# Sign Regulations in Berlin, Maryland

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Berlin, Maryland (MD)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/maryland/berlin
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-07
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/MD/Berlin/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=SPBLADERE_CH108ZO_ARTXSI)

## At a glance

Berlin, Maryland regulates 18 sign types across 5 zoning districts. Freestanding Signs in the General Regulations For All Zones zoning district are capped at 25 ft tall and 80 sq ft per sign, with a 10 ft from front property line; 50 ft from other freestanding signs; 100 ft from adjacent freestanding sign on same premises if within 15 ft of street ROW setback (Sec. Sec. 108-901(b); 108-904; 108-906). Most commercial signs in Berlin require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (5 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 10 | 42 inches | See formula (max 200 sq ft per sign) | — |
| R-1 Residence District, R-2 Residence District, R-3 Apartment District, R-4 Residence District (PUD) | 6 | 15 ft for freestanding | 32 sq ft per face | — |
| B-1 Town Center District, B-2 Shopping District, B-3 General Business District, M-1 Light Industrial District, M-1A Industrial District | 6 | 25 ft | 200 sq ft (per sign); see aggregate formula | — |
| H-1 Historic District | 1 | — | See general regulations | — |
| Planned Unit Development (PUD) | 1 | — | — | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 5 zones)

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | 25 ft (for all signs see Sec. 108-904) | See formula (max 200 sq ft per sign) | — | — | Multiple allowed as long as cumulative aggregate for premises not exceeded | On building façade, parallel to wall | — | Sec. 108-898; 108-901; 108-902; 108-904 |
| Freestanding Sign | 25 ft | 80 sq ft per sign | — | 10 ft from front property line; 50 ft from other freestanding signs; 100 ft from adjacent freestanding sign on same premises if within 15 ft of street ROW | Typically one per enterprise/premises | In front yard, not closer than 10 ft to street line | — | Sec. 108-901(b); 108-904; 108-906 |
| Under-Canopy Sign | Must maintain minimum 7 ft clearance from ground | See formula | Up to width of canopy/awning | — | May have 1 per canopy | Suspended from canopy, awning, or marquee | — | Sec. 108-901(c) |
| Sidewalk Sign | 3 ft | 6 sq ft | 2 ft | — | One per business | On sidewalk in front of business | — | Sec. 108-901(d) |
| Temporary Sign (Portable) | — | 32 sq ft | — | — | One per parcel or business | On property/premises | — | Sec. 108-908(b) |
| Temporary Sign (Special Sale/Grand Opening) | — | 6 sq ft per sign | — | — | Max 2 per wall/facade | Attached to facade, wall, or window | — | Sec. 108-908(d) |
| Temporary Sign (Political) | 42 inches | 8 sq ft | — | — | — | Must not be placed in public ROW | — | Sec. 108-908(a) |
| Directional Sign | — | 4 sq ft (R), 8 sq ft (other) | — | — | One per entrance | At entrance for enterprise, business, or institution | — | Sec. 108-905 |

### R-1 Residence District, R-2 Residence District, R-3 Apartment District, R-4 Residence District (PUD)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Security Sign | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | — | On or near the premises | — | Sec. 108-900(1) |
| Home Occupation Sign | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | One | On the premises in connection with the home occupation | — | Sec. 108-900(2) |
| Identification Sign (Residential) | — | 4 sq ft | — | — | — | At residence or property entrance | — | Sec. 108-900(3) |
| Development Entrance Sign | — | 32 sq ft per face | — | 25 ft from street line | One per entrance | Located 25 ft from street line at entrance(s) to development | — | Sec. 108-900(4) |
| Conditional Use/Church/Institution Sign | 15 ft for freestanding | 32 sq ft | — | — | One | On the property (wall or freestanding) | — | Sec. 108-900(5) |
| Directional Sign (Residential) | — | 4 sq ft | — | — | One per entrance | At entrance; see 'identification/directional signs' | — | Sec. 108-905 |

### B-1 Town Center District, B-2 Shopping District, B-3 General Business District, M-1 Light Industrial District, M-1A Industrial District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | 25 ft | 200 sq ft (per sign); see aggregate formula | — | — | Multiple allowed provided aggregate formula is not exceeded | Building façade, parallel to wall | — | Sec. 108-898; 108-901(a); 108-902; 108-904 |
| Freestanding Sign | 25 ft | 80 sq ft | — | 10 ft front yard; 50 ft from another freestanding sign; 100 ft in special location | One per premises/enterprise | Front yard, at street right-of-way line or per code setback | — | Sec. 108-901(b); 108-904; 108-906 |
| Under-Canopy Sign | — | Varies by canopy width | Up to canopy width | — | One per canopy | Hanging from canopy/awning | — | Sec. 108-901(c) |
| Sidewalk Sign | 3 ft | 6 sq ft | 2 ft | — | One per business | On sidewalk in front of storefront | — | Sec. 108-901(d) |
| Projecting Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Projecting from building, can overhang sidewalk | — | Sec. 108-907 |
| Directional Sign | — | 8 sq ft | — | — | One per entrance | At business/institution entrance | — | Sec. 108-905 |

## Prohibited signs in Berlin

- A sign shall not be erected, re-erected, constructed, altered or maintained, except as provided by this article and without a permit, unless exempted.
- Signs located in such a manner as to obstruct or otherwise interfere with an official traffic sign, signal or device or with a driver's view of approaching, merging or intersecting traffic are prohibited.
- Except as provided for elsewhere, signs encroaching upon or overhanging a public right-of-way are prohibited. No sign shall be attached to any utility pole, light standard, street tree, or any other public facility within a public right-of-way.
- Cloth, paper, soft plastic or similar advertising signs or devices other than in rigid frames are prohibited, except for temporary signs or as provided for temporary signs.
- Signs which blink, flash or are animated by lighting in any fashion that would cause such signs to have the appearance of traffic safety signs and lights, or municipal vehicle warnings from a distance are prohibited.
- Portable signs are prohibited except as allowed for temporary signs.
- Any sign attached to, or placed on, a vehicle or recreational vehicle parked on public or private property is prohibited, except identification of a firm or its principal products on a vehicle operating during the normal course of business.
- Pennants, banners and private flags bearing any logo, product name, business name or other advertising, and balloons, are prohibited except as temporarily displayed as part of a special sale or promotion (no more than 30 days in any calendar year and no more than 15 consecutive days at a time).
- Billboards are prohibited in any district.
- Signs projecting above the point of intersection of the exterior wall of the building with its roof shall only be mounted on a parapet or within the same plane as the exterior wall; roof-mounted signs are not allowed in H-1 Historic District or B-1 Town Center District.
- Signs which blink (e.g. electronic message signs) are prohibited; electronic message signs may not blink.

## Signs exempt from permit in Berlin

- Official notices authorized by a court, public body or public safety official, and community sponsored events authorized by the legislative body, are exempt from the provisions of this article.
- Directional, warning or information signs authorized by federal, state or municipal governments are exempt.
- Memorial plaques, building identification signs and building cornerstones when cut or carved into a masonry surface or when made of noncombustible material and made integral to the building structure are exempt.
- The flag of a government or a noncommercial institution, such as a school, is exempt.
- Religious symbols and seasonal decorations within the appropriate public holiday season are exempt.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- All development complexes in commercial districts shall require a master signage plan pursuant to the requirements of the sign code and any other requirements within its district, prior to the installation of any signage.
- Any sign in a Planned Unit Development (PUD) shall be regulated pursuant to article X of this chapter (sign code).
- No signage (in commercial districts) may be installed prior to approval of a master signage plan where required.
- Site plan review is required for all nonresidential uses, townhouse and multifamily developments, and single-family subdivisions with three or more dwelling units, and shall be approved before a zoning certificate or installation of site improvements, which may include signage and landscaping.
- Site plan review must include information about all advertising features including permanent signs and outdoor advertising structures.
- Under house-moving exceptions, a site plan showing the proposed location of the building and a parking plan is required.
- Applications for a change in zoning district boundaries must be accompanied by a plat showing existing and proposed boundaries; signage may be regulated under new zoning if change occurs.

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

---

PermitPal — AI sign code research. Full HTML page: https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/maryland/berlin