City of Frederick

NOTICE: Concerning Temporary Signage

The City of Frederick Zoning Ordinance provides for signs to be constructed within the City provided that a building permit shall be issued for the sign. The Ordinance defines a sign as: “Any structure, part thereof, or device attached thereto or painted or represented thereon or any material or thing, illuminated or otherwise, which displays or includes any numeral, letter, work, model, banner, pennant, emblem, insignia, device, trademark, or other representation used as, in the nature of, an announcement, advertisement, direction, or designation of any person, firm, group, organization, place, commodity, product, service, business, profession, enterprise, or industry which is located upon any land, or any building.”

However, there is a provision in the Ordinance (Section 15.09) that currently provides for temporary signs without a building permit.

Over the years a number of temporary signs, which are currently permitted by the Zoning Ordinance, have been placed on many City properties with total disregard of the terms of Section 15.09 of the Zoning Ordinance. Although this section of the Zoning Ordinance requires the property owner to take the signs down after the promotion, it appears that this is rarely done. For a variety of reasons, enforcement has not been done on temporary signs resulting in areas of the City that suffer from unsightly sign clutter and a number of temporary sign violations.

On August 1, 2002 the City will begin to enforce the existing requirements of Section 15.09 of the Zoning Ordinance in order to remove all illegal temporary signs, which will help to alleviate the unsightly clutter and confusion along the City’s commercial corridors. A temporary sign is considered any promotional sign advertising goods or services, which is permitted for 14 days and does not require a permit. Signs that do not meet sign area requirements, have been up for more than 14 days or do not meet other applicable sign requirements will be considered to be in violation and must be taken down. This will be done concurrently with action to amend the temporary sign section of the Zoning Ordinance. If you have any questions relative to temporary signs, please contact Tom Adams at 301-600-1883 or the Planner on Call Desk at 301-600-1499.

Examples of the various types of signs, which are causing the sign clutter and will be regulated under the revised temporary sign requirements follow.