# Sign Regulations in Falmouth Town, Massachusetts

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Falmouth Town, Massachusetts (MA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/massachusetts/falmouth-town
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/9074047#9074047)

## At a glance

Falmouth Town, Massachusetts regulates 21 sign types across 7 zoning districts. Freestanding Signs in the Business Districts, Industrial Districts, Public Use Districts, Marine Districts zoning district are capped at 18 ft tall and 16 sq ft (all permitted uses); 40 sq ft (shopping center); 100 sq ft (shopping mall), with a Must comply with minimum building setbacks setback (Sec. §184-25(A), (B)). Most commercial signs in Falmouth Town require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (7 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Business Districts, Industrial Districts, Public Use Districts, Marine Districts | 6 | 18 ft | 75 sq ft | — |
| Residential Districts | 2 | 8 ft | 2 sq ft (standard); 12 sq ft for residential developments of 10+ lots | — |
| Community Service Uses | 2 | 12 ft | 16 sq ft | — |
| All Other Districts | 2 | 18 ft | 16 sq ft (business/agricultural/horticultural/floricultural uses by special permit); 8 sq ft (commercial accommodation, 5-20 guests); 4 sq ft (commercial accommodation <5 guests) | — |
| Historic Districts | 1 | — | — | — |
| Agricultural Districts | 1 | — | — | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 7 | — | Max area 40 sq ft (freestanding), or wall sign not exceeding 10% of area affixed; except shopping mall: 132 sq ft | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 7 zones)

### Business Districts, Industrial Districts, Public Use Districts, Marine Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign | 18 ft | 16 sq ft (all permitted uses); 40 sq ft (shopping center); 100 sq ft (shopping mall) | — | Must comply with minimum building setbacks | 1 per parcel, with certain cases allowing more (lots on multiple streets, driveways, etc.) | On premises in fixed location; not attached to building, fence, or wall | — | §184-25(A), (B) |
| Wall Sign | — | 75 sq ft | — | — | No explicit max; combined area controls; one roof or wall sign per wall. | Affixed parallel to wall of principal building (not more than 6 in projection) | — | §184-37A-G |
| Projecting Sign | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | 1 per business property (in lieu of freestanding sign) | Over pedestrian ways (must be ≥10 ft above surface) | — | §184-35 |
| Multiple or Ladder Sign | Per Freestanding sign regulation/table | Per freestanding sign table; sign with building/complex name plus occupant(s) | — | Within minimum building setback for main sign; additional directory signs may be beyond setback. | 1 per street frontage (main); directory--no limit for 9+ business sites | Freestanding or attached, in place of freestanding sign. One per street frontage. | — | §184-31 |
| Window Sign | — | ≤25% of window area (each wall per business, each street/parking lot face) | — | — | Unlimited, subject to coverage (25% of window) and neon (2 max) rules | On or within four feet of window, facing street or parking lot | — | §184-38 |
| Sandwich Board Sign | — | 8 sq ft per side | — | — | 1 per business | Within 15 ft of main business entrance; must be brought inside at close of business | — | §184-30D |

### Residential Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign (Residential Use) | 8 ft | 2 sq ft (standard); 12 sq ft for residential developments of 10+ lots | — | Set back behind property line | See §184-25B(3) for driveways/multiple frontage | On premises, set back behind property line | — | §184-25 (Table + Note 4) |
| Wall Sign (Residential Use) | — | — | — | — | 1 (address or home occupation) | Affixed to building | — | §184-21, §184-26(B) |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Billboard | — | Max area 40 sq ft (freestanding), or wall sign not exceeding 10% of area affixed; except shopping mall: 132 sq ft | — | — | — | — | — | §184-5A, §184-5D |
| Flashing Sign, Roof Sign, Moving Parts/Reflective/Mobile Sign | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | §184-5B, §184-6A |
| Address Sign | — | 2 sq ft | — | Post behind property line | 1 per premises | On building or post ≤4 ft high, set behind property line | — | §184-21, §184-13D(1) |
| Construction Sign | — | 12 sq ft | — | Set behind property line | — | On-premises during construction, set behind property line | — | §184-23, §184-13D(8) |
| For Sale/Rent/Lease Sign | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | 2 per property | On premises only | — | §184-24, §184-13D(2) |
| Political Sign | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | — | On private property | — | §184-34, §184-13D(3) |
| Public Service Sign | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | — | As needed for safety/info; not included in total sign area | — | §184-36, §184-13D(5) |

## Prohibited signs in Falmouth Town

- Billboards, streamers, pennants, ribbons or other similar devices are prohibited in all zoning districts, with exceptions for certain flags, bunting for national holidays, and temporary banners for charitable or civic events.
- Flashing signs, roof signs, signs containing moving parts, and parts containing reflective elements which sparkle or twinkle in sunlight are prohibited.
- Signs advertising or identifying a business or organization that is defunct or no longer located on the premises are prohibited, except for landmark signs.
- No sign shall be larger than forty (40) square feet, except a mall sign, which may be up to one hundred thirty-two (132) square feet.
- No sign, except for traffic, regulatory, or informational signs, shall use the words 'stop', 'caution', or 'danger', incorporate red, amber or green lights resembling traffic signals, or resemble 'stop' or 'yield' signs in shape and color.
- No person may erect a sign which flashes, rotates, or has motorized moving parts (except for rotating barber poles).
- No person may erect a sign with exposed electrical wires.
- No person may erect a sign that constitutes a hazard to pedestrian or vehicular traffic because of the intensity or direction of illumination.
- No person may erect a sign which is affixed to a fence, utility pole, or tree.
- Signs shall not be mounted above the roof ridge line unless on a parapet wall which extends above the roofline; the sign may not extend above the parapet.
- No projecting sign shall extend into a vehicular public or private way or be less than ten (10) feet above a pedestrianway.
- No freestanding sign (with framework) may extend above eighteen (18) feet from the level of the nearest street center line.
- Signs shall not cover architectural details such as arches, sills, moulding, cornices, or transom windows.
- No person may erect a sign which is structurally unsafe.
- No person may erect a sign that is inadequately maintained, dilapidated, abandoned, or constitutes a hazard to public safety or health.
- No person may erect a sign that obstructs entrances or exits from required doors, windows, or fire escapes.
- No person may erect a sign that obstructs light or air or interferes with the proper functioning of the building.
- No person may erect a sign capable of causing electrical shock.
- Movable, portable, or mobile signs are not permitted in any district, except as specifically exempted.
- Painted wall signs and painted roof signs are prohibited.
- Window signs exceeding twenty-five percent (25%) of total window area for a business are prohibited.

## Signs exempt from permit in Falmouth Town

- Signs erected or posted and maintained for public safety and welfare or pursuant to any governmental function, law, bylaw, or other regulation are exempt.
- A bulletin board or similar sign not exceeding ten (10) square feet in display area, in connection with any church, museum, library, school, or similar public or semipublic structure is exempt, provided it does not have prohibited characteristics and is not more than eight (8) feet above ground.
- Directional signs solely indicating ingress and egress at driveway locations, with no advertising material, not exceeding three (3) square feet in area or four (4) feet in height above ground, are exempt provided they meet all requirements.
- Signs relating to trespassing and hunting, warning of danger (such as 'High Voltage'), not exceeding two (2) square feet in area are exempt.
- The following sign types are authorized by right (no permit necessary): Address signs, 'For sale, rent or lease' signs, political signs, flags, public service signs, window signs, off-premises directional signs for events, and contractor signs.
- Nautical signal flags attached to a yard arm from a single flagpole are exempt.
- Public service signs erected by the Town, County, or Commonwealth for the direction and control of traffic are exempt.
- Buntings exhibited to commemorate national patriotic holidays are exempt.
- Temporary banner(s) announcing charitable or civic events, as allowed by ordinance, are exempt.
- Off-premises directional signs for one-day events not exceeding six (6) square feet displayed for a maximum of eighteen (18) hours are allowed by right without a license or sign permit.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- No sign shall be erected, displayed, altered, or enlarged until an application has been filed and a permit issued, except for certain types of exempt signs.
- A sign permit application for signs over eight (8) square feet, and for all signs in any Historic District zone, must be referred to the Design Review Committee for recommendation to the Building Commissioner.
- All signs in Historic Districts must also receive approval from the Historic District Commission.
- Variance requests require a written application and a public hearing by the Board of Selectmen.
- Applicants for variances must provide detailed information (perspectives, renderings, photographs, models, etc.) in addition to standard sign permit materials.
- For certain exempt signs (e.g., address signs, political signs, for sale signs, window signs, public service signs, contractor signs, and off-premises directional signs for events), no permit is required.
- Removal of nonconforming signs and permit enforcement processes may require plans or documentation.
- Directory signs for properties containing nine or more businesses must comply with specific dimensional and design standards, and are referenced in sign plan application processes.

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

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