# Sign Regulations in Belchertown Town, Massachusetts

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Belchertown Town, Massachusetts (MA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/massachusetts/belchertown-town
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/9051322#9051322)

## At a glance

Belchertown Town, Massachusetts regulates 18 sign types across 6 zoning districts. Freestanding Signs in the Agricultural A (AG-A), Agricultural B (AG-B), Village Residential (VR), Lakes Residential (LR) zoning district are capped at 6 ft tall and 6 sq ft per sign, with a 15 ft from lot line, 20 ft from public way setback (Sec. §145-22G(1), Table E-1, §145-22E(2)(a)). Most commercial signs in Belchertown Town require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (6 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Agricultural A (AG-A), Agricultural B (AG-B), Village Residential (VR), Lakes Residential (LR) | 7 | 6 ft | 12 sq ft | — |
| Multiple-Dwelling Residential (MDR), Mobile Home Park | 3 | 6 ft | 40 sq ft per sign | — |
| Limited Business (B-1) | 2 | 12 ft | 20 sq ft per sign | — |
| General Business (B-2) | 3 | 18 ft | 100 sq ft overall | — |
| Industrial (I) | 3 | 18 ft | 100 sq ft overall | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 10 | 6 ft | 30 sq ft | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 6 zones)

### Agricultural A (AG-A), Agricultural B (AG-B), Village Residential (VR), Lakes Residential (LR)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | 6 ft | 6 sq ft per sign | — | — | Several allowed, total display area per lot may not exceed 12 sq ft (AG-A), 8 sq ft (AG-B, VR, LR) | Attached parallel to building wall, not projecting more than 15 inches from the wall; cannot cover architectural elements. | — | §145-22D(1), §145-22E(1), Table E-1 |
| Freestanding Sign | 6 ft | 6 sq ft per sign | — | 15 ft from lot line, 20 ft from public way | 1 per lot. Planning Board may allow 1 additional by special permit. | On lot; must be at least 15 ft from any lot line and at least 20 ft from walkway, accessway, or street; must not project into airspace of this setback. | — | §145-22G(1), Table E-1, §145-22E(2)(a) |
| Projecting Sign | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | — | Perpendicular to wall. | — | §145-22C Projecting Sign |
| Multifamily Dwelling Sign | 6 ft (wall), 4 ft (freestanding) | 6 sq ft | — | — | 1 per multifamily dwelling | Wall or freestanding (at grade) | — | §145-22D(2)(k) |
| Identification Sign | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | 1 per lot | On lot for single-/two-family; may identify occupants, home occupation, authorized use. | — | §145-22D(2)(h) |
| Religious Sign - Wall | — | 12 sq ft | — | — | 1 wall sign per lot | On same lot as religious use. | — | §145-22D(2)(l) |
| Religious Sign - Freestanding | 5 ft | 8 sq ft | — | — | 1 freestanding sign per lot | On same lot as religious use. | — | §145-22D(2)(l) |

### Multiple-Dwelling Residential (MDR), Mobile Home Park

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | 6 ft | 40 sq ft per sign | — | — | Several allowed per business, see formula; area limits apply. | Affixed parallel to building wall. | — | §145-22E(1), Table E-1 |
| Freestanding Sign | 6 ft | 40 sq ft | — | 15 ft from lot line, 20 ft from walkway or street | 1 per lot (additional by special permit possible) | On lot for business or multifamily use. | — | §145-22G(1), Table E-1 |
| Multifamily Dwelling Sign | 6 ft (wall), 4 ft (freestanding) | 6 sq ft | — | — | 1 per multifamily dwelling | Wall or freestanding | — | §145-22D(2)(k) |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Temporary Construction Sign | — | 10 sq ft | — | — | 1 per premises; 1 per street entrance for subdivision | At project site; for subdivision, at each street entrance. | — | §145-22D(2)(a) |
| Special Event Sign | — | 10 sq ft | — | — | Not specified. | Not attached to fence/utility pole/tree on public property; Town property with consent. | — | §145-22D(2)(b) |
| Real Estate Sign | — | 10 sq ft | — | — | See above. | On premises being sold/leased/rented | — | §145-22D(2)(d) |
| Agricultural Sign | — | 12 sq ft | — | — | — | On premises where product is sold | — | §145-22D(2)(e) |
| Window Sign | — | — | — | — | 1 per principal use | On or behind window | — | §145-22D(2)(n) |
| Neon Window Sign | — | 10 sq ft max | — | — | 1 per principal use | Window, interior or exterior | — | §145-22D(2)(o) |
| Menu Sign (Wall) | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | 1 per restaurant | Affixed to restaurant exterior wall | — | §145-22D(2)(j) |
| Menu Board (Freestanding) | 6 ft | 30 sq ft | — | — | Not specified | On food service establishment premises with drive-through window | — | §145-22G(1)(f) |

## Prohibited signs in Belchertown Town

- All signs not conforming to the provisions of this section are specifically prohibited.
- Billboards, movable signs, projecting signs, and roof signs are not permitted.
- Streamers, pennants, ribbons, balloons, and other inflatable objects, objects through which air is blown, spinners or other similar devices shall not be constructed, posted or erected. Exceptions include flags and buntings exhibited to commemorate national patriotic holidays, and temporary banners announcing charitable or civic events.
- Moving, flashing, or animated signs, including signs containing reflective elements which sparkle in the sunlight, are not permitted. Electronic variable message signs are not permitted except signs indicating only the current time and/or temperature.
- No sign shall be designed in shape, color, placement or display characteristics to resemble traffic signals or traffic control signs nor otherwise impair or cause confusion of vehicular or pedestrian traffic.
- Any sign advertising or identifying a business or organization which is either defunct or no longer located on the premises is not permitted and shall be removed.
- No sign shall be located off the premises to which it applies, except for specific directional, informational, or identification signs authorized by special permit.
- No sign shall be erected or maintained in such a manner as to create a hazard or disturbance to the health, safety and welfare of the general public.
- No sign shall obstruct or impair traffic visibility for motorists at a street corner, intersection, or driveway entrance or exit.
- No sign shall be placed on Town property or within the right-of-way of the Town without approval from the Select Board.
- Any sign designed to be transported by means of wheels and signs attached to or painted on vehicles parked and visible from a street or a right-of-way customarily used by the general public, unless said vehicle is registered and used, as a vehicle, in the normal day-to-day operations of the business.
- Any sign projecting above the lowest point of the eaves of a building or beyond a building corner.
- No signs, graphics, pictures, publications, videotapes, movies, covers, merchandise or other implements, items or advertising depicting, describing or relating to sexual conduct or sexual excitement as defined in MGL c. 272, § 31 shall be displayed in the windows of, or on the building of, any adult entertainment establishment, or be visible to the public from the pedestrian sidewalks or walkways or from other areas outside such establishments.
- Signs showing the entrance to the subdivision are not allowed (per § 270-65).
- Signs illuminated by electric power: lighting must be nonflashing, nonblinking, nonmoving and nonanimated; no sign shall constitute a hazard to pedestrian or vehicular traffic because of the intensity or direction of illumination.
- No sign shall be illuminated longer than 30 minutes before opening or after closing of any store or business.

## Signs exempt from permit in Belchertown Town

- Special event signs, under certain conditions, do not require a permit.
- Hand-held signs for special events are exempt from anchoring requirements.
- Display or expressions of political, ideological or charitable ideas are exempt from the provisions of this section, provided that no such sign shall be affixed to a tree or utility pole in a public way.
- Temporary construction signs meeting size and removal standards.
- One real estate sign per property, complying with size, illumination, and removal standards.
- Agricultural signs associated with an agricultural use offering for sale produce and other farm products, up to 12 square feet.
- Fuel pump signs identifying name/type of fuel and price.
- Governmental signs erected and maintained by the Town or other governmental bodies, or for required public or environmental health, safety, or notification purposes, or announcing Town elections/meetings.
- For single- and two-family residential uses, one identification sign per lot up to 2 square feet, not illuminated except by incidental building lighting.
- Landmark signs determined by the Select Board as having particular artistic or historic merit, even if not otherwise compliant.
- One menu sign per restaurant, affixed to the wall, up to 2 square feet.
- One sign identifying the name of a multifamily residential dwelling, up to 6 square feet.
- One wall sign (up to 12 sq ft) and one freestanding sign (up to 8 sq ft, max 5 ft high) for religious uses on the same lot, not illuminated.
- Standard traffic signs and control devices. Limitations do not apply to private directional signs necessary for safety and direction, so long as they do not carry business or project names.
- Window signs (not neon) covering up to 20% of window area, not illuminated.
- Neon window signs not exceeding 10 sq ft or 20% of window area, whichever is less, and not illuminated outside business hours.
- One tag sale sign per event, up to 6 sq ft, unlit, not present more than 5 days/year per lot.
- Bunting and patriotic flags, such as United States, Massachusetts, or Town flags are not considered signs under this article and are exempt.
- Pennants that contain no commercial advertising messages, logos or symbols are not considered signs and are exempt.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- No explicit mention of a required master sign plan or sign plan in the provided ordinance sections.
- A sign permit application is required for all new signs exceeding one square foot (except as noted in exemptions), and must be submitted to the Building Commissioner with the property owner's approval.
- The Building Commissioner may approve or disapprove sign permit applications within 30 days.
- Certain sign types (such as off-premises signs or additional freestanding signs) require special permits from specific boards (e.g., Zoning Board of Appeals, Planning Board) rather than a general master sign plan process.
- For signage in the Historic District, approval from the Historic District Bylaw Commission is required prior to the grant of a permit.

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

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