[HISTORY: Adopted by the Town Meeting of the Town of Rockport 3-22-1997 (Ch. 13A of the 1997 Code of By-laws). Amendments noted where applicable.]
A. 
No person shall post any written or printed matter, or any bill, placard, with paste or by any other means, or shall write any other figures, words or devices upon any building, fence or wall in the Town without consent of the owner or occupant of the same, nor upon any property of the Town, without the consent of the Select Board or the official having jurisdiction over said property. No person shall deface or tear down any bill, placard or notice posted under the provisions of the preceding sentence unless the same is affixed to premises owned by them or under their control.
B. 
No signs or advertising devices, or displays of goods of any kind or nature shall be erected on any premises or affixed to the outside of any structure in the Town of Rockport without a permit issued by the Select Board, except as are permissible under § 279-2. Said permit shall establish the location thereof and signs shall be subject to the following.
[Amended 9-8-1997 TM by Art. 21, approved 12-23-1997; 4-6-2013 ATM; 9-8-2025 FTM by Art. G]
A. 
Signs permitted in all zoning districts without the need for a permit:
(1) 
One "For Sale" sign or "For Rent" sign, having not more than six square feet of signboard area and advertising only the premises on which the sign is located may be displayed.
(2) 
One sign, not exceeding six square feet of signboard area, may be displayed on the premises while any structure is actually under construction.
(3) 
Signs containing personal messages shall not exceed six square feet of signboard area and shall be subject to all other provisions of this section.
(4) 
Posters. Posters advertising nonprofit or civic events may be placed in a window or on a bulletin board before the event and must be removed the next business day after the event.
B. 
In all Rockport zoning districts, as defined in the Zoning By-law, signs or advertising devices or display of goods are permitted only as follows:
(1) 
No person or corporation shall, out-of-doors, or extending beyond the door jambs, in connection with offering goods, wares or merchandise for sale, expose the same or a sign advertising the same within the General District and Downtown District without having first obtained a permit from the Select Board. No such display shall be placed in any district in such a manner as to create a public nuisance. Signs painted outdoors on driveways, sidewalks or rocks shall conform to this by-law.
(2) 
All signs or advertising devices or displays or goods shall be stationary and shall not contain any visible, moving or movable parts; no signs or advertising device shall be of neon or illuminated tube (gaseous discharge) type; lighting of any sign or advertising device shall be continuous, not intermittent nor flashing nor changing; no internally lighted signs are permitted; use of iridescent or luminescent types of paint are not permitted.
(3) 
Sign illumination is permitted only between the hours of 7:00 in the morning and 11:00 p.m. in the evening, except that signs may be illuminated during any hours establishments are open to the public.
(4) 
Signs shall relate to the premises on which they are located and shall identify only the residence, property and/or occupant of such premises and advertise only the articles or services available within said premises except by special permission of the Select Board.
(5) 
No sign shall be affixed to any public shade tree.
(6) 
There shall be no temporary or permanent special promotional signs, banners, balloons, wind socks, streamers or placards erected, suspended, posted, or affixed in any manner outdoors or on the exterior of any commercial building except by permission of the Select Board.
(7) 
All signs protruding over Town property shall require a permit from the Select Board and shall be covered by such insurance as the Select Board deems adequate.
C. 
In General, Downtown And Semi-Residential Districts, as defined in the Zoning By-law, signs or advertising devices or display of goods are permitted only as follows:
(1) 
On each lot in a General, Downtown or Semi-Residential District, there are permitted two signs affixed to the exterior of a building for the occupant or business; the top edge of each sign shall not be higher than the lowest point of the roof except within the pediment. In buildings containing more than one business, not more than one sign per business shall be permitted. All signs affixed to buildings in General, Downtown and Semi-Residential Districts, except Bearskin Neck, shall not be more than 10 square feet signboard area per sign except by permit from the Select Board.
(2) 
All signs on Bearskin Neck shall be by permit from the Select Board.
(3) 
No freestanding sign shall have a signboard area (or display area if no signboard) exceeding 10 square feet gross area, measured from the tops of the topmost display elements to the bottom of the lowest display elements, and from exterior side of display elements, and including in such measurements any blank space between display element. No display or freestanding signboard dimension shall exceed four feet except by permit by the Select Board. Businesses shall be limited to one freestanding sign per business or occupant.
(4) 
Window signs. Signs painted or placed on the inside of the glass of a window shall be permitted, provided that the aggregate area of such signs does not exceed 10% of the area of the window glass.
(5) 
Directory signs. In buildings properly used for business, commercial or industrial uses, one directory sign which sets forth a directory of the establishments occupying a building may be erected and maintained at each public entrance to the building, provided that such directory sign shall not exceed an area determined on the basis of one square foot for each establishment lawfully occupying the building.
D. 
In Residential, Residential A, and Single Residential Districts as defined in the Zoning By-law, signs or advertising devices or displays of goods are permitted only as follows:
(1) 
One sign displaying the street number or name of the occupant of the premises, or both, not exceeding three square feet in area; such sign may be attached to a building or may be on a rod or post not more than six feet high and not less than three feet from the street line; such sign may include identification of an accessory studio or professional office in the dwelling or on the premises, or may identify other permitted accessory uses, including customary home occupation.
(2) 
For churches and institutions, two bulletin or announcement boards or identification signs are permitted; for each church or institution, one sign shall not be more than 10 square feet signboard area and the other not more than six square feet signboard area; no sign shall be located less than three feet from the street line.
(3) 
On a premises with a lawful nonconforming use, one sign of not more than six square feet signboard area may be displayed. Other accessory signs require a special permit from the Select Board.