BUSINESS OPERATIONS SIGNS
Any on-premises sign used in the day-to-day operations of
a business such as:
A.
BUSINESS HOUR SIGNS"Open/closed" and related hours-of-operation signs which do not exceed one square foot.
B.
DIRECTIONAL SIGNSAny on-premises sign that directs the movement or placement of pedestrian or vehicular traffic without reference to or inclusion of the name of a product sold or services performed.
C.
"OPEN" FLAGOne "open" flag per business establishment shall be allowed and shall not exceed 24 square feet in size.
CAUTIONARY SIGNS
Signs warning of prohibited activities such as trespassing, hunting, fishing, or swimming. For regulations, see §
325-29A(1).
CLUSTER SIGN
A ground sign which provides space for identifying multiple
tenants or uses within a project or premises having more than one
tenant or use such as a business, commercial or industrial development.
FLYERS
Flyers for special events measuring not more than two square
feet in total area.
FREESTANDING PORTABLE SIGN
A single- or double-faced, self-supporting sign made of wood,
cardboard, plastic, metal or other lightweight and rigid material.
[Added 5-6-2019 ATM by
Art. 24]
GROUND SIGN
A sign supported by poles, uprights or braces extending from
the ground but not attached to any part of a building.
MUNICIPAL PROPERTY
Any land owned and/or controlled by the Town of Harwich,
including public rights-of-way. Municipal-owned property, for purposes
of this regulation, shall be determined by the road layout as maintained
by the Highway Department with the assumption that the road is properly
located. For ease of determination, any property located between the
edge of the municipal-owned road surface and the greater distance
to any of the following shall be considered municipal owned or controlled:
street sign, utility pole, fire hydrant and/or sidewalk.
MUNICIPAL SIGNS
Permanent signs posted for more than 60 consecutive days by a Town entity and placed on Town property or within the municipal property right-of-way required or authorized for a public purpose by law or statute. For regulations, see §
325-30.
MUNICIPAL SIGNS, TEMPORARY
Signs posted for 60 or fewer days by a Town entity and placed on municipal property for the purpose of promoting a Town-sponsored event or alerting the public to a public safety matter or event. For regulations, see §
325-30.
ON-PREMISES SIGN
Signs placed on the same property where a business is located. The sum of all signage on a property shall not exceed that allowed in §§
325-27 and
325-29 unless otherwise exempted.
REAL ESTATE SIGNS
A temporary wall or ground sign advertising the sale, rental, or lease of a designated structure or land area for a permitted use on which the signs are located. For regulations, see §
325-29A(6).
SIGN
Includes every advertising message, announcement, declaration,
demonstration, illustration, insignia, surface or space erected or
maintained in view of the observer thereof primarily for identification,
advertisement, or promotion of the interest of any person, entity,
product, or service. The definition of a sign shall also include the
sign structure, supports, lighting system, and any attachments, flags,
ornaments or other features used to draw the attention of observers
and shall further include collection boxes. Indoor or outdoor displays
of merchandise for sale at retail on the premises shall not be considered
a sign for the purposes of this bylaw. The definition does not include
decorations or ornamentation that is not integral to the nature of
the business or the purpose of the sign.
SIGN PERMIT
A permit issued by the Building Department for the erection,
construction, enlargement, alteration, repair, or improvement of any
sign requiring a permit. Such permit shall be permanently displayed
and available. At the option of the Building Official, temporary and/or
off-premises signs may require a special sticker.
TEMPORARY SIGNS
Temporary signs may not exceed nine square feet in area and
may not be more than four feet in height. Temporary signs may be placed
on commercial properties no more than twice a year, 10 days in succession
each time. Temporary signs may advertise special sales, anniversaries,
grand openings, and other similar special events.
UMBRELLA SIGNS
Signage as part of an umbrella that advertises the name of a particular establishment or a product for sale on the premises. For regulations, see §
325-29D.
VENDING MACHINES
The portion of any internally illuminated vending machine which advertises a product. For regulations, see §
325-29E.
WALL SIGN
A sign attached to, painted on, or erected against a wall or roof of a building or structure whose display surface is either parallel or perpendicular to the face of the building. For regulations, see §
325-29F.
WATER DEPARTMENT SIGN
A municipal sign that includes any sign erected by the Town
of Harwich Water Department to alert the public to any drinking water
related event, including but not limited to flushing of pipes and
water use restrictions.
The following signs do not count towards the total permitted
signage unless otherwise indicated and do not require a permit or
notification to the Building Official:
E. Municipal signs, temporary.
F. Political campaign signs.
H. Residential quarterboard.
K. Vending machines: one per premises unless more allowed by special
permit.
M. Town Meeting/election signs.
N. Open house and tag sale signs if displayed for not more than 48 hours.
Lawfully preexisting signs that do not comply with the provisions of this bylaw at the time of its adoption may be maintained so long as they are kept in a state of good repair as specified in §
325-28 of this bylaw and so long as they are not relocated, replaced or structurally altered. Preexisting signs that are relocated, replaced, structurally altered or not kept in a state of good repair as specified in §
325-28 of this bylaw shall not be allowed to continue as nonconforming signs and shall require new permits and compliance with this bylaw. A lawfully preexisting nonconforming sign destroyed by natural disaster or accident can be replaced by a sign of the same dimensions in the same location as the original sign.
Any applicant who believes a denial is not justified has the
right to appeal to the Board of Appeals and to appear at a meeting
for which proper notice can be given and agenda time is available.
Intention to take an appeal to the Board of Appeals shall be filed
with the Town Clerk in writing within 30 business days following the
denial of the permit by a Building Official, pursuant to MGL c. 40A.
Applicants appealing to the Board of Appeals may request review of
the decision of a Building Official or a variance to the sign regulation
pursuant to MGL c. 40A, § 10.
Violation of this bylaw is subject to enforcement action through the Building Department pursuant to §
325-48 of the Town of Harwich Zoning Bylaw.
If any provision of this bylaw is held invalid by a court of
competent jurisdiction, the remainder of the bylaw shall not be affected
thereby. The invalidity of any section or sections or parts of any
section or sections of this bylaw shall not affect the validity of
the remainder of the Harwich Zoning Bylaw.