# Sign Regulations in Chatham Town, Massachusetts

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Chatham Town, Massachusetts (MA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/massachusetts/chatham-town
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/10426299#10426299)

## At a glance

Chatham Town, Massachusetts regulates 35 sign types across 5 zoning districts. Ground Sign (0-15 ft setback)s in the General Business Area, General Business Area (GB-1), General Business Area (GB-2), General Business Zones zoning district are capped at 18 feet tall and 20 sq ft, with a Within 15 ft of street or boundary setback (Sec. §225-4C). Most commercial signs in Chatham Town require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (5 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Business Area, General Business Area (GB-1), General Business Area (GB-2), General Business Zones | 14 | 18 feet | 40 sq ft | — |
| Industrial Zones | 3 | 18 feet | 20 sq ft (0-15 ft setback); 30 sq ft (15-20 ft setback); 40 sq ft (>20 ft) | — |
| Residential Zones | 9 | 10 feet | 24 sq ft | — |
| Small Business Zones | 9 | 10 feet | 18 sq ft per sign face | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 5 | — | 3 sq ft | — |

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

### General Business Area, General Business Area (GB-1), General Business Area (GB-2), General Business Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | 3 feet | 10% of building face (including window area) | — | — | One per established business per street frontage | On building face, parallel to or painted on wall | — | §225-4A |
| Ground Sign (0-15 ft setback) | 18 feet | 20 sq ft | — | Within 15 ft of street or boundary | One per property | Within 15 feet of road boundary | — | §225-4C |
| Ground Sign (15-20 ft setback) | 18 feet | 30 sq ft | — | Between 15 and 20 ft from road boundary | One per property | Between 15 and 20 feet from road boundary | — | §225-4C |
| Ground Sign (over 20 ft setback) | 18 feet | 40 sq ft | — | Over 20 ft from road boundary | One per property | Over 20 feet from the road boundary | — | §225-4C |
| Ladder Sign (also see Ground Sign) | 18 feet | Same as Ground Signs: 20/30/40 sq ft depending on setback | — | See Ground Sign regulations | One per applicable property type | Same setbacks as ground signs | — | §225-4C, §225-4E |
| Roof Sign | 3 feet, not to exceed the ridgeline of the structure | — | — | — | One per established business, in lieu of wall sign | Affixed to roof of building | — | §225-4D |
| Projecting, Overhanging Sign | — | 6 sq ft per sign space | — | At least 10 ft. above ground | One per store occupancy | Projects over public way (GB-1, GB-2 only) | — | §225-4F |
| Awning Sign | — | — | No limit on width; may not extend beyond 12 in inside curb | At least 7 ft above sidewalk, ≤12 in inside curb | — | Over sidewalk or public right-of-way | — | §225-4K(1) |

### Residential Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Ground/Building Face/Post Sign (Name Sign) | — | 2 sq ft per face | — | — | One per dwelling unit | Ground, suspended from post or attached to building face | — | §225-5A, §225-15C(1) |
| Home Occupation/Profession Sign | — | 6 sq ft per face | — | — | One per dwelling unit | Ground, suspended from post or attached to building face | — | §225-5B |
| Wall or Ground Sign (Public Use) | — | 18 sq ft per face | — | — | One per building | On premises of church, library, school or other public building | — | §225-5D |
| Entrance/Exit/Warning Sign (Residential) | — | 1 sq ft | — | — | — | Wall or ground, driveway entrance/exit or for warning | — | §225-5D, §225-15C(7) |
| For Sale/For Rent Sign | — | 6 sq ft per face | — | — | One per property | On property for sale/rent, not on trees or rocks | — | §225-5E, §225-15C(2) |
| Temporary Group Construction Sign | — | 24 sq ft | — | — | One per site | Construction site (single- or multiple-unit) | — | §225-5F |
| Real Estate Developer Long-Term Sign | — | 24 sq ft | — | — | One per appropriate junction | Appropriate road junctions in project | — | §225-5G |
| Subdivision Entrance Ground Name Sign | 10 feet | 18 sq ft per face | — | — | One per subdivision major entrance | Major entrance of subdivision | — | §225-5H |

### Small Business Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Ground/Building Face/Post Sign (Name Sign) | — | 6 sq ft per face | — | — | One per dwelling unit | From the ground, suspended from a post or attached to the building face | — | §225-24A, §225-15C(1) |
| Business Use Ground/Wall/Post Sign | — | 6 sq ft per face | — | — | One per property | From ground, suspended from post or attached to building face | — | §225-24B |
| Multi-Use Commercial Use Sign (Low Ground or Wall plus Wall) | 6 feet (ground sign) | 8 sq ft for ground sign; 1 sq ft for each wall sign per business | — | — | One per property plus one per allowed commercial use | On property with multiple commercial uses | — | §225-24C |
| Wall or Ground Sign (Public Use) | — | 18 sq ft per sign face | — | — | One per building | On premises of church, library, school or public building | — | §225-24D |
| For Sale/For Rent Sign | — | 6 sq ft per sign face | — | — | One per property | On property for sale/rent | — | §225-24E, §225-15C(2) |
| Temporary Group Construction Sign (Small Business Zone) | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | One per site | Construction site (single-/multi-unit) | — | §225-24F |
| Real Estate Developer Long-Term Sign (Small Business Zone) | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | One per appropriate junction | At road junction in development | — | §225-24G |
| Subdivision Entrance Ground Name Sign | 10 feet | 6 sq ft per sign face | — | — | One per subdivision major entrance | Major entrance of subdivision | — | §225-24H |

## Prohibited signs in Chatham Town

- No person shall post, erect, display or maintain within public view from a highway any off-premises billboard signs or other advertising device except as provided for in the rules and regulations promulgated by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts or otherwise limited herein.
- Roof signs or display signs placed above or supported on the top of a building or structure are prohibited, except as elsewhere permitted.
- Advertising signs tacked, posted, painted or otherwise attached to poles, posts, trees, sidewalks, curbs or rocks are prohibited.
- Banners, streamers and advertising flags are prohibited, except as elsewhere permitted.
- No exposed neon or similar tube type of illumination, including open light bulbs, shall be permitted.
- No flashing, blinking or rotating lights shall be permitted for either permanent or temporary signs.
- Internally lighted signs are prohibited in all zones. Existing internally lighted signs must come into conformance within three years of the effective date of the amendment (July 5, 1983).
- No sign shall be permitted which moves by any means.
- No sign shall be erected or attached to any vehicle except for signs applied directly to the surface of the vehicle. The vehicle shall not be parked in a public right-of-way for the purposes of advertising.
- Signs in violation of the bylaw or that become dangerous, unsafe, abandoned, or not maintained as required may be ordered removed or repaired by the Select Board or their agent.
- Temporary or moveable signs of any and every type are specifically prohibited for gasoline stations, garages, and commercial boating facilities.

## Signs exempt from permit in Chatham Town

- Signs bearing the name of the occupant of a dwelling do not require a permit.
- Real estate signs advertising 'For Sale' or 'For Rent' not exceeding six square feet do not require a permit.
- Signs prohibiting trespass, hunting, or warning of danger (such as 'High Voltage') and necessary public utility signs do not require a permit.
- Window signs as described in §225-4B do not require a permit.
- Street name signs, public or private, and signs erected by the Town, County or Commonwealth do not require a permit.
- Signs designating historical places or points of interest erected by governmental authority or historical organizations do not require a permit.
- Signs indicating 'Entrance,' 'Exit,' 'Parking,' or similar, for the direction of persons or vehicles on premises do not require a permit.
- Quarter boards attached to buildings other than commercial or retail establishments do not require a permit.
- Signs not exceeding one square foot bearing the words 'For Sale' and the item price or phone number do not require a permit.
- Signs erected by municipal, county, or federal government are exempt from the provisions of this bylaw but are expected to conform to its intent.
- Signs promoting the election of a political candidate are exempt from permit and bond requirements for temporary signs, banners, and posters.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- No sign shall be erected, altered, or enlarged until an application on the appropriate form furnished by the sign agent has been filed, including photographs, plans and scale drawings as the sign agent may require, and a permit has been issued confirming compliance with the bylaw.
- Substantial changes of sign design, ownership, type or content may require a new permit at the discretion of the sign agent.
- Plans and scale drawings may be required as part of the permit application process.
- For certain approvals (e.g., roof signs, projecting/overhanging signs), approval by the Select Board or their agent, or proof of insurance may be required.
- Permits for off-premises directional signs may be refused by the sign agent and can be appealed to the proper authority.

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

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