# Sign Regulations in Lakeville Town, Massachusetts

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Lakeville Town, Massachusetts (MA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/massachusetts/lakeville-town
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/37235183#37235183)

## At a glance

Lakeville Town, Massachusetts regulates 12 sign types across 2 zoning districts. Freestanding Signs in the General Regulations For All Zones zoning district are capped at 20 ft measured from crown of road; (absolute maximum for any freestanding sign: 30 ft, see prohibitions) tall and 32 sq ft (unless directory/entrance sign, then up to 64 sq ft); changeable copy/electronic message/internally illuminated portions limited to 12 sq ft, with a 10 ft from street right-of-way; 30 ft from side/rear property lines. setback (Sec. § 270-6.6B, § 270-6.6C(1-3,6,8,10), § 270-6.6F(3-6), § 270-6.6G(9,12,13), § 270-6.6G(2)). Most commercial signs in Lakeville Town require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (2 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 7 | 20 feet from crown of road or not above highest part of building (not exceeding 20 ft from ground level) | 64 sq ft (double-sided allowed) | — |
| Residential | 5 | — | 12 sq ft | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | 20 feet from crown of road or not above highest part of building (not exceeding 20 ft from ground level) | 15% of wall area or 32 sq ft, whichever is less | — | — | Two signs per business or industrial establishment. In multiple tenant sites: one wall sign per establishment. | Attached to building. May not project horizontally more than 2 ft. Shall not project into or over any way. | — | § 270-6.6B(1-2), § 270-6.6C(2,5,7,9,11), § 270-6.6G(2,12) |
| Freestanding Sign | 20 ft measured from crown of road; (absolute maximum for any freestanding sign: 30 ft, see prohibitions) | 32 sq ft (unless directory/entrance sign, then up to 64 sq ft); changeable copy/electronic message/internally illuminated portions limited to 12 sq ft | — | 10 ft from street right-of-way; 30 ft from side/rear property lines. | Two signs per business or industrial establishment; for multi-tenant sites: one freestanding directory sign per site; subdivisions may have one entrance sign in addition. | Minimum 10 ft from street right-of-way; 30 ft from side or rear property lines. | — | § 270-6.6B, § 270-6.6C(1-3,6,8,10), § 270-6.6F(3-6), § 270-6.6G(9,12,13), § 270-6.6G(2) |
| Temporary Sign | 20 ft (by general height limit) | 32 sq ft | — | Follow standard setback for all signs: 10 ft from right-of-way, 30 ft from side/rear property lines. | — | Exterior, in conformance with general setbacks for all signs. | — | § 270-6.6E(1-8), § 270-6.6B |
| Window Sign | — | 30% of the total area of all windows and doors | — | — | — | Affixed to window or door | — | § 270-6.6C(12), § 270-6.6G(2) |
| Subdivision Sales Sign (Temporary) | 20 ft (by general height limit) | 32 sq ft | — | — | One | — | — | § 270-6.6C(13) |
| Changeable Copy Sign / Electronic Message Board (Freestanding) | 20 ft (by general height limit) | 12 sq ft (portion of sign) | — | — | One per property | Part of freestanding sign | — | § 270-6.6F(3-7), § 270-6.6G(9,10,12) |
| Directory Sign (Freestanding) | 20 ft (by general height limit), maximum absolute 30 ft (prohibition) | 64 sq ft (double-sided allowed) | — | 10 ft from street right-of-way, 30 ft from side/rear property. | One per property (shared common directory) | Central, common location for multi-tenant properties | — | § 270-6.6C(3,8), § 270-6.6F(5), § 270-6.6G(12,13) |

### Residential

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Name Sign (Residence) | — | — | — | — | — | On residential structures or driveways, for purpose of indicating name(s) of resident. | — | § 270-6.6D(3) |
| For Sale/Lease/Rent Sign (Residential) | — | — | — | — | — | On real property in residential zones. | — | § 270-6.6D(4) |
| Subdivision or Residential Development Identification Sign | — | 12 sq ft | — | 10 ft from property lines. | — | At subdivision or entrance to residential development. | — | § 270-6.6D(7) |
| Temporary Poster, Placard, or Political Sign | — | — | — | — | — | On residential property | — | § 270-6.6D(2) |
| Directional/Traffic Entry/Egress Sign (Residential) | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | — | Driveways, parking lots, and access/egress points | — | § 270-6.6D(5) |

## Prohibited signs in Lakeville Town

- No sign shall be erected, altered, or relocated without a permit issued by the Building Commissioner, except as otherwise provided.
- No sign shall be located closer than 10 feet from the street right-of-way, and no closer than 30 feet from the side or rear property lines.
- Signs shall be limited to a maximum height of 20 feet as measured from the crown of the road directly perpendicular to the sign.
- Signs shall be limited in number to two signs for each business or industrial establishment or company, subject to conditions for multi-tenant locations.
- Unless permitted elsewhere in this bylaw, no sign may exceed 32 square feet in area.
- Signs erected upon or attached to a building shall not project horizontally more than two feet; into or over any way; or above the highest part of the building, not exceeding 20 feet from ground level.
- No freestanding sign shall project more than two feet horizontally from its means of support.
- The colors red, green or yellow shall not be used in a manner that might confuse the meaning of stop signs, stop lights or other traffic signs.
- Freestanding signs shall have landscaping at the base.
- All signs must be maintained; including awning material, lettering, lighting, and landscaping.
- Freestanding signs are permitted to have either a changeable copy sign or an electronic message board as part of its sign but not both.
- Wall signs shall not exceed 15% of the area of the wall it is attached to or 32 square feet, whichever is less.
- Window signs shall not exceed 30% of the total area of all windows and doors.
- No sign shall be attached to or obstruct any fire escape, fire or emergency exit; no sign shall be located so as to obstruct free passage of light and air to any door, window, skylight, or other similar opening.
- No sign shall be located in such a way that it prevents the driver of a vehicle from having a clear and unobstructed view, from an adequate and safe distance, of any official sign or approaching traffic.
- Roof-mounted signs that are taller than two feet or extend over the peak of the roof are prohibited.
- No sign shall be attached to utility poles, trees, or traffic control signs or devices, except for public event banners or flags.
- Portable signs are prohibited except for temporary signs.
- Electronic message boards or the electronic message board portion of a sign that exceeds 12 square feet are prohibited.
- Changeable copy signs or the portion of a sign that is changeable copy that exceeds 12 square feet are prohibited.
- Electronic outdoor advertising signs are prohibited.
- Internally illuminated signs greater than 24 square feet are prohibited.
- Freestanding signs exceeding 30 feet in height are prohibited.
- Signs not located at the location of the business or off-premises signs are prohibited.
- No illumination shall be permitted which casts glare onto any residential premises or onto any portion of a way so as to create a traffic hazard.
- Signs, any part of which moves, flashes, or incorporates traveling or animated lights, and all beacons and flashing devices, whether a part of, attached to, or apart from a sign, are prohibited.
- Any sign considered by the Building Commissioner, Police Department or Fire Department to be obstructive, hazardous, or dangerous must be removed immediately, but not later than seven days following notice.

## Signs exempt from permit in Lakeville Town

- Flags or insignia of the United States or any political subdivision thereof or any other nation or country when not used for commercial promotion or display.
- Temporary posters, placards, or signs associated with a political campaign or current political issue associated with an election.
- Signs located on residential structures or driveways, for the primary purpose of indicating the name or names of the resident.
- For sale, lease, or rent signs on real property or the signs of real estate agents or brokers.
- Signs less than two square feet designating entry and egress from parking areas, and other directional traffic control and safety-related signs.
- Normal highway control signs, hazard signs, and other state-approved highway safety signs.
- Permanent subdivision or residential development identification signs that do not exceed 12 square feet, may only be externally illuminated by spotlights, and are set back 10 feet from property lines.
- One sign not exceeding 32 square feet on a building or project under construction, repair, or renovation identifying the contractor, architect, and/or owner, provided it is removed upon issuance of an occupancy permit.
- Fuel pump information signs, only as required by state law, which do not affect the computation of allowable number of signs or aggregate sign size on a property.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- There is no explicit requirement for a Master Sign Plan, sign plan, or variance meeting for general signage, but signs larger in area or higher than specified or a greater number of signs may be granted by special permit of the Board of Appeals or Zoning Board of Appeals as applicable.
- A special permit may not be issued for signs prohibited under general sign prohibitions (§ 270-6.6G).
- Changeable copy signs, electronic message board signs, and internally illuminated signs or the relevant portion require a special permit by the Zoning Board of Appeals.

## Full detail

Complete sign requirements for Lakeville Town, including every field PermitPal tracks for each sign type, are available with a free PermitPal account: https://app.permitpal.io/?address=Lakeville+Town+MA&override=true&utm_source=landing&utm_medium=city-page&utm_campaign=city-lakeville-town

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