# Sign Regulations in Abington Town, Massachusetts

Sign permit rules, size and height limits, setbacks, and ordinance citations for Abington Town, Massachusetts, compiled by PermitPal from the jurisdiction's published municipal code.

- **Jurisdiction:** Abington Town, Massachusetts (MA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/massachusetts/abington-town
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/8900717#8900717)

## At a glance

Abington Town, Massachusetts regulates 24 sign types across 3 zoning districts. Freestanding Sign (Single Occupant, >30 ft setback)s in the TOD zoning district, CBD zoning district zoning district are capped at 20 feet tall and 32 square feet, with a No portion within 10 feet of lot line setback (Sec. §175-58.2A, §175-58B(4), §175-58E). Most commercial signs in Abington Town require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (3 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 10 | 20 feet | 25% of total window area on any building wall | — |
| Residential District (R-20, R-30, R-40) | 4 | — | 10 square feet | — |
| TOD zoning district, CBD zoning district | 11 | 20 feet | 100 square feet total | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Sandwich Board Sign | — | 6 square feet per side | — | — | 1 per business | Within 10 feet of a business entrance and does not impede pedestrian safety; displayed only during business hours | — | §175-58C(14) |
| Temporary Sign | — | 8 square feet per side | — | — | — | On the property of the business or use they serve, except real estate signs. Not on Town property without permission. | — | §175-58.4, §175-58.4F |
| Awning or Canopy Sign | — | — | — | — | — | On the valance of the awning/canopy | — | §175-58.2F |
| Window Sign | — | 25% of total window area on any building wall | — | — | — | On windows | — | §175-58.2H |
| Directional Sign | — | 2 square feet | — | — | Not counted towards maximum | — | — | §175-58A(1), §175-58C(7) |
| Open/Closed Sign (Internally Illuminated/Neon) | — | 2 square feet | — | — | — | — | — | §175-58A(1), §175-58A(3) |
| Freestanding Sign (Commercial Use - Internally Illuminated) | 20 feet | — | — | No portion within 10 feet of lot line | — | Commercial/Business property | — | §175-58A(1), §175-58B(4) |
| Political, Religious, Ideological, Civic, or Charitable Sign | — | Subject to zone maximum sign dimensions | — | — | — | Private property with permission | — | §175-58C(8), §175-58.4F(1) |

### Residential District (R-20, R-30, R-40)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Street Address/Occupant Name Sign | — | 2 square feet | — | — | 1 | On premises | — | §175-58.1A |
| Bulletin/Announcement Board or Identification Sign (Nonresidential Use) | — | 10 square feet | — | — | 1 per nonresidential building/use | On building | — | §175-58.1B |
| Professional or Home Occupation Sign | — | 6 square feet | — | — | 1 per business; 6 sq ft total aggregate | — | — | §175-58.1C |
| Subdivision/Multifamily Entrance Sign | — | 6 square feet per public entrance | — | — | 1 per public entrance; 1 per family unit | Each public entrance | — | §175-58.1D |

### TOD zoning district, CBD zoning district

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Subdivision/Multifamily Entrance Sign | — | 12 square feet per public entrance | — | — | 1 per public entrance | Each public entrance to a subdivision or multifamily development | — | §175-58.2E |
| Freestanding Sign (Single Occupant, >30 ft setback) | 20 feet | 32 square feet | — | No portion within 10 feet of lot line | 1 per business | Structures set back at least 30 feet from street | — | §175-58.2A, §175-58B(4), §175-58E |
| Freestanding Sign (Multiple Tenants) | 20 feet | 100 square feet total | — | No portion within 10 feet of lot line | 1 per multiple tenant complex | Multiple occupancy business buildings | — | §175-58.2A, §175-58B(4), §175-58E |
| Wall Sign (Residential-Style Office/Retail Multi-Tenant) | — | 3 square feet per unit | — | — | 1 per unit | Near exterior building entrance of each unit | — | §175-58.2C(1) |
| Wall Sign (Multi-Floor/Multi-Tenant Industrial Style) | — | 32 square feet per unit | — | — | 1 per unit | On portion of building occupied or near building entrance | — | §175-58.2C(2) |
| Wall Sign (Strip Mall Retail Unit) | — | 20 square feet per unit | — | — | 1 per unit | On retail unit | — | §175-58.2C(3) |
| Ladder Sign (Strip Mall/Shopping Center) | — | 100 square feet total | — | — | 1 per group | Adjacent to parking entrance, in view of public way or site driveway | — | §175-58.2C(3) |
| Projecting Sign | — | 8 square feet | — | — | 1 per side (max 2 sides if more than one entrance) | May be on up to 2 sides of a building with entrances on more than one side | — | §175-58.2G, §175-58B(2)-(3) |

## Prohibited signs in Abington Town

- No sign shall be erected, altered or relocated without a permit issued by the Building Department, except as otherwise set forth or required by law.
- Signs which contain or consist of banners, inflatables, feather-type pennants, ribbons, streamers, spinners, other moving devices, or other similar devices and string of lights are prohibited.
- Signs which have blinking, flashing or fluttering lights or other illuminating devices which have a changing light intensity, brightness or color, but not including digital or electronic signs, are prohibited.
- Signs illuminated by other than a stationary white or off-white steady light are prohibited.
- Signs which are attached to utility poles, trees, fences, or structures such as overpasses and bridges are prohibited. (Signs attached to other signs are prohibited unless such subsidiary portions are an integral part of the total sign design and permitted by the Building Department.)
- Mechanically activated signs, other than rotating barberpoles, are prohibited.
- Signs mounted on a vehicle or trailer chassis with or without wheels whose primary function is a sign for commercial advertising and not for the transport of goods or merchandise are prohibited.
- Any sign installed at or near an intersection which obstructs free and clear vision, or which by reason of its position, shape, color or otherwise may create confusion or a hazard to pedestrian or vehicular traffic is prohibited.
- No sign or advertising device shall be illuminated between 11:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m., unless the use associated with said sign is being operated or is a qualifying public/safety use.
- All lighting shall comply with the International Dark Sky Association (IDA) 'fixture seal of approval' certification standards.
- All signs and their supports must be kept in good repair and in a clean, neat, safe, and orderly appearance; signs exhibiting peeling paint, visible rust, visible rot, damaged support structures, or missing letters are noncompliant.
- Temporary signs shall not be attached to utility poles, traffic signs, fences, trees or other vegetation.
- Temporary signs shall not be illuminated.
- No sign shall be located in such a way as to obscure important architectural building features, property sightlines, or views.
- Any existing or nonconforming sign associated with a nonseasonal use which has ceased operation for 180 or more days and/or is dilapidated, unsightly, or unkempt shall be considered an abandoned sign, which is prohibited.

## Signs exempt from permit in Abington Town

- Nonconforming signs which existed prior to the adoption of this Bylaw.
- Any sign which is required or authorized by any law, rule, regulation or permit of the federal or state government or any agency thereof or any public authority created thereby.
- Any sign erected or placed on Town land or on public ways under the provisions of any Town Bylaw, building or safety code, or by direction or approval of the Town Manager or board or committee having lawful jurisdiction or control over such premises.
- Signs containing the street name and/or number of the building as assigned by the Assessor's office, to be located on the building and/or property in accordance with General Bylaws. Not to exceed two square feet in residential zones.
- A memorial sign or tablet denoting a historical event or place, or the name of a structure and/or date of its construction, not to exceed four square feet on residential properties or six square feet in other districts, subject to Historical Commission authority.
- Signs containing cautionary messages, such as 'Beware of Dog' or 'No Trespassing,' provided they do not exceed two square feet.
- Any directional or traffic safety sign not exceeding two square feet intending to direct traffic or indicate parking areas or restrictions (may include business logo), provided erected in compliance with Town Bylaws and state regulations; these are not counted in sign number or area maximums.
- Display or expressions of political, religious, ideological, civic or charitable ideas are exempt, provided no such sign is affixed to a traffic sign, tree or utility pole in a public way and do not exceed maximum size limits.
- One flag displaying the word 'Open' of no more than 15 square feet per business. Decorative flags permitted on residences.
- Signs on gasoline pumps indicating in usual size and form the name, type of gasoline and price thereof as required by statute.
- One unlighted ground sign advertising the sale, rental or lease of the premises or part thereof (not exceeding six square feet), removed upon completion of transaction.
- One unlighted ground sign in a subdivision of six or more approved lots or multi-unit project, advertising sale, rental or lease of units/buildings under construction (not exceeding 20 square feet), removed within one year or with a permit after one year.
- One unlighted ground sign on a property advertising the name and contact information of a contractor/vendor/service provider during project work (not exceeding six square feet), removed within seven days of completion.
- An A-frame or 'sandwich board' style sign not exceeding six square feet per side, one per business, displayed only during business hours within 10 feet of entrance and not impeding pedestrian safety.
- Signs pertaining to the lease or sale of a lot or building (temporary), not exceeding six square feet, until lots/buildings have been rented or sold.
- Political, ideological, charitable, civic, or religious message temporary signs with property owner's permission (no permit required).
- Yard sale signs displayed no more than two days prior and removed within 24 hours after, not installed on public lands.
- Contractor/vendor signs up to six square feet while work is active or for no more than seven days following completion (no permit required).
- Freestanding special event signs for institutional, religious, or not-for-profit organizations up to two weeks prior and removed two days after event, one per property (no permit required).
- 'Grand Opening,' 'Open House' or celebratory signs up to 25 square feet, for not more than two weeks (no permit required).
- A single small window sign less than 1.5 square feet, not illuminated, displayed for not more than two weeks, not with another temporary sign in same window (no permit required).

## Sign plan & submission notes

- When signage is part of site plan review pursuant to the Zoning Bylaw, the Planning Board shall review the types, size, and location of signage associated with a project to determine compliance with the Bylaw.
- Waivers for deviations from sign regulations require public hearing and approval by the Zoning Board of Appeals; these are thoroughly documented and site/context specific.
- A public hearing before the Zoning Board of Appeals is required for any waiver of sign regulations.
- Digital or electronic signs are only allowed by special permit from the Zoning Board of Appeals.
- A permit is required for off-premises signs and a waiver must be granted by the Zoning Board of Appeals.
- For multiple signs attached to a building, the exact location of the signs is subject to approval by the Building Department at the time the permit is issued, based on safety and conformity.
- Relocation of authorized existing signs to a new location requires Building Department review and approval.
- A permit from the Building Department is required for all temporary signs unless specifically exempted.

## Full detail

Complete sign requirements for Abington Town, including every field PermitPal tracks for each sign type, are available with a free PermitPal account: https://app.permitpal.io/?address=Abington+Town+MA&override=true&utm_source=landing&utm_medium=city-page&utm_campaign=city-abington-town

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