# Sign Regulations in Agawam Town, Massachusetts

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Agawam Town, Massachusetts (MA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/massachusetts/agawam-town
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/6567171#6567171)

## At a glance

Agawam Town, Massachusetts regulates 18 sign types across 4 zoning districts. Temporary Signs in the General Regulations For All Zones zoning district are capped at 12 sq ft (Sec. §180-84A). Most commercial signs in Agawam Town require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (4 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 5 | — | No more than 50% of the area of the window glass (business/industrial); no more than 2 sq ft per occupancy (residential). | — |
| Residence districts | 9 | — | 20 sq ft | — |
| Business districts, Industrial districts | 4 | — | 50% of area of window glass | — |
| Agricultural districts | 1 | — | 32 sq ft per sign | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 4 zones)

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Must be attached to principal building; must conform to area percentage limitations as described per zone. | — | §180-76, §180-77, §180-83D |
| Window Sign | — | No more than 50% of the area of the window glass (business/industrial); no more than 2 sq ft per occupancy (residential). | — | — | — | On window. | — | §180-79B(4), §180-78H |
| Temporary Sign | — | 12 sq ft | — | — | One per property/business per calendar year | — | — | §180-84A |
| Political Sign | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | — | Only on private property, with landowner's permission. | — | §180-84B |
| Historical Marker | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | — | As erected by government or historical association. | — | §180-78J |

### Residence districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Name/Occupant Sign | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | Total of 2 allowed per lot (applies to combination of Name/Occupant, Attached, Guest Accommodations, Window Signs) | On premises. | — | §180-78A |
| Real Estate Sign | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | — | On property for sale/rent. | — | §180-78B |
| Bulletin/Announcement Board or Institutional Entrance Marker | — | 20 sq ft | — | — | 1 per public entrance, up to 3 per building complex | At public entrance(s) to church, synagogue, educational institution, or government premises. | — | §180-78C |
| Attached Sign | — | See applicable maximum for type (usually 2 sq ft for non-institutional). | — | — | — | Attached to building. | — | §180-78D |
| Guest Accommodation Sign | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | — | On premises. | — | §180-78E |
| Trespass/Hunting Prohibited Sign | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | — | On premises. | — | §180-78F |
| Window Sign (Residential) | — | 2 sq ft (aggregate per occupancy or establishment) | — | — | — | Window | — | §180-78H |
| Directory Sign (Multiple Occupancy) | — | 2 sq ft per occupancy/establishment | — | — | — | On or adjacent to entry of multiple-occupancy building | — | §180-78I |

### Business districts, Industrial districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Front, rear, or secondary sides of building. | — | §180-79A |
| Standing Sign | — | — | — | Must not be located within 10 feet of grade inside the setback area without written permission of Inspector of Buildings (excluding instructional signs). | — | Fronting on street; may be roof, marquee, cornice, awning, or projection. | — | §180-79B(1)-(2) |
| Window Sign (Business/Industrial) | — | 50% of area of window glass | — | — | — | Window, permitted retail establishments. | — | §180-79B(4) |
| V-Shaped Sign | — | 25% of front wall area if standing; see standing sign limits. | — | — | — | On roofs, marquees, cornices, awnings, projections. | — | §180-79B(2) |

## Prohibited signs in Agawam Town

- No person shall place, maintain or display any unofficial sign, signal or marking which purports to be, resembles or is an imitation of an official traffic sign, signal or marking which attempts to direct the movement of traffic or which hides from view any official sign, signal or marking.
- Overhanging signs are not permitted unless part of a cantilever of a principal building, except for street name signs or traffic control signs erected by government entities.
- Billboards as defined are prohibited.
- Private signs on Town property are prohibited unless authorized by the Town Council after a public hearing.
- No signs shall contain, in the opinion of the Inspector of Buildings or his designee, a color or movement which is a violation of the purpose of this article.
- The erection or continued maintenance of private nonaccessory signs is not permitted.

## Signs exempt from permit in Agawam Town

- Existing signs, except billboards, in existence at the time of the initial adoption of the article (September 12, 1977), are exempt from the provisions except for structural integrity and specific referenced sections.
- Standard pump head signs of gasoline filling stations do not require a permit, but must conform to illumination requirements.
- Temporary signs for public or nonprofit purposes may be authorized without a fee at the discretion of the Inspector of Buildings or his designee.
- Christmas lights are not deemed as signs under illumination restrictions.
- Signs designating historical places or points of interest, erected by a governmental authority or duly chartered historical association, are allowed as provided.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- No sign shall be erected, altered or affixed to any building or placed on any premises until a permit has been issued by the Inspector of Buildings or his designee, except as provided for specific exemptions.
- Application for a sign permit must include an accurate sketch or photo of the sign, its dimensions, lettering and design, location, and any additional plans as required by the Inspector of Buildings.
- Permits for private signs on Town property require authorization by the Town Council after a public hearing, in accordance with designated procedures.
- Special permits for signs not otherwise in compliance may be granted by the Board of Appeals, following general special permit procedures.
- Approval of a definitive subdivision plan is required prior to erection of permanent subdivision name signs.
- Approval by the Town for a project is required before contractor or developer signs may be erected.
- A permit is required for most temporary signs with some exceptions for public/nonprofit purposes.

## Full detail

This page publishes an overview of every zoning district plus a sample of 3 districts in full. Complete zone-by-zone requirements for all 4 zoning districts in Agawam Town — every sign type, every field — are available with a free PermitPal account: https://app.permitpal.io/?address=Agawam+Town+MA&override=true&utm_source=landing&utm_medium=city-page&utm_campaign=city-agawam-town

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