# Sign Regulations in Georgetown Town, Massachusetts

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Georgetown Town, Massachusetts (MA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/massachusetts/georgetown-town
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/6485368#6485368)

## At a glance

Georgetown Town, Massachusetts regulates 11 sign types across 4 zoning districts. Wall Sign (Single Business)s in the Business District (CA, CB, CC) zoning district are capped at May not extend above a flat roof or the elevation of the front wall by more than 20% of average height of front elevation tall and 15% of front wall area (Sec. § 165-65A). Most commercial signs in Georgetown Town require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (4 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Residential District (RA, RB, RC) | 4 | — | 12 square feet | — |
| Business District (CA, CB, CC) | 5 | May not extend above a flat roof or the elevation of the front wall by more than 20% of average height of front elevation | 20% of window area | — |
| Industrial District (IA, IB) | 3 | May not extend above a flat wall by more than 20% of average height of front elevation | 15% of front wall area | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 1 | — | — | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 4 zones)

### Residential District (RA, RB, RC)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Identification Sign (Dwelling/Accessory Use) | — | 1 square foot | — | — | One per family residing on premises | On the premises, for each family | — | § 165-64A |
| Use Sign (Other Than Dwellings and Accessory Uses) | — | 12 square feet | — | — | One per building/use | On the premises, pertaining to permitted buildings and uses of the premises | — | § 165-64B |
| Temporary Real Estate Sign | — | 12 square feet | — | — | One per premises | On the premises related to its sale, rent or lease | — | § 165-64C |
| Directional Sign (Non-Dwelling Use) | — | 1 square foot | — | — | — | Pertaining to permitted buildings and uses other than dwellings and accessory uses | — | § 165-64D |

### Business District (CA, CB, CC)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign (Single Business) | May not extend above a flat roof or the elevation of the front wall by more than 20% of average height of front elevation | 15% of front wall area | — | — | One per building | Mounted on the face of the building | — | § 165-65A |
| Wall Sign (Multiple Businesses/Jointly Occupying) | May not extend above a flat roof or front elevation by more than 20% of average height | 15% of the front wall area of that section | — | — | One per separate business | Mounted on the face of the building | — | § 165-65A |
| Freestanding Sign | — | 15% of front wall area or 60 sq ft, whichever is smaller | — | 15 ft from street line; 20 ft from side line | One per building | Within the front yard area of the building | — | § 165-65B |
| Directional Sign | — | 3 square feet | — | — | — | — | — | § 165-65C |
| Window Sign | — | 20% of window area | — | — | One per window | In each window of the building | — | § 165-65D |

### Industrial District (IA, IB)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | May not extend above a flat wall by more than 20% of average height of front elevation | 15% of front wall area | — | — | One per main building | Mounted on the face of the main building (as determined by principal trafficway/street orientation) | — | § 165-66A |
| Freestanding Sign | — | 15% of front wall area or 60 sq ft, whichever is smaller | — | 20 ft from street line, 30 ft from lot lines | One per main building | Within the front yard area of the building | — | § 165-66B |
| Directional Sign | — | 3 square feet | — | — | — | — | — | § 165-66C |

## Prohibited signs in Georgetown Town

- Signs, any part of which moves or flashes, or signs of the traveling light or animated type, and all beacons and flashing devices whether a part of, attached to or apart from a sign, are prohibited.
- All illumination of signs shall be so arranged as not to be directed towards any portion of a public way or upon another lot than that upon which it is located and shall not cause glare on any portion of a public way or upon another lot than that which it is located.
- It shall be unlawful for any person to place or maintain or to display upon or in view of any street any unofficial sign, signal or marking which purports to be or is an imitation of or resembles an official traffic sign, signal, marking or device or which attempts to direct the movement of traffic or which hides from view any official sign or signal.
- It shall be unlawful for any person to willfully deface, injure, move, obstruct or interfere with any official traffic sign, signal or marking.

## Signs exempt from permit in Georgetown Town

- The foregoing provisions relating to nonconforming uses and structures shall not apply to billboards, signs and other advertising devices subject to the provisions of MGL c. 93, §§ 29 through 33, inclusive, and MGL c. 93D.
- Signs, cones and lighted barriers are permitted as required for the protection of workers and the motoring public in accordance with the approved Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices and the Work Zone Traffic Control Standards and Guidelines.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- No general or master sign plan requirement is explicitly stated in these sections.
- Subdivision plans filed for approval allow the Planning Board to erect cautionary signs; disturbance of these signs is not permitted, but this is not a general sign plan requirement.

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

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