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Aiken County, SC Sidewalk & Pedestrian Rules: Obstruction Rules (2026)

Light Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

A-frame sidewalk rule
Cannot obstruct pedestrian movement
A-frame display window
Business hours only
Poster curb setback
5 feet minimum
Sign clearance over sidewalk
8 feet minimum (24-6.8.3)
Right-of-way signs
Banned except narrow exceptions

Summary

Aiken County's temporary sign table bars A-frame signs placed on a sidewalk from blocking pedestrian movement, and it applies the same no-interference standard to banners and pennants. Section 24-6.6, Table 7 sets the display windows and physical placement limits that keep sidewalks and rights-of-way clear.

These county ordinances apply to unincorporated areas of Aiken County. Incorporated cities within the county may have their own rules that take precedence over county-level regulations.

A.A-Frame signs, where located on sidewalks, shall be located in such a manner as not to obstruct pedestrian movement.B.Banners and pennants shall be properly secured and maintained at all times, and shall not interfere with pedestrian or vehicular movement.

View official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 119).

Full Breakdown

6 regulates every temporary sign type by display period, display interval, and placement condition, and Condition A ties directly to sidewalks: A-frame signs, where located on sidewalks, shall be located in such a manner as not to obstruct pedestrian movement. A-frames can only be displayed during hours of operation and must come off the sidewalk during off-hours. Condition B extends the same protection to banners and pennants, requiring them to be properly secured and maintained at all times and barring interference with pedestrian or vehicular movement, with a 30-day display period renewable every six months.

Condition C addresses posters specifically: they cannot go on telephone or power poles or in the street right-of-way and must sit at least five feet from a curb or street. 5 closes off the public right-of-way to private signage altogether outside a short list of exceptions, permitting only government signs, utility informational signs, church and historical markers consistent with state and federal law, emergency signs, and small directional signs for events like yard sales, capped at three square feet and 24 hours, spaced at least 500 feet apart. 3, which requires at least eight feet of clearance above the ground for any sign that extends over a sidewalk or other pedestrian space.

Violations & Fines

Placement that blocks a sidewalk falls under the general chapter 24 enforcement scheme in Section 24-9.1: the planning and development director issues written notice describing the obstruction and orders it corrected, which for an A-frame sign means relocating it or removing it during off-hours. A sign erected in the public right-of-way outside the narrow exceptions in Section 24-6.5 is itself a prohibited sign subject to removal regardless of sidewalk clearance.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can a business put an A-frame sign on the sidewalk in Aiken County?
Yes, but only during hours of operation and only if it does not block pedestrian movement, per Condition A of Table 7 under Section 24-6.6. The sign must come off the sidewalk during off-hours, and it counts toward the county's other temporary sign limits if the business also displays banners or posters.
How close to the curb can a poster be placed in Aiken County?
Posters must sit at least five feet from a street or curb and cannot be attached to telephone or power poles or placed in the street right-of-way, under Condition C of the Table 7 temporary sign standards in Section 24-6.6. They can display for up to 30 days.
Is there a general ban on signs in Aiken County's road rights-of-way?
Yes. Section 24-6.5 prohibits private signs in the public right-of-way outright, allowing only government and utility signs, church and historical markers, emergency signs, and small directional event signs capped at three square feet and 24 hours, spaced 500 feet apart. Any other roadside sign, including a business's own advertising, is prohibited there regardless of sidewalk width.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Aiken County

All Aiken County rules

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