# Sign Regulations in Rye Town, New Hampshire

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Rye Town, New Hampshire (NH)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/new-hampshire/rye-town
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/33983701#33983701)

## At a glance

Rye Town, New Hampshire regulates 10 sign types across 7 zoning districts. Any Sign Type (General)s in the Residence District zoning district are capped at 4 square feet (Sec. § 190-5.1A(1), § 190-5.1C, § 162-13, § 7.2.2, § 190-5.1D). Most commercial signs in Rye Town require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (7 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Residence District | 1 | — | 4 square feet | — |
| Business District | 1 | — | 16 square feet | — |
| Commercial District | 1 | — | 25 square feet | — |
| Public Recreation District | 1 | — | 16 square feet | — |
| Industrial District | 1 | — | — | — |
| Historic District | 1 | — | — | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 7 | — | 4 square feet | — |

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

### Residence District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Any Sign Type (General) | — | 4 square feet | — | — | 1 sign per lot; exception: more by special exception | On premises only. | — | § 190-5.1A(1), § 190-5.1C, § 162-13, § 7.2.2, § 190-5.1D |

### Business District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Any Sign Type (General) | — | 16 square feet | — | — | 1 sign per lot; exception: more by special exception. Temporary: 2 per lot | On premises only. | — | § 190-5.1A(2), § 190-5.1C, § 190-5.1H(1), § 7.2.2, § 190-5.1D |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Government Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Anywhere as required for public safety and welfare. | — | 7.2.1(a) |
| Service/Civic Association Sign | — | 4 square feet | — | — | — | Where landowner gives written permission. | — | 7.2.1(b) |
| Directional Sign | — | 2 square feet | — | — | — | Any zone. | — | 7.2.1(c) |
| Temporary Sign (On-premises) | — | — | — | — | — | On premises | — | 7.2.1(d) |
| Temporary Sign (Off-premises, for non-profit/civic/charity groups) | — | — | — | — | — | Off-site - any zone | — | 7.2.1(d) |
| Temporary Sign (Business & Commercial Districts) | — | — | — | — | 2 per lot | On premises, Business and Commercial Districts only. | — | § 190-5.1H |
| Off-premises sign (within town/state right of way) | — | — | — | — | — | Town or State right-of-way | — | § 190-5.1F(1)(a) |

## Prohibited signs in Rye Town

- Any sign type not specifically listed in the ordinance sign table is not permitted, except for specified exceptions.
- Signs, any part of which moves or flashes or on which the lights appear to travel or are animated, are prohibited.
- Signs that, by reason of location, size, color or design, interfere with public traffic or are confused with or obstruct the view or effectiveness of any official traffic signal or traffic marking, are prohibited.
- Signs located off of the property that they are advertising are prohibited.
- Signs located on the roof of any structures are prohibited.
- Signs with luminescent or reflecting paints are prohibited.
- Moving, fluttering, blinking or flashing lights or signs are prohibited.
- Lighting shall not glare on abutting properties or on public streets.
- No sign shall be illuminated by other than light-emitting diode (LED), incandescent or fluorescent light.
- No illuminated sign shall outline any part of a building such as a gable, roof, sidewalk or corner.
- All other off-premises signs, including billboards, are prohibited, except as allowed by the Select Board within Town right-of-way or by the state within any state-owned rights-of-way.
- Temporary (nonpermanent) holiday lighting is excluded from lighting prohibitions.

## Signs exempt from permit in Rye Town

- Signs erected by the municipal, State or federal government which are required for public safety and welfare are allowed.
- Directional signs not exceeding two (2) square feet per sign in area to point direction to residences, businesses, other allowed uses or meeting places, or for directing traffic into or out of a site, are permitted in any zone.
- On-premises temporary signs pertaining to the activity taking place on-site may be used for no longer than thirty days, without a permit.
- Off-premises temporary signs may be used for non-profit, charitable, or civic groups or events for no more than 15 days before an event and must be removed no more than five days after the event.
- Service/civic associations (non-profit) may apply for a special exception for a sign under specific conditions (maximum size, permission from landowner, no safety hazard or adverse visual effect).

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Except for temporary signs as provided for, no sign shall be erected or placed without a sign permit issued by the Zoning Administrator or upon a decision by the Board of Adjustment.
- Service/civic associations must apply to the Board of Adjustment for a special exception to erect a sign.
- The Board of Adjustment may allow, as a special exception, temporary signs of larger size or in greater numbers, or signs over allowed limits, as specified.

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

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