# Sign Regulations in Salem Town, New Hampshire

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Salem Town, New Hampshire (NH)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/new-hampshire/salem-town
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/27614115#27614115)

## At a glance

Salem Town, New Hampshire regulates 19 sign types across 5 zoning districts. Identification Sign (Multifamily or Multi-Unit)s in the Residential District, Rural District, Recreational District, Garden Apartment District zoning district are capped at 6 ft tall and 12 sq ft, with a 30 ft setback (Sec. § 490-702D(1)(a), (c); § 490-702C). Most commercial signs in Salem Town require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (5 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Residential District, Rural District, Recreational District, Garden Apartment District | 3 | 6 ft | 20 sq ft | — |
| Commercial-Industrial District, Business Office District, Industrial District, Limited Community Shopping District | 9 | 6 ft | Up to 100 sq ft (typical); area may be reduced if setback reduced | — |
| Business Office I District | 2 | — | Up to 100 sq ft (typical); area may be reduced if setback reduced | — |
| Industrial or Office Park Development | 1 | less than 6 ft | 24 sq ft | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 5 | 3 ft | 20 sq ft total per lot (Residential/Rural); 32 sq ft total per lot (other districts) | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 5 zones)

### Residential District, Rural District, Recreational District, Garden Apartment District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Identification Sign (Multifamily or Multi-Unit) | 6 ft | 12 sq ft | — | 30 ft | One per structure | Painted on/flat against building facade or detached, 30 ft setback | — | § 490-702D(1)(a), (c); § 490-702C |
| Identification Sign (Nonresidential Use) | 6 ft | 16 sq ft | — | 30 ft | One per use | Painted on/flat against building facade or detached, 30 ft setback | — | § 490-702D(1)(b), (c); § 490-702C |
| Freestanding Subdivision Identification Sign | 5 ft | 20 sq ft | — | Minimum 5 ft from right-of-way | One per entrance | At each subdivision entrance, min 5 ft setback from right-of-way, not in public right-of-way | — | § 490-702D(1)(d) |

### Commercial-Industrial District, Business Office District, Industrial District, Limited Community Shopping District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign | Not specified (see Table) | Up to 100 sq ft (typical); area may be reduced if setback reduced | — | Typically 15 ft, may be reduced to 10 ft if area reduced 50% | Based on Table of Permitted Signs and number of street frontages | On property, perpendicular to road; 10 ft minimum setback if area reduced 50%, otherwise per Table | — | § 490-702D(2)(a) [1]-[7] |
| Wall Sign | — | See Table (by building frontage); businesses without street frontage: max 15 sq ft | — | — | See Table of Permitted Signs | On building wall facing public right-of-way or parking/courtyard | — | § 490-702D(2)(b), (i) |
| Roof Sign | — | — | — | — | — | On roof, at least 4 ft from all outside walls | — | § 490-702D(2)(c), (i) |
| Projecting Sign | — | — | — | — | One | Instead of, not in addition to, a freestanding sign | — | § 490-702D(2)(d), (i) |
| Commercial Temporary Sign - Poster or Banner | — | 20 sq ft | — | — | One at a time | On building, wall, or existing freestanding sign | — | § 490-702D(2)(f)[1], [2] |
| Commercial Temporary Sign - A-frame/Sandwich Board | 3 ft | 9 sq ft | — | — | One at a time | On property | — | § 490-702D(2)(f)[1], [2] |
| Commercial Temporary Sign - Flag Sign | 6 ft | — | 2 ft | 5 ft from property line | One at a time | On property, at least 5 ft from property line | — | § 490-702D(2)(f)[1], [2] |
| Directional Sign | — | 4 sq ft | — | — | One per driveway path | Near each driveway path (lane) | — | § 490-702D(2)(h) |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Real Estate Sign | — | 6 sq ft (Residential, Rural, Recreational); 20 sq ft (all other districts) | — | — | One per premises | On premises for sale/rent/lease | — | § 490-702D(2)(j)[1][a]-[b] |
| Construction Sign | — | 20 sq ft total per lot (Residential/Rural); 32 sq ft total per lot (other districts) | — | — | — | On-premises during construction | — | § 490-702D(2)(j)[2][a]-[b] |
| Political Sign | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | § 490-702D(2)(j)[3] |
| Nameplate (Residential Use) | — | 4 sq ft per single-family residence, 8 sq ft per duplex | — | — | — | On building or entry | — | § 490-702D(2)(j)[4] |
| Temporary Event Sign (Qualifying Event) | 3 ft | 9 sq ft | — | — | 2 per property at one time | On private property, at grade, not in right-of-way or on Town property | — | § 490-702D(2)(k)[1]-[8] |

## Prohibited signs in Salem Town

- No person shall place on or affix any sign to any public property, including highway rights-of-way, or private property without the owner's consent.
- No person shall affix, attach, or display any sign upon any object of nature, utility pole, or highway sign.
- Animated, moving, flashing, and intensely lighted signs and signs that emit audible sound, noise, or visible matter, including scrolling, flashing, or repeating messages, images, or displays, are prohibited.
- Electronic reader boards and electronic changeable copy signs are prohibited, except for specific static electronic price-change signs for gas stations and digital screens along drive-through lanes with Planning Board approval.
- Off-site signs and billboard signs are prohibited.
- Parking of vehicles or trailers with signs or advertising devices for basic advertisement purposes on public right-of-way, public property, or on private property visible from the public right-of-way is prohibited.
- Signs located on public property or over or across any public street or right-of-way are prohibited unless special permission is granted by the Board of Selectmen.
- Pennants, searchlights, twirling signs, balloons or other gas-filled figures, and outdoor display of products in parking lots or landscaped areas (unless shown on an approved site plan) are prohibited.
- Signs which imitate, and may be confused with, an official traffic control sign or signal or an emergency or road equipment vehicle are prohibited.
- Signs which bear or contain statements, words, or pictures of an obscene, pornographic or immoral character, or contain untruthful advertising matter, or as otherwise prohibited by state law, are prohibited.
- Fences or any wall which is not structurally a part of a building may not be used for a sign.
- It is unlawful to affix, attach, or display any advertisement upon any object of nature, utility pole, telephone booth, or highway sign.
- Signs which block the view of traffic, street signs, or traffic signals or which, due to their placement, inhibit adequate sight distance, are prohibited.

## Signs exempt from permit in Salem Town

- Signs erected, maintained or approved by the Town of Salem or State of New Hampshire are permitted.
- Signs that do not obstruct the safe flow of traffic and are placed with the consent of the owner of the land over which the right-of-way passes are permitted, provided the consent applies only to private property, and sign advertising is absolutely prohibited in highway rights-of-way and other public property unless allowed by the Board of Selectmen.
- No sign permit is necessary for sign repair and maintenance.
- Signs allowed without permits, provided all other provisions are met, include: real estate signs (with specified size and conditions), construction signs (with specified size and conditions), political signs (which must conform to all state statutes), and nameplates for residential uses (within size limits).

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A permit must be applied for and received from the Building Department prior to erecting, (re)placing, rebuilding, reconstructing, or moving any sign (except for repair or maintenance).
- The application for a sign permit must be accompanied by a sketch plan of the site and elevation drawings of the proposed sign, caption of the proposed sign, and other pertinent data.
- All signs shown on an approved site plan may not be altered without Planning Board approval, unless the alteration is only to change a tenant name or is not more intensive and/or obtrusive.
- Permits are required for certain temporary signs, including some commercial temporary signs and qualifying event signs.
- Special permission from the Board of Selectmen is required for signs located on public property or over or across any public street or right-of-way, where a public benefit can be ascertained.
- The Planning Board may grant conditional use permits to modify requirements in certain limited respects if specific criteria are met.

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

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