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TOWN OF HARRISBURG UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT ORDINANCE Article 12

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ARTICLE 12

SIGN STANDARDS.

Table of Contents

12.1 GENERAL PROVISIONS ......................................................................................................................... 12-2

12.2 SIGN PERMIT ........................................................................................................................................... 12-6

12.3 PROHIBITED SIGNS ................................................................................................................................ 12-8

12.4 SIGNS THAT DO NOT REQUIRE A PERMIT ..................................................................................... 12-9

12.5 PERMANENT SIGNS THAT REQUIRE A PERMIT ......................................................................... 12-11

12.6 TEMPORARY SIGNS ............................................................................................................................. 12-13

12.7 OUTDOOR ADVERTISING (BILLBOARD) SIGNS .......................................................................... 12-14

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12.1. GENERAL PROVISION.

12.1.1. PURPOSE.

This sign ordinance is adopted under the zoning

authority of the Town in furtherance of the more

general purposes set forth in this Ordinance.

The purpose of these sign regulations are:

 to encourage the effective use of signs as a means

of communication in the Town while preserving

the rights of free speech under the First

Amendment to the United States Constitution;

 to maintain and enhance the aesthetic

environment and the Town’s ability to attract

sources of economic development and growth;

 to improve pedestrian and traffic safety;

 to minimize the possible adverse effect of signs

on nearby public and private property; and

 to enable the fair and consistent enforcement of

these sign restrictions.

12.1.2. APPLICABILITY.

A sign may be constructed, erected, placed,

established, painted, created, or maintained in the

Town only in conformance with the standards,

procedures, exemptions, and other requirements of

this Ordinance. The effect of this Ordinance as more

specifically set forth herein is:

12.1.2.1. To establish a permit system to allow a

variety of types of signs in commercial and industrial

zones, and a limited variety of signs in other zones,

subject to the standards and the permit procedures of

this Ordinance;

12.1.2.2. To allow certain signs that are small,

unobtrusive, and incidental to the principal use of the

respective lots on which they are located, subject to the

substantive requirements of this Ordinance, but

without a requirement for permits;

12.1.2.3. To prohibit all signs not expressly permitted

by this Ordinance; and

12.1.2.4. To provide for the enforcement of the

provisions of this Ordinance.

12.1.3. ALTERATION OF SIGN FACE.

The physical alteration of a sign face or supporting

structure shall be considered the same as construction

of a new sign which shall require a permit and

conformity to all the dimensional requirements of this

Ordinance. However, repainting of sign or

replacement of sign type shall be considered

maintenance or repair and shall not require a permit.

12.1.4. SIGNS ON PUBLIC PROPERTY

FORFEITED.

Any sign installed or placed on public property or

within a public right-of-way, except in conformance

with the requirements of this article, shall be forfeited

to the public and is subject to confiscation. In addition

to other remedies hereunder, the Administrator shall

have the right to recover from the owner or person

placing such a sign the full costs of removal and

disposal of such sign.

12.1.5. DEFINITIONS.

The terms used in this Section shall have the meaning

assigned herein. Any term not defined herein shall

have the meaning assigned in Appendix A to this

Ordinance.

A-Frame Sign - A portable sign comprised of two

separate panels or faces joined at the top and spread

apart at the bottom to form the base on which the sign

stands.

Animation - The movement, or the optical illusion of

movement of any part of the sign structure, design or

pictorial segment including the movement of any

illumination or the flashing, scintillating or varying of

light intensity. The automatic changing of all or any

part of the facing of a sign shall be considered to be

animation. Also included in this definition are signs

having “chasing action” which is the action of a row

of lights commonly used to create the appearance of

motion.

Balloon - A nonporous bag of material filled with

heated or non-heated air or gas so as to rise or float in

the atmosphere.

Banner - A sign or outside advertising display having

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the character, letters, illustrations, ornamentations,

symbol, color or visual representation applied to cloth,

paper, vinyl, fabric, plastic, or like kind of malleable

material with or without frame.

Building Front - The linear length of building facing

a street right-of-way or in the case of a planned unit

development, a legal private access road.

Business or Building Identification Sign - A

pedestrian oriented sign attached to a building.

Canopy - A protective cover over a door, entrance,

window, or outdoor service area which is attached to

or cantilevered from a building. Also known as an

awning. Permanent marquees and porticoes which are

designed as a continuous or integral part of the

structure shall not be considered canopies.

Canopy Sign - A sign that is suspended from, attached

to, supported from, applied to, or constructed as part

of a canopy or awning.

Changeable Copy Sign - A sign on which message

copy is changed manually in the field through

attachment of letters, numbers, symbols and other

similar characters of changeable pictorial panels. Also

known as a reader-board sign.

Combined Development - Two or more

establishments or businesses occupying a common

building or adjoining buildings which are designed

and developed in a coordinated manner and which

share parking, driveways and other common facilities.

Electronic Message Board - A sign which displays

messages, in alternating light cycles.

Facade - The entire building walls, including wall

faces, parapets, fascia, windows, doors, canopy and

visible roof structures of one complete elevation.

Facsimile Sign - An oversized, three-dimensional

object, such as a chicken bucket, automobile (or

automobile part), or human figure.

Fence Sign - A sign mounted on, attached to, or

constructed as part of a fence or similar structure.

Festoon Lighting - A string of outdoor lights

suspended between two or more points.

Flag - Any fabric, banner or bunting containing

distinctive colors, patterns, or symbols.

Gasoline Pump Signs - Signs attached to gasoline and

motor vehicle fuel pumps, which display material

incidental to the operation of the pumps.

Grade - The uppermost surface directly below the

sign or immediately adjacent to the support. Where

the uppermost surface has been artificially raised for

landscaping or other purposes, grade shall be

measured from the level of the nearest Town or state

street curb.

Ground Sign - A free-standing sign with its base or

its supports mounted directly to the ground.

Historic Building - Any building 50 years old or more

with distinctive architectural features characteristic of

the period of history during which it was originally

constructed.

Holiday Decorations - Displays erected on a seasonal

basis.

Illumination, Indirect - Illumination which reflects

light from an artificial light source intentionally

directed upon a surface. This shall also include

silhouettes of letters or symbols placed before a

background of reflected light.

Illumination, Internal - Illumination provided from a

source located inside or within the face of the sign.

Individual Establishment or Business - A single

establishment or business occupying one or more

buildings designed to function as a single enterprise

which does not share off-street parking, driveways, or

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other common facilities with an adjacent

establishment or development.

Inflatable Signs - A three-dimensional object, filled

with air or gas, and located in such a manner as to

attract attention.

Mansard - A steeply pitched roof, pitched at such an

angle as to resemble a building wall.

Monument Sign – A ground sign that is mounted

generally flush with the surrounding grade. It may not

be attached to a pole or pylon, nor raised by mounting

on a man-made berm, wall, or similar structure.

Supporting elements may not exceed 24 inches in

height and are included in the measurement of sign

height.

Outdoor Advertising (Billboard) Signs - A

permanently installed sign identifying/advertising

and/or directing the public to a business, or

merchandise, or service, or institution, or residential

area, or entertainment which is located, sold, rented,

leased, produced, manufactured and/or

furnished at a

place other than the real property on which said sign is

located.

Panel - The primary surface of a sign that carries the

identifying/advertising message.

Pennant - Any lightweight plastic, fabric, or other

material, whether or not containing a message of any

kind, suspended from a rope, wire, or string, usually in

series, designed to move in the wind.

Portable Sign - Any sign designed or intended to be

readily relocated whether or not it is permanently

attached to a building, structure or on the ground.

Portable signs also include signs on wheels or on

portable structures such as trailers, tent signs, A-frame

or T-shaped signs and normal advertising placed on

motor vehicles which are not used regularly and are

placed in such a manner as to attract attention.

Projecting Sign - A sign which projects from a

structure into a vehicular or pedestrian access way,

more than one foot from the surface on which it is

mounted, and is mounted usually, but not always, at

right angles to the building.

Pylon (or Pole) Sign – A ground mounted sign

attached to one or more posts, whose base is greater

than 24 inches above grade.

Roof Sign – Any sign erected, constructed, and/or

painted wholly or partially on or above the roof of a

building.

Sign - Any display of letters, words, numbers,

symbols, emblems, objects, pictures, or any

combination thereof made visible for the purpose of

attracting attention or of making something known,

whether such display be made on, attached to, or

constructed as part of a building, structure, vehicle, or

object.

Spinner - A wind activated, propeller-type device,

which may or may not be attached to advertising copy.

Streamer - A string or strip of miniature or full size

pennants or flags which may or may not be suspended

between two points.

T-Shaped Sign - A portable sign comprised of one or

more panels or faces joined at the bottom to a

perpendicular base on which the sign stands.

Temporary Sign - A sign advertising a special event

and not intended to be displayed on a permanent basis.

Valance - A short apron which is designed and

installed as part of a canopy/awning and is usually, but

not necessarily vertical.

Vehicle Sign – See Portable Sign.

Wall Sign - A sign affixed on and parallel to the

exterior wall of any building and projecting not more

than 12 inches from the wall. Signs mounted on

porticoes shall be considered as wall signs.

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Window Sign - A sign which is applied to the building

glass area located such that the identifying/advertising

message, symbol, insignia, visual representation,

logotype or any other form which communicates

information can be read from off-premise.

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12.2. SIGN PERMIT.

12.2.1. SIGNAGE PLAN REQUIRED.

For any lot on which the owner proposes to erect one

or more signs requiring a permit the owner shall

submit to the Administrator a Signage Plan containing

the following. For a combined development or other

multi-tenant development, a master signage plan shall

be required.

 An accurate Plot Plan of the lot or parcel, at such

scale as the Administrator may reasonably

require;

 Location of buildings, parking lots, driveways,

and landscaped areas on such lot or parcel;

 Computation of the maximum total sign area, the

maximum area for individual signs, the height of

signs and the number of freestanding signs

allowed on the lot(s) or parcel(s) included in the

plan under this Ordinance; and

 An accurate indication on the plot plan of the

proposed location of each present and future sign

of any type, whether requiring a permit or not.

Incidental signs need not be shown.

 The Administrator shall review the application in

accordance with the criteria established in this

Ordinance. The Administrator shall solicit review

comments in accordance with general review

procedures.

 Permanent signs for planned unit developments,

Traditional Neighborhood Developments and

conditional uses shall be reviewed as part of the

site plan.

12.2.2. SIGN AREA COMPUTATIONS.

The following principles shall control the computation

of sign area and sign height:

12.2.2.1. Computation of Area of Single-faced

Signs. The area of a sign face shall be computed by

means of the smallest square or rectangle, that will

encompass the extreme limits of the writing,

representation, emblem, or other display, together with

any material or color forming an integral part of the

background of the display or used to differentiate the

sign from the backdrop or structure against which it is

placed, but not including any supporting framework,

bracing, or decorative fence or wall when such fence

or wall otherwise meets zoning ordinance regulations

and is clearly incidental to the display itself.

12.2.2.2. Computation of Area of Multi-faced

Signs. The sign area for a sign with more than one

face shall be computed by adding together the area of

all sign faces visible from any one point. When two

identical sign faces are placed back to back, so that

both faces cannot be viewed from any point at the

same time, and when such sign faces are part of the

same sign structure and not more than 42 inches apart,

the sign area shall be computed by the measurement of

one of the faces.

Single-faced sign Double-faced sign

12.2.2.3. Computation of Height. The height of a

sign shall be computed as the distance from the base

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of the sign at normal grade to the top of the highest

attached component of the sign. Normal grade shall

be construed to be either of (1) existing grade prior to

construction or (2) newly established grade after

construction, exclusive of any filling, berming,

mounding, or excavating solely for the purpose of

locating the sign. In cases in which the normal grade

cannot reasonably be determined, sign height shall be

computed on the assumption that the elevation of the

normal grade at the base of the sign is equal to the

elevation of the nearest point of the crown of a public

street or the grade of the land at the principal entrance

to the Principal Structure on the lot or parcel,

whichever is lower.

12.2.3. DESIGN, CONSTRUCTION, AND

MAINTENANCE.

All signs shall be designed, constructed, and sign

maintenance shall occur, in accordance with the

following standards:

12.2.3.1. All signs shall be constructed and

maintained to retain sound structural condition, and

shall comply with all applicable provision of the State

Building Code, all applicable electrical codes, and this

Ordinance, at all times.

12.2.3.2. Except for banners, flags, temporary signs,

and window signs conforming in all respects with the

requirements of this Ordinance, all signs shall be

constructed of permanent materials and shall be

permanently attached to the ground, a building, or

another structure by direct attachment to a rigid wall,

frame, or structure.

12.2.4. PERMIT EXPIRATIONS.

Sign Permits shall be good for up to six months.

Permits may be renewed prior to the end of the six-

month period, if necessary. However, If the permit

expires, the original cost of the permit shall be

charged as the renewal fee.

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12.3. PROHIBITED SIGNS.

12.3.1. Applicability. The following signs are

prohibited within the Town of Harrisburg and its

extraterritorial jurisdiction:

 Signs which approximate official highway signs,

warning signs or regulatory devices.

 Signs displaying blinking, flashing or intermittent

lights, animation, and moving parts, except as

provided for in §§ 12.5.2.2 and 12.5.4.1.

 Portable signs (excluding A-frame signs as

allowed in Article 12.6.5)

 “Wrap-around” signs or other continuous wall

signs that extend around building corners or radii.

 Facsimile Signs.

 Signs placed within any required sight triangle.

 Signs attached to or painted on utility poles,

telephone poles, trees, parking meters, bridges

and overpasses, rocks, other signs, benches and

refuse container, except that the latter two may

contain a logotype.

 Roof signs.

 Pavement markings for purposes other than traffic

control.

 Signs placed within or extending into the right-of-

way of Town and state maintained streets and

roads, except those signs erected by a duly

constituted government body and certain signs

permitted in the CC, TND, PUD, and TOD

districts. (See § 12.1.4)

 Signs that contain language and/or pictures

obscene to the general public in accordance with

NCGS 14-190.1.

 Signs that advertise an activity or business no

longer conducted on the property on which the

sign is located.

 Indirect illumination, such as floodlights, erected

in such a manner as to cause glare that impairs

driver vision on streets or roadways, pilot vision

approaching or departing Concord Regional

Airport runways, or that causes a nuisance to

adjoining property.

 Signs that obstruct fire escapes, windows, doors

or other openings used as means of egress or as

required legal ventilation.

 Signs containing or consisting of pennants,

ribbons, streamers, festoon lighting, balloons (or

inflatable signs), or spinners.



Signs that do not conform to the provisions of

these regulations.

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12.4. SIGNS THAT DO NOT REQUIRE A PERMIT.

12.4.1. Applicability.

No permit is required for the following signs,

provided they are not prohibited as defined in § 12.2,

and provided they comply with the conditions set

forth. Signs permissible in this section shall not be

considered in determining the total sign area,

however, if a sign exceeds the size or in any other

way does not comply with these limitations, it shall

be considered as a prohibited sign and/or shall be

subject to all other provisions in Article 12.

12.4.2. Building Marker Signs.

A building marker sign may include only the building

name, date of construction, or historical data on

historic buildings or sites; and shall be cut or etched

into masonry, bronze, or similar material.

12.4.3. Business Identification Sign.

A pedestrian oriented sign attached to a building to

identify the tenant within. One sign is permitted per

entrance. MAXIMUM SIZE IS SIX SQUARE FEET.

12.4.4. Flags.

Flags of the United States of America, the State of

North Carolina, Cabarrus County, the Town, or

foreign nations having diplomatic relations with the

United States, and any other flag adopted or

sanctioned by an elected legislative body of

competent jurisdiction, provided that such flag shall

not be flown from a pole the top of which is more

than 40 feet in height. Such flags shall be flown in

accordance with protocol established by the Congress

of the United States for the Stars and Stripes. Any

flag not meeting these conditions shall be considered

a banner sign and shall be subject to regulation as

such. MAXIMUM SIZE IS 60 SQUARE FEET.

12.4.5. Governmental Signs.

Signs posted by various local, state, and federal

agencies such as regulatory signs, welcome signs,

holiday or seasonal signs/banners/decorations and

traffic control signs.

12.4.6. Incidental Signs.

Signs indicating vehicular entrances and exits,

parking areas, one-way traffic, no trespassing,

dumping, loitering, etc. Such signs shall not exceed

three feet in height, shall not obstruct any vehicular

sight triangle, and shall be located no farther than 15

feet away from the edge of the entrance or exit which

it delineates. No more than two signs per entrance or

exit shall be permitted. MAXIMUM SIZE IS FOUR

SQUARE FEET.

12.4.7. Occupant/Street Number Signs.

Non-illuminated signs affixed to structures,

mailboxes, decorative light posts, driveway

entrances, etc., which serve to identify the address of

the structure or occupant. All such signs are required

to be placed in such a manner as to be visible from

the street.

12.4.8. Political Signs.

Political signs shall not be illuminated, shall not be

located within a public street right-of-way or located

closer than 10 feet to the edge of street pavement or

within a required sight triangle, shall not be attached

to trees or utility poles, and shall be no taller than

four feet. Political Signs may be displayed during a

period beginning 45 days prior to an election and

concluding 48 hours after the election. In the event of

a runoff election, political signs for the candidates

involved may remain on display until 48 hours after

the runoff election. All portable and roof-mounted

signs for political advertisement are prohibited. All

signs that violate the above provisions and/or

political signs that remain more than 48 hours after

the election shall be shall be removed for disposal by

the Town. MAXIMUM SIZE IS SIX SQUARE

FEET.

12.4.9. Public Service Signs.

Signs displayed for the convenience of the general

public, such as signs for public rest rooms,

automobile inspection, hours of operation, freight

entrances, credit cards accepted, etc. MAXIMUM

SIZE IS SIX SQUARE FEET.

12.4.10. Real Estate Signs

Signs which advertise the sale or lease of the property

on which said sign is located. Such signs may not be

illuminated or located within a sight triangle or

public right-of-way and shall be removed no later

than seven days after the sale or lease of the property.

Signs are limited to one per street frontage.

MAXIMUM SIZE IS SIX SQUARE FEET.

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12.4.11. Suspended Canopy Signs.

Signs attached to the underside of canopy/awnings in

all districts. One sign is permitted per business, and

such signs shall meet the provisions for clearance as

described in the latest edition of The North Carolina

State Building Code. MAXIMUM SIZE IS FOUR

SQUARE FEET.

12.4.12. Window Signs.

Signs placed or painted on the interior or exterior of

glass windows or doors provided that such signs

cover no more than 30 percent of the glass area of the

entire storefront. Window signs that cover more than

30 percent of the glass shall be considered as wall

signs and shall meet requirements for wall signs

within the appropriate zoning district.

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12.5 PERMANENT SIGNS THAT REQUIRE A PERMIT.

12.5.1 Applicability. The Section shall govern

regulations for signs permanently installed on

a site and which are required to obtain a sign

permit in accordance with § 12.2 of this

Ordinance.

12.5.2 WALL SIGNS.

12.5.2.1. The maximum permitted sign area, location,

characteristics, and number of Wall Signs shall be

determined in accordance with Tables 12.1-1 through

12.1-5 and as outlined in this § 12.5.2.

12.5.2.2 The following additional regulations shall

apply to on-premise wall mounted signs:

 Signs on Building Walls Which Do Not Face

Public Streets - The permitted wall sign may be

placed on a wall that does not face a public street.

The maximum allowable size shall be calculated

as if the wall faces a public street. The maximum

allowable size for a sign on one wall is not

transferable to a wall with less frontage.

 Additional Wall Sign or Canopy Sign

Permitted on Corner or Double Frontage Lots

- Lots with more than one street frontage shall be

allowed to erect one additional wall or canopy

sign on the secondary street frontage, provided

that the secondary frontage is at least 100 feet in

width at the street right-of-way. The secondary

wall sign may be placed on the same building wall

as the primary sign at the discretion of the

Administrator. The area of the secondary signs

placed on the primary wall will be calculated

using the linear footage of the secondary walls

transferred to the primary.

 Additional Wall Sign or Canopy Sign

Permitted to Face Side or Rear Parking Lot -

Lots with parking to the side or rear of a building

shall be allowed to erect one additional wall or

canopy sign facing the parking lot, provided that

at least 50 percent of the required parking for the

establishment is located to the side or rear of the

building and an entrance to the establishment

faces the parking lot. The secondary wall sign

may be placed on the same building wall as the

primary sign at the discretion of the

Administrator. The area of the secondary signs

placed on the primary wall will be calculated

using the linear footage of the secondary walls

and transferred to the primary.

 Location Requirements for Wall Signs - No

wall sign may extend more than one foot from the

exterior of the wall and no portion of a sign shall

extend above the wall on which it is mounted.

 Wall Signs on Historic Buildings - Wall signs on

historic buildings shall be placed within the sign

frieze, or distinct place within which a wall sign

was intended to be located, if the building was

designed for such. No wall sign shall extend

beyond such space. If there is no sign frieze, the

wall sign shall be placed below the typical second

floor window area. The design and coloration of

such signs shall be compatible with the character

of the building.

12.5.3 CANOPY/AWNING SIGNS.

12.5.3.1 The maximum permitted sign area, location,

characteristics, and number of

Canopy/Awning Signs shall be determined in

accordance with Tables 12.1-1 through 12.1-

5 and as outlined in this § 12.5.3. The

following additional regulations shall apply

to canopy/awning signs:

 Valance and Copy Size for Canopy/Awning

Signs - The valance, or apron, for any canopy

shall in no case exceed 12 inches in height.

Individual letters or symbols on these valances

shall not exceed nine inches in height. This

provision shall apply only to valances to which

sign copy is affixed.

 Illumination for Canopy/Awning Signs -

Canopy/awning signs that may be illuminated

shall have no bare bulbs present on or around the

sign face.

 Canopy/Awning Signs on Historic Buildings -

No canopy/awning sign shall be permitted on a

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historic building unless documentation indicates

that such a sign was used on the building when

originally constructed and occupied. The design

and coloration of such signs shall be compatible

with the character of the building.

 Clearance Requirements for Canopy/ Awning

Signs and Suspended Canopy Signs - All

canopy/awning signs attached to the underside of

a canopy/awning shall maintain the minimum

clearance above the ground level of any sidewalk

or vehicular access area as specified in the most

recent edition of the North Carolina State

Building Code.

 Canopy/Awning Signs and Wall Mounted

Signs for Combined Developments - All

establishments within combined developments

shall use as individual identification signs,

exclusively, canopy/awning or wall signs. No

mixing of sign types within a combined

development shall be permitted, except that

canopies/awnings containing no advertising copy,

may be used in combination with wall mounted

signs

12.5.4 ON-PREMISE GROUND SIGNS.

12.5.4.1 The maximum permitted sign area, location,

characteristics, and number of On-Premise

Ground-Mounted Signs shall be determined

in accordance with Table 12.1-1 through

12.1-5 and as outlined in this § 12.5.4.

 Base Landscaping for Ground-Mounted Signs

- All ground-mounted signs located within

parking or vehicular use areas, and not in yard

areas, shall stand in a bed of landscaping at least

30 square feet in area. This area shall contain low

growing materials such as ground covers,

perennials, and shrubs, and shall be bordered by

acceptable curbing materials as specified in

Article 8 of this Ordinance.

 Distance Requirements from Existing Ground

Signs - No proposed ground-mounted sign shall

be placed within 50 feet of an existing ground

mounted sign.

 Ground-Mounted Signs for Combined

Developments – All uses within a combined

development (includes more than one

establishment or business on a common parcel)

shall share the permitted ground-mounted sign(s)

that is (are) permitted in accordance with Table

12.1-1 through 12.1-4. These regulations shall

not apply to outparcels of the development, as

outparcels are separate parcels of land.

 Changeable Copy. Electronic message boards

are permitted as part of an on-premise ground sign

provided that the following standards are met:

 Changeable copy signs may only comprise

50% of the allowed sign area.

 Messages shall be non-animated, including

any primary or secondary effects, and must

remain fixed for a minimum of 30 seconds

per message.

 Self-luminous message boards shall be

subject to a maximum luminosity of 5,000

nits between sunrise and sunset, and 150 nits

between sunset and sunrise. Such message

boards shall utilize automatic dimming

controls, either by photocell (hardwired) or

via software settings.

 Self-luminous message boards using LED

technology shall provide a minimum LED

density of 19/19 mm (bulb cluster spacing on

center)

 All electronic message boards shall be

monochromatic; multiple color displays are

prohibited.

 An application for a sign permit for a sign

containing an electronic message board shall

include surface luminosity measurements

(day and night) using a calibrated luminosity

meter and shot from the fronting roadway at

the closest practical position.

 Electronic message boards are only permitted

along parcels with at least 150 feet of

frontage on a boulevard, or 250 feet of

frontage on a major or minor thoroughfare, as

shown on the latest Cabarrus-Rowan MPO

Comprehensive Transportation Plan maps.



Electronic message boards must be placed on

a ground mounted sign with a decorative

masonry base.

 Drive-Through Menu Signs – Drive-through

menu signs shall be limited to a maximum size of

64 square feet.

TOWN OF HARRISBURG UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT ORDINANCE Article 12

12-13

 Additional Ground Signs - Lots with more than

one street frontage shall be allowed to erect one

ground sign per frontage, provided that each

frontage is at least 100 feet in width at the street

right-of-way. No two ground signs shall be

placed on the same street frontage.

12.5.5 PROJECTING OR SUSPENDED

SIGNS.

12.5.5.1 The maximum permitted sign area, location,

characteristics, and number of Projecting or

Suspended Signs shall be determined in

accordance with Table 12.1-1 through 12.1-5

and as outlined in this § 12.5.5. The following

additional regulations shall apply to

projecting or suspended signs:

 A projecting or suspended sign shall not extend

more than five (5) feet into the public right-of-

way. In no case shall this category of sign be

permitted to encroach over a motorized vehicle

travel way such a public or private street, alley, or

driveway. If such a sign is suspended or projects

above a public right-of-way, the issuance and

continuation of a sign permit shall be conditioned

on the sign owner obtaining, and maintaining in

force, liability insurance in an amount of not less

than $500,000 per occurrence per sign.

TOWN OF HARRISBURG UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT ORDINANCE Article 12

12-14 Amended 1/10/05

12.6 TEMPORARY SIGNS.

12.6.1 Temporary Signs

Each tax parcel is allowed one (1) of the following

types of temporary signage, provided it is located

outside of the Right-of-Way and not obstructing sight

triangles at intersections:

 Wall banner

 Yard banner

 A-Frame sign

 Feather banner

12.6.2 Size, Material, and Aesthetic

Requirements

The size requirements of the allowed types of

temporary signage are set forth in Table 12.1. All

banners shall meet the following requirements:

a) Temporary banners shall be constructed of a

material at least 13 oz vinyl scrim or heavier,

or alternatively 9 oz vinyl mesh or heavier

material.

b) All temporary banners shall be professionally

printed, hemmed, have grommets on at least

the four (4) connective corners, and be

mounted on heavy metal stakes when

mounted in the yard; bungee cord or similar

material shall be used to attach the sign to the

stakes, to maintain tautness of sign.

All A-Frame Signs shall meet the following

requirements:

a) The A-frame sign must be professionally

fabricated from the following materials

only: plastic, metal, wood, melamine, and/or

chalkboard.

b) The size limitations for the message portion

on all a-frame signs must be no larger than

six square feet per side.

c) Messages may be changed on an A-frame

sign within a requested set of permit dates

provided that the sign is designed to

accommodate such changes, i.e. a wood and

chalkboard sign or metal and melamine sign.

All temporary signs may be displayed until such time

that they become tattered, faded, ripped, or otherwise

dilapidated. At such time, the temporary sign must

be removed and/or replaced with a new,

professionally manufactured sign.

12.6.4 The Administrator may use flexibility in

administration of this ordinance for special cases of

unorthodox shapes and materials provided that the size

is no larger than allowed by Table 12.1.

Table 12.1

n T

pe Size

Wall Banner 32 square foot maximum

Yard Banner 32 square foot maximum

A-Frame

No larger than 6 square feet

per side

Feather Banner 18 square foot maximum

TOWN OF HARRISBURG UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT ORDINANCE Article 12

12-15

12.7 OUTDOOR ADVERTISING (BILLBOARD) SIGNS.

12.7.3 APPLICABILITY.

The maximum permitted sign area, location,

characteristics, and number of off-premise Outdoor

Advertising Signs shall be determined in accordance

with the standards in this § 12.7.

12.7.4 The following regulations shall apply off-

premise Outdoor Advertising Signs:

 Such signs shall be permitted only in the I-1 and

I-2 districts with the issuance of a Conditional Use

Permit.

 Such signs shall be limited to a maximum size of

- 378 square feet along Interstate 85

- 150 square feet along all other streets or

roads.

 Such signs shall be setback a minimum of fifty

(50) feet from the public right-of-way, or any

legal private access road.

 Such signs shall not exceed thirty (30) feet in

height.

 There shall be only one (1) face per side of the

sign. “Double-decker” signs with signs erected

one over or above the other and side-by-side signs

with signs erected one next to the other are

prohibited.

 Such signs shall be a minimum of one-thousand

(1,000) feet from any Residential Zoning District

or residentially developed property, whether

within the jurisdictional limits of the Town or not.

The distance shall be measured radially from the

proposed sign location to the nearest point of the

residential district or property.

 Each such sign shall be a minimum of one-

thousand (1,000) feet from any other off-premises

outdoor advertising sign, located on the same or

on the opposite side of the street. The distance

shall be measured radially from the proposed sign

location to the existing sign location.

 Such signs shall be a minimum of one-hundred

(100) feet from any existing or proposed building,

off-street parking area or other building or

structure. The distance shall be measured radially

from the proposed sign location to the nearest

point of the building, off-street parking area or

other building or structure.

 No vegetation in the public right-of-way shall be

cut for the purpose of increasing or permitting

visibility to such off-premises outdoor advertising

sign unless approved by the chief engineer of the

governmental authority having jurisdiction over

such right-of-way.

 No off-premises outdoor advertising sign shall be

located in a required front yard setback.

 Such signs shall meet 30 PSF wind loading

requirements and all supports shall be of steel,

aluminum, concrete or other non-combustible

material.

 No such sign shall be erected closer than ten (10)

feet from any conductor of electricity, and all such

signs shall comply with all requirements of the

National Electrical Code with respect to clearance

from overhead electrical conductors.

 Changeable copy or electronic reader board signs

are not allowed as part of any Outdoor

Advertising (Billboard) Sign.

TOWN OF HARRISBURG UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT ORDINANCE Article 12

12-16

Table 12.1-1 Standards for Permanent Signage in C-2

Zoning District

Number Max. Sign Max. Sign

Sign Type Allowed Area Height Location

Ground Signs* 1 per frontage Outside of

stree

Individual per section 50 square feet 8ft. right-of-way

Business 12.5.4.1 and site

trian

Combined 1 per frontage 50 square feet plus Outside of

stree

Development per section 10 sf per additional 10 ft. right-of-way

12.5.4.1 tennant upto a and site

trian

maximum of 100 sf

Outside of

stree

Subdivision 1 per entrance road 32 square feet 8feet right-of-way

Entrance Sign and site

trian

Wall Signs

Individual

Business and

Combined

Developments

1 per frontage per

sections 12.5.2.2

For buildings with no more than 100

linear feet of frontage (wall which

serves as the building’s “front”) the

following shall apply: 1.0 sf per lineal

ft. of the building the wall sign is to be

attached to up to 50 square feet

maximum si

n area

not to extend

above the

vertical wall

n/a

For buildings with more than 100

linear feet frontage the following shall

apply: 1.0 s.f. per 2 linear feet of the

building the wall sign is to be attached

to up to 100 square feet maximum

sign area.

Canopy/ May be substituted

Awning Signs for allowed wall signs 12 sf n/a n/a

Individual

Business and

Combined

Developments

Projecting/

Suspended

Signs

Individual

Business and

Combined

Developments

May be substituted for

allowed wall sign

For first floor units

Suspended sign-4sf

Projecting sign-6sf

For second floor and higher units

Projecting sign – 18sf

Suspended sign – 4 sf

n/a No portion of

a projecting or

suspended sign

shall extend

more than 5 ft.

from building

wall

* Ground si

ns ma

be Monument st

le onl

. Pole and P

lon st

le si

ns are prohibited.

TOWN OF HARRISBURG UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT ORDINANCE Article 12

12-17

Table 12.1-2 Standards for Permanent Signage in

O-I, CD, I-1, and I-2 Zoning Districts

Number Max. Sign Max. Sign

Sign Type Allowed Area Height Location

Ground Signs*

1 per frontage Outside of street

Individual per section 32 square feet 8 ft. right-of-way

Business 12.5.4.1 and site triangle

Combined 1 per frontage 32 square feet plus Outside of street

Development per section 8 sf per additional 8 ft. right-of-way

12.5.4.1 tennant upto a and site triangle

maximum of 64 sf

Outside of street

Subdivision 1 per entrance road 32 square feet 8 feet right-of-way

Entrance Sign and site triangle

Wall Signs

1 per frontage 1.0 sf per lineal ft. of not to extend

Individual per sections the building wall above the n/a

Business and 12.5.2.2 sign is attached to vertical wall

Combined upto 50 square feet

Developments maximum sign area

Canopy/

May be substituted

Awning Signs

for allowed wall signs 12 sf n/a n/a

Individual

Business and

Combined

Developments

Projecting/

May be substituted For first floor units No portion of a

Suspended

for allowed wall sign Suspended sign-4sf n/a projecting or

Signs

Projecting sign-6sf suspended sign

Individual For second floor shall extend more

Business and

and higher units

than 5 ft. from

Combined Projecting sign – 18sf building wall

Developments Suspended sign – 4 sf

* Ground signs may be Monument style only. Pole and Pylon style signs are prohibited.

TOWN OF HARRISBURG UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT ORDINANCE Article 12

12-18 Amended 8-9-04

Table 12.1-3 Standards for Permanent Signage in

B-1, CC, and TND Zoning Districts

Number

Max. Si

Max. Sign

Sign Type Allowed

Area

Height Location

Ground Signs*

1 per frontage Outside of street

Individual per section

16 square feet

4 ft. right-of-way

Business 12.5.4.1 and site triangle

Combined 1 per frontage

16 square feet plus

Outside of street

Development per section

8 sf per additional

4 ft. right-of-way

12.5.4.1

tennant upto a

and site triangle

maximum of 32 s

Outside of street

Subdivision 1 per entrance road

16 square feet

4 feet right-of-way

Entrance Sign and site triangle

Wall Signs

Individual

Business and

Combined

Developments

1 per frontage per

sections 12.5.2.2

1.0 sf per lineal ft. of the

building the wall sign is

to be attached to up to 32

square feet maximum

sign area

not to extend above

the vertical wall

n/a

Canopy/

May be substituted

Awning Signs

for allowed wall signs

12 sf

n/a n/a

Individual

Business and

Combined

Developments

Projecting/

May be substituted

For first floor units

Suspended sign – 4 sf

No portion of a

Suspended

for allowed wall sign

Projecting sign-6 sf

n/a projecting or

Signs

For second floor

suspended sign

Individual

and hi

her units

shall extend more

Business and

Projecting sign – 18 sf

than 5 ft. from

Combined

Suspended

building wall

Developments

sign – 4 sf

* Ground signs may be Monument style only. Pole and Pylon style signs are prohibited.

TOWN OF HARRISBURG UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT ORDINANCE Article 12

12-19

* Ground signs may be Monument style only. Pole and Pylon style signs are prohibited.

Table 12.1-4 Standards for Permanent Signage in

Residential Districts (AG, RE, RL, RM-1, RM-2, RV, RC, TND and PUD)

Nu mb er Max. Sign Max. Sig n

Sign Type Allowed Area Height Location

Ground Signs *

2 per entrance 16 sf 6 ft. Outside of street

right-of-way

and site triangle

Subdivisions

Neighborhood 1 per entrance 16 sf 6 ft. Outside of street

Bulletin Board or right-of-way

Informational Signs and site triangle

Other 1 per premises 16 sf 4 ft. Outside of street

Uses right-of-way

and site triangle

Wall Signs

not permitted n/a n/a n/a

Residential

Subdivisions,

Other 1 per premises 16 sf n/a n/a

Uses

TOWN OF HARRISBURG UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT ORDINANCE Article 12

12-20

* Ground signs may be Monument style only. Pole and Pylon style signs are prohibited.

Table 12.1-6 Standards for Permanent Signage in C-1 and PUD Zoning

District

Number Max. Sign Max. Sign

Sign Type Allowed Area Height Location

Ground

Signs*

1 per frontage Outside of street

Individual per section 32 square feet 8 ft. right-of-way

Business 12.5.4.1 and site triangle

Combined 1 per frontage 32 square feet plus Outside of street

Development per section 8 sf per additional 8 ft. right-of-way

12.5.4.1 tennant upto a

and site triangle

maximum of 64 sf

Outside of street

Subdivision 1 per entrance road 32 square feet 8feet right-of-way

Entrance Sign and site triangle

Wall Signs

Individual

Business and

Combined

Developments

1 per frontage per

sections 12.5.2.2

For buildings with no more

than 100 linear feet of

frontage (wall which serves

as the building’s “front”) the

following shall apply: 1.0 sf

per lineal ft. of the building

the wall sign is to be attached

to up to 50 square feet

maximum si

n area

not to extend above

the vertical wall

n/a

For buildings with more than

100 linear feet frontage the

following shall apply: 1.0 s.f.

per 2 linear feet of the

uilding the wall sign is to be

attached to up to 100 square

feet maximu

n area.

Canopy/ May be substituted

Awning Signs for allowed wall signs 12 sf n/a n/a

Individual

Business and

Combined

Developments

Projecting/ May be substituted

For first floor units

Suspended sign-4sf

Projecting sign-6sf

For second floor

and higher units

Projecting sign – 18sf

Suspended sign – 4 sf

No portion of a

projecting or

suspended sign

shall extend more

than 5 ft. from

building wall

Suspended for allowed wall sign n/a

Signs

Individual

Business and

Combined

Developments

TOWN OF HARRISBURG UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT ORDINANCE Article 12

12-21 Amended 8-9-04

*For Neighborhood Bulletin Board or Informational Signs only.

Table 12.1-5.5 Standards for Wall Sign Increase

Principal Building Distance Setback From the

Required Front Setback (Feet)

Allowed Aggregate Wall Sign Area Increase (%)

0-49 0

50-99 25

100-149 50

200-249 100

250-299 125

300-349 150

350-399 175

400 or more 200

Table 12.1-5 Standards for Sign Characteristics

RE, RL, RM-1,

RM-2, RV, RC,

PUD, TND, TOD

CC,

C1,

PUD

P – Permitted, P/N – Permitted, Non-electronic

Animated

–

Changeable Copy

P/N*

–

Illumination, Internal

–

Illumination, Indirect

Illumination, Indirect,

Exposed Bulbs or neon

–