Lit channel letters
Built in Washington and California
Raleigh strongly advises businesses not to fabricate a sign until the permit is issued, so file first and order your letters once the zoning permit is in hand.
Starting at $9.68 per inch
State guide
Channel Letters and Storefront Signs Shipped to North Carolina
North Carolina businesses can price custom LED channel letters online, have them built in Washington and California, and receive them ready for a licensed North Carolina sign contractor. Banners and window graphics come from our Renton, WA shop.
- Licensing agencyNC State Board of Examiners of Electrical Contractors
- Sign licenseSpecial Restricted Electric Sign (SP-ES)
- Experience3,000 hours, 2,000 of them primary
- CharlotteCity Zoning Use Permit + Mecklenburg County building permit
Last reviewed against the official sources linked on this page.
What we ship
Channel Letters, Banners and Graphics Shipped to North Carolina
North Carolina has a state electrical license made for sign companies. The State Board of Examiners of Electrical Contractors issues a Special Restricted Electric Sign (SP-ES) license, and its qualified individual must be on active duty with a firm primarily engaged in a lawful electric sign business in the state.
In Charlotte, a sign needs a city Zoning Use Permit together with a Mecklenburg County building permit, and the county’s system flags when a sign also needs an electrical permit.
Banners and banner stands
Made in Renton, WA
Raleigh requires a zoning permit for temporary signs as well as permanent ones, so a grand opening banner visible from the street needs its own application.
Starting at $1.58 per ft2
Window graphics and vinyl
Made in Renton, WA
Starting at $1.98 per ft2
Flags and A-frames
Made in Renton, WA
Portable displays visible from the street, such as A-frames, also need a Raleigh zoning permit.
Starting at $16 per item
Trade show displays
Made in Renton, WA
Starting at $269.50 per item
Popular choices
Popular Signs for North Carolina Storefronts
Lit letters for Charlotte and Triangle shopping centers and small-town main streets.
Type 1 – Standard Channel Letter Front Lit
Lit letters for growing suburban centers.
Starting at $9.68 per inch
Type 4 – Hidden Back/ Halo Lit
A polished halo look for offices and clinics in North Carolina.
Starting at $15.75 per inch
Type 2 – Standard Channel Letter – Back Lit
A soft glow on downtown brick in North Carolina.
Starting at $12.17 per inch
Who can install it
Who Can Install a Lit Sign in North Carolina
Under the board’s rules, an applicant for the SP-ES classification needs 3,000 hours of experience, of which 2,000 hours must be primary experience, and may count experience gained in the electric sign field. The application must show the applicant is regularly on active duty in, and will be the listed qualified individual for, a firm primarily engaged in a lawful electric sign business in North Carolina.
Electrical contractors with limited, intermediate or unlimited licenses can also install signs. Look up the contractor’s license with the board before you hire.
| Licensing agency | NC State Board of Examiners of Electrical Contractors |
|---|---|
| Sign license | SP-ES, Special Restricted Electric Sign |
| Experience | 3,000 hours (2,000 primary) |
| Qualified individual | Active duty with a firm primarily in the electric sign business |
Official sources
- 21 NCAC 18B .0201: Requirements for examination applicants (SP-ES)
- NC Office of Administrative Hearings: Electrical contractor licensing rules (PDF)
Rules change. Always confirm with the office that issues your permit before you order.
Permits
Sign Permits in North Carolina
North Carolina cities and counties issue sign permits under their own ordinances, and county code enforcement offices usually handle the building and electrical permits.
In Charlotte, signs are among the projects that need a concurrent Mecklenburg County building permit and a City of Charlotte Zoning Use Permit. The city lists a 3-business-day intake window and a 10-business-day review, with another 10 business days for resubmittals. Contractors can apply online through the county’s contractor dashboard, and the system flags when a sign also needs a building or electrical permit. Sign questions go to the municipality where the property is.
In Raleigh, any business or portable sign visible from the public right-of-way needs a City zoning permit, including wall, ground, projecting and temporary signs. Each sign takes its own application through the Permit and Development Portal, with the City’s sign checklist and acknowledgement form, and a lit sign also needs a non-residential permit application. Installation has to begin within six months of the permit date. Sites with more than one principal building need an approved common signage plan before any sign permit is issued there.
| Sign permit | Your city or county |
|---|---|
| Raleigh | Zoning permit per sign; start installing within 6 months |
| Charlotte zoning | Zoning Use Permit; 10-business-day review |
| Mecklenburg County | Building permit, plus electrical permit for lit signs |
New to sign permits? Read how sign permits work and what your electrician needs.
Official sources
- Mecklenburg County Code Enforcement: Sign permits
- City of Charlotte: Zoning permitting
- City of Raleigh: Sign permit
Rules change. Always confirm with the office that issues your permit before you order.
Weather
Planning for North Carolina Weather
North Carolina summers are hot and humid, and the coast faces hurricanes and salt air while the mountains get snow and ice. Ask your installer about anchoring for wind and corrosion-resistant hardware near the coast.
How it works
How Ordering Works From North Carolina
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Price it online
Use the channel letter builder or send your logo.
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Approve your proof
Check it with your landlord and installer.
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We build and test it
Letters in WA or CA; the rest in Renton, WA.
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It ships to you
Standard shipping takes 3–6 business days in transit; 3-day, 2-day and overnight shipping are available at checkout. Shipping options.
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Your installer mounts it
With our wiring diagram and install pattern (overview). Permit checklist.
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Five-year warranty
On every channel letter style (details).
We build and ship; a local pro installs. A licensed sign installer or electrician in North Carolina mounts and connects your sign. We don’t have an office or installation crew in North Carolina, and orders can’t be picked up.
Questions
North Carolina Storefront Sign FAQ
Is there a channel letter company near me in North Carolina?
We ship custom channel letters anywhere in North Carolina, built in Washington and California and tested before they leave. We don’t install, so you’ll hire an SP-ES sign contractor or a licensed electrical contractor to mount and connect them.
Does North Carolina have a sign electrician license?
Yes. The Special Restricted Electric Sign (SP-ES) license is issued by the State Board of Examiners of Electrical Contractors to qualified individuals of electric sign businesses.
What permits does a sign need in Charlotte?
A City of Charlotte Zoning Use Permit and a Mecklenburg County building permit, plus an electrical permit for a lit sign.
Should I order my sign before the Raleigh permit is issued?
Raleigh strongly advises against it. File the zoning permit first through the Permit and Development Portal, one application per sign, and order once it is issued; installation must then start within six months. A lit sign also needs the City’s non-residential permit application.
How long does shipping to North Carolina take?
Standard shipping takes 3–6 business days in transit, with 3-day, 2-day and overnight options. Checkout shows the estimated date for each, including production.
Keep reading
Guides and Products
Neighboring state guides
Planning a Sign in North Carolina?
Send a storefront photo, your logo and the size and lighting limits confirmed by your landlord or installer. We can suggest options and give you a price before you order.
- Mon–Fri, 8:00am–5:00pm PST
- Channel letters made in Washington & California · shipped to all 50 states