Business owners in Southport now need a permit from the city for sandwich board signs.

Even with a permit, there are additional regulations.The signs are only allowed in certain zoning districts, and signs must be removed when the business closes for the day or at dusk, which ever comes first.

Signs are not allowed within 20 feet of an intersection or within 5 feet of a fire hydrant or crosswalk. There must be four feet of sidewalk space around the sign. One last rule, the signs cannot be placed in a location that would interfere with opening car doors.

Business Owner Pamela Sexton said, “I think it’s good that they’ve allowed our signs, I just hope the restrictions do not inhibit or hurt business if the signs have to be made considerably smaller. And I hope it doesn’t cause a lot of businesses to have to spend more money in an already tough economy to accommodate the restrictions that are on the new ordinance.”