# Sign Regulations in Dover, New Hampshire

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Dover, New Hampshire (NH)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/new-hampshire/dover
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-21
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/33400049#33400049)

## At a glance

Dover, New Hampshire regulates 16 sign types across 7 zoning districts. Nonresidential Use Signs in the Residential Districts (R-40, R-20, R-12, RM-SU, RM-U, HR, CBD-R) zoning district are capped at 8 ft tall and 16 sq ft (Sec. §170-50D(2), (4), (6)). Most commercial signs in Dover require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (7 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 9 | — | 32 sq ft | — |
| Residential Districts (R-40, R-20, R-12, RM-SU, RM-U, HR, CBD-R) | 4 | 8 ft | 16 sq ft | — |
| Central Business District (CBD), Cochecho Waterfront District (CWD) | 1 | — | — | — |
| Commercial District (C) | 1 | 16 ft (general); 30 ft if fronting Spaulding Turnpike | — | — |
| Office District (O), Gateway District (G) | 1 | — | — | — |
| Commercial Manufacturing District (CM) | 1 | — | — | — |
| Innovation Technology District (IT) | 2 | 30 ft | 100 sq ft | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 7 zones)

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Relate only to the premises upon which they are located; not to be painted or affixed with adhesive directly on building surface. | — | §170-50A, B, C(1)-(7), (9)-(15), (17), (20) |
| Freestanding Sign | — | — | — | Not within 50 feet of R-40, R-20 boundary. Parking areas: must be curbed with 4-ft clear space. | — | Not in designated parking area unless protected by curbing; 4-ft clear space at approaches. Not within 50 ft of R-40, R-20 district. | — | §170-50C(13), (18) |
| Projecting Sign | — | — | — | — | One per frontage | Attached to main wall; cannot project over street/sidewalk more than 4 ft 8 in or 2/3 sidewalk width; must provide 10 ft clearance below sign. | — | §170-50C(19) |
| Essential Directional Sign | — | 4 sq ft | — | — | — | Entrance and exit driveways. | — | §170-50C(14) |
| Parking Lot Sign | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | — | Indicating aisles or reserved areas/spaces | — | §170-50C(15) |
| Temporary Construction/Development Sign | — | 32 sq ft | — | — | One per function | On project/building under construction; at principal vehicular entry point. | — | §170-50C(16)(a) |
| Temporary For Sale/Rent Sign | — | 4 sq ft | — | — | One | On property for sale or rent. | — | §170-50C(16)(b) |
| Informational/Directional Wall Sign (Nonresidential Entry) | — | 4 sq ft | — | — | One per entryway | For each building entryway | — | §170-50C(17)(c) |

### Residential Districts (R-40, R-20, R-12, RM-SU, RM-U, HR, CBD-R)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Customary Home Occupation Sign | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | — | — | — | §170-50D(1) |
| Nonresidential Use Sign | 8 ft | 16 sq ft | — | — | One | For legally permitted nonresidential use, except home occupations and bed-and-breakfasts. | — | §170-50D(2), (4), (6) |
| Bed-and-Breakfast Sign | 8 ft | 4 sq ft | — | — | One | For bed-and-breakfast | — | §170-50D(5), (4), (6) |
| Nonconforming Use Sign | 8 ft | — | — | — | One | In connection with lawfully maintained nonconforming use. | — | §170-50D(3), (4), (6) |

### Innovation Technology District (IT)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign (General Location) | 16 ft | 60 sq ft | — | — | One per frontage | One per frontage on public street/roadway. | — | §170-50I(1)(a)-(c) |
| Freestanding Sign (Fronting Spaulding Turnpike) | 30 ft | 100 sq ft | — | — | — | Fronting Spaulding Turnpike. | — | §170-50I(1)(c) |

## Prohibited signs in Dover

- No sign shall be permitted within the City of Dover except in accordance with the provisions of this section.
- No sign, other than a residential nameplate or a sign exempted from the permitting requirements of this section, shall be erected or placed in the City of Dover without a sign permit.
- Signs shall relate only to the premises upon which they are located, excluding temporary signs as regulated elsewhere.
- All signs shall be constructed, erected and maintained so as not to present a hazard to persons and property.
- All signs shall be erected in such a manner so as not to obstruct free and clear vision along or onto a public right-of-way.
- All signs shall be erected in such a manner so as not to obstruct the view of, be confused with or mistaken for any authorized traffic sign, signal or like device.
- The illumination of any sign shall be nonflashing; flashing signs are prohibited.
- Spot- or floodlights for sign illumination must not shine or reflect directly into adjacent properties or the line of vision of a motorist.
- The illuminance of external illumination: max 50 footcandles as measured on the sign face.
- Internal/direct illumination: max 5,000 nits during daylight, 500 nits between dusk and dawn.
- No sign shall be painted or affixed with adhesive directly on the surface of a building.
- Window decals (adhesive, placards, labels) are not allowed when affixed on the outside of a window.
- Rotating signs or beacons, waving pennants or whirling devices are prohibited.
- Temporary signs are prohibited, except as otherwise provided in the ordinance.
- All signs are prohibited within the public right-of-way, except as otherwise provided.
- No sign shall be confused with official traffic control devices.
- No support for a projecting sign shall extend above the cornice line of the building to which it is attached (specifically for mill motif).
- Obsolete signs (on property vacant/unoccupied for more than six months) are prohibited and must be removed.
- No nonconforming sign shall be altered or relocated so as to be less compliant with requirements.
- Product trademarks are not permitted on mill motif signs.
- Guy wires are not permitted as principal sign support members for projecting signs (mill motif).
- Internal and direct illumination are prohibited for mill motif signs; only shielded external illumination is allowed.
- No sign shall be established or maintained over any public road or sidewalk unless safely fixed and supported, with the lowest part at least 15 feet above a public road and 10 feet above a sidewalk.
- No sign or showcase shall be hung or placed on the outer edge of a sidewalk so as to obstruct free passage and view from street to sidewalk or vice versa.
- No sign shall be erected or displayed within 20 feet of a public or private road purporting to be or possibly mistaken as a street name sign unless the street name has been approved per city code.

## Signs exempt from permit in Dover

- Residential nameplates are exempt from permitting requirements.
- Essential directional signs not exceeding four square feet in area are permitted and exempt from permitting.
- Parking lot signs not exceeding two square feet indicating aisles or reserved areas are permitted and exempt from permitting.
- On a building or project under construction, one sign not exceeding 32 square feet is permitted and a second 32 square foot sign may be permitted as a temporary development identification sign at the principal vehicular entry point; said signs are exempt from permitting.
- One sign not to exceed four square feet may be erected on a property currently for sale or rent; said sign is exempt from permitting.
- One informational/directional wall sign not exceeding four square feet for each building entryway (not illuminated) is permitted and exempt from permitting in nonresidential zones.
- Political advertising signs are permitted per state law.
- The terms of the section do not apply to signs necessary for the public welfare and required by municipal, state, or federal government.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- No sign shall be erected or placed without a sign permit, except those specifically exempted (such as residential nameplates and certain exempted signs); permit applications must include plans to scale showing site location, dimensions, method of illumination, and construction materials.
- Replacement of existing signs/support structures where area, location, or materials are altered requires a permit and conforming plans.
- Mill motif sign permits require a scaled elevation drawing of the building facade(s), proposed sign clearly delineated, detailed drawings of materials/size/colors/style/lighting/attachment, photograph of the building, and a sample color rendering.
- Temporary signs generally require a temporary sign permit unless specifically allowed without a permit (e.g., one A-frame sandwich board per lot or tenant, with specific limitations).
- Temporary signs located on a City sidewalk or within a public right-of-way require a certificate of insurance and a hold harmless letter as part of the permit application.
- Community signs (temporary signs in specified public right-of-way locations) require a permit and documentation (certificate of insurance, hold harmless letter) per application.
- Sign types, sizes, and permitted zones are further controlled by reference to 'Tables of Use and Dimensional Regulations by District' and 'District Tables of Use,' which inform when a sign plan or variance may be needed and note when special design criteria (e.g., 'mill motif') apply.
- Variance requests or special exceptions are handled through the Zoning Board of Adjustment and may have additional plan or application requirements (implied by reference).

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

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