# Sign Regulations in East Hampton, Connecticut

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

- **Jurisdiction:** East Hampton, Connecticut (CT)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/connecticut/east-hampton
- **Data last verified:** 2025-11-05
- **Source:** [other municipal code](https://www.easthamptonct.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif7556/f/uploads/3.20.2025_reg.pdf#page=123)

## At a glance

East Hampton, Connecticut regulates 27 sign types across 5 zoning districts. Freestanding Sign (< 5,000 sq ft building)s in the C Zone; DD Zone zoning district are capped at 10 ft maximum overall height tall and 25 sq ft maximum area, with a Minimum 15 ft from edge of paved roadway setback (Sec. Sec. 7.2.D(4) (table row: <5,000 sq ft); B(3); B(4); B(7); D(1)). Most commercial signs in East Hampton require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (5 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 10 | 24 inches maximum height | 1 sq ft maximum area | — |
| Residential Districts | 11 | 6 ft maximum height above ground | 20 sq ft maximum area | — |
| C Zone; DD Zone | 6 | May not extend above the highest portion of the building; minimum 10 ft clearance from grade to bottom of sign | 100 sq ft maximum area | — |
| I Zone | 6 | May not extend above the highest portion of the building; minimum 10 ft clearance from grade to bottom of sign | 100 sq ft maximum area | — |
| VC Zone | 1 | May not extend above the highest portion of the building; minimum 10 ft clearance from grade to bottom of sign | — | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 5 zones)

### Residential Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Resident Identification Sign | — | 2 sq ft maximum area | — | — | 1 | On the premises | — | Sec. 7.2.C(1) |
| Temporary Real Estate Sign (Residential) | — | 4 sq ft maximum area | — | — | 1 | On the land or building being sold or leased | — | Sec. 7.2.C(2) |
| Temporary Personal Property Sale Sign (Residential) | — | 2 sq ft maximum area | — | — | 1 | At premises where sale of personal property owned by a resident occurs | — | Sec. 7.2.C(3) |
| Temporary Public Auction/Foreclosure Sign (Residential) | — | 6 sq ft maximum area | — | — | 1 | On premises to be auctioned or on which the property is located | — | Sec. 7.2.C(4) |
| Temporary Construction Site Sign (Residential) | — | 12 sq ft maximum area | — | — | 1 | On construction site | — | Sec. 7.2.C(5) |
| Farm Operation Signs (Residential) | — | Total area across all signs: 12 sq ft maximum | — | At least 50 ft from street intersections | Up to 2 signs | On farm operation property | — | Sec. 7.2.C(7) |
| Entrance Sign to Commercial Recreation Area (Residential) | — | 20 sq ft maximum area | — | — | 1 | At the entrance of a commercial recreation area | — | Sec. 7.2.C(9) |
| Off-Premises Meeting Signs (Residential) | — | 3 sq ft maximum area per sign | — | — | Up to 3 | Off-premises directional signs | — | Sec. 7.2.C(10) |

### C Zone; DD Zone

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall/Building-Affixed Sign | May not extend above the highest portion of the building; minimum 10 ft clearance from grade to bottom of sign | — | — | — | — | Affixed to building frontage | — | Sec. 7.2.D(3); B(4); B(6); B(8); D(1) |
| Freestanding Sign (< 5,000 sq ft building) | 10 ft maximum overall height | 25 sq ft maximum area | — | Minimum 15 ft from edge of paved roadway | — | On the property of intended use; not within the public right-of-way | — | Sec. 7.2.D(4) (table row: <5,000 sq ft); B(3); B(4); B(7); D(1) |
| Freestanding Sign (5,001–10,000 sq ft building) | 10 ft maximum overall height | 50 sq ft maximum area | — | Minimum 15 ft from edge of paved roadway | — | On the property of intended use; not within the public right-of-way | — | Sec. 7.2.D(4) (table row: 5,001–10,000 sq ft); B(3); B(4); B(7); D(1) |
| Freestanding Sign (10,001–15,000 sq ft building) | 10 ft maximum overall height | 75 sq ft maximum area | — | Minimum 15 ft from edge of paved roadway | — | On the property of intended use; not within the public right-of-way | — | Sec. 7.2.D(4) (table row: 10,001–15,000 sq ft); B(3); B(4); B(7); D(1) |
| Freestanding Sign (15,000 sq ft building) | 10 ft maximum overall height | 100 sq ft maximum area | — | Minimum 15 ft from edge of paved roadway | — | On the property of intended use; not within the public right-of-way | — | Sec. 7.2.D(4) (table row: 15,000 sq ft); B(3); B(4); B(7); D(1) |
| Directory Sign (Multiple Tenants) | — | 50 sq ft maximum area | — | — | — | On sites in C and DD zones with multiple tenants | — | Sec. 7.2.D(5) |

### I Zone

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall/Building-Affixed Sign | May not extend above the highest portion of the building; minimum 10 ft clearance from grade to bottom of sign | — | — | — | — | Affixed to building frontage | — | Sec. 7.2.D(3); B(4); B(6); B(8); D(1) |
| Freestanding Sign (< 5,000 sq ft building) | 10 ft maximum overall height | 25 sq ft maximum area | — | Minimum 15 ft from edge of paved roadway | — | On the property of intended use; not within the public right-of-way | — | Sec. 7.2.D(4) (table row: <5,000 sq ft); B(3); B(4); B(7); D(1) |
| Freestanding Sign (5,001–10,000 sq ft building) | 10 ft maximum overall height | 50 sq ft maximum area | — | Minimum 15 ft from edge of paved roadway | — | On the property of intended use; not within the public right-of-way | — | Sec. 7.2.D(4) (table row: 5,001–10,000 sq ft); B(3); B(4); B(7); D(1) |
| Freestanding Sign (10,001–15,000 sq ft building) | 10 ft maximum overall height | 75 sq ft maximum area | — | Minimum 15 ft from edge of paved roadway | — | On the property of intended use; not within the public right-of-way | — | Sec. 7.2.D(4) (table row: 10,001–15,000 sq ft); B(3); B(4); B(7); D(1) |
| Freestanding Sign (15,000 sq ft building) | 10 ft maximum overall height | 100 sq ft maximum area | — | Minimum 15 ft from edge of paved roadway | — | On the property of intended use; not within the public right-of-way | — | Sec. 7.2.D(4) (table row: 15,000 sq ft); B(3); B(4); B(7); D(1) |
| Directory Sign (Multiple Tenants) | — | 50 sq ft maximum area | — | — | — | On sites in I zone with multiple tenants | — | Sec. 7.2.D(5) |

## Prohibited signs in East Hampton

- Signs unrelated to an active land use are considered abandoned or derelict and must be removed from public view, except real estate signs and existing off-premise outdoor advertising signs.
- No sign may interfere with or obstruct the view of traffic or be confused with any authorized traffic sign, signal, or device.
- Signs located within the public right-of-way are prohibited; all signs must be on the property of the intended use.
- Freestanding signs closer than 15 feet to the edge of any paved roadway intended for vehicular traffic are prohibited.
- Freestanding signs taller than 10 feet are prohibited.
- Building-mounted signs that extend above the highest portion of the building are prohibited.
- Signs using translucent or transparent materials or components for the purpose of transmitting or reflecting light are prohibited; signs must be constructed of opaque materials.
- Illumination that casts light directly or by reflection onto streets, sidewalks, or adjacent property is prohibited; light must be concentrated on the sign.
- Pole or elevated freestanding signs are prohibited; freestanding signs must be ground-based with the lowest edge no more than 36 inches above grade.
- Building-mounted signs with less than 10 feet of clearance from the lowest portion of the sign to grade are prohibited.
- All signs not expressly permitted by the regulation are prohibited, including beacons, pennants, dynamic signs, inflatable advertising devices, and temporary signs unless specifically allowed by the regulation or by operation of law.

## Signs exempt from permit in East Hampton

- Ingress and egress signs may be located on the property of the intended use immediately adjacent to the public right-of-way, provided each sign does not exceed 1 square foot in area and 24 inches in height.
- Real estate signs and existing off-premise outdoor advertising signs are exempt from being deemed abandoned solely for being unrelated to an active land use.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- All signs proposed in non-residential districts require approval by the Planning and Zoning Commission prior to erection.
- For parcels with multiple uses or tenants, signage must be uniform in size, construction, location, and design, and must be depicted to scale in the architectural and/or site elevations as part of the site plan application.
- Directory signs for multi-tenant sites in the C, I, and DD zones may be approved when deemed appropriate by the Planning and Zoning Commission.
- Incidental signs are permitted only subject to review by the Commission.
- Temporary banners across public roads and highways require review by all appropriate agencies.

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

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