Are LED Signs Allowed in Raleigh, Durham, Wake County, North Carolina? A Guide to Permits, Sizes, and Zoning
EMC Sign Allowed?
✅ Yes. Under Raleigh’s UDO Sec 7.3.16 (General Sign Regulations), signs may be illuminated, and electrically illuminated signs are permitted, subject to restrictions. Since EMCs are a type of illuminated sign, this section provides that if you follow the illumination and permit rules, an EMC-style sign could be allowed.
🔗 Full Ordinance – City of Raleigh Sign Code
🔗 Zoning & GIS Map – City of Raleigh Zoning & GIS Map
EMC Sign Summary Table
| Feature | Answer (under Sec 7.3.16) |
|---|---|
| Zoning districts likely to allow EMCs | Commercial, Mixed Use, Industrial and IH districts where illuminated signage is allowed; subject to district-specific rules. |
| EMC sign types (wall, ground, monument, projecting, etc.) | Electrified signs are allowed; UDO allows various sign types elsewhere; must comply with the illumination rules here. |
| Off-premise EMCs allowed | Not clearly addressed in Sec 7.3.16; off-premise signage has separate sections. This section does not explicitly allow off-premise digital copy. |
| EMCs in Right-of-Way | This section doesn’t allow signs in ROW unless other sign rules or specific district rules allow. General sign rules don’t override ROW restrictions. |
| Illumination / Brightness limits | ✅Yes — there are specific limits: light source must not cause glare; maximum illuminance at property or ROW lines; internal illumination limits, etc. |
| Permit requirements | ✅Yes — illuminated signs must also have electrical permits; must comply with building code, National Electrical Code, etc. |
Key Provisions from Sec. 7.3.16 (Relevant to EMCs)
Here are the rules from this section that would affect whether your EMC sign proposal would comply:
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Illumination Standards
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Illuminated signs must avoid directing glare or excessive illumination toward streets, sidewalks, drivers, cyclists, or pedestrians.
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No sign shall cast more than 0.5 footcandles of light at property lines of any Residential District; at the right-of-way line of a street, the limit is 2.0 footcandles.
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Internal illumination cannot exceed 10 footcandles measured at a distance of 10 feet from the sign.
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Electrically illuminated signs must have a disconnect switch per the NC electrical code.
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Measurement of Sign Area
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Maximum Signage / Sign Area Limits
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For establishments in Mixed Use, IH (Industrial High), or CMP (Campus) districts (excluding adopted Streetscape Plans or Fayetteville Street frontage): max is 2 sq ft per linear foot of building side facing any street, up to 300 sq ft.
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If a ground sign/tract identification sign is located on the same property, the maximum sign area per establishment is limited to 200 sq ft.
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For properties fronting Fayetteville Street (south of Morgan St & north of South St), signs (or a combination) can go up to 3 sq ft per linear foot.
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Other Requirements
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Signs must meet building code, NC state codes, and the National Electrical Code.
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Electrical permits are required for electrically illuminated signs.
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Implications for EMC Sign Projects
If you are planning to install an EMC (digital message center) sign in Raleigh:
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Ensure the zone you’re in permits illuminated signage and does not have special overlays or custom signage plans that further restrict illumination or sign types.
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Design the EMC so that its illumination and brightness do not exceed Raleigh’s established limits: no glare, footcandle limits at residential boundaries, internal illumination limit, and proper switch/disconnect.
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The sign area/display face area must be factored properly per Raleigh’s measurement rules (individual letters, multi-sided signs, etc.) so your digital display content fits within the allowed sign size.
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Obtain both a sign permit and an electrical permit; ensure compliance with building, safety, and electrical codes.
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If your property is subject to a Custom Signage Plan or Streetscape Plan, that plan may control instead of the general rules.
Full Excerpt / Text Snippets
“Any conforming sign, unless otherwise specifically regulated, may be illuminated provided the following standards are met …”
“No illuminated sign shall cast light to exceed 0.5 footcandles measured at the property line of any Residential District … and 2.0 footcandles at the right-of-way line of a street.”
“Internal illumination cannot exceed 10 footcandles measured at a distance of 10 feet from the sign.”
External References
🗺️ Walls Zoning & GIS Map
📘 Walls Zoning Sign Code
📝 Permit Application Portal