Sign Regulations in Georgetown Town, Delaware
Georgetown Town, Delaware has specific sign regulations covering 48 sign types across 11 zoning districts. Regulated sign types include All Residential-type Signs, Ground/Monument Sign, Athletic Field Fence Sign. Height restrictions apply. Permits are required for most commercial signs. Use PermitPal to get instant access to the complete regulations.
Data last verified: April 28, 2025
Sign Regulation Overview for Georgetown Town, Delaware
Sample Sign Requirements in Georgetown Town
| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Setback |
|---|---|---|---|
| Instructional Sign | — | 8 sq ft | — |
| Mailbox or Doorbell Sign | — | 12 sq inches | — |
| Name and Address Sign | — | 2 sq ft | — |
* Sample data shown. Actual requirements may vary by zone. Use PermitPal for complete, location-specific regulations.
PermitPal Coverage for Georgetown TownFull Coverage
Sign Types Covered
48
- All Residential-type Signs
- Ground/Monument Sign
- Athletic Field Fence Sign
- Real Estate Sale/Rent Sign
- +2 more types
Zoning Districts
11
Different zoning districts with specific sign regulations
Data Includes
- Permit requirements
- Height restrictions
- Illumination rules
Official Resources for Georgetown Town
Municipal Code5 permit application links available
Other Cities in Delaware
Frequently Asked Questions
Sign height limits in Georgetown Town vary by zone and sign type. Wall signs typically range from 25-40 feet, while monument signs are usually limited to 6-10 feet. Use PermitPal to get exact requirements for your property.
To get a sign permit in Georgetown Town, submit an application to the local building or planning department with sign dimensions, location, and design specifications. Our data confirms permits are required for most commercial signs. Processing typically takes 1-4 weeks. PermitPal helps you identify specific requirements and prepare complete applications.
In Georgetown Town, regulated sign types include All Residential-type Signs, Ground/Monument Sign, Athletic Field Fence Sign, Real Estate Sale/Rent Sign, and 2 more types. Most commercial signs require permits. Temporary signs and certain small signs may be exempt. Use PermitPal for specific exemptions.
Sign setback requirements in Georgetown Town vary by zone and sign type, typically ranging from 5-15 feet from property lines. Use PermitPal for specific setback requirements at your location.
Digital and LED signs in Georgetown Town are regulated with specific requirements for brightness, animation, and message duration. Georgetown Town has documented illumination rules in our database. Use PermitPal to see the exact requirements for electronic message centers.
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Georgetown Town, Delaware Sign Rules at a Glance
Georgetown Town, Delaware regulates 48 sign types across 11 zoning districts. Detached Sign (General)s in the HC Highway Commercial District zoning district are capped at 25 ft tall and 96 sq ft, with a 25 ft if along state road, 10 ft if non-state road/accessway. setback (Sec. § 230-170C). Most commercial signs in Georgetown Town require a permit.
Detailed Sign Ordinance Requirements for Georgetown Town, Delaware
Sign Rules by Zoning District in Georgetown Town (11 zones)
| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| General Regulations For All Zones | 15 | — | 32 sq ft per sign | — |
| UR1 Urban Residential District, UR2 Medium Residential District, UR3 Neighborhood Residential District | 6 | — | 64 sq ft | — |
| MR1 Multifamily Residential District, MR2 Townhouse Residential District | 3 | — | 64 sq ft | — |
| UB1 Urban Business District | 6 | 42 in | 48 sq ft (total of all) | — |
| UB2 Neighborhood Business District | 6 | 42 in | 24 sq ft (total) | — |
| UB3 Professional Business District | 4 | 8 ft | 24 sq ft | — |
| HC Highway Commercial District | 10 | 30 ft | 200 sq ft | — |
| LI1 Limited Industrial District | 2 | — | — | — |
| LI2 Light Industrial District | 1 | — | — | — |
| HD Historic District | 1 | — | — | — |
| ED Education District | 4 | — | 48 sq ft | — |
Zone-by-Zone Sign Requirements in Georgetown Town(sample of 3 of 11 zones)
General Regulations For All Zones
| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Premium Details(Illumination, Size Formula, Permit Requirements, Additional Requirements — available with a free PermitPal account) | Ordinance Citation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Instructional Sign | — | 8 sq ft | — | — | — | On-premises | — | Unlock | § 230-164.1; § 230-176B; § 230-177B(5) |
| Mailbox or Doorbell Sign | — | 12 sq inches | — | — | — | On mailbox or doorbell | — | Unlock | § 230-176C |
| Name and Address Sign | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | 1 per principal building or use | On each principal building or use | — | Unlock | § 230-176D |
| Bus Shelter Sign | — | 32 sq ft per sign | — | — | 2 per shelter | At bus stop shelter | — | Unlock | § 230-176F |
| Standard Open Flag | — | 3 ft x 5 ft | — | — | 1 per business | Mounted on pole during business hours | — | Unlock | § 230-176H |
| Electronic Message Board Sign | — | — | — | Where monument signs are required, must be incorporated into a monument sign. | 1 per parcel/complex | As allowed by underlying zone and restrictions. | — | Unlock | § 230-176J |
| Coming Soon Sign | — | 32 sq ft (may exceed if approved by Town Manager) | — | — | 1 per tenant/store/building | On-site | — | Unlock | § 230-176K |
| Athletic Field Fence Sign | — | 32 sq ft | — | — | — | On athletic field fence | — | Unlock | § 230-176L |
UR1 Urban Residential District, UR2 Medium Residential District, UR3 Neighborhood Residential District
| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Premium Details(Illumination, Size Formula, Permit Requirements, Additional Requirements — available with a free PermitPal account) | Ordinance Citation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Real Estate Sale/Rent Sign | — | 6 sq ft | — | 10 ft from public right-of-way | 2 per property or 2 per frontage | On premises being sold or rented; max 2 per property or 2 per frontage if property fronts multiple streets. | — | Unlock | § 230-165A, F, H |
| Development Sale Sign | — | 20 sq ft | — | 10 ft from public right-of-way | 2 per property or 2 per frontage | On premises being developed; max 2 per property or 2 per frontage if fronts multiple streets. | — | Unlock | § 230-165B, F, H |
| Sold/Rented Sign | — | 6 sq ft | — | 10 ft from public right-of-way | 2 per property or 2 per frontage | Subject to same conditions as real estate signs. | — | Unlock | § 230-165C, F, H |
| Contractor/Artisan Sign | — | 6 sq ft | — | 10 ft from public right-of-way | 1 per contractor/artisan | On premises where contractor/artisan is working; 1 per contractor/artisan | — | Unlock | § 230-165D, F, H |
| Furnishings/Equipment Sign | — | 6 sq ft | — | 10 ft from public right-of-way | — | On premises with new furnishings/equipment | — | Unlock | § 230-165E, F, H |
| Permanent Entrance Development/Project Sign | — | 64 sq ft | — | 10 ft from public right-of-way | 1 per side of entrance | Both sides of each entrance to development/project. | — | Unlock | § 230-165G, H |
HC Highway Commercial District
| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Premium Details(Illumination, Size Formula, Permit Requirements, Additional Requirements — available with a free PermitPal account) | Ordinance Citation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Detached Sign (General) | 25 ft | 96 sq ft | — | 25 ft if along state road, 10 ft if non-state road/accessway. | 1 per structure, 2 per corner lot (total area restriction) | — | — | Unlock | § 230-170C |
| Detached Sign (US 113) | 30 ft | 150 sq ft | — | — | — | Along US 113 | — | Unlock | § 230-170F |
| Changeable Price Sign | — | — | — | — | Up to 4 per sign structure/facade | Integrated with detached sign, canopy, or wall in accordance with regulations. | — | Unlock | § 230-170G |
| Complex Detached Sign | 25 ft | 96 sq ft (except where specifically allowed larger); 25 ft high (see outparcel exception) | — | 25 ft if along state road, 10 ft if non-state road/accessway | 1 per arterial/collector road | At complex entrance(s), arterial/collector roads. | — | Unlock | § 230-170H(2) |
| Outparcel/Pad Site Detached Sign (Complex) | — | 96 sq ft | — | — | 1 per outparcel | At outparcel | — | Unlock | § 230-170H(3) |
| Outparcel Wall Sign | — | — | — | — | 1 per outparcel | On outparcel building | — | Unlock | § 230-170H(3) |
| Unit Wall Sign (Complex, part of multi-unit building) | — | 200 sq ft | — | — | 1 per unit | On front of unit (multi-unit structure) | — | Unlock | § 230-170H(4) |
| Structure Facade Sign (Complex) | — | — | — | — | 1 per structure facade | On each facade of the structure | — | Unlock | § 230-170H(5) |
PermitPal covers all 11 zoning districts in Georgetown Town — full sign requirements for every zone, plus illumination rules, size formulas, and permit requirements for every sign type — with a free account.
See all 11 zones for Georgetown Town — start freeProhibited Signs in Georgetown Town
- No sign may be erected or maintained other than signs of the character, size and construction expressly authorized by the ordinance and other ordinances and regulations of the Town Council of Georgetown.
- Flashing signs are prohibited in all districts.
- Animated signs are prohibited in all districts.
- Signs which produce noise or sounds, emit visible smoke, vapor, particles or odor are prohibited in all districts.
- 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, ambulance vehicles, or for navigation purposes are prohibited in all districts.
- 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 when viewed from normal approaching position of a vehicle at a distance of 25 feet to 300 feet are prohibited in all districts.
- Signs in any location which obstruct motorists' vision of traffic control signals are prohibited in all districts.
- Signs attached to trees or utility poles are prohibited in all districts.
- Signs attached to any vehicle parked primarily for display purposes are prohibited in all districts.
- Off-premises signs are prohibited in all districts.
- Spinners, feather flags, streamers and inflatable signs are prohibited in all districts.
- Billboard signs are prohibited in all districts.
- Neon tube signs are prohibited in all districts.
- Video board signs are prohibited in all districts.
Exempt Signs in Georgetown Town
- Signs erected by any governmental agency for purposes of direction, safety or convenience of the general public are permitted in all districts.
- Instructional signs, nonilluminated, are permitted in all districts.
- Signs in conjunction with doorbells or mailboxes, not exceeding 12 square inches in area, are permitted in all districts.
- Name and address signs, no more than one for each principal building or use on a premises and exceeding two square feet in area, are permitted in all districts.
- Signs which are attached or which are an integral part of gasoline pumps or other dispensing or servicing devices, provided that such signs do not extend beyond the area of the pump, dispensing or servicing device to which they are attached, and provided that such activities or services are legally established uses, are permitted in all districts.
- Signs displayed on shelters at bus stops limited to two signs per shelter, and the sign area shall not exceed 32 square feet per sign, are permitted in all districts.
- Signs erected by or on behalf of the Town as approved by the Town Manager are permitted in all districts.
- Businesses may have one standard flag, three feet by five feet, with the word 'open' or similar wording on it and mounted on a pole only during business hours; such flags are not counted in the computation of permissible sign area and display of official flags is not regulated.
- Road and traffic control signs, as approved by Delaware Department of Transportation and the Town, are permitted in all districts.
- Window signs as specified, must be comprised of individual letters, logos, or design elements, and not obscure more than 50% of window area (in specified districts). Signage area of window signs does not count towards total allowed signage in HC and UB1 districts.
- Changing the copy on a bulletin board, display encasement, poster board or marquee is permitted without a permit.
- Nonilluminated signs, no more than six square feet in area, advertising real estate for sale or lease or announcing contemplated improvements of real estate, and located on the premises, one such sign for each street frontage, are permitted without a permit.
- Nonilluminated signs no more than six square feet in area, erected in connection with new construction work and displayed on the premises during such time as the actual construction work is in progress, are permitted without a permit.
- Sign on a truck, bus or other vehicle while in use in the normal course of business is permitted without a permit (does not include parking primarily for display purposes).
- Temporary signs for a period of 30 consecutive days, including: (a) temporary signs advertising a special civic or cultural event such as a fair, exposition, play, concert, fund-raiser or meeting sponsored by a governmental or charitable organization with approval of the sign by the Town Manager; (b) special decorative displays used for holidays or public demonstrations or promotion for nonpartisan, civic purposes, not to exceed one on premises; (c) special sales promotion displays in a district where such sales are permitted, including displays incidental to the opening of a new business (only one sign per business).
- Athletic field fence signs no larger than 32 square feet, including advertising banners, flags, and pennants.
Sign Plan & Submission Notes for Georgetown Town
- All signs in excess of 32 square feet require review by Sussex County for building code compliance and permitting.
- Application for any sign exceeding 32 square feet in any district must be made to the State of Delaware, Outdoor Advertising, Department of Highways and Transportation.
- No sign shall be erected, constructed, posted, painted, altered, maintained or relocated except as provided in these regulations until a permit has been issued by the Town Manager, unless otherwise excepted.
- Applications for unusual signs or displays which give rise to questions of interpretation may be referred by the Town Manager to the Board of Adjustment for interpretation and recommendation.
- The Town of Georgetown Development Design Standards should be reviewed for sign design criteria or guidelines in all zones.
Source: ecode360 municipal code