# Sign Regulations in Harwich Town, Massachusetts

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Harwich Town, Massachusetts (MA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/massachusetts/harwich-town
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/12263231#12263231)

## At a glance

Harwich Town, Massachusetts regulates 24 sign types across 5 zoning districts. Freestanding Portable Signs in the Commercial District, Industrial District zoning district are capped at 3 ft tall, 6 sq ft per side, and 3 ft wide (Sec. §325-26K). Most commercial signs in Harwich Town require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (5 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Historic District | 1 | — | — | — |
| Commercial District, Industrial District | 6 | 12 feet unless otherwise specified | 60 sq ft | — |
| Residential District | 6 | 18 inches | 20 sq ft | — |
| Municipal Property | 3 | 6 ft (4 ft at Doane Park) | Ground/Cluster: 60 sq ft; Wall: 48 sq ft | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 8 | min 5 ft, max 8 ft (to top of sign) | 6 sq ft (all signs combined) | — |

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

### Commercial District, Industrial District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign (Single-Tenant) | Cannot exceed height of building; projecting wall sign: At least 8 ft ground clearance | 48 sq ft per public entrance facade | — | — | 48 sq ft per public entrance facade | On building facade (wall sign), parallel or perpendicular to face | — | §325-27D, §325-29F, §325-26A-H |
| Cluster Sign | — | 60 sq ft | — | — | 1 per development (more by special permit) | Ground sign for multiple tenants | — | §325-27E, §325-26I |
| Ground Sign | 12 feet unless otherwise specified | — | — | — | — | On ground, supported by poles or uprights | — | §325-27C, definition |
| Freestanding Portable Sign | 3 ft | 6 sq ft per side | 3 ft | — | 1 per business per frontage (max one per business) | On property, one per business per frontage; must not block walkways or public right-of-way | — | §325-26K |
| Temporary Sign | 4 ft | 9 sq ft | — | — | — | On commercial property | — | Temporary Signs definition; §325-31O |
| Off-Premises Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Within commercial or industrial district; requires property owner permission | — | §325-29A(3)(a)-(e) |

### Residential District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Quarterboard, Residential | 18 inches | — | 10 ft | — | — | Wall mounted | — | §325-29A(5), §325-31H |
| Home Occupation Sign (Residential Use) | — | 9 sq ft | — | — | — | Attached to any structure and/or fence | — | §325-29A(2), §325-31C |
| Real Estate Sign | — | 9 sq ft | — | — | 1 per street frontage | Not within public right-of-way | — | §325-29A(6), §325-31G |
| Subdivision Sign | 6 ft | 20 sq ft | — | — | 1 per street entrance | At each street entrance | — | §325-29A(7) |
| Off-Premises Sign (Agricultural Uses) | — | — | — | — | — | Residential district, opposite exit ramps for Route 6 on Routes 124 and 137 | — | §325-29A(3)(b) |
| Temporary Sign (Political Signs, Construction Signs, Special Event Flyers) | — | 8 sq ft (Construction Sign), see below for others | — | — | Political: as authorized by owner; Construction: 1 per parcel | On private property (political), on parcel under construction (construction sign) | — | §325-29A(4), (6), (G); §325-31F, §325-31I |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Business Hour Sign | — | 1 sq ft | — | — | — | On premises | — | Definitions; §325-31A |
| Directional Sign | — | — | — | — | — | On premises only, not for advertising | — | Definition |
| Cautionary Sign | — | 1 sq ft | — | — | Unlimited (but min 100 ft apart) | On each lot line | — | §325-29A(1); §325-31B |
| Parking Sign (Accessibility) | min 5 ft, max 8 ft (to top of sign) | — | — | — | 1 per designated space or pair | At or near designated parking spaces | — | §208-4A |
| Flyer | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | — | Not in windows, not attached to trees/poles/ROW | — | §325-31I, §325-29C |
| Umbrella Sign | — | — | — | — | — | On umbrellas at establishment | — | §325-29D, §325-31J |
| Vending Machine | — | — | — | — | 1 per premises (more by special permit) | On premises; must be internally shielded for exemption | — | §325-29E, §325-31K |
| Luminous Tube/Neon/Internally Illuminated Sign (Window/Vending Machine Only) | — | 6 sq ft (all signs combined) | — | — | — | In window or on vending machine | — | §325-26J |

## Prohibited signs in Harwich Town

- Sign placement shall not create a hazard or interfere with snow removal or vision or movement of motorists, pedestrians and bicyclists.
- All signs shall be reasonably placed so as to not obscure other signs.
- No signs shall be located in a public right-of-way nor shall they be located so as to block a public or private sidewalk, stairway, driveway or parking lot or impair sight distances for motorists or pedestrians.
- No sign shall be affixed to or posted in front of any guardrails located in a public right-of-way.
- Signs must be externally lit or backlit only, designed, installed and maintained to eliminate or minimize upward-directed light and glare, and should illuminate only the sign (not adjoining or nearby property).
- No animated signs are permitted.
- Freestanding portable signs must be unlit, inaudible, have no moving parts (except necessary hinges), and must be stable with no external supports.
- All signs and sign structures must be constructed of materials of sufficient strength and quality to withstand weathering or deterioration, and be maintained in good repair.
- Old signs and related hardware/structural supports must be removed before new signs are erected, unless incorporated into the new sign and approved.
- No sign (except as specifically provided for municipal or accessibility) shall be posted within a public right-of-way.
- Flyers not displayed in windows shall not be attached to trees, utility poles or be located within a public right-of-way.
- Sign area cannot be transferred between buildings or facades within a project; signage must be tied to a specific space via lease or purchase agreement.
- Permanent, noncommercial, nonmunicipal signs are not allowed on municipal property, except as allowed by ordinance.
- No temporary, noncommercial, nonmunicipal sign shall be chained, locked, or permanently affixed to any surface, structure, or landscape feature.
- No temporary, noncommercial, nonmunicipal sign may block a sidewalk, driveway, or impair sight distances for motorists.
- No temporary, noncommercial, nonmunicipal sign may block any other sign already in place.
- No sign exempted under § 325-31 shall be allowed on specified municipal properties.
- No sign may be located so as to block a public or private sidewalk, stairway, driveway or parking lot or impair sight distances for motorists or pedestrians.
- No sign may be placed so as to block any other sign already in place.
- No sign shall be affixed to or posted in front of any guardrails located in a public right-of-way.

## Signs exempt from permit in Harwich Town

- Business hour signs do not require a permit or notification and do not count towards total permitted signage.
- Cautionary signs do not require a permit or notification and do not count towards total permitted signage.
- Home occupation signs do not require a permit or notification and do not count towards total permitted signage.
- Municipal signs do not require a permit or notification and do not count towards total permitted signage.
- Temporary municipal signs do not require a permit or notification and do not count towards total permitted signage.
- Political campaign signs do not require a permit or notification and do not count towards total permitted signage.
- Real estate signs do not require a permit or notification and do not count towards total permitted signage.
- Residential quarterboard signs do not require a permit or notification and do not count towards total permitted signage.
- Special event flyers do not require a permit or notification and do not count towards total permitted signage.
- Umbrella signs do not require a permit or notification and do not count towards total permitted signage.
- Vending machines: one per premises unless more allowed by special permit; do not require a permit or notification and do not count towards total permitted signage.
- Water Department signs do not require a permit or notification and do not count towards total permitted signage.
- Town Meeting/election signs do not require a permit or notification and do not count towards total permitted signage.
- Open house and tag sale signs if displayed for not more than 48 hours do not require a permit or notification and do not count towards total permitted signage.
- Temporary signs do not require a permit or notification and do not count towards total permitted signage.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Nonmunicipal developments having more than one tenant or use within a project or premises shall provide a master sign plan for the entire structure or project for review and approval by the Planning Department staff prior to any sign permit approval by a Building Official.
- Total sign area within the master sign plan is subject to the size limitations of the ordinance. Sign area cannot be transferred to a single building or facade from other buildings in the project. In addition, the amount of signage assigned to a specific space in a building shall be tied to that space through the lease or purchase agreement.
- Additional cluster signs or signage in excess of maximum area requirements may be allowed by special permit from the Planning Board.
- Applicants appealing permit denials or requiring a variance to sign regulations may request review at a Board of Appeals meeting.

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

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