# Sign Regulations in Frostburg, Maryland

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Frostburg, Maryland (MD)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/maryland/frostburg
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-08
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/MD/Frostburg/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=PTIICOOR_APXAZOOR_PT7SI)

## At a glance

Frostburg, Maryland regulates 17 sign types across 4 zoning districts. Home Occupation Signs in the C1, C3 zoning district are capped at 8 ft if flush mounted, 5 ft if on post tall and 2.5 sq ft, with a Cannot infringe on public way or traffic visibility. setback (Sec. Sec. 7.5E; Sec. 7.4 Table). Most commercial signs in Frostburg require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (4 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| C1, C3 | 9 | 8 ft | 48 sq ft | — |
| C2, C4, T-LI | 9 | 8 ft if flush mounted, 5 ft if on post | 5 sq ft | — |
| R1, R2, R2-A, R3, R4, RO | 7 | 8 ft | 48 sq ft | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 8 | — | 40% of a single sign area; 80% of total sign area for the site | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 4 zones)

### C1, C3

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | — | — | — | Allowance increases for setbacks: +25% for every 100' beyond first 100', up to 100% increase. | Multiple allowed per tenant, as long as sum does not exceed allowance. | On tenant's building wall. Additional area allowed for secondary frontage equal to 100% of primary frontage allowance. | — | Sec. 7.5A(1-5), 7.7A, 7.8A(7) |
| Projecting Sign | — | 5 sq ft | Projects max 3 ft from wall | — | — | Perpendicular to building wall, over sidewalk, or under rain canopy | — | Sec. 7.5A(6a) |
| Directory Sign | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Sec. 7.4 Table |
| Signs for Upper Floor Tenants | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Sec. 7.4 Table |
| Building Identification Sign | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Sec. 7.4 Table |
| Freestanding Sign - Multiple Businesses | 8 ft | 48 sq ft | — | — | 1 per 200 ft of lot frontage | On premises, may be located in or over the public right-of-way with owner's permission. | — | Sec. 7.4 Table; Sec. 7.5B(1)(2)(5)(6) |
| Freestanding Sign - Single Business | 8 ft | 48 sq ft | — | — | — | — | — | Sec. 7.5B(1)(2) |
| Home Occupation Sign | 8 ft if flush mounted, 5 ft if on post | 2.5 sq ft | — | Cannot infringe on public way or traffic visibility. | 1 per property | On dwelling unit or decorative post. | — | Sec. 7.5E; Sec. 7.4 Table |

### C2, C4, T-LI

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | — | — | — | Allowance increases for setbacks: +25% for every 100' beyond first 100', up to 100% increase. | Multiple allowed per tenant, as long as sum does not exceed allowance. | On tenant's building wall. Additional area for secondary frontage equal to 100% of primary frontage allowance. | — | Sec. 7.5A(1-5), 7.7A, 7.8A(7) |
| Projecting Sign | — | 5 sq ft | Projects max 3 ft from wall | — | — | Perpendicular to building wall over sidewalk or under canopy. | — | Sec. 7.5A(6a), 7.4 Table |
| Directory Sign | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Sec. 7.4 Table |
| Signs for Upper Floor Tenants | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Sec. 7.4 Table |
| Building Identification Sign | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Sec. 7.4 Table |
| Freestanding Sign - Multiple Businesses | C2 (Main St): 15 ft; C2 (not Main St), T-LI: 25 ft; C4: 80 ft | C2 (Main St): 48 sq ft; C2 (not Main St), T-LI: 120 sq ft; C4: 180 sq ft | — | — | 1 per 200 ft frontage in excess of first 200 ft | On premises, or over ROW by permission. | — | Sec. 7.4 Table; Sec. 7.5B(1-6) |
| Freestanding Sign - Single Business | C2 (Main St): 15 ft; C2 (not Main St), T-LI: 25 ft; C4: 80 ft | C2 (Main St): 48 sq ft; C2 (not Main St), T-LI: 120 sq ft; C4: 180 sq ft | — | — | — | — | — | Sec. 7.5B(1-2) |
| Home Occupation Sign | 8 ft if flush mounted, 5 ft if on post | 2.5 sq ft | — | Cannot infringe on public way or traffic visibility | 1 per property | On dwelling unit or decorative post. | — | Sec. 7.5E; Sec. 7.4 Table |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Electronic Message Center (EMC) Sign - C2 | — | 30% of a single sign area; 70% of total sign area for the site | — | — | 1 per lot | Confined to a main street; must be away from residential uses. | — | Sec. 7.5C; EMC Table |
| Electronic Message Center (EMC) Sign - C4 | — | 40% of a single sign area; 80% of total sign area for the site | — | — | 1 per lot | — | — | Sec. 7.5C; EMC Table |
| Electronic Message Center (EMC) Sign - T-LI | — | 30% of a single sign area; 70% of total sign area for the site | — | — | 1 per lot | — | — | Sec. 7.5C; EMC Table |
| Sandwich Board Sign (Commercial Districts only) | — | 6 sq ft per side, max 2 sides | — | — | 1 per lot | On public sidewalk adjacent to business | — | Sec. 7.5H(4) |
| Temporary Special Event Sign | — | — | — | — | 2 per lot maximum at same time | Outside of right-of-way; banners may be over City street with approval | — | Sec. 7.5H(1) |
| Temporary Real Estate/Construction Sign | — | 6 sq ft per side | — | Max height 12 ft above grade (if window/wall). | 1 per property | Mounted flush to building, porch railing, or within a window | — | Sec. 7.5G(1-5), 7.5H(2) |
| Temporary Political Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Not allowed in public ROW or City property. | — | Sec. 7.5H(3) |
| Window Sign | — | Permanent: 25% of window area, Total (permanent + temporary): 50% of window area | — | — | — | On or within window or glass door, viewable from exterior | — | Sec. 7.5F(1) |

## Prohibited signs in Frostburg

- Abandoned signs, as defined in Section 7.1.
- Animated, flashing, rotating signs and festoons as defined in Section 7.1, inflatable signs, tethered balloons, pennants, search lights, streamers, exposed light bulbs, strings of light not permanently mounted to a rigid background, and any clearly similar features, except those specifically exempt from regulation in Section 7.8C, special event signs or banners permitted in Section 7.5H or electronic message centers as permitted in Section 7.5C.
- Signs on vehicles when the vehicle is placed in a location not normally expected for such vehicles, and the location apparently has the primary purpose of attracting attention or providing advertising.
- Signs containing any words or symbols that would cause confusion because of their resemblance to highway traffic control or direction signals.
- Off-premises signs.
- Merchandise, equipment, products or vehicles or other items which are not available for purchase, but are intended to attract attention, or for identification or advertising purposes.
- Signs located on trees, utility poles, public benches or any other form of public property or within any public right-of-way unless explicitly permitted.
- Other signs or attention-getting devices that raise concerns substantially similar to those listed above.
- No signs shall be erected, constructed, or maintained so as to obstruct any fire escape, required exit, window, or door opening used as a means of egress.
- Signs should not be in locations that interfere with safe vehicular and pedestrian circulation or public safety signals and signs.
- All signs must comply with building codes in effect at the time of construction.

## Signs exempt from permit in Frostburg

- Any public purpose/safety sign and any other notice or warning required by a valid and applicable federal, state or local law, regulation or resolution.
- Works of art that do not include a commercial message.
- Religious or other holiday lights and decorations containing no commercial message, and displayed only during the appropriate time of the year.
- Flags of the United States, the state, foreign nations having diplomatic relations with the United States, and any other flag adopted or sanctioned by an elected legislative body of competent jurisdiction, provided they are flown in accordance with U.S. protocol.
- Building Markers.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A Comprehensive Sign Plan (CSP) may be submitted that permits consideration of unique conditions, flexibility, and creativity and is subject to approval by the Planning Commission.
- Once a CSP has been approved, subsequent applications for specific signs shall be approved administratively when the proposed sign is in compliance with the approved CSP.
- If proposed signs do not comply with the provisions of Section 7.8A, the applicant may submit an application to the Planning Commission to determine the adjustments, if any, that are appropriate.
- All appeals and variances regarding the terms of the sign ordinance shall be heard by the Board of Zoning Appeals.

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

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