# Sign Regulations in Clinton, Connecticut

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Clinton, Connecticut (CT)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/connecticut/clinton
- **Data last verified:** 2025-08-25
- **Source:** [other municipal code](https://clintonct.org/DocumentCenter/View/8734/SECTION-34-)

## At a glance

Clinton, Connecticut regulates 30 sign types across 10 zoning districts. Freestanding Signs in the Residential Zones (R-80, R-60, R-40, R-30, R-20, R-15, R-10) zoning district are capped at 5 ft. tall and 16 sq. ft., with a 10 ft. from street/lot line setback (Sec. 34.5.2 (a), (b), (c)(1), (d)). Most commercial signs in Clinton require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (10 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 6 | 4 ft. | 20 sq. ft. | — |
| Residential Zones (R-80, R-60, R-40, R-30, R-20, R-15, R-10) | 7 | 5 ft. | 16 sq. ft. | — |
| Non-Residential Zones (VZ, EMVD, IDZ, B-1, B-2, B-3, B-4, M, I-1, I-2, IP) | 9 | 20 ft. | Aggregate total area: 48 sq. ft. (B-1, B-4, Industrial), 36 sq. ft. (VZ, B-2, B-3, Marine) | — |
| Village Zone (VZ), Village Zone District, Village District | 4 | 20 ft. | Aggregate 36 sq. ft. | — |
| Marine District (M) | 4 | 20 ft. | Aggregate 36 sq. ft. | — |
| Interchange District Zone (IDZ) | 1 | 50 ft. (inc. base) | — | — |
| Shopping Center | 4 | 20 ft. | 36 sq. ft. plus up to 4 sq. ft. for each unit; max 84 sq. ft. total | — |
| Commercial Center | 5 | 50 ft. (inc. base) | 36 sq. ft. per sign, tenant signs up to 60 sq. ft. each, total max directory sign area including tenant signs 44 sq. ft. | — |
| Multiple Tenancy Commercial Buildings | 3 | 20 ft. | 36 sq. ft.; tenant signs ≤ 4 sq. ft. each; total directory sign area (incl. tenant signs) ≤ 72 sq. ft. | — |
| Multiple Building Complexes | 4 | 20 ft. | 36 sq. ft.; tenant signs included, total area including freestanding signs ≤ 72 sq. ft. | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 10 zones)

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Directional Sign (As-of-Right) | 4 ft. | 3 sq. ft. | — | — | No more than two off-premises directional signs | Driveway locations or other ingress/egress areas on premises | — | 34.7.2 |
| Identification Sign (As-of-Right) | — | 3 sq. ft. | — | — | — | Affixed to non-commercial building, monument, tablet, etc. | — | 34.7.4 |
| House Identification Signs (As-of-Right) | — | 3 sq. ft. | — | — | No more than two | On house | — | 34.7.6 |
| Temporary Sign (General) | — | 4 sq. ft. or less without permit; up to 48 sq. ft. max with permit | — | — | One per event; no more than 2 events per calendar year except municipally owned properties (up to two signs at time) | — | — | 34.8 |
| Political Sign | — | 20 sq. ft. | — | — | — | Confined within private property | — | 34.8.4 |
| Subdivision Sign (Temporary) | — | 20 sq. ft. | — | — | One per subdivision | At entrance to subdivision | — | 34.8.3 |

### Residential Zones (R-80, R-60, R-40, R-30, R-20, R-15, R-10)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign | 5 ft. | 16 sq. ft. | — | 10 ft. from street/lot line | One per qualifying use | Set back at least 10 ft. from any street or lot line | — | 34.5.2 (a), (b), (c)(1), (d) |
| Freestanding Sign (General Residential Use) | 5 ft. | 2 sq. ft. | — | 10 ft. from street/lot line | No more than one | Set back at least 10 ft. from any street or lot line | — | 34.5.2 (a), (c)(2), (d) |
| Freestanding Sign (Tier 1 Home Business) | 5 ft. | 5 sq. ft. | — | 10 ft. from street/lot line | One | Set back at least 10 ft. from any street or lot line | — | 34.5.2 (c)(3) |
| Freestanding Sign (Tier 2 or 3 Home Business) | 5 ft. | 8 sq. ft. | — | 10 ft. from street/lot line | One | Set back at least 10 ft. from any street or lot line | — | 34.5.2 (c)(4) |
| Hanging Sign (Projecting Over Pedestrian Way) | — | — | — | — | — | Projecting over pedestrian way | — | 34.5.2 (b)(2) |
| Temporary Sign (Construction) | — | 6 sq. ft. | — | — | — | On construction site | — | 34.8.1 |
| Temporary Sign (Real Estate) | — | 6 sq. ft. | — | — | Max two | On lot being advertised | — | 34.8.2 |

### Non-Residential Zones (VZ, EMVD, IDZ, B-1, B-2, B-3, B-4, M, I-1, I-2, IP)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign | 20 ft. | Aggregate total area: 48 sq. ft. (B-1, B-4, Industrial), 36 sq. ft. (VZ, B-2, B-3, Marine) | — | Meets building setbacks except as specified | — | Setbacks required for buildings unless stated otherwise | — | 34.5.1 (a)(1), (b)(1), (c)(1-2), (d)(3) |
| Hanging Sign (B-1, B-4, Industrial Districts) | — | — | No single dimension > 8 ft. | May extend to within 10 ft. of front lot line | One | May extend to within 10 ft. of front lot line | — | 34.5.1 (a)(1) |
| Hanging Sign (VZ, B-2, B-3, Marine Districts) | — | 18 sq. ft. | — | May extend to within 10 ft. of front lot line | One | May extend to within 10 ft. of front lot line | — | 34.5.1 (a)(2) |
| Arcade Sign | — | 4 sq. ft. | — | — | One per store front | Perpendicular to store front below roof/walkway covering | — | 34.5.1 (a)(3) |
| Neon/LED Sign | — | Each ≤ 6 sq. ft.; max 3 per lot; aggregate ≤ 15 sq. ft.; max dimension ≤ 42 in. | 42 in. max | — | Max three per lot | Inside windows only in permitted districts | — | 34.5.1 (a)(5),(c)(4),(d)(2) |
| Sandwich Board Sign | — | 6 sq. ft. | — | — | One per property | On private property | — | 34.8.6 |
| Temporary Sign (Construction) | — | B-1, B-4, I-1, I-2: 48 sq. ft.; B-2, B-3, Marine, VZ: 36 sq. ft. | — | — | — | On construction site | — | 34.8.1 |
| Temporary Sign (Real Estate) | — | B-1, B-4, I-1, I-2: 48 sq. ft.; B-2, B-3, Marine, VZ: 36 sq. ft. | — | — | Max two per lot | On lot being advertised | — | 34.8.2 |

## Prohibited signs in Clinton

- No sign in any district shall have an area greater than forty-eight square feet (48 sq. ft.) unless otherwise specified.
- No sign shall be attached to a tree, fence or utility pole or painted or drawn on a rock or other natural feature, except that temporary signs may be attached to fences located on municipal properties.
- No sign shall be located within any town or state right-of-way, except for town or state-owned signs.
- No sign, together with any supporting framework, shall extend to a height above the maximum building height allowed in any district nor shall a sign project beyond any property line.
- No portion of any sign attached to an accessory building shall be permitted within required setback areas.
- No sign shall be located on any roof, and no sign attached to or painted on a building shall extend beyond the limits of the wall of the building to which it is attached or on which it is painted.
- No sign shall be permitted which has blinking, flashing, fluttering, oscillating, rotating or pulsating lights or other illumination devices which have a changing light intensity or color. (Signs giving public service information such as time, date or temperature may be permitted provided that they meet all other provisions. Emergency lights are excluded.)
- No “feather” or “swooper” flags shall be permitted.
- No sign, except for a traffic, regulatory or informational sign, shall contain the words “STOP”, “GO SLOW”, “CAUTION”, “DANGER” OR “WARNING”, or incorporate red, amber or green lights resembling traffic signals or resemble “STOP” or “YIELD” signs in shape and color.
- No sign which has any moving parts or assumes any motion, including hanging signs, shall be permitted.
- No vehicle or trailer which has attached thereto or located thereon any sign or advertising device for the basic purpose of providing advertisement of products or directing people to a business or activity, shall be parked on the public right-of-way or any other location which is clearly for the purpose of public visibility. (This does not prohibit vehicle signage used for business identity, such as bus or motor vehicle lettering.)

## Signs exempt from permit in Clinton

- Public signs of a non-commercial nature and in the public interest, erected by or on the order of a public officer in the performance of a public duty (e.g., traffic signs, safety signs, memorial plaques, signs of a historic nature).
- Private directional signs solely indicating ingress and egress, not exceeding three square feet (3 sq. ft.) in area nor four feet (4’) in height, placed at driveways or other premises locations. No more than two permanent unlighted off-premises directional signs are allowed with property owner permission and without creating a nuisance/hazard.
- Signs related to hunting, fishing, trespassing, dumping or loitering, not exceeding two square feet (2 sq. ft.) in area.
- Signs identifying names of non-commercial buildings, dates of erection, monuments, commemorative tablets, and the like, when carved into stone, concrete or similar material or made of bronze, aluminum or other permanent type construction, and permanently affixed to the structure, not exceeding three square feet (3 sq. ft.) in area.
- Decorative signs of a primarily decorative nature, clearly customary, displayed for not more than sixty (60) days in any one year and set back at least ten feet (10’) from all boundary lines of the lot.
- No more than two house identification signs, neither exceeding three square feet (3 sq. ft.) in area, identifying the occupant of the house.
- Temporary signs of four square feet (4 sq. ft.) or less do not require a zoning permit, unless otherwise indicated.
- Real estate signs six square feet (6 sq. ft.) or less do not require a permit.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Properties in non-residential zones with more than one use or tenant (e.g., Shopping Center, Multiple Tenancy Commercial Buildings, Multiple Building Complexes, Commercial Center) must have an overall Sign Design Plan approved prior to the erection or installation of any signs. The plan must address sign design, uniformity, color, lighting, and other standards as specified.
- For Pylon Signs in a Commercial Center, the design plan must specify the number of individual panels and the square footage of each panel. The operator must demonstrate that the signage pattern is consistent with the overall design of the Commercial Center.
- The Commission has the right to impose additional standards regarding size, height, location, and materials of any sign in connection with granting approval under this section, as may be necessary to promote health, safety, and general welfare.

## 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 10 zoning districts in Clinton — every sign type, every field — are available with a free PermitPal account: https://app.permitpal.io/?address=Clinton+CT&override=true&utm_source=landing&utm_medium=city-page&utm_campaign=city-clinton

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