A. 
Intent and purpose. It is the intent and purpose of this section to stipulate provisions for off-street parking and loading requirements.
B. 
General requirements. Except for parking accessory to dwellings, all parking and loading, including outdoor storage, sale or service to automobiles or to their occupants, shall meet the following requirements:
(1) 
Access. All required parking or loading areas shall have access either directly from a public way or through any of the Business or Industrial Districts (as set forth in § 190-9) and not through a Residential District.
(2) 
Screening. All required parking or loading areas in any district shall be screened in accordance with § 190-33.
(3) 
Illumination. All illumination of required parking and loading areas shall be continuous light installed and shielded in such a manner that will prevent direct light from shining upon any other property in a Residence District.
C. 
Location and design of off-street parking spaces. In order that all structures and land uses eventually shall be provided with sufficient off-street parking and loading to meet the needs of persons employed at or making use of such structures or land uses, no land shall be used and no building shall be erected, enlarged or used unless off-street parking area, conforming in amount and type to the requirements of this section, is provided.
D. 
Table of required parking spaces. Off-street parking shall be provided for new structures and new additions or for changes in use in accordance with the following table.
(1) 
Fractions. Where the computation of required spaces results in a fractional number, the next larger whole number shall be used.
(2) 
Joint parking lot. The aggregate number of spaces required for each of several uses separately may be provided on a common parking lot serving all of these uses, and, where it can be demonstrated that the combined peak parking needs of all the uses sharing the lot will, because of differences in peak hours or days, be less than the aggregate normally required for each use separately, the number of parking spaces to be provided may be reduced accordingly.
Table of Required Parking Spaces
Principal Use
Number of Spaces Required
One- or two-family houses
2.0 per dwelling unit
Housing for the elderly (publicly assisted)
0.5 per dwelling unit
Multifamily dwellings or attached dwellings: 2 bedrooms or fewer
1.5 per dwelling unit
Multifamily dwellings or attached dwellings: 3 bedrooms or more
2.0 per dwelling unit
Senior Housing Facility
1.0 per every two units, plus 1.0 per two employees in the maximum working shift, plus additional parking for accessory uses allowed by the special permit
Hotels
1.0 per two employees in maximum working shift, plus 1.0 per guest room, plus 1.0 per three seats in a restaurant, plus 1.0 per 200 square feet of space in function rooms not designed for eating
Accessory lodgings or lodging
1.0 per room offered for rent
Places of public assembly, such as churches, theaters, assembly halls, stadiums, clubhouses and function halls
1.0 per five seats or 10 linear feet of bench space or 50 square feet of floor area open to public assembly where no seats or benches are provided, plus 1.0 per two employees in the maximum working shift
Eating places serving food or beverages
1.0 per three employees in the maximum working shift, plus 1.0 per four seats, plus 1.0 per 100 square feet of function rooms not designed for eating
Funeral homes; undertakers
1.0 per four seats or 1 per 50 square feet in parlors, whichever is greater
Bowling alleys
2.0 per bowling lane
Hospitals, chronic or convalescent sanatoriums and nursing or convalescent homes
1.0 per two employees in the maximum working shift, plus 1.0 per attending doctor, plus 1.0 per two patient beds
Schools and museums
2.0 per three staff members, plus 1.0 per three students of driving age (unless car usage is prohibited) or 1.0 per six seats in largest place of assembly (whichever is greater)
Retail and service establishments
1.0 per 250 square feet of gross floor area
Business offices
1.0 per 250 square feet of gross floor area
Medical and dental offices
1.0 per 200 square feet of gross floor area
Research and development
1.0 per 450 square feet of gross floor area or 1.0 per two employees in the maximum working shift (whichever is greater)
Industrial, including printing and publishing
1.0 per 600 square feet of gross floor area or 1.0 per two employees in the maximum working shift (whichever is greater)
Gasoline stations or repair garages
1.0 per 300 square feet of gross floor area
Warehouses, wholesale establishments and public utility stations
1.0 per 1,200 square feet of gross floor area
Auto sales and display (new and used)
1.0 per each seven autos licensed for sale
Self-Storage Facility
1.0 per 10,000 square feet of gross floor area
E. 
Exceptions for existing nonconforming uses and buildings. The addition of off-street parking for an existing nonconforming use or building shall be required only in the following instances:
(1) 
Change of use. Where a nonconforming use is increased in area or changed to a use requiring more parking or loading than the present use according to the tables below, additional spaces shall be provided in the amount necessary so that said expansion or change in use will not result in any increased violation of the requirements of this section.
(2) 
Change to building or lot. Any spaces lost by exterior alteration of a nonconforming building shall be replaced by the same number or by enough to make up the total number required by the tables below for the use, whichever is less.
F. 
Exceptions for business districts and industrial districts. When the literal application of the standards for off-street parking and loading required herein proves to be infeasible in the NB, LB, B, LI and I Districts or the Municipal District, the Zoning Board of Appeals may reduce the requirements by issuance of a special permit. Any such reductions shall be supported by evidence of infeasibility due to lack of suitable land, design considerations or other similar factors. The Zoning Board of Appeals must also find that the granting of such special permit will not adversely affect the health, safety, convenience, character or welfare of the neighborhood or district or of the Town.
(1) 
Parking Exemption for Small Establishment. Off-street parking space shall not be required for nonresidential uses when the computed requirement results in four spaces or fewer for all the nonresidential uses on the lot.
(2) 
Sidewalk cafes with less than 10 seats are exempt from off-street parking requirements.
G. 
Location of required spaces. Required off-street parking areas shall be provided on the same lot they serve, except that the Zoning Board of Appeals may grant a special permit for off-street parking areas to be provided on another lot in the same ownership as the principal use, but in no event shall the access to such areas be more than 500 feet distant from the lot line of the lot they are designed to serve.
H. 
Construction. Off-street parking areas may be open or enclosed in a structure, provided that, if open, such areas shall be graded, drained and surfaced in conformance with currently applicable engineering standards as determined and promulgated by the Director of Public Works. In no instance shall surface drainage be permitted to drain onto land of adjacent property owners or the Town right-of-way. The Director of Public Works may require a permeable surfacing in areas designated as high-runoff areas.
I. 
Size of parking spaces. Each required off-street parking space shall be marked and shall not be less than nine feet in width and 18 feet in length for angle parking or 22 feet in length for parallel parking, exclusive of drives, walks and maneuvering space.
J. 
Aisles. Each required off-street parking space shall have direct access to an aisle or driveway having a minimum width of 24 feet in the case of two-way traffic (22 feet for aisles providing access primarily for overnight parking) or the following widths in the case of one-way traffic only:
Table of Aisle Widths
Angle of Parking
Minimum Aisle Width
(feet)
Parallel
12
30°
11
45°
13
60°
18
90°
20
K. 
Required setbacks. The surfaced areas of off-street parking areas shall be set back a minimum of 7.5 feet from all buildings, except as provided or allowed for herein, and except as may be approved by the Planning Board where specifically authorized in acting under Open Space Development, or comparable provisions of other zoning provisions, upon its determination that the required amounts of open space will be provided, and that locating that open space as proposed better serves the objectives of this chapter. Open parking areas shall be separated from the street line by a landscaped strip not less than 15 feet in width, except at entrances and exits, at which locations the provisions of § 190-21A, Traffic Visibility, shall be observed.
L. 
Landscaping of interior of parking lot with more than 40 spaces. At least 5% of the interior of any parking lot with 40 or more parking spaces shall be landscaped (i.e., off-street parking areas, with the exception of parking structures, shall be planted with shade trees of a species and size approved by the Town Arborist. There shall be a minimum of one tree for each 2,000 square feet of parking area and located as approved by the Town Arborist. Any trees surrounded on three or more sides by pavement shall be planted with a raised island bound by a curb a minimum of six inches high, covered with a porous material for water drainage to the tree roots, and have a surface drainage area immediately around the tree a minimum of 30 square feet in area.), but planting or screening along the perimeter shall not be counted as part of this 5%.
M. 
Screening in Business, Industrial and Multiple Residence Districts Next to Residence District. Any yard in a Business or Industrial Districts which adjoins a lot in a Residential District and which is used for accessory parking or loading shall be screened as described in § 190-22 before construction commences.
N. 
Parking for handicapped persons. Parking for handicapped persons in accordance with the published standards of the Massachusetts Architectural Barriers Board shall be provided.
O. 
Wheel blocks. Wheel blocks (bumper logs) made of cement concrete or other suitable material shall be provided to prevent motor vehicles from being parked beyond the boundaries of the lot or within the required setback or buffer areas.
P. 
Driveways.
(1) 
Unless authorized by special permit from the Zoning Board of Appeals, which may permit a driveway of no more than 40 feet, driveways serving parking facilities shall not exceed 30 feet in width at the street line and shall not be spaced closer than 100 feet to another driveway serving the same lot.
(2) 
No driveway shall have an average gradient of more than 10% over the 40 feet thereof adjacent to the point where such driveway meets the street. See § 190-33Q below for common driveways.
Q. 
Common driveways. Common driveways are allowed by special permit by the Zoning Board of Appeals (SPGA), subject to the following conditions:
(1) 
Common driveways shall provide access to not more than four lots.
(2) 
Common driveways shall be not less than 16 feet in width, with center line and curb radii adequate for fire and other emergency vehicles.
(3) 
The maximum length of a common driveway shall be 400 feet (measured along its center line from its intersection with the side line of a street to the most distant point on its turnaround).
(4) 
The grade of any common driveway shall not exceed 10% and shall not exceed 5% within 40 feet of its street intersection. With the approval of the SPGA as specified above, short sections may exceed 10% but in no event shall any section exceed 13%.
(5) 
Street addresses for all premises on a common driveway shall be posted in a manner sufficient for public safety purposes both at the intersection of the common driveway and the street and at the intersection of the common driveway and each individual driveway.
(6) 
An agreement providing access over the common driveway to all lots and making all lots served by the common driveway jointly responsible for its maintenance and repair, including snowplowing, shall be recorded at the Middlesex County Registry of Deeds. Evidence of the recording shall be submitted to the Building Inspector prior to the issuance of a building permit for any lot served by the common driveway.
(7) 
The SPGA shall require engineered plans for the driveways and related drainage and also security for their completion unless it deems plans or security to be unnecessary in an unusual case. Design and construction shall be consistent with the requirements of the Subdivision Regulations of the Wakefield Planning Board, except as may otherwise be authorized by the SPGA.
R. 
Design of loading spaces.
(1) 
Loading spaces, maneuvering areas and access drives shall be designed so that they do not constitute a nuisance or a hazard or unreasonable impediment to traffic on public ways or in parking lots open to the public.
(2) 
Each required loading space shall be no less than 12 feet in width, 14 feet in height and 30 feet in length in a Business District and 50 feet in length in an Industrial District, exclusive of drives and maneuvering space, and such space, including necessary maneuvering areas, shall be entirely on the lot being served.
(3) 
Loading spaces may be enclosed in a structure and shall be so enclosed if located within 50 feet of a Residential District where the use involves regular night operation.
(4) 
All driveways, entranceways and loading areas shall be graded, surfaced and drained to the satisfaction of the Director of Public Works and to the extent necessary to prevent nuisances of dust, erosion or excessive water flow across public ways.
S. 
Table of required off-street loading bays. Off-Street loading bays shall be provided for new structures and new additions in accordance with the following table.
Table of Required Off-Street Loading Bays
Type of Use
Number of Loading Bays Required by Gross Floor Area of Structure (in thousands of square feet)
2-10
10-50
50-100
100-150
Each additional 150
Retail trade, wholesale, storage, industry, communications and utilities
0
1
2
3
1
Office building, hotel, dormitory, institution, recreation and education
0
0
1
1
1
A. 
Intent and purpose. It is the intent and purpose of this section to provide for the manner in which signs, billboards and other advertising devices shall be constructed, altered and displayed in the Town. Within the context of the above general intent and purpose, additional purposes of this section are as follows:
(1) 
To restrict private signs which overload the public's capacity to receive information, which violate privacy or which increase the probability of accidents by distracting attention or obstructing vision.
(2) 
To encourage signing and other private communications which aid orientation, identify activities, express local history and character or serve other educational purposes.
(3) 
To reduce conflict among private signs and between the private and public environmental information systems.
B. 
Definitions. See "Sign" in Article XI for those definitions applicable herein.
C. 
Exemptions. The following shall not be considered signs within the context of this section:
(1) 
Flags and insignia of any government, except when displayed in connection with commercial promotion.
(2) 
Legal notices or informational devices erected or required by public agencies.
(3) 
Integral decorative or architectural features of buildings, except letters, trademarks, moving parts or parts internally illuminated or decorated with gaseous tube or other lights.
(4) 
On awnings or similar devices, lettering not exceeding three inches in height or symbols; together they cannot exceed four square feet in area.
(5) 
Nonprofit religious organizations and schools and public uses shall not be subject to this section but are requested to use it as a guide to their use of signs, in the public interest.
(6) 
Interior signs. Except as specifically included under window signs, signs wholly within a building shall not be governed by this section.
(7) 
Gasoline pumps. A standard type of gasoline pump, bearing thereon in usual size and form the name of the type of gasoline and the price thereof, shall not be deemed to be a sign. Temporary or movable signs of any and every type are specifically prohibited, with the exception of signs designating state motor vehicle inspection locations.
D. 
Applicability; nonconforming signs; exceptions.
(1) 
General applicability. All new or reconstructed or renovated signs shall conform to the provisions of this section, except as specifically exempted from Town bylaws by the Massachusetts General Laws, as amended. No person shall erect, display or maintain a billboard, sign or other advertising device (nonaccessory sign) within the Town, except those specifically exempt under state law or as otherwise provided for hereinafter. The provisions of this § 190-34 shall not apply in the Signage Overlay District, set forth at § 190-50 of this chapter.
(2) 
Nonconforming signs. A nonconforming sign is any sign which does not conform to the regulations of this section. Any nonconforming sign legally erected prior to the adoption of this section or any amendment hereto may be continued to be used and maintained but shall not be enlarged, reduced, redesigned or altered in any way unless it conforms to the provisions contained herein. Rewording of a sign is allowed except when there is a change of use. Any sign which has been destroyed or damaged to the extent that the cost of repair or restoration will exceed 80% of the replacement value as of the date of destruction shall not be repaired, rebuilt, restored or changed unless in conformity with this section. This provision shall not apply to any sign which has been abandoned (not used for six months or more) or which shall not have been repaired or properly maintained within 60 days after notice to that effect has been given by the Building Inspector.
(3) 
Signs under construction. Any sign, the erection of which has been lawfully begun and carried on in good faith before this section becomes operative, may be completed according to laws and regulations then in force but shall conform hereto as far as practicable without hardship. If such sign does not conform to the provisions of this section it shall be classified as a nonconforming sign.
E. 
Removal of certain signs. The owner a sign of the kind specified herein, or the owner of the premises, shall remove the following types of signs, together with any separate supporting structure, within 60 days after written notification from the Building Inspector:
(1) 
A sign accessory to a nonconforming use when the nonconforming use has been abandoned or the advertised use has been discontinued for two years.
(2) 
A sign erected after adoption of this section which, because of a change in the type of occupancy or because of non-use of the premises for six successive months, ceases to refer to a business conducted or product sold on the premises, unless such a sign has been altered so as to again be accessory to the premises.
(3) 
The Building Inspector may cause to be removed any sign that endangers public safety.
F. 
Allowed accessory signs; residential districts. No accessory sign shall be erected or maintained in any Residential District except as hereinafter expressly provided:
(1) 
For each residential building housing not more than two families, there may be one such sign for each residence. Such sign shall not exceed one square foot.
(2) 
For each residential building housing more than two families or, in the case of a group of such buildings forming a single housing establishment, with each such establishment there may be one primary sign which shall not exceed three square feet and one secondary sign for each separate building in a group of such buildings which shall not exceed one square foot.
(3) 
During construction there may be one temporary, unlighted sign on each lot advertising the sale or rental of the premises or the name and address of the contractor responsible for any construction, painting or repair, provided that such sign shall not exceed nine square feet in area and shall be removed within 14 days after such sale, rental or construction, painting or repair has been completed.
(4) 
There may be one temporary unlighted sign on each lot advertising rental or sale of the premises, provided that such sign shall not exceed nine square feet in area and shall be removed within 30 days after the rental or sale of the premises.
(5) 
There may be an accessory sign or signs on the premises of any building constructed, erected, altered, enlarged, extended or reconstructed which is used for the purpose of any permitted nonconforming or nonresidential use, the number and type in each case to be subject to the approval of the Board of Appeals. Window signs comprising posters, placards or signs painted on or otherwise displayed on windows and visible from the street shall not exceed 10% of the individual window area or 5% of the glass area of any exit door.
(6) 
No nonaccessory signs shall be erected or maintained in a Residential District.
(7) 
Churches, schools or public uses shall not be subject to the limitations of this section.
(8) 
A permitted home occupation shall be allowed a single identifying sign not exceeding two square feet in area.
(9) 
Temporary signs shall be permitted as described in § 190-34M below.
G. 
Allowed accessory signs; business districts. No accessory sign shall be erected or maintained in any Business District except as hereinafter expressly provided:
(1) 
Those signs may be erected or maintained which are permitted in Residential Districts.
(2) 
Accessory signs. Signs whose subject matter relates exclusively to the premises on which they are located or to products, accommodations or activities on those premises (accessory signs) shall be allowed.
H. 
Number and type of signs; Business Districts.
(1) 
Each building may have one building sign oriented to each street on which the premises have frontage identifying the building as a whole or its predominate use.
(2) 
In addition, there may be one occupancy sign and one pedestrian sign oriented to each street or parking area on which the premises have frontage relating to each occupancy within the building.
(3) 
Freestanding signs are allowed in Business Districts. Each lot may have one sign 30 square feet in area and no more than six feet in height and which must be set back no less than eight feet from the edge of the right-of-way. If the building on a lot is more than 100 feet or greater from the edge of the right-of-way line, then a freestanding sign of no more than 50 square feet in area or 10 feet in any linear dimension or 20 feet from the ground is allowed. The sign must be set back no less than eight feet from the edge of the right-of-way line. Freestanding signs shall be erected within a landscaped island designed to protect the signs from damage by vehicles.
I. 
Other Business District signs. The following are allowed in addition to signs as limited above:
(1) 
Names of buildings, date of erection, monumental citations and commemorative tablets up to 10 square feet in area, when made a permanent and integral part of the building.
(2) 
Building directories. In a Business District each lot is allowed one freestanding directory sign. The area shall be no greater than one square foot per occupant or tenant. Such sign may be white lighted indirectly. The height from the base on the ground to the highest part should not exceed six feet. No part of the sign structure shall be set back less than 100 feet from the edge of the right-of-way on which the industrial or business building is situated.
(3) 
Traffic control and guidance signs in conformance with public traffic sign standards but located on private property and orientational signs up to two square feet in area displayed for purposes of direction or convenience, including signs identifying rest rooms, freight entrances and the like.
J. 
Location of signs; business districts.
(1) 
No sign shall project over a public right-of-way or come within three feet of the curbline. A sign on a marquee or canopy providing shelter may project over a sidewalk but may not come within three feet of the curbline on a private right-of-way. A sign attached to a building, built flush with the front property line, may extend into the public right-of-way by an amount equal to the width of the sign but not more than 12 inches.
(2) 
No sign shall extend more than three feet above the roofplate line of the wall to which it is attached nor above the third floor of a multistory building. No roof signs are allowed.
(3) 
The top of pedestrian signs shall be no higher than 10 feet above the sidewalk.
(4) 
Occupancy signs for other than first floor occupants, if any, shall be located between the second and third floors.
(5) 
Any sign attached to a building shall meet the setback requirements for that building. Any other sign shall be set back from any lot line a distance equal to its height, but not less than eight feet.
K. 
Size of signs; business districts.
(1) 
Individual sign sizes. The total sign area allowed, as calculated in accordance with the provisions of § 190-34I(2) below may be distributed among the various signs on the premises. However, individual signs shall not exceed the following maximum sizes:
(a) 
Building signs and occupancy signs shall not exceed 50 square feet in area, shall not be more than three feet overall in height and shall not extend more than 3/4 of the width of the wall.
(b) 
Pedestrian signs shall not exceed five square feet in area.
(c) 
Freestanding signs shall not exceed 50 square feet in area or 10 feet in any linear dimension or 20 feet in height.
(2) 
Total area of signage permitted per lot, not to exceed the maximum sizes as follows:
(a) 
If a building on a lot is to be located 100 feet or less from the edge of the right-of-way, then the total area of all signs on the exterior of the building, including freestanding signs, shall not exceed 1 1/2 square feet times the total street frontage on the rights-of-way.
(b) 
If a building on a lot is more than 100 feet from the edge of the right-of-way, then the total area of all signs on the exterior of the building, including freestanding signs, shall not exceed two square feet times the total street frontage on the rights-of-way.
(3) 
Permanent window signs. Permanent signs on the surface of or inside display windows shall cover no more than 10% of the display window area.
L. 
Illumination.
(1) 
Signs shall be illuminated only by steady, stationary, shielded light sources directed solely at the sign or internal to it, without causing glare for motorists, pedestrians or neighboring premises.
(2) 
Illuminated signs, including neon signs, shall not produce more than one footcandle of illumination four feet from the sign.
(3) 
Signs shall not be illuminated between the hours of 11:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. unless related to an establishment operating between those hours.
(4) 
All permanent outdoor lights, such as those used for area lighting or building floodlighting, shall be steady, stationary, shielded sources directed so as to avoid causing glare for motorists, pedestrians or neighboring premises. The marginal increase in light, as measured at any property line other than a street line, shall not exceed one footcandle.
M. 
Temporary signs in all districts. The following temporary signs are allowed without a permit:
(1) 
Construction signs identifying parties involved in construction on the premises. These signs shall be set back a minimum of eight feet from any lot line and shall be removed after completion of construction.
(a) 
Residential (one- and two-family homes). One unlighted sign of up to nine square feet.
(b) 
Business districts. One illuminated sign of up to 25 square feet.
(c) 
Subdivision sign. One unlighted sign of up to 25 square feet identifying a residential or nonresidential subdivision may be erected and displayed for a period of up to two years or until all lots are sold, whichever comes first.
(2) 
Real estate signs. One unlighted sign of up to nine square feet pertaining to the sale, rental or lease of the premises on which the sign is displayed, to be removed within 14 days after sale, rental or lease.
(3) 
Display window signs. Signs on the surface of or inside display windows, lighted only by building illumination and covering no more than 20% of the display area (business districts only).
(4) 
Political signs. Freestanding unlighted sign of six square feet or less. Political signs shall be set back a minimum of eight feet from any lot line and shall not be attached to trees or utility poles but shall have their own self-supporting frame and means of being affixed to the land.
N. 
Event signs. Banners and posters (except posters intended for window display) covering social, seasonal, holiday and religious events, including garage sales, shall be referred to the Town Council for approval and issuance of a temporary permit. Temporary signs and banners must be firmly attached to a supporting device and present no undue hazard to the public. The time allowed this type of advertising shall not exceed 30 days.
O. 
Prohibited devices.
(1) 
No sign or light shall move, flash or make noise. This shall include commercial balloon devices and high-powered searchlights. (Indicators of time or temperature may move.)
(2) 
Colored lights and illuminated signs employing colors in use in traffic signal lights are prohibited within view of any signalized intersection.
(3) 
Any imitation of official traffic signs or signals and the use of such words as "stop," "look," "danger," "go slow," "caution" or "warning" are prohibited.
(4) 
No red or green lights or any lighting effect utilizing such colors shall be used on any sign if, in the opinion of the Chief of Police, such light or lighting would create a hazard to the operation of motor vehicles.
(5) 
Portable signs with or without replaceable letters which may be moved from one location to another shall be prohibited.
(6) 
Signs on unregistered vehicles which are visible from nearby public rights-of-way (except for temporary "for sale" signs) shall be prohibited.
P. 
Construction and maintenance.
(1) 
Wall signs. No sign shall be painted or posted directly on the exterior surface of any wall. All signs must be painted, posted or otherwise securely affixed to a substantial intermediary removable surface which shall be securely affixed to the wall of the building. The foregoing, however, shall not prevent the installation of a sign by individual letters or devices cut into, or securely affixed to, the exterior wall of a building. The material of the sign and intermediary surface and the manner in which they are affixed to their respective surfaces or walls shall be subject to the approval of the Building Inspector.
(2) 
Maintenance. All signs, including temporary signs, shall be securely erected or affixed and shall be kept safe, neat and clean and in good and safe repair and operating condition, to the reasonable satisfaction of the Building Inspector.
(3) 
Illuminated signs. Illuminated signs shall be constructed of noncombustible materials, except that facings, letters, figures, decorations and structural trim may be made of approved combustible plastics as defined in accordance with American Society for Testing and Materials standard methods.
Q. 
Administration.
(1) 
Required permits. A permit from the Building Inspector is required before sign erection, alteration or enlargement, except for ordinary maintenance, and if necessary a permit from the Electrical Inspector and approval of the Chief of Police is required before sign erection.
(2) 
Signs not requiring permits. No permit shall be necessary for the following signs:
(a) 
Those exempted under Subsection P.
(b) 
Residential signs as described in Subsection D.
(c) 
Temporary signs as described in Subsection K.
R. 
Application for permit. The owner or lessee of the premises on which a sign is to be erected shall file the following with the Building Inspector: An application in duplicate for a permit on appropriate forms furnished by the Building Inspector. The written consent of the owner of the premises concerned, or of his authorized agent, shall be required.
(1) 
Full name, residence and business address of the owner of the property, of the lessee, if any, and of any authorized agent to whom notices may be sent.
(2) 
Location, position and dimensions of sign.
(3) 
Such plans, structural drawings and specifications as the Inspector may require for temporary examination and permanent record.
(4) 
A surety company bond as required by the Building Code of the Town of Wakefield.
S. 
Powers of Building Inspector and other Inspectors.
(1) 
Issuance of permit. The Building Inspector shall, within 21 days, approve or reject any applications for a sign filed with him in accordance with all requirements of this section and all other applicable laws, bylaws and regulations.
(2) 
Electrical inspections. Electrical permits are required for any sign which is to be illuminated. The permit must be issued simultaneously with the building permit. The sign and the sign's power supply shall conform to the National Electrical Code.
(3) 
Applicability of Building Code. Signs shall be deemed to be structures subject to all applicable provisions of the State Building Code and to all of the powers thereby granted to the Building Inspector.
(4) 
Violations and penalties; noncriminal disposition. Any alleged violation of the provisions of this section may, in the sole discretion of the Building Inspector or his designee, be made the subject matter of the proceedings initiated by the Building Inspector pursuant to the provisions of MGL c. 40, § 21D, that is noncriminal disposition. If the Building Inspector so elects to proceed under MGL c. 40, § 21D, all the terms and provisions of such chapter and section shall thereafter govern said action.
T. 
Appeals. Appeals from administrative decisions may be made to the Zoning Board of Appeals in accordance with the same procedures used by the Zoning Board of Appeals for zoning appeals or Building Code appeals, depending upon the type of appeal being made. All appeals or applications for a variance or special permit shall be accompanied by a fee of $125. The petitioner will be billed directly for any advertising costs required.
U. 
Fees. Applications for sign permits shall be accompanied by a fee of $25.
V. 
Special permit relief. An owner of property, or a tenant thereof, may seek relief from any provisions of this § 190-34, by application for a special permit from the Zoning Board of Appeals. The Zoning Board of Appeals may grant such special permit when no substantial detriment shall result to the neighborhood or the Town.