Cary, NC Sign Regulations: Window Signs (2026)
Key Facts
- Coverage limit
- 25% of each window pane
- Illumination
- Separate illumination not allowed
- Permit
- Not required
- Residential rule
- Same 25% cap, no commercial message
Summary
The Town of Cary caps window signs at 25 percent of each window pane's glass area on both business and residential property, with no separate illumination and no permit required.
Signs shall be allowed on the inside or outside of window glass provided that they cover no more than twenty-five (25) percent of the glass area of each individual window pane and they are not separately illuminated. Signs permanently affixed to the external side of windows shall be a medium or premium grade vinyl, digital image using solvent coloring, or other similar type material and shall be maintained in good order.
(P) Mailbox Sign Signage on mailboxes shall be limited to individual name(s) and the address of the property served by the mailbox, as allowed by the US Postal Service.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2023 S-87_S-57: Current through local ordinance 2022-Code-05, passed 11-17-2022 and effective 11-17-2022 | LDO: Current through local ordinance 2022-LDO-04, passed 11-17-22 and effective 11-17-22).
Full Breakdown
Cary's Land Development Ordinance limits window signs to no more than 25 percent of the glass area of each individual window pane and bars separate illumination, per LDO § 9.2.5(O) for commercial and other non-residential property. The parallel rule for single-unit homes and duplexes, LDO § 9.2.7(D), applies the same 25 percent cap but adds that the sign carry no commercial message. No sign permit is required for either category. Signs permanently affixed to the outside of glass must be medium- or premium-grade vinyl, a solvent-colored digital image, or similar durable material kept in good repair.
Violations & Fines
Violations of Chapter 9 sign rules draw escalating civil penalties under LDO § 11.7.2(C): $100 for the first day, $250 for the second, $500 for each day after.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit for a window sign in Cary?
Can a home window sign advertise a business?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Cary
Compare Cary 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.