# Sign Regulations in Franklin, New Hampshire

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Franklin, New Hampshire (NH)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/new-hampshire/franklin
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-21
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/10176889#10176889)

## At a glance

Franklin, New Hampshire regulates 25 sign types across 4 zoning districts. Wall, Hanging, or Freestanding Sign (B-2 Zone)s in the Business zoning districts (B-1, B-2), B-1 Zone, B-2 Zone zoning district are capped at 12 ft tall and See formula, with a minimum 5 ft from any property line (§305-24A(8)) setback (Sec. §305-24D(2)(4)(8)). Most commercial signs in Franklin require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (4 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 13 | — | See §305-25 | — |
| Residential zoning district, Residential districts | 8 | — | See §305-25 | — |
| Business zoning districts (B-1, B-2), B-1 Zone, B-2 Zone | 7 | 24 ft | 80 sq ft | — |
| Industrial zoning districts (I-1, I-2), I-1 Zone, I-2 Zone | 5 | 24 ft | 120 sq ft | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 4 zones)

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Temporary Yard Sale/Flea Market Sign | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | — | On property with permission of property owner; not on utility poles without permission; subject to §241-3 | — | §241-3; §305-24B(1)(c) |
| Temporary Real Estate For Sale Sign (Residential districts or B-2 Zone) | — | 5 sq ft | — | — | 1 per parcel | On lot being sold | — | §305-24B(1)(a),(2) |
| Temporary Real Estate For Sale Sign (B-1, I-1, I-2 Zones) | — | 32 sq ft | — | — | 1 per parcel | On lot being sold | — | §305-24B(1)(a),(2) |
| Temporary Contractor/Built by Sign | — | 4 sq ft | — | — | — | On property under construction/improvement | — | §305-24B(1)(d),(2) |
| Temporary or Permanent Subdivision or Project Sign | — | — | — | — | 1 per project (temporary), 1 per roadway entrance (permanent) | Per Planning Board approval; at project site/entrance | — | §305-24B(1)(e) |
| Home Occupation Sign | — | See §305-25 | — | — | — | On property of home occupation | — | §305-24C(1) |
| Church/Hospital/School Bulletin or Announcement Sign | — | 32 sq ft | — | — | — | On property of institution | — | §305-24C(2) |
| Temporary Non-profit/Civic Event Sign | — | 32 sq ft | — | — | — | On City-owned property (with City permission) or private property (with owner permission) | — | §305-24C(3) |

### Residential zoning district, Residential districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Temporary Real Estate For Sale Sign | — | 5 sq ft | — | — | 1 per parcel | On lot being sold | — | §305-24B(1)(a),(2) |
| Temporary Political Sign | — | 8 sq ft | — | — | — | — | — | §305-24B(1)(b),(2) |
| Temporary Contractor/Built by Sign | — | 4 sq ft | — | — | — | On property under construction/improvement | — | §305-24B(1)(d),(2) |
| Temporary or Permanent Subdivision or Project Sign | — | — | — | — | 1 per project (temporary), 1 per roadway entrance (permanent) | Per Planning Board approval; at project site/entrance | — | §305-24B(1)(e) |
| Home Occupation Sign | — | See §305-25 | — | — | — | On property of home occupation | — | §305-24C(1) |
| Church/Hospital/School Bulletin or Announcement Sign | — | 32 sq ft | — | — | — | On property of institution | — | §305-24C(2) |
| Individual Sign with Property Owner/Place Name (not for business use) | — | — | — | — | — | On property owner’s lot | — | §305-24B(1)(f) |
| Preexisting Nonconforming Business/Industrial Sign | — | 8 sq ft | — | — | — | On property of nonconforming business/industry | — | §305-24E |

### Business zoning districts (B-1, B-2), B-1 Zone, B-2 Zone

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall, Hanging, or Freestanding Sign (B-2 Zone) | 12 ft | See formula | — | Freestanding signs: minimum 5 ft from any property line (§305-24A(8)) | — | On subject property | — | §305-24D(2)(4)(8) |
| Wall, Hanging, or Freestanding Sign (B-1 Zone) | 24 ft | See formula | — | Freestanding signs: minimum 5 ft from any property line (§305-24A(8)) | — | On subject property | — | §305-24D(3)(4)(8) |
| Wall, Hanging, or Freestanding Sign (Multiple Buildings on Lot with Multiple Businesses) | — | 15 sq ft per business for wall signs, 45 sq ft for shared freestanding sign | — | Freestanding signs: minimum 5 ft from any property line | Per number of businesses (wall); 1 common freestanding | On subject property | — | §305-24D(6)(8)(9) |
| Wall Sign (Shopping Center/Multi-tenant Building - B-1, B-2) | — | 50 sq ft (per business max) | — | — | 1 per established business | Face of building | — | §305-24D(5) |
| Freestanding Directory Sign (Shopping Center/Multi-tenant B-1) | — | 80 sq ft | — | Minimum 5 ft from any property line | 1 or 2, per number of businesses and area | At shopping center/business building | — | §305-24D(5) |
| Directional Sign (Remote Location) | — | 4 sq ft (10 sq ft if shared by multiple businesses) | — | — | — | At intersection of traveled street near remote property; not within right-of-way without permission | — | §305-24D(7) |
| Temporary Real Estate For Sale Sign | — | 32 sq ft | — | — | 1 per parcel | On lot being sold | — | §305-24B(1)(a),(2) |

## Prohibited signs in Franklin

- No sign, as defined in § 305-3B, shall be erected, altered, or relocated on any property in any district, except as permitted by and in conformance with this section (§ 305-24A(1)).
- All signs and their supporting structures, whether or not erected prior to the effective date of this section, shall be maintained in safe and good condition; signs deemed hazardous by city officials must be repaired or removed (§ 305-24A(3)).
- All signs, including electrical components, shall be installed in accordance with the International Building Code and applicable codes; electrical work must be performed by a licensed electrician (§ 305-24A(4)).
- Abandoned signs or signs for businesses no longer in operation must be removed by the owner when the use is discontinued for 30 days, or within 10 days after written notice from the city (§ 305-24A(5)).
- No signage shall be placed on any property so as to limit or restrict sight distance from any driveway entrance point or city street intersection; signs violating this rule must be removed or relocated upon notice (§ 305-24A(6)).
- Any freestanding sign shall be at least five feet away from any property line (§ 305-24A(8)).
- No sign may be illuminated in a manner that causes a measurable adverse effect to abutting properties or undue distraction, confusion, or hazard to vehicular traffic; illumination shall not spill onto abutting property (§ 305-24A(10)).
- If signage violates any provision of § 305-24, then within 10 days from receipt of written notice from the city, the owner or property manager must remove the signs (§ 305-24A(11)).
- None of the following permitted signs may be illuminated in any way: temporary real estate 'for sale' signs, temporary political signs, temporary signs for yard sales, temporary signs advertising a building contractor etc., temporary or permanent signs for subdivisions or construction projects (§ 305-24B(2)).
- Any type of electronic sign with moving, flashing, blinking, or changing characters, pictures, designs, or images is prohibited (§ 305-24F(1)(a)).
- Any type of sign or billboard that advertises or promotes goods, services, or products not sold on the property on which the sign is located is prohibited (except as allowed for directional signs under §305-24D(6)) (§ 305-24F(1)(b)).
- Registered or unregistered vehicles or trucks shall not be used as locations for signage or billboards. Only permanent advertising displays of the business that owns the registered vehicle are allowed (§ 305-24F(2)).

## Signs exempt from permit in Franklin

- Temporary real estate 'for sale' signs (one per parcel, with size limits based on zone, removed within 10 days of sale/closing), no permit required (§ 305-24B(1)(a)).
- Temporary political signs in any zoning district, not to exceed eight square feet; must be removed no later than the second Friday after the election (unless for a primary winner), no permit required (§ 305-24B(1)(b)).
- Temporary signs for yard sales, not exceeding six square feet, removed at end of sale, no permit required (§ 305-24B(1)(c)).
- Temporary signs advertising the building contractor, architect, painter, paving company, etc.; not exceeding four square feet, allowed during work, removed within 10 days of occupancy or project completion, no permit required (§ 305-24B(1)(d)).
- Temporary or permanent signs for residential subdivisions, housing projects, or commercial construction/renovation projects as allowed by the Planning Board via subdivision or site plan approval; one sign for projects under construction, one per entrance for permanent signs, no permit required (§ 305-24B(1)(e)).
- Individual name signs within residential districts (e.g., 'The Smiths'), not for commercial, industrial, or agricultural businesses; may be lighted with residential lamppost-type light, no permit required (§ 305-24B(1)(f)).
- Other signs deemed by the Planning and Zoning Administrator to be similar to and consistent with above exemption types, no permit required (§ 305-24B(1)(g)).
- Temporary signs (no larger than 32 square feet) announcing events of a nonprofit or civic organization may be placed without a permit, but notice and permission is required from the Administrator and property owner as applicable. Must be removed within 48 hours after the event or end of the season (§ 305-24C(3)).

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Any sexually oriented business must submit to the Planning Board, pursuant to Chapter 402, Site Plan Review, a sketch or depiction of any sign intended to advertise or note the location (§ 248-5).
- For new projects subject to site plan review and permits, the types and locations of traffic/pedestrian control and safety signs must be shown on plans submitted to the Planning Board (§ 305-24C(4)).
- For new buildings associated with shopping centers or multi-building properties in B-1/B-2 zoning districts, signage shall be considered as part of the site plan review process (§ 305-24D(9)).
- Erecting, raising, or affixing any sign, billboard, or advertisement on city property or highways requires appropriate permission and authority from the City Council and necessary approvals from the Zoning Board of Adjustment (§ 262-21).

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

---

PermitPal — AI sign code research. Full HTML page: https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/new-hampshire/franklin