# Sign Regulations in Gloucester, Massachusetts

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Gloucester, Massachusetts (MA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/massachusetts/gloucester
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-08
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/MA/Gloucester/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=PTIICOOR_CH5BUBURE_ARTIINGE_S5-4OUILSTINSTILSI)

## At a glance

Gloucester, Massachusetts regulates 10 sign types across 9 zoning districts. Menu Sign/Speaker Board (Drive-Through)s in the General Regulations For All Zones zoning district are capped at 6 ft tall and 30 sq ft (Sec. Section 5.17.5(e)(1)). Most commercial signs in Gloucester require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (9 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 2 | 6 ft | 30 sq ft | — |
| Shopping Center (Major Project) (districts as applicable by project type) | 2 | — | — | — |
| Drive-Through Facilities Districts (CB, NB, EB, VB, MI, GI, BP) | 1 | 6 ft | 30 sq ft | — |
| Hotel Overlay District (HOD) | 1 | — | — | — |
| 107 & 125 Atlantic Road Hotel Overlay District (ARHOD) | 1 | — | — | — |
| Mixed Use Overlay District (MUOD) | 1 | — | — | — |
| Major Project (districts as applicable by project type, e.g. multi-family, shopping center, assisted living, commercial, etc.) | 1 | — | — | — |
| Medical Marijuana Treatment Center and Medical Marijuana Cultivation Facility (as permitted in Community Service Use districts per Table 2.3.2 and with Site Plan Approval/Special Permit) | 1 | — | — | — |
| Marijuana Establishments (as permitted in zoning districts identified in Section 2.3, including those requiring Site Plan Approval and/or Special Permit) | 1 | — | — | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 9 zones)

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Identification Sign (Home Occupation) | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | 1 | Exterior wall or lot for home occupation | — | Section 5.3.3 - 5.3.7 |
| Menu Sign/Speaker Board (Drive-Through) | 6 ft | 30 sq ft | — | — | — | Physically shielded from any public street and residential properties by landscaping or other means | — | Section 5.17.5(e)(1) |

### Shopping Center (Major Project) (districts as applicable by project type)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign (Shopping Center) | — | — | — | No sign within required setbacks from Route 128 | 1 | On the shopping center premises | — | Section 5.7.5(f)(12) |
| Building Sign per Business (Shopping Center) | — | — | — | — | 1 per business | On the shopping center premises, building mounted | — | Section 5.7.5(f)(12) |

### Drive-Through Facilities Districts (CB, NB, EB, VB, MI, GI, BP)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Menu Sign/Speaker Board (Drive-Through) | 6 ft | 30 sq ft | — | — | — | Physically shielded from any public street and residential properties by landscaping or other means | — | Section 5.17.5(e)(1) |

## Prohibited signs in Gloucester

- No sign shall be located within required setbacks from Route 128 (see Section 5.7.5(f)12).
- No signage or advertising for Medical Marijuana Treatment Centers or Medical Marijuana Cultivation Facilities shall be misleading, deceptive, or false or designed to appeal to minors (Section 5.27.7).
- Marijuana plants, products, and paraphernalia shall not be visible from outside the building of any marijuana establishment (Section 5.31.5.5).
- It is unlawful to operate a marijuana establishment without a valid state license and without required City Council Special Permit or Planning Board Site Plan Approval (Section 5.31.10).
- No Hotel, or portion thereof, in the Hotel Overlay District may be used as a condominium, cooperative, time share, or allow any guest to occupy a room for more than 90 consecutive days. No casino is allowed (Section 5.25.3.3).

## Signs exempt from permit in Gloucester

- Menu signs and speaker boards for drive-through facilities up to 30 square feet and 6 feet in height do not require a separate sign permit, but must comply with Section 4.3 sign requirements (Section 5.17.5.e.1.a).

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Shopping Center parking areas must comply with Section 4.3. No part of any sign shall be located within required setbacks from Route 128 (Section 5.7.5(f)12).
- Site Plan submittal for non-residential developments/major projects must include the design of any freestanding signs (Section 5.8.5.1.D).
- All on-premise signage in the Hotel Overlay District and Mixed Use Overlay District must comply with Section 4.3, which governs signage standards citywide (Sections 5.25.6 and 5.29.7).
- In drive-through facilities, menu signs and speaker boards must follow zoning sign requirements (Section 4.3), but do not require a separate permit under the sign ordinance (Section 5.17.5.e.1.a).
- Wireless Communication Facility applications must include the design/details of any permitted signs (Section 5.13.5.5.d).

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

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