Montgomery County, MD Sign Regulations: Window Signs (2026)
Key Facts
- Window coverage cap
- 20% of glass area per side
- Permit required
- No, for temporary signs
- Applies in
- Commercial/Residential, Employment, Industrial zones
- Excluded municipalities
- Rockville, Gaithersburg, 5 others
Summary
In Commercial/Residential, Employment, and Industrial zones, temporary signs placed in a window can cover no more than 20% of the window glass area per side of the building, minus any permanent window signs already there.
Temporary signs placed in a window must satisfy the following additional requirements: i. the maximum total area of temporary window signs is 20% of the window glass area for each side of the building, minus the area of any permanent window signs;
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-90: Montgomery County Code contains legislation effective through May 7, 2026 | Zoning Updated Effective: April 13, 2026 | COMCOR Regulations effective as of July 1, 2026).
Full Breakdown
Montgomery County Code, Ch. 59 (Zoning Ordinance) § 6.7.8.B.3.b caps temporary window signage at 20% of the window glass area on each building side, net of permanent window signs, in Commercial/Residential, Employment, and Industrial zones. No permit is required for a temporary sign and there is no numeric limit on how many may be displayed, but each must carry its erection date in indelible ink on the lower right corner or it is treated as a permanent sign. This chapter does not apply in Brookeville, Poolesville, Laytonsville, Rockville, Barnesville, Gaithersburg, or Washington Grove, which regulate signs under their own codes.
Violations & Fines
Zoning violations are punishable as state law allows, or by a civil fine up to the Maryland Land Use Article maximum; each day a violation continues is a separate offense (§ 7.8.1).
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the 20% window-sign limit apply county-wide?
Do I need a permit for a temporary window sign?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Montgomery County
Compare Montgomery County to another location·View the Maryland sign regulations overview
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