# Sign Regulations in Dover, Delaware

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Dover, Delaware (DE)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/delaware/dover
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-07
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/DE/Dover/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=PTIICOOR_APXBZO_ART5SURE_S4SUSIRE)

## At a glance

Dover, Delaware regulates 27 sign types across 9 zoning districts. Signs Permitted in §4.5 Only (Real Estate, Address, Construction, Directional, Public, Historical, Internal, Political, Coming Soon, Portable, Required by Law, Carved/Raised, Flags, Open, Vehicle signs)s in the Residence Zones, Residential Districts, R-15 zone, R-10 zone, R-8 zone, R-7 zone zoning district are capped at 4 feet for portable, 4 feet for directional tall and 6.25 sq ft for real estate signs (see individual sign types for size limits, e.g. address up to 4 sq ft, political 6 sq ft, etc.), with a 5 ft minimum for address, construction, portable, and real estate signs; directional signs must be outside clear sight triangle and not block visibility setback (Sec. Article 5, Section 4.5). Most commercial signs in Dover require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (9 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Residence Zones, Residential Districts, R-15 zone, R-10 zone, R-8 zone, R-7 zone | 3 | 4 feet for portable, 4 feet for directional | 12 sq ft | — |
| General Residence Zones (RG-1, RG-2, RG-0, RG-3, RG-4) | 3 | 7 feet | 32 sq ft OR up to 15% of total wall area | — |
| Group Housing Zone (RG-3) | 1 | — | — | — |
| Professional Office | 3 | 7 feet | 16 sq ft OR ≤15% of wall area | — |
| Nonresidential Uses in Residential Districts (Places of Worship, Daycare, Conditional, Educational/Institutional, Other approved) | 4 | 30 feet | 32 sq ft OR ≤15% of wall area | — |
| Nonresidential Uses in Nonresidential Districts | 10 | 30 feet | 150 sq ft | — |
| Central Commercial C-2 zone, Service Commercial C-3 zone, Manufacturing M zone, Industrial Park Manufacturing Zone (IPM, IPM2, IPM3), Highway Commercial Zone (C-4) | 1 | — | — | — |
| Historic District (H) | 1 | — | — | — |
| All Residential Zones, All Nonresidential Zones, All Zones, General Regulations For All Zones | 2 | — | — | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 9 zones)

### Residence Zones, Residential Districts, R-15 zone, R-10 zone, R-8 zone, R-7 zone

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign (Single Family Residence, Family Day Care, Large Family Day Care) | — | 2 sq ft (family day care, large family day care homes); see below for day care centers | — | — | 1 per property | Wall-mounted on primary structure | — | Article 5, Section 14.34(a) and Art. 5, Section 4.5B, I |
| Freestanding Sign (Day Care Center or Adult Day Care Facility) | — | 12 sq ft | — | Subject to Planning Commission approval during conditional use/site plan review | 1 per property | Freestanding or wall-mounted, as approved during review | — | Article 5, Section 14.34(a); Article 5, Section 22.32(a) |
| Signs Permitted in §4.5 Only (Real Estate, Address, Construction, Directional, Public, Historical, Internal, Political, Coming Soon, Portable, Required by Law, Carved/Raised, Flags, Open, Vehicle signs) | 4 feet for portable, 4 feet for directional | 6.25 sq ft for real estate signs (see individual sign types for size limits, e.g. address up to 4 sq ft, political 6 sq ft, etc.) | — | 5 ft minimum for address, construction, portable, and real estate signs; directional signs must be outside clear sight triangle and not block visibility | Varies by sign type (e.g., 1 per business for portable, 1 per site for coming soon, see text for political, etc.) | On-premises – on lot or structure as defined by sign type | — | Article 5, Section 4.5 |

### Nonresidential Uses in Residential Districts (Places of Worship, Daycare, Conditional, Educational/Institutional, Other approved)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign (Urban Principal Arterial, Minor Arterial, Local/Collector) | — | 32 sq ft OR ≤15% of wall area | — | — | 2 per frontage | 2 per frontage (for Minor Arterial, Local/Collector); 2 per frontage (Principal Arterial) | — | Article 5, Section 4.7 (Sign Table) |
| Monument or Post and Panel Sign (Nonresidential in Residential, All Arterials, Option 1) | 7 feet | 32 sq ft | — | 10 feet from right-of-way (Principal), 5 feet (Minor, Collector) | 1 per entrance | 1 per entrance | — | Article 5, Section 4.7 (Sign Table) |
| Post Sign (Nonresidential in Residential, All Arterials, Option 2) | 7 feet | 16 sq ft | — | 5 feet (Minor, Collector), 5 feet (Principal) | 1 per frontage | 1 per frontage | — | Article 5, Section 4.7 (Sign Table), '**Post sign would be in lieu...' |
| Pylon Sign (Urban Principal Arterial Only) | 30 feet | 32 sq ft | — | 30 feet from right-of-way; 50 feet exclusion zone | 1 per frontage | 1 per frontage | — | Article 5, Section 4.7 (Sign Table) |

### Nonresidential Uses in Nonresidential Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign (Urban Principal Arterial) | — | No max, ≤15% of wall area | — | — | 2 per frontage | 2 per frontage | — | Article 5, Section 4.7 (Sign Table) |
| Monument or Post and Panel Sign (Entry Sign, Urban Principal Arterial) | 10 feet | 100 sq ft | — | 10 feet from right-of-way; 20 feet exclusion zone | 1 per entrance | 1 per entrance | — | Article 5, Section 4.7 (Sign Table) |
| Pylon Sign (Option 1, Urban Principal Arterial) | 30 feet | 100 sq ft | — | 15 feet from right-of-way; 50 feet exclusion zone | 1 per frontage | 1 per frontage | — | Article 5, Section 4.7 (Sign Table) |
| Pylon Sign (Option 2, Urban Principal Arterial) | 30 feet | 150 sq ft | — | 31 feet from right-of-way; 50 feet exclusion zone | 1 per frontage | 1 per frontage | — | Article 5, Section 4.7 (Sign Table) "Pylon*" row |
| Monument or Post and Panel Sign (Urban Minor Arterial) | 7 feet | 64 sq ft | — | 5 feet from right-of-way; 20 feet exclusion zone | 1 per entrance | 1 per entrance | — | Article 5, Section 4.7 (Sign Table) |
| Post Sign (Urban Minor Arterial) | 7 feet | 16 sq ft | — | 10 feet | 1 per frontage | 1 per frontage | — | Article 5, Section 4.7 (Sign Table) |
| Monument or Post and Panel Sign (Urban Local/Collector) | 7 feet | 32 sq ft | — | 5 feet; 20 feet exclusion zone | 1 per entrance | 1 per entrance | — | Article 5, Section 4.7 (Sign Table) |
| Post Sign (Urban Local/Collector) | 7 feet | 16 sq ft | — | 10 feet | 1 per frontage | 1 per frontage | — | Article 5, Section 4.7 (Sign Table) |

## Prohibited signs in Dover

- Signs which emit audible sound, vapor, smoke, odor, particles or gaseous matter.
- Any sign which competes for attention with, or may be mistaken for, traffic signals; also, any sign determined by the city planner to constitute a traffic hazard by reason of size, location, content, color, or type of illumination.
- Off-premises signs of any type (billboards, temporary signs, directional signs for developments, etc.), except for shared freestanding signs as specifically permitted.
- Inflatable signs, except as specifically permitted in supplementary sign provisions.
- Signs painted on or attached to trees, fence posts, natural features, or telephone or utility poles.
- Signs that are flashing, rotating, or that give the appearance of movement, or are illuminated by flashing or intermittent lights, or lights of changing degrees or intensity, except as permitted under design requirements.
- Temporary signs made of cardboard, paper, canvas or similar impermanent material, except those permitted in supplementary sign provisions.
- Window signs covering more than 50 percent of a window or a door or mounted above the first floor, except those permitted in supplementary sign regulations.
- Pennants, balloons, streamers, flags, etc. except when permitted in signs permitted in all districts and not requiring permits or as otherwise specifically permitted.
- All signs must not substantially impair or block visibility of motorists and/or pedestrians traveling within the public street right-of-way or entering, exiting or crossing vehicular site entrances.
- No sign or landscaping in excess of three feet in height above the adjacent street grade, shall be erected, placed or maintained on any corner within the triangular area formed by intersecting right-of-way lines.

## Signs exempt from permit in Dover

- Signs advertising the sale, lease, or rental of the premises upon which the sign is located, within size and setback regulations.
- Signs designating the name and address of the occupants, hours of operation, security notices, and business policy statements (not exceeding four square feet).
- Signs denoting the architect, engineer, developer, or contractor placed on premises where construction, repair, or renovation is in progress, within size and quantity limits.
- Directional signs limited to specified size; a permit required for larger signs.
- Public signs erected by or on behalf of a governmental body.
- Historical and memorial signs.
- Any sign located in an internal location on a site, campus, or complex and that cannot be seen from any public right-of-way or adjacent property.
- People wearing costumes of the logo or character associated with the company as long as they are located on the business location.
- Political signs within size and removal time limits.
- Signs noting a tenant, store, building, etc. is 'coming soon' with specific size, spacing, and duration restrictions.
- Portable signs designed to be transported (e.g., A-frames, sandwich boards, umbrellas), with restrictions on access and number per business.
- Signs required by federal or state law or by a municipal authority.
- Signs carved into a building or raised in integral relief on a building.
- Flags on flag poles.
- Public art.
- "Open" signs for business not to exceed two per business.
- Vehicle signs subject to supplementary regulations.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- No sign, advertising display or structure, poster or device shall be erected, moved, enlarged or reconstructed except in accordance with this section. All signs, except exempt signs, shall require a permit and fee.
- Unified campuses and complexes (such as shopping centers or any group of three or more principal structures under common management and operation on contiguous properties, or any single commercial/institutional parcel with more than 400 feet of frontage on a principal arterial) are required to submit a comprehensive signage plan application to the planning commission.
- Submission of a comprehensive signage plan must include a pre-application meeting, copies of a sign plan (detailing all existing and proposed signs, their locations, relationship to buildings, color renderings to scale, elevations of buildings with existing and proposed wall signs), public notice, and application fee.
- Amendments to approved comprehensive signage plans are not required to be re-approved if the sign area is not increased more than 15% and proposed signs conform to the original design and colors.
- All comprehensive/unified sign plans must comply with all design guidelines found in subsection 4.4 Design requirements and all specific guidelines.
- Location of monument signs and post and panel signs may be approved by the Planning Commission as part of a Site Development Plan Approval process.

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

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