Signs or advertising devices of any kind or nature shall not
be erected on any premises or affixed to the outside of any structure
or be visible from the outside of any structure except as permitted
in this section.
A. General sign prohibitions. No sign shall be permitted if any part thereof moves, flashes or blinks, or involves any repeated mechanical or electrical motions. No sign shall be placed within or projecting over a public way, except marquees permitted in accordance with Subsection
D(1)(b) below. No sign shall be affixed to a tree or other natural feature. No sign shall be illuminated in such a way to cause a distraction to drivers or cast a glare onto any residential premises. No sign shall be located within 10 feet of the street line or where it might create an obstruction to driving vision.
B. Temporary permitted signs. One sign per entrance of up to 32 square feet pertaining to a subdivision while under development may be permitted. Signs, including streamers, posters, pennants and similar devices, relative to noncommercial campaigns, sales, promotions, drives, or other events of political, civic, philanthropic, educational or religious organizations, may be located, subject to the consent of property owners, for a time period not to exceed 60 days. Message signs pertaining to the lease or sale of a building/property, or indicating ongoing construction/alteration/painting, are not to exceed four square feet in area, and notwithstanding the location requirements of Subsection
A may be located no less than two feet from the street line. Such signs must be removed within 10 days of transfer of title or of the signing of a lease or rental agreement.
C. Permitted signs for agriculture and residential uses. The following
signs are permitted for agricultural and residential uses:
(1) One
sign per dwelling, not to exceed two square feet in surface area.
(2) One
sign, not to exceed four square feet in surface area, pertaining to
a permitted home occupation.
(3) One
announcement sign for a bed-and-breakfast inn of not more than four
square feet in surface area.
(4) Directional
signs not exceeding a size of six inches by 24 inches pertaining to
churches, schools and other public or noncommercial uses.
(5) One
sign of not more than nine square feet pertaining to permitted buildings,
structures and uses on the premises other than dwellings or their
accessory uses.
(6) Official
markers pertaining to state or national historical area districts
or places, not exceeding a surface area of four square feet.
D. Permitted signs for commercial, automotive sales and service, industrial
uses.
(1) The
following signs are permitted for commercial, automotive sales and
service and industrial uses:
(a)
One sign incorporated as part of a building wall, not to exceed
one square foot for each 100 square feet of floor area, with a maximum
of 100 square feet. The sign shall not project more than 12 inches
beyond the wall surface to which it is attached and shall not extend
beyond the roofline or edges of the wall to which it is attached.
(b)
A marquee over the principal entrance to a place of public assembly.
(c) One freestanding sign, provided the aggregate area is not more than
60 square feet and the sign is not located in a required side or rear
yard.
(d) One pole sign for each street frontage of an auto establishment,
car sales or other business, not more than six feet high and 60 square
feet in surface area.
(2)
Permitted signs for commercial, automotive sales and service
and industrial uses shall be related to the use on the lot on which
the sign is located.
E. Exempt signs. The followings signs are exempt from the provisions
of this bylaw:
(1)
Traffic control signs installed per the State of Massachusetts
or Town of Millville.
(2)
Within a street's right-of-way, wayfinding or directional signs
to local educational, historic, and/or natural resource sites as permitted
by the Board of Selectmen for the Town of Millville.
(3)
Gateway signs and/or signs identifying the entry to an area
within the Town of Millville as permitted by the Board of Selectmen.
F. Nonconforming signs. Signs that do not conform to the requirements
of this bylaw which are in existence as of the date of its adoption,
or any subsequent amendments thereto, are considered nonconforming,
and as such may not be enlarged, moved or have their character changed
or altered unless brought into conformance with the new requirements.
Nonconforming signs which are damaged as a result of vandalism or
accident may be replaced, repaired or re-erected in a manner consistent
with all aspects of their earlier nonconforming status without a permit.
G. Administration. Unless indicated otherwise, no sign shall be erected without a sign permit issued by the Building Inspector. One sign permit shall be required for each sign. No sign permit shall be required for temporary permitted signs. Every application for a sign permit shall be accompanied by drawings or photographs of the proposed sign and location thereof, and such other relevant information as the Building Inspector may require. Within 30 days after receipt of the application, the Building Inspector shall approve or disapprove the application and so notify the applicant. For signage in excess of that which is permitted by this bylaw or for uses not identified by this bylaw, the Planning Board may grant a special permit in accordance with Article
VI, §
100-606.
H. Enforcement. This bylaw may be enforced by any means available in law or in equity, including noncriminal disposition in accordance with MGL c. 40, § 21D, and Chapter
1, General Provisions, Article
I, §
1-3, of the Town Code. For purposes of noncriminal disposition, the enforcing officer shall be the Building Inspector. Any sign owner or owner of property on which a sign is located who violates, or permits a violation of these provisions shall be subject to a fine of $50 a day each day the violation continues after 30 days have elapsed since written notice of such violation is delivered by certified mail to the owner.