Queen Anne's County, MD Sign Regulations: Window Signs (2026)

Paragraph (q) of § 18:1-81A(2) allows signs attached to the interior of a building window or glass door without a sign permit, subject to the restrictions under that subsection. The paragraph prints no square footage cap or percentage of glass area, so the code controls window signs by where they sit (the interior of the window or glass door), not by a coverage ratio. A sign on the outside of the glass, or one hung outside the building, is not within paragraph (q) and is governed by the rest of the sign article. Section 18:1-81A(3) adds that repainting, changing of parts, and preventative maintenance of signs are not alterations requiring a sign permit.

Temporary banners are a separate category under § 18:1-82F. They are allowed in the UC, SC, SI, LIHS, VC, and GGMC Districts and need a temporary sign permit. The permit is valid for 15 days, a maximum of six banner permits are allowed per use per year, and a banner cannot exceed 60 square feet of sign area. A banner must be securely fastened to a solid wall of a permanent on-site structure and cannot be supported by freestanding poles or deck railings, hung on the side of a vehicle, or be located on any roof. It can advertise only activities conducted on the property where it hangs, or present public service information.

Special event signs and banners fall under § 18:1-82G. A sign or banner cannot be erected earlier than four weeks before the event and must be removed not later than one week after it, with no more than two signs or banners per event and a 32 square foot limit on each. Periodic sales events and promotional marketing for an existing business do not count as special events.

For measuring a sign that is not freestanding, projecting, or marquee, § 18:1-79C and D use the total background area or the smallest polygon around the message. Section 18:1-81A(4) bars flashing, fluttering, undulating, swinging, rotating, or otherwise moving signs. The code applies in unincorporated Queen Anne's County, including Kent Island; the incorporated towns have their own codes.