Code of the City of Washington, North Carolina
Chapter 27 - Zoning
Article XVI. Signs
Section 174: Location and height requirements

(a) No portion of any freestanding sign shall extend closer than two (2) feet to a street right-of-way line or property line.

(b) No sign may extend above any parapet or be placed upon any roof surface, except that for purposes of this section, roof structures constructed at an angle of seventy-five (75) degrees or more from horizontal shall be regarded as wall space. This subsection shall not apply to displays, including lighting, erected in connection with the observation of holidays on the roofs of structures.

(c) No wall sign attached flat to a building may project more than twelve (12) inches from the building wall. Projecting signs may, however, exceed the twelve (12) inch requirement, as long as there is only one (1) projecting sign per separate business establishment, the projecting sign does not project more than five (5) feet from the building wall, the projecting sign does not exceed six (6) square feet in area, and the bottom edge of the projecting sign is located at least eight (8) feet above the sidewalk. In the B1H and RHD zoning districts, projecting signs may be located only underneath an awning, may be no larger than three (3) square feet in area and must have a clearance of eight (8) feet from the sidewalk.

(d) No sign or supporting structure may be located on or over the traveled portion of any public right-of-way unless the sign is attached to a structural element of a building and an encroachment permit has been obtained from the City.

(e) No part of a freestanding sign, as measured from ground level, may exceed a height as set out in the following table:

District Height
RHD 8'
All other residential districts 15'
AP 10'
O&I 15'
B1H 8'
B2, B3, B4, I1, I2 25'

(Ord. No. 02-21, 11-11-02)

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