# Sign Regulations in Braintree Town, Massachusetts

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Braintree Town, Massachusetts (MA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/massachusetts/braintree-town
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/14708381#14708381)

## At a glance

Braintree Town, Massachusetts regulates 41 sign types across 9 zoning districts. Billboard (Off-premises, Static or Digital)s in the Highway Business Area zoning district are capped at 15 ft (face); 75 ft (overall height from ground) tall, 750 sq ft per face, and 50 ft wide, with a Not within 300 ft of another billboard or within 1,000 ft of residentially zoned property. setback (Sec. §135-904.2A(8); §§135-910-01 to 135-910-05). Most commercial signs in Braintree Town require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (9 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Residential Area (Districts A, B, C) | 11 | 8 ft (projecting from building); 12 ft above top of roof (roof flagpole); 35 ft (ground flagpole) | 20 sq ft | — |
| General Business Area | 8 | 20 ft | 150 sq ft | — |
| Highway Business Area | 9 | 35 ft | 750 sq ft per face | — |
| Commercial Area | 5 | 35 ft | 750 sq ft per face | — |
| Open Space and Conservancy District | 3 | — | — | — |
| Industrial Area | 7 | 40 ft | 150 sq ft | — |
| Billboard Zoning Overlay District (BZOD) | 1 | 15 ft (face height); max billboard 75 ft high from ground | 750 sq ft per face (each side) | — |
| Village Zoning Overlay District | 3 | 12 ft | — | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 1 | — | See individual zone; 6 sq ft max for business rent/sale signs | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 9 zones)

### Residential Area (Districts A, B, C)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Identification Sign (Resident) | 4 ft (if freestanding) | 1 sq ft | — | At least 3 feet from front lot line. | 1 per premises | May be attached to building or freestanding on a rod or post. | — | §135-903A(1) |
| Bulletin/Announcement Board or Identification Sign (Permitted Nonresidential Use) | — | 10 sq ft | — | No closer than 1/2 depth of required front yard to front lot line. | 1 or 2 (depending on institution type) | May be within required front yard; no closer than 1/2 the depth of the required front yard to the front lot line. | — | §135-903A(2) |
| Sign for Hotel or Nonresidential Use | — | 20 sq ft | — | — | 2 | — | — | §135-903A(3) |
| Sign for Nonconforming Use | — | 10 sq ft | — | — | 1 | — | — | §135-903A(4) |
| For Sale/For Rent Sign | — | 4 sq ft | — | — | 1 | — | — | §135-903A(5), §135-903A(8) |
| Contractor's Sign (During Construction) | — | 10 sq ft | — | — | 1 | — | — | §135-903A(6) |
| Temporary Signs (Construction/Development) | — | Determined by permit | — | — | As allowed by permit | — | — | §135-903A(7) |
| Professional Sign | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | 1 | — | — | §135-903A(9) |

### General Business Area

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Ground Sign | 20 ft | 60 sq ft (per sign); larger only with ZBA permit | — | — | 1 per building lot, unless ZBA approves more | On property, not projecting into or over public way. | — | §135-904.1A(1) |
| Marquee Sign | 4 ft | 150 sq ft | — | — | 1 per store/building | Attached to marquee | — | §135-904.1A(2) |
| Wall Sign (First Floor Business) | 4 ft | 150 sq ft | — | — | 1-3 depending on entrances | Exterior wall, facing frontage | — | §135-904.1A(5) |
| Wall Sign (Other than First Floor) | — | 48 sq ft | — | — | Up to 2 | Exterior wall | — | §135-904.1A(5) |
| Directory Wall Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Affixed to exterior wall | — | §135-904.1A(5) |
| Lease/For Rent/Construction Sign | — | As per §135-904, and not more than 60 sq ft for construction | — | — | 1 | — | — | §135-904.1A(6) |
| Window Sign (Permanent) | — | — | — | — | — | Inside window | — | §135-904.1A(7)(a) |
| Window Sign (Temporary) | — | — | — | — | — | Inside window | — | §135-904.1A(7)(b) |

### Highway Business Area

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Ground Sign (Major Artery) | 35 ft | 150 sq ft | — | — | 1 | Visible to major artery | — | §135-904.2A(1)(a)-(e) |
| Ground Sign (Access Road) | 20 ft | 60 sq ft | — | — | 1 | Visible to access road | — | §135-904.2A(1)(f) |
| Ground Sign (Secondary, by ZBA) | — | 150 sq ft (total all visible to access road) | — | — | Secondary, ZBA approval | Visible to access road | — | §135-904.2A(1)(g) |
| Wall Sign (Highway Business) | 4 ft | 150 sq ft (primary); 48 sq ft (secondary) | — | — | 1 primary + up to 2 secondary | Building exterior wall | — | §135-904.2A(5) |
| Lease/For Rent Sign | — | As authorized in §135-904.2; construction sign size set by ZBA | — | — | — | — | — | §135-904.2A(6) |
| Construction Sign | — | Set by ZBA; must meet §135-906 | — | — | — | — | — | §135-904.2A(6)(d)-(f) |
| Window Sign (Permanent) | — | — | — | — | — | Inside window | — | §135-904.2A(7)(a) |
| Billboard (Off-premises, Static or Digital) | 15 ft (face); 75 ft (overall height from ground) | 750 sq ft per face | 50 ft | Not within 300 ft of another billboard or within 1,000 ft of residentially zoned property. | Special permit controls number | Permanently affixed within Billboard Zoning Overlay District, not roof or wall. | — | §135-904.2A(8); §§135-910-01 to 135-910-05 |

## Prohibited signs in Braintree Town

- All off-premises commercial signs are prohibited.
- Moving, flashing or animated signs are prohibited except for minimum sixty-second intervals needed for the functioning of a clock, thermometer or calendar.
- Automatically or manually continuous changing message signs are not permitted.
- The source of illumination for any sign must be a white, steady, stationary light of reasonable intensity, shielded and directed solely at the sign, or a white interior light of reasonable intensity; neon tubes or similar devices are not permitted.
- No illuminated or spotlighted sign shall extend over a street.
- No sign shall be permitted which will obstruct the free and clear vision of those traveling on a street.
- No sign may be illuminated between 1:00 a.m. and 6:00 a.m., except for police or fire station identification or as specifically authorized by the Zoning Board of Appeals.
- No outdoor floodlighting or decorative lighting shall be permitted except for specific functional or limited-duration holiday/decorative uses.
- No sign shall be painted or posted directly on the exterior surface of any wall, including windows and doors.
- No temporary signs except political signs shall be attached to or supported by a portable contrivance, wheeled or not wheeled.
- No vehicle, trailer, balloon, kite, boat, pennant, flag or similar device shall be used as a temporary or permanent means of exhibiting a sign which may circumvent or derogate from the intent of this bylaw.
- Temporary signs shall be freestanding and not attached to any building, tree, post or other such means.
- No painted wall sign, roof sign, or projecting sign existing prior to the bylaw shall remain after two years from the adoption of the bylaw.
- Billboards or digital/electronic billboards are only allowed within the specific Billboard Zoning Overlay District by special permit.
- No sign shall be erected on the exterior of any building or on any land unless a permit has been issued, except as specified by exemptions.

## Signs exempt from permit in Braintree Town

- Flags, pennants, or insignia of any nation, state or Town are not considered signs under this bylaw.
- Signs, the face of which will not exceed 12 inches in height and 18 inches in width, erected pursuant to the Adopt an Island Program, are exempt.
- In residential areas, permitted signs, except those requiring specific permission from the Zoning Board of Appeals, are exempt from permit requirements.
- In business areas, one real estate sign of not over six square feet in total area advertising the sale or rental of the premises on which it is located is exempt from permit requirements.
- Accessory signs legally erected before the adoption of this article are exempt, provided they are not enlarged, redesigned, or altered except to conform to this article and not deteriorated beyond a threshold.
- Temporary political signs may be attached to or supported by a portable contrivance (an exemption to the prohibition on temporary sign attachments).

## Sign plan & submission notes

- No sign shall be erected on the exterior of any building or on any land unless an application has been filed with the Inspector of Buildings or Code Compliance Officer, and a permit for the erection of the sign has been issued, except for signs expressly exempted.
- The Zoning Board of Appeals may grant relief from the bulk and dimensional requirements of the sign bylaw upon appeal and a finding of legitimate hardship.
- Billboards and digital/electronic billboards require a special permit from the Planning Board in the Billboard Overlay District.
- For certain sign types (e.g., additional ground signs, wall signs for upper floor businesses), permits or specific authorization from the Zoning Board of Appeals are required.
- Temporary signs require a permit from the Inspector of Buildings, except for political signs.
- Signs in Open Space and Conservancy Areas must be authorized in writing by the Conservation Commission and permitted by the Zoning Board of Appeals.
- Applications for off-premises billboards must include special permit application and compliance with administrative procedures specified under applicable zoning articles and state law.
- A sign plan or master sign plan is not specifically referenced; however, multiple situations require Board review/approval or special/variance permitting for sign erection outside standard allowances.

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

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