# Sign Regulations in Berlin, Connecticut

Sign permit rules, size and height limits, setbacks, and ordinance citations for Berlin, Connecticut, compiled by PermitPal from the jurisdiction's published municipal code.

- **Jurisdiction:** Berlin, Connecticut (CT)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/connecticut/berlin
- **Data last verified:** 2025-11-04
- **Source:** [other municipal code](https://berlinct.gov/egov/documents/1570046240_93286.pdf#page=129)

## At a glance

Berlin, Connecticut regulates 31 sign types across 8 zoning districts. Freestanding Signs in the Residence 86 Zone (R-86), Residence 43 Zone (R-43), Residence 21 Zone (R-21), Residence 15 Zone (R-15), Residence 11 Zone (R-11), Residence 7 Zone (R-7), Mountain Reserve – 1 Zone (MR-1), Mountain Reserve – 2 Zone (MR-2), Planned Residential – 1 Zone (PR-1), Planned Residential – 2 Zone (PR-2), Planned Residential – 3 Zone (PR-3), Planned Office Residential Zone (POR), Office Professional Zone (OP) zoning district are capped at 6 feet tall and 6 square feet, with a At least 10 feet from any property line. setback (Sec. § IX.A.3.c.i–iv, § IX.A.4.e, § IX.A.7.a–b, § IX.A.6.a.i). Most commercial signs in Berlin require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (8 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Residence 86 Zone (R-86), Residence 43 Zone (R-43), Residence 21 Zone (R-21), Residence 15 Zone (R-15), Residence 11 Zone (R-11), Residence 7 Zone (R-7), Mountain Reserve – 1 Zone (MR-1), Mountain Reserve – 2 Zone (MR-2), Planned Residential – 1 Zone (PR-1), Planned Residential – 2 Zone (PR-2), Planned Residential – 3 Zone (PR-3), Planned Office Residential Zone (POR), Office Professional Zone (OP) | 6 | 6 feet | 16 square feet | — |
| General Commercial (GC), Commercial Core District – 1 (CCD-1), Commercial Core District – 2 (CCD-2) | 9 | — | 64 square feet | — |
| Planned Shopping – A (PS-A) with Frontage on Webster Square Road or Chamberlain Highway | 6 | 20 feet | Max 128 square feet (max 64 square feet base, +1 sq ft per extra 2 ft setback) | — |
| Planned Shopping B (PS-B) | 4 | 25 feet | Max 128 square feet (max 64 square feet base, +1 sq ft per extra 2 ft setback) | — |
| Office Technology (OT), Office Technology – 2 (OT-2), General Industrial Zone (GI), General Industrial Zone – 2 (GI-2), Planned Industrial Zone (PI), Planned Industrial Zone – 2 (PI-2) | 3 | — | 80 square feet | — |
| Planned Office Development (POD) | 2 | 8 feet | 40 square feet | — |
| Special Design District Regional Center (SP-DD), Special Design District 2 – Berlin Turnpike Overlay District (SP-DD 2), Special Design District Regional Center Overlay District (SP-DD Overlay), Aquifer Protection Area, Village District Overlay-Kensington Overlay Zone (VDO-KO), Historic District Overlay Zone (HDOZ) | 1 | — | — | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 3 | — | 4 square feet | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 8 zones)

### Residence 86 Zone (R-86), Residence 43 Zone (R-43), Residence 21 Zone (R-21), Residence 15 Zone (R-15), Residence 11 Zone (R-11), Residence 7 Zone (R-7), Mountain Reserve – 1 Zone (MR-1), Mountain Reserve – 2 Zone (MR-2), Planned Residential – 1 Zone (PR-1), Planned Residential – 2 Zone (PR-2), Planned Residential – 3 Zone (PR-3), Planned Office Residential Zone (POR), Office Professional Zone (OP)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign | 6 feet | 6 square feet | — | At least 10 feet from any property line. | 1 per lot per street with vehicular access | On the property, at least 10 feet from any property line. | — | § IX.A.3.c.i–iv, § IX.A.4.e, § IX.A.7.a–b, § IX.A.6.a.i |
| Identification Sign (Unified Development) | — | 16 square feet | — | — | 1 per unified development | At entrance to unified development | — | § IX.A.6.d.i |
| Directional Sign | — | 2 square feet | — | — | — | On site, where needed for direction | — | § IX.A.3.2, § IX.A.6.c.v |
| Real Estate Sign | — | 4 square feet | — | — | 1 per street frontage | On the lot being offered for sale or lease | — | § IX.A.6.a.i |
| Construction Sign | — | 4 square feet | — | — | 1 per street frontage | On subject property under construction | — | § IX.A.6.c.iii |
| Public/Semipublic Facility Identification Sign | — | 4 square feet | — | — | 1 per facility | At the public/semipublic facility | — | § IX.A.6.c.iv |

### General Commercial (GC), Commercial Core District – 1 (CCD-1), Commercial Core District – 2 (CCD-2)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign (Farmington Ave, New Britain Rd, Mill St, Webster Sq Rd) | — | 40 square feet | — | See location | 1 per lot | No more than 10 ft from principal structure (closest point), nor 20 ft (farthest point). If structure is >75 ft from street line, sign may be at least 50 ft from street line. | — | § IX.A.6.e.i |
| Wall or Marquee Sign (Farmington Ave, New Britain Rd, Mill St, Webster Sq Rd) | — | — | — | — | 1 per occupant | On wall or marquee | — | § IX.A.6.e.ii |
| Projecting Sign (Farmington Ave, New Britain Rd, Mill St, Webster Sq Rd) | — | 8 square feet | — | — | 1 per occupant | Projecting from building | — | § IX.A.6.e.iii |
| Freestanding Sign (Frontage on Berlin Turnpike) | — | 64 square feet | — | — | 1 per lot | On Berlin Turnpike frontage | — | § IX.A.6.g.i |
| Wall or Marquee Sign (Frontage on Berlin Turnpike) | — | — | — | — | 1 per occupant | On wall or marquee | — | § IX.A.6.g.ii |
| Projecting Sign (Frontage on Berlin Turnpike) | — | 8 square feet | — | — | 1 per occupant | Projecting from building | — | § IX.A.6.g.iii |
| Freestanding Sign (Frontage on Main St, Brook St, Kensington Rd) | — | 40 square feet | — | — | 1 per lot | Frontage on Main Street, Brook Street, or Kensington Road | — | § IX.A.6.h.i |
| Projecting Sign (Frontage on Main St, Brook St, Kensington Rd) | — | 8 square feet | — | — | 1 per occupant | Projecting from building | — | § IX.A.6.h.iii |

### Planned Shopping – A (PS-A) with Frontage on Webster Square Road or Chamberlain Highway

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign | — | 50 square feet | — | — | 1 per lot | On landscaped area, on property frontage | — | § IX.A.6.f.i |
| Wall or Marquee Sign | — | — | — | — | 1 per occupant | On wall or marquee | — | § IX.A.6.f.ii |
| Projecting Sign | — | 8 square feet | — | — | 1 per occupant | Projecting from building | — | § IX.A.6.f.iii |
| Freestanding Sign (Land Use on 10+ Acres, 400,000+ sq ft) | 20 feet | Max 128 square feet (max 64 square feet base, +1 sq ft per extra 2 ft setback) | — | Area allowed to increase with additional setback | 1 per road frontage, only one >64 sq ft | On property, in landscaped area | — | § IX.A.6.f.iv.1–4 |
| Wall Sign (Land Use on 10+ Acres, 400,000+ sq ft) | — | — | — | — | 1 per use per entrance | On building at entrance | — | § IX.A.6.f.iv.5 |
| Interior Directory Sign | 8 feet | 24 square feet | — | — | 1 | Within building (interior) | — | § IX.A.6.f.iv.6 |

## Prohibited signs in Berlin

- Signs shall not obstruct or interfere with the visibility of vehicular or pedestrian traffic, shall not conflict with corner visibility requirements, or obstruct/interfere with traffic control signs, signals, or devices.
- Directional signs shall contain no advertising.
- Signs shall not utilize or contain flashing or moving lights.
- All signs not expressly permitted by this section are prohibited.
- Rotating, moving or animated signs are prohibited in all districts.
- Roof signs on the principal roof of any structure are prohibited, except if attached and over porches or porticoes at a building entrance.
- Billboards are prohibited, except as otherwise permitted by Section IX.A.6.c.vi.
- Signs permanently painted, posted, or otherwise attached to any rock, fence, tree, motor vehicle, or utility pole are prohibited, except as otherwise permitted by Section IX.A.6.c.vi.
- Attention-getting devices such as banners, pennants, valances, flags (except governmental flags), streamers, searchlights, string or festoon lights, flashing lights, balloons or similar devices designed for attracting attention, promotion or advertising are prohibited.
- Any sign which could be mistaken for or confused with a traffic control sign, signal or device is prohibited.
- Portable signs are prohibited.
- No wall signs shall be painted directly upon any wall.
- No wall sign shall extend above the eaves of the building to which it is attached.
- In residential zones, no signs shall be internally illuminated.

## Signs exempt from permit in Berlin

- Installation of street signs, emergency signs, traffic control signs, warning signs, or directional signs by any governmental agency is exempt.
- Signs viewed principally from within a building are not regulated or prohibited by this section.
- One real estate sales sign per street frontage of the lot, not illuminated and not exceeding 4 sq ft in residential districts or 18 sq ft in nonresidential districts (no permit required).
- Window signs in business districts, not exceeding 1 sq ft of sign area per linear foot of building frontage; such signs not to be illuminated (no permit required).

## Sign plan & submission notes

- No zoning permits or site plans shall be approved if signage is not in conformance with these regulations.
- For freestanding signs, a plot plan of the premises is required as part of a sign permit application.
- For signs attached to structures, a measured elevation drawing of the building facade is required as part of a sign permit application.
- Plans and specifications of the proposed sign, including dimensions, area, height, message, design, materials, colors, construction, and illumination method, are required as part of a sign permit application.
- Certain sign types or developments require signs to conform to a consistent design theme throughout the site (e.g., for large shopping centers, Planned Shopping A/B districts, etc.), indicating a de facto site sign plan or design approval process.

## Full detail

This page publishes an overview of every zoning district plus a sample of 3 districts in full. Complete zone-by-zone requirements for all 8 zoning districts in Berlin — every sign type, every field — are available with a free PermitPal account: https://app.permitpal.io/?address=Berlin+CT&override=true&utm_source=landing&utm_medium=city-page&utm_campaign=city-berlin

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