In unincorporated Guilford County, all signs except State/Federal ones are regulated by the Unified Development Ordinance, Article 7. Temporary signs such as yard/garage-sale signs fall under the ordinance's sign types; small temporary signs generally fall in the “no permit required” category (UDO Section 7.7), but off-premises and right-of-way placement is
The county Sign Permit Bulletin states the UDO regulates the type, number, size, and location of all signs and that all signs except those erected by State or Federal government are subject to Article 7. Signs are classified as prohibited (Section 7.5), no permit required (Section 7.7), permit required (Section 7.9), and billboards (Section 7.11). Small temporary signs like garage-sale and yard-sale signs typically fall under Section 7.7 (no permit) subject to size, duration, and location limits, and may not be placed off-premises in a way the ordinance prohibits. Signs may not obstruct sight lines or be placed in the public right-of-way except as State law (§136-32) allows. Verify current thresholds with Planning & Development.
Signs placed contrary to the UDO are subject to removal and civil penalties; signs unlawfully in the highway right-of-way can be removed by NCDOT and may be a Class 1 misdemeanor.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
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See how Guilford County's garage sale signs rules stack up against other locations.
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