# Sign Regulations in Mount Airy Town, Maryland

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Mount Airy Town, Maryland (MD)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/maryland/mount-airy-town
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/6265336#6265336)

## At a glance

Mount Airy Town, Maryland regulates 32 sign types across 7 zoning districts. Pole Banners in the Commercial Districts zoning district are capped at 10 sq ft and No more than 2 banners per pole wide, with a Must be on pole at least 12 ft above grade. setback (Sec. § 112-11F(10)). Most commercial signs in Mount Airy Town require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (7 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 4 | 25 feet above average grade of the road on which it faces. | — | — |
| Residential Zoning Districts (RE, R1, R2, R3, R5, R7) | 8 | — | 120 sq ft (may be reduced at Zoning Administrator discretion) | — |
| Conservation Zone | 2 | — | 10 sq ft | — |
| Commercial Districts | 16 | 3 ft | Up to 200 sq ft | — |
| Downtown Zone (DTZ) | 2 | 12 ft (including pole) | 3 sq ft | — |
| Historic District | 1 | — | — | — |
| Industrial and Office Park Employment (OPE) Zoning Districts, Industrial Park, Office Park, Industrial Zoning Districts (OPE) | 15 | 3 ft | 200 sq ft per sign | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 7 zones)

### Residential Zoning Districts (RE, R1, R2, R3, R5, R7)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Permanent Sign (for commercial or nonresidential special exceptions) | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | — | On property; location and design approved as part of site plan | — | § 112-11D(1) |
| Permanent Entrance Sign (subdivisions, parks, institutional uses) | — | 120 sq ft (may be reduced at Zoning Administrator discretion) | — | — | — | At or near entrances | — | § 112-11D(2) |
| Temporary Sign (on single lot) | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | — | On a single residential lot | — | § 112-11D(3) |
| Temporary Subdivision Entrance Sign | — | 100 sq ft | — | — | — | Entrance of subdivision | — | § 112-11D(4) |
| Temporary Event Sign | — | 50 sq ft | — | — | — | On property where upcoming event is to take place | — | § 112-11D(5) |
| Banner Sign | — | 24 sq ft | — | — | 1 per property | — | — | § 112-11D(6) |
| Flag | — | 15 sq ft (3 ft x 5 ft) | 3 ft x 5 ft | — | 1 | — | — | § 112-11D(7) |
| Pennant/Streamer | — | 8 ft in length | 8 ft | — | — | — | — | § 112-11D(8) |

### Commercial Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Permanent Sign (on a residential portion) | — | Per residential district regulations (See Residential Zoning Districts) | — | — | — | On residences in Commercial District | — | § 112-11F(1) |
| Marquis/Monument Sign (Professional Office Entrance) | — | Up to 200 sq ft | — | — | — | At/near entrance to, or in front of, professional office(s) | — | § 112-11F(2)(a)-(b) |
| Permanent Office Entrance Sign (Individual Professional Office) | — | 4 sq ft | — | — | — | At/near entrance to, or in front of, individual professional office | — | § 112-11F(3) |
| Portable Sign | 3 ft | — | Up to half of sidewalk width or 3 ft (whichever greater) | Set back at least 2 ft from road/property line; not within 100 ft of residentially-zoned property. | — | Directly in front, within 10 ft of the business. | — | § 112-11F(4), § 112-11L |
| Permanent Entrance Sign (Shopping Center/Integrated Commercial Group) | — | 150 sq ft | — | Subject to district setback requirements. | — | At/near entrance to shopping center, subject to district setback | — | § 112-11F(5)(b) |
| Freestanding Sign (Commercial) | — | 50 sq ft per road frontage, not to exceed 150 sq ft | — | Not within 100 feet of residential zone if adjoining. | 1 per road frontage | Freestanding on commercial property; not within 100 ft of residentially-zoned property. | — | § 112-11F(5)(c) |
| Pole Banner | — | 10 sq ft | No more than 2 banners per pole | Must be on pole at least 12 ft above grade. | 2 per pole | On parking lot light poles (private property) with approved development plan. | — | § 112-11F(10) |
| Flag | — | 15 sq ft (3 ft x 5 ft) | 3 ft x 5 ft | — | 1 | — | — | § 112-11F(11) |

### Industrial and Office Park Employment (OPE) Zoning Districts, Industrial Park, Office Park, Industrial Zoning Districts (OPE)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Marquis/Monument Sign (Plant Entrance) | — | 50 sq ft | — | — | — | At/near entrance to industrial plant | — | § 112-11G(1) |
| Individual Office Entrance Sign | — | 4 sq ft | — | — | — | At/near entrance to, or in front of, individual professional office | — | § 112-11G(2) |
| Portable Sign | 3 ft | — | Up to half of sidewalk width or 3 ft (whichever greater) | At least 2 ft from road/property line; not within 100 ft of residential zone. | — | Directly in front and within 10 ft of the business. | — | § 112-11G(3), § 112-11L |
| Attached Sign (Business or Service Property) | — | 200 sq ft per sign | — | — | — | On business/service property | — | § 112-11G(4)(a) |
| Monument Sign (Industrial/Office Park Entrance) | — | 150 sq ft | — | Subject to district requirements | — | At/near entrance to industrial park/integrated group of buildings | — | § 112-11G(4)(b) |
| Freestanding Sign | — | 50 sq ft per road frontage, not to exceed 150 sq ft | — | Not within 100 feet of residentially zoned property if adjoining. | — | Freestanding; not within 100 ft of residential zone if adjoining. | — | § 112-11G(4)(c) |
| Pole Banner | — | 10 sq ft | No more than 2 banners per pole; must be at least 12 ft above grade | At least 12 ft above grade | 2 per pole | Interior parking lot light poles (no road frontage), on private property with approved site plan. | — | § 112-11G(9) |
| Flag | — | 15 sq ft (3 ft x 5 ft) | 3 ft x 5 ft | — | 1 | — | — | § 112-11G(10) |

## Prohibited signs in Mount Airy Town

- No overhanging sign shall extend beyond the plane that runs parallel with, and is four feet out from, the building facade.
- All signs on and in front of the building shall be immobile, nonflashing, and in no way resemble traffic signals or other warning devices.
- Illuminated signs shall be so constructed as to avoid glare or reflection on any portion of an adjacent highway or residential building.
- All freestanding signs shall be so placed as to allow clear and ample visual sight lines for driveways leading into a street and at intersecting streets and alleys.
- In no case shall any sign attached to a building project more than three feet above the roofline.
- Freestanding signs shall not exceed 25 feet in height above the average grade of the road on which it faces.
- Signs, unless expressly permitted elsewhere, are prohibited in the following categories: abandoned or dilapidated signs; beacon/searchlights; billboards (stationary or mobile); flashing signs; off-site signs (except as otherwise permitted); portable signs (except as otherwise permitted); balloon and inflatable signs; projected image signs (except specific menu boards); obscene, vulgar, or graphic signs; handwritten permanent signs; lighted box signs; signs attached to utility poles or street signposts (unless permitted or authorized); certain illuminated or content-specific signage for tobacco, vape, or cannabis businesses (as detailed in § 112-11C(9)(m), (n)); and signs not expressly permitted.
- No person, firm, or corporation shall place or alter any sign, marking, or obstruction on a Town street/roadway without prior written authorization from the Mayor and Council of the Town.
- It is unlawful to erect or place any sign upon any street, alley, park, sidewalk or other public place owned or controlled by the Town without permission.
- Signs creating a hazard (blocking traffic view, endangering pedestrians, immediate physical danger) may be removed immediately without prior notice.

## Signs exempt from permit in Mount Airy Town

- Official traffic or governmental signs.
- Customary maintenance.
- Window displays.
- Product dispensers.
- Scoreboards on athletic fields.
- Sponsorship signs at athletic fields or other related venues.
- Flags of any nation or government.
- Commemorative signs, tablets, or plaques.
- Signs required to be maintained by law or governmental order, rule, or regulation.
- The display of street numbers.
- Signs or displays on service or delivery vehicles in their normal performance of businesses.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Permanent signs must be approved and a permit issued by the Zoning Administrator unless part of a site or subdivision plan under consideration by the Planning Commission.
- All signs other than those approved by the Planning Commission as part of the site plan process must be approved and permitted by the Zoning Administrator, except off-premises real estate signs allowed in §112-11N(1)(b).
- With respect to any sign that the Planning Commission must approve, the Commission may delegate its authority to approve and issue a permit to the Zoning Administrator.
- With respect to any sign that the Zoning Administrator must approve, the Zoning Administrator may refer the matter to the Planning Commission for review and recommendation.
- Pole banners may only be attached to light poles on private property with an approved site development plan detailing location, size, and quantity of pole banner signage; periodic copy changes on banners do not require an amended site development plan if the location, size, or quantity does not change.
- Granting of a variation (variance) as to sign size or quantity restrictions requires specific findings and formal approval by the Planning Commission (for permanent signs) or the Zoning Administrator (for temporary signs); Board of Appeals may condition special exceptions on signage compliance.
- Signs in commercial, industrial, and some residential districts require review and approval as part of the development, site, or subdivision plan approval process by the Planning Commission.
- All signs must comply with additional design standards and guidelines referenced in the ordinance (e.g., Downtown Zone/Historic District must comply with Design Guidelines: Rehabilitation of Historic Properties in Town of Mount Airy, Maryland, 2010 or successors).

## 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 7 zoning districts in Mount Airy Town — every sign type, every field — are available with a free PermitPal account: https://app.permitpal.io/?address=Mount+Airy+Town+MD&override=true&utm_source=landing&utm_medium=city-page&utm_campaign=city-mount-airy-town

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