# Sign Regulations in Manchester, Connecticut

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Manchester, Connecticut (CT)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/connecticut/manchester
- **Data last verified:** 2025-10-30
- **Source:** [other municipal code](https://ecode360.com/MA2034/document/753199705.pdf#page=156)

## At a glance

Manchester, Connecticut regulates 92 sign types across 12 zoning districts. Residential Sign (Historic Zone - Freestanding)s in the Historic Zone (H) zoning district are capped at ≤4 ft above grade (mixed-use identification: ≤5 ft) tall and ≤20 sq ft (mixed-use development identification: ≤25 sq ft), with a ≥5 ft from any property line. setback (Sec. 17.4.6.F.1, 3). Most commercial signs in Manchester require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (12 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 1 | — | — | — |
| Rural Residence (RR), Residence AA (AA), Residence RA (RA), Residence RB (RB), Residence M (RM) | 12 | 5 ft for free-standing signs in residential zones | 50 sq ft | — |
| Residence RC (RC) | 2 | 5 ft for free-standing signs in residential zones | 32 sq ft | — |
| Business I (B1), Business II (B2), Business III (B3), Business V (B5), Neighborhood Business (NB), Special Design Commercial (SDC) | 31 | Up to 18 ft (novelty signs); Teardrop/air-activated/balloon novelty signs up to 18 ft high | 300 sq ft per tenant (cap for > 250 ft setback) | — |
| Central Business District (CBD) | 7 | 18 ft for free-standing signs | Per business zones standards: Construction 32 sq ft (subs 4 sq ft); Real estate 24 sq ft; Novelty up to 32 sq ft (special sizes for teardrop/balloon types); Directional (general) 3 sq ft; Nameplate 2 sq ft per occupant; Electronic message board 32 sq ft; Theater free-standing up to 200 sq ft or projecting up to 100 sq ft. | — |
| General Business (GB) | 7 | 18 ft for free-standing signs | 300 sq ft per tenant | — |
| Industrial (IND) | 8 | — | 200 sq ft | — |
| Form-Based Zone (FBZ) | 9 | Low-rise free-standing sign only (topmost part ≤ 5 ft) | 100 sq ft (subcontractor signs: 4 sq ft each) | — |
| Off-Street Parking (OSP) | 1 | — | 16 sq ft per acre of OSP zoned area | — |
| Historic Zone (H) | 12 | ≤6 ft overall height above grade | Up to 50 sq ft (property identification wall sign); per-use wall/projecting sign: max 12 sq ft | — |
| Design Overlay Zone | 1 | — | — | — |
| General Regulations For All Business Zones (applies to B1, B2, B3, B5, CBD, GB, NB, and SDC) - Free-Standing Sign Height | 1 | 18 ft | — | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 12 zones)

### Rural Residence (RR), Residence AA (AA), Residence RA (RA), Residence RB (RB), Residence M (RM)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Identification Sign (Golf Course) | 5 ft for free-standing signs in residential zones | 50 sq ft | — | — | Only one low-profile free-standing sign permitted (in addition to any allowed wall sign). | Wall mounted signs permitted; Only one low-profile free-standing sign permitted. | — | 17.4.1.A; 17.3.2.A |
| Identification Sign (Group Dwelling Complex) | 5 ft for free-standing signs in residential zones | 50 sq ft | — | — | Only one low-profile free-standing sign permitted (in addition to any allowed wall sign). | Wall mounted signs permitted; Only one low-profile free-standing sign permitted. | — | 17.4.1.A; 17.3.2.A |
| Identification Sign (Convalescent Home) | 5 ft for free-standing signs in residential zones | 50 sq ft | — | — | Only one low-profile free-standing sign permitted (in addition to any allowed wall sign). | Wall mounted signs permitted; Only one low-profile free-standing sign permitted. | — | 17.4.1.A; 17.3.2.A |
| Identification Sign (Farm & Agricultural Uses) | 5 ft for free-standing signs in residential zones | 50 sq ft | — | — | Only one low-profile free-standing sign permitted (in addition to any allowed wall sign). | Wall mounted signs permitted; Only one low-profile free-standing sign permitted. | — | 17.4.1.A; 17.3.2.A |
| Identification Sign (Municipal Uses) | 5 ft for free-standing signs in residential zones | 50 sq ft | — | — | Only one low-profile free-standing sign permitted (in addition to any allowed wall sign). | Wall mounted signs permitted; Only one low-profile free-standing sign permitted. | — | 17.4.1.A; 17.3.2.A |
| Identification Sign (Places of Worship) | 5 ft for free-standing signs in residential zones | 50 sq ft | — | — | Only one low-profile free-standing sign permitted (in addition to any allowed wall sign). | Wall mounted signs permitted; Only one low-profile free-standing sign permitted. | — | 17.4.1.A; 17.3.2.A |
| Nameplate Sign (Residential) | — | 2 sq ft per dwelling | — | — | One per dwelling. | May be free-standing, wall mounted or projecting. | — | 17.4.1.B |
| Construction Sign (Residential) | — | 32 sq ft (subcontractor signs: 4 sq ft each) | — | — | One construction sign per site; subcontractors may each display one 4 sq ft sign. | — | — | 17.4.1.C.1–2 |

### Business I (B1), Business II (B2), Business III (B3), Business V (B5), Neighborhood Business (NB), Special Design Commercial (SDC)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall/Canopy/Marquee/Roof Sign (Building distance ≤ 50 ft) | — | 32 sq ft per tenant (cap for ≤ 50 ft setback) | — | Setback band: building face ≤ 50 ft from ROW. | — | The side of the building supporting a sign shall face onto a street or onto a parking lot. | — | 17.3.3.A, C |
| Wall/Canopy/Marquee/Roof Sign (Building distance > 50 ft to 100 ft) | — | 64 sq ft per tenant (cap for > 50–100 ft setback) | — | Setback band: > 50 ft to 100 ft from ROW. | — | Building side shall face onto a street or parking lot. | — | 17.3.3.A, C |
| Wall/Canopy/Marquee/Roof Sign (Building distance > 100 ft to 150 ft) | — | 100 sq ft per tenant (cap for > 100–150 ft setback) | — | Setback band: > 100 ft to 150 ft from ROW. | — | Building side shall face onto a street or parking lot. | — | 17.3.3.A, C |
| Wall/Canopy/Marquee/Roof Sign (Building distance > 150 ft to 250 ft) | — | 200 sq ft per tenant (cap for > 150–250 ft setback) | — | Setback band: > 150 ft to 250 ft from ROW. | — | Building side shall face onto a street or parking lot. | — | 17.3.3.A, C |
| Novelty Sign (Business) | Up to 18 ft (novelty signs); Teardrop/air-activated/balloon novelty signs up to 18 ft high | Up to 32 sq ft (for non-teardrop/air-activated/balloon types) | Teardrop/air-activated/balloon widest point ≤ 3.5 ft | — | One novelty sign per business (per display period). | — | — | 17.4.2.H |
| Free-Standing Sign (Shopping Mall Identification at Egress Points) | 18 ft (general free-standing sign maximum height applies unless otherwise approved) | ≤ 200 sq ft per face (max two faces per sign; supporting structures not counted) | — | — | One per egress point from a public street; malls > 25 acres only. | At each point of vehicular egress from a public street. | — | 17.4.2.N; 17.4.2.O |
| Gasoline Service Station Additional Free-Standing Sign (Rear Yard, Adjoining Restricted Access Highways) | 18 ft | 200 sq ft | — | — | One additional rear yard free-standing sign. | Rear yard of station premises. | — | 17.4.2.J.5; 17.3.3.D |
| Directional Sign (Shopping Mall site, containing advertising) | — | 6 sq ft per sign; total area of all such directional signs not to exceed 200 sq ft | — | ≥100 ft from public street right-of-way. | Aggregate area cap: 200 sq ft for all such directional signs on the shopping mall site. | Not located within 100 ft of a public street right-of-way. | — | 17.4.2.P |

### Historic Zone (H)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Construction Sign (Historic Zone) | — | 32 sq ft (plus one 4 sq ft sign for each subcontractor) | — | — | One construction sign; plus subcontractor signs (4 sq ft each). | — | — | 17.4.6.B.2 |
| Directional/Warning/Traffic Control Signs (Historic Zone) | — | Functional activity signs: wall-mounted ≤2 sq ft; freestanding ≤4 sq ft | — | — | No more than one sign per activity. | On site; with approval of ZEO. | — | 17.4.6.B.3 |
| Parking Facility Signs (Historic Zone) | ≤6 ft overall height above grade | ≤5 sq ft per sign | — | — | — | Parking facility site. | — | 17.4.6.B.4 |
| Awning Sign (Historic Zone) | — | 0.5 sq ft per lineal foot of awning front | — | — | — | On awnings. | — | 17.4.6.B.7 |
| Residential Sign (Historic Zone - Wall-Mounted) | — | ≤16 sq ft | — | — | One per lot (or two if building fronts on two streets). | At major entrances; used to identify a multi-family residential use. | — | 17.4.6.F.1–2 |
| Residential Sign (Historic Zone - Freestanding) | ≤4 ft above grade (mixed-use identification: ≤5 ft) | ≤20 sq ft (mixed-use development identification: ≤25 sq ft) | — | ≥5 ft from any property line. | One per lot (or two if building fronts on two streets). | At least 5 ft from any property line. | — | 17.4.6.F.1, 3 |
| Bed & Breakfast Sign (Historic Zone - Freestanding) | 3.5 ft | 2 sq ft | — | — | One per bed & breakfast. | — | — | 17.4.6.F.5 |
| Property Identification Sign (Historic Zone - Non-Residential Lot) | — | Up to 50 sq ft (property identification wall sign); per-use wall/projecting sign: max 12 sq ft | — | Freestanding signs shall not extend beyond property line. | One property identification sign (freestanding or wall) per lot; plus one wall/projecting sign per use; plus one additional projecting sign per use in covered walk/arcade (≤2 sq ft). | Per residential sign location requirements (e.g., setbacks for freestanding). | — | 17.4.6.G.1–4 |

## Prohibited signs in Manchester

- Billboard signs are prohibited.
- Internally illuminated signs are prohibited unless the background is opaque and only the copy or symbols are illuminated; readerboard signs are excepted.
- Sign illumination that simulates traffic lights or emergency warning lights is prohibited.
- Signs located within a public right-of-way are prohibited unless the location is approved by the appropriate authority (portable signs in the Central Business District are allowed under specific standards).
- Corrugated plastic signs are not allowed for new signs.
- No part of a free-standing sign may be within 5 feet of a public right-of-way, except as may be necessary for directional and public interest signs, and placement must not interfere with sight lines needed for safe ingress and egress.
- Window signs must not occupy more than 25% of storefront window area.

## Signs exempt from permit in Manchester

- Signs installed by a governmental body and political signs expressing political views or supporting candidates for office are not regulated by these sign regulations unless otherwise specifically regulated.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Architectural signs in business zones require approval by the Planning and Zoning Commission.
- Roof signs in business zones require approval by the Planning and Zoning Commission and are permitted only where the Commission finds other sign types would be ineffective.
- Portable signs in the Central Business District require a Certificate of Use permit from the Zoning Enforcement Officer, annual renewal, payment of any fee set by the Planning and Zoning Commission at a public meeting, and proof of liability insurance naming the Town as an additional insured; permits may be revoked by the ZEO and appeals may be made to the Zoning Board of Appeals.
- In the Historic Zone, signs and identifications on buildings or building sites must be approved by the Planning and Zoning Commission.
- In the Historic Zone, sign lighting must be approved by the Planning and Zoning Commission.
- In the Historic Zone, the Planning and Zoning Commission, when approving a site development plan, may impose more stringent limitations on sign size, location, and height.
- In the Historic Zone, directional, public warning, and traffic control signs on a site require approval of the Zoning Enforcement Officer.

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

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