# Sign Regulations in Chelsea, Massachusetts

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Chelsea, Massachusetts (MA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/massachusetts/chelsea
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-07
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/MA/Chelsea/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=PTIICOOR_CH14LIPEMIBURE_ARTIVJUDE_S14-110SIBEDI)

## At a glance

Chelsea, Massachusetts regulates 14 sign types across 19 zoning districts. Identification Sign (Wall or Freestanding)s in the Residential R-1 District (R1), Residential R-2 District (R2), Residential R-3 District (R3) zoning district are capped at 4 ft (freestanding) tall and 2 sq ft, with a At least 3 ft from street line for freestanding signs. setback (Sec. Sec. 34-109(b)(1)). Most commercial signs in Chelsea require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (19 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Residential R-1 District (R1), Residential R-2 District (R2), Residential R-3 District (R3) | 4 | 4 ft (freestanding) | 20 sq ft | — |
| Retail Business District (BR), Retail Business 2 District (BR2) | 7 | 42 in | Max 15% of window size per main display window. | — |
| Highway Business District (BH), Shopping Center District (SC), Industrial District (I), Waterfront District (W) | 1 | — | 200 sq ft total (for both signs); Freestanding sign: max 15% of building face area or 60 sq ft (whichever is less); in open-air use, 60 sq ft per 100 ft of lot frontage. | — |
| Naval Hospital Development—Commercial (NHC) | 1 | — | — | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 1 | — | — | — |

_14 additional zoning districts are covered in PermitPal (free account)._

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 19 zones)

### Residential R-1 District (R1), Residential R-2 District (R2), Residential R-3 District (R3)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Identification Sign (Wall or Freestanding) | 4 ft (freestanding) | 2 sq ft | — | At least 3 ft from street line for freestanding signs. | One per occupant per wall or yard facing a street. | On each wall facing a street or in each yard facing a street; if freestanding, must be set back at least 3 ft from the street line. | — | Sec. 34-109(b)(1) |
| Bulletin or Announcement Board (Wall or Freestanding) - Nonresidential Buildings | — | 10 sq ft per permitted nonresidential building/use | — | Freestanding signs must not be located nearer to a street line than one-half the depth of the required front yard. | One bulletin or identification sign per permitted nonresidential building/use; churches, etc. may have two per building. | Wall or freestanding, provided freestanding sign is not located nearer to a street line than one half the depth of the required front yard. | — | Sec. 34-109(b)(2) |
| Temporary Real Estate Sign | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | One per premises. | On the premises being advertised. | — | Sec. 34-109(b)(3) |
| Temporary Contractor's Sign | — | 20 sq ft | — | — | One per premises under construction. | On the building where work is in progress. | — | Sec. 34-109(b)(4) |

### Retail Business District (BR), Retail Business 2 District (BR2)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Upper Story Signage (Wall or Window Graphic) | — | — | — | — | One per establishment per frontage. | On upper story facade (between 2nd and 3rd story windows or on window glass). One sign per establishment per frontage. | — | Sec. 34-109(c)(1) |
| Building Name and Address Plaque | — | — | — | — | One per designated primary entrance per frontage. | Above or next to main entry doors; one primary entrance per street frontage. | — | Sec. 34-109(c)(2) |
| Sign Band Wall Sign | — | — | — | — | One per frontage (corner business: one per frontage). | Horizontal band above storefront windows or on upper floors below windows/cornice; one per street frontage for corner businesses. | — | Sec. 34-109(c)(3) |
| Awning Sign | — | — | May not project more than 5 ft from facade. | — | One awning per window/entrance. | Above display windows or building entrances; both sides for corner storefronts. | — | Sec. 34-109(c)(4) |
| Projecting Sign (Blade, Shingle, Pendant) | — | — | Projects max 36 inches from building (including brackets); must maintain 6 in space between sign and building face. | — | One per business per frontage (if corner, one per street frontage). | Mounted near entrance on facade; corner businesses may have one per frontage. | — | Sec. 34-109(c)(5) |
| Window and Door Graphic | — | Max 15% of window size per main display window. | — | — | No explicit limit, but only on each main display window. | Affixed to main display windows and main entry doors. | — | Sec. 34-109(c)(6) |
| Sidewalk Sign (Sandwich Board, Easel) | 42 in | — | 30 in | Not within 5 ft of property line nor within 2 ft of curb. | One per business. | Directly in front of business, not within 5 ft of property line nor within 2 ft of curb. | — | Sec. 34-109(c)(7) |

### Highway Business District (BH), Shopping Center District (SC), Industrial District (I), Waterfront District (W)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Business/Office Sign (Wall or Freestanding) | — | 200 sq ft total (for both signs); Freestanding sign: max 15% of building face area or 60 sq ft (whichever is less); in open-air use, 60 sq ft per 100 ft of lot frontage. | — | — | Two signs per establishment or occupancy (one may be freestanding). In open-air use, one freestanding sign per 100 ft of street frontage. | Wall sign attached to building; one freestanding sign allowed per establishment (located on lot frontage). For open-air use/no building: one freestanding sign per 100 ft of lot frontage. | — | Sec. 34-109(d)(1) |

## Prohibited signs in Chelsea

- Billboards or off-premises signs (signs advertising a business, service or product at another location) shall not be erected except upon the issuance of a special permit by the zoning board of appeals.
- No sign or advertising device shall be stationary, except time and temperature indicators, and may not contain any visible moving or movable parts.
- No sign shall generate music or an audible message.
- No sign, other than traffic control and route signs authorized by public agencies and temporary sidewalk signs per section 34-109(c)(7), shall be placed within a public right-of-way.
- No sign shall be so designed, colored or placed, as to endanger, obscure, confuse, blind by glare or otherwise create a hazardous condition to motor vehicle traffic or pedestrians.
- No sign painted or attached to a building shall project more than six inches from the wall or above its roof or parapet line except within the BR and BR2 Districts.
- No sign shall be placed in any side or rear yard adjoining a residential district.
- Internally illuminated sign boxes with translucent plastic faces are prohibited.
- Mobile signs are prohibited in the city.
- Sidewalk signs are prohibited in the city except in the BR and BR2 Districts per section 34-109(c)(7).
- No temporary sign shall be placed or allowed to be placed or affixed to any public building, land, fence, utility pole, or tree within the city.
- Lighting for signs shall be continuous and non-flashing.
- Exposed neon-type or exposed gas-illuminated signs must be high-quality and in conformance with all applicable sections.
- Plastic awnings are prohibited.
- All signs or advertising devices shall be stationary; visible moving or movable parts are prohibited except time and temperature indicators.
- All signs shall be maintained in a safe, clean, sanitary and inoffensive condition.
- Signs deemed unsafe or structurally deficient by inspectional services shall be removed within seven days or sooner at the discretion of the building inspector.
- No sign shall obscure architectural features or block motorist and pedestrian sight lines.
- No hanging or projecting signs shall be permitted except within the BR and BR2 districts.
- Temporary signs relating to a business, service, product, or activity on the premises must be removed from public view within seven days after the activity advertised has ceased or after substantial damage to the sign, whichever comes first.
- Banners, flags, and pennants associated with a temporary event are not allowed on any premises for more than four weeks in aggregate in any calendar year, except for the extension by the building inspector for a seasonal event.
- Plastic and banner-style sidewalk signs are not permitted.

## Signs exempt from permit in Chelsea

- Signs existing at the adoption of the ordinance that were the subject of a valid building permit, or otherwise have legal protection under M.G.L. c. 40A, §§ 6 or 7, shall be considered pre-existing non-conforming uses and are subject to all protections for such uses.
- Off-premises signs or billboards lawfully erected and maintained, and for which a permit was issued under M.G.L. c. 93, and in compliance with the ordinances of the city and otherwise lawful in all respects on the date that the permit was issued, may be used and maintained and may be repaired or replaced without approval of the zoning board of appeals.
- Municipal uses are exempt from all regulations set forth in the chapter, including sign regulations.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Any sign erected or painted on a structure after the adoption of the ordinance must conform to applicable standards laid out in the ordinance.
- The erection of any sign in excess of six square feet, hanging or projecting signs, or sidewalk signs requires a permit from the building inspector and the zoning enforcement officer.
- All signs in the Everett Avenue urban renewal area are subject to design review and design standards under section 34-155(h) and (i).
- All sign plans for planned developments (section 34-155) shall be submitted for review, and signs must be reviewed and approved by the department of planning and development for size, color, shape, design, number, and scale.
- For planned developments, all signage shall be in scale with the site, buildings and pedestrians and motorists; care must be taken to minimize the number of signs and avoid blocking view lines.
- Unless otherwise required, applicants are to show sign plans as part of site plan review submissions.
- The planning board shall require a landscaping plan (section 34-108), which may include the review of sign location and design as part of the overall site plan.
- Site plan applications (section 34-215(e)(1)e) must include a sign plan indicating location, size, illumination, and design of all signs on the site.
- Full buildout applications for certain overlay and special districts must include a sign plan as part of site design review.
- Signs for wind facilities (34-134(e)(2)b) shall comply with section 34-109 and are limited to identification, 24-hour emergency contact, safety warnings, and educational uses.

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

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