Nashua, NH Sign Regulations: Window Signs (2026)
Key Facts
- Coverage limit
- 25% of visible window area max
- Permit
- Not required if under the cap
- Governing section
- § 190-94B(14), sign permit exemptions
- First-offense fine
- $100 (Chapter 190, Article X)
- Enforcement
- Administrator / Code Enforcement Department
Summary
Interior window signs advertising products, prices, or services don't need a permit in Nashua, but the sign can't cover more than 25% of the total visible window area.
Signs affixed to the interior side of a window so as to be visible from the exterior that advertise products or services available within the building, prices, payment methods, or sales. However, such signs shall not cover more than 25% of the total visible window area.
(15) Lettering, logos or graphics affixed to products or packaging displayed for on-site sales.
(16) Lettering, logos or graphics identifying or describing products or their manufacturers, vendors or distributors which are affixed to the exterior of equipment such as vending machines, gasoline pumps and other similar equipment.
(17) Lettering, logos or graphics affixed to registered motor vehicles or equipment that identify the business owners or operators of the vehicle or equipment or their manufacturers.
(18) Temporary signs, which advertise garage or yard sales or lost pets.
(19) On-site temporary signs advertising the opening of a new business.
(20) Customary signs that give warning, no larger than two square feet in area, bearing messages such as "Beware of Dog" or "No Trespassing."
C. Initiation. A sign permit application shall be submitted to the Administrative Officer. The application shall include a sign plan as set forth in Article XLIII.
D. Completeness review. The Administrative Officer shall determine whether the sign permit application is complete (as provided in § 190-125) within 10 days after the application is filed.
E.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4805762; v29 updated 2026-02-10; through 02-10-2026).
Full Breakdown
Nashua's Sign Ordinance treats window signs as a permit-exempt category under § 190-94B(14): signs affixed to the interior side of a window that advertise products, services, prices, payment methods, or sales don't require a sign permit from the Administrator. The exemption comes with a size cap, though, those signs can't cover more than 25% of the total visible window area. Push past that threshold and the display falls outside the exemption, meaning it needs a standard sign permit under § 190-94A and must meet the chapter's general design and placement standards like any other regulated sign.
Violations & Fines
Sign violations, including window-sign breaches, are cited under Chapter 190, Article X and carry a $100 fine for a first offense, $200 for a second, and a mandatory court appearance for a third, per § 74-4.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a window sign in Nashua need a permit?
What happens if a window sign covers more than 25% of the glass?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Nashua
Compare Nashua to another location·View the New Hampshire sign regulations overview
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