City of Springfield, MA Article III Signs and Handbills

§ 118-8 Board on Signs.

A. A Board on Signs, to consist of three persons, is established. Such Board shall consist of the Chairman of the Board of Park Commissioners, the Building Commissioner and a member of the City Planning Board to be designated by the Chairman thereof.

B. The Board on Signs shall approve or disapprove each notice received by the City from the Division of Highways, Department of Public Works, relative to an application for the location of a sign, and shall forthwith notify such Division of Highways of each such disapproval.

§ 118-9 Posting handbills and signs in public places restricted.

A. No person shall paint, mark or write on, or post or otherwise affix any handbill or sign to or upon any sidewalk, crosswalk, curb, curbstone, street lamp post, hydrant, public tree belt, public terrace, tree, shrub, tree stake or guard, railroad trestle, electric light or power or telephone or telegraph pole, or wire appurtenance thereof, or upon any fixture of the fire alarm or police telegraph system or upon any lighting system, public bridge, drinking fountain, street sign, traffic sign or parking sign.

B. Any handbill or sign found posted or otherwise affixed upon any public property contrary to the provisions of this section may be removed by the City or its duly appointed agents. The person responsible for any such illegal posting shall be liable for the cost incurred in the removal thereof. When the City has effected the removal of the handbill or sign by itself or its duly authorized agent or has paid for the removal of the same, a bill for the actual cost thereof shall be forwarded to the liable party by the City and such charge shall be due and payable within 30 days.

C. Fine for violation. Any person or entity found to be in violation of any provision of this section may be subject to a fine of up to $100 for a first offense, $250 for a second offense, and $300 for all subsequent offenses, per violation. The provisions of MGL c. 40, § 21D, may be used to enforce this section.

[Added 5-7-2018[1]]

[1] Editor's Note: This ordinance also redesignated former Subsection C as Subsection D.

D. Nothing in this section shall apply to the installation of tag sales, noncommercial signs, a metal plaque or plate or individual letters or figures in a sidewalk commemorating any historical, cultural or artistic event, location or personality, or any temporary notice for which the Director of Public Works has granted a written permit.

[Amended 5-7-2018]