# Sign Regulations in Lewes, Delaware

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Lewes, Delaware (DE)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/delaware/lewes
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-21
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/7035429#7035429)

## At a glance

Lewes, Delaware regulates 37 sign types across 23 zoning districts. Freestanding Signs in the General Regulations For All Zones zoning district are capped at 12 ft (if speed limit ≤25 mph); 16 ft (if speed limit >25 mph) tall and 32 sq ft max, with a Minimum 5 ft from property line setback (Sec. § 197-68.G(1)-(5)). Most commercial signs in Lewes require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (23 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 22 | 36 in (3 ft) | 32 sq ft max | — |
| Residential districts (R-1, R-2, R-2(H), R-3, R-3(H), LC, LC(H)) | 5 | 6 ft | 24 sq ft | — |
| Nonresidential districts (TC, GC, MC, C/H, CF, CF(E), CF(HC), I) | 3 | — | — | — |
| OS | 4 | 36 in | Per § 197-68.D: max 1 sq ft per 1 linear ft of wall frontage | — |
| R-1 | 5 | 6 ft | 24 sq ft | — |
| R-2 | 5 | 6 ft | 24 sq ft | — |
| R-2(H) | 5 | 6 ft | 24 sq ft | — |
| R-3 | 5 | 6 ft | 24 sq ft | — |
| R-3(H) | 5 | 6 ft | 24 sq ft | — |
| R-4 | 1 | — | — | — |
| R-4(H) | 1 | — | — | — |
| R-5 | 1 | — | — | — |
| TC | 1 | — | — | — |
| TC(H) | 1 | — | — | — |
| LC | 1 | — | — | — |
| LC(H) | 1 | — | — | — |
| GC | 1 | — | — | — |
| MC | 1 | — | — | — |
| C/H | 1 | — | — | — |
| CF | 1 | — | — | — |
| CF(E) | 1 | — | — | — |
| CF(HC) | 1 | — | — | — |
| I | 1 | — | — | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 23 zones)

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Noncommercial Speech Sign | — | 15 sq ft (3 ft x 5 ft) | — | — | 1 per dwelling unit or per lot/business | — | — | § 197-65.A(1)-(5) |
| Political Sign | 4 ft | 4 sq ft | — | — | — | Only on private property with occupant's permission | — | § 197-65.B(1)-(5) |
| Real Estate Sign | 4 ft (general) | 6 sq ft (general); Subdivision sales: 20 sq ft | — | — | 1 per street frontage (exception for open house directional signs); subdivisions: 1 per entrance | On private property with owner's permission | — | § 197-65.C(1)-(6) |
| Construction Sign | — | 6 sq ft (2 ft x 3 ft) | — | — | 1 per contractor, etc. per property | — | — | § 197-65.D(1)-(4) |
| Incidental Sign | 4 ft | 6 sq ft | — | — | — | — | — | § 197-65.E(1)-(2) |
| Projecting Sign | — | 6 sq ft per sign | — | Not more than 10 ft into/beyond building setback line | See restrictions; generally one per wall, up to one per 25 ft frontage per tenant (multi-tenant) | Not project more than 3 in from face or wall or above roofline of one-story building; not more than 10 ft into/beyond building setback. | — | § 197-68.F(1)-(3) |
| Freestanding Sign | 12 ft (if speed limit ≤25 mph); 16 ft (if speed limit >25 mph) | 32 sq ft max | — | Minimum 5 ft from property line | 1 per lot (<300 ft frontage) or 2 per lot (≥300 ft frontage) | At least 5 ft from property line | — | § 197-68.G(1)-(5) |
| Sandwich Board Sign (Portable Sign) | 36 in (3 ft) | — | 12 in (1 ft) | — | — | Adjacent to building/business | — | § 197-68.L |

### Residential districts (R-1, R-2, R-2(H), R-3, R-3(H), LC, LC(H))

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Customary Sign (Residential Use) | — | 15 sq ft | — | — | — | In conjunction with residential use (e.g., mailbox, names on houses) | — | § 197-69.A(2) |
| Freestanding Community Sign (Subdivision/Institutional Use) | 6 ft | 24 sq ft | — | 5 ft from property line | 1 per street frontage, max 2 | At least 5 ft from property line | — | § 197-69.A(4)(a)-(d) |
| Wall Sign (Multi-Family/Nonresidential Use) | — | 12 sq ft | — | — | 1 per street frontage | — | — | § 197-69.A(5)(a)-(b) |
| Identification Sign (Home Occupation/Bed & Breakfast/Professional Office) | 4 ft (if freestanding) | 3 sq ft | — | Min 2 ft from right-of-way (if freestanding) | 1 per home occupation/B&B/professional office | If freestanding: at least 2 ft from public right-of-way | — | § 197-69.A(6)(a)-(d); § 197-67.C |
| Windblown Display | — | 15 sq ft (3 ft x 5 ft) | — | — | Max 3 per lot | — | — | § 197-69.A(7) |

### R-1

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Customary Sign (Residential) | — | 15 sq ft | — | — | — | Residential use in conjunction with residence (e.g. mailbox, house name), not illuminated | — | § 197-69.A(2) |
| Freestanding Community Sign | 6 ft | 24 sq ft | — | 5 ft from property line | 1 per street, max 2 | At least 5 ft from property line | — | § 197-69.A(4) |
| Wall Sign (Multi-Family/Nonresidential Use) | — | 12 sq ft | — | — | 1 per street | — | — | § 197-69.A(5) |
| Identification Sign (Home Occupation/Bed & Breakfast/Professional Office) | 4 ft (freestanding) | 3 sq ft | — | 2 ft from ROW | 1 per business | On building or per freestanding sign rules | — | § 197-69.A(6) |
| Windblown Display | — | 15 sq ft (3 ft x 5 ft) | — | — | 3 per lot | — | — | § 197-69.A(7) |

## Prohibited signs in Lewes

- Strings of light bulbs, pennants, streamers, balloons, or banners, except as temporary advertising signs provided in this article.
- Signs, including reader boards, that employ any flashing, moving, oscillating, blinking, variable-intensity lights, or produce noise, vapor, smoke, particles, or odor.
- Building walls used for advertising or directing attention to a business, commodity, service or entertainment conducted, sold or offered elsewhere other than upon the premises on which the building sits.
- Off-premises signs.
- 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 or constitute a nuisance per se.
- Wall sign extending beyond the edge of the wall to which it is affixed nor extending above the roofline of a building.
- Roof signs.
- Billboards.
- Internally illuminated signs.
- Signs attached to or included on or in any vehicle parked primarily for display purposes.
- Any sign which is not specifically permitted by or does not conform to the provisions of this article.
- Any sign and/or supporting structure which for a period of 60 days advertises or identifies a closed business that had been conducted, or product no longer sold on the premises, shall be removed by the owner, agent, or person having the beneficial use of the building, structure, or property upon which such sign is located within 30 days of receipt of written notice by the Building Official.
- No light pole, utility pole or other supporting member of a building or property shall be used for the placement of any sign unless the owner of the pole or supporting member has given prior written approval for such use and the sign otherwise conforms with this article.
- All signs, including all supports, braces, guys and anchors, shall be maintained in good repair, free of peeling paint or paper, fading of colors, staining, rust, damage, outages in lighting, or other conditions which impair the legibility of such sign and in conformance with this article and in such a manner so as not to cause a hazard to the public.
- At every street intersection there shall be a clear view between the heights of three feet and 10 feet in a triangle formed by the corner and points on the curb 30 feet from the intersection and entranceway.
- All signs shall comply with the Building and Electrical Codes of the City of Lewes; underground wiring required for all illuminated signs or signs requiring electrical connections which are not attached to a building.
- No sign shall be placed between a sidewalk and street.
- 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 signal or which attempts to direct the movement of traffic, which hides from view or interferes with the effectiveness of any official traffic control device or signal.
- No person shall place or maintain, nor shall any lawful authority permit, upon any street, any traffic control device bearing thereon any commercial advertising, and no person shall attach to any traffic signal or sign or device any other sign containing commercial advertising.
- Any sign placed or erected in a public street, alley or right-of-way, or other public place, which is not specifically permitted in such place, shall be deemed an unlawful sign and subject to removal.
- If the Building Official or authorized representative determines that any sign is unsafe or constitutes a hazard to the public, or has been constructed, erected or maintained in violation of the provisions of this article, the Building Official may require its immediate removal.

## Signs exempt from permit in Lewes

- Noncommercial speech signs (within specified size, number, duration and illumination limits).
- Political signs (within specified duration, size, location, and visibility limits).
- Real estate signs (within specified size, placement, height, removal and quantity limits, including subdivision sale signs).
- Construction signs (within specified timing, number, removal and size limits).
- Incidental signs (within specified size and function limits).
- Commercial flags (maximum two per business, max 15 square feet each, minimum 7 feet above grade/sidewalk).
- Signage with the international symbol of accessibility or van-accessible recognized logo.
- Window signs (so long as total number does not exceed 1/2 of the total area of the window, except grocery stores).
- Government signs: Highway and street signs erected by state, county or municipal road agency, including temporary construction signs for road/utility projects.
- Historic markers placed under the authority of the local, state or federal government.
- Placards not exceeding two square feet.
- Flags of any nation, state, City, educational institution, nonprofit organization, or decorative flags.
- Special decorative displays used for holidays, public demonstrations or promotion for nonpartisan civic purposes.
- Signs on a truck, bus or other vehicle while in use in the normal course of business.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Permit required: A permit shall be required to erect, alter, display, relocate or replace any sign structure or mural, except as exempted herein.
- Application for permit to erect or install a sign is to be made by the owner, tenant, lessee, authorized agent, Delaware licensed contractor, or registered architect or engineer, on forms furnished by the Building Official.
- The application for a permit must state the address, site of installation, estimated cost of work, and fully describe the sign according to definitions and specifications of the chapter.
- Permit fee is required upon approval and before issuance.
- Any person adversely affected may appeal to the Board of Adjustment for a variance from the provisions.
- If the licensee does not comply with the provisions or with approved drawings/specifications, or fails to comply with written directions, the Building Official may suspend or revoke the permit.
- Prior to the issuance of any permit for the placement of any additional signage on the property, all nonconforming signs must be removed (no new signs allowed until compliance).
- Temporary permits for special event signs must be applied for with the Building Official and pertain to signs for events of temporary and limited duration.
- For multi-tenant locations, all signage shall have continuity in design, size, color and lettering.

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

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