# Sign Regulations in Washington, Connecticut

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Washington, Connecticut (CT)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/connecticut/washington
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-09
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/CT/Washington/codes/Zoning_Regulations?nodeId=S16SI)

## At a glance

Washington, Connecticut regulates 17 sign types across 3 zoning districts. Permanent Directory Sign for Business Complexs in the Business Districts, B-1, B-2, B-3, B-4 zoning district are capped at Total height determined by sum of directory sign sections tall, 8 feet wide (overall sign); complex ID part max 2 feet high; individual business IDs max 1 foot high each, and 8 feet (overall sign) wide (Sec. 16.5.5). Most commercial signs in Washington require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (3 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 6 | No part of any sign shall project more than 12 feet above the ground surface. | 4 square feet | — |
| Residential Districts | 3 | — | 4 square feet | — |
| Business Districts, B-1, B-2, B-3, B-4 | 8 | 45 inches | 16 square feet (may be double-faced) | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| All Signs | No part of any sign shall project more than 12 feet above the ground surface. | — | — | — | — | — | — | Sections 16.1, 16.2, 16.3 |
| Temporary Off-Premises Directional Sign | — | 4 square feet | — | — | 2 maximum | Off-premises; maximum two per use; not on the same lot or elsewhere in town more than 30 consecutive days or 60 total days in one 12-month period. | — | 16.3.2 |
| Temporary Sign (General) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 16.3.8 |
| Political, Tag Sale, or Nonprofit Fundraising Event Sign (Temporary) | — | — | — | 10 feet from side property lines | — | — | — | 16.3.10 |
| Permanent Off-Premises Directional Sign (Town Landmark Site) | — | 2 square feet | — | — | 1 (2 with Commission approval) | Off-premises; only for Town Landmark Sites not on main highways and/or without frontage. | — | 16.3.11 |
| Temporary Sign by Public Utilities for Traffic Control | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 16.3.9 |

### Residential Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Identification Sign (Special Permit Uses) | — | 4 square feet | — | — | 1 per use | On premises of approved Special Permit uses (inn, public dump, cemetery, convalescent home, municipal facility, church, school, library, museum, club, landmark site). | — | 16.4.1 |
| Permanent Sign (Non-business Use) | — | 2 square feet | — | — | 1 per lot | On premises | — | 16.4.2 |
| Temporary Contractor/For Sale or Lease Sign | — | 4 square feet | — | 10 feet from any side property line | 1 per lot | On premises | — | 16.4.3 |

### Business Districts, B-1, B-2, B-3, B-4

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign | — | 16 square feet (may be double-faced) | — | 10 feet from any side property line | — | On premises; not closer than 10 feet from any side property line. | — | 16.5.2 |
| Wall Sign | — | — | — | — | — | On wall/building. | — | 16.5.3 |
| Business Sign (Aggregate Maximum) | — | — | — | — | Max 2 permanent signs, plus one portable sign during business hours | On premises, wall or freestanding. | — | 16.5.4 |
| Permanent Sign for Individual Businesses in Business Complex | — | 12 square feet | — | — | 1 per business | Attached to or projecting from the building. | — | 16.5.5 |
| Permanent Directory Sign for Business Complex | Total height determined by sum of directory sign sections | 8 feet wide (overall sign); complex ID part max 2 feet high; individual business IDs max 1 foot high each | 8 feet (overall sign) | — | 1 directory sign per complex | On premises | — | 16.5.5 |
| Temporary Sign (Sales/Special Features on Door, Window, or Wall) | — | — | — | — | — | Door, window, or wall. | — | 16.5.6 |
| Permanent Off-Premises Directional Sign (Business Use) | — | 2 square feet | — | — | 1 (2 at Commission discretion) | Off premises, only for businesses without main highway or street frontage (typically B-1, B-2, B-3, B-4) | — | 16.5.7 |
| Portable Sign (Sandwich Board Sign, Flag Sign, or Similar) | 45 inches | — | 30 inches (for sandwich board); flag may be 3 feet wide and 5 feet long on mast not to exceed 8 feet in length | 10 feet from any side boundary line | 1 per business permit | On property of permitted business, not in right-of-way, not closer than 10 feet from any side boundary. | — | 16.5.8 |

## Prohibited signs in Washington

- Any sign not expressly permitted is prohibited.
- No sign or its illuminator shall, because of its size, shape, or method of illumination, be permitted to confuse or obstruct the view or effectiveness of any traffic sign or signal or in any way result in a hazard to the safe and efficient flow of vehicular traffic.
- No sign shall advertise a product, service, or activity other than that which is produced, provided, or conducted on the premises, except as provided for off-premises temporary directional signs.
- No sign shall be equipped with flashing lights or moving parts.
- The lamp (bulb) or other light source of an illuminated sign shall be shielded and positioned so as not to be visible beyond the premises or on any right of way; illumination must be from fixtures installed at the top and directed downward; no illumination from fixtures installed anywhere except on the sign.
- No sign may be illuminated after 11:00 p.m. or more than thirty minutes after the closing of the business served, whichever is later.
- The light source of an illuminated sign shall be shaded so as not to be viewed from off the premises.
- No sign may be back lit or internally illuminated, including vending machines.
- No part of any sign shall project more than 12 feet above the ground surface.
- Failure to maintain signs shall be considered a violation.
- Upon discontinuance of a use, the property owner must eliminate all signs pertaining to the use within 30 days after such discontinuance.

## Signs exempt from permit in Washington

- Signs not larger than 2 square feet shown on an approved site plan by the Commission do not require further Zoning Commission or Zoning Enforcement Officer approval.
- Signs intended for the health, safety, and welfare of the public erected by the State of Connecticut or the Town of Washington or to comply with state statutes are not prohibited.
- Temporary signs by public utilities for traffic control are allowed without permits.
- Political signs, tag sale signs, and signs advertising fund raising events for non profit organizations (such as churches, schools, libraries, Scouts, the Grange, the Fire Department, etc.) are permitted without a Zoning permit for a 2-week period.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- All signs larger than 2 square feet, except those shown on a site plan of a use approved by the Commission, shall require approval of the Zoning Commission or Zoning Enforcement Officer.
- Applications for permits must be made on forms available in the Land Use Office.
- Applications for certain off-premises signs (e.g., permanent directional signs) must include a sketch plan drawn to scale to verify sight line or traffic safety.

## Full detail

Complete sign requirements for Washington, including every field PermitPal tracks for each sign type, are available with a free PermitPal account: https://app.permitpal.io/?address=Washington+CT&override=true&utm_source=landing&utm_medium=city-page&utm_campaign=city-washington

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