RUTHERFORD MANAGEMENT CORP. v. TOWN OF COLUMBUS

Full Case Name
RUTHERFORD MANAGEMENT CORP., Plaintiff, v. TOWN OF COLUMBUS, Defendant.
Description

The Court affirmed the trial court's conclusion that the plaintiff's illuminated sign does not violate the Town's ordinance because "the mere fact that the LEDs necessarily flash or move at the moment the sign is changing its advertising copy cannot be considered a violation of the other provisions of the ordinance" which prohibit flashing lights on signs. The Court reversed the trial court's order "to the extent it directs the Town to issue a permit for the sign without any limitations" and remanded the matter to the trial court.

Date
01-04-2005
Court
North Carolina Court of Appeals
Jurisdiction
North Carolina
Plaintiffs
Incident Location
Polk County, NC
Disputed Act

The plaintiff company failed to obtain a permit from the Town of Columbus prior to installing a new sign for its McDonald's Restaurant. The Township sent the company a Notice of Violation because it's sign violated the Town's sign ordinance by using "flashing and intermittent lights to display its messages."

Holding
The Court affirmed the trial court's conclusion that the plaintiff's illuminated sign does not violate the Town's ordinance because "the mere fact that the LEDs necessarily flash or move at the moment the sign is changing its advertising copy cannot be considered a violation of the other provisions of the ordinance" that prohibit flashing lights. The Court reversed the trial court's order "to the extent it directs the Town to issue a permit for the sign without any limitations" and remanded the matter to allow the trial court to decide which features of the sign should be precluded as a condition of plaintiff obtaining a permit.