# Sign Regulations in Claremont, New Hampshire

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Claremont, New Hampshire (NH)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/new-hampshire/claremont
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-07
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/NH/Claremont/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=PTIICLCO_CH22ZO_ARTVIISI)

## At a glance

Claremont, New Hampshire regulates 26 sign types across 8 zoning districts. Freestanding Signs in the Historic District zoning district are capped at 5 ft from ground to top tall and Per underlying district maximum, with a 4 ft min to right-of-way and side property line; 50 ft min to dwelling setback (Sec. Sec. 22-604(8)c). Most commercial signs in Claremont require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (8 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| AR, RR | 3 | — | 40 sq ft (total) | — |
| R-1, R-2, CR-1, CR-2 | 3 | — | 40 sq ft (total) | — |
| PR | 3 | — | 40 sq ft (total) | — |
| B-2, CB-2, I-1, I-2 | 3 | 30 ft | 150 sq ft (standard), 300 sq ft max in B-2 for large buildings | — |
| MU | 4 | 8 ft | 42 sq ft per frontage | — |
| I-3 | 2 | 10 ft | 100 sq ft per frontage | — |
| Historic District | 4 | 5 ft from ground to top | Permanent window signs may cover up to 25% of total window area on front of building. | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 12 | — | 32 sq ft | — |

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

### MU

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Exterior Affixed or Hanging Sign (Standard) | — | 16 sq ft per business | — | — | 1 per business per frontage | On premises, parallel to building face | — | Sec. 22-604(6)a, Sec. 22-601(4) |
| Freestanding Sign (Standard) | 8 ft | 16 sq ft per frontage | — | — | 1 per frontage | One per frontage | — | Sec. 22-604(6)b, Sec. 22-601(4) |
| Exterior Affixed Sign (Special Exception Option) | — | 42 sq ft per frontage | — | — | 1 per frontage (alternative to standard) | On building per frontage | — | Sec. 22-604(6)c, Sec. 22-601(4) |
| Freestanding Sign (Special Exception Option) | 8 ft | 32 sq ft per frontage | — | — | 1 per frontage (alternative to standard) | On frontage | — | Sec. 22-604(6)d, Sec. 22-601(4) |

### Historic District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Blade or Projecting Sign | — | 12 sq ft each | — | — | — | Attached to building; centered over/near principal doorway | — | Sec. 22-604(8)b.1 |
| Affixed Sign (Parallel to Building) | — | Per underlying district; see underlying zone | — | — | — | Within sign banner, or above entrance/winows | — | Sec. 22-604(8)b.2, d.1 |
| Lettering on Storefront Window or Awning | — | Permanent window signs may cover up to 25% of total window area on front of building. | — | — | — | On or beside primary business entrance | — | Sec. 22-604(8)b.3 |
| Freestanding Sign | 5 ft from ground to top | Per underlying district maximum | — | 4 ft min to right-of-way and side property line; 50 ft min to dwelling | — | On premises, subject to above setbacks | — | Sec. 22-604(8)c |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Temporary Nonilluminated Sign (For Sale, Rent or Lease) | — | 9 sq ft | — | No placement within 10 ft of city right-of-way (see 22-603(12)a); 5 ft from lot line unless affixed to building | 1 per premises | On premises | — | Sec. 22-603(1) |
| Directional Sign | — | 4 sq ft | — | — | — | On premises | — | Sec. 22-603(4) |
| Bulletin/Announcement Board (School, Church, Public Facility) | — | 32 sq ft | — | — | — | On premises | — | Sec. 22-603(7) |
| Construction Project Sign | — | 32 sq ft | — | — | 1 per project | On building/project under construction | — | Sec. 22-603(8) |
| Directory Sign (Building Entrance) | — | 1 sq ft per occupant | — | — | 1 per entrance | At each entrance to building | — | Sec. 22-603(9) |
| Occupant Name/Address Sign | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | 1 per premises | — | — | Sec. 22-603(10) |
| Temporary Non-illuminated Real Estate Sign (Commercial/Industrial Use or Land in B-2, CB-2, I-1, I-3, MU) | — | 32 sq ft | — | — | 1 per parcel | — | — | Sec. 22-603(11) |
| Temporary Nonilluminated Sign (Advocacy/Message) | — | 9 sq ft | — | 10 ft from city right-of-way | 1 per premises | — | — | Sec. 22-603(12) |

## Prohibited signs in Claremont

- No sign shall be placed, erected, moved, replaced, or reconstructed without a permit unless specifically exempted.
- All signs shall be prohibited within the rights-of-way of public highways except that signs may project over public sidewalks provided no public hazard is created.
- No sign shall be erected or placed on corner lots so as to materially impair vision in a designated triangular area near intersections.
- Signs in all districts shall not be closer than five feet to lot lines unless affixed to a building.
- Billboards are not permitted.
- Signs not relating in subject matter to the premises on which they are located, or not related to products, accommodations, services, or activities on the premises are prohibited (i.e., off-premises signs are prohibited).
- No sign shall move nor create an illusion of movement through shimmering and/or rippling.
- No sign shall contain any parts which move except those parts unrelated to advertising and which solely indicate date, time, temperature, and similar public service announcements.
- No sign shall use phosphorescent, fluorescent, or day-glow colors.
- No sign shall be intermittently illuminated nor of a traveling, tracing or sequential light type.
- No sign shall employ animated or flashing lights except such portions of a sign that are indicators of time, date, temperature, or for similar public service announcements.
- No sign, or related lighting fixture, shall be so placed as to focus light directly into the eyes of any occupant of any vehicle traveling upon any street.
- No sign, or related lighting fixture, shall be so placed as to focus light into any window of any residence.
- Signs shall be maintained in a safe condition and, in good repair.

## Signs exempt from permit in Claremont

- One temporary nonilluminated sign no greater than nine square feet in area advertising the sale, rent or lease of the premises.
- Political signs as regulated by RSA 664.
- Temporary nonilluminated signs pertaining to yard, garage, and similar special sales or events (displayed only while such sale or event is actively in progress).
- Directional signs indicating entrance and exit driveways, parking regulations and signs deemed essential to protect the public health, safety and welfare, no larger than four square feet.
- Signs and decorations displayed as part of the celebration of holidays, or national, state or local citywide events or festivals.
- Temporary special promotional signs for public, institutional, cultural, or civic events occurring within or relative to the city.
- Bulletin or announcement boards not exceeding thirty-two square feet in total area on the premises of schools, churches or other public facilities.
- One temporary sign not exceeding thirty-two square feet on a building or project under construction identifying the architect, owner, and/or contractor.
- One directory of the principal occupants of a building affixed to the exterior wall at each entrance, not exceeding one square foot for each occupant.
- One sign not exceeding two square feet identifying the name and/or address of the occupant.
- One temporary non-illuminated sign not exceeding thirty-two square feet advertising the sale, rent, lease of an existing commercial or industrial use or land located in certain districts (B-2, CB-2, I-1, I-3, MU).
- One temporary, nonilluminated sign, not exceeding nine square feet, advocating a social or political message (not regulated by RSA 664), with placement and maintenance limitations.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Applications for a sign permit shall include a set of plans (to scale), showing site location, sign size, colors, the design, type and size of lettering, method of illumination (if any), and the type of materials to be used in construction.
- In the MU zoning district, some types of signs (alternatives by special exception) require planning board design approval.
- In the Historic District, certain sign types and designs can avoid the need for a Certificate of Appropriateness if they comply with specific design standards.

## 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 Claremont — every sign type, every field — are available with a free PermitPal account: https://app.permitpal.io/?address=Claremont+NH&override=true&utm_source=landing&utm_medium=city-page&utm_campaign=city-claremont

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