Political Sign Guidelines
With the upcoming election, the Town would like to remind you of political sign guidelines.
Town Sign Standards
- Prohibited Locations: Signs cannot be placed on or extend into public or private street right-of-ways.
- Safety Regulations: Signs must not create hazards for vehicles, pedestrians, or cyclists and should not obstruct visibility at intersections or driveways.
- Temporary Signs: Residential properties may display temporary signs up to 8 square feet for a maximum of 90 days, but these must be located on private property, away from the street right-of-way.
- Commercial Signs: In commercial districts, temporary flagpoles (up to 24 square feet) and building-mounted banners (up to 32 square feet) are permitted with specific conditions. Businesses can obtain temporary permits for banners, valid for 10 days, with a limit of six permits per year.
In addition to local regulations, North Carolina has specific laws regarding political signs along N.C. Highway 12. If there are conflicts between local and state standards, the stricter rules apply.
State Regulations Along N.C. Highway 12
- Placement Timing: Political signs can be placed in highway right-of-ways from 30 days before early voting until 10 days after the election. Signs left beyond this timeframe may be removed without penalty.
- Property Owner Permission: Permission from property owners adjacent to the right-of-way is required for placement. Additional regulations include:
- No signs on fully controlled access highways.
- Signs must be at least three feet from the road’s edge.
- Visibility at intersections must not be obstructed.
- Signs cannot exceed 42 inches in height above the edge of the pavement or 6 square feet in size.
- Protection of Signs: It is a Class 3 misdemeanor to unlawfully remove, vandalize, or deface properly placed political signs.
If you have any questions, please reach out to the Community Development Department at 252-255-1234.