# Sign Regulations in South Burlington, Vermont

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

- **Jurisdiction:** South Burlington, Vermont (VT)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/vermont/south-burlington
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-08
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/VT/South_Burlington/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=PTIICOOR_CH26SI)

## At a glance

South Burlington, Vermont regulates 20 sign types across 5 zoning districts. Freestanding Signs in the City Center Sign District zoning district are capped at 12 ft (measured from base grade). tall and 32 SF, with a Sign corridor (see above). setback (Sec. Sec. 26-8(7)b). Most commercial signs in South Burlington require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (5 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| City Center Sign District | 7 | 36 in (3 ft) | Single-tenant: Max per sign 100 SF or 15% facade; Multi-tenant: Max per sign 5% of storefront area or 100 SF; Master permit: 10% of Principal Public Facade per building, per Table 9-1 | — |
| R7-NC zoning district | 4 | 12 ft | Primary: 40 SF. Additional per curb cut: 20 SF. | — |
| Residential district | 4 | — | 32 SF, may include changeable message area (max 80% of sign area). | — |
| Non-residential zoning districts | 6 | 15 ft | Lots < 40,000 SF: 32 SF; Lots ≥40,000 SF: 40 SF + bonus for frontage/building size (see Table 8.1), max 80 SF. | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 5 | 8 ft (large/perm sign); no specific limit for small temp sign. | 32 SF (large project); 6 SF each (small project). | — |

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

### City Center Sign District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | Cannot project above roof or parapet; cannot extend below top of any first floor doorway. | Single-tenant: Max per sign 100 SF or 15% facade; Multi-tenant: Max per sign 5% of storefront area or 100 SF; Master permit: 10% of Principal Public Facade per building, per Table 9-1 | — | — | Single tenant: Up to 3 per building; Multi-tenant: Up to 2 per tenant; Master permit: see formula. | Building wall. See design standards for placement; Multi-tenant: may be attached to up to two facades for tenants, or more with master permit. | — | Sec. 26-5, Sec. 26-9, Table 9-1 |
| Freestanding Sign | 12 ft (measured from base grade). | 32 SF | — | Sign corridor (see above). | See general rule: one per lot (unless multi-tenant/multiple road entrances through exceptions in main rules). | Sign corridor along specified roads within district, 1 ft to 16 ft from right-of-way edge. | — | Sec. 26-8(7)b |
| Perpendicular Sign | — | Option 1: 21 SF; Option 2: 5 SF per tenant | May extend max 3 ft from wall edge. | — | Option 1: 1 per building; Option 2: 1 per eligible tenant | Hung perpendicular to wall of building/tenant space. | — | Sec. 26-15 |
| Landscape Feature Sign | Max 6 ft at any point, 4 ft average. Up to 7 ft high and 5 ft avg allowed upon finding per 26-13(h). | Same as permitted free-standing sign on lot (max 32 SF for City Center District). | — | Minimum 5 ft from property line; >40 SF must be 20+ ft. | One per allowed free-standing sign position. | On approved landscape feature, minimum 5 ft from property line; if sign >40 SF, at least 20 ft from property line. | — | Sec. 26-13 |
| Window Sign | — | 25% of window area per window. | — | — | — | Interior or exterior of window, so as to be readable from outside. | — | Sec. 26-17(h) |
| Sandwich Board Sign (Temporary Sidewalk Sign) | 36 in (3 ft) | 12 SF (per side), double sided permitted. | 24 in | — | One per eligible business. | Within close proximity to business entry. | — | Sec. 26-18(a) |
| Temporary Event Sign | A-frame: 8 ft | 32 SF | — | 5 ft from right-of-way. | 1 per lot per event | On lot, per event permit. | — | Sec. 26-18(b) |

### Non-residential zoning districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign | 15 ft | Lots < 40,000 SF: 32 SF; Lots ≥40,000 SF: 40 SF + bonus for frontage/building size (see Table 8.1), max 80 SF. | — | Signs ≤40 SF: min 5 ft from property line; signs >40 SF: min 20 ft. (With exceptions for adjacent sidewalks and R.O.W.; see text.) | 1/lot + more per entrance if >300 ft apart (see 26-8(2)b). Only one may exceed 40 SF. | Within prescribed setbacks/adjacent to entrance. | — | Sec. 26-8 |
| Menu Board Sign (Drive-through) | 6 ft | 48 SF (includes cladding and support), non-readable from public roadway. | — | — | One menu board plus normal free-standing sign(s). | Drive-through location. | — | Sec. 26-8(8) |
| Wall Sign | — | Single-tenant: 5% of principal facade or 100 SF per sign. Multi-tenant: 5% of storefront/facade or 100 SF, whichever less. | — | — | Single-tenant: 3 per building; Multi-tenant: 2 per tenant. | Building facade. | — | Sec. 26-9, Table 9-1 |
| Perpendicular Sign | — | Option 1: 21 SF; Option 2: 5 SF | Max 3 ft extension from building. | — | Option 1: 1 per building; Option 2: 1 per eligible tenant. | Perpendicular to building facade. | — | Sec. 26-15 |
| Landscape Feature Sign | 6 ft maximum, 4 ft avg (case-by-case up to 7/5 ft w/justification). | Same as permitted free-standing sign for lot (up to 80 SF, see criteria). | — | 5 ft (20 ft if sign >40 SF) | Per eligible freestanding location. | Approved landscape feature (5 ft minimum from property line, 20 ft if >40 SF). | — | Sec. 26-13 |
| Directory and Entryway Sign (Wall/Free-standing) | — | Directory: 8 SF; Entryway: 3 SF; In R7-NC: free-standing dir. sign: 15 SF or wall dir. 20 SF. | — | — | 1 directory per lot/entrance as specified. | Wall/freestanding sign face/public entrance. | — | Sec. 26-10 |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Incidental Sign | — | 4 SF per sign | — | — | One per service bay/entry. Must not be excessive. | At service bay/door or relevant site. | — | Sec. 26-11(a), 26-22 |
| Directional Sign | Up to 5 ft (≤3 SF signs); up to 10 ft (>3 SF signs) | Small: 3 SF, height 5 ft; Large (on ≥10 ac): 10 SF, height 10 ft (no more than half over 3 SF/5 ft ht). | — | At least 5 ft from property line; >3 SF signs at least 50 ft from property line. | See formula above. | Each curb cut/driveway per formula. | — | Sec. 26-11(b), 26-22(5) |
| Real Estate Sign | — | 16 SF or 32 SF (non-residential); 6 SF (residential) | — | — | 1 per lot. | On lot for sale/rent/lease. | — | Sec. 26-16(a) |
| Construction Project Sign | 8 ft (large/perm sign); no specific limit for small temp sign. | 32 SF (large project); 6 SF each (small project). | — | — | 1 per property (large); 2 per property (residential/small projects). | On property under construction. | — | Sec. 26-16(b) |
| Window Sign | — | 25% of window area per window. | — | — | — | Interior or exterior of window. | — | Sec. 26-17(h), 26-22 |

## Prohibited signs in South Burlington

- It shall be unlawful for any person to erect, alter or relocate any sign without first obtaining a sign permit from the code officer, in accordance with all the provisions of this chapter.
- Any sign not expressly permitted by the provisions of this chapter is expressly prohibited.
- No permanent or temporary sign other than those required for governmental purposes, or otherwise explicitly provided for in this chapter, shall be located within a public road right-of-way.
- No sign shall be erected, relocated or maintained so as to prevent free ingress to or egress from any door, window or fire escape.
- No sign shall be attached to a stand pipe or fire escape.
- No person shall erect or maintain any sign containing reflective materials or any animated sign or action sign as defined in this chapter.
- No sign shall be erected or maintained in such a manner as to obstruct free and clear vision or so as to distract the attention of the driver of any vehicle by reason of the position, shape or color thereof.
- No sign shall be erected or maintained in such a manner as to be likely to interfere with, obstruct the view of, or be confused with, any authorized traffic sign, signal or device.
- No sign or other advertising structure shall make use of the words 'stop', 'go', 'look', 'slow', 'danger', or any other similar phrase, symbol, or character, or apply any color in such a manner as to interfere with, mislead, or confuse traffic.
- No person or establishment shall project light, logos or images into any area visible from a public sidewalk or right-of-way.
- No sign shall be located on a tree, or painted or drawn upon a rock, lawn, or the ground, excluding permitted landscape feature signs.
- No sign may be erected if it is so located as to be primarily readable from a limited access facility as defined in title 19, V.S.A.
- No display of pornographic or lewd signs shall be permitted.
- No sign shall be affixed to a handrail or fence.
- No sign shall be attached to a water supply tank, and no sign shall be painted on a water supply tank except for governmental or operational identifications or notices, which are to be as minimal in size as practicable.
- No sign shall be attached to a utility cabinet other than identification or required operational signs installed by the owner of the cabinet. No advertising signs shall be installed on any cabinet.
- Off-premise signage shall not be permitted.
- The use of parked or stationary motor vehicles to display temporary signs for advertising purposes is prohibited unless the signs remain affixed while the vehicle is moving and are not hazardous.
- It is unlawful to erect, alter, relocate or maintain a roof sign.
- It is unlawful to erect, relocate, alter or maintain banners or pennants, except as permitted as an event sign.
- It is unlawful to erect, alter, relocate or maintain any inflatable or wind sign.
- It is unlawful to erect, alter, maintain or relocate any billboard sign, except as specifically allowed.
- It is unlawful to erect, maintain, alter or relocate any animated sign or action sign except as specifically exempted within section 26-22.
- Signs of paper, cardboard or similar material or signs which are temporary or non-permanent are hereby prohibited, except as expressly allowed.
- No sign shall be left illuminated after 10:00 p.m. in any residential zoning district, or after midnight in any nonresidential zoning district unless the premises are open for business after midnight.
- Fixtures shall not include bare bulbs, and fixtures shall not make bare bulbs or other direct light sources visible to persons viewing a sign, except as provided.
- String lighting is not allowed except for a non-permanent, seasonal or charitable business with permit by code officer.
- Use of luminescent lights in a sign is unlawful except where elements are shielded from direct view by a separate translucent material.
- No sign shall be illuminated in a manner that causes glare upon the street or adjacent property.
- No sign shall be erected, altered, maintained or relocated employing upward flag illumination except for governmental flags as permitted.

## Signs exempt from permit in South Burlington

- Official business directional signs and sign plazas as defined in and erected pursuant to chapter 21 of title 10, V.S.A.
- Memorial signs or tablets, names of buildings and date of erection when cut into any stone or masonry surface or constructed of bronze or other incombustible materials and not exceeding six square feet in total area.
- One residential 'name place sign' as defined in this chapter.
- Traffic signs and legal notices.
- Signs approved by the code officer that advertise the city or any of its departments, or advise the public of the location of facilities operated by the city or the South Burlington School District. Animated signs are not approved except as provided for post-secondary institutions.
- Directional signs, consistent with the provisions of section 26-11, unless ordered removed by the code officer.
- Bona fide holiday decorations displayed during the holiday's celebratory period.
- 'Warning', 'danger', 'no trespassing', or similar signs, in size and quantity as reasonably required.
- Signs attached to electronic scoreboards located on city owned or leased land meeting specified criteria.
- Multi-tenant buildings and multi-building complexes that display individual tenant signs within an approved free-standing sign, provided replacements are identical in dimensions, background color, font color, and font size.
- One- or two-sided free-standing signs for post-secondary educational institutions used for public on-campus activity information, within specified size and usage limits.
- Signs reasonably necessary for the operation and use of Green Mountain Transit Authority, its successors, and other public transit services.
- Purely decorative murals as defined, which do not have the intent or visual effect of increasing the area of a sign.
- All wall and free-standing signs, including those attached to windows and doors, that are necessary to ensure compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, provided such signs do not interfere with public safety.
- Sculptures that do not involve a representation of or reference to a business, service or good.
- State and federal government markers of historical sites or places of interest and state tourism signs, provided such signs do not interfere with public safety.
- One help wanted sign of no more than 12 square feet.
- Barber poles, in accordance with Vermont statutes.
- Wayfinding and interpretive signage for bona fide projects, with permit and within maximum size allowed.
- Signs designated as 'historic' by the Vermont Division for Historic Preservation or the National Register of Historic Places, with alterations only if compliant or approved as 'historic.'
- Informational signs affixed to the principal face of a propane gas cage containing safety information, the manufacturer's name or logo, and/or emergency contact information, provided lettering, numbering, or logos do not exceed three inches in height.
- One restaurant menu not exceeding 2 square feet per restaurant, affixed to a wall adjacent to a door leading directly into such restaurant and with lighting as specified.
- Up to two signs affixed to an electric vehicle charging station not exceeding 50 square inches per sign.
- Properly displayed governmental flags of up to 24 square feet and not exceeding three different flags per lot; a business may display one flag of any type properly affixed to a building or permanent flagpole, not exceeding 15 square feet.
- Signs on airport airfields or Vermont Air National Guard property that are required by FAA or DOD, or are necessary to safe efficient operation of the airport/guard premises except those within 20 feet of public road right-of-way.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A sign permit is required for the erection, alteration or relocation of any sign unless expressly exempted.
- For any lot in the city center sign district on which the owner proposes to erect one or more signs requiring a permit, the owner shall submit a permanent sign permit application with specific design information (effectively a master sign plan for such district).
- In the city center sign district, parameters for the erection, alteration or relocation of any sign (except for temporary, window and exempt signs) require design approval by the code officer prior to issuance of a sign permit.
- For multi-tenant buildings or multi-building properties, a master signage permit allows for a different calculation/allocation of wall sign area; otherwise, wall signage allocations are by individual tenant.
- Directory and entryway sign provisions reference adherence to sign plans and provisions for multi-tenant buildings/complexes.
- Appeals regarding permit denials go to the city development review board, but variances or exceptions to this chapter are not permitted by the board.
- Permit applications may require architectural or structural plans and additional information as requested by the code officer; design review is an integral part of several permit processes.
- For landscape feature signs, the landscape feature must be approved by the code officer as part of issuance of a permit and may be subject to review following requirements for dimensional and administrative compliance with the chapter.
- Renewal permits under this chapter require an application to be filed on forms furnished by the code officer, and no permit shall be issued if the sign or sign owner is not in compliance, except as provided for master signage permits.

## 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 South Burlington — every sign type, every field — are available with a free PermitPal account: https://app.permitpal.io/?address=South+Burlington+VT&override=true&utm_source=landing&utm_medium=city-page&utm_campaign=city-south-burlington

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