# Sign Regulations in Foxborough Town, Massachusetts

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Foxborough Town, Massachusetts (MA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/massachusetts/foxborough-town
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/26807157#26807157)

## At a glance

Foxborough Town, Massachusetts regulates 46 sign types across 6 zoning districts. Freestanding Signs in the Sign District 1 zoning district are capped at 26 ft (commercial); 60 ft (large dev.), up to 40 ft (interior locations by SSP) tall and 100 sq ft (commercial); 400 sq ft (large dev., up to 200 sq ft at interior locations by SSP), with a 10 ft min; up to 100 ft or 350 ft for increased size at defined setbacks (per Table 2 Note 2 and §213-6A(3)(d)) setback (Sec. §213-6A(1) Table 2; §213-6A(3)(c)(d)). Most commercial signs in Foxborough Town require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (6 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Sign District 1 | 18 | 60 ft | 1,950 sq ft | — |
| Sign District 2 | 11 | 20 ft | 672 sq ft | — |
| Sign District 3 | 11 | 12 ft | 20 sq ft | — |
| Residential-Agriculture (R-40) Zoning District | 5 | 6 ft | 12 sq ft | — |
| Limited Industrial District | 1 | — | 672 sq ft | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 15 | 10 ft | 32 sq ft generally, 6 sq ft for house construction on single lot | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 6 zones)

### Sign District 1

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Awning Sign | — | 20% of area of wall or 200 sq ft (whichever is less); or 40% of area of wall (Large Developments) | — | — | 1 per building entrance visible to Route 1 | Affixed to exterior wall or over entrance visible to Route 1 | — | §213-5 Table 1; §213-6A(1); §213-5D(4); §180-8 |
| Banner Sign | — | 20 sq ft | — | — | See above | Affixed to building or facing Route 1 | — | §213-6A(1) Table 2 |
| Billboard | 50 feet; or up to 15% or 25% taller with extended setbacks | 672 sq ft; or up to 25% or 50% larger with extended setbacks | — | 10 ft minimum. 100 ft for 25% area/15% height increase; 350 ft for 50% area/25% height increase. | — | Frontage on Washington Street | — | §213-6A(1) Table 2 Notes; §213-6A(2)(a); §213-3C(1)(a)(g); §213-6A(2)(b) |
| Directory or Identification Sign | 12 ft (commercial); 40 ft (large dev.) | 30 sq ft (commercial); 200 sq ft (large dev.) | — | — | — | Freestanding or at entrances | — | §213-6A(1) Table 2 |
| Freestanding Sign | 26 ft (commercial); 60 ft (large dev.), up to 40 ft (interior locations by SSP) | 100 sq ft (commercial); 400 sq ft (large dev., up to 200 sq ft at interior locations by SSP) | — | 10 ft min; up to 100 ft or 350 ft for increased size at defined setbacks (per Table 2 Note 2 and §213-6A(3)(d)) | Per ingress/egress; limit according to type and special sign permits/interior spacing | Per vehicular ingress/egress (commercial: 1 per ingress/egress; large dev.: 2 per ingress/egress); Interior of large dev.: location and spacing per §213-6A(3)(c),(d) | — | §213-6A(1) Table 2; §213-6A(3)(c)(d) |
| Marquee Sign (Large Developments) | 60 ft | 1,950 sq ft | — | — | 1 per large development | One per large development fronting Washington Street | — | §213-6A(1) Table 2; §213-6A(3)(b) |
| Monument Sign | 8 ft (commercial); 12 ft (large dev.) | 100 sq ft (commercial); 200 sq ft (large dev.) | — | 10 ft | — | At entrance | — | §213-6A(1) Table 2 |
| Primary Sign | 26 ft (commercial) | 100 sq ft (commercial); see marquee above (large dev.) | — | 10 ft | 1 per vehicular ingress/egress | Per vehicular ingress/egress | — | §213-6A(1) Table 2 |

### Sign District 2

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Awning Sign | — | 20% of area of wall or 100 sq ft, whichever is less | — | — | 1 per building entrance | Per building entrance | — | §213-5 Table 1; §213-6B(1); §213-5D(4); §180-8 |
| Banner Sign | — | 20 sq ft | — | — | 1 per building entrance | Per building entrance | — | §213-6B(1) Table 3 |
| Directory or Identification Sign | 12 ft (if freestanding) | 20 sq ft | — | — | — | Freestanding | — | §213-6B(1) Table 3 |
| Freestanding Sign (<1 acre lot) | 20 ft | 20 sq ft | — | 10 ft minimum; 15 ft side and 40 ft rear if adjacent to residential/institutional | 1 per ingress/egress | Per vehicular ingress/egress | — | §213-6B(1) Table 3; §213-6B(2)(b) |
| Freestanding Sign (≥ 3 tenants and ≥ 1 acre lot) | 20 ft | 75 sq ft | — | 10 ft minimum; 15 ft side and 40 ft rear if adjacent to residential/institutional | 1 per ingress/egress | Per vehicular ingress/egress | — | §213-6B(1) Table 3; §213-6B(2)(b) |
| Monument Sign (<1 acre lot) | 6 ft | 15 sq ft | — | 10 ft | 1 per ingress/egress | Per vehicular ingress/egress | — | §213-6B(1) Table 3 |
| Monument Sign (≥ 3 tenants and ≥ 1 acre lot) | 6 ft | 40 sq ft | — | 10 ft | 1 per ingress/egress | Per vehicular ingress/egress | — | §213-6B(1) Table 3 |
| Wall Sign or Awning Sign | — | 20% of wall area or 100 sq ft (whichever is less) | — | — | 1 per building entrance | Per building entrance | — | §213-6B(1) Table 3 |

### Sign District 3

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Awning Sign (only allowed in conjunction with wall sign, or as alternative) | — | No more than 10% of awning face or sloped portion, up to 25 sq ft if no wall sign; up to 15 sq ft on valance if wall sign present; text up to 12 in height on face, 8 in on valance. | — | — | — | Awning face or valance | — | §213-6C(2)(a) |
| Banner Sign | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | 1 per building entrance; max 3 per lot | Per building entrance | — | §213-6C(1) Table 4; §213-6C(2)(b) |
| Directory or Identification Sign | 10 ft (if freestanding) | 15 sq ft | — | — | — | Freestanding | — | §213-6C(1) Table 4 |
| Freestanding Sign | 12 ft | 20 sq ft | — | 10 ft | 1 per lot | 1 per lot, minimum setback 10 ft from lot line | — | §213-6C(1) Table 4 |
| Monument Sign | 5 ft | 20 sq ft | — | 10 ft | 1 per lot | 1 per lot, minimum setback 10 ft from lot line | — | §213-6C(1) Table 4 |
| Portable Sign | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | 1 per building entrance | Per building entrance | — | §213-6C(1) Table 4 |
| Projecting Sign | — | 12 sq ft | — | — | 1 per building entrance | Per building entrance | — | §213-6C(1) Table 4 |
| Wall Sign or Awning Sign | — | 20% of wall area or 200 sq ft (whichever is less) | — | — | 1 per building entrance | Per building entrance | — | §213-6C(1) Table 4 |

## Prohibited signs in Foxborough Town

- Any sign not listed as a permitted or allowed sign in this bylaw, and any sign specifically designated as prohibited in this section, is a prohibited sign.
- Flashing, moving, rotating or revolving signs or lights, with the exception of barber poles and holiday decorations, are prohibited in all sign districts except when such signs are located in large developments that have frontage on Washington Street and are located within Sign District 1.
- Any sign or its illuminator that is erected or maintained that could be confused with, or obstruct the view of, any official traffic sign, signal, or traffic marking due to the location, size, shape or color of the sign.
- Any illuminated or reflective sign that by reason of its illumination mechanism causes excessive glare that creates a disturbance on any portion of a public way or lot upon which the sign or illuminator is not located.
- Pennants, ribbons, streamers, spinners, balloons, strings of lights not associated with a specific holiday or religious event, and flags other than those identifying a nation, state, city, town, or institutional organization, unless otherwise exempted by this bylaw.
- Roof signs other than those roof signs that are allowed in large developments that front on Washington Street in Sign District 1.
- Political signs exceeding one sign per candidate per road frontage or within 10 feet of the street line.
- Illegal and abandoned signs.
- Any signs other than governmental signs located within the public right-of-way.
- Abandoned signs are prohibited, and removal of any such sign, its structure, and associated mechanical or electrical equipment shall be the responsibility of the owner or operator of the sign or the owner or operator of the premises.
- All signs shall be maintained in good and safe condition.
- No sign that is subject to this bylaw shall be erected without a permit issued by the Building Commissioner, except as otherwise provided herein.

## Signs exempt from permit in Foxborough Town

- Identification signs not exceeding four square feet in area.
- Street identification, traffic and governmental signs and control devices required by any statute, regulation, bylaw or other legal requirement.
- Directional signs on the interior of private property, provided such signs do not exceed six square feet if they are visible from a public way.
- Accessory signs identifying such uses as parking, no parking, handicap access, etc., which do not exceed two square feet in area for each such sign, except that such signs may contain advertising and general advertising messages provided the entire sign does not exceed seven square feet in area per face in large developments that front on Washington Street in Sign District 1.
- Nonilluminated and illuminated open/closed business signs not exceeding two square feet in area.
- Construction signs not exceeding 32 square feet in area on any one lot. In the case of construction of a house on a lot not part of a subdivision or other larger development, a temporary construction sign may not be larger than six square feet in area. All construction signs shall be removed within 30 days of the completion of construction.
- Real estate signs not exceeding six square feet in area.
- Political signs not exceeding one sign per candidate per frontage on a public or private way.
- Any Massachusetts state inspection station identification sign, provided the sign is at a height that does not exceed 10 feet and is located on the building facade of the motor vehicle service station.
- Holiday or special events decorations for and during the particular holiday or event to which the signs relate or symbolize, unless otherwise prohibited by this bylaw.
- Temporary signs.
- Security or warning signs.
- Official permanent public information signs, memorial signs, building names, erection dates or similar information.
- Historic site plaques and markers.
- Signs and markers in cemeteries designating graves and memorials.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A completed sign permit application must include sign plans specifying the building, dimensions, colors, attachment methods, method of illumination, and location of each sign.
- Special sign permits are required for: billboards, off-premises signs, moving signs in large developments with frontage on Washington Street in Sign District 1, water tower signs, certain marquee signs, certain animated signs, or any sign that exceeds dimensional requirements but follows design guidelines.
- Signs requiring a special sign permit or an integrated sign permit are referred to the Board of Appeals; such applications must include sign plans as described.
- Applicants for special or integrated sign permits must provide 10 copies of the application, including sign plans and a certified plot plan.
- The Board of Appeals may adopt rules that define the sign plan submission requirements for special or integrated sign permits.
- Integrated sign permits may be sought for multiple signs in a large development, including signs otherwise requiring special sign permits.
- Any alteration that significantly affects illumination mechanisms, building materials and/or structure, digitization, increase in sign area or dimension, etc., may require review and approval by the Board of Appeals and may require updated sign plans.
- Any alteration or relocation needing additional relief under this or any other bylaw requires review and approval by the Board of Appeals including updated sign plans.

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

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