The following schedule of permitted signs shall apply to each premises according to the District in which it is located on the Zoning Map, whether it be used for a special exception use.

DISTRICT S-1, S-2, S-3, T, T-6, A-1, A-2, A-3, RO, OP. [Approved 2-21-86, Item #17164-1; Approved 6-21-00; Item #24933-2]

DISTRICT IHZ/TOD-1.

Properties within the IHZ/TOD-1 zoning district may have any such announcement, professional, business, or identification sign; any such bus shelter advertising sign, real estate, temporary or directional sign that is permitted in the CBD district pursuant to Sections 250-20 through 250-70. [Approved 10-25-15, Item #33221-2]

DISTRICT TOD-EM-1, TOD-EM-2, TOD-ES-1 and TOD-ES-2

Properties within the TOD-EM-1, TOD-EM-2 TOD-ES-1 and TOD-ES-2 zoning districts that are in entirely residential use may have any such announcement, professional, business, or identification sign; any such bus shelter advertising sign, real estate, temporary or directional sign that is permitted in the A-2 zoning district, pursuant to and subject to the restrictions of Sections 250-20 through 250-70. Properties within the TOD-EM-1, TOD-EM-2 TOD-ES-1 and TOD-ES-2 zoning districts that are in either mixed-use or business use may have any such announcement, professional, business, or identification sign; any such bus shelter advertising sign, real estate, temporary or directional sign that is permitted in the B-3 zoning district, pursuant to and subject to the restrictions of Sections 250-20 through 250-70. [Approved 10-25-15, Item #33221-3; Approved 2-19-17, Item #33721-3]

Announcement or Professional.

One on each public street frontage; pursuant to Section 250-20.

Business or Identification.

Prohibited; except in OP district where one wall sign or ground sign on each street frontage is permitted pursuant to Section 250-30.

Bus Passenger Waiting Shelter Advertising Sign.

Permitted in all zones; pursuant to Section 250-71. [Approved 10-22-81, Item #14771-5]

Real Estate.

One on each public street frontage for single lots or buildings; two subdivision signs on each public street frontage for each approved subdivision; pursuant to Section 250-40.

Advertising.

Prohibited, except as provided for pursuant to Section 250-50-80. [Approved 2-14-01, Item #26232]

Temporary.

Permitted in OP and for all conforming land uses in residential zones; pursuant to Section 250-60.

Directional.

Permitted in all zones pursuant to Section 250-70.

DISTRICT B-1, B-1R, B-2, B-3, TP, TPC, I-1, I-2, I-3. [Approved 1-27-07; Item #29357-2; Approved 10-25-15, Item #33220-2] ]

Announcement or Professional.

One on each public street frontage; pursuant to Section 250-20.

Business or Identification.

One wall sign and one detached or ground sign or roof sign or awning sign on each public street; pursuant to Section 250-30. [Approved 2-14-01, Item #26231]

Bus Passenger Waiting Shelter Advertising Sign.

Permitted in all zones; pursuant to Section 250-71. [Approved 10-22-81, Item #14771-5]

Real Estate.

One on each public street frontage for single lots or buildings; 2 subdivision signs on each public street frontage for each approved subdivision; pursuant to Section 250-40.

Advertising.

Permitted as special exception uses in the B-1; B-2; B-3; I-2; and I-3 districts pursuant to Section 250-50, and permitted in all districts as provided for pursuant to Section 250-50-80. [Approved 6-28-86, Item #17123-1] [Approved 2-14-01, Item #26232]

Temporary.

Permitted pursuant to Section 250-60.

Directional.

Permitted in all zones; pursuant to Section 250-70.

DISTRICT UI [Approved 2-17-98, Item #23706-1]

Announcement or Professional.

One on each public street frontage, pursuant to Section 250-20.

Business or Identification.

One wall sign on each public street pursuant to Section 250-30 and one planter sign on each public street pursuant to Section 250-40.

Real Estate.

One on each public street for single lots or buildings; 2 subdivision signs on each public street frontage for approved subdivisions pursuant to Section 250-40.

Advertising.

Not permitted.

Temporary.

Permitted pursuant to Section 250-60.

Directional.

Permitted pursuant to Section 250-70.

Signs for home professional offices or home occupations shall bear only the name and profession or occupation of the resident. Such sign shall have a maximum area of one (1) square foot and may be located either on the building wall or in the front yard, provided that it is set back at least ten (10) feet from all property lines and is not more than six (6) feet above the natural ground level at that point, except that announcement signs in an OP district may have a maximum area of six (6) square feet.

A wall identification sign shall be attached to or incorporated in the building wall. Such sign shall have:

A detached or ground identification sign shall have:

A sign mounted on the roof of the building or structure shall have:

Real Estate or construction signs shall not be erected nearer than ten (10) feet from the property line. Such signs shall have a maximum area of eight (8) square feet, except that subdivision signs shall have a maximum area of twenty four (24) square feet.

Temporary directional signs indicating the location of a real estate subdivision shall be permitted as special exception uses under the provisions of Section 270-40 for a period of one (1) year during the active selling of subdivision properties. Additional periods of one (1) year may be granted upon an application to the Zoning Board of Appeals.

Advertising signs shall only be allowed as Special Exception Uses in B-1, B-2, B-3, TP, I-2 and I-3 Zones, except as provided for in Section 250-50-80. In no manner shall said type of sign be permitted in residential zones, except as provided for in Section 250-50-80. [Approved 6-28-86, Item #17123-1] [Approved 3-8-00, Item #24788-2] [Approved 2-14-01, Item #26232]

Advertising signs on the ground shall not be erected nearer to the street line than the established setback line and shall not exceed twenty-one (21) feet in height. The height shall be measured vertically from the average grade of the street nearest the supporting columns to the highest point of said sign.

Advertising signs on the walls of structures shall be limited to less than 300 square feet and not longer than 50 percent of the horizontal length of the structure.

Advertising signs shall be separated from each other by a distance of at least 300 feet except in the B-3 zone, except that two (2) or more such signs may be arranged to form a continuous face, either in a straight line, on an angle, or back to back. Faces which are separated by no more than two (2) feet shall be considered continuous for the purpose of this section. [Approved 10-25-15, Item #33220-2]

Advertising signs shall abide by the yard and lot coverage provisions of the zoning district in which such sign is located.

Advertising signs shall not be displayed within one hundred (100) feet of any public park, playground or cemetery, nor shall said sign be displayed within one hundred (100) feet of an adjoining residential district if designed to face directly into such district and be visible therefrom.

Advertising signs shall not be attached to or located on any building or property used in whole for residential purposes, or attached to or located on any portion of a building where that portion is used for residential purposes, regardless of what such property is zoned.

Notwithstanding the preceding prohibitions and restrictions, signs for the advertisement of goods and services may be located within the interior of any sports facility owned by the City of New Britain, which facility is utilized for spectator sports and where the advertisement signs are intended for viewing by the spectators within the facility. [Approved 2-14-01, Item #26232]

Temporary signs are permitted in all business zones, all industrial zones, the OP zone and for all conforming land uses in residential zones.

Signs temporarily attached or temporarily painted to a window, door or wall announcing sales or special features shall be no larger than similar permanent permitted signs in the district. Said temporary signs if shown on windows shall not exceed 50% of the window area.

Temporary signs shall be removed immediately after the termination of such sale or special feature and in no case shall be permitted for a period longer than 30 days.

Directional signs identifying entrances and exits, parking areas, traffic flows and hazards may be provided in all zones, as required. Signs shall be of a strictly informative nature and shall be no larger than two (2) square feet in size. In the OP, TPC, I-1, I-2, and I-3 Zones signs shall be of a strictly informative nature and shall be no larger than ten (10) square feet in size. [Amended 12-18-24, Item #36552-3]

For each Shelter only one double faced sign will be permitted.

There must be a distance of at least 1,500 feet between locations of shelters along the same street frontage in Residential Districts.

Each shelter must be placed in such a manner as not to interfere with the flow of vehicular or pedestrian traffic.

The advertising signs must be constructed as an integral part of the shelter.

Only indirect lighting will be allowed within each shelter.

Except for business and identification signs as prescribed in Section 250-80-10.10, signs attached to a structure shall not project more than two (2) feet over the top of the exterior wall of such structure at the location of the sign.

Any signs existing at the time of the adoption of this Zoning Ordinance or any amendment thereto, which does not conform with the requirements of this Ordinance shall be termed nonconforming structures as provided by Section 260 of this Ordinance.

Any person, firm, or corporation occupying any vacant lot or premises by means of a ground sign, or any other type of sign, shall be subject to the same duties and responsibilities as the owner of the lot and premises with respect to keeping the same clean, sanitary, inoffensive, and free and clear of all obnoxious substances and unsightly conditions on the ground in the vicinity of such ground sign or said premises for which they may be responsible.

No gasoline service station identification sign, or similar pole sign, including its structure, shall exceed a height of twenty (20) feet above the lowest adjacent established grade.

Notwithstanding these provisions a Shopping Center in a B-2 zone or an Industrial Park in a I-1, I-2, or I-3 zone may have one identification sign of a free-standing type at a height no more than one (1) foot for each foot of setback, said measurements shall be computed from the edge of the right-of-way of the street upon which the sign is located and measured to the column or columns nearest the street front. The height shall be measured vertically from the average grade nearest the supporting columns to the highest point of said sign. One half (1/2) of all superficial ornamentation, trim, column or columns, covers or symbol-type appendages of a non-message bearing character shall be included in determining height.

Notwithstanding any other sections of this Ordinance all signs, except directional signs, shall be set back at least 25 feet from any street intersection. The setback shall be measured from the point of tangency at the nearest curb line.

No person shall post or affix any notice, poster or other paper or device, calculated to attract the attention of the public, to any lamp post, public utility pole or shade tree, nature feature, rock, awning post, fire alarm pole, or upon any public structure or building, except as may be authorized by law.

In addition to the requirements of this Ordinance, every business or identification, advertising, announcement or professional, and temporary sign (after thirty (30) days) must have a permit issued by the Department of Buildings. Every application for said type of sign shall include the following information and exhibits in triplicate:

A.

Exhibit showing the location of proposed and any existing sign(s) and its structure on the premises in relation to adjacent buildings or structures.

B.

Exhibit showing the design, and size, structural details, dimensions, and colors of the proposed and any existing sign(s) on the premise.

All signs must be constructed in accord with structural and all other requirements as established by the Building Code of the City of New Britain.

Before said permit is issued, the Director of Planning shall be required to submit his report to the Director of Licenses, Permits and Inspections regarding aesthetic considerations and proper land use, regarding the location of advertising ground signs, and identification signs which identify shopping centers and industrial parks. If the Director fails to submit his report within fifteen (15) days after receiving it, the proposed sign shall be considered approved by him. [Approved 1-13-03, Item #27215-2]

Penalty. Any person who erects, maintains, displays or allows to remain in view an advertisement, signs or billboard, or any structure designed for the display of advertising matter contrary to any provisions of this section shall be fined not more than one hundred ($100) dollars for each sign so displayed.

A church or other place of worship may have one (1) announcement sign, not over twelve (12) square feet in area, either fixed on the main wall of the building or located in the front yard provided that it is set back at least 10 feet from the front property line and at least twenty (20) feet from all other property lines.

A parish house, club, school, or public or semi-public building, or health, fitness and recreational facility may have one (1) announcement sign, not over six (6) square feet in area, fixed on the main wall of its building. [Approved 2-21-86, Item #17122-2]

Such signs may be double-faced.

Such signs may be lighted only by shielded light sources attached to the sign.

A maximum area of three (3) square feet for each horizontal foot of building wall on which it is mounted; except that in zones B-1, B-2, OP, I-1 and wall signs facing parking lots, the maximum area shall be two (2) square feet for each horizontal foot of building wall on which it is mounted. In the B-1R zone the maximum area shall not exceed 1 square feet per horizontal foot of the building wall on which it is mounted. [Approved 2-23-06, Item #28899-2]

A maximum width of seventy-five (75) percent of the building wall's horizontal measurement except that, where such horizontal measurement is 20 feet or less, the maximum width may be ninety (90) percent of such measurement.

A maximum projection of twelve (12) inches from the face of the building wall to which the sign is attached, with the exception of awning signs which may project a maximum of 36 inches from the face of said building and the bottom of said sign shall be at least ten (10) feet above level of any walkway, beneath said sign. [Approved 2-14-01, Item #26231]

A maximum area of thirty-two (32) square feet in area per side except that, when the building area is twenty (20) percent or less of the lot area and the buildings or structures are set back seventy-five (75) feet or more, the sign area may be increased to the equivalent of one (1) square foot of sign area for every two (2) feet of lot frontage.

A maximum unbroken width of twenty-five (25) feet.

A maximum height measured from the ground level to the top of the sign of twenty-one (21) feet, except that in a B-1, B-1R, B-2, OP, or I-1 District the maximum height measured from ground level to the top of the sign shall be 15 feet. [Approved 2-23-06, Item #28899-2]

[DELETED 12-18-24, Item #36552-3]

A setback of at least twenty (20) feet from any property line, except that if the average front setback of existing buildings within the same block is less than ten (10) feet, then the average setback so established shall be applied to such sign.

A maximum height of fifteen (15) feet above the roof upon which it is situated in business zones and the I-2 zone and twenty-five (25) feet in all other industrial zones.

A maximum width of seventy-five (75) percent of the building wall's horizontal measurement.

There shall be a clear space above the roof and the lowest part of any portion of the sign of not less than six (6) feet.

The supporting members of a roof sign shall be free of any bracing angle iron, guy wires, cables, etc. The supports shall appear to be an architectural and integral part of the building. Supporting columns of round, square or shaped steel members may be erected if required bracing, visible to the public, minimized or covered.

Freestanding ground sign(s) serving as a business or identification sign in the UI zoning district shall conform to the following:

Freestanding ground sign(s) shall not exceed 32 sq. ft. in area or 5 ft. in height.

All freestanding ground sign(s) shall be setback a minimum of 10 ft. from all property lines including public street lines. No such sign shall be located so as to interfere with sightlines for any public or private street or driveway.

All such signs shall be suitably designed and constructed of such materials so as to be attractive, durable and compatible in character with the other buildings and structures in the district.

The ground area encompassing the base of a freestanding ground sign shall be planted with an appropriate mixture of low evergreen and deciduous shrubs.

Temporary or permanent signs resting on, or attached to vehicles shall not be used as a means to circumvent the provisions of this Ordinance.

Except for temporary signs, no sign shall be attached to, painted on, or obstruct any window, door stairway or other opening intended for ingress or egress or for needed ventilation and light.

Portable signs, folding signs similar movable signs shall be treated as Temporary signs. However, no more than one such sign shall be permitted per structure.

In no case shall lighted or unlighted signs be so located or designed so that they constitute a hazard to vehicular traffic by obstructing visibility or unnecessarily distracting drivers.

The area of a sign shall be determined by the smallest rectangle that encompasses all of the letters or symbols which make up the sign including any background of a different color or material than the general finish of the building, whether painted or applied.

A sign may be illuminated if the illumination is confined to the surface of the sign. No flashing, or rotating lights shall be permitted except lights on signs indicating time and/or temperature by means of white, intermittent lighting, provided the longest dimension of such a sign does not exceed five (5) feet.

The speed of rotating signs may not exceed eight (8) revolutions per minute.

The light sources of signs shall be so designed and shielded that they cannot be seen from beyond property lines on which said sign is located, except that signs with exposed neon tubes shall be permitted in all business and industrial districts. In no event will glare be visible on adjacent properties or public areas. [Amended 3-19-25, Item #36707-3]

Except in the CBD district, permanently strung window lights are prohibited. [Approved 3-19-25, Item #36707-3]