§ 19-373. Exceptions

The signs listed below are excluded from these regulations:

(1) Signs not exceeding four (4) square feet in area and bearing only property numbers, post office box numbers, names of occupants of premises, or other identification of premises not having commercial connotations and are on owner's property.

(2) Flags, signs, and insignias of any governmental agency, except where displayed in connection with commercial promotion; items in this category are not to exceed thirty-two (32) square feet.

(3) Signs directing and guiding traffic, parking and safety signs on private property, but bearing no advertising matter. Items in this category are not to exceed six (6) square feet.

(4) Yard sale and for sale signs which are temporary. Items in this category are not to exceed six (6) square feet. All signs in this category must be set off street right-of-way in all zones except commercial. All signs in this category in the commercial district must be set back three (3) feet from the right-of-way. If three (3) feet is not available the sign must be behind the sidewalk or attached to the structure.

(5) Signs located on church property not exceeding thirty-two (32) square feet. A maximum of two (2) church signs directing persons to churches located within the town not exceeding four (4) square feet each.

(6) Current residential monument signs erected prior to 2008 are allowed. Monument signs must be approved and are subject to the subdivision approval process.

(7) Temporary political signs may be erected on any privately owned premises. One may erect nonilluminated political signs prior to any primary or general election. Political signs shall be removed after the general or run-off election to which the sign pertains or after the termination of a candidacy, whichever occurs first. Political signs may not exceed six (6) square feet in size. Political signs will not be allowed within the right-of-way in the town limits or its extraterritorial jurisdiction, shall not be attached to trees or utility poles, shall not be roof-mounted, nor shall they be allowed on any publicly owned property. Political signs may be erected within one hundred (100) yards of the town hall or polling place twenty-four (24) hours prior to the scheduled election subject to limits imposed by the New Hanover County Board of Elections.

(8) Historically significant signs. The Federal Point Historic Preservation Society, the committee charged with protecting historical districts, may nominate signs located in such districts as historically significant signs. The town council shall hold a public hearing and make final determination as to the historical significance of such nominated sign, and if such sign is found to be historically significant, then the prohibition herein shall not regulate such sign. However, such sign may only be maintained and shall not be enlarged, diminished or significantly changed, and in the event of such notification of change, it shall lose the protection as an historically significant sign.

(Ord. of 8-19-03; Ord. of 6-16-09; Ord. of 10-20-09; Ord. of 3-15-11, # 3)