Worcester County, MD Home Business: Signage Rules (2026)

Worcester County Code § ZS 1-324(c)(1) lists the sign allowance for home occupations among the on-premises sign rules. One permanent sign not exceeding four square feet in area is permitted for a home occupation, as defined in the zoning title and in accordance with the district regulations, and no yard setback is required. The cap is one sign, so a second permanent sign for the same home business is outside the allowance. Because a home occupation sign is not on the list of exempt temporary, security, political, construction, public event, historic and conservation signs, § ZS 1-324(i) treats it as a permanent sign.

No permanent sign can be erected, enlarged or altered without a permit from the Department, and changing only the copy is not an alteration. The application is filed on a form from the Department with drawings and written material showing the area, appearance and message of the sign, the method of illumination, the exact location and height with regard to property lines, setbacks and structures, the method of support, attachment to the building if pertinent, and any required landscaping. Sign area under subsection (b) includes all backgrounds, edging and framing but not mountings.

The general rules in subsection (a) still apply: no sign can be located on or project over a public right-of-way, none can be attached to a tree, utility pole, shrub or other natural object except owner-posted "no hunting" or "no trespassing" signs, and lighting cannot be flashing, rotating or animated or shine directly onto any lot in the A, E, V, R or RP Districts. For comparison, a roadside stand sign can reach fifty square feet and a farm sign twenty square feet. These rules cover unincorporated Worcester County; Ocean City, Berlin, Snow Hill and Pocomoke City regulate their own home business signs.