[Amended 3-6-1967 by
Art. 32; 3-2-1968 by Art. 29; 4-6-1991 by Art. 51; 3-25-1995 by Arts. 60 and 62; 3-28-1998 by Art. 37; 3-27-2004 by Art. 9; 4-28-2014 ATM by
Art. 23; 4-30-2018 ATM by Art.
19; 5-1-2023ATM by Art. 23]
No sign other than a posting sign or an identification sign not exceeding
two square feet in area, a temporary real estate for sale or lease
sign, or a temporary political or noncommercial sign, may be erected,
altered, or relocated without a permit issued by the Building Inspector.
Permit review shall be confined to determining whether the sign conforms
to this Zoning Bylaw. The Building Inspector may require a drawing
and other pertinent information before issuing a permit.
All signs, whether erected before or after the effective date of
this Zoning Bylaw, shall be maintained in a safe condition to the
satisfaction of the Building Inspector. The Building Inspector may
order the repair or removal of any sign which has deteriorated to
an unsafe physical condition.
Exempt Signs. Signs erected and maintained by the Town, the Commonwealth
of Massachusetts, or the federal government on any land, building
or structures in use by such entities are exempt from regulation under
this article.
Signs which advertise an activity, business, product, or service
no longer produced or conducted on the premises where the sign is
located are prohibited. Such signs must be removed no more than 30
days after the subject activity, business, production, or service
permanently ceases operations on the premises.
Except for digital displays of time, temperature or fuel prices,
mechanical signs, signs with moving parts, changing or scrolling images
or parts, and signs which create the illusion of movement are prohibited.
Signs with blinking, flashing, or fluttering lights or other illuminating
devices with changing light intensity, brightness, or color, and fluorescent,
exposed gaseous tube type and neon signs are prohibited, whether exterior
to a building or designed to be visible through a door or window.
No signs, other than posting signs or temporary signs allowed under § 300-6.4B, may be pasted on or attached to a utility pole, tree, fence, or another sign or structure located within or over a public or private way.
Illumination of signs on nonresidential premises is limited to the
hours between 6:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m., provided that a sign for a
business, facility, or office that is open to the public after 10:00
p.m. may be illuminated until closing.
Except for temporary political signs, the number of noncommercial
signs on a premises may not exceed the number of commercial or other
signs also allowed on that premises.
Street banners or other temporary, nonaccessory signs advertising
a public entertainment or a charitable, religious, or educational
event, may be displayed only in locations approved by the Building
Inspector. Such signs may be displayed no more than 14 days prior
to the event and must be removed within seven days after the event.
Temporary Accessory Signs. A permit for a temporary accessory sign
shall be limited to 30 days and may be renewed for only one additional
thirty-day period during any twelve-month period.
No sign larger than two square feet in area may be placed within
15 feet of any property lot line unless attached to a building, except
temporary signs.
One accessory sign for each tenant of a building may be attached
flat against the wall of the building, provided that such sign does
not exceed 25 square feet in area per tenant and that the total sign
area for multiple tenants does not exceed 10% of the surface area
of the wall.
One other accessory sign, either attached or freestanding, not
exceeding 40 square feet in area for each 200 feet of lot frontage
on a street, provided that only one such sign may be permitted on
a lot having a frontage of less than 200 feet.
One directory of the establishments occupying a building may
be located at each public entrance to the building. Such sign shall
not exceed one square foot of area for each establishment occupying
the building.
In the business districts, each premises may display one decorative
or emblematic cloth flag, no larger than 20 square feet. Such flag
may extend over the sidewalk, provided it extends no closer than two
feet from the curbline and no lower than eight feet above the sidewalk.
Flags containing advertising copy or other written messages may be
displayed only as temporary signs.