# Sign Regulations in Groton Town, Massachusetts

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Groton Town, Massachusetts (MA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/massachusetts/groton-town
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/9078082#9078082)

## At a glance

Groton Town, Massachusetts regulates 38 sign types across 4 zoning districts. Freestanding Sign (Single Occupancy)s in the Business District, Overlay District, Industrial District zoning district are capped at 10 ft tall and 20 sq ft (Sec. §196-7A). Most commercial signs in Groton Town require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (4 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Residential District | 5 | — | 6 sq ft | — |
| Business District, Overlay District, Industrial District | 19 | 10 ft | Total area of both signs: 150% of allowed site sign area | — |
| Historic Districts | 1 | — | — | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 13 | — | 25 sq ft | — |

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

### Residential District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Identification Sign (Street Number/Occupant) | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | — | On premises | — | §196-6A |
| Professional/Home Occupation/Nonresidential Building Sign | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | 1 per business | On premises | — | §196-6B |
| Subdivision/Multifamily Entrance Sign | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | 1 per entrance | At each public entrance to subdivision or multifamily development | — | §196-6C |
| Family Unit Identification Sign | — | 1 sq ft | — | — | 1 per family unit | Each family unit | — | §196-6C |
| Residential Marker Sign | — | 3 sq ft | — | — | — | On premises | — | §196-6D |

### Business District, Overlay District, Industrial District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign (Single Occupancy) | 10 ft | 20 sq ft | — | — | 1 per lot | On premises with adequate property | — | §196-7A |
| Building/Wall Sign (Setback >70 ft, by building size <5,000 sq ft) | — | 20 sq ft | — | >70 ft | 1 per building | On building | — | §196-7B |
| Building/Wall Sign (Setback >70 ft, by building size 5,000–10,000 sq ft) | — | 40 sq ft | — | >70 ft | 1 per building | On building | — | §196-7B |
| Building/Wall Sign (Setback >70 ft, by building size >10,000 sq ft) | — | 60 sq ft | — | >70 ft | 1 per building | On building | — | §196-7B |
| Wall Sign (in lieu of Freestanding Sign) | — | Corresponds to formula for building sign by size | — | >70 ft | 1 per building | On building | — | §196-7B |
| Freestanding Sign (Multioccupancy) | — | 20 sq ft | — | — | 1 per site | On premises, at entrance | — | §196-7C |
| Wall Sign (Multioccupancy; strip-mall-style) | — | 20 sq ft | — | — | 1 per unit | Each unit (strip-mall) | — | §196-7D |
| Freestanding Sign (Two-road exposure) | 10 ft | Total area of both signs: 150% of allowed site sign area | — | — | 2 per property with 2 road frontage | One on each public road frontage | — | §196-7H |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Temporary Sign (General) | — | 8 sq ft per side | — | — | — | On property of the business/use served; exceptions for real estate, Town Commons & Main Street banners | — | §196-9A, §196-9B, §196-9C |
| Temporary Sign (Exempt: Political) | — | — | — | — | — | With permission of owner | — | §196-9F(1) |
| Temporary Sign (Exempt: Yard Sale) | — | — | — | — | — | Not allowed on Town/public land | — | §196-9F(2) |
| Temporary Sign (Exempt: Contractor/Vendor) | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | — | On property being worked on | — | §196-9F(3) |
| Temporary Sign (Exempt: Business Event/Institutional/Religious/Not-for-Profit) | — | Event sign: conforms to temporary sign regulations (8 sq ft per side) | — | — | No more than one temporary sign per event/property | Attached to building/site or freestanding, per event. | — | §196-9F(4), §196-9F(5), §196-9F(6) |
| Temporary Sign (Exempt: Small Window Sign) | — | 1.5 sq ft | — | — | 1 per address at a time | In window | — | §196-9F(8) |
| Temporary Sign (Exempt: For Lease/Sale) | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | — | On premises | — | §196-9F(9) |
| Open Flag | — | 3 ft x 5 ft (15 sq ft) | — | — | 1 per business | On premises | — | §196-10D |

## Prohibited signs in Groton Town

- No sign shall be erected, altered or relocated without a permit issued by the Land Use Department (unless exempted).
- Neon lighting will not be permitted.
- Interior illuminated signs will not be permitted, with the exception of barber poles on barber shops.
- Signs which advertise an activity, business, product or service no longer produced or conducted on the premises are prohibited.
- Signs which contain or consist of banners, pennants, ribbons, streamers, spinners, other moving devices, strings of light bulbs or other similar devices are prohibited, except as specifically approved as a street banner over Main Street.
- Signs which have blinking, flashing or fluttering lights or other illuminating devices with changing intensity, brightness or color are prohibited.
- Signs illuminated by other than a stationary white or off-white steady light are prohibited.
- Signs attached to utility poles, trees, fences, or structures such as overpasses and bridges are prohibited. Signs attached to other signs are prohibited unless such subsidiary portions are an integral part of the total sign design.
- Mechanically activated signs, other than rotating barber poles, are prohibited.
- A freestanding sign or part thereof that is more than 10 feet above ground level, or crown of the street (whichever is lower), or a projecting or wall sign or part thereof that is higher than the wall to which it is attached or 20 feet above ground level (whichever is less), is prohibited. Roof-mounted signs shall not extend above the peak of the roof.
- Signs mounted on a truck or trailer chassis whose primary function is a sign for commercial advertising and not for transport of goods or merchandise are prohibited.
- Illuminated vending machines are prohibited.
- Temporary signs are not to be attached to a utility pole, traffic signs, fences, trees or other vegetation.
- It shall be unlawful for any person to place or maintain or display upon or in view of any street any official sign, signal, marking or device which purports to be or resembles an official traffic sign, or which hides from view any official sign or signal.
- No person shall operate or park a vehicle on any street or highway for the sole purpose of displaying advertising signs.
- No person shall erect or cause to be erected upon or above any Town sidewalk, street or highway right-of-way any advertising sign or device projecting more than six inches unless a permit has been issued by the Select Board.
- No person shall place or leave any article, material, merchandise, or park any vehicle or cart in any sidewalk, street or highway for the purpose of displaying merchandise, unless a permit has been issued as required.
- No building sign will be permitted to extend above the peak of the roof on which it is erected.
- Window signs may not occupy more than 20% of the total area of the window in which they are hung. No interior sign illumination will be allowed.

## Signs exempt from permit in Groton Town

- Political, ideological, charitable, or religious message signs are exempt from the provisions of the bylaw, provided they are not affixed to a traffic sign, tree, or utility pole in a public way and do not exceed dimensional limitations.
- Signs containing cautionary messages, such as 'Beware of Dog' or 'No Trespassing,' are exempt from permit requirements provided they do not exceed two square feet.
- Directional and traffic safety signs erected pursuant to Town or state regulation shall not be counted in maximum sign number and area requirements for a lot.
- One 'open' flag per business (max three feet by five feet) is allowed with no permit required. Decorative flags are permitted on residences.
- Temporary signs in the following categories do not require a permit and must be removed within the time specified: political signs (with permission of property owner), yard sale signs (limited duration and location), contractor or vendor signs (while work is occurring or for up to 48 hours after), business event signs attached to approved framework, special event signs for institutional/religious/not-for-profit organizations within specified timing and quantity, special event signs attached to a building/site structure (displayed only on event day), 'Grand Opening,' 'Open House,' or celebratory signs within size and duration limits, a single small window sign (not illuminated, under 1.5 sq ft, two weeks or less), and signs pertaining to lease or sale of a lot/building (up to six sq ft).
- Public interest signs as described above.
- Signs displaying the assigned property number of a residence as required by postal and emergency services codes.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A permit is required for the erection, alteration, or relocation of any sign unless the sign is exempted.
- Where multiple signs are to be attached to a building, the exact location of the signs is subject to approval by the Land Use Department at the time the permit is issued (unless the sign is in a Historic District or issued as a result of a decision by the Sign Committee or Planning Board).
- Permit applications for signs associated with a project under site plan review must be reviewed by the Planning Board.
- Unique or special circumstances (variances from bylaw criteria) require a public hearing by the reviewing body, documented decision, and do not constitute precedent for similar signage on the same or any other property.
- Off-premises signs require a permit, must be reviewed as a 'unique and special circumstance,' and require written permission of the property owner.
- Approval of a sign under unique or special circumstances requires a public hearing, publication/posting/notice to abutters, and final action within 21 days of the close of hearing (unless extended by agreement).
- Temporary signs generally require a permit, except for specified exempt categories listed above.
- Display or expressions of political, religious, ideological, or charitable ideas may be exempt from the general bylaw provisions but must comply with placement and dimensional limitations.
- Any signs involved must be in compliance with applicable bylaws; all signs must be removed upon completion of each sale; no sign will be permitted on public property without permission of the Select Board.

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

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