# Sign Regulations in Dagsboro Town, Delaware

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Dagsboro Town, Delaware (DE)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/delaware/dagsboro-town
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/7031288#7031288)

## At a glance

Dagsboro Town, Delaware regulates 33 sign types across 3 zoning districts. Freestanding Sign (Home Occupation/Prof Office/Bed-and-Breakfast)s in the R - Residential District, MR - Medium-High Density Residential District zoning district are capped at 4 ft from grade tall and 3 sq ft, with a 10 ft from right-of-way setback (Sec. § 275-73A(6)(a)). Most commercial signs in Dagsboro Town 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 | 13 | 8 ft from grade | 32 sq ft per public street frontage (double-sided) | — |
| R - Residential District, MR - Medium-High Density Residential District | 9 | 4 ft from grade | 15 sq ft each | — |
| C - Commercial District, HC - Highway Commercial District, TC - Town Center District, Industrial District | 12 | 36 inches | 75 sq ft | — |

## 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 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Residential Living Sign | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | — | — | — | § 275-69A(3) |
| Mail/Box/Newspaper Tube Sign | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | — | On mailbox or newspaper tube | — | § 275-69A(3)(b) |
| Noncommercial Speech Sign | 3 ft from grade | 4 sq ft | — | — | 1 per parcel | Per parcel | — | § 275-69A(7) |
| Political Sign | 3 ft from grade | 4 sq ft | — | — | — | Only within boundaries of parcel/lot with permission | — | § 275-69A(8) |
| Real Estate Sign (Home/Unit) | 8 ft from grade | 4 sq ft | — | — | 1 per home/apartment/unit | On parcel being advertised | — | § 275-69A(9)(a) |
| Real Estate Sign (Subdivision/Community) | 8 ft from grade | 32 sq ft per public street frontage (double-sided) | — | — | 1 per public street frontage | On property being advertised | — | § 275-69A(9)(b) |
| Open/Closed Sign | — | 15 sq ft | — | — | 1 per premises | On premises of licensed business | — | § 275-69A(10) |
| Incidental Sign (General) | 4 ft from grade | 3 sq ft | — | — | — | — | — | § 275-70B(2) |

### R - Residential District, MR - Medium-High Density Residential District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Community Sign | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | — | — | — | § 275-73A(2) |
| Freestanding Sign (Institutional/Complex) | — | 15 sq ft each | — | — | Max 2 per entrance | At entrances to school, church, subdivision, multifamily complex (>6 units), other institution | — | § 275-73A(4) |
| Incidental/Directory Sign (Multifamily or Nonresidential) | — | 12 sq ft | — | — | 1 per structure | One per multifamily structure | — | § 275-73A(5) |
| Freestanding Sign (Home Occupation/Prof Office/Bed-and-Breakfast) | 4 ft from grade | 3 sq ft | — | 10 ft from right-of-way | 1 per use | At least 10 ft from public right of way | — | § 275-73A(6)(a) |
| Identification Sign (Home Occupation/Professional/Bed-and-Breakfast) | — | 3 sq ft | — | — | 1 per use | Affixed flat against structure | — | § 275-73A(6)(b) |
| Projecting Sign (Home Occupation/Professional/Bed-and-Breakfast) | — | 3 sq ft | — | — | 1 per use | — | — | § 275-73A(6)(c) |
| Directional Sign (Home Occupation/Professional/Bed-and-Breakfast) | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | 1 per use | — | — | § 275-73A(6)(d) |
| Windblown Display (Residential) | — | 15 sq ft | — | — | 2 per lot/unit for commercial | — | — | § 275-73A(8) |

### C - Commercial District, HC - Highway Commercial District, TC - Town Center District, Industrial District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | — | 24 sq ft (C, HC, I); 50 sq ft or 15% of wall area (TC) | — | — | 1 per business unit or street frontage | On building wall, one per street frontage (per business) | — | § 275-74B(1) |
| Marquee Sign (Theatre Only) | — | 48 sq ft; 2 permitted per building; in TC: may project 11.5 ft | — | — | 2 per theatre | Theatre buildings only | — | § 275-74B(3) |
| Projecting/Hanging Sign | — | 6 sq ft per sign | — | Cannot project into required setbacks | 1 per wall facing street/lot; 1 per 25 ft of frontage (multiple units) | Per building wall facing street or parking lot | — | § 275-74B(4) |
| Freestanding Sign | 16 ft from grade (C/HC/I), 12 ft (TC one business), 16 ft (TC more than one business) | 32 sq ft per sign (C/HC/I); 24 sq ft (TC) | — | 10 ft from property line (C/HC/I); 50 ft to next sign (TC) | 1 per lot/parcel; or 2 if >300 ft frontage | At least 10 ft from any property line (C/HC/I); TC: 50 ft min to another freestanding sign on another premises | — | § 275-74B(5) |
| Sandwich Board Sign | 36 inches | — | 24 inches | — | — | Private property only (not in public right-of-way) | — | § 275-74B(7) |
| Reader Board (Wall/Freestanding) | — | 10 sq ft per site, total not to exceed 20 sq ft (C/HC/I); 6 sq ft if wall-mounted (TC) | — | — | 1 per business/property | One per business/property, mounted on wall or freestanding | — | § 275-74B(8) |
| Menu Sign (Drive-Through, HC Only) | — | 32 sq ft | — | — | 1 per drive-through facility | Drive-through facility, not readable from right-of-way | — | § 275-74C(1) |
| Construction Sign (C/HC/TC/I) | 30 inches | 2 sq ft (16" x 18") | 16 inches | — | 4 per job site (1 per company) | Max 4 per job site (1 per company) | — | § 275-74B(10)(b) |

## Prohibited signs in Dagsboro Town

- Signs employing any light that flashes, moves, oscillates or varies intensity, except time-and-temperature indicators.
- Animated signs.
- Signs that produce noise or sounds or emit visible smoke, vapor, particles or odor or contain iridescent material to simulate reflections or illumination.
- Signs with intermittent lights resembling or seeming to resemble the flashing lights customarily associated with danger or such as are customarily used by police, fire or ambulance vehicles or for navigation purposes.
- Signs located in a position that causes them to obstruct a motorist's view of other vehicular or pedestrian traffic.
- Signs located and so illuminated as to provide a background of colored lights blending with traffic signal lights to the extent of confusing a motorist.
- Signs attached to any vehicle or trailer parked primarily for display purposes.
- Signs located within any right-of-way unless otherwise permitted by this chapter.
- Pennants, flags, streamers, balloons, blimps or banners displaying a commercial message, except as temporary advertising signs which have been issued a temporary sign permit.
- Structural walls used for advertising or directing attention to a business, commodity, service or entertainment conducted, sold or offered at a location other than upon the premises on which the building sits.
- A sign erected in any place where it may, by reason of its position, shape, color, or other characteristic, interfere with, obstruct the view of, or be confused with any authorized traffic sign, signal, or device.
- A wall sign that extends above the eaves of a building, or beyond the corner of the wall to which it is affixed.
- Roof signs.
- Billboards or off-premises signs.
- No unregistered or inoperative vehicle or trailer body shall be used as a sign.
- Obscene signs: signs containing graphic pornography or obscenity or statements, words or depictions that are pornographic or obscene as determined by local standards.
- Any new sign that is not specifically permitted by the provisions of this article is prohibited.
- No tree, light pole, utility pole or supporting member of a building shall be used for the placement of any sign except as otherwise provided in this article.
- No sign shall be placed in, upon, or over any public right-of-way, alley, or other public place, except as may be otherwise permitted by this chapter, and unless the Town Council issues a permit.
- A sign shall not be shaped like a traffic sign or signal, or use wording similar to traffic signs, or interfere with traffic safety.
- A sign shall not be shaped to resemble a human or animal form.
- To install, create, erect, or maintain any sign requiring a permit without such a permit.
- To install, create, erect, or maintain any sign in a way that is inconsistent with any plan or permit governing such sign or the lot on which the sign is located.
- To fail to remove any sign that is installed, created, erected, or maintained in violation of this chapter, or for which the sign permit has lapsed.
- No person shall place, maintain or display upon or in view of any street any unauthorized sign, signal, marking or device which purports to be or is an imitation of or resembles an official traffic-control device or railroad sign or signal, or which attempts to direct the movement of traffic, or which hides from view or interferes with the effectiveness of any official traffic-control device or any railroad sign or signal.
- No person shall place or maintain nor shall any lawful authority permit upon any street any traffic sign or signal bearing thereon any commercial advertising.
- No person shall attach to any traffic sign or signal any other sign containing commercial advertising.

## Signs exempt from permit in Dagsboro Town

- Government, utilities and safety/warning signs.
- Highway and street signs erected by state, county or municipal agencies, giving directions or as a result of construction projects.
- Utilities signs used by a public utilities official in the performance of official duties, erected to control traffic or warn of a dangerous condition.
- Warning signs: a sign warning the public about trespass, danger or safety considerations.
- Signs advertising Town Council-sponsored events and charitable or nonprofit events.
- Historic markers placed under the authority of local, state or federal government.
- Residential living signs measuring two square feet or less in total area.
- Newspaper or mailbox signs, part of a mailbox or a newspaper tube, if conforming to applicable government regulations and under two square feet.
- Flags of any nation, state, city, educational institution, or nonprofit organization.
- A sign whose display is required by law or regulation.
- Commemorative signs: a sign cut into the masonry surface or constructed of bronze or other material and made an integral part of a structure, indicating the origin, originators and date of the structure.
- Noncommercial speech signs (see specific limits for area, height, illumination, obstruction, etc.).
- Political signs (see specific limits for timing, area, location, height, illumination, obstruction, etc.).
- Real estate signs, per specified provisions (size, area, height, location, illumination, removal timing, etc.).
- Open/closed signs for licensed businesses, subject to specific requirements.
- Signage proposed by the Dagsboro Volunteer Fire Department for the specific and singular purpose of identifying its facility, provided plans and specifications are presented to and approved by the Town Council.
- "Price per gallon" signage at motor fuel stations, required by state and federal governments, not exceeding 20 square feet, is exempt from overall sign area; under two square feet and located on the pump itself, fully exempt.
- Incidental signs under 3 square feet and 4 feet in height for functions such as traffic control, loading areas, and entrance/exit/security system signs.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Any proposed shopping or business office center or group of three or more principal structures in excess of six units under common management and operation, located on one or more contiguous properties, shall submit an application for comprehensive signage plan approval to the Planning and Zoning Committee.
- Any proposed shopping or business office center or educational institution with more than 400 linear feet of frontage on a principal arterial roadway must submit an application for comprehensive signage plan approval.
- Sufficient copies of a sign plan and relevant application forms, as determined by the Town Council, must be submitted to the Planning and Zoning Committee for a comprehensive signage plan.
- The sign plan must illustrate the location of all existing and/or proposed signs, their relationship to buildings, color renderings, and architectural elevations.
- No application for a comprehensive sign plan will be accepted prior to a preapplication meeting of the applicant and the Code Enforcement Officer.
- Comprehensive sign plans submitted as part of a site plan application shall be reviewed as part of the final site plan and not be assessed the review fee, but require the same level of detail and information.
- New or revised signs on a property with an approved comprehensive sign plan do not need Town Council re-approval if the area increases less than 5% and conforms to the overall design concept and colors as approved.
- To install, create, erect, or maintain any sign in a way that is inconsistent with any plan or permit governing such sign or the lot on which the sign is located is a violation and subject to enforcement.

## Full detail

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

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