances to signs are prohibited.
- No signs are permitted within any street or highway right-of-way including bridges and overpasses, except traffic signs, signals, or information signs erected by a public agency approved by the Zoning Administrator.
- Signs shall not be located or illuminated in a way that interferes with the effectiveness of or obscures an official traffic sign, device or signal.
- No sign shall be erected or placed in a manner to impede or obstruct vision within sight triangles at intersections.
- Signs painted on or attached to trees, fence posts, utility poles, rocks or other natural features, the roofs of buildings, pavement of any street or sidewalk, or on other unapproved supporting structures outside of the public right-of-way are prohibited.
- Fluttering ribbons, banners, wind-blown or air-blown devices, or similar devices are prohibited within the NC, HC, CC, and LI Districts, except the flags of governments and their agencies or as otherwise listed in this chapter for special events.
- Placement of banners on or between sign supports, buildings, utility poles, or otherwise outside of the allowed sign face is prohibited.
- Any sign displayed on a parked trailer or other vehicle where the primary purpose of the vehicle is to advertise a product, service, business, or other activity is prohibited (except for actively used business vehicles).
- Portable signs will not be allowed as freestanding on-premises signs within the city limits.
- New billboards are prohibited.
- No nonconforming billboard shall be structurally altered, enlarged, moved or replaced.
- No signs are permitted on the roofs of any building.
- No temporary sign shall be displayed on a roof.
- No temporary sign shall be located closer than ten feet from any public right-of-way except in districts with a front building setback of less than ten feet, in which case the sign must meet the district's setback.
- All signs shall conform to both the sight distance and the sight triangle standards and no sign shall be erected so it obstructs vision or sight distances at driveway entrances and exits.

## Signs exempt from permit in Westminster

- Traffic, directional, warning, or information signs authorized by any public agency.
- Traffic safety and traffic directional signs (including direction of travel, speed limits, and the like) along private streets and driveways, and in off-street parking lots that are installed per the requirements of the Zoning Administrator and which do not exceed four square feet each.
- Public notice signs and signs of a public interest, erected by or on the order of a public officer in the performance of their duty.
- One nonilluminated 'for sale', 'for rent', or 'for lease' sign not exceeding six square feet in area in residential districts and 20 square feet in other than residential districts and located at least ten feet back from the street right-of-way line, unless attached to the front wall of a building. Realty directional signs not to exceed two square feet are allowed Friday 6:00 a.m. to Monday 6:00 a.m. at intersections or subdivision entrance leading to the property being advertised. Real estate signs must be removed within seven days after closing.
- Signs erected in connection with elections or political campaigns (subject to a Political Sign Application, bond, location and size restrictions, removal timelines, and other specific requirements).
- On site directional signs with no commercial message and not exceeding four square feet.
- Signs or stickers not oriented or intended to be legible from a public right-of-way, private road, or driveway when attached to devices/structures more than 25 feet from the right-of-way and not exceeding four square feet each.
- Signs attached or integrated into a gasoline pump, automatic bank teller machine, or drive through component of a fast food restaurant, which give operational instructions, price, brand, or descriptive information.
- Display/menu boards for drive-through lanes provided they do not exceed six feet in height or 36 square feet in area and are limited to one per ordering station.
- Sandwich board signs in all commercial zoning districts, limited to specified size, height, placement, and permitted only during business hours (one per business, not within roadway except with special permit on sidewalk).
- Street address identifiers and building identification numbers (max four square feet, no commercial message) on multi-tenant buildings in NC, HC, CC, and LI Districts.
- Bulletin boards for noncommercial public assembly places, not exceeding 15 square feet of area or five feet in height, not intended to be read from the right-of-way, and limited to one per parcel.
- Signs to identify a new subdivision development or announce new buildings/projects after start of construction (with specific size, location, non-illumination, and removal timing requirements).
- Signs identifying a project under construction for names of project team (with specific size, location, non-illumination, and removal timing; one per road frontage).
- Signs on the interior side of window glass, with window coverage limitations and other stated restrictions.
- Decorative flags and banners containing no commercial message when displayed on a residence or subdivision/apartment entrance.
- Holiday lights and decorations.
- Handicapped parking signs when required by law.
- Nonadvertising murals which do not display lewd or illegal portrayals (must be approved in advance by the Planning Commission).
- One nonilluminating home occupation sign, no larger than four square feet and mounted against a wall of the principal building.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Permit applications for detached (ground) signs must be accompanied by a plot plan or site sketch showing location of sign, scale, parcel dimensions, sign height, support structures, electrical sources, and base landscaping.
- A permit is required for the erection, alteration, or reconstruction of any sign intended for view from the public right-of-way unless otherwise noted as exempt.
- A sign application is required for each sign; applications must include scaled drawings showing size, shape, colors, materials, copy/wording, illumination, and location for wall signs.
- Review for compliance with sign standards occurs at the time of application for a sign permit, site plan, minor subdivision, preliminary plat for subdivision, planned development, or zoning permit, as appropriate.
- If an applicant desires to erect a sign larger than the size exempted by the ordinance, such sign is only permitted upon approval of a variance.
- Applicants for variances from sign regulations must submit to the Board of Zoning Appeals for review in accordance with the Zoning Ordinance.

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

---

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