# Sign Regulations in New Castle, Delaware

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

- **Jurisdiction:** New Castle, Delaware (DE)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/delaware/new-castle
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-21
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/8876342#8876342)

## At a glance

New Castle, Delaware regulates 26 sign types across 11 zoning districts. Nameplates in the Light Industrial - Office District zoning district are capped at 2 square feet, with a 25 feet from street line setback (Sec. §230-37H(2) https://ecode360.com/8876375).

## Sign rules by zoning district (11 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Open Space and Recreation District | 2 | — | 50 square feet | — |
| Residential Districts (R-1, R-2, R-3) | 4 | — | 25 square feet | — |
| Historic Residence District | 3 | — | 6 square feet | — |
| Historic Commerce District | 2 | — | 12 square feet | — |
| Retail Commercial District | 2 | — | 100 square feet | — |
| Service Commercial District | 2 | — | 100 square feet | — |
| General Commercial District | 7 | — | 500 square feet per side | — |
| Light Industrial - Office District | 4 | — | 35 square feet | — |
| Industrial District, Industrial Office Park District | 2 | — | 200 square feet | — |
| Downtown Gateway District | 11 | 6 feet | 150 square feet | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 2 | — | 4 square feet | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 11 zones)

### General Commercial District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Real Estate Sign | — | 64 square feet | — | — | — | On-site | — | §230-37G(1) https://ecode360.com/8876365 |
| Wall or Roof Sign | — | 300 square feet OR 20% of perimeter wall area OR 3 sq ft per perimeter linear foot | — | — | — | Attached to one or more walls or roof of building | — | §230-37G(2) https://ecode360.com/8876366 |
| Ground Sign (Building < 20,000 sf) | — | 150 square feet per side | — | — | 1 | Single-faced or double-faced ground sign on lot or parcel | — | §230-37G(3)(a) https://ecode360.com/8876368 |
| Ground Sign (Building ≥ 20,000 sf) | — | 300 square feet per side | — | — | 1 | Single-faced or double-faced ground sign on lot or parcel | — | §230-37G(3)(b) https://ecode360.com/8876369 |
| Ground Sign (Commercial complex ≥ 150,000 sf) | — | 500 square feet per side | — | — | 2 per 150,000 square feet | Ground sign in commercial complex with one or more interrelated lots | — | §230-37G(3)(c) https://ecode360.com/8876370 |
| On-site Informational Sign | — | 50 square feet per side | — | — | 6 | On-site, informational (menu boards, directional, with advertising) | — | §230-37G(4) https://ecode360.com/8876371 |
| Illuminated Sign (Location Restriction) | — | — | — | 200 feet from OS&R, AH, R, or HR District (with exceptions) | — | — | — | §230-37G(5) https://ecode360.com/8876372 |

### Light Industrial - Office District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Real Estate Sign | — | 20 square feet | — | — | — | On-site | — | §230-37H(1) https://ecode360.com/8876374 |
| Nameplate | — | 2 square feet | — | 25 feet from street line | 1 per use | Mounted on ground or wall, at least 25 feet from street line | — | §230-37H(2) https://ecode360.com/8876375 |
| Bulletin Board | — | 20 square feet | — | 25 feet from street line | 1 per building | Mounted on ground or wall, at least 25 feet from street line | — | §230-37H(2) https://ecode360.com/8876375 |
| On-site Sign | — | 35 square feet | — | 25 feet from street line | 1 per building | Mounted on ground or wall, at least 25 feet from street line | — | §230-37H(2) https://ecode360.com/8876375 |

### Downtown Gateway District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | — | 15% of front first-story façade | — | — | — | Attached to wall | — | §230-37K(2)(a)[1-2] https://ecode360.com/27623242, https://ecode360.com/27623243 |
| Projecting Sign | Not to exceed eave line or parapet wall of principal building | 10 square feet | — | — | — | Projecting from principal building | — | §230-37K(2)(b)[1-3] https://ecode360.com/27623245, https://ecode360.com/27623246, https://ecode360.com/27623247 |
| Window Sign | — | 15% of glass area | — | — | — | Within window | — | §230-37K(2)(c) https://ecode360.com/27623248 |
| Awning Sign | — | 10% of awning area (for signage) | — | — | — | On awning | — | §230-37K(2)(d)[1-3] https://ecode360.com/27623250, https://ecode360.com/27623251, https://ecode360.com/27623252 |
| Freestanding Sign | 6 feet | 20 square feet | — | — | — | On property, freestanding; supports must be wood or metal | — | §230-37K(2)(e)[1-3] https://ecode360.com/27623254, https://ecode360.com/27623255, https://ecode360.com/27623256 |
| Marquee Sign | — | 150 square feet | — | — | — | Mounted on marquee | — | §230-37K(2)(f)[1-2] https://ecode360.com/27623258, https://ecode360.com/27623259 |
| Monument Sign | 6 feet | 20 square feet | — | — | — | On property, monument-style | — | §230-37K(2)(g)[1-4] https://ecode360.com/27623261 to https://ecode360.com/27623264 |
| Sandwich Board Sign | — | 8 square feet | — | — | 1 per business | Along sidewalk in front of business | — | §230-37K(3)(d)[1-5] https://ecode360.com/27623273 to https://ecode360.com/27623277 |

## Prohibited signs in New Castle

- No person shall paint or attach signs or other obstructions to any utility pole.
- No person shall paint or attach signs or other obstructions to any street light poles, tree, fence, post, rock, structure, or the ground in public rights-of-way within the City, except as specified.
- The use of flashing, pulsating, or moving lights shall be prohibited.
- Back-lit box signs shall be prohibited.

## Signs exempt from permit in New Castle

- Any sign installed by the City or the State of Delaware.
- Accessory signs permitted under the City's zoning and building codes, subject to the approval of the City Administrator or Code Official where applicable.
- Signs denoting the time and place of meetings of civic organizations, subject to the approval of the City Administrator.
- Temporary political, educational, charitable, civic, religious, or nonadvertising directional signs, provided all such signs are removed as soon as their purpose is accomplished; for political signs, removed within 10 days following the election.
- Temporary signs no larger than four square feet advertising yard sales, open houses, or house for sale, provided all such signs are removed as soon as their purpose is accomplished.
- Temporary, detached signs advertising retail establishments placed on sidewalks directly in front of the establishment, provided they are removed daily and do not obstruct pedestrian traffic.

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

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