[Amended 5-1-1989 ATM by Art. 53; 5-2-1989 STM by Art. 6]
No sign shall be erected on the exterior of any building or on any land unless and until an application for the erection of such sign has been filed with the Building Commissioner, with such information and drawings as the Commissioner may reasonably require, and a permit for the erection of the sign has been issued by the Commissioner. The fee for such permits shall be $30. The provisions of this section shall not apply to:
A. 
In residential areas, signs such as by the terms of the Zoning By-Law are permitted.
B. 
In all areas, one real estate sign of not over six square feet in total area advertising the sale or rental of the premises on which it is located.
C. 
In all areas, political campaign signs.
D. 
In all areas, temporary on-premises signs at nonprofit institutions such as but not limited to religious institutions and schools.
[Added 5-6-2013 ATM by Art. 33]
E. 
In all areas, one historical signs as defined in Article II, Definitions § 148-5.
[Added 5-6-2013 ATM by Art. 33]
[Amended 5-2-1989 STM by Art. 6]
A person aggrieved by the refusal of the Building Commissioner to issue a permit for the erection of a sign or by any order of the Building Commissioner under this By-Law may appeal to the Board of Appeals. The provisions of the Zoning By-Law as to the time for taking such appeal and as to the notice of and hearing thereon to be held by the Board of Appeals shall apply to appeals under this By-Law.
The Board of Appeals, in granting a special permit which in any way varies specific requirements of this By-Law, or in granting a special permit as otherwise required by this By-Law, shall consider the following criteria before granting such special permit:
A. 
The specific site is an appropriate location for the proposed sign or signs.
B. 
The proposed sign or signs will not be a nuisance or a hazard to vehicles or pedestrians.
C. 
The proposed sign or signs will not adversely affect residential properties or business properties in the neighborhood.
D. 
The special permit requirements are in accord with the general spirit and intent of this By-Law.
[Amended 5-2-1989 STM by Art. 6]
The Building Commissioner is hereby designated and authorized as the officer charged with the enforcement of this By-Law, and the provisions of the Zoning By-Law in reference to the enforcement of the Zoning By-Law shall apply also to the enforcement of this By-Law.
[Added 5-2-1977 ATM by Art. 20; amended 5-2-1989 STM by Art. 6; 5-5-1997 ATM by Art. 25]
A. 
Obsolete signs. The Building Commissioner may order the removal of any sign which remains on the premises after the occupant using said sign no longer occupies the premises after the expiration of 30 days' notice sent by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, to the occupant and the assessed owner of the premises. In the event that a sign on leased premises is owned by the landlord of the premises, the sign may remain on the premises for 30 days from the date that the tenant ceases to occupy the premises, provided that the landlord removes all lettering from said sign.
[Amended 5-6-2013 ATM by Art. 33]
B. 
Nonconforming signs. The Building Commissioner may order the removal of any sign which is not in compliance with this By-Law. All such signage must be removed within 30 days of notification by the Building Commissioner to the occupant and the assessed owner of the premises.