Sign Regulations in Lee County, NC (2026)
4 rules for unincorporated Lee County, North Carolina.
Verified from official government sources
Political Signs
Lee County allows temporary political signs up to six square feet on private property without a permit, banning them from the right-of-way, utility poles, public trees, and street medians, and limiting display to 45 days before an election through 72 hours after it.
Political Sign Rules in Lee County
Light RestrictionsLee County Unified Development Ordinance § 11.7.11
11.7.11.Political signs. Temporary political signs erected in connection with elections or political campaigns with a maximum area of six square feet provided that such signs are removed within seven days after the election or event. These signs must be erected on private property, and in no instance shall they be permitted within any public right-of-way. Political signs shall not be placed on ...
Digital Billboards
Electronic message board and changeable-copy areas on permitted ground and wall signs in unincorporated Lee County cannot exceed 50 percent of the total sign area, except that time-and-temperature displays are allowed on top of the maximum sign area.
Electronic Message Board Sign Limits in Lee County
Some RestrictionsLee County Unified Development Ordinance § 11.8.4.4
11.8.4.4.Changeable copy. As permitted in Table 11-4 of this article, changeable copy or "reader board" area and electronic message board area are permitted as on-premises ground signs provided that the changeable copy or electronic message board area does not exceed 50 percent of the total area of the sign. Electronic message board area is included in the calculation of the total sign area unl...
Window Signs
Window signs facing a public street or public parking area in unincorporated Lee County cannot cover more than 30 percent of a storefront's glass area, or the sign is reclassified as a wall sign and must meet full wall-sign permit requirements.
Window Sign Coverage Limit in Lee County
Some RestrictionsLee County Unified Development Ordinance § 11.7.16
11.7.16.Window signs. Window signs shall include any sign placed or painted on the interior or exterior of glass windows or doors and which face a public street or other such public location, including common public parking areas as included in the interior of a shopping center. Such window signs shall cover no more than 30 percent of the glass area of the respective storefront. Window signs th...
Freeway-Facing Signs
Outdoor advertising billboards are banned inside Sanford and Broadway but allowed in unincorporated Lee County only in HC, LI, and HI zoning districts, capped at 300 square feet, kept 100 feet from residential zoning, and spaced at least 1,000 feet apart.
Outdoor Advertising Billboard Rules in Lee County
Significant RestrictionsLee County Unified Development Ordinance § 11.9
11.9.1.Standards for the City of Sanford and the Town of Broadway. Outdoor advertising (billboard) signs are prohibited within the City of Sanford and the Town of Broadway.11.9.2.Standards for Lee County.11.9.2.1.Outdoor advertising signs (off-premises signs) are permitted only in the following zoning districts: HC, LI, and HI.11.9.2.2.Where erected, outdoor advertising signs shall not be locat...
All Lee County ordinances
See every category we cover for Lee County: parking, noise, fences, fires, animals, pools, and more.
Lee County Ordinance Hub →