# Sign Regulations in Emmitsburg, Maryland

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Emmitsburg, Maryland (MD)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/maryland/emmitsburg
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-07
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/MD/Emmitsburg/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=TIT17ZO_CH17.38SICO)

## At a glance

Emmitsburg, Maryland regulates 37 sign types across 6 zoning districts. Projecting Signs in the Neighborhood Commercial (B-1), General Commercial (B-2), Office, Research, & Industrial (ORI), Industrial Park (IP) zoning district are capped at Eave line tall and 20 sq ft per sign face, with a >5 ft from curb/shoulder of public street. setback (Sec. §§17.38.170.G, 17.38.070.C). Most commercial signs in Emmitsburg require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (6 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Neighborhood Commercial (B-1), General Commercial (B-2), Office, Research, & Industrial (ORI), Industrial Park (IP) | 9 | 15 ft | 150 sq ft | — |
| Institutional (INST) | 8 | 10 ft | 100 sq ft per sign | — |
| Village Zone (VZ) | 7 | 8–14 ft clearance depending on curb proximity | 20 sq ft plus 5 sq ft per tenant, not exceeding 30 sq ft | — |
| Residential District (R-1, R-2, R-3) | 4 | 8 ft | 15 sq ft | — |
| Conservation / Recreation (C-R) | 7 | 20 ft | 200 sq ft | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 10 | 24 ft (if banner) | 32 sq ft | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 6 zones)

### Neighborhood Commercial (B-1), General Commercial (B-2), Office, Research, & Industrial (ORI), Industrial Park (IP)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | Eave line | 32 sq ft per sign | — | — | Maximum two per tenant, one per street frontage | Building wall, facing a street or parking lot. | — | §§17.38.170.E, 17.38.060.F, 17.38.190 |
| Projecting Sign | Eave line | 20 sq ft per sign face | — | >5 ft from curb/shoulder of public street. | 1 per ground floor establishment + 1 per building entrance for tenants lacking ground floor | Perpendicular to building wall | — | §§17.38.170.G, 17.38.070.C |
| Window Sign | — | 25% of total window area for permanent signs; up to 35% for all combined permanent/temporary | — | — | N/A | Storefront window | — | §§17.38.170.H, 17.38.070.D |
| Freestanding Sign | 10 ft | 50 sq ft per sign | — | ≥5 ft from ROW | 1 per street frontage, max 2 per lot (see special rules for gas stations/drive-thrus) | Setback at least 5 feet from right-of-way | — | §§17.38.170.I, 17.38.070.E |
| Upper-level Building Identification Sign | 10 ft (not above eave line) | 50 sq ft per sign | — | — | 1 per building | Top floor exterior wall | — | §17.38.170.J |
| Off-Premises Sign | 15 ft | 150 sq ft | — | ≥Setback per §17.38.080.D | 1 per lot | Prohibited on buildings; on ground with setbacks | — | §17.38.080 |
| Portable Sign (Sandwich Board) | 3.5 ft | 7 sq ft per sign face | — | — | 1 per establishment | Sidewalk/public/private property adjacent to establishment | — | §17.38.110.B |
| Street Pole Banner | Minimum 8–14 ft clearance, depending on curb distance | 12.5 sq ft | 3 ft | — | Up to 2 per pole | Attached to street pole | — | §17.38.120 |

### Institutional (INST)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign (<2 acres) | 10 ft | 24 sq ft | — | — | 1 per street access, up to 2 per property | At street access | — | §17.38.150.G |
| Freestanding Sign (≥2 and <5 acres) | 10 ft | 40 sq ft | — | — | 1 per street access, up to 2 per property | At street access | — | §17.38.150.G |
| Freestanding Sign (≥5 acres) | 10 ft | 60 sq ft | — | — | 1 per street access, up to 2 per property | At street access | — | §17.38.150.G |
| Building Signs (Wall, Awning/Canopy, Projecting, and Window; <2 acres) | Eave line | See formula; max 24 sq ft per single sign | — | — | — | Building walls/windows | — | §17.38.150.I |
| Building Signs (Wall, Awning/Canopy, Projecting, and Window; ≥2 and <5 acres) | Eave line | See formula; max 36 sq ft per single sign | — | — | — | Building walls/windows | — | §17.38.150.I |
| Building Signs (Wall, Awning/Canopy, Projecting, and Window; ≥5 acres) | Eave line | See formula; max 60 sq ft per single sign | — | — | — | Building walls/windows | — | §17.38.150.I |
| Upper Level Building Identification Sign | 10 ft (not above eave line) | 100 sq ft per sign | — | — | 2 per building | Top floor external wall only | — | §17.38.150.J |
| Other Allowed: Limited Duration, Temporary, Portable, Street Pole Banner | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | §§17.38.150.A-D |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Limited Duration Sign (Non-Residential zones, Large) | 8 ft (if freestanding) | 16 sq ft | — | — | 1 per property; up to 2 with conditions | Freestanding, window, or wall | — | §17.38.090.B.1.a |
| Limited Duration Sign (Non-Residential zones, Small) | 6 ft (if freestanding) | 6 sq ft | — | — | 1 per property; up to 2 with conditions | Freestanding, window, or wall | — | §17.38.090.B.1.b |
| Limited Duration Sign (Residential zones, Large) | 8 ft | 16 sq ft | — | — | 1 per property; up to 2 with conditions | Freestanding, window, or wall | — | §17.38.090.B.2.a |
| Temporary Sign (Non-Residential districts, Large: Banner) | 24 ft (if banner) | 32 sq ft | — | — | 1 per property; up to 2 with conditions | Banner | — | §17.38.100.C.1.a |
| Temporary Sign (Non-Residential districts, Large: Freestanding/Wall/Window) | 8 ft | 16 sq ft | — | — | 1 per property; up to 2 with conditions | Freestanding/wall/window | — | §17.38.100.C.1.a |
| Temporary Sign (Non-Residential districts, Small) | 6 ft | 6 sq ft | — | — | 1 per property; up to 2 with conditions | Freestanding/wall/window | — | §17.38.100.C.1.b |
| Temporary Sign (Residential districts, Large: Banner) | 24 ft (if banner) | 32 sq ft | — | — | 1 per property if qualifying | Banner | — | §17.38.100.C.2.a |
| Temporary Sign (Residential districts, Large: Freestanding/Wall/Window) | 8 ft | 16 sq ft | — | — | 1 per property if qualifying | Freestanding/wall/window | — | §17.38.100.C.2.a |

## Prohibited signs in Emmitsburg

- Abandoned signs.
- Marquee signs.
- Snipe signs. Signs shall only be attached to utility poles in conformance with state and utility regulations and the requirements of this chapter.
- Vehicular signs. This regulation does not include the use of business logos, identification or advertising on vehicles primarily and actively used for business purposes and/or personal transportation.
- Mechanical movement signs, including revolving signs.
- Pennant strings and streamers.
- Animated signs, flashing signs, or signs that scroll or flash text or graphics.
- Inflatable devices or balloon signs, with the exception of balloons used in temporary, non-commercial situations.
- Any signs that imitate, resemble, interfere with, or obstruct official traffic lights, signs, or signals.
- Signs which prevent free ingress or egress from any door, window, fire escape, or that prevent free access from one part of a roof to any other part. No sign other than a safety sign shall be attached to a standpipe or fire escape.
- Signs that emit smoke, visible vapors, particulate matter, sound, odor or contain open flames.
- Reflective signs or signs containing mirrors.
- Interactive signs.
- Signs incorporating beacon or festoon lighting.
- Any banner or sign of any type suspended across a public street, without the permission of the owner of the property and road.
- Roof signs.
- Signs erected on private or public property without the permission of the property owner, with the exception of those authorized or required by local, state, or federal government.
- Any sign containing information which states or implies that a property may be used for any purpose not permitted under the provisions of the town's zoning chapter.
- Signs that exhibit statements, words, or pictures of obscene or pornographic subjects as determined by the town.
- Any sign that promotes illegal activity.
- Any sign which is not expressly permitted under this chapter or which does not satisfy the required criteria for the sign as stated in this chapter.

## Signs exempt from permit in Emmitsburg

- Official traffic signs.
- Government/regulatory signs.
- Signs inside a building, or other enclosed facility, which are not meant to be viewed from the outside, and are located greater than three feet from the window.
- Holiday and seasonal decorations.
- Personal expression signs of any type, including flags, provided that they do not exceed three square feet in area per side, are non-commercial in nature, and not illuminated.
- Address signs—up to two signs stating address, number and/or name of occupants of the premises and do not include any commercial advertising or other identification.
- Public signs—signs erected or required by government agencies or utilities, including traffic, utility, safety, railroad crossing, and identification or directional signs for public facilities.
- Signs or emblems of a religious, civil, philanthropic, historical or educational organization that do not exceed five square feet in area.
- Private drive signs—one sign per driveway entrance, not to exceed two square feet in area.
- Security and warning signs, within size limitations (see details for size by district).
- Flags: With location, height, number, and size limitations. (Flags containing commercial messages may count as permitted signs; other flags up to three square feet with noncommercial messages are considered personal expression signs.)
- Legal notices.
- Vending machine signs.
- Memorial signs, public monument or historical identification sign erected by the town, including plaque signs up to twenty square feet in area.
- Signs that are permanent architectural features of a building or structure, existing at the time of adoption of this chapter.
- Signs advertising the variety of crop growing in a field, to be removed after the growing season.
- Incidental signs, including incidental window signs.
- Directional signs provided they do not contain any commercial messaging, up to 16 square feet per sign, up to 5 feet tall, non-illuminated.
- Art and murals provided such signs do not contain any commercial messaging unless the commercially-oriented material is intended to be an integral part of the artwork itself.
- Limited duration signs in accordance with Section 17.38.090.
- Temporary signs in accordance with Section 17.38.100.
- Portable signs in accordance with Section 17.38.110.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A sign permit is required to erect, alter, repair, or relocate any sign unless specifically exempt under Section 17.38.050.
- Applications for sign permits must include a site plan depicting locations of proposed and existing signage; a plan drawn to scale showing lot dimensions, building frontage, and details of each sign including dimensions, materials, lighting scheme, and proposed location.
- For off-premises advertising signs, submitted plans must include location on lot with required setbacks, location/species of existing trees, distance to nearest off-premises sign, distance to right-of-way, property lines, buildings, signs, intersection, and other relevant site information. Certification by a licensed engineer is required.
- Conversion of a permitted non-message center sign to a message center sign or to a digital display requires a permit as per Section 17.38.190.
- All illuminated signs require certification for brightness standards compliance by an independent contractor as a condition for permit issuance and every three years thereafter.
- A permit is required for banners proposed to be suspended across a town-owned street or public property and must be approved by the town manager after a safety/traffic operations review.
- Street pole banner permits are required, with application including map/diagram, banner design, bracket specs (if applicable), and owner approval if over a public street or property.
- For sign code compliance at the time of subdivision, land development applications, or changes in use, all permanent signs must be brought into conformance and documentation submitted regarding existing signs.
- Nonconforming signs must be documented to determine legal status before structural alteration, enlargement, relocation, or other trigger events.

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

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