# Sign Regulations in Hampstead Town, Maryland

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Hampstead Town, Maryland (MD)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/maryland/hampstead-town
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/9911880#9911880)

## At a glance

Hampstead Town, Maryland regulates 17 sign types across 5 zoning districts. Temporary Business Signs in the Local Business Zone, General Business Zone, Commercial District zoning district are capped at 12 ft tall, with a Cannot extend over lot line or within 15 feet of vehicle access to public road. setback (Sec. § 135-216). Most commercial signs in Hampstead Town 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 | 8 | — | 150 sq ft (total for all signs) | — |
| Main Street Revitalization Area | 1 | — | — | — |
| Historic Zoning District, BL Zoning District, BG Zoning District | 3 | 5 ft | 32 sq ft per face | — |
| Local Business Zone, General Business Zone, Commercial District | 5 | 15 ft (if freestanding) | 150 sq ft per sign face, no individual sign to exceed | — |
| Residential District, R District | 7 | — | 150 sq ft (total for all signs) | — |

## 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 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Temporary Sign (Community Event) | — | 32 sq ft | — | — | — | — | — | § 135-213A |
| Temporary Real Estate Sign | — | 20 sq ft | — | — | — | On subject property for sale or lease | — | § 135-213B |
| Temporary Subdivision Sign | — | 100 sq ft | — | — | — | On property advertising a new subdivision | — | § 135-213C |
| Temporary Contractor/Professional Sign | — | 150 sq ft (total for all signs) | — | — | — | On buildings under construction or repair | — | § 135-213D |
| Temporary Political Sign | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | § 135-213E |
| Incidental Sign | — | 2 sq ft (if 'open' sign) | — | — | 1 per frontage | Interior to lot, window, as needed for function | — | § 135-213F |
| Flag | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | § 135-213G |
| Official Notice | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | § 135-213H |

### Local Business Zone, General Business Zone, Commercial District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Temporary Business Sign | 12 ft | — | — | Cannot extend over lot line or within 15 feet of vehicle access to public road. | — | Only on zoning lot where activity occurs; can be in any required yard but not over lot line or within 15 ft of vehicle access to public road. | — | § 135-216 |
| Business Sign (Wall Sign, Freestanding Sign) | 15 ft (if freestanding) | 150 sq ft per sign face, no individual sign to exceed | — | — | — | May not project over or into any street right-of-way. Freestanding: not in road right-of-way, must not obstruct vision of traffic using entranceways, driveways, or public road intersection. | — | § 135-215A–C |
| Electronic Variable Message Sign (Schools, Fire Dep’t, or Govt only) | — | — | — | — | — | Only on public/private school, fire dept, or government property; athletic fields scoreboards or general informational use. | — | § 135-215H |
| Manual Variable Message Sign (Reader Board Panel) | — | Subordinate to permanent sign | — | — | — | Mounted on permanent sign | — | § 135-215I |
| Permanent Window Sign | — | 33% of any window area or 20% of any glass/translucent door | — | — | — | On glass/windows, within 1 inch, unless otherwise approved. | — | § 135-215J |

### Residential District, R District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Temporary Sign (Community Event) | — | 32 sq ft | — | — | — | — | — | § 135-213A |
| Temporary Real Estate Sign | — | 20 sq ft | — | — | — | On subject property for sale or lease | — | § 135-213B |
| Temporary Subdivision Sign | — | 100 sq ft | — | — | — | On property advertising a new subdivision | — | § 135-213C |
| Temporary Contractor/Professional Sign | — | 150 sq ft (total for all signs) | — | — | — | On buildings under construction or repair | — | § 135-213D |
| Temporary Political Sign | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | § 135-213E |
| Flag | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | § 135-213G |
| Official Notice | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | § 135-213H |

## Prohibited signs in Hampstead Town

- No sign shall be permitted which becomes unsafe or endangers the safety of a building, premises or person.
- No sign shall be permitted unless maintained in a good general condition and reasonable state of repair as determined by the Zoning Administrator.
- No sign shall be permitted which imitates or resembles an official traffic control device or which hides from view or interferes with the effectiveness of an official traffic control device or traffic sight lines.
- Illuminated signs shall be so constructed as to avoid glare or reflection on any portion of an adjacent highway or residential building.
- No sign shall be erected in the right-of-way for any road.
- Where a sign structure does not include advertising information for a period of 180 continuous days, such sign structure shall be deemed a violation thereafter and shall be removed.
- No sign shall be permitted which imitates or interferes with authorized traffic control devices.
- No sign shall project over or into any street right-of-way.
- No business sign shall be located where it obstructs the vision of traffic using entranceways, driveways, or any public road intersection.
- Painting, writing or drawing on storefront windows or building walls is prohibited as a form of temporary signage.

## Signs exempt from permit in Hampstead Town

- Temporary, unlit signs no greater than 32 square feet in size advertising a community event or activity sponsored by a nonprofit organization, subject to stated conditions.
- Temporary real estate signs, not exceeding 20 square feet, advertising the subject property for sale or lease.
- Temporary signs, not exceeding 100 square feet, located on and advertising a new subdivision.
- Building contractors' and professional persons' temporary signs on buildings under construction or repair, limited to 150 square feet and only while construction or repairs are occurring.
- Temporary political signs.
- Incidental signs providing information rather than advertising, as defined, and subject to limitations.
- Flags of the United States of America, State of Maryland, Town of Hampstead, and other official flags as determined by the Mayor, if in compliance with state and federal law.
- Official notices posted by the Town of Hampstead or Carroll County.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Signage within the Main Street Revitalization Area, except for temporary signs and signs for home-based businesses, shall be reviewed and approved by the Planning and Zoning Commission.
- The design, dimensions, height, location, and conditions of operation of electronic variable-message signs for public or private schools, fire departments, or government property shall be reviewed by the Planning and Zoning Commission and approved by the Town Council.
- Permanent window signage is included in tabulation for total permitted signage and may require Planning and Zoning Commission approval if not meeting specified criteria.
- Within the Main Street Revitalization Area, the Planning and Zoning Commission must approve signage based on architectural compatibility, effectiveness, and other objective criteria.
- Temporary signage directly related to the opening of a new business in the Main Street Revitalization Area may have its conditions altered by the Planning and Zoning Commission.

## 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 Hampstead Town — every sign type, every field — are available with a free PermitPal account: https://app.permitpal.io/?address=Hampstead+Town+MD&override=true&utm_source=landing&utm_medium=city-page&utm_campaign=city-hampstead-town

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