# Sign Regulations in Middletown, Maryland

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Middletown, Maryland (MD)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/maryland/middletown
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-08
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/MD/Middletown/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=TIT17ZO_CH17.36SI)

## At a glance

Middletown, Maryland regulates 18 sign types across 6 zoning districts. Feather Flag Signs in the General Regulations For All Zones zoning district are capped at 12 ft. tall and 12 sq. ft., with a 4 ft. (see additional) setback (Sec. 17.36.130.D). Most commercial signs in Middletown require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (6 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 6 | 48 inches | 40 sq. ft. for up to 5,000 sq. ft occupancy; 80 sq. ft. for 5,001-15,000 sq. ft; 120 sq. ft. for 15,001-50,000 sq. ft; 180 sq. ft. for >50,000 sq. ft (per side, double-sided allowed) | — |
| GC, SC/LM, TC, MB, OS | 6 | 25 ft. | 120 sq. ft. | — |
| R20, RI, R2, R3 | 6 | 25 ft. | 70 sq. ft. | — |
| R1 | 1 | — | 2 sq. ft. | — |
| General Commercial Districts, Service Commercial/Light Manufacturing Districts, Open Space Zoning Districts, Town Commercial Districts, Mixed Business (MB) Zoning Districts | 1 | 6 ft. (freestanding); 15 ft. (wall/window) | 24 sq. ft. | — |
| Residential Zoning Districts (R1, R2, R3, R20) | 1 | 4 ft. (freestanding); 6 ft. (wall/window) | 6 sq. ft. | — |

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

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Directional or Informational Sign | — | 12 sq. ft. | — | — | — | On premises, consistent in construction with building material | — | 17.36.050.B |
| Wall-Mounted Directory Sign | — | 12 sq. ft. | — | — | — | Beside entry door | — | 17.36.050.C |
| Home Occupation Sign | — | 2 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per use | Attached to building where use occurs | — | 17.36.050.A |
| A-frame/Sandwich Board/T-frame Sign | 48 inches | — | 30 inches | 5 ft. from roadway/edge of curb (1 ft. in TC zone) | 2 per business (total max 4 with feather flags) | Adjacent to business; not in medians; not across street from business; grade level; allowed on public sidewalk/right-of-way except in sight visibility triangle | — | 17.36.130.B |
| Feather Flag Sign | 12 ft. | 12 sq. ft. | — | 4 ft. (see additional) | 2 per parcel/business (max 4 with A-frame/T-frame signs) | Adjacent to business; grade level; allowed on public sidewalk/right-of-way except in sight visibility triangle | — | 17.36.130.D |
| Banner Sign | 8 ft. (freestanding) | 40 sq. ft. for up to 5,000 sq. ft occupancy; 80 sq. ft. for 5,001-15,000 sq. ft; 120 sq. ft. for 15,001-50,000 sq. ft; 180 sq. ft. for >50,000 sq. ft (per side, double-sided allowed) | — | 3 ft. (if ground sign) | 1 per business/parcel | On site, not on right-of-way. Not in sight triangle. | — | 17.36.130.C |

### GC, SC/LM, TC, MB, OS

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding/Monument Sign | 8 ft. | 50 sq. ft. | — | 10 ft. from any public right-of-way, service drive or entrance | 1 per street | On premises, 10 ft. min setback from public right-of-way, service drive or entrance | — | 17.36.080.A |
| Freestanding/Monument Sign - Shopping, Office, Industrial Centers (GC Only) | 8 ft. | 120 sq. ft. | — | 10 ft. from right-of-way/service drive/entrance | 1 per street | GC district only; see general freestanding sign rules. | — | 17.36.080.A |
| Wall Sign | 25 ft. | 100 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per street | On building wall | — | 17.36.080.B |
| Projecting Sign | 14 ft. | 12 sq. ft. | — | Not within 2 ft. of curb line | 1 per street | On building; cannot extend above roof; not within 2 ft of curb. | — | 17.36.080.C |
| Awning/Canopy Sign | 14 ft. | 12 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per street | On awning/canopy; min 7.5 ft clearance; not above roof. | — | 17.36.080.D |
| Permanent Window Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Inside/on windows visible from exterior | — | 17.36.080.E |

### R20, RI, R2, R3

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding/Monument Sign - Subdivision Sign | 4 ft. | 70 sq. ft. | — | 10 ft. from any public right-of-way, service drive or entrance | 1 per street | Subdivision, at entrance, not in line-of-sight triangles or utility easements; location approval required. | — | 17.36.080.A; 17.36.090 |
| Freestanding/Monument Sign - Special Exception Use | 4 ft. | 32 sq. ft. | — | 10 ft. from right-of-way, service drive, or entrance | 1 per street | At special exception use, on premises. | — | 17.36.080.A |
| Freestanding/Monument Sign - Home Occupation | 2 ft. | 2 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per street | At home occupation premises | — | 17.36.080.A |
| Wall Sign - Special Exception Use | 25 ft. | 50 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per street | On building wall | — | 17.36.080.B |
| Wall Sign - Home Occupation | 2 ft. | 2 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per street | At home occupation premises | — | 17.36.080.B |
| Permanent Window Sign | — | 16 sq. ft. | — | — | — | Inside/on window | — | 17.36.080.E |

## Prohibited signs in Middletown

- No flashing, rotating, moving, or animated signs or signs with moving lights or lights which create the illusion of movement are permitted, except for time/temperature numerals with limited change.
- All signs must be maintained in good repair and in a safe, clean, and attractive condition; signs cannot be a public nuisance or hazard.
- Signs must not be erected, installed, or otherwise located off-premises except as otherwise permitted by law; all signs must be on property associated with the sign's content.
- Each sign must be located within the owner's property boundaries and shall not be located within the public right-of-way except as otherwise permitted.
- Temporary signs, such as vinyl banners, shall not be used as permanent signs.
- No sign shall have more than two sign faces.
- No sign shall project more than forty-eight (48) inches from the building wall or within two feet of the curb line.
- Awnings/canopy signs shall not be situated so as to interfere with or obstruct pedestrian or vehicular traffic.
- Illuminated signs must be shaded to avoid casting bright light on residential properties or public streets; signs facing residential districts may only be illuminated while open.
- Incorporation of florescent color, florescence, lighting or illumination, or movement are not allowed for most temporary signs.
- Signs may not be located within utility easements or in ways that adversely impact utility lines.
- Subdivision/community identification signs may not obstruct sight lines or be placed within 10 feet of the end of a median or monumented island.
- On lots with both a projecting sign and a freestanding/monument sign, only one type is permitted (cannot have both).
- Signs advertising businesses, events, or activities that are no longer active must be removed or altered within 30 days.

## Signs exempt from permit in Middletown

- Public notices or warnings required by valid and applicable federal, state, or local law, regulation or ordinance.
- Signs erected by the town, county, state, or federal government in furtherance of their governmental responsibility.
- Signs prepared by or for the local, state, or federal government marking sites or buildings of historical significance.
- Ballfield/sports complex signs and scoreboards.
- Government sponsored banners affixed to light standards promoting community events.
- Gasoline price signs required by Maryland law, up to the minimum area required by state law.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A signage plan identifying the location, height, and size of all freestanding/monument signs must be included on all site plans reviewed by the planning commission.
- Site plan applicants are required to present a signage plan as part of a required site plan that integrates the design of the signs with the design of the building and surrounding area.
- Signs at the perimeter of a multiple-tenant commercial/office complex or employment park may be allowed only pursuant to an approved sign plan.
- All zoning certificate applications for freestanding/monument signs shall include a plan for landscaping the base 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 6 zoning districts in Middletown — every sign type, every field — are available with a free PermitPal account: https://app.permitpal.io/?address=Middletown+MD&override=true&utm_source=landing&utm_medium=city-page&utm_campaign=city-middletown

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