# Sign Regulations in Bedford Town, New Hampshire

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Bedford Town, New Hampshire (NH)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/new-hampshire/bedford-town
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/14329827#14329827)

## At a glance

Bedford Town, New Hampshire regulates 25 sign types across 9 zoning districts. Freestanding Signs in the Commercial District,Commercial-2 District,Office District zoning district are capped at 10 ft tall and 32 sq ft, with a 50 ft from side/rear, 10 ft from street setback (Sec. § 275-74C(2), § 275-73C, § 275-73L). Most commercial signs in Bedford Town require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (9 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 9 | — | 15 sq ft | — |
| General Residential District,Residential and Agricultural District | 2 | — | 8 sq ft | — |
| Civic and Institutional District | 1 | — | 50 sq ft | — |
| Commercial District,Commercial-2 District,Office District | 6 | 10 ft | 50 sq ft | — |
| Service Industrial District | 4 | 10 ft | 50 sq ft | — |
| Neighborhood Commercial District | 4 | — | 32 sq ft | — |
| Highway Commercial District | 5 | — | 32 sq ft | — |
| Performance Zoning District (PZ) | 5 | 10 ft | 18 sq ft | — |
| Historic District | 2 | — | — | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 9 zones)

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Advertising Sign (Lease or Sale of Premises) | — | 4 sq ft (unless otherwise specified by district) | — | 10 feet from right-of-way | One per parcel | Set back at least 10 feet from the edge of the right-of-way. | — | § 275-73I |
| Directional Sign (Non-advertising) | — | 4 sq ft | — | — | — | Location approved by Planning Director | — | § 275-73E |
| Temporary Sign (Painter or Artisan) | — | 4 sq ft | — | 10 feet from right-of-way | One per artisan | Set back at least 10 feet from right-of-way | — | § 275-73J |
| Political Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Must conform to all NH state statutes | — | § 275-75 |
| Portable Sign | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | § 275-73G, § 275-73P |
| Rooftop Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Prohibited in all districts | — | § 275-73N |
| Open Sign (General Districts) | — | 2.5 sq ft | — | — | One per business | On or within building | — | § 275-73S(1)(a),(2) |
| Open Flag (General Districts) | — | 15 sq ft | — | Must meet sign height and setback requirements for zone | One per business | On or within building or on site if meets all other sign requirements | — | § 275-73S(1)(b),(2) |

### Commercial District,Commercial-2 District,Office District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign | 10 ft | 32 sq ft | — | 50 ft from side/rear, 10 ft from street | One per lot | On premises | — | § 275-74C(2), § 275-73C, § 275-73L |
| Wall Sign | — | 32 sq ft | — | — | See requirements; multiple tenants—max 4 wall signs per structure (Office District) | Attached to or painted on wall of building | — | § 275-74C(2),(3),(5), § 275-73L |
| Projecting Sign | — | — | — | — | One per tenant space | On building (projecting) | — | § 275-74C(2), (Office): § 275-74C(1) |
| Center Identification Sign (Shopping Center/Professional Park) | — | 50 sq ft | — | — | One per shopping center/professional park | On premises | — | § 275-74C(3) |
| Advertising Sign (Lease or Sale of Lot/Building) | — | 18 sq ft | — | — | One per lot/building | On lot/building for lease or sale | — | § 275-74C(3) |
| Wall Sign/Freestanding Sign (Distance Modification Option) | — | — | — | — | — | As specified | — | § 275-74C(4) |

### Highway Commercial District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Ground or Pole Sign | — | 32 sq ft | — | — | One per business | — | — | § 275-74G(1)(a) |
| Flat Sign | — | 32 sq ft | — | — | One per business unit | On business unit | — | § 275-74G(1)(b) |
| Projecting Sign | — | — | — | — | One per business | — | — | § 275-74G(1)(c) |
| Advertising Sign (Lease or Sale of Lot/Building) | — | 18 sq ft | — | — | One per lot/building | On lot/building for lease or sale | — | § 275-74G(2) |
| Wall Sign/Freestanding Sign (Distance Modification Option) | — | — | — | — | — | As specified | — | § 275-74G(3) |

## Prohibited signs in Bedford Town

- Posting of signs on trees, utility poles, vehicular control standards (stop signs, etc.), or fences is expressly prohibited.
- Portable signs shall not be allowed in any district except as specifically noted.
- Permanent and temporary off-premises signs shall not be allowed in any district, except as specifically noted.
- A sign shall not be so placed as to cast reflection upon any dwelling unit.
- Animated, moving, flashing, and noisemaking signs are prohibited.
- Changeable readerboard signs, whether manual or electronic, are prohibited in all zoning districts.
- Rooftop signs shall not be allowed in any district.
- Prohibited signs: Animated, moving, flashing, and noisemaking signs are not permitted.
- Advertisements, notices, and signs other than for traffic control shall not be displayed on or attached to any barricade or fence in any highway.

## Signs exempt from permit in Bedford Town

- One unlighted sign offering premises for sale or lease for each parcel in one ownership shall be allowed, provided it shall not exceed four square feet in surface area unless otherwise specified, and is set back at least 10 feet from the right-of-way.
- One unlighted temporary sign of a painter or artisan, erected during the work on the premises, allowed up to four square feet and set back at least 10 feet from the right-of-way.
- Directional signs not exceeding four square feet and bearing no advertising or site identifying information may be approved by the Planning Director.
- Political signs are exempt when they conform to all New Hampshire state statutes, including RSA 664:14 et seq.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- The Planning Board may grant a conditional use permit (variance) to modify the requirements of Article IX (Signs) if criteria are met.
- Vehicles, trailers, or equipment with commercial signage routinely parked or stored must be shown on a site plan and approved by the Planning Board in certain nonresidential districts.
- Where specific requirements are not indicated, the Planning Board may establish signage requirements on an individual basis.
- In the Historic District, a certificate of approval from the Historic District Commission and a sign permit from the Bedford Building Department is required prior to erecting or resurfacing a sign.
- The location of all new signs on a building must be shown on proposed architectural elevations.
- Where there is more than one sign per site, all signs should be complementary and their location and design coordinated, which may require approval.

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

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