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Baltimore County, MD Sign Regulations: Window Signs (2026)

Some Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

Max area per sign
3 square feet
Max count
3 per front-facade window/door
Permit
Use permit required
Mounting
Interior only, front facade only
Eligible zones
B.L., B.M., B.R., C.B., B.L.R., M.L., M.L.R., M.H., M.R.

Summary

Baltimore County caps an interior enterprise window sign at 3 square feet and no more than three per front-facade window or door under the Table of Sign Regulations and BCZR § 450.5.B.10. The sign must be mounted on the interior of the structure; a sign attached to the outside of the glass is treated as a wall sign instead.

These county ordinances apply to unincorporated areas of Baltimore County. Incorporated cities within the county may have their own rules that take precedence over county-level regulations.

10.Enterprise window sign: An enterprise sign mounted on the interior of an enclosed structure that is visible from the exterior of the structure. A sign applied or attached to the exterior of a window is considered to be a wall-mounted sign as covered by Section 450.5.B.9. ... 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.

View official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 29 | Zoning Regulations: Supplement 10).

Full Breakdown

9 instead, with that section's own rules on projection and placement near the roofline. The Table of Sign Regulations sets the numeric limits for the interior version: a maximum of 3 square feet of area, up to three signs when mounted on the interior of any front facade window or door, and a use permit is required before installation. The table's additional-limitations column restricts these signs to interior application only, and specifically bars mounting one on any window or door that is not on the front facade, so a side or rear window sign of this class is not permitted at all.

zones, and are unavailable to a multi-tenant office, retail or industrial building, which must rely on other classes of signage instead. B for any electronic version. 12, so a seasonal paper sign taped to the inside of the glass does not need a permit at all.

Violations & Fines

Mounting more than three enterprise window signs on a front-facade window or door, exceeding the 3-square-foot area cap, or placing one on a side or rear window rather than the front facade is a zoning violation enforceable by the Department of Permits, Approvals and Inspections under § 450.8. An enterprise window sign installed without the required use permit is treated as an illegal sign under § 450.8.C.1.b and must be removed or brought into compliance through the code's abatement process.

Frequently Asked Questions

How big can a window sign be inside my Baltimore County storefront?
An enterprise window sign is capped at 3 square feet, with up to three signs allowed on the interior of any front facade window or door, per the Table of Sign Regulations under BCZR § 450.5.B.10. A use permit is required before installing one.
Can I put an enterprise sign on the outside of my window?
No, not as a window sign. Section 450.5.B.10 says a sign attached to the exterior of a window is treated as a wall-mounted sign under § 450.5.B.9, which carries different projection and placement rules, not the window-sign limits.
Do I need a permit for a temporary paper sign in my window?
No. Section 450.2.C.12 exempts a temporary window sign from the sign regulations entirely, as long as it does not flash, blink, strobe or scroll.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Baltimore County

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