CITY’S COMPLIANCE SERVICES DEPARTMENT
LAUNCHES PUBLIC AWARENESS CAMPAIGN REGARDING TEMPORARY SIGN ENFORCEMENT
Frederick, Md. --- The City of Frederick’s Compliance Services Department, formerly known as Code Enforcement, is launching a public awareness campaign to address the uses and misuses of temporary sign’s.
With the adoption of the Land Management Code (LMC) in August 2005 several revisions were made to the City’s existing temporary sign regulations. Recently staff began visiting local businesses to help educate them as to the new regulations and the impacts the regulations have on their businesses.
The following issues are being addressed:
1. Business owners are being advised that they may have one temporary sign on their property that requires a zoning certificate. Once a zoning certificate has been obtained the sign can be used or changed as long as the location of the sign and square footage on the principal building stays the same.
2. Temporary signs shall not exceed two square feet in residential and downtown districts and twenty-four square feet in all other districts.
3. The temporary signs shall not obstruct the visibility of vehicles, pedestrians or create a safety hazard by being placed in an inappropriate location.
4. The one temporary sign should be firmly attached to the principal structure on all four sides and not be dilapidated in any way.
5. Temporary signs cannot be placed in the right of way, except for real estate signs that have their own special requirements
a. Temporary real estate signs are only allowed from Friday at 7 p.m. to Sunday at 8 p.m.
b. The signs must not exceed two square feet in size and shall not exceed three feet in height as measured from the ground to the top of the sign.
c. There may only be one sign per realtor, developer, builder, or residential community at a particular intersection.
6. The Land Management Code has special requirements for streamers, pennants, balloons and inflatable signs, which can be found on the City website, www.cityoffrederick.com <http://www.cityoffrederick.com>, in Section 864.q.6.
7. Sandwich board signs are not permitted anywhere but in the DB district. City staff will be visiting businesses this week to advise them of the requirements of sandwich board signs. These special requirements are located in the Land Management Code in Section 864.p. and include such requirements as sandwich board signs need to be made of a durable material; signs should only be outside during hours of operation of the business; signs shall be in front of the business that has placed it outside; and only one sign is permitted.
8. Since sandwich board signs are not affixed to the building, the Historic Preservation Commission is not required to approve them.
9. Placement of sandwich board signs may be placed on the public sidewalk; however, there must be at least four feet between the edge of the sign and the back of the curb.
For additional information on the City’s Compliance Service Department or questions relative to these signs please contact Catherine Thompson Parks, cparks@cityoffrederick.com <mailto:cparks@cityoffrederick.com> or 301-600-1770.