Worcester County, MD Sign Regulations: Political Signs (2026)

Worcester County Code § ZS 1-324(d)(1) addresses temporary off-premises signs, and political campaign signs get the most open treatment in the section. They are permitted in all districts and are not restricted as to number. All off-premises temporary public event and political campaign signs must comply with the size and setback provisions that apply to real estate and construction signs in subsection (c)(3). Under that subsection, a sign of ten square feet or less in area and four feet or less in height needs no setback.

A larger or taller sign must be set back from all property lines a distance in feet equal to one-half the area of the sign in square feet, but never less than ten feet nor more than one hundred feet, and no such sign can exceed fifty square feet in area. The twenty square foot limit and the ban on illumination in the same paragraph are written for temporary public event signs, which must also come down within ten days after the event. The text carves political campaign signs out of that removal deadline: "Except for political campaign signs, all temporary signs shall be removed within ten days after the event." The provision prints no election-date removal deadline for campaign signs.

Permit rules are in subsection (i), which lists political signs among the signs not deemed permanent, so no permanent sign permit from the Department of Development Review and Permitting applies to them. The general limits in subsection (a) still bind a campaign sign: no sign can be located on or project over a public right-of-way, no sign can be attached to a tree, utility pole or shrub, no sign can obstruct or conflict with traffic sight lines or traffic control signs or signals, and signs visible from a public road cannot simulate traffic control or other official signs. These rules cover unincorporated Worcester County; Ocean City, Berlin, Snow Hill and Pocomoke City set their own.