Sign Regulations in Apex, NC (2026)
5 verified sign regulations for Apex, North Carolina, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Garage Sale Signs
In Apex, non-commercial yard and garage sale signs on residential property are exempt from the town's sign-permit, size, and duration limits, but they can't be placed in the public right-of-way or a corner sight triangle.
Apex, NC Garage Sale Sign Rules
Light RestrictionsApex Unified Development Ordinance § 8.7.1.C
The following are exempt from the standards in this Section: ... Non-commercial signs on a residential property.
Holiday Displays
Apex's UDO bans permanent illuminated tubing and string lights on trees, rooflines, and building walls, but carves out an explicit exception for reasonable, customary holiday decorations, plus a twice-yearly rotation rule for Town-owned trees.
Apex Holiday Lights Exempt From Lighting Rules
Few RestrictionsApex Unified Development Ordinance § 8.6.4
Illuminated tubing or strings of light on trees and landscaping or outlining property lines or open sales areas, rooflines or wall edges of buildings are prohibited except for reasonable and customary holiday decorations. This prohibition does not apply to Town of Apex owned trees provided that the illuminated tubing or strings of lights on trees are not permanently installed and are removed fr...
Digital Billboards
Apex's zoning code bans billboards, exposed LED signs, and changeable-copy signs outright in every zoning district, with narrow exceptions for gas price displays, menu boards, and marquees under the town's 2021 Unified Development Ordinance.
Apex, NC Digital Billboard and LED Sign Ban
Heavy RestrictionsApex Unified Development Ordinance § 8.7.2
The following signs are expressly prohibited within all zoning districts: ... Billboard signs as defined in Sec. 8.7.9 Definitions. Changeable copy sign(s) as defined in Sec. 8.7.9 Definitions, except for gasoline sales sign, menu boards, and marquee that comply with this Ordinance. ... Exposed LED signs with the exception of LED signs used to display gas prices as permitted by Sec. 8.7.1.A.8.b.
Window Signs
Apex's Unified Development Ordinance caps window signage at 25% of total window area per facade on non-residential buildings, and requires temporary window signs to be mounted on the inside of the glass.
Apex, NC Window Sign Coverage Limit
Some RestrictionsApex Unified Development Ordinance § 8.7.1.B.6
Any sign that is placed on the outside or inside of a window or door and is visible from the exterior and meets the conditions below: Signs shall be allowed on the show window glass of non-residential buildings provided that all such commercial and incidental signs (both temporary and permanent) do not exceed a combined maximum of 25% of the total window area per facade. Temporary window signs ...
Freeway-Facing Signs
Apex's Unified Development Ordinance prohibits billboards, pole signs, and other off-premise advertising in every zoning district, so no freeway-facing billboard can be erected anywhere in town or its extraterritorial jurisdiction.
Apex, NC Bans Billboards and Pole Signs
Heavy RestrictionsApex Unified Development Ordinance § 8.7.2
The following signs are expressly prohibited within all zoning districts: ... Commercial off-premise signs, as defined in Sec. 8.7.9 Definitions. ... Pole signs as defined in Sec. 8.7.9 Definitions. Billboard signs as defined in Sec. 8.7.9 Definitions.
Looking for Wake County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Apex city rules.
Sign Regulations in Wake County →