# Sign Regulations in New London, Connecticut

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

- **Jurisdiction:** New London, Connecticut (CT)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/connecticut/new-london
- **Data last verified:** 2025-11-05
- **Source:** [other municipal code](https://newlondonct.gov/filestorage/7495/7518/30382/44174/ZoningRegulations_10-07-25.pdf#page=219)

## At a glance

New London, Connecticut regulates 19 sign types across 5 zoning districts. Bulletin Boards in the General Regulations For All Zones zoning district are capped at 8 feet tall and 24 sf, with a 10 feet from property lines if free standing setback (Sec. Section 615 G.2). Most commercial signs in New London 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 | 14 | 42 inches | Varies by zone (100 sf for CBD/NB/WD/WCI/LIO, based on formula for others) | — |
| Residential Zones (R-1, R-1A, R-2, R-3, R-4) | 3 | 8 feet | 8 sf | — |
| Non-Residential Zones Group 1 (CBD (CBD-1, CBD-2), NB, WD, WCI (WCI-1, WCI-2), LIO (LI-O), MD) | 9 | 42 inches | 100 sf | — |
| Non-Residential Zones Group 2 (C-1, C-2) | 9 | 42 inches | 75 sf | — |
| Non-Residential Zones Group 3 (INST, OS) | 9 | 42 inches | 50 sf | — |

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

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Awning/Canopy Sign | — | Varies by zone (30 sf for CBD/NB/WD/WCI/LIO, 75 sf for C-1/C-2, 50 sf for INST/OS) | — | — | 1 per business frontage | Affixed to awning or canopy parallel or at right angles to facade | — | Section 615 G.1, Table 1 |
| Bulletin Board | 8 feet | 24 sf | — | 10 feet from property lines if free standing | 1 per site | Free standing (setback 10 ft) or affixed to wall | — | Section 615 G.2 |
| Directory Sign | 8 feet if free standing | 24 sf | — | — | 1 free standing and 1 wall mounted per entrance | One free standing per public entrance; One wall mounted per public entrance | — | Section 615 G.3, Table 1 |
| Menu Board | 6 feet if free standing | Varies by zone (10 sf for C-1/C-2, 6 sf for INST/OS) | — | 25 feet if free standing | 1 per business | For food service establishments; Free standing setback 25 feet | — | Section 615 G.10, Table 1 |
| Portable Sign | 42 inches | 8 sf | — | — | 1 per building | Not on vehicles/wheels/platforms; Min curb clearance 3 feet | — | Section 615 G.13, Table 1 |
| Real Estate Development Sign | — | 24 sf | — | 10 feet | 1 per development (more if multiple entrances) | For multi-unit developments | — | Section 615 G.14 |
| Roof Sign | 8 feet above roofline | Varies by zone (30 sf for CBD/NB/WD/WCI/LIO, 50 sf for C-1/C-2 and INST/OS) | — | — | 1 per business | On roof; Not above peak/ridgeline; Conceal supports | — | Section 615 G.15, Table 1 |
| Off-Site Sign | 15 feet | 5 sf per side | — | — | 1 per business | For businesses with no public frontage; Min distance for visibility | — | Section 615 G.18 |

### Non-Residential Zones Group 1 (CBD (CBD-1, CBD-2), NB, WD, WCI (WCI-1, WCI-2), LIO (LI-O), MD)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | — | 30 sf | — | — | One per Business | Attached parallel to facade | — | Table 1, Section 615 |
| Freestanding Sign | 8 feet | 32 sf | — | 5 feet | 1 per building or site | Per building or site | — | Table 1, Section 615 |
| Hanging Sign | — | 8 sf | — | — | 1 per business | Right angles to building | — | Table 1, Section 615 |
| Directory Sign | 8 feet | 24 sf | — | — | 1 free standing and 1 wall per entrance | Per entrance | — | Table 1, Section 615 |
| Menu Board | 6 feet | — | — | 25 feet if free standing | 1 per business | For food services | — | Table 1, Section 615 |
| Marquee Sign | — | 100 sf | — | — | 1 per building | On marquee | — | Table 1, Section 615 |
| Awning/Canopy Sign | — | 30 sf | — | — | 1 per frontage | On awning | — | Table 1, Section 615 |
| Roof Sign | 8 feet above roof | 30 sf | — | — | 1 per business | On roof | — | Table 1, Section 615 |

### Non-Residential Zones Group 2 (C-1, C-2)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | — | 75 sf | — | — | Based on frontage | Attached parallel to facade | — | Table 1, Section 615 |
| Freestanding Sign | 20 feet | 75 sf | — | 10 feet | 1 per building or site | Per building or site | — | Table 1, Section 615 |
| Hanging Sign | — | 12 sf | — | — | 1 per business | Right angles to building | — | Table 1, Section 615 |
| Directory Sign | — | 24 sf | — | — | 1 free standing and 1 wall per entrance | Per entrance | — | Table 1, Section 615 |
| Menu Board | — | 10 sf | — | — | 1 per business | For food services | — | Table 1, Section 615 |
| Marquee Sign | — | Based on formula | — | — | 1 per building | On marquee | — | Table 1, Section 615 |
| Awning/Canopy Sign | — | 75 sf | — | — | 1 per frontage | On awning | — | Table 1, Section 615 |
| Portable Sign | 42 inches | 8 sf | — | — | 1 per building | — | — | Table 1, Section 615 |

## Prohibited signs in New London

- Signs not specifically permitted under these regulations.
- Signs which do not comply with the requirements of these regulations.
- Any flashing sign or device with intermittent lights with changing degrees of intensity, except for approved time and temperature displays.
- Vehicular signs when the vehicle is used primarily for the purpose of such advertising display.
- Signs that are illuminated to an intensity to cause glare or brightness to a degree that could constitute a hazard or a nuisance as visible from any public right-of-way, any residential districts or from adjacent properties.
- Signs that use any combination of forms, words, colors, or lights, which imitate standard public traffic regulation or emergency signs or signals.
- Signs attached or maintained upon any tree, public or private utility pole or structure.
- Signs containing any obscene, indecent or immoral matter.
- A sign encroaching onto a required fire lane designated by the City’s Fire Chief or designated agent.
- An off-premise sign or outdoor advertising billboard except as specifically permitted by this regulation.
- A sign located so as to obstruct the view of any pedestrian or motor vehicle so as to cause an unsafe condition.
- A sign located so as to obstruct or impede any flue, air intake, fire escape, fire exit door, window, skylight, or exhaust or so as to impede free access by fire fighters to any part of a premises.
- A sign consisting of pennants, ribbons, streamers, spinners, strings of lights, or other similar devices unless otherwise permitted by these regulations.
- Abandoned signs.
- Portable, electric signs.
- Permanent inflatable signs.
- Signs located in any required buffer area.
- The use of strings of lights or exposed tubes which contain luminescent inert gases to outline buildings, structures or other ornamental features, except as used on approved signs.
- Roof signs, except as otherwise permitted.
- No signs, other than those specifically authorized elsewhere within these regulations shall be erected within the right-of-way lines of any street, sidewalk or public way.
- No sign or sign structure shall be erected at the intersection of any street or driveway in such a manner as to distract free and clear vision. Nor shall any sign be erected where it may interfere with or obstruct the view of or be confused with any authorized traffic sign, signal, or device.

## Signs exempt from permit in New London

- Public signs required by law or as required by the City of New London.
- Signs for regulating traffic, street signs, legal notices, or railway closing warnings and all other such signs pertaining to public safety.
- In residential zones Real Estate signs not in excess of six (6) square feet in area.
- In non-residential zones, Commercial Real Estate advertising signs not exceeding sixteen (16) square feet in area.
- The display of the National, State or any other flag adopted or sanctioned by the legislative body of a governmental jurisdiction. No freestanding flagpole shall exceed fifty (50) feet in height and no flagpole attached to or placed upon any building or other structure shall project more than twenty (20) feet above the roofline of any building or structure.
- A sign erected in a bus shelter owned or operated by, or under the jurisdiction of the City that is in full compliance with an agreement entered into with the City.
- Any 'No Trespassing', 'Private Parking', 'Exit', 'Entrance', or other similar signs not exceeding two (2) square feet for each sign.
- Integral signs.
- Directional signs on private property, provided such signs are not internally illuminated, have no advertising matter and do not exceed two (2) square feet in area.
- Political signs. (see Section G of these regulations for the special requirements for political signs)
- Temporary displays, signs, or lighting as a customary part of a national, state or religious holiday decoration, may be displayed over a period not to exceed a total of sixty (60) days per calendar year.
- Identification sign for the address, name of occupant and, use of the premises, not to exceed two (2) square feet in area, provided such signs are not internally illuminated.
- Temporary or permanent Window signs (See Section G Special Regulations).
- Construction signs with message limited to project name, building name, architects, engineers, contractors, sponsors or other individuals or firms involved with the construction, provided such signs do not exceed one sign per site. These signs shall not exceed an area of twelve (12) square feet for single family or duplex construction and thirty two (32) square feet for multi-family or non residential construction, and are removed within seven (7) days of issuance of a Certificate of Occupancy.
- Yard or garage sales signs which are removed within seven (7) days of installation.
- Interior signs placed within buildings and which are not intended to be visible beyond the premises on which the signs are located.
- Gasoline price per gallon or credit card signs mounted on pump islands only, with maximum total area of any sign not to exceed four (4) square feet.
- Words and images attached to machinery or equipment which are necessary or customary to the business, including but not limited to devices such as gasoline pumps, vending machines, ice machines etc. and provided that the words and images refer exclusively to products or services dispensed by the device.
- Vehicular signs if the sign meets the following requirements: The vehicle must be in operable condition and is being used in the normal course of the business; The sign must be painted on or securely affixed on all edges to the surface of the side of the body of the vehicle; The vehicle shall be parked on a location so that the sign is not visible from the public right-of-way or; If the site does not allow the vehicle to be parked in the above referenced manner the vehicle must be parked as far away from the public right-of-way as is practical.
- One flag or banner per use not exceeding sixteen (16) square feet containing no advertising.
- Street banners sponsored or installed by the City of New London.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Multiple tenant buildings or lots containing more than one tenant or occupant shall submit a unified signage program for approval before permits for new signs are issued for the site. The unified signage program is intended to insure that all signs proposed for a multi-tenant complex shall be in harmony and of a compatible shape, lettering, materials, and placement on the building(s).
- In the institutional zone, signs for the institution which exceed the regulations shall be permitted, provided the sign is in accordance with a signage plan for the institution and approved by the Commission as a part of a Special Permit.
- Applicants may apply for and receive modifications to these regulations as specified by Section G for unified signage programs.
- The Planning and Zoning Commission may, at its discretion and after approval of a Special Permit, increase the height, area, setback and number of signs specified in these sign regulations for unified signage programs, considering criteria such as the signs being part of a unified signage program, the increase not greater than 100% more than the standard, more creative design in harmony with the area, and unusual site factors.

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

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