# Sign Regulations in Hartford, Connecticut

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Hartford, Connecticut (CT)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/connecticut/hartford
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-08
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/CT/Hartford/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=PTIIMUCO_CH13FIPRPR_ARTIIIFIPRFISA_DIV4FLLI_S13-132SMLIMARESI)

## At a glance

Hartford, Connecticut regulates 9 sign types across 10 zoning districts. Most commercial signs in Hartford require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (10 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Downtown Districts (DT-1, DT-2, DT-3), Transit Oriented Development Overlay | 9 | — | — | — |
| Main Street Districts (MS-1, MS-2, MS-3) | 9 | — | Not permitted | — |
| Commercial Districts (CX-1, CX-2) | 8 | — | — | — |
| Industrial Districts (ID-1, ID-2) | 8 | — | — | — |
| Commercial Industrial Mix Districts | 7 | — | — | — |
| Multi-Use Mix Districts (MX-1, MX-2) | 8 | — | — | — |
| Neighborhood Mix Districts (NX-1, NX-2, NX-3) | 8 | — | — | — |
| Neighborhood Districts (N-1, N-2, N-3, N-4, N-5) | 8 | — | — | — |
| Open Space Districts (OS) | 5 | — | — | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 1 | — | — | — |

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

### Multi-Use Mix Districts (MX-1, MX-2)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | — | — | — | — | 2 per lot or one per street front (campus overlay) or as allowed by permit | Facade/wall fronting street | — | Figure 8.2-B |
| Projecting Sign | — | — | — | — | 2 per lot or one per street front (campus overlay) or as allowed by permit | Projecting from building facade | — | Figure 8.2-A, Figure 8.2-B |
| Awning Sign | — | — | — | — | 2 per lot or one per street front (campus overlay) or as allowed by permit | Affixed to awning | — | Figure 8.2-A, Figure 8.2-B |
| Canopy-Mounted Sign | — | — | — | — | 2 per lot or one per street front (campus overlay) or as allowed by permit | Mounted on canopy | — | Figure 8.2-A, Figure 8.2-B |
| Roof Sign | — | — | — | — | — | On roof | — | Figure 8.2-A |
| Window Sign | — | — | — | — | — | On/behind window | — | 8.2.2.B, Figure 8.2-A |
| Monument Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Ground sign | — | Figure 8.2-A |
| Ped-Scale Pole-Mounted Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Ped-scale pole sign | — | Figure 8.2-A |

### Neighborhood Mix Districts (NX-1, NX-2, NX-3)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | — | — | — | — | One per lot (exception: no sign for 1-, 2-, 3-unit dwelling) | On building | — | Figure 8.2-B |
| Projecting Sign | — | — | — | — | One per lot (exception: no sign for 1-, 2-, 3-unit dwelling) | Projecting from facade | — | Figure 8.2-A, Figure 8.2-B |
| Awning Sign | — | — | — | — | One per lot (exception: no sign for 1-, 2-, 3-unit dwelling) | Affixed to awning | — | Figure 8.2-A, Figure 8.2-B |
| Canopy-Mounted Sign | — | — | — | — | One per lot (exception: no sign for 1-, 2-, 3-unit dwelling) | On canopy | — | Figure 8.2-A, Figure 8.2-B |
| Roof Sign | — | — | — | — | — | On roof | — | Figure 8.2-A, Figure 8.2-B |
| Window Sign | — | — | — | — | — | On/behind window | — | 8.2.2.B, Figure 8.2-A |
| Monument Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Ground sign | — | Figure 8.2-A |
| Ped-Scale Pole-Mounted Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Ped-scale pole sign | — | Figure 8.2-A |

### Neighborhood Districts (N-1, N-2, N-3, N-4, N-5)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | — | — | — | — | One per lot (exception: no sign for 1-, 2-, 3-unit dwelling) | On building | — | Figure 8.2-B |
| Projecting Sign | — | — | — | — | One per lot (exception: no sign for 1-, 2-, 3-unit dwelling) | Projecting from building | — | Figure 8.2-A |
| Awning Sign | — | — | — | — | One per lot (exception: no sign for 1-, 2-, 3-unit dwelling) | On awning | — | Figure 8.2-A |
| Canopy-Mounted Sign | — | — | — | — | One per lot (exception: no sign for 1-, 2-, 3-unit dwelling) | On canopy | — | Figure 8.2-A |
| Roof Sign | — | — | — | — | — | On roof | — | Figure 8.2-A |
| Window Sign | — | — | — | — | — | On/behind window | — | 8.2.2.B, Figure 8.2-A |
| Monument Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Ground sign | — | Figure 8.2-A |
| Ped-Scale Pole-Mounted Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Ped-scale pole sign | — | Figure 8.2-A |

## Prohibited signs in Hartford

- Mixing multiple types of signs of any combination on a single building is prohibited, except as explicitly provided for combinations of certain sign types.
- When a sign type is not listed as permitted or permitted with conditions in the district on Figure 8.2-A Permitted Sign Types by District, the sign is prohibited in the district.

## Signs exempt from permit in Hartford

- Exempt signs and temporary signs are not subject to the permitted sign type or maximum quantity and size limitations, unless otherwise specified.
- Exempt and temporary signs are not included in the maximum signage area calculations, unless otherwise specified.
- Window Signs do not count towards a lot's maximum permitted amount of signage.
- Stadium signage is not subject to sign type or sign quantity limitations but requires commission approval under special permit review.
- Roof signs on buildings over 12 stories and wall signs located on the twelfth story or higher are not subject to maximum quantity and size limitations.
- First-floor tenant wall signs are not subject to maximum quantity and size limitations.

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

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