# Sign Regulations in Everett, Massachusetts

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Everett, Massachusetts (MA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/massachusetts/everett
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-21
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/39552419#39552419)

## At a glance

Everett, Massachusetts regulates 23 sign types across 8 zoning districts. Occupant/Address Signs in the Residential District zoning district are capped at 4 ft tall and 2 sq. ft., with a At least 3 ft from street line setback (Sec. 12A-53(a)). Most commercial signs in Everett require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (8 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Historic District | 1 | — | — | — |
| Residential District | 6 | 4 ft | 32 sq. ft. | — |
| Non-Residential District | 10 | 30 ft above grade | 125 sq. ft. per face (max 2 faces) | — |
| Urban Renewal Project Area | 1 | — | — | — |
| Dwelling District, Apartment District, Business Limited District, Industrial Limited District | 1 | — | — | — |
| Business District | 1 | 5 ft | 6' x 3' x 5' high | — |
| Industrial District | 1 | 5 ft | 6' x 3' x 5' high | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 5 | 12 ft (standard); 15 ft (if 300ft or more from public way boundary) | Varies by location: Max 50 ft length/12 ft height; may be 40 ft x 15 ft if >300 ft from public way boundary | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 8 zones)

### Residential District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Occupant/Address Sign | 4 ft | 2 sq. ft. | — | At least 3 ft from street line | 1 per lot | Attached to building or on a rod/post at least 3 ft from street line | — | 12A-53(a) |
| Bulletin Board/Name-sign/Entrance Marker for Church or Institution | — | 20 sq. ft. | — | — | Max 3 per church or institution, based on frontage | On premises of church or institution | — | 12A-53(b) |
| For Sale or For Rent Sign | — | 8 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per property | On property advertised | — | 12A-53(c) |
| Building Contractor's/Developer's Sign | — | 32 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per lot | On lot under construction | — | 12A-53(d) |
| Entrance Sign for Tract Divided Into Building Lots | — | 20 sq. ft. per entrance | — | — | 1 per entrance | At each entrance to tract | — | 12A-53(e) |
| Sign Accessory to Non-Conforming Use | — | No more than half area allowed in non-residential district | — | — | 1 per non-conforming use | Accessory to non-conforming use | — | 12A-53(f) |

### Non-Residential District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| All Residential Signs | — | — | — | — | — | Same as Residential District | — | 12A-54(a) |
| Wall Sign (Attached Parallel to Building) | Max height is whichever is lowest: 25 ft above grade, or top of sills of first level of windows above first story, or height of the building at building line | — | — | — | — | Parallel to building wall | — | 12A-54(b) |
| Window Sign (Permanent, Non-Illuminated, Interior) | — | 30% of total glass area of windows appurtenant to the use | — | — | — | Inside glass of window | — | 12A-54(c) |
| Projecting Sign (Right Angles to Building) | No higher than whichever is lowest: 25ft above grade, top of sills of first level windows above first story, or height of building at building line; Bottom at least 10ft from grade | 24 sq. ft. on either side; 10 sq. ft. extra per side if with public service device | — | — | 1 per entrance | Perpendicular to building | — | 12A-54(d) |
| Freestanding Sign (1-2 Uses on Lot) | 25 ft above grade | 65 sq. ft. per face (max 2 faces) | — | — | 1 | On lot | — | 12A-54(e)(1) |
| Freestanding Sign (3+ Uses on Lot) | 30 ft above grade | 125 sq. ft. per face (max 2 faces) | — | — | 1; 2 if lot frontage >= 200ft | On lot with 3+ uses | — | 12A-54(e)(2) |
| Temporary Event/Sale Sign (Window) | — | 30% of window | — | — | — | Affixed to window | — | 12A-54(f) |
| Directional Sign (Non-Advertising) | — | 12 sq. ft. per face | — | — | — | — | — | 12A-54(g) |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Political Sign (Temporary) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 12A-61 |
| Off-Premise Sign / Billboard | 12 ft (standard); 15 ft (if 300ft or more from public way boundary) | Varies by location: Max 50 ft length/12 ft height; may be 40 ft x 15 ft if >300 ft from public way boundary | 50 ft (standard); 40 ft (if 300ft or more from public way boundary) | Min 50 ft from public way; Min 300 ft from parks/playgrounds; Min 50 ft from another billboard (unless back-to-back); Min 100 ft from public way if >8x4ft; Min 300 ft from public way for larger sizes | — | — | — | 12A-65 |
| Sign or Structure Over Public Way (General) | — | — | — | — | — | Over public sidewalk or way | — | 12A-46, 12A-47, 17-15 |
| Shopkeeper Sign (for Junk/Secondhand Shop) | Max letter height: 12 in. | — | — | — | — | Conspicuous location on shop | — | 12-63 |
| Pawnbroker Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Conspicuous place on business | — | 12-211 |

## Prohibited signs in Everett

- No sign located on private property shall be erected, altered or relocated without a permit issued by the Building Inspector.
- No billboards, signs or other advertising devices shall be erected or maintained on or over the public ways of the city, or on private property with public view of a public way or public park or reservation, except as permitted by statute and relevant regulations.
- Signs or structures over public ways shall, when erected, be at least ten (10) feet over the sidewalk and at least twenty (20) feet over a public way.
- On-premise signs which advertise an activity, business, product or service no longer produced or conducted on the premises upon which the sign is located are prohibited.
- Signs which contain or consist of pennants, ribbons, streamers, spinners, other moving devices, or other devices are prohibited.
- Signs which have blinking, flashing or fluttering lights or other illuminated devices with changing light intensity, brightness, or color are prohibited.
- Signs which are pasted or attached to utility poles, trees, fences, other signs, or structures on or over public or private ways are prohibited.
- Movable or portable 'trailer signs' are prohibited, except for signs and other advertising devices on rolling stock.
- Flashing lights or simulations of traffic signals or emergency vehicle lights shall not be used. Red and green colored lights shall not be used when placed so as to obscure or hazard the clear vision of traffic control signals or constitute a hazard as determined by the Building Inspector.
- Spotlights or floodlights shall not be aimed such that any portion of the main beam can be seen from a public way.
- Except for copy changes on signs with changeable letter panels, no sign shall be reconstructed, extended, or changed structurally or in content contrary to this ordinance.
- Every sign must be kept in repair, painted, and in good condition.
- No support for a sign shall extend above the cornice line of a building to which it is attached.

## Signs exempt from permit in Everett

- Signs incidental to the display of merchandise and window displays of merchandise are excluded from the definition of 'sign' and do not require permits under this ordinance.
- Temporary signs pertaining to special sales or events lasting no more than fifteen days affixed to windows, provided that their total area does not exceed thirty percent of the window, do not require a permit.
- Directional signs necessary for public safety and convenience that do not exceed twelve square feet per face and bear no advertising are not counted in computing total sign area and are generally exempt.
- Political campaign signs are exempt from the provisions of this ordinance provided that they are of a temporary nature and are removed within thirty days after the election to which they refer.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A comprehensive sign design (sign plan) certified by the Office of Community Development may be required when the total area of signs on a sign frontage exceeds the standard limits; approval is contingent on the plan being a complementary and harmonious synthesis of signs and architectural features.
- A 'comprehensive sign design' for a sign frontage, building front, or group of buildings may be submitted to the Community Development Office for review.
- Variances and appeals involving signs are handled by the Board of Appeals; a sign plan may be discussed or approved through this process, particularly if standard ordinance requirements are to be modified.
- A certificate of appropriateness from the Historic Districts Commission must accompany applications for signs in Historic Districts unless exempt under state law.

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

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