# Sign Regulations in Snow Hill Town, Maryland

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Snow Hill Town, Maryland (MD)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/maryland/snow-hill-town
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/32232468#32232468)

## At a glance

Snow Hill Town, Maryland regulates 25 sign types across 5 zoning districts. Freestanding Post Signs in the B-2 General Business District (B-2), Highway Commercial District (HC), Light Industrial District (M-1), Heavy Industrial District (M-2) zoning district are capped at 8 ft tall and 36 sq ft per side, with a 6 ft from property line setback (Sec. §200-131D). Most commercial signs in Snow Hill Town require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (5 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| B-2 General Business District (B-2), Highway Commercial District (HC), Light Industrial District (M-1), Heavy Industrial District (M-2) | 14 | 39 in | 100 sq ft per property (unless variance and sign plan) | — |
| Commercial District, Industrial District | 6 | 8 ft | 100 sq ft property total | — |
| Residential District | 2 | — | 100 sq ft per property | — |
| Snow Hill Historic District | 2 | — | Up to 9 sq ft | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 9 | 42 in | 32 sq ft for 1 year, then 16 sq ft | — |

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

### B-2 General Business District (B-2), Highway Commercial District (HC), Light Industrial District (M-1), Heavy Industrial District (M-2)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | — | 100 sq ft per property (unless variance and sign plan) | — | — | Max 2 per tenant space; see sign size restrictions for multi-business buildings | Mounted on wall, maximum of 2 wall signs per tenant, must be on building face with public entrance | — | §200-131B(1)-(6), (8)-(9), §200-129 |
| Freestanding Post Sign | 8 ft | 36 sq ft per side | — | 6 ft from property line | 1 per lot | On-premises, not for residential uses unless home occupation | — | §200-131D |
| Monument Sign | 8 ft | 32 sq ft | — | 7 ft minimum from all property lines | 1 per premises per street frontage (shared if multiple uses). | On premises, perpendicular to adjacent street/sidewalk | — | §200-131E |
| Pole Sign | 30 ft | — | — | Outside required setbacks/yards | — | Outside required setback/yards unless exception from Planning Commission | — | §200-131M |
| Shopping Center Identification Sign | 25 ft | 75 sq ft | — | — | 1 per major street frontage | Major street frontage | — | §200-131K |
| Directory Sign | 6 ft | 12 sq ft | — | — | 1 per entrance | Mounted at entrances or adjacent to building complex; wall or freestanding | — | §200-131C |
| Sandwich Board | 5 ft | 8 sq ft per face | — | — | 1 per tenant space | Private property only, front yard or entry area, not in public right-of-way | — | §200-131I |
| Hanging/Suspended Sign | — | 8 sq ft (or 9 sq ft with historic bracket, Historic District approval) | 10 in thick | — | 1 per public entrance | Suspended from entry; 8 ft clearance required | — | §200-131G |

### Commercial District, Industrial District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | — | 100 sq ft property total | — | — | 2 per tenant | On wall, 2 wall signs per tenant space, each must have public entrance | — | §200-131B |
| Freestanding Post Sign | 8 ft | 36 sq ft per side | — | 6 ft from property line | 1 per lot | On-premises | — | §200-131D |
| Monument Sign | 8 ft | 32 sq ft | — | 7 ft from property lines | 1 per premises per street frontage | Perpendicular to adjacent street/sidewalk | — | §200-131E |
| Awning/Canopy Sign | — | Max 30% of slope or 65% of return/valance | — | — | — | Flat against awning, not projecting above awning | — | §200-131A |
| Projecting Sign | — | — | — | — | 1 per tenant | Building facade with public entrance | — | §200-131H |
| Window Sign | — | 25% of window area or 10% of glass entry door area | — | — | No number limit | On or within 12" of window | — | §200-131L |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Political Sign | 42 in | 4 sq ft | — | — | — | Not in right-of-way or Town property; must not obstruct visibility | — | §200-130G |
| Real Estate Sign (Commercial, Industrial, HC) | — | 32 sq ft for 1 year, then 16 sq ft | — | — | 1 per lot/parcel, 1 per street frontage | On-premises, 1 per lot, 1 per street frontage | — | §200-130H(4) |
| Real Estate Sign (Residential) | — | 4 sq ft or less | — | — | 1 per lot | On-premises, 1 per lot | — | §200-130H(5) |
| Construction/Development Sign | — | 16 sq ft aggregate (max 4 signs) | — | — | Up to 4 per site; aggregate 16 sq ft | Construction site | — | §200-130I |
| Home Occupation Sign | — | 3 sq ft | — | — | 1 per dwelling/principal use | On-premises, 1 per dwelling/principal use | — | §200-130E |
| Yard Sale Sign | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | 1 per lot | On-premises, 1 per lot; off-premises directional Friday noon to Sunday dusk | — | §200-130D |
| Wayfaring Sign | 8 ft | 10 sq ft | — | — | — | On public way, with Town approval | — | §200-130Q |
| Menu Board Sign | — | 32 sq ft | — | — | 1 per drive-through | Designated drive-through lane, not within required yard | — | §200-130O |

## Prohibited signs in Snow Hill Town

- No sign, sign structure or part thereof shall be erected, enlarged or altered unless such sign shall be in compliance with the provisions of this section.
- Signs visible from a public road shall not simulate traffic control or other official signs. No sign, sign structure or part thereof shall be located so as to obstruct or conflict with traffic sight lines or traffic control signs or signals.
- No lighting of signs shall be permitted which is of a flashing, rotating or other animated type which could tend to blind or unduly distract motorists, simulate an emergency vehicle, or which would shine directly onto any lot in the R or B District.
- No sign shall be located on or project into a vehicular public way.
- No sign shall be attached to any tree, utility pole, shrub or other natural object except for owner-posted 'no hunting' or 'no trespassing' signs.
- No sign, except for a traffic, regulatory or informational sign, shall use the words 'stop,' 'caution,' or 'danger' or shall incorporate red, amber, or green lights resembling traffic signals or shall resemble 'stop' or 'yield' signs in shape and color.
- No sign may be painted onto any wall or roof, except for the restoration of historic wall signs in the Historic District, upon approval of the Historic District Commission.
- No part of a sign, or its structural framework or supporting elements, may obstruct any window or opening intended to provide light or air to a building or to any window, door, fire escape, stairway, ladder or opening giving, or intending to give access to or from a building, fire hydrant or standpipe.
- All signs must be made of rust-prohibitive material or treatment and shall be maintained in reasonably good condition.
- No sign shall be structurally unsafe, constitute a hazard to public safety and health by reason of inadequate maintenance, dilapidation or abandonment, obstruct free entrance or exit from a required door, window or fire escape, obstruct light or air or interfere with a proper functioning of the building, or be capable of causing electrical shock.
- Flashing signs, roof signs, and signs containing reflective elements which sparkle or twinkle in the sunlight are not permitted.
- Portable signs, inflatable signs or tethered balloons (commercial grade) are not permitted.
- Wall signs in excess of 200 square feet, unless approved by the Mayor and Council, are not permitted.
- Freestanding signs in excess of 100 square feet in area per side are not permitted.
- Outdoor advertising displays and off-site signs such as billboards and all off-site commercial signs are prohibited within the Town of Snow Hill.
- Rolling signs (portable in nature mounted on a movable chassis), also known as 'manual variable message signs,' are not permitted.
- Signs with obscene or indecent content are not permitted.
- No person may erect a sign with exposed electrical wires.
- No person may erect a sign that constitutes a hazard to pedestrian or vehicular traffic because of intensity or direction of illumination.
- Signs shall not be illuminated after 10:00 p.m. or close of business, whichever is later, unless specifically allowed at site plan review by the Planning Commission.
- Signs not expressly permitted by the ordinance are prohibited.

## Signs exempt from permit in Snow Hill Town

- Signs erected or posted and maintained for public safety and welfare or pursuant to any governmental function, law, ordinance or other regulation and temporary signs indicating danger.
- Directional signs solely indicating ingress and egress at driveway locations, containing no advertising material, and where the display area does not exceed two square feet or extend higher than three feet above ground level.
- Signs posted as warnings related to trespassing, hunting, and danger from animals, not exceeding two square feet in area, not serving any advertising purpose.
- On-premises yard or garage sale signs limited in size and duration.
- Home occupation signs limited to one sign per dwelling unit or principal use and not exceeding three square feet, provided a certificate of use is obtained.
- Utility company signs not exceeding two square feet with no advertising purpose.
- Political campaign signs meeting specific size, location, and duration restrictions.
- Real estate signs meeting location, number, size, and removal timing regulations.
- Construction signs on construction sites not exceeding total area during an active permit and removed after completion.
- Security/emergency contact signs not exceeding two square feet.
- Memorial plaques, building identification signs, and building cornerstones when cut or carved into masonry, or made of noncombustible material and integral to the building.
- Professional nameplates or signs denoting the name and address of occupants not exceeding four square feet.
- Open flags for permitted commercial operations, subject to size, number, and placement limitations.
- Transit signs identifying transit stops, facilities, times and routes conforming to code requirements.
- Menu boards at fast food restaurants located at drive-through lanes, subject to size and location standards.
- On-premises temporary special event signs or banners for religious, charitable, civic, fraternal or similar nonprofit organizations, subject to number, duration, and off-site size and permission requirements.
- Wayfaring signs (town-sponsored) as approved and meeting area and placement standards.
- Community master signs (town-sponsored identification/entrance signs), subject to compatibility and approval by Mayor and Council.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A master sign plan is required for any proposed shopping center, business center, industrial park or other commercial business, institutional or industrial development that requires a site plan, as well as any property that receives a variance for signage exceeding the maximum size limit.
- Sign plans must include a plot plan, location of buildings/parking/landscaped areas, computation of maximum sign area, locations of each sign, and proposed standards for consistency among signs (color, lettering, lighting, etc).
- Total signage for a property shall not exceed 100 square feet cumulatively unless part of a sign plan approved by the Planning Commission.
- Wall signage area above maximum limit requires a variance and sign plan approved by the Planning Commission.
- For monument signs identifying a subdivision/multifamily/PDD project, the sign must be approved by the Planning Commission as part of the site plan or development review process.
- Pole signs require site plan approval.
- Any request for a waiver or modification of any standards must be submitted as an application for variance to the Board of Appeals.

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

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