# Sign Regulations in Vernon, Connecticut

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Vernon, Connecticut (CT)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/connecticut/vernon
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-09
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/CT/Vernon/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=PTIICOOR_CH13TRMOVE_ARTVFILA_S13-79DESI)

## At a glance

Vernon, Connecticut regulates 24 sign types across 4 zoning districts. Electronic Message Board (EMB)s in the Commercial Districts, Industrial Districts, Commercial Zone, Planned Commercial zoning district are capped at 12 ft tall, 40 sq ft, and 8 ft wide (Sec. 16.3.10.1-16.3.10.8.2). Most commercial signs in Vernon require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (4 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 11 | — | — | — |
| Historic District - Downtown Business & Residential | 1 | 4 ft | 8 sq ft per side | — |
| Residential Districts | 4 | — | 32 sq ft | — |
| Commercial Districts, Industrial Districts, Commercial Zone, Planned Commercial | 11 | 12 ft | 200 sq ft per face | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 4 zones)

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Flashing, Rotating, Animated Signs | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 16.1.1 |
| Electronic Message Board (EMB) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 16.1.1, 16.3.10 |
| Painted Wall Signs | — | — | — | — | — | Exterior of any building | — | 16.1.2 |
| All Lighted Signs | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 16.1.3 |
| Any Sign | — | — | — | 10 feet from property line | — | — | — | 16.1.5 |
| Projecting Signs (over sidewalk) | — | — | — | — | — | Over sidewalk; Must not project within 2 feet of the curb line; May not extend more than 4 feet from building face. | — | 16.1.8 |
| Directional Signs | — | — | — | — | — | Not blocking traffic or pedestrian visibility | — | 16.1.11 |
| Signs in Public Right-of-way | — | — | — | — | — | Public right-of-way | — | 16.1.12 |

### Residential Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Name Sign (Individual Family) | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | One per family | On-premises | — | 16.2.1 |
| Use Sign (e.g., nursing home, apartment, non-profit club) | — | 10 sq ft (50 sq ft for >50 units) | — | — | One per principal use | On-premises | — | 16.2.3 |
| Temporary Construction/For Sale/For Lease Sign | — | 32 sq ft | — | — | One | On-premises | — | 16.2.4, 16.2.4.1-2 |
| Directional Sign | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 16.2.5 |

### Commercial Districts, Industrial Districts, Commercial Zone, Planned Commercial

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Angle Sign | — | 9 sq ft/business | — | — | — | Affixed at angle to façade, for each business | — | 16.3.1 |
| Freestanding Sign (Standard) | — | 80 sq ft per face | — | — | One per parcel (except as provided for large commercial developments) | On single parcel for all uses/businesses | — | 16.3.3 |
| Freestanding Sign (Large Mall/Facility) | — | 200 sq ft per face | — | — | One additional (i.e. max two if criteria are met) | On eligible parcels (as described) | — | 16.3.3 |
| Directional Signs (Commercial/Industrial) | 3 ft | 2 sq ft | — | — | — | On-premises, not obstructing visibility | — | 16.3.4 |
| EV Charging/Display Kiosk | 7.5 ft | 21.5 sq ft total; Screen: 9 sq ft | — | — | — | Not visible from public right of way | — | 16.3.6.1–16.3.6.5 |
| Temporary Construction/For Sale/For Lease Sign | — | 32 sq ft | — | — | One | On-premises | — | 16.3.7, 16.3.7.1-2 |
| Menu Board Sign | — | — | — | — | One per drive-up service lane | Drive-up service lane | — | 16.3.8 |
| Electronic Message Board (EMB) | 12 ft | 40 sq ft | 8 ft | — | — | — | — | 16.3.10.1-16.3.10.8.2 |

## Prohibited signs in Vernon

- Flashing, rotating, and animated signs are not permitted in any zone under any circumstances, except as noted for EV Charging/Display Kiosks and Electronic Message Boards with Special Permit.
- The painting of signs on the exterior of any building is not permitted in any zone under any circumstances.
- Colored lights shall not be used on any sign where they create any conflict with highway-control traffic signals.
- No part of any sign shall be erected within ten (10) feet from any property lines of the premises to which they pertain except as permitted under Section 16.1.10.
- No sign shall be placed in the traffic visibility area as outlined in Section 3.7.
- All signs must be removed (and all appurtenances thereto) within thirty (30) days by their owners upon the completion or cessation of activities or business.
- Portable, temporary signs are prohibited in all zones at all times except as specifically permitted in the Historic District - Downtown Business & Residential zone under certain requirements.
- Signs placed within the public right-of-way are subject to confiscation by the Town or State.
- All signs must be located on the same parcel as the use to which the sign pertains, with the exception of EV Charging/Display Kiosks permitted subject to the provisions of Section 16.3.6.
- Directional signs shall not advertise any products or services.

## Signs exempt from permit in Vernon

- Construction/for sale/for lease signs are exempt from obtaining building permits.
- EMBs that display only static messages of time and/or temperature or gasoline pricing shall not require a special permit.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Message boards may be permitted by approval of a site plan or modification and a special permit, but not by minor modification.
- Menu board signs require approval of a site plan of development or modification, which may be a minor modification.
- A message board sign requires approval of a Site Plan and Special Permit.
- Electronic Message Boards (EMBs) may be permitted when granted a Special Permit by the Planning and Zoning Commission (PZC) subject to the provisions of Section 17.3 and the requirements and criteria of Section 16.3.
- Applications for EMBs within 300' of another EMB require submission of a photographic image of the streetscape with the proposed EMB superimposed in relation to existing EMBs.

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

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