# Sign Regulations in Gardner, Massachusetts

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Gardner, Massachusetts (MA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/massachusetts/gardner
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-21
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/34393294#34393294)

## At a glance

Gardner, Massachusetts regulates 11 sign types across 5 zoning districts. Wall Sign or Individual Letter Sign (First Floor)s in the Commercial Districts, Industrial Districts zoning district are capped at 4 feet tall and 80 square feet (Sec. § 675-970A). Most commercial signs in Gardner require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (5 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 1 | — | — | — |
| Commercial Districts, Industrial Districts | 8 | Top no higher than 20 feet from ground (min 10 feet from ground to bottom above sidewalk) | 80 square feet | — |
| Historic Districts, Sites listed on the National Historic Register, Sites listed on the State Register of Historic Places | 6 | Top max 20 feet above ground; bottom min 10 feet above sidewalk | 40 square feet | — |
| Single-family Residential Districts, Two-family Dwellings (in any district) | 2 | — | 3 square feet | — |
| Multifamily Districts | 1 | — | 12 square feet | — |

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

### Commercial Districts, Industrial Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign or Individual Letter Sign (First Floor) | 4 feet | 80 square feet | — | — | Any, provided total sign area doesn’t exceed allowed maximum. | On exterior wall of first floor; signs for other floors limited to 6 feet in length. | — | § 675-970A |
| Wall Sign or Individual Letter Sign (Other than First Floor) | 4 feet | — | 6 feet | — | Any (aggregate area/width/height restrictions apply) | On exterior wall above first floor | — | § 675-970A |
| Secondary Wall Sign | — | 40 square feet | — | — | Max 2 secondary signs | On wall with direct entrance or a wall facing a street or parking area (other than front). | — | § 675-970B |
| Directory Sign | — | — | — | — | 1 per entrance | On exterior wall or pole at each entrance or appropriate location. | — | § 675-970C |
| Directional Sign | 6 feet (wall mounted), 3.5 feet (freestanding) | 2 square feet | — | — | — | Near street, driveway, or parking area as needed for safety/direction. | — | § 675-970D |
| Freestanding Establishment Sign | 15 feet | 50 square feet | — | — | 1 | On lot of the establishment; only one allowed. | — | § 675-970E |
| Awning Sign | — | — | — | — | — | On awning | — | § 675-970F |
| Perpendicular Sign | Top no higher than 20 feet from ground (min 10 feet from ground to bottom above sidewalk) | 8 square feet (individual); total signage max 80 square feet including alternate signage | — | — | 1 | Within 5 feet of establishment entrance above sidewalk | — | § 675-970G |

### Historic Districts, Sites listed on the National Historic Register, Sites listed on the State Register of Historic Places

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign or Individual Letter Sign (First Floor) | 4 feet | 40 square feet | — | — | — | On exterior wall of first floor | — | § 675-980A & § 675-980B |
| Wall Sign or Individual Letter Sign (Other than First Floor) | 4 feet | — | 6 feet | — | — | On exterior wall above first floor | — | § 675-980A & § 675-980B |
| Secondary Wall Sign | — | 30 square feet | — | — | Max 2 | On wall with direct entrance, or wall (other than front) facing street/parking. | — | § 675-980C |
| Awning Sign | — | — | — | — | — | On awning | — | § 675-980D |
| Freestanding Establishment Sign | 6'6" | 20 square feet | — | — | 1 | On lot of establishment, only one allowed, only for name of establishment or center | — | § 675-980F |
| Perpendicular Sign | Top max 20 feet above ground; bottom min 10 feet above sidewalk | 8 square feet (individual); combined max 40 square feet with any alternative signage. | — | — | 1 | Within 5 feet of establishment entrance, above sidewalk | — | § 675-980G |

### Single-family Residential Districts, Two-family Dwellings (in any district)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Resident Identification Sign | — | 2 square feet | — | — | 1 per lot | On lot, identifying the occupants | — | § 675-950A |
| Real Estate Sign | — | 3 square feet | — | — | — | On private property | — | § 675-950G |

## Prohibited signs in Gardner

- No exterior sign or advertising device shall be erected except as provided by this chapter.
- No sign that requires a sign permit under this chapter shall be erected except in the exact location and manner described in the permit.
- No sign shall be erected that in any way creates a traffic hazard or obscures or confuses traffic control.
- Signs shall not be illuminated between the hours of 11:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. unless related to an establishment operating during those hours.
- The illumination from any sign shall be shaded, shielded, directed, and maintained at a sufficiently low intensity and brightness that it shall not affect the safe vision of operators of vehicles moving within the premises or on any adjacent public or private way.
- Any sign that advertises or identifies products, businesses, services or activities that are no longer sold, located, or carried on at the premises shall be removed within 60 days after written notice by the Building Commissioner.
- No sign shall be erected with any part closer than 10 feet to the traveled roadway or side or rear yard lot lines.
- All billboards, signs on utility poles, trees, or fences, and all signs not located on the same premises as the advertised activity, business, product, or person are prohibited.
- All signs consisting of pennants, ribbons, streamers, spinners, revolving beacons or animated skies are prohibited (except as provided in §675-960).
- Mobile signs (signs that are placed on a chassis or designed to be taken from site to site) are prohibited (except as provided in §675-960).
- Portable signs (signs on sidewalks that swing freely) are prohibited.
- No sign shall flash, rotate, or make noise.
- No sign shall move or give the illusion of moving, except for indications of time and temperature or barber poles.
- No roof signs shall be erected except those placed at least one foot below the top of the lower slope of a mansard roof.
- No person or corporation shall place, maintain, or display upon or in view of any street any unofficial device, sign, signal, or curb or street marking which purports to be or is an imitation of or resembles an official traffic device, sign, signal, or curb or street marking or which attempts to direct the movement of traffic or which hides from view any official sign, signal, marking or device.
- No person shall willfully deface, injure, move, obstruct or interfere with any official traffic sign, signal, device or marking.

## Signs exempt from permit in Gardner

- One residential identification sign for single- and two-family dwellings identifying the occupants, not exceeding two square feet, using only indirect white light if illuminated.
- One identification sign for any other permitted use in residential districts, limited as above.
- Signs erected and maintained by the City of Gardner, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, or the federal government on their land or buildings.
- One temporary construction sign for a new project (not more than 32 square feet, non-illuminated), erected only after a building permit is issued and removed within seven days of completion or occupancy.
- Fuel pump signs identifying the name, type of fuel, and price on service station fuel pumps.
- Window signs in commercial or industrial districts, provided total coverage does not exceed 30% of window/door area and are not otherwise illuminated (except by building lighting).
- Political signs and posters on private property.
- Real estate signs (up to 3 square feet in single-family districts, 12 square feet in other districts), allowed up to 30 days beyond the closing of a sale.
- Displaying products sold on the premises in commercial/industrial districts (provided promotional/pricing information is on permitted signs and not affixed to products; and products are not on public land, sidewalks, parking areas, or traveled ways).
- Public service signs not exceeding two square feet to recognize an entity performing a service at no cost to the public, provided only the name is identified, not a product, person, premises, or activity; and must meet placement and removal requirements.
- Temporary handwritten signs covering no more than 20% of window/door area and not remaining longer than 30 days.
- One standing sign (e.g., sandwich board/announcement board/public info sign) not exceeding 12 square feet for notices/announcements of services/events, located within the required front yard and not left on public land overnight, unless authorized.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- All signs (except as provided in §675-950) require a sign permit with application and supporting documentation as specified by the Building Commissioner.
- No explicit mention in the provided text of a master or comprehensive sign plan requirement for larger developments, nor of a required variance hearing except for expanding, extending, or enlarging a nonconforming sign, which must conform or have a lawful variance.
- Variance procedures apply if a nonconforming sign is to be expanded, extended, or enlarged and is not otherwise brought into conformity.
- The Building Commissioner may require additional pertinent information to ensure compliance as part of the sign permit process.

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

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