The purpose of this bylaw is to regulate, restrict
and place such limitations on the size, location, type, illumination
and other characteristics of all signs to assure that they will be
appropriate to the land, building or use to which they are appurtenant;
be uniform within zoning districts; be protective of property values
and the safety of the public; and serve the informational purposes
for which signs are intended while not detracting from the aesthetic
qualities and characteristics of the Town of Salisbury. Terms used
in this bylaw that are not defined herein shall have the meanings
given in the Salisbury Zoning Bylaw.
AWNINGS — An awning with lettering
or logo advertising the name of the business shall constitute a sign.
All such awnings over doorways and windows shall only count as one
sign.
CHANGEABLE COPY SIGNS
Signs with letters which can be manually or mechanically
moved in order to change the message or wording of the sign.
DIRECTIONAL SIGNS
Shall be solely for pedestrian or vehicular traffic. Directional
signs shall indicate parking entrances, exits, trail signs, etc. They
shall not include any other information or advertising, except for
logos.
ELECTRONIC MESSAGE BOARDS
Electronically controlled signs which can change messages
without the physical movement of the letters.
ELECTRONIC OUTDOOR ADVERTISING
A use whereby an outdoor sign or billboard, whether double-faced,
back-to-back, or V-shaped, with a screen(s) that is 100 square feet
or larger, serves to advertise, direct or call attention to any business,
article, substance, or service, or anything that is digitally or electronically
projected, on or by a structure of any kind on real property or upon
the ground itself, and that advertises services, products or commodities
that are not available on said real property or parcel. Electronic
outdoor advertising is a use to be regulated by the Zoning Bylaw and
not the General Bylaw.
[Added 5-20-2019 ATM
by Art. 8; amended 10-28-2019 ATM by Art. 17]
FREESTANDING SIGN
Any sign supported by a structure permanently anchored to
the ground which is independent from any building.
PORTABLE SIGNS
A sign or advertising display that is not permanent, affixed
to a building, structure or the ground.
PUBLIC EVENTS
An entertainment event open to the general public such as
outdoor concerts, winter carnivals, parades, etc.
SHOPPING CENTER SIGNS
Where more than one business is located in a building only
one freestanding sign may be erected, which shall serve all of the
businesses at that location.
SIGN
Any device designed to inform or attract the attention of
the public which either conveys a commercial message to the public
or intends to advertise, direct, invite, or call attention to a use
conducted, goods, products, services, or available facilities, either
on the lot or on any other premises. This shall include but not be
limited to banners, flags, freestanding signs, roof signs, wall signs,
etc.
The following signs are allowed without a permit.
A. One sign advertising the sale, lease, or rental of
the premises upon which the sign is located, which sign shall not
exceed six square feet in area.
B. One sign not exceeding 32 square feet on a building
or project under construction, repair, or renovation identifying the
contractor, architect, and/or owner.
D. Political signs, erected in accordance with state
law.
E. Signs that are not intended to be read from the highway
and/or adjacent property. These include, but are not limited to, head-in
parking, rest room signs, trail markers, "keep off the grass," etc.
The following signs are prohibited:
A. Any sign which is positioned or lighted such that
street traffic would be endangered by obscuring a clear view or by
confusion with official street signs and signals.
B. Any freestanding sign which exceeds 20 feet above
the road grade of the entrance to the property, in commercial/industrial
districts, and eight feet above road grade in residential districts.
C. Any sign extending two feet above the roof ridge of
the building to which it is affixed.
D. Any sign placed on any public right-of-way or on and
above any public road. The only exception shall be public event banners.
E. Electronic message boards.
F. Inflatable signs and tethered balloons, except for
three-day public events.
G. Signs attached to, in, or on top of parked vehicles.
H. Any flashing or oscillating signs, or signs with visible
or not visible moving parts of intermittent lighting which creates
the visual effect of movement except in the Beach Commercial District.
I. Pennants, streamers, spinners or similar devices shall
not be permitted.
All nonconforming signs shall be removed or
altered to conform with the provisions of this bylaw when the following
conditions occur:
A. When a nonconforming sign is changed or modified in
shape or size.
B. When the business changes and the wording of the signs
is modified.
C. On May 1, 1997, all nonconforming portable signs shall
be removed.
D. On January 1, 1999, all nonconforming freestanding
signs erected prior to May 1, 1979, or those erected without a permit
shall be removed.
In the event any one or more provisions of this
bylaw are found or determined to be illegal or unenforceable by the
Massachusetts Appeals Court or the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial
Court, then the illegality of any such provision shall not affect
the validity of any other provision of this bylaw which provisions
will remain in full force and effect.