# Sign Regulations in Derry, New Hampshire

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Derry, New Hampshire (NH)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/new-hampshire/derry
- **Data last verified:** 2025-10-19
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/7625703#7625703)

## At a glance

Derry, New Hampshire regulates 15 sign types across 10 zoning districts. Freestanding Signs in the Business Districts (CBD, OBD, OMB, ORD) zoning district are capped at 40 feet tall and 100 square feet, with a 10 feet from lot line or public way (no setback in CBD if not impeding sight) setback (Sec. § 165-101.3 B, D, F, H, I). Most commercial signs in Derry require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (10 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 3 | 40 feet above ground level | Shall not exceed permitted total square footage of signs allowed under ordinance | — |
| Residential Districts (LDR, LMDR, MDR, MHDR, MFR, MHDR-II, MHPD) | 5 | — | 24 square feet | — |
| Neighborhood Commercial District (NC) | 2 | 8 feet above grade | 20 square feet | — |
| Business Districts (CBD, OBD, OMB, ORD) | 4 | 40 feet | 100 square feet | — |
| Commercial Districts (GC, GC-II) | 4 | 40 feet | 100 square feet | — |
| General Commercial III District (GC-III) | 2 | — | 100 square feet | — |
| General Commercial IV District (GC-IV) | 4 | 40 feet | 100 square feet | — |
| Industrial Districts (IND-1, IND-III, IND-IV, IND-V, IND-VI) | 4 | 40 feet | 200 square feet | — |
| Traditional Business Overlay District (TBOD) | 5 | — | 50 square feet | — |
| West Running Brook District (WRB) | 4 | — | — | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 10 zones)

### Residential Districts (LDR, LMDR, MDR, MHDR, MFR, MHDR-II, MHPD)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Multifamily Complex Sign | — | 24 square feet | — | 10 feet from front lot line or public way if >6 square feet | 1 | On the premises of the multifamily complex | — | § 165-101.1 A |
| Resident Identification Sign | — | 3 square feet | — | 10 feet from front lot line or public way if >6 square feet | 1 per resident | On the residential lot | — | § 165-101.1 B |
| Home Occupation Sign | — | 3 square feet | — | 10 feet from front lot line or public way if >6 square feet | 1 | On the residential lot | — | § 165-101.1 B |
| Residential Development Sign | — | 24 square feet | — | 10 feet from front lot line or public way if >6 square feet | 1 | On the development site, not in public right-of-way | — | § 165-101.1 D |
| Church Sign (Residential) | — | 24 square feet | — | 10 feet from front lot line or public way if >6 square feet | — | On church premises in residential areas | — | § 165-101 R |

### Business Districts (CBD, OBD, OMB, ORD)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | — | 100 square feet | — | 10 feet from lot line or public way (no setback in CBD if not impeding sight) | Maximum of 3 per establishment (2 building signs, 1 freestanding); 3 per business in malls | Attached to building | — | § 165-101.3 B, D, F, H, K |
| Freestanding Sign | 40 feet | 100 square feet | — | 10 feet from lot line or public way (no setback in CBD if not impeding sight) | Maximum of 3 per establishment (2 building signs, 1 freestanding); 3 per business in malls | On the premises | — | § 165-101.3 B, D, F, H, I |
| Sandwich Board Sign | — | — | — | — | — | On the lot containing the business | — | § 165-101.3 G, 101 T |
| Wall Sign (OBD Multi-Tenant) | — | 6 square feet per tenant | — | 10 feet from nearest edge of roadway pavement | 1 common sign per building | On common sign for building | — | § 165-101.3 K |

### Commercial Districts (GC, GC-II)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | — | 100 square feet | — | 10 feet from lot line or public way | Maximum of 3 per establishment (2 building signs, 1 freestanding); 3 per business in malls | Attached to building | — | § 165-101.3 B, D, F, C |
| Freestanding Sign | 40 feet | 100 square feet | — | 10 feet from lot line or public way | Maximum of 3 per establishment (2 building signs, 1 freestanding); 3 per business in malls | On the premises | — | § 165-101.3 B, D, F, C, I |
| Sandwich Board Sign | — | — | — | — | — | On the lot containing the business | — | § 165-101.3 G, 101 T |
| Electronic Message Center Sign | 40 feet if freestanding | — | — | 10 feet from lot line or public way | — | As per freestanding or wall sign rules | — | § 165-101.11 |

## Prohibited signs in Derry

- No sign shall be erected without a sign permit issued by the Code Enforcement Officer unless otherwise exempted.
- Signs may not be erected adjacent to a state or federal right-of-way without a permit from the New Hampshire Department of Transportation.
- No sign shall be erected adjacent to any public way in such a manner as to obstruct clear and free vision or where it may obstruct the view of or be confused with any authorized traffic sign, signal or device or otherwise constitute a hazard to pedestrian or vehicular traffic.
- Whether attached to a building or freestanding, no part of any sign or advertising device shall be closer than 10 feet to a lot line or public way (except in the Traditional Business Overlay District and the Central Business District).
- Animated, moving, flashing signs, and signs that emit audible sound, noise, or visible matter (i.e., smoke, bubbles, or water), are prohibited. Scrolling, flashing, or changing messages are also prohibited, including full-resolution video displays and computer-generated video unless otherwise permitted.
- Signs are prohibited from being affixed, attached, or displayed upon any object of nature, utility pole, telephone pole, or highway sign in such a manner that the object is utilized as an integral part of the sign's support.
- No sign shall be more than 40 feet above ground level except when attached to a building.
- No sign attached to a building shall project over the roofline of the building.
- Billboards are prohibited.
- No sign shall include nudity; images of or references to specific sexual conduct or activities; images of or references to specific anatomical areas; or images of or references to instruments, devices or paraphernalia which are designed for use in connection with specific sexual conduct or activities.
- Sandwich board signs are not to be placed on sidewalks in such a way that they restrict pedestrian traffic in any manner.

## Signs exempt from permit in Derry

- Official town, state or federal signs shall be exempt from these regulations, including portable reader boards and message boards at municipal facilities.
- No permit is required for a temporary sign, such as signs advertising barn and yard sales, and auction signs, if the sign is no more than six square feet in size and is posted for a period not to exceed seven days.
- A new business may use temporary signs while awaiting the arrival of permanent signage, allowed only until permanent signage is installed or for 60 days, whichever is shorter, and limited to the same area and setback requirements as the permanent signage.
- Poster-type signs are allowed at the street level only and must not occupy more than 20% of a window area and shall be no larger than 36 inches by 48 inches, related to the use or goods on the premises.
- Construction signs identifying parties involved in construction on the premises are allowed to the extent that they are no larger than 32 square feet and shall remain only for the duration of work on the property.
- Public traffic and directional signs; warning signs; historical, cultural, and natural site signs; and signs designating public activities shall be permitted in all districts.
- Warning signs shall not exceed three square feet, except as otherwise approved by the Code Official.
- Special event signs are allowed only on the lot for which they are advertising, can be in place 14 days prior to the event and must be removed within two days following the close of the event, erected no more than once per quarter unless an exception is granted.
- No permit shall be required for real estate sale signs. One sign per lot shall be permitted, not illuminated, not exceeding four square feet in residential districts or 18 square feet in nonresidential districts, removed immediately after sale, lease or rental.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- One unlit sign naming a residential development may be approved by the Planning Board as part of a subdivision or site plan review approval.
- All signs in the Traditional Business Overlay District are subject to Planning Board administrative review and approval prior to the issuance of a sign permit.
- Interactive digital signs are subject to Planning Board review and approval.
- In no case shall an internally illuminated sign or a sign that utilizes internally illuminated lettering be erected or affixed to a building in the West Running Brook District without first obtaining Planning Board review of the proposed sign.
- All signs in the West Running Brook District are subject to Planning Board administrative review and approval prior to the issuance of a sign permit.

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

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