# Sign Regulations in Newark, Delaware

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Newark, Delaware (DE)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/delaware/newark
- **Data last verified:** 2025-08-25
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/de/newark/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=CD_ORD_CH32ZO_ARTXVIISI)

## At a glance

Newark, Delaware regulates 39 sign types across 13 zoning districts. Bulletin Board Sign (for institutions only)s in the Residential Districts (RH, RT, RS, RD, RM, RA, RR, AC) zoning district are capped at 10 ft tall and 10 sq ft, with a 5 ft (for ground sign) setback (Sec. Sec. 32-60(a)(1): Standards for residential zoning districts). Most commercial signs in Newark require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (13 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Residential Districts (RH, RT, RS, RD, RM, RA, RR, AC) | 5 | 10 ft | 20 sq ft | — |
| University District (UN) | 1 | — | — | — |
| Business District (BL, BN, BB, BC) | 17 | 18 ft | 60 sq ft | — |
| Business-Residential District (BLR) | 1 | — | — | — |
| Industrial District (ML, MI), Manufacturing Office Research District (MOR) | 11 | 30 ft | 100 sq ft | — |
| Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA) | 1 | — | — | — |
| Public Parkland (PL) | 1 | — | — | — |
| New Center Village (NCV) | 1 | — | — | — |
| Industrial and Office Research Districts (ML, MI, MOR) | 1 | — | — | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 5 | — | 1 sq ft | — |
| Special Sign District (Cleveland Avenue) | 1 | 25 ft above grade (ground or roof sign) | — | — |
| Special Sign District (South College Avenue) | 1 | 25 ft above grade (ground or roof sign) | — | — |
| Special Sign District (Industrial Park) | 1 | 60 ft above grade (for existing signs prior to code, subject to other regulations) | — | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 13 zones)

### Residential Districts (RH, RT, RS, RD, RM, RA, RR, AC)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Bulletin Board Sign (for institutions only) | 10 ft | 10 sq ft | — | 5 ft (for ground sign) | 1 | Ground, Wall | — | Sec. 32-60(a)(1): Standards for residential zoning districts |
| Business Sign (for tourist, lodging or boardinghouse only) | 10 ft | 5 sq ft | — | 5 ft (for ground sign) | 1 | Ground, Wall | — | Sec. 32-60(a)(1): Standards for residential zoning districts |
| Identification Sign (for institutions, public and semipublic use only) | 6 ft | 20 sq ft | — | 5 ft (ground/fence signs) | 1 | Fence, Ground, Wall | — | Sec. 32-60(a)(1): Standards for residential zoning districts |
| Instructional Sign | 10 ft | 2 sq ft | — | 0 ft | Unlimited | All locations except roof | — | Sec. 32-60(a)(1): Standards for residential zoning districts |
| Real Estate Sign | 5 ft | 6 sq ft | — | 15 ft (ground sign) | 1 per lot | Ground, Wall | — | Sec. 32-60(a)(1): Standards for residential zoning districts |

### Business District (BL, BN, BB, BC)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Advertising Sign (Ground) | 10 ft | 15 sq ft | — | 5 ft | 1 | Ground | — | Sec. 32-60(a)(2): Standards for business zoning districts |
| Advertising Sign (Wall) | 10 ft | 15 sq ft | — | — | 1 per building | Wall | — | Sec. 32-60(a)(2): Standards for business zoning districts |
| Bulletin Board Sign (for institutions only) | 10 ft | 10 sq ft | — | 5 ft (ground sign) | 2 | Ground, Wall | — | Sec. 32-60(a)(2): Standards for business zoning districts |
| Business Sign (Projecting) | May not extend above roof line; max extension 5 ft above point of attachment | 20 sq ft | — | — | 1 | Projecting | — | Sec. 32-60(a)(2): Standards for business zoning districts |
| Business Sign (Ground) | 18 ft | 60 sq ft | — | 5 ft | 1 | Ground | — | Sec. 32-60(a)(2): Standards for business zoning districts |
| Instructional Sign | 10 ft | 2 sq ft | — | 0 ft | Unlimited | All locations | — | Sec. 32-60(a)(2): Standards for business zoning districts |
| Portable Sign | 4 ft | 10 sq ft | 3 ft | — | 1 | Ground (in front of business only) | — | Sec. 32-60(a)(2): Standards for business zoning districts |
| Real Estate Sign (Ground, Fence) | 10 ft | 50 sq ft | — | 15 ft (ground/fence sign) | 1 per lot | Ground, Fence | — | Sec. 32-60(a)(2): Standards for business zoning districts |

### Industrial District (ML, MI), Manufacturing Office Research District (MOR)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Advertising Sign (Ground) | 30 ft | 100 sq ft | — | — | 1 or 1 per 100 ft frontage | Ground | — | Sec. 32-60(a)(3): Standards for industrial and office research districts |
| Advertising Sign (Wall) | 20 ft | 25 sq ft | — | — | 1 per building | Wall | — | Sec. 32-60(a)(3): Standards for industrial and office research districts |
| Advertising Sign (Roof) | 10 ft | — | — | — | 1 per building | Roof | — | Sec. 32-60(a)(3): Standards for industrial and office research districts |
| Bulletin Board Sign (All locations) | — | — | — | — | — | Any allowed locations | — | Sec. 32-60(a)(3): Standards for industrial and office research districts |
| Business Sign (Wall) | — | — | — | — | — | Wall | — | Sec. 32-60(a)(3): Standards for industrial and office research districts |
| Business Sign (Ground, Sidewalk Overdeck) | — | — | — | — | — | Ground, Sidewalk Overdeck | — | Sec. 32-60(a)(3): Standards for industrial and office research districts |
| Real Estate Sign (Fence, Wall, Ground, Roof) | 20 ft | 100 sq ft | — | 40 ft (ground/fence) | 1 per lot | Fence, Wall, Ground, Roof | — | Sec. 32-60(a)(3): Standards for industrial and office research districts |
| Temporary Sign (Fence, Wall, Ground, Roof) | 10 ft | 25 sq ft | — | — | 1 per lot | Fence, Wall, Ground, Roof | — | Sec. 32-60(a)(3): Standards for industrial and office research districts |

## Prohibited signs in Newark

- Signs which contain statements, words, or pictures of an obscene, indecent, or immoral character, such as will offend public morals or decency.
- Signs which contain or are in imitation of an official traffic signal or sign or contain the words "stop," "go slow," "caution," "danger," "warning," or similar words.
- Signs of a size, location, movement, content, coloring, or manner of illumination which may be confused with or construed as a traffic control device or which hide from view any traffic or street signal or sign.
- Signs which advertise an activity, business, product, or service no longer conducted on the premises upon which the sign is located.
- Signs which move in any manner, either by mechanical means or by wind pressure, swinging signs, spinners, or similar moving devices, are included in this prohibited use.
- Signs which consist of ribbons, streamers, posters, and strings of light bulbs, except as permitted in Section 32-60(a) for temporary signs.
- Signs which flash, except for time and temperature indicators.
- Signs which produce noise or sounds capable of being heard even though the sounds produced are not understandable.
- Signs which emit visible smoke, vapor, particles or odor.
- Signs erected, constructed, or maintained so as to obstruct, or be attached to any fire-fighting equipment, window, door, or opening used as a means of ingress or egress for fire fighting purposes, or placed so as to interfere with any opening for proper lighting and ventilation.
- Signs which cause radio, television, or other communication interference.
- Advertising signs within 400 feet of a public park or which confine, obstruct, or obscure a view of such park or a scenic area.
- No sign shall be permitted, erected or used in any district except as permitted in this article.

## Signs exempt from permit in Newark

- Signs of a noncommercial nature and in the public interest, erected by or on the order of a public officer in the performance of his duty, such as safety signs, danger signs, memorial plaques, official court and public notices, signs of a historical interest, development identification, and the like.
- For any public, charitable, educational, or religious institutions, flags, emblems, insignia, or similar signs displaying the name of the institution or the organization, except as otherwise regulated in this Article.
- Names of buildings, dates of erection, monumental citations, commemorative tablets and the like when carved into stone, concrete, or similar material and made of bronze, aluminum, or other permanent-type construction and made an integral part of the structure.
- Address sign, giving only street name and numerical designation for premises on which it appears, limited to one square foot.
- Pennants permitted to control ingress or egress to undeveloped property or property under construction, or to designate restricted areas within such property, for properties under construction or repair, or for purposes of public safety. No sign permit shall be required.
- Banners permitted in business or industrial zoning districts for advertising a special sales event, grand openings, or similar activities if attached to a wall, subject to specified size and location standards. No sign permit required.
- Noninstitutional flags and/or freestanding banners attached to poles, permitted as long as they do not contain statements or commercial messages of any kind; such flags are subject to size and setback limitations. No sign permit required.
- Existing nonconforming signs installed in accordance with city regulations and existing as of April 1, 1982, not in conformance with the requirements of this article may continue to be used except as otherwise stated.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- The planning director may require a submission of plans, drawings, etc., which show the lands in question, lot lines or other information as required, in order to establish whether a proposed improvement to property meets the provisions of this chapter (Sec. 32-7(d)).
- A shopping center identification sign may be allowed without regard to size or shape if the sign or signs are approved by the planning commission and council as part of the subdivision approval procedure. Existing shopping centers may apply for amendment to their subdivision plan for the purpose of making their shopping center identification sign a conforming sign.
- Existing shopping centers without an approved subdivision plan which were in existence prior to the adoption of the subdivision regulations may apply for a shopping center identification sign by submission of an application for approval of a sign plan to the planning commission for recommendation to city council.
- A sign exception (similar to a variance) may be permitted if approved by the board of adjustment as a special exception, for a sign having purpose, location, and dimensions similar to those of nonconforming signs existing in the immediate geographical area and within the confines of the designated special sign districts (Sec. 32-59(e)).
- Applications for time and temperature signs that do not meet the provisions of this code shall require the approval of the board of adjustment.

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

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