# Sign Regulations in Ashburnham Town, Massachusetts

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Ashburnham Town, Massachusetts (MA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/massachusetts/ashburnham-town
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/38233548#38233548)

## At a glance

Ashburnham Town, Massachusetts regulates 22 sign types across 5 zoning districts. Projecting Signs in the Business District, Industrial District, Commercial District zoning district are capped at 15 sq ft, with a Cannot extend more than 5 ft over right-of-way; marquee/canopy/awning signs 8 ft max; must be at least 3 ft from curbline and at least 10 ft above grade setback (Sec. 5.2.5C(5), 5.2.3K, 5.2.6C). Most commercial signs in Ashburnham Town require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (5 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Residential District | 6 | — | 12 sq ft | — |
| Business District, Industrial District, Commercial District | 8 | — | 80 sq ft aggregate | — |
| Village Center Commercial District | 8 | — | 64 sq ft aggregate | — |
| Nonresidential District | 1 | — | 8 sq ft aggregate per premises | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 10 | 25 ft above grade OR five feet higher than distance from pole base to street line, whichever is less | 60% of total square footage of the window or glass door | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 5 zones)

### Business District, Industrial District, Commercial District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Accessory Sign (Primary Accessory Signs, Option 1) | — | 80 sq ft aggregate | — | — | One or more per entity | Per entity per premises; for Business/Industrial/Commercial Districts | — | 5.2.5C(1) |
| Accessory Sign (Frontage Bonus, Option 2) | — | 50 sq ft aggregate for additional street | — | — | — | Directed toward additional streets | — | 5.2.5C(1) |
| Sandwich Sign | — | 12 sq ft per sign | — | — | — | Must be within 15 ft of the advertised premises | — | 5.2.5C(4) |
| Projecting Sign | — | 15 sq ft | — | See 5.2.3K: Cannot extend more than 5 ft over right-of-way; marquee/canopy/awning signs 8 ft max; must be at least 3 ft from curbline and at least 10 ft above grade | One per premises | — | — | 5.2.5C(5), 5.2.3K, 5.2.6C |
| Business Center Common Accessory Sign | — | — | — | — | One per approved curb cut or driveway | Business center; approved curb cut/driveway | — | 5.2.5C(3) |
| "Open" Flag | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | One per premises | — | — | 5.2.5C(6) |
| Temporary Sign | — | 50 sq ft in aggregate area per premises | — | — | — | Per premises | — | 5.2.5D(5), 5.2.3P |
| Directory Sign | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 5.2.5D(2) |

### Village Center Commercial District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Accessory Sign (Primary Accessory Signs, Option 1) | — | 64 sq ft aggregate | — | — | One or more per entity | Per entity per premises | — | 5.2.5C(1) |
| Accessory Sign (Frontage Bonus, Option 2) | — | 32 sq ft aggregate for additional street | — | — | — | Directed toward additional streets | — | 5.2.5C(1) |
| Sandwich Sign | — | 12 sq ft per sign | — | — | — | Must be within 15 ft of the advertised premises | — | 5.2.5C(4) |
| Projecting Sign | — | 15 sq ft | — | See 5.2.3K: Cannot extend more than 5 ft over right-of-way; marquee/canopy/awning signs 8 ft max; must be at least 3 ft from curbline and at least 10 ft above grade | One per premises | — | — | 5.2.5C(5), 5.2.3K, 5.2.6C |
| Business Center Common Accessory Sign | — | — | — | — | One per approved curb cut or driveway | Business center; approved curb cut/driveway | — | 5.2.5C(3) |
| "Open" Flag | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | One per premises | — | — | 5.2.5C(6) |
| Temporary Sign | — | 50 sq ft in aggregate area per premises | — | — | — | Per premises | — | 5.2.5D(5), 5.2.3P |
| Directory Sign | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 5.2.5D(2) |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign | 25 ft above grade OR five feet higher than distance from pole base to street line, whichever is less | — | — | Not within five feet of street or lot line, see details above | See total sign limit: five per premises | Placement not within five feet of street line or lot line (or 1/2 distance if building/lot line less than 10 ft); not within required zoning setbacks, if any. | — | 5.2.3C, 5.2.3G |
| Pole Sign | — | — | — | — | One per lot | Max one per lot regardless of tenants | — | 5.2.3H |
| Window Sign | — | 60% of total square footage of the window or glass door | — | — | — | On or inside exterior window or glass door, visible from outside | — | 5.2.3T |
| Entryway Sign | — | 2 sq ft per org/individual per entryway OR 12 sq ft total for all orgs/individuals per entryway | — | — | One per org/individual or one for all per entryway | Town entryway, subject to Dept. of Public Works regulations | — | 5.2.5D(3) |
| Directional Sign | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | — | — | — | 5.2.5D(4) |
| Poster | — | 8 sq ft | — | See 5.2.3J | — | — | — | Definition of Poster, 5.2.3J |
| Projecting Sign (General Requirements) | — | — | — | As above | — | See district specifics; see General for right-of-way and height | — | 5.2.3K |
| Sign with Numbers (Address/Numbering Sign) | Not less than 4 feet or more than 6 feet above ground (if on post), as per § 436-5F | 12 in x 12 in (if property >50 feet from street or not visible), otherwise min 3 in tall numbers | — | — | — | On or near front door, or at driveway/street line if structure not visible | — | § 436-5 |

## Prohibited signs in Ashburnham Town

- Abandoned signs must be removed within 30 days of abandonment or cessation of business.
- Signs solely advertising brand names or products sold at the premises shall not be considered accessory signs, unless such brand name products constitute the majority of products sold at the premises.
- No sign shall be internally illuminated except 'Open' signs in Business and Commercial Districts during business hours; such 'Open' signs may not exceed three square feet and must use lights of constant intensity. No sign may be illuminated by flashing, intermittent, rotating, or moving lights.
- Rotating signs, animated signs, rotating beacons, and otherwise moving signs are prohibited.
- The total number of signs is limited to five per premises.
- Portable signs are prohibited, except for: vehicles used daily for business (not continuously parked over two weeks); temporary signs compliant with the chapter; and sandwich signs compliant with this chapter and regulations of the Department of Public Services.
- No poster shall be placed closer than five feet from the lot lines or street line (or half the distance if building is less than 10 feet from line) and posters are otherwise subject to the same restrictions as temporary signs.
- Projecting signs (except those on marquees, canopies, and awnings) shall not extend more than five feet over the public right-of-way. Marquee signs/projecting signs on canopies/awnings shall not extend more than eight feet over the public right-of-way. Projecting signs shall not be less than three feet from the curbline, and no part may be lower than 10 feet above grade. Canopies/awnings must comply with other applicable regulations.
- No sign shall be placed on a building above the eave line or gable, hip, or gambrel; above the parapet or eave on a flat/deck roof; on/above the mansard portion of a mansard/French-style roof; or on/above the roof portion of an A-frame structure.
- Sign posts and supports shall not contain lettering.
- No sign shall be erected so as to obstruct any door, window, or fire escape.
- Temporary signs (other than posters) may not be displayed for more than 60 continuous days; posters not more than 90 continuous days. Temporary signs displayed more than 90 days in a calendar year are not considered temporary. Temporary signs (including posters) must be promptly removed when the event is concluded.
- No sign shall be erected so as to constrict traffic sight lines for drivers or pedestrians. Freestanding signs are prohibited within the triangle formed by connecting the point at intersection of street lines with points on each street line 20 feet from such intersection.
- No sign may use the words 'stop', 'danger', or any word, phrase, symbol, or character that might be misconstrued as a public safety warning or traffic sign, except as otherwise provided.
- No sign shall be permitted on trees, light poles, telephone poles, or street identification signs.
- Window signs may not exceed 60% of the total square footage of the window or glass door on which they are located.
- Any person who willfully defaces, injures, moves, obstructs, or interferes with any official traffic signs, signals or markings is subject to a penalty.
- No person or corporation shall place, maintain, or display on or in view of any street any unofficial device/sign/signal/etc. that purports or attempts to mimic or hide from view any official traffic device, sign, or signal.

## Signs exempt from permit in Ashburnham Town

- Governmental flags and governmental insignia, and any other flag not in excess of 15 square feet.
- "For Sale" or "For Rent" signs, not exceeding eight square feet (nonresidential) or six square feet (residential), advertising only the premises on which the sign is located (must be removed when transaction is concluded).
- Historic signs.
- Historical markers erected or placed by an accredited historical association or governmental agency.
- Identifying signs bearing only house numbers, post box numbers, names of residents, or identification of premises not exceeding two square feet per premises.
- Incidental signs.
- Informational, directional, traffic or warning signs erected or required by governmental agencies or bodies, including signs directing traffic to hospitals, parking areas, highways, cultural institutions, and commercial areas.
- Legal notices and identifications not exceeding two square feet in area, including 'No Trespassing' and 'No Hunting' signs.
- Memorial signs, plaques, or tablets.
- Signs exempted by law, with the exception of billboards (e.g., as described in MGL c. 93, § 32).
- Permanent signs on vending machines, gas pumps, ice containers, or similar devices indicating only the contents of such devices.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- All signs requiring a permit must have an application submitted to the Inspector of Buildings, including size, location, lighting, building materials and specifications.
- Projecting signs require the posting of a bond (or liability insurance) as a condition for permit approval.
- A sign permit is required for most signs except those specifically listed as exempt (see section 5.2.5.D).
- Any person seeking a sign not in conformity with the bylaw may request a special permit (variance) from the Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA); the ZBA follows specified criteria and procedures, including limitations on aggregate signage.
- Upon sale or transfer of ownership of any sign, business, or premises, the new owner must file an application for transfer of the sign permit, including certification of compliance.

## 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 5 zoning districts in Ashburnham Town — every sign type, every field — are available with a free PermitPal account: https://app.permitpal.io/?address=Ashburnham+Town+MA&override=true&utm_source=landing&utm_medium=city-page&utm_campaign=city-ashburnham-town

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