Apex, NC Sign Regulations: Window Signs (2026)
Key Facts
- Coverage cap
- 25% of total window area per facade
- Applies to
- Non-residential buildings only
- Temporary signs
- Must be mounted inside the glass
- Citation
- UDO Sec. 8.7.1.B.6, codified July 2021
Summary
Apex's Unified Development Ordinance caps window signage at 25% of total window area per facade on non-residential buildings, and requires temporary window signs to be mounted on the inside of the glass.
Any sign that is placed on the outside or inside of a window or door and is visible from the exterior and meets the conditions below: Signs shall be allowed on the show window glass of non-residential buildings provided that all such commercial and incidental signs (both temporary and permanent) do not exceed a combined maximum of 25% of the total window area per facade. Temporary window signs shall only be installed on the inside of a window or door.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: the cited page had not changed since it was quoted.
Full Breakdown
Apex Unified Development Ordinance Sec. 8.7.1.B.6 governs window signs: any sign on the outside or inside of a window or door, visible from the exterior. On non-residential buildings, all commercial and incidental window signs, temporary and permanent combined, cannot exceed 25% of the total window area per facade. Temporary window signs must be installed on the inside of the glass, not mounted outside. This standard comes from the UDO's July 2021 codification and applies within Apex's corporate limits and its mapped extraterritorial jurisdiction in Wake County, North Carolina.
Violations & Fines
Installing a window sign that exceeds the 25% coverage cap, or mounting a temporary window sign on the outside of the glass instead of the inside, violates Sec. 8.7.1.B.6 and can draw a zoning enforcement notice.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I put a temporary sign in my storefront window in Apex, NC?
Does the 25% window sign limit apply to houses in Apex?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Apex
Compare Apex to another location·View the North Carolina sign regulations overview
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Window Signs in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Wake County handle window signs.