# Sign Regulations in Concord, New Hampshire

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Concord, New Hampshire (NH)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/new-hampshire/concord
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-07
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/NH/Concord/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=TITIVZOCO_CH28ZOOR_ART28-6SIRE)

## At a glance

Concord, New Hampshire regulates 17 sign types across 17 zoning districts. Freestanding Sign (Nonresidential Use)s in the Open Space Residential District (RO), Medium Density Residential District (RM), Single-Family Residential District (RS), Neighborhood Residential District (RN), Downtown Residential District (RD), High Density Residential District (RH) zoning district are capped at 6 ft tall, 20 sq ft, and 10 ft wide, with a No closer than addressed above; no closer than required side/rear yard. setback (Sec. Article 28-6-8 (Permitted Signs in Residential Districts), 28-6-2, and 28-6-5). Most commercial signs in Concord require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (17 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Open Space Residential District (RO), Medium Density Residential District (RM), Single-Family Residential District (RS), Neighborhood Residential District (RN), Downtown Residential District (RD), High Density Residential District (RH) | 5 | 6 ft | 20 sq ft | — |
| Neighborhood Commercial District (CN) | 4 | 10 ft | 32 sq ft | — |
| General Commercial District (CG), Highway Commercial District (CH) | 4 | 20 ft | 40 sq ft (w/o Arch. Design Review), 150 sq ft (w/ Arch. Design Review) | — |
| Urban Commercial District (CU) | 2 | 15 ft | 40 sq ft (w/o Arch. Review), 150 sq ft (w/ Arch. Review) | — |
| Central Business Performance District (CBP) | 2 | 10 ft | 150 sq ft | — |
| Gateway Performance District (GWP), Opportunity Corridor Performance District (OCP) | 2 | 20 ft (standard), up to 25 ft (large lot option) | GWP: 200 sq ft, OCP: 150 sq ft | — |
| Office Park Performance District (OFP) | 2 | 10 ft | 100 sq ft | — |
| Civic Performance District (CVP) | 2 | 8 ft | 40 sq ft | — |
| Institutional District (IS) | 2 | 12 ft | 40 sq ft | — |
| Industrial District (IN) | 2 | 12 ft | 40 sq ft (no review), 100 sq ft (w/ review) | — |
| Urban Transitional District (UT) | 2 | 8 ft | 10 sq ft | — |
| Flood Hazard District (FH) | 1 | — | — | — |
| Shoreland Protection District (SP) | 1 | — | — | — |
| Historic District (HI) | 1 | — | — | — |
| Penacook Lake Watershed Protection District (WS) | 1 | — | — | — |
| Aquifer Protection District (AP) | 1 | — | — | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 2 | — | Per list (nameplate 2 sq ft; real estate 4/32 sq ft; construction 32 sq ft; political 20 sq ft, etc.) | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 17 zones)

### Open Space Residential District (RO), Medium Density Residential District (RM), Single-Family Residential District (RS), Neighborhood Residential District (RN), Downtown Residential District (RD), High Density Residential District (RH)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign (Nonresidential Use) | 6 ft | 20 sq ft | 10 ft | No closer than addressed above; no closer than required side/rear yard. | 1 per lot | No closer to front lot line than the lesser of 10 ft or 1/2 the depth of the required front yard; not in required side/rear yard. | — | Article 28-6-8 (Permitted Signs in Residential Districts), 28-6-2, and 28-6-5 |
| Wall Sign (Nonresidential Use) | — | 20 sq ft | 10 ft | — | 1 per use | On building; no more than one sign per lot if no freestanding sign present. | — | Article 28-6-8(a)(1), Article 28-6-2, Article 28-6-5 |
| Freestanding Sign (Residential Subdivision/Multifamily/Mobile Home Park 8+ units) | 6 ft | 20 sq ft | 10 ft | See location | 1 per entrance | At entrance to development; not in required side/rear yard. | — | Article 28-6-8(a)(2), 28-6-2 |
| Wall Sign (Major Home Occupation) | — | 4 sq ft | — | — | 1 | On building | — | Article 28-6-8(a)(3), 28-6-2 |
| Temporary Signs (No Permit Required) (Residential) | — | 2 sq ft (house name, ID); 4 sq ft (sale/rent); 20 sq ft (political); 32 sq ft (construction site) | — | — | — | — | — | Article 28-6-3(a-j) |

### Neighborhood Commercial District (CN)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Building Signs | — | 20 sq ft (w/o Architectural Design Review), 40 sq ft (w/ Architectural Design Review) | — | — | Max 3 per building frontage | Affixed to building, parallel to wall. No wall signs above 25 ft from grade. | — | Article 28-6-9(a), (b), (f) |
| Freestanding Signs | 10 ft | 20 sq ft (w/o Architectural Design Review), 40 sq ft (w/ Architectural Design Review) | 16 ft | 5 ft from lot lines, 50 ft from residential district boundary | 1 per lot standard | Min 5 ft from all lot lines, max 16 ft wide, not within 50 ft of a residential district boundary; min 50 ft between any two freestanding signs. | — | Article 28-6-9(a), (c), (e), 28-6-5 |
| Portable Sign | — | 32 sq ft | — | — | 1 per lot | Not in right-of-way | — | Article 28-6-9(d)(1) |
| Temporary Signs (No Permit Required) (Commercial) | — | Per 28-6-3 | — | — | — | — | — | Article 28-6-3 |

### General Commercial District (CG), Highway Commercial District (CH)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Building Signs | — | 40 sq ft (w/o Arch. Design Review), 150 sq ft (w/ Arch. Design Review) | — | — | Max 3 per building frontage | Affixed to building (wall, awning, window per definition) | — | Article 28-6-9(a), (b), (f) |
| Freestanding Signs | 20 ft | 40 sq ft (w/o Arch. Review), 100 sq ft (w/ Arch. Review) | 16 ft | 5 ft from all lot lines, 25 ft from side/rear lines for additional signs, 50 ft from residential district | 1-3 (based on lot area/frontage) | Min 5 ft from lot line, 50 ft from residential district boundary; multiple signs allowed for large lots per table (see below). | — | Art. 28-6-9(a),(c), (f), and Table “Standards for Additional Height and Number of Freestanding Signs” |
| Portable Sign | — | 32 sq ft | — | — | 1 per lot at a time | Not in public right-of-way | — | Article 28-6-9(d) |
| Temporary Signs (No Permit Required) | — | Varies – see 28-6-3 | — | — | — | — | — | Article 28-6-3 |

## Prohibited signs in Concord

- No sign may be erected, placed, replaced, moved, enlarged, or substantially altered in the City of Concord without a permit except as otherwise provided in the sign ordinance.
- All signs not expressly permitted under Sections 28-6-8 and 28-6-9 or exempt under 28-6-3 are prohibited.
- Programmed or environmentally activated signs which physically or visually move, rotate or create an illusion of movement, or which have moving parts or emit noise are prohibited.
- Beacons, or lights with beams directed into the atmosphere or off the property, are prohibited.
- Pennants, inflated signs, and tethered balloons are prohibited.
- Signs painted directly on the exterior surface of buildings are prohibited.
- On corner lots, signs of a height between 2.5 and 8 feet above curb grade are prohibited in sight triangles.
- Signs, or any point on a sign, located higher than the roof ridge, plate of a flat roof, or highest point of roof are prohibited.
- Signs, except governmental ones, located in or on a public right-of-way are prohibited.
- Signs which are or appear to be animated or projected, or which are intermittently or intensely illuminated or have traveling, tracing, scrolling, automated, or sequential light type, or contain or are illuminated by animated or flashing light are prohibited.
- Wall signs covering, obstructing, or placed over windows, or above the sills of the first level of windows above the first story, or placed more than 25 feet above grade (except by conditional use permit) are prohibited.
- Projecting signs lower than 10 feet or greater than 25 feet above grade, protruding above window sills above the first story, projecting more than 5 feet, or over 12 sq ft are prohibited.
- Signs attached to a tree, utility pole, fence, or rock are prohibited.
- Signs other than traffic control signs that use the words 'stop', 'yield', 'caution', and 'danger', or that contain red, amber, and green lights that may resemble traffic signs or lights, are prohibited.
- Billboards and signs unrelated to the principal use of the premises, except as allowed in 28-6-9(c)(5), are prohibited.
- Illuminated signs that direct light onto adjacent streets or property are prohibited.
- Signs resembling City street identification signs are prohibited.
- Signs attached to or painted on vehicles or trailers parked and visible from a street for advertising purposes are prohibited, unless the vehicle is customarily used to transport persons, goods, or materials.
- Signs that obstruct, impair, obscure, or interfere with the view of, or may be confused with, traffic control signs, signals, or devices are prohibited.
- Electronic message center type signs are prohibited.
- All signs must be constructed of permanent materials, permanently attached to the ground, a building, or other structure, except for portable, banner, and pennant signs.
- No sign shall be altered, relocated, or reconstructed if nonconforming, such that it is less in compliance with ordinance requirements than previously.
- No sign may be placed in such a manner that it interferes with sight distances from any driveway providing access to a lot from an adjacent street, or less than 50 feet from a residential district boundary.
- Signs may not cover more than 30% of a building window or glass door if posted temporarily inside.
- Illuminated signs, if externally illuminated, must be by shielded fixture and may not be internally illuminated in CVP, IS, and UT districts.
- No freestanding sign shall exceed the maximum heights established for the applicable district.
- In residential districts, no sign may be illuminated from within, and signs may not be illuminated outside the hours of 9 p.m. - 7 a.m. except for nonresidential uses during operating hours.
- Signs projecting over the public right-of-way must maintain clearance of at least 9 feet over the sidewalk/right-of-way.
- Nonconforming signs destroyed by more than 75% of replacement cost may not be reconstructed except in conformance with ordinance.

## Signs exempt from permit in Concord

- Signs not exceeding 2 square feet in area customarily associated with a principal residential use and not of a commercial nature (e.g., nameplate signs, address numbers, private property warnings).
- Signs erected by or on behalf of or pursuant to the authorization of a governmental body (legal notices, informational, traffic, directional, regulatory signs).
- Official signs of a noncommercial nature erected by public utilities.
- Flags of any governmental organization when not displayed in connection with a commercial promotion or as an advertising device.
- Incidental signs relative to parking spaces, loading spaces, stacking lanes, entry/exit drives, direction of traffic flow, and pedestrian ways on private property not exceeding 4 square feet each.
- One sign per lot containing the message that the real estate is for sale, lease, or rent, including agent/owner info (not illuminated; max 4 sq ft in residential, 32 sq ft in nonresidential districts).
- Construction site identification signs (not illuminated; up to 32 sq ft; not erected prior to building permit; removed after construction or Certificate of Occupancy).
- Signs attached temporarily to the interior of a building window or glass door, covering no more than 30% of the transparent area, removed within 30 days after placement.
- Displays, including lighting, erected in connection with observance of holidays (removed within 10 days following holidays).
- Signs erected in connection with elections or political campaigns per RSA 664:14-17-a, political advertising, subject to limits (placed no sooner than 45 days prior, removed within 10 days of election, not on public property or rights-of-way, max 20 sq ft, not painted/pasted on exterior of building).
- One banner sign per property not exceeding 4 sq ft in area.
- Building marker and historic marker signs up to 4 sq ft in area.
- Signs recognized as contributing to the National Register status of a property.
- One 'Open' or 'Sale' banner per principal use, max 3'x5', flown only during business hours, pole/support no higher than 15 ft.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A permit shall not be issued for an individual sign requiring a permit unless and until a Master Signage Plan for the lot has been submitted and is in compliance.
- A Master Signage Plan must indicate all existing and proposed/future signs (location, size, colors, copy, height, materials, illumination method), and may be phased if site development is phased.
- Site plan approval, if required by Site Plan Review Regulations (Section 28-9-4(b)), is inclusive of all signs proposed on the premises and must be received prior to issuance of a permit for any sign on the premises.
- Where a Master Signage Plan is included in site plan approval, any subsequent proposed change in sign design or increase in sign number/size is subject to review/approval as for the original Plan.
- Architectural Design Review is required for all signs in Performance Districts, all signs as part of a development subject to major site plan review, and certain other nonresidential signs (see Section 28-6-9(f)).
- No sign permit shall be issued if the Master Signage Plan reveals the total existing sign area on a lot, or for an individual use on a lot, exceeds sign area standards; additional permits can only be issued when brought into compliance.
- If the property is in the Historic (HI) District and the sign will be visible from a street or limited access highway, a Certificate of Approval from the Heritage Commission is required for any sign work.

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

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