Raleigh’s Glow Dilemma

Are Raleigh’s signage rules keeping things classy or killing creativity?

As Raleigh grows and evolves, so does the conversation around the city’s character—and what we want it to be. 

When it comes to appearances, the writing’s on the wall—or hanging from it. Signage helps define the vibe of a district (think Asheville’s Biltmore Village or the French Quarter in New Orleans), but Raleigh’s sign identity isn’t clear. 

DTR’s handful of standout signs—namely the vintage neon glow coming from The Mecca, DECO and Parkside Restaurant, to name a few—add warmth, personality, and a little bit of buzz for locals and tourists alike. And, yet, they’re the exception—not the rule.

Raleigh’s signage is governed by a set of city regulations that dictate everything from size and color to whether a sign can blink, flash or glow. The result? A look that’s polished and professional, but perhaps a little too buttoned-up.

It begs the question: Are Raleigh’s signage restrictions keeping things tasteful and tidy, or are they shutting out creativity?

The Rulebook

Raleigh’s restrictions date back to the late 1970s, rooted in a desire to preserve visual order as the city modernized. And while minor tweaks have been made over time, the framework remains largely the same, according to Justin Rametta, planning and zoning administrator for the City of Raleigh.

Per Rametta, the regulations focus on what can be controlled by the city: size, placement, lighting and materials. The message on the signs, however, can’t be regulated by the city due to free speech rights. “We can’t say very much about what’s on a sign, but we can say how big it is, what color it is and what type of sign it is—those sorts of things,” he says.

Digital signs, for instance, are largely restricted to Downtown—and even there, they’re tightly controlled to avoid visual clutter and the dreaded Vegas-effect. Elsewhere in the city, digital signs are mostly off-limits so as not to disturb residential areas.

Neon signs, while not outright banned, are reviewed on a case-by-case basis and are more likely to be approved when tied to historic businesses (see: Person Street’s Krispy Kreme). There’s no designated district in Raleigh that encourages creative or unconventional signage, but Rametta says ideas like that could be explored by city council.

Glowing Up

These city restrictions reflect an outdated bias against neon, says Jared Haworth, owner of locally based Lightship Neon, a relatively new neon shop that spun out from now-closed Glas—known for signs like DECO’s neon masterpiece.

“A lot of these kinds of regulations came about due to public pressure campaigns in the 1960s that were trying to demonize neon signage,” shares Haworth. “As new plastic fluorescent signs became popular, neon became associated with older or rundown businesses. It’s an undeserved reputation.”

Haworth’s signs are hand-built in Raleigh, and he sees neon not just as signage, but as visual art that contributes to a neighborhood’s personality. Case in point: Lightship Neon’s recently made sign for Mexican restaurant Little Rey in Raleigh Iron Works beckons visitors to the restaurant via hot-pink lettering and an eye-catching neon chicken. Due to the restaurant’s location inside of the district, some of the stricter signage regulations that would apply to street-facing businesses did not apply to this sign, maintains Haworth. 

As far as a dedicated district with cool signage, Haworth is all for it. “It would be impressive for both people coming to visit and something visually impactful for locals,” he says. And he’s already workshopping plans to bring to city council in hopes of updating some of the city’s broader regulations. 

So while Raleigh might not ever reach the signage legacy of places like New Orleans and Austin, a Downtown district with soulful signs could be in our future. They’re just one bright idea away.

Related Articles

Branding Raleigh End of the Road Gigpro App to Help With Staffing Shortages in Raleigh More Streeteries Are Coming to Downtown Raleigh