# Sign Regulations in Havre de Grace, Maryland

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Havre de Grace, Maryland (MD)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/maryland/havre-de-grace
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-21
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/8369464#8369464)

## At a glance

Havre de Grace, Maryland regulates 27 sign types across 5 zoning districts. Freestanding Sign (General Use - RB)s in the C/Commercial District, RB/Residential Business District zoning district are capped at 6 ft tall and 32 sq ft (Sec. §151-18B(1)). Most commercial signs in Havre de Grace require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (5 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Residential zoning districts (R, R1, R2) | 6 | 8 ft | 36 sq ft | — |
| RO/Residential Office District | 3 | 6 ft | 24 sq ft | — |
| C/Commercial District, RB/Residential Business District | 10 | Top not above 25% of facade vertical dimension above highest architectural point | 100 sq ft | — |
| MOE/Mixed Office Employment District | 1 | — | — | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 7 | 6 ft | Varies by use and location, generally up to 32 sq ft in C/RB, or 8 sq ft in right-of-way | — |

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

### Residential zoning districts (R, R1, R2)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Residential Signs | — | 8 sq ft per road frontage | — | — | — | Mounted to permanent building structure or displayed in a window; not on trees, rocks, or natural features. | — | §151-16B |
| Freestanding Sign (Apartments/Condos/Subdivisions) | — | 36 sq ft | — | — | One per street/building frontage or per entrance/exit | — | — | §151-16C |
| Wall Sign (Apartments/Condos/Subdivisions) | — | — | — | — | — | On facade of building(s) | — | §151-16C |
| Directional/Accessory Sign (Freestanding within MF/Complex/Subdivisions) | 8 ft | 6 sq ft | — | — | — | Within subdivision, complex, or multi-family development | — | §151-16D |
| Freestanding Sign (Other Permitted Nonresidential Uses) | — | 16 sq ft | — | — | One per street/building frontage or entrance/exit | — | — | §151-16E |
| Wall Sign (Other Permitted Nonresidential Uses) | — | — | — | — | — | On facade of building | — | §151-16E |

### C/Commercial District, RB/Residential Business District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign (General Use - RB) | 6 ft | 32 sq ft | — | — | One per property (+ one per additional 300 ft frontage, see above) | Per property held in single/separate ownership | — | §151-18B(1) |
| Freestanding Sign (General Use - C) | 10 ft | 32 sq ft | — | — | One per property (+ one per additional 300 ft frontage, see above) | Per property held in single/separate ownership | — | §151-18B(1) |
| Wall Sign (Parallel - All Uses) | — | — | — | — | — | Front wall or entrance wall; for multi-frontage lots, calculate separately | — | §151-18B(2) |
| Roof Sign (RB, By Special Exception, Option 1) | Top not above 25% of facade vertical dimension above highest architectural point | — | — | — | One | On roof, orientation reference per §151-18B(3)(b) | — | §151-18B(3) |
| Canopy Sign (Inc. Marquee/Architectural Projection) | — | — | — | — | — | Flat plane to face of canopy, marquee, or architectural projection | — | §151-18B(4) |
| Awning Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Face or side surface of awning or backlit awning | — | §151-18B(5) |
| Projecting Sign (RB Only) | Top not above 25% of facade vertical dimension above highest architectural point | 100 sq ft | — | — | See above | Mounted to facade per regulations; may project over sidewalk with lease agreement | — | §151-18B(6) |
| Electronic Message Center (C Only) | — | 16 sq ft (up to 24 sq ft by Board of Appeals) | — | — | One per property | Can be component of a freestanding or building sign, or full sign | — | §151-18B(1)(e), §151-21, §151-22 |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Directional Sign (Freestanding) | 6 ft | 6 sq ft | — | — | — | On property/site; not counted toward total square footage | — | §151-20H |
| Directional Sign (Fascia) | — | 16 sq ft | — | — | — | On building | — | §151-20H |
| Temporary Sign | — | Varies by use and location, generally up to 32 sq ft in C/RB, or 8 sq ft in right-of-way | — | — | See above | Not in State Highway rights-of-way (few exceptions); right-of-way as stipulated | — | §151-20J |
| Temporary Banner | — | Up to 32 sq ft per site/storefront; max 2 banners, never larger than 50 sq ft | — | — | Max two temporary banners per site/storefront | — | — | §151-20J(3), (7) |
| Temporary Wall/Fascia Sign | — | 32 sq ft | — | — | One per street frontage | — | — | §151-20J(4) |
| Temporary Freestanding/Portable Sign (C only) | — | 32 sq ft | — | — | One per property | — | — | §151-20J(5) |
| A-frame Sign (Portable) | — | 10 sq ft | — | — | — | Must be outside street/roadway; must not obstruct continuous through pedestrian zone of at least 6 ft width; must not block transit, disabled parking, ramps, or exits | — | §151-20C(3) |

## Prohibited signs in Havre de Grace

- Signs containing strobe lights or that project images onto the ground or wall.
- All off-premises signs, billboards, or commercial outdoor advertising signs.
- Abandoned sign structures. Where a business has ceased operation, any sign associated with the closed business must be removed within six months unless an extension is granted.
- Signs placed on or painted on a motor vehicle or trailer parked with the primary purpose of providing signage not otherwise allowed by the code.
- Mechanically moving signs: any environmentally activated sign or display with actual mechanical motion powered by any means, including pennant strings, streamers, spinners, propellers, and search lights.
- Inflatable signs and other permanent objects which are inflated, including balloons. (Balloons may be permitted for special events for up to five days.)
- Posters and handbills: any signs affixed to structures, trees, vegetation, rocks or poles.
- Roof signs, except as specifically permitted by the code.
- Simulated traffic signs and obstructions: any sign which may be confused with or obstruct the view of any authorized traffic sign or signal, or obstruct sight-distance at intersections, or extend into the public right-of-way.
- A-frame/wheeled signs, except as specifically permitted for temporary signs.
- Signs which prevent free ingress or egress from any door, window, fire escape, or prevent free access on a roof. Only safety signs may be attached to a standpipe or fire escape.
- Signs which emit smoke, visible vapors, particles, sound, or odor. Open flames to attract public attention are also prohibited.

## Signs exempt from permit in Havre de Grace

- Signs which are not visible from a public roadway; must comply with building/construction codes.
- Signs inside a building.
- Signs carved into a building, on the ground at the entrance to a building, or raised in integral relief on a building.
- Signs required by federal or state law.
- Flags of a political subdivision.
- Historic markers or signs erected by or at the direction of the City.
- Signs required by the City.
- Painted and/or applied wall accents and decorations that do not advertise the business.
- Illuminated building accents and decorations.
- Public art, including permitted original art murals.
- Up to two signs indicating address, number and/or name of occupants, not exceeding two square feet per side and without commercial advertising or identification.
- Decals and/or logos on windows or doors, such as business memberships or credit card logos.
- Signs reserving parking for handicapped individuals not exceeding two square feet.
- On-premises private drive signs, one per driveway entrance, not exceeding two square feet.
- Public signs erected by order of the Mayor, City Council, or other government agencies or utilities, including traffic, utility, safety, railroad crossing, and signs for public facilities.
- On-premises security and warning signs ('no trespassing', etc.), one per residential property up to two square feet, or one per commercial/industrial property up to five square feet.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- For developments where multiple signs will be proposed, a signage plan must be submitted to the Planning Commission, in conjunction with the site plan, for review and approval. The plan shall provide the location, size, materials and colors of the proposed signage.

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

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