# Sign Regulations in Rock Hall Town, Maryland

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Rock Hall Town, Maryland (MD)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/maryland/rock-hall-town
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/38761236#38761236)

## At a glance

Rock Hall Town, Maryland regulates 31 sign types across 8 zoning districts. Public/Institutional Monument Signs in the General Regulations For All Zones zoning district are capped at 7 ft (standard), 8 ft (Maryland Route 20 frontage) tall, 40 sq ft (standard), 50 sq ft (Maryland Route 20 frontage), and 9 ft (standard), 12 ft (Maryland Route 20 frontage) wide (Sec. §225-7-2(B)(26)). Most commercial signs in Rock Hall Town require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (8 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 10 | 15 feet for detached signs (unless otherwise provided). | 40 sq ft (standard), 50 sq ft (Maryland Route 20 frontage) | — |
| R-1 Low Density Residential District | 10 | — | 20 square feet | — |
| R-2 Mixed Residential District, R-3 High Density Residential District | 2 | — | 10 square feet | — |
| C-1 Community Commercial District | 6 | 15 feet | 30 square feet per sign; total all signs ≤10% of wall area fronting street | — |
| C-2 Highway Commercial District | 6 | 30 feet | 60 square feet per sign; total all signs ≤10% of wall area fronting street | — |
| C-3 Town Center Commercial District | 1 | — | — | — |
| MCI Mixed Commercial/Industrial District | 4 | 30 feet | 100 square feet | — |
| MRec Maritime Recreational District, MC Maritime Commercial District, MWD Maritime Water-Dependent District | 1 | — | — | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 8 zones)

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Accessory Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Premises where use or product is located. | — | §225-7-2. General sign regulations (A), (B)(1) |
| Any Sign Type | 15 feet for detached signs (unless otherwise provided). | 15 feet max height for detached signs (unless otherwise provided). | — | — | Except as specified, one sign of permitted type per street frontage per permitted use. Types: flat, detached, projecting, marquee, special purpose signs specifically listed in district regs. | — | — | §225-7-2(B)(2), (6), (7), (8), (13) |
| Temporary Real Estate Sign | — | 6 square feet | — | — | One per street frontage | On premises being advertised | — | §225-7-2(B)(3)(c) |
| Temporary Construction Sign | — | 10 square feet | — | — | One per street frontage | On premises of construction | — | §225-7-2(B)(3)(d) |
| No Trespassing/Posted Sign | — | — | — | — | No limitation | On property perimeter or access points | — | §225-7-2(B)(3)(e) |
| Vehicle Sign | — | — | — | — | — | On vehicle in normal course of business | — | §225-7-2(B)(3)(f) |
| Temporary Civic Event Sign | — | — | — | — | — | As approved by Administrator | — | §225-7-2(B)(4)(a) |
| Public/Institutional Monument Sign | 7 ft (standard), 8 ft (Maryland Route 20 frontage) | 40 sq ft (standard), 50 sq ft (Maryland Route 20 frontage) | 9 ft (standard), 12 ft (Maryland Route 20 frontage) | — | 1 sign per institution | On premises of institution; must be on monument base | — | §225-7-2(B)(26) |

### R-1 Low Density Residential District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Identification Sign (Residential) | — | 2 square feet | — | — | 1 per dwelling or structure | On dwelling or structure | — | §225-7-3A(1) |
| Private Directional Sign | — | 2 square feet | — | — | — | On premises | — | §225-7-3A(2) |
| No Trespassing/No Hunting Sign | — | 2 square feet | — | — | Unlimited | On property perimeter or access points | — | §225-7-3A(3) |
| Farm Products Sign | — | 20 square feet | — | — | — | On farm advertising products raised on premises | — | §225-7-3A(4) |
| Farm or Subdivision Identification Sign | — | 10 square feet | — | — | — | On farm or subdivision | — | §225-7-3A(5) |
| Church Bulletin Board | — | 20 square feet | — | — | — | On premises of church | — | §225-7-3A(6) |
| Public/Semipublic or Recreational Use Identification Sign | — | 20 square feet | — | — | — | On premises | — | §225-7-3A(7) |
| Temporary Real Estate Sign | — | 6 square feet | — | — | — | On property for sale/lease | — | §225-7-3A(8) |

### C-1 Community Commercial District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Flat Sign | — | 30 square feet per sign; total all signs ≤10% of wall area fronting street | — | — | — | On wall fronting street | — | §225-7-3D(1) |
| Projecting Sign | — | 5 square feet | — | — | One per business | Projecting from building | — | §225-7-3D(2) |
| Detached Sign | 15 feet | 30 square feet (60 sq ft if group of 3+ stores, combined, only one sign) | — | — | One per business; shopping center: one group sign | On premises | — | §225-7-3D(3) |
| Marquee Sign | — | 3 square feet per sign | — | — | Two per business | On marquee | — | §225-7-3D(4) |
| Temporary Show Window Paper Sign | — | — | — | — | — | In show window | — | §225-7-3D(5) |
| Directional Sign (Parking/Access Drives) | — | 2 square feet | — | — | — | On premises as accessory sign | — | §225-7-3D(6) |

## Prohibited signs in Rock Hall Town

- All signs must meet the definition of 'accessory sign.'
- No sign shall be erected, constructed, posted, painted, altered, maintained or relocated without a permit unless excepted.
- All signs which are electrically illuminated require a separate electrical permit and inspection.
- Pennants, banners, streamers, and all other fluttering, spinning or similar types of signs and advertising devices are prohibited except for national, governmental, or bonafide civic/charitable/fraternal/welfare organization flags, or by temporary permit for special events or holidays.
- No flashing signs or exposed neon tubing are permitted in any district.
- No sign not an integral part of the structure design shall be fastened to and supported by or on the roof of a structure; no projecting sign shall extend above the roofline or parapet wall.
- No sign shall display intermittent lights resembling those used by police, fire, ambulance, or navigation vehicles, or danger signals.
- No sign shall be located or illuminated to provide a background blending with traffic signal lights to the extent of confusing a motorist at a distance of 25 to 300 feet.
- No sign shall be located on a public sidewalk.
- No sign, portable or otherwise, is to be placed or located to conflict with the vision clearance or other requirements of applicable traffic ordinances.
- No signs shall be attached to trees, utility poles, or any other unapproved supporting structure.
- Signs showing gross neglect or becoming dilapidated may be removed after due notice.
- Signs advertising an activity, business, product or service no longer conducted on the premises are prohibited.
- Neon or other attention-grabbing colors are prohibited for institution and externally illuminated signs.
- Electronic or graphic display signs must have an automatic dimmer, restrict to static messages, and not be illuminated between midnight and 8 a.m.
- Illuminated signs must not shine lights so as to be objectionable or hazardous to pedestrians, motorists, or adjacent properties.
- No sign area may be counted for more than one sign type per regulations.
- Signs must comply with yard requirements unless specifically allowed otherwise.
- Supporting structures for nonconforming signs may be reused only if fully code compliant and no additional permits for signs will be issued when nonconforming signs exist on the property.
- It is unlawful to purposely tear down, deface, molest, destroy, damage or remove any municipal or public sign.

## Signs exempt from permit in Rock Hall Town

- Official traffic signs, provisional warning signs, and municipal directional signs or structures when erected or required by a governmental agency, and temporary signs indicating danger, are exempt from permit requirements.
- Changing the copy on a bulletin board, poster board, display encasement or marquee is exempt from permit requirements.
- Temporary nonilluminated signs not more than six square feet in area, advertising real estate for sale/lease or announcing contemplated improvements, and located on the premises (one per street frontage), are exempt from permit requirements.
- Temporary nonilluminated signs not more than 10 square feet in area, erected in connection with new construction work and displayed during construction (one per street frontage), are exempt from permit requirements.
- Nonilluminated signs warning trespassers or announcing property as posted are exempt from permit requirements.
- Signs on vehicles (trucks, buses, etc.), while in use in the normal course of business (not parked for display), are exempt from permit requirements.
- The above exemptions apply only if the structural and safety requirements of applicable codes are met.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Permit application for each sign must include three sets of drawings and/or specifications detailing location, construction, materials, illumination, fastening method, number of signs, and wording.
- Applications for unusual signs or displays raising questions of interpretation may be referred to the Board of Appeals for interpretation and action recommendation.
- Location, design, duration, and wording of certain temporary directional signs in residential districts are subject to approval by the Zoning Administrator.
- All ground-mounted lighting for indirectly illuminated signs must be obscured by landscaping approved by the Planning Commission or Zoning Administrator.
- The Planning Commission may approve alternative sign base materials for institutional detached signs after review at a public meeting.
- If sign design, lighting, or mounting does not clearly meet code, referral and additional review may be required (e.g., Board of Appeals or Planning 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 8 zoning districts in Rock Hall Town — every sign type, every field — are available with a free PermitPal account: https://app.permitpal.io/?address=Rock+Hall+Town+MD&override=true&utm_source=landing&utm_medium=city-page&utm_campaign=city-rock-hall-town

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