TABLE OF SIGN REGULATIONS

Baltimore County

PERMANENT SIGNS

I	II	III	IV	V	VI	VII	VIII	IX
Class	Structural Type	Zone or Use	Permit Required	Maximum Area/Face	Maximum No./Premises	Height	Illumination	Additional Limitations
1. CHANGEABLE COPY , meaning an on-premises sign displaying a message which may be changed periodically, manually, by electric or electronic controls, or by any other means. Changeable copy signs include:	(a) Wall-mounted; freestanding	Accessory to institutional structure or community building	Use	25 square feet	One	6 feet	Yes
	(b) Wall-mounted; freestanding; canopy	Accessory to a theater, stadium or similar public entertainment use	Use	150 square feet	One; two if on canopy	25 feet	Yes
	(c) Wall-mounted; freestanding; canopy; enterprise window sign	Accessory to a planned shopping center or to any separate commercial establishment in a Business Zone	Use	See Section 450.7.B	One	25 feet	Yes	See Section 450.6.A.8
Animated message board—A sign that uses any change in physical position by any movement or rotation or which gives the visual impression of such movement or rotation. This includes the foreground and background of the sign. This does not include electronically generated images. A tri-vision message board is considered an animated message board.
CHANGEABLE COPY, (continued) Electronic changeable copy (ECC), also known as "electronic message boards"—A sign with a fixed or changing display, or a message composed of a series of lights, light-emitting or light-reflecting elements that may be changed through electronic means. This includes a video display sign.								See Section 450.7.B
(1) An electronic changeable copy sign may only have a maximum frequency of one instantaneous message change per 15-second cycle and may not display video, flashing, blinking, animation, strobing or scrolling. Only commercial messages ancillary to the commercial activity on site are allowed.	(d) Reserved
(2) Paragraph (1) does not apply to: (A) (Reserved) (B) A sign located within a state-designated transit-oriented development in the C.T. District of Owings Mills; however, a sign under Paragraph (B) may not display video, flashing, blinking, animation, strobing or scrolling.	(e) Wall-mounted	Sign installed within a state-designated transit-oriented development in the C.T. District of Owings Mills	Use	1,000 square feet	2	Not applicable	Yes	See Section 450.7.B.2; structured parking must be provided; signage may be installed on or attached to any building wall or attached or detached structured parking facilities; for a total of 12 minutes of each hour the sign is in operation, messages must be devoted to public service announcements.
CHANGEABLE COPY, (continued) Manual changeable copy—A sign designed so that characters, letters, or illustrations on the sign can be changed or rearranged without altering the background of the sign. These signs require the physical changing or rearranging of characters, letters, or illustrations.
Enterprise window sign — Any enterprise sign mounted on the interior of an enclosed structure that is visible from the exterior.	Interior wall-mounted; interior window-mounted	B.L., B.M., B.R., C.B., B.L.R., M.L., M.L.R., M.H., M.R., excluding multi-tenant office, retail or industrial building	Use	3 square feet	3 when mounted on the interior of any front facade window or door		Yes	See Sections 450.6.A.4 and 450.7.B Interior application only, Not permitted to be mounted on any window or door that is not a front facade
2. COMMUNITY , meaning a sign displaying the identity of a subdivision or residential community	Wall-mounted; Freestanding	All zones	Use	25 square feet	Not applicable	6 feet	Yes	Maximum two signs per highway intersection
3. DIRECTIONAL , meaning a sign intended principally for traffic control or to provide directions to an entity, activity or area elsewhere on the same premises ,	(a) Wall-mounted; freestanding	Accessory, in all zones	Use	8 square feet	Not regulated	6 feet in nonresidential zones; 4 feet in residential zones	Yes	See Section 450.6. A. 1 and A.2. May include company name or logo if not more than 30 percent of the total sign area
	(b) Freestanding	Accessory to multifamily buildings for leasing purposes only	Use	8 square feet	Maximum 4 freestanding monument signs for each apartment community	6 feet	No	See Section 450.6. A. 1 and A.2. May include pertinent information regarding availability of multifamily buildings for rental, if the apartment community contains a minimum of 550 apartment units under common control or ownership within a one-mile radius of the sign location/s; must be high-quality building material and integrated with landscaping approved by County Landscape Architect
4. DIRECTORY , meaning an accessory sign displaying the identity and location of the nonresidential occupants of a building or development	Wall-mounted; freestanding	All zones; See Section 450.7.A	Use	Not regulated, except 25 square feet in S-E Zone	Not regulated	6 feet	Yes	See Section 450.7.A
5. ENTERPRISE , meaning an accessory sign which displays the identity and which may otherwise advertise the products or services associated with the individual organization	(a) Wall-mounted; projecting canopy	B.L., B.M., B.R., C.B., B.L.R., M.L., M.L.R., M.H., M.R., excluding multi-tenant office, retail or industrial building	Use	Twice the length of the wall to which the signs are affixed	One in C.B. and M.R., otherwise three, no more than two on each facade	Not applicable	Yes, when the use to which sign is accessory is open, but not in C.B. or M.R.	No single sign larger than 50 square feet in C.B. and M.R.; 150 square feet otherwise. Canopy signs may extend 3 feet above the face of the canopy. A canopy sign may extend more than 3 feet with a finding by the Director of Planning that all components of the sign are compatible with the architectural elements of the building.
	(b) Freestanding	B.L.R, B.M., B.L., B.R., M.L.R., M.R., M.L., M.H., excluding munti-tenant office, retail or industrial building	Use	75 square feet; 100 square feet if premises has more than 300 feet of frontage	One per frontage	25 feet	Yes	See 450.4.5(g)
	(c) Awning	B.L., B.M., B.R., C.B., B.L.R.	Use	See Section 450.5.B.1	See Section 450.5.B.1	Not applicable	No
	(d) Wall-mounted; canopy	On multi-tenant office, retail or industrial building, accessory to separate commercial entity with exterior customer entrance	Use	Two times the length of the wall containing the exterior entrance and defining the space occupied by the separate commercial entity	Entity with separate exterior customer entrance may erect one canopy and one wall-mounted sign	Not applicable	Yes, but in C.B. only when use to which sign is accessory is open	In C.B., area shall not exceed 100 square feet. Canopy signs may extend 2½ feet above the face of the canopy. A canopy sign may extend more than 2½ feet with a finding by the Director of Planning that all components of the sign are compatible with the architectural elements of the building.
ENTERPRISE, (continued)	(e) Service station canopy	Fuel service station	Use	25 square feet per canopy sign	Six	Not applicable	Yes	Permanent signage under the canopy on pumps or supports shall not be counted towards the canopy, freestanding or wall-mounted signage limits. Except for windows, commercial special events signs shall not be permitted on the premises.
	(f) Freestanding wall-mounted; projecting	Order board, ancillary to drive-through lanes for pickup of food and beverages	Use	50 square feet per order board	Two	6 feet	Yes	Location according to approved development plan
	(g) Freestanding	Accessory to new or used vehicle dealership	Use	50 square feet. Each sign may be increased to 75 square feet if combined on the same structure. Total sign area on any one structure not to exceed 300 square feet	One for each franchise agreement held by the dealership	25 feet	Yes	A new motor vehicle dealership may display one sign not to exceed 50 square feet.
	(h) Wall-mounted	OR-1, OR-2, O.T., B.M.B.	Use	12% of area. One per of wall upon building which sign is erected, maximum 100 square feet, except maximum 150 square feet in OR-2 or O.T.	One per building	Not [applicable]	Yes
ENTERPRISE, (continued)	(i) Wall-mounted	Accessory or auxiliary commercial use within building in OR-1, OR-2	Use	5 square feet per use; maximum 25 square feet per building entrance	One per accessory or auxiliary commercial use	Not applicable	Yes
	(j) Wall-mounted	S-E; office or retail or service use in R.A.E. Zones	Use	2 square feet	One at each exterior entrance to a separate entity within the building	Not applicable	No
	(k) Freestanding	R.C.C., OR-1, OR-2, O.T., S-E, B.M.M., B.M.B., B.M.Y.C.	Use	25 square feet; 30 square feet in S-E; 60 square feet in O.T. for an office park	One per frontage; 2 freestanding monument signs per vehicular entrance in O.T. for an office park	6 feet; 13 feet in S-E; 25 feet for waterfront sign in B.M.M., B.M.B., B.M.Y.C.; 9 feet in O.T. for an office park	Yes. No in R.C.C.	In S-E must be compatible with building. In R.C.C., integrate with landscaping and Director of Department of Planning approves location. In O.T., must be high-quality building material compatible with building
	(l) Wall-mounted; freestanding	Farmer's roadside stand, farm market, commercial agriculture or farm produce stand	Use	25 square feet total for all signs	Not regulated	6 feet	Yes	Minimum 10 feet setback from right-of-way and 75 feet from highway intersection center lines
	(m) Wall-mounted; projecting	Elderly housing facility in D.R., commercial use in D.R., R.C., R-O-A, R.O., R.C.C., B.M.Y.C.	Use	8 square feet; 6 square feet in R-O-A, 1 square foot in D.R.	One		No, but Yes for tearoom or restaurant	In R-O, may also have 15 square feet freestanding sign 6 feet high if on principal arterial adjoining and facing non-residentially zoned property; in R-O-A may also have 12 square feet freestanding monument sign, maximum height of 6 feet, including a 2-foot-high monument, maximum width of 4 feet, regardless of the adjacent zoning, if on a principal arterial
ENTERPRISE, (continued)	(n) Wall-mounted	Strip-tease business, pawnshop	Use	2 square feet per linear feet of frontage, not more than 50 square feet	One	Not applicable	Yes	Zoning Commissioner's hearing required for use permit
	(o) Wall-mounted	Waterfront business off-premises directional	Use	6 square feet	Not applicable	6 feet, but up to 10 feet if multiple signs are on a single sign post	Yes	Must obtain written permission of premises property owner. Number per business determined by the Director of PDM. Use permit application may include more than one sign.
ENTERPRISE, (continued)	(p) Wall mounted; canopy; projecting; roof	Plan of development with a minimum of 500,000 square feet of retail and/or office gross floor area in B.L., B.M., B.R., and M.L.-I.M; or a minimum of 300,000 square feet of retail and/or office gross floor area in the C.T. District of Towson	Use	12% of the face of the wall to which the sign is affixed	Not regulated	Not applicable	Yes	Structured parking must be provided; signage may be installed on or attached to any building wall or attached or detached structured parking facilities; signage installed on or attached to structured parking facilities may not advertise products or services associated with individual tenants; no changeable copy is permitted; in the C.T. District of Towson, roof signage may extend no more than 2½ feet above the roofline, and the Director of Planning shall confirm that the location for the signs will not adversely conflict with architectural elements of the building. Canopy signs may extend 2½ feet above the face of the canopy. A canopy sign may extend more than 2½ feet with a finding by the Director of Planning that all components of the sign are compatible with the architectural elements of the building.
	(q) (Reserved)
ENTERPRISE, (continued)	(q)(1) Wall-mounted	Class A or Class B brewery in MH/ML Zone per Section 4E	Use	10% of the total area of the wall to which the signs are affixed	4 per building; no more than 2 per facade	Not applicable	Yes
	(q)(2) Mural, wall-mounted	Class A or Class B brewery in MH/ML Zone per Section 4E	Use	25% of the total area of the wall to which the sign is affixed	2	Not applicable	Yes	Mural may be painted or be cloth, canvas or similar flexible material and shall be mounted flush with wall. External illumination only.
	(q)(3) Roof	Class A or Class B brewery in MH/ML Zone per Section 4E	Use	10% of the total area of the wall above which the sign is located	1	Not applicable	Yes	No changeable copy is permitted
	(r) Wall-mounted; canopy	On multi-tenant building with a minimum of 50,000 square feet of gross floor area in M.R., M.L.R., M.L., M.H., O.T.	Use	Two times the length of the wall to which the signs are affixed	Not regulated	Not applicable	Yes	Multi-tenant building must be at least 2 stories in height; signage installed above the first story may not advertise products or services associated with individual tenants; no changeable copy is permitted. Canopy signs may extend 2½ feet above the face of the canopy. A canopy sign may extend more than 2½ feet with a finding by the Director of Planning that all components of the sign are compatible with the architectural elements of the building.
6. IDENTIFICATION , meaning a sign displaying the name or purpose of a place or structure	(a) Wall-mounted; freestanding; integral	Accessory to a multifamily building or institutional structure or community building	Use	25 square feet	One for each frontage	6 feet	Yes
	(b) Wall-mounted	Accessory to a stadium located on the campus of a private college	Use	300 square feet	1	Not applicable	Yes	Sign shall be installed on a wall of the stadium; no changeable copy is permitted.
7. JOINT IDENTIFICATION , meaning an accessory sign displaying the identity of a multi-occupant nonresidential development such as a shopping center, office building or office park	(a) Wall-mounted canopy	B.L., B.M., B.R., C.B., B.L.R.	Yes	12% of area of wall upon which sign is erected	One per frontage	Not applicable	Yes	Canopy signs may extend 4 feet above the face of the canopy but may not display names of tenants or occupants. A canopy sign may extend more than 4 feet with a finding by the Director of Planning that all components of the sign are compatible with the architectural elements of the building.
	(b) Freestanding	B.L., B.M., B.R., B.L.R.	Use	The greater of (a) 1 square foot per 4 linear feet of frontage, maximum 150 square feet; or (b) 1 square foot per linear foot of building facade parallel to the lot line with frontage, maximum 150 square feet; or (c) 100 square feet	One per frontage	25 feet	Yes	For shopping center, display the names of tenants or occupants if copy is at least 8 inches high, and no more than 5 lines are displayed.
JOINT IDENTIFICATION (continued)	(c) Freestanding	C.B.	Use	1 square foot for each 8 feet of linear building or lot frontage, whichever is greater	One per frontage	12 feet	Only during hours of operation	Same as 450.4.7.b above
	(d) Freestanding	Industrial or office park in OR-2, O.T., S-E, M.R., M.L.R., M.L., M.H.	Use	100 square feet in OR-2 or O.T.; 75 square feet in manufacturing zones	One per vehicular entrance; see Column IX	12 feet	Yes	In OR-2, one additional sign allowed per office park
	(e) Wall-mounted	OR-1, OR-2, O.T., S-E, M.R., M.L.R., M.L., M.H.	Use	12% of area of wall upon which sign is erected; maximum 150 square feet per frontage	One per principal building	Not applicable	Yes
	(f) Freestanding	In a Density Residential Zone in the Pikesville Commercial Revitalization District, accessory to an existing multi-tenant nonresidential building on a single lot of record	Use	100 square feet	One per frontage	20 feet	Yes	Multi-tenant building must be located in a Business Zone; sign must be ground-mounted; sign may not advertise products or services associated with individual tenants; no changeable copy is permitted.
8. MEMORIAL , meaning a non-commercial sign displaying information of a commemorative, interpretative or historical nature	Wall-mounted; freestanding; integral	Accessory in all zones	None	15 square	Not regulated	10 feet	No
9. NAMEPLATE , meaning a sign displaying the identity of the owner or occupant of a premises or a home occupation, professional office or name or purpose of a place or structure	Wall-mounted; projecting; integral	Accessory to single-residence uses or to home occupation, professional office or similar accessory use in a residential or R.C. Zone	None except use if illuminated	1 square foot	One, plus one per accessory use	Not regulated	No
10. NOTICE , meaning a non-commercial sign authorized, but not mandated by law or other regulation, for displaying cautionary information regarding use or ownership or property	Wall-mounted; freestanding	Accessory in all zones	Use, if more than 2 square feet	8 square feet	Not regulated	Not	May be illuminated only if otherwise required by law or regulation
11. OUTDOOR ADVERTISING , meaning a non-accessory sign which is commercially maintained principally for calling attention to places, businesses, products services or activities which are located or offered on another premises	Wall-mounted; freestanding	B.L., B.M., B.R., M.L., M.H.	SE	300 square feet	One	25 feet	Yes	See Section 450.7.C

 

[Bill Nos. 97-1998; 117-2003; 139-2006; 3-2007; 53-2007; 60-2008; 106-2008; 71-2009; 72-2009; 59-2010; 65-2011; 74-2011; 47-2012; 25-2013; 71-2013; 21-2014; 44-2014; 16-2015; 25-2015; 36-2015; 49-2016; 34-2017 ]

TEMPORARY SIGNS

I	II	III	IV	V	VI	VII	VIII	IX
Class	Structural Type	Zone or Use	Permit Required	Maximum Area/Face	Maximum No./Premises	Height	Illumination	Additional Limitations
12. CONSTRUCTION , meaning a temporary accessory sign announcing a building project or the sale of lots in a subdivision	Wall-mounted; freestanding	All zones	Use	50 square feet in OR-1, OR-2, O.T., S-E, B.L., B.M., B.R., M.R., M.L.R., M.L., M.H., C.B., B.L.R.; 8 square feet in any other zone except 50 square feet is permitted on an unimproved lot	Three	15 feet in OR-1, OR-2, O.T., S-E, B.L., B.M., B.R., M.R., M.L.R., M.L., M.H., C.B., B.L.R.; 8 feet in any other zone	No	See Section 450.7.D
13. PERSONAL MESSAGE , meaning an accessory sign displaying a political, religious or other noncommercial message	Wall-mounted; freestanding	All zones	None	50 square feet in OR-1, OR-2, O.T., S-E, B.L., B.M., B.R., M.R., M.L.R., C.B., B.L.R.; 8 square feet in any other zone, except 50 square feet is permitted on an unimproved lot	Not regulated	15 feet in OR-1, OR-2, O.T., S-E, B.L., B.M., B.R., M.I.R., M.L., M.I., M.H., C.B., B.L.R.; 8 feet in any other zone	No	Definition does not include political campaign signs
14. POLITICAL CAMPAIGN , meaning a temporary sign displaying information about an electoral issue or a candidate for public office	Wall-mounted; freestanding; banner	All zones, but may not be placed in a right-of-way and may not be placed on private property without the express permission of the owner	None	50 square feet in OR-1, OR-2, B.M., B.R., M.R., M.L.R., M.L., M.H., C.B., B.L.R.; 8 square feet in any other zone, except 50 square feet is permitted on an unimproved lot	Not regulated	15 feet in OR-1, OR-2, O.T., S-E, B.L., B.M., B.R., M.R., M.L.R., M.L., M.H., C.B., B.L.R.; 8 feet in any other zone	No	See Section 450.7.F for placement/removal requirements
15. REAL ESTATE , meaning a temporary accessory sign displaying pertinent information regarding availability of a premises for purchase or rental	Wall-mounted; freestanding	All zones	None	50 square feet in OR-1, OR-2, O.T., S-E, B.L., B.M., B.R., M.R., M.L.R., M.L., M.H., C.B., B.L.R.; 8 square feet in any other zone, except 50 square feet is permitted on an unimproved lot	One per frontage	15 feet in OR-1, OR-2, O.T., S-E, B.L., B.M., B.R., M.R., M.L.R., M.L., M.H., C.B., B.L.R.; 8 feet in any other zone	No	See Section 450.7.E
16. SPECIAL EVENT , meaning a temporary accessory sign in conjunction with an event sponsored by or on behalf of a noncommercial organization	Wall-mounted; freestanding; marquee; banner	All zones	None	50 square feet in OR-1, OR-2, O.T., S-E, B.L., B.M., B.R., M.R., M.L.R., M.L., M.H., C.B., B.L.R.; 8 square feet in any other zone, except 50 square feet is permitted on an unimproved lot	Not regulated	15 feet in OR-1, OR-2, O.T., S-E, B.L., B.M., B.R., M.R., M.L.R., M.L., M.H., C.B., B.L.R.; 8 feet in any other zone	No	See Section 450.7.E
17. COMMERCIAL SPECIAL EVENT , meaning a temporary accessory sign for sales-event promotion or other events sponsored by a commercial	Wall-mounted; freestanding; marquee; banner	Accessory to commercial use in all zones	Use	50 square feet in OR-1, OR-2, O.T., S-E, B.L., B.M., B.R., M.R., M.L.R., M.L., M.H., C.B., B.L.R.; 8 square feet in any other zone, except 50 square feet is permitted on an unimproved lot	Two	15 feet in OR-1, OR-2, O.T., S-E, B.L., B.M., B.R., M.R., M.L.R., M.L., M.H., C.B., B.L.R.; 8 feet in any other zone	No	For time limits, see Section 450.7.E.2

 

[Bill No. 97-1998]