# Sign Regulations in Leonardtown Town, Maryland

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Leonardtown Town, Maryland (MD)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/maryland/leonardtown-town
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/9917185#9917185)

## At a glance

Leonardtown Town, Maryland regulates 21 sign types across 5 zoning districts. Residential Name Signs in the Single-Family Residential (R-SF), PUD-3, PUD-5 zoning district are capped at 5 ft tall and 2 sq ft, with a 6 ft setback (Sec. § 155-91A(1), D). Most commercial signs in Leonardtown 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 | 7 | 8 ft (top above grade) | 60 sq ft | — |
| Single-Family Residential (R-SF), PUD-3, PUD-5 | 5 | 5 ft | 10 sq ft | — |
| Multiple-Family Residential (R-MF) | 3 | 5 ft | 10 sq ft | — |
| R-1 | 1 | 5 ft | 2 sq ft | — |
| General Commercial (C-G), Commercial Office (C-O), Marine Commercial (C-M), Highway Commercial (C-H) | 6 | 8 ft | 100+ sq ft (see formula) | — |

## 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 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Billboard | Prohibited | Prohibited | — | — | — | — | — | § 155-93A(1) |
| Roof Sign | Prohibited | Prohibited | — | — | — | — | — | § 155-90H |
| Temporary Real Estate Sign (up to 24 sq ft) | — | 24 sq ft | — | — | 1 per lot or frontage | On property for sale; additional sign for multiple frontages. | — | § 155-94A(1), (4) |
| Temporary Real Estate Sign (up to 60 sq ft) | — | 60 sq ft | — | — | 1 per subdivision | Within subdivision advertised | — | § 155-94A(2) |
| Temporary Real Estate Approach Sign | 8 ft (top above grade) | 3 sq ft (3 ft long x 1 ft high) | 3 ft | — | 4 per subdivision | Near each major intersection to the subdivision | — | § 155-94A(3)-(4) |
| Temporary Event Sign | — | 32 sq ft | — | — | — | On site of event | — | § 155-94B(1) |
| Temporary Directional Event Sign | — | 3 sq ft | — | — | — | Any district; directional arrow and event name required | — | § 155-94B(2) |

### Single-Family Residential (R-SF), PUD-3, PUD-5

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Residential Name Sign | 5 ft | 2 sq ft | — | 6 ft | 2 per dwelling | Per dwelling | — | § 155-91A(1), D |
| Business Sign (Professional Occupation) | 5 ft | 2 sq ft | — | 6 ft | 2 per dwelling | Per dwelling | — | § 155-91A(2), D |
| Street Address Sign | 5 ft | 2 sq ft | — | 6 ft | 1 per dwelling | Per dwelling | — | § 155-91A(3), D |
| Business Sign (PUD-3 or PUD-5) | 5 ft | 2 sq ft | — | 6 ft | 2 per business use | Per business use permitted in PUD-3 or PUD-5 | — | § 155-91A(4), D |
| Subdivision/Planned Unit Development Identification Sign | 5 ft | 10 sq ft | — | 6 ft | — | At entrance to subdivision or PUD | — | § 155-91C, D |

### General Commercial (C-G), Commercial Office (C-O), Marine Commercial (C-M), Highway Commercial (C-H)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Flat Wall Sign | Not above first floor | 100+ sq ft (see formula) | — | — | Total sign area regulated per frontage | Anywhere on any wall of building, except above first floor. | — | § 155-93C(2)-(4), E(1) |
| Ground Sign | 8 ft | 32 sq ft | — | Must meet yard/setback for district; at least 2 ft from building. | 1 per lot | On lot with minimum 40 linear feet street frontage. | — | § 155-93D(2)-(8); E(1)-(8) |
| Pole Sign | — | 32 sq ft | — | — | — | On lot | — | § 155-93G(2), (2)(a)-(b), D(2)-(8) |
| Marquee Sign | No part projects above top of marquee; no part less than 8 ft above sidewalk/grade; may project below lower edge of marquee up to 24 inches | — | — | — | — | On vertical face or below lower edge of marquee; for theater marquees over right-of-way with variance. | — | § 155-93F(1)-(3) |
| Projecting Sign | No portion below 8 ft above ground/pavement; usually may not extend above roofline except as noted | 15 sq ft | — | — | — | On building; only in C-G, C-H, C-M | — | § 155-93H(1)-(2) |
| Electronic or Digital Sign (Ground Monument, Route 5 Only) | 8 ft total, LED portion max 4 ft high | 24 sq ft or 50% of total permitted sign face, whichever is less | — | Subject to yard/setback of district | — | Route 5 only | — | § 155-93I(1)-(3) |

## Prohibited signs in Leonardtown Town

- No sign shall be erected at or near street intersections, so as to permit free and clear vision.
- All signs shall avoid the shape of authorized traffic signs and shall not use the words 'stop,' 'look,' 'danger' or any other similar words that might interfere with or confuse traffic.
- All fire escapes, fire windows and fire doors shall be free of any signs other than those announcing the safety function of such stairs, windows and doors.
- The erection of banners across any street shall be on a temporary basis only and only at the approval of the Town Commissioners.
- All signs shall be kept in good repair.
- All signs shall meet the pertinent structural and safety requirements of the Town Building Code.
- No person shall display upon any sign or other advertising structure any obscene, indecent or immoral matter.
- Roof signs shall be prohibited.
- Except as otherwise noted, all signs shall meet the setback requirements in each district for all other structures or buildings in that district.
- Billboards and all other outdoor advertising structures shall be prohibited in all districts.
- No sign shall have blinking, flashing or fluttering lights or other illuminating devices which change light intensity, brightness or color. A variance may be granted by the Zoning Board for signs having moving devices to show the time, temperature and date only. Beacon lights or searchlights shall not be permitted for any advertising or sign purpose.
- No electronic, digital, or video display message shall be mounted, affixed or attached to any vehicle, motor vehicle or trailer. This prohibition shall include vehicles, motor vehicles or trailers designed, built, or used specifically for mobile advertising.
- Any signs not expressly permitted shall be prohibited.

## Signs exempt from permit in Leonardtown Town

- Signs advertising the name of a commercial establishment and the name of the person conducting the business, when painted on the windows of such establishments, are exempt from registration and permit requirements, provided they meet structural and safety provisions of the Town Building Code.
- Signs erected on church property, giving the name of the church, the time of service and similar information, not to exceed 30 square feet in area, are exempt from registration and permit requirements, provided they meet structural and safety provisions of the Town Building Code.
- Signs of charitable, benevolent or religious associations, or fraternal or nonprofit associations, located on the premises or grounds, to display the name of the institution or association and its activities or services, not to exceed 10 square feet in area, are exempt from registration and permit requirements, provided they meet structural and safety provisions of the Town Building Code.
- Professional signs denoting the name and profession or calling of persons such as but not limited to dentist, minister, teacher, lawyer or physician, with such signs being the size and type permitted by the ethical standards of the profession or calling and in no case exceeding two square feet in area, are exempt from registration and permit requirements, provided they meet structural and safety provisions of the Town Building Code.
- Directional signs, giving directions to motorists to parking areas or into or within a private premises, not to exceed eight square feet in area, are exempt from registration and permit requirements, provided they meet structural and safety provisions of the Town Building Code.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- No explicit requirements for a master sign plan, sign plan, or required variance meetings generally, except: Electronic or digital signs located within 100 feet of residential properties are permitted only after a public hearing at a planning and zoning meeting, notification of surrounding neighbors by certified mail and newspaper notice, and approval by the Planning and Zoning Board.
- Permits are required for all signs unless exempt. The permit application must include the applicant and owner name, location, design drawings, and dimensions of the sign.

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

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