# Sign Regulations in Groveland Town, Massachusetts

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Groveland Town, Massachusetts (MA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/massachusetts/groveland-town
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/35391930#35391930)

## At a glance

Groveland Town, Massachusetts regulates 10 sign types across 4 zoning districts. General Sign (Dwelling Unit)s in the Residential districts zoning district are capped at 5 ft above ground level, unless attached to a building tall and 2 sq ft, with a Not within 10 ft of traveled way, unless insufficient setback setback (Sec. §50-11.6.A(2)(a); §50-11.6.A(1)(a,b)). Most commercial signs in Groveland Town require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (4 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Residential districts | 4 | 5 ft above ground level, unless attached to a building | 12 sq ft | — |
| Business Districts, Limited Business Districts | 4 | 5 ft | Up to 36 sq ft | — |
| Industrial District | 4 | 5 ft | Up to 40 sq ft | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 3 | 5 ft | 6 sq ft | — |

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

### Residential districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Sign (Dwelling Unit) | 5 ft above ground level, unless attached to a building | 2 sq ft | — | Not within 10 ft of traveled way, unless insufficient setback | One per dwelling unit | On lot of dwelling unit; must not be erected within 10 ft of any traveled way unless insufficient setback exists, then must be attached to the building wall facing the traveled way | — | §50-11.6.A(2)(a); §50-11.6.A(1)(a,b) |
| Subdivision/Planned Unit Development Identification Sign | — | 12 sq ft | — | — | One per subdivision or planned unit development | At entrance to development or subdivision | — | §50-11.6.A(2)(b) |
| Home Occupation Sign | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | One per qualifying home occupation | On property of home occupation | — | §50-11.6.A(2)(c) |
| Temporary Sign | 5 ft | 6 sq ft | — | 10 ft from traveled way except if insufficient setback | Max 3 plus 1 per additional separate unit | On lot; must be set back at least 10 ft from traveled way unless insufficient setback, in which case attached to building wall facing the traveled way | — | §50-11.6.A(2)(d); §50-11.8 |

### Business Districts, Limited Business Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign, Awning Sign, Hanging Sign, or Window Sign (Nonresidential, Non-mixed-use) | — | 15 sq ft | — | — | One per street | Facing each street the premises has access to | — | §50-11.6.B(2) |
| Freestanding Sign (Mixed-use/Multi-tenant, Option 1) | — | Up to 36 sq ft | — | — | One per lot | On lot facing street | — | §50-11.6.B(3)(a) |
| Wall Sign, Awning Sign, Hanging Sign, or Window Sign (Mixed-use/Multi-tenant, Option 2) | — | 10 sq ft | — | — | One per tenant | One per tenant | — | §50-11.6.B(3)(b) |
| Temporary Sign | 5 ft | 6 sq ft | — | 10 ft from traveled way except if insufficient setback | Max 3 plus 1 per additional separate unit | As permitted by §50-11.8 | — | §50-11.8 |

### Industrial District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign, Awning Sign, Hanging Sign, or Window Sign (Nonresidential, Non-mixed-use) | — | 20 sq ft | — | — | One per street | Facing each street the premises has access to | — | §50-11.6.C(2) |
| Freestanding Sign (Mixed-use/Multi-tenant, Option 1) | — | Up to 40 sq ft | — | — | One per lot | On lot facing street | — | §50-11.6.C(3)(a) |
| Wall Sign, Awning Sign, Hanging Sign, or Window Sign (Mixed-use/Multi-tenant, Option 2) | — | 12 sq ft | — | — | One per tenant | One per tenant | — | §50-11.6.C(3)(b) |
| Temporary Sign | 5 ft | 6 sq ft | — | 10 ft from traveled way except if insufficient setback | Max 3 plus 1 per additional separate unit | As permitted by §50-11.8 | — | §50-11.8 |

## Prohibited signs in Groveland Town

- Any sign not permitted in these sign regulations.
- Any sign within or that projects or extends within the right-of-way of a public or private street or way, including sidewalks, except for those specifically exempted.
- Any sign that may be confused with an official traffic control device.
- Pennants and banners, except as specifically permitted by this bylaw.
- Inflatable signs.
- Flashing 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.
- Changeable copy electronic message panels and/or signs displaying images or messages that change more than one time per day.
- Roof signs.
- Temporary and portable signs, except as permitted.
- Signs placed so as to create a hazard due to blocked sightlines from public and private roadways and driveways.
- Off-premises signs.
- Signs erected upon motor vehicles, trailers, or other moveable objects regularly or recurrently located with the intent of fixed display, except for signs mounted on motor vehicles which are clearly incidental to the use of such motor vehicles.
- Sign illuminated between the hours of 11:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m., unless such premises is open to the general public during these hours.
- Signs illuminated to cast glare onto any portion of a way which would create a traffic hazard.
- Signs that cause direct illumination of adjacent property.
- Billboards.
- Signs exceeding 15 feet in height.

## Signs exempt from permit in Groveland Town

- Official traffic control devices required, maintained, or installed by a federal, state, or local governmental agency or an active railroad.
- House/Building (address) number, including a nameplate displaying the surname of the occupant of a single-family residential dwelling.
- Building marker indicating the name of a building and date and incidental information about its construction, which marker is cut into a masonry surface or made of bronze or other permanent material.
- National flags, state or municipal flags, or the official flag of any institution.
- War veteran markers installed within the public right-of-way at locations approved by the Board of Selectmen.
- Holiday lights and decorations.
- Devices on residential properties that otherwise might be considered signs, but are only intended for the personal enjoyment of the residents thereof, and not intended to attract the attention of the public and not generally visible from a public way.
- Changeable copy electronic message panels utilized by the Police Department within the right-of-way.
- Official legal notices, or public warning/informational bulletins posted by the Town, state, or federal government within the right-of-way.
- Signs posted by a public utility company within the right-of-way.
- Temporary banners suspended across a street, road, or way if authorized by the Board of Selectmen within the right-of-way.
- Signs installed by a governmental agency, a public utility company, or a contractor doing authorized or permitted work within the right-of-way.
- Signs required by a valid and applicable federal, state, or local law, regulation, or bylaw.
- Any sign inside a building, including signs attached to the inside of a window or door, not visible beyond five feet from the exterior of the window.
- Any sign inside an athletic facility, including inward facing signs attached to the inside of a wall or fence.
- Traffic directional signs, utilized solely as traffic control devices on private property, the faces of which meet Department of Transportation standards and which have been shown on a site plan approved by the Planning Board.
- Signs installed by a governmental agency, a public utility company, or a contractor doing authorized or permitted work within the right-of-way of an adjacent street.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A building permit is required for the placement, construction, erection, or modification of any sign except temporary, home occupation, and exempt signs as defined in this article. The permit application shall be accompanied by detailed drawings to show the dimensions, design, structure, and location of each sign. A single application and permit may include multiple signs on the same premises.
- Traffic directional signs used as traffic control devices on private property must be shown on a site plan approved by the Planning Board.
- The Zoning Board of Appeals may issue a special permit (variance) for larger or additional signs when such signs are essential to the permitted use and not detrimental to the surrounding property or public welfare.

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

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