Charlotte, NC Home Business: Signage Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Sign count
- 1 sign maximum
- Sign type
- Wall sign only
- Size cap
- 4 square feet
- Illumination
- Prohibited
- Permit
- Exempt if within these limits
Summary
A home occupation in Charlotte can display exactly one sign, and it has to be mounted flat against the building as a wall sign. Section 22.6.B caps that sign at four square feet and bans any illumination, whether the business is a home occupation or another accessory use.
10. Signs are permitted in accordance with Section 22.6.B.
...
B. Accessory Use Sign Signs for accessory uses are permitted in all zoning districts as follows:
1. Signs shall be constructed as wall signs. Only one sign is permitted.
2. Signs are limited to four square feet in area.
3. Illumination of signs for accessory uses is prohibited.
Full Breakdown
B, the Accessory Use Sign standard in the sign article. That standard applies the same way to every accessory use citywide, not just home occupations, but it's the category a home-based business in Charlotte actually falls under. B allows exactly one sign, and it must be built as a wall sign, meaning it has to be flat-mounted to the building rather than freestanding, post-mounted, or a portable A-frame. The sign face is capped at four square feet, a small fraction of the six-square-foot A-frame signs or 32-square-foot banners other commercial uses get elsewhere in Article 22.
Illumination of an accessory-use sign, including a home occupation's sign, is prohibited outright, so a backlit, spotlit, or internally lit sign is not an option even at the four-square-foot size. 4 sign permit process, which the Planning Department reviews within 15 business days of filing.
Violations & Fines
Putting up more than one sign, exceeding the four-square-foot area cap, or illuminating a home occupation's sign violates Section 22.6.B and forfeits the permit exemption, exposing the sign to removal and the property to a UDO Article 39 notice of violation and civil penalty; a non-compliant sign that also lacks the standard Section 22.4 permit can be ordered removed outright by the Planning Department.
Frequently Asked Questions
How big can my home business sign be in Charlotte?
Can I light up my home business sign?
Do I need a permit for a home business sign?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Charlotte
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