Sign Regulations in Gaston County, NC (2026)
3 rules for unincorporated Gaston County, North Carolina.
Verified from official government sources
Holiday Displays
Gaston County exempts holiday decorations and displays from the sign permit requirement, but only if they stay up no longer than 60 days. The same 60-day cap applies in residential districts and in commercial and industrial districts alike, under Section 12.2 of the Unified Development Ordinance.
Gaston County Holiday Display Permit Exemption
Light RestrictionsGaston County Unified Development Ordinance § 12.2.A(4), § 12.2.B(4)
Sec. 12.2 - Signs not requiring a permit. A.The following temporary signs and flags are permitted without a zoning permit in all residential zoning districts, but shall be in conformance with all other requirements of this ordinance:...4.Decorations and holiday displays exhibited for less than 60 days;... B.The following temporary signs and flags are permitted without a zoning permit in all com...
Digital Billboards
Gaston County bans flashing and scrolling signs but carves out a narrow exception for LED signs with electronically scrolled messages. Each message must hold static for at least eight seconds, transitions are capped at two seconds, and daytime brightness cannot exceed 5,000 nits under Section 12.3(E) of the Unified Development Ordinance.
Gaston County LED Electronic Sign Standards
Some RestrictionsGaston County Unified Development Ordinance § 12.3(E)
Sec. 12.3 - Prohibited signs. E.Flashing signs, signs with flashing or reflective disks, signs with flashing lights or lights of changing degree of intensity or color or signs with scrolled messages (except light emitting diode (LED) signs with electronically scrolled messages...) shall be prohibited. LED signs with electronically scrolled signs shall be allowed under the following conditions:1...
Window Signs
Gaston County lets commercial and industrial businesses put up window signs without a zoning permit as long as the signs cover less than 25 percent of the window space. The exemption sits in Section 12.2.B(11) of the Unified Development Ordinance's no-permit sign list.
Gaston County Window Sign Coverage Limit
Light RestrictionsGaston County Unified Development Ordinance § 12.2.B(11)
Sec. 12.2 - Signs not requiring a permit. B.The following temporary signs and flags are permitted without a zoning permit in all commercial and industrial zoning districts, but shall be in conformance with all other requirements of this ordinance:...11.Window Signs—Covering less than 25 percent of window space.
All Gaston County ordinances
See every category we cover for Gaston County: parking, noise, fences, fires, animals, pools, and more.
Gaston County Ordinance Hub →