Charleston, SC Sign Regulations: Window Signs (2026)

Two sections of the zoning ordinance work together on window signs. Section 54-415(c), which governs permanent signage in most districts, allows window signs in addition to façade signage but caps coverage at 20 percent of any single window area, and restricts window signs to ground-floor windows and businesses. Section 54-411(g), the temporary-sign rule, allows temporary window signs without a permit, but the 20 percent cap is cumulative: temporary window signs, together with any permanent window signs already on that window, cannot cover more than 20 percent of the window area, and a temporary sign cannot stay up longer than 60 days.

2, the citywide sign-type table, confirms the same 20 percent figure across every non-residential district that permits window signs (SH/RO, CT, DI-TC/GP/ND/JC, and HI/LI/GB/LB/GO/BP/MU), while residential districts do not permit window signs at all. Because the cap is measured per window and covers both permanent and temporary signage together, a shop that already uses window decals or a permanent logo close to the 20 percent line has correspondingly less room for a temporary sale banner or poster in that same window before it needs to remove something to stay compliant.

This window-sign allowance is separate from, and does not count against, the façade sign area cap in Section 54-415(b), which limits printed or painted signage on the building face itself to 10 percent per façade.