# Sign Regulations in Cambridge, Massachusetts

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Cambridge, Massachusetts (MA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/massachusetts/cambridge
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-07
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/MA/Cambridge/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=TIT12STSIPUPL_CH12.08ADSIDI)

## At a glance

Cambridge, Massachusetts regulates 22 sign types across 5 zoning districts. Identification Sign (Residential Uses)s in the Residence Districts, Residence C-1 district zoning district are capped at 4 ft. (freestanding), 10 ft. (on building) tall and 10 sq. ft., with a 3 ft. from street line (freestanding) setback (Sec. 7.16.21A, 7.20). Most commercial signs in Cambridge require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (5 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 11 | 50 ft. | 200 sq. ft. per sign | — |
| Residence Districts, Residence C-1 district | 4 | 20 ft. (attached to building), 4 ft. (freestanding) | 10 sq. ft. | — |
| Business Districts, Office Districts, Industrial Districts | 5 | 20 ft. (below sill line of 2nd floor windows or lowest roof point, whichever is less) | 100 sq. ft. (all signs not meeting regular limits); If internally illuminated: 40 sq. ft. per single theater plus 20 sq. ft. per theater beyond first (up to 100 sq. ft. limit) | — |
| Planned Unit Development Districts | 1 | See underlying zoning or 7.16.22 | See underlying zoning for most uses; for areas with business/office/industrial uses via PUD SP, use 7.16.22 limits | — |
| MXD District | 1 | — | — | — |

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

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Public Safety/Convenience Sign | — | 6 sq. ft. per face | — | — | — | As needed for safety | — | 7.16.11A4 |
| For Sale/For Rent (Temporary Sign) (Residential) | — | 6 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 | On the premises | — | 7.16.12A |
| For Sale/For Rent (Temporary Sign) (Nonresidential) | — | 20 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 | On the premises | — | 7.16.12A |
| Building Contractor / Promo / Leasing (Temporary Sign) (Business, Office, Industrial) | — | 100 sq. ft. | — | — | — | On the lot where construction is occurring | — | 7.16.12B |
| Temporary Noncommercial Sign | — | 20 sq. ft. | — | — | Not specified | On the lot | — | 7.16.12C |
| Temporary Special Sale/Event Window Sign (Business, Office, Industrial) | — | 30% of window glass area to which sign is affixed | — | — | — | Affixed to inside of window | — | 7.16.12D |
| Sign for Non-Profit Theaters, Museums, Libraries, Galleries, Cinemas (Temporary) (Freestanding or Projecting) | 25 ft. (free standing); 50 ft. (wall signs) | 50 sq. ft. per sign | — | — | Not subject to standard sign number limits | On lot containing qualifying institution | — | 7.16.23 |
| Sign for Non-Profit Theaters, Museums, Libraries, Galleries, Cinemas (Temporary) (Wall Sign) | 50 ft. | 200 sq. ft. per sign | — | — | Not subject to standard sign number limits | On lot containing qualifying institution on wall | — | 7.16.23F |

### Residence Districts, Residence C-1 district

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Identification Sign (Residential Uses) | 4 ft. (freestanding), 10 ft. (on building) | 10 sq. ft. | — | 3 ft. from street line (freestanding) | 1 per dwelling | On building or at least 3 ft. from street line if free standing | — | 7.16.21A, 7.20 |
| Identification/Bulletin/Announcement Sign (Nonresidential, except Hotel/Office) | 4 ft. (freestanding) | One at 10 sq. ft., one at 20 sq. ft. | — | Half the depth of required front yard (freestanding) | 2 per building | On building or at least half the depth of required front yard if freestanding | — | 7.16.21B, 7.20 |
| Sign for Lawfully Maintained Nonconforming Use | 20 ft. (attached to building), 4 ft. (freestanding) | 10 sq. ft. | — | Half depth of required front yard (freestanding) | One per ground floor establishment plus one per building | On building or at least half the front yard depth if freestanding | — | 7.16.21C, 7.20 |
| Identification Sign - Hotel/Office Uses | As per 7.16.22 | As per 7.16.22 | — | — | As per 7.16.22 | As per 7.16.22 | — | 7.16.21D, 7.20 |

### Business Districts, Office Districts, Industrial Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Free Standing Sign | 15 ft. | 30 sq. ft. | — | — | 2 per lot | On lot in permitted location | — | 7.16.22A, 7.19 |
| Projecting Sign | 20 ft. (below sill line of 2nd floor windows or lowest roof point, whichever is less) | 13 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per ground floor establishment plus one for any public entrance not serving a ground floor establishment | On building, projecting | — | 7.16.22B |
| Wall Sign | 20 ft. (must be below 2nd floor window sill or lowest roof point, whichever is less) | 60 sq. ft. per sign, or sign frontage x 1 sq. ft. if < 60 ft frontage | — | — | Not limited | On building wall | — | 7.16.22C, 7.19 |
| Special Use Sign (Theater/Cinema Program, Wall or Freestanding) | 20 ft. (freestanding) | 100 sq. ft. (all signs not meeting regular limits); If internally illuminated: 40 sq. ft. per single theater plus 20 sq. ft. per theater beyond first (up to 100 sq. ft. limit) | — | — | — | On lot with theater/cinema | — | 7.16.22D1 |
| Hotel/Motel Wall Sign | — | 100 sq. ft. per sign, up to 200 sq. ft. total | — | — | Multiple, subject to total area limits | Building wall | — | 7.16.22D2 |

## Prohibited signs in Cambridge

- No signs or advertising devices of any kind or nature shall be erected or maintained on any premises or affixed to the inside or outside of any structure to be visible from the outside of any structure except as specifically permitted in this Article 7.000.
- Signs shall be stationary and may not contain any visible moving or moveable parts.
- All lighting shall be indirect, continuous, and installed in a manner that will prevent direct light from shining onto any street or adjacent property.
- Flashing or intermittent light creating flashing, moving, changing or animated graphics is prohibited, except that a warning sign, a device intended to tell the time and temperature, or official traffic and directional signs may have intermittent illumination.
- No sign, portion of a sign, or structural support for such sign may extend above the lowest point of the roof of a building, except that for one-story buildings having a continuous parapet above the lowest point of the roof, signs may be placed below the highest point of such parapet rather than below the lowest point of the roof.
- Except as may be provided elsewhere in this ordinance for temporary signs, all signs shall be permanently mounted on a building or structure or permanently implanted in the ground. All graphic images on a sign shall be of durable material.

## Signs exempt from permit in Cambridge

- Signs not visible from a public way.
- Official traffic and directional signs, including bus and shuttle schedules.
- Other signs in the public way.
- Signs necessary for public safety and convenience not exceeding six (6) square feet per sign face, provided such signs contain no advertising.
- Flags of a city, state or country.
- Memorials such as grave stones and corner stones.
- Historical site plaques installed or approved by a public Agency or duly established historical society.
- Window display of merchandise or signs incidental to such display.
- Signage necessary or appurtenant to the placement or operation of a Public Bicycle-Sharing Station.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- All proposals for signs exceeding twenty-five (25) square feet in area shall be submitted to the Community Development Department for certification; said certification shall accompany the application for a building permit for the sign to the Inspectional Services Department.
- There is no explicit reference to a requirement for a Master Sign Plan or sign plan for all signs across all zones in this excerpt. However, requirements for specific types or sizes of signs, such as the above certification process, may function similarly.

## 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 Cambridge — every sign type, every field — are available with a free PermitPal account: https://app.permitpal.io/?address=Cambridge+MA&override=true&utm_source=landing&utm_medium=city-page&utm_campaign=city-cambridge

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