# Sign Regulations in Lexington Town, Massachusetts

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Lexington Town, Massachusetts (MA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/massachusetts/lexington-town
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/10607812#10607812)

## At a glance

Lexington Town, Massachusetts regulates 18 sign types across 5 zoning districts. Permanent Standing Signs in the Residential Districts zoning district are capped at 5 ft tall and 15 sq ft, with a At least 10 ft from edge of roadway pavement setback (Sec. § 5.2.7.5.d).

## Sign rules by zoning district (5 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 14 | Single-story: not above roofline or 18 ft (whichever is lower); Multi-story: not above 2nd story window sill | 100 sq ft | — |
| Residential Districts | 5 | 5 ft | Each not to exceed 30 sq ft | — |
| CM District, CRO District | 1 | 6 ft | 100 sq ft | — |
| CB District | 1 | 5 ft | 9 sq ft | — |
| CN District, CRS District, CS District, CSX District, CLO District | 1 | 5 ft | 20 sq ft | — |

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

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign (First Floor Principal) | 5 ft | 100 sq ft | — | — | 1 per façade | Façade facing street, municipal parking lot, Minuteman Bikeway, or public trail/path abutting property | — | § 5.2.7.1.a, § 5.2.7.1.f, § 5.2.7.1.g, § 5.2.7.1.c |
| Wall Sign (Above First Floor) | 5 ft | 9 sq ft | — | — | 1 per story, total not exceeding principal sign area | Establishments above first floor, per façade | — | § 5.2.7.1.a, § 5.2.7.1.c |
| Wall Sign (Secondary) | — | 6 sq ft per sign | — | — | 2 per entrance | Marking direct entrances or parking areas | — | § 5.2.7.1.b |
| Awning Sign | 8 in (letters/graphics); length: 36 in | — | 36 in (letters/graphics) | — | 1 | First floor establishments | — | § 5.2.7.3 |
| Projecting Sign | Single-story: not above roofline or 18 ft (whichever is lower); Multi-story: not above 2nd story window sill | 6 sq ft | — | — | 1 per façade | Per façade | — | § 5.2.7.4 |
| Motor Vehicle Fuel Station Sign | 10 ft | 50 sq ft | — | — | 1 per station | Fuel station | — | § 5.2.7.6 |
| Construction Sign | 8 ft | 32 sq ft (total) | — | — | 2 | On property under construction | — | § 5.2.7.7 |
| Portable Sign | 4 ft | 6 sq ft | — | — | 1 | On private property per establishment | — | § 5.2.7.8 |

### Residential Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Permanent Standing Sign | 5 ft | 15 sq ft | — | At least 10 ft from edge of roadway pavement | 1 | On residential property | — | § 5.2.7.5.d |
| Permanent Standing Sign (General Residential) | 5 ft (for standing signs) | Each not to exceed 30 sq ft | — | — | 2 | On residential property | — | § 5.2.6.1, § 5.2.6.2 |
| Permanent Standing Sign (>4 sq ft area) | — | — | — | No part of any standing sign over four square feet in sign area shall be located within five feet of the edge of the pavement of any street. | — | — | — | § 5.2.6.3 |
| Temporary Standing Sign | — | 4 sq ft per sign | — | — | — | — | — | § 5.2.6.5 |
| Wall Sign (Residential Use) | — | 30 sq ft | — | — | — | Not on or above roof | — | § 5.2.6.4 |

### CM District, CRO District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Permanent Standing Sign | 6 ft | 100 sq ft | — | At least 10 ft from edge of roadway pavement | 1 | Per lot | — | § 5.2.7.5.a |

## Prohibited signs in Lexington Town

- No person shall operate or park a vehicle on any street or highway for the sole purpose of displaying advertising signs.
- No person shall post, affix, paint, print or write, or cause to be painted, printed or written any notice, advertisement, bill, picture, drawing or writing upon any tree, post, pole, fence, wall, or building without prior consent from the owner/possessor and without conforming to sign regulations.
- No person shall, without a permit from the Select Board, post, affix, paint, print, or write any notice, advertisement, bill, picture, drawing, or writing upon any curbstone, sidewalk, tree, pole, post, hydrant, public walk, fence, or public building.
- No person shall, in any street or public place, carry and display for advertising purposes any show card, placard, or sign, except in accordance with a permit from the Select Board.
- No person shall break, deface, or move any official sign post, signaling or traffic device, warning barrier, lantern, or other light placed or located for traffic information, direction, or protection.
- No sign shall be illuminated between 11:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m., except on premises open for business.
- No internal illumination of a sign is permitted except upon issuance of a special permit.
- No sign, including window displays, or its illuminators shall obstruct a sidewalk, interfere with pedestrian or vehicular traffic, or be confused with or obstruct the view of any official traffic sign, signal, or marking.
- No red or green lights shall be used on any sign if, in the opinion of the Building Commissioner (with Chief of Police advice), such lights would create a driving hazard.
- No sign shall be painted or posted directly on the exterior surface of any wall (with exceptions for certain mounted signs or individual letters/devices).
- Every sign shall be maintained in good condition; damaged or deteriorated signs must be repaired or removed.
- Signs that incorporate flashing, moving, digital animation, video media display, or intermittent illumination (except public traffic control signs) are prohibited.
- Signs erected to obstruct any path of egress in or on a building are prohibited.
- Permanent banner signs are prohibited.
- Billboards, off-premises signs, and other non-accessory signs are prohibited.
- No wall sign shall project above the highest line of the main roof or parapet on the wall to which it is attached.
- No wall sign shall project more than 12 inches from the face of the wall.
- No projecting sign may project from the corner of a building at an angle (angular projection is prohibited).
- It is unlawful to place, maintain, or display any unofficial sign, signal, or marking on/in view of any street which imitates/resembles official traffic signs/signals or attempts to direct traffic or hides from view any official sign or signal.
- Willfully defacing, injuring, moving, obstructing, or interfering with any official sign, signal, or marking is prohibited.

## Signs exempt from permit in Lexington Town

- Any sign owned and installed by a governmental agency, located on property owned by a governmental agency, or required by law, governmental order, or regulation is exempt.
- Flags are exempt.
- Integral decorative or architectural features of buildings (except letters, trademarks, moving parts or moving lights) are exempt.
- Signs mounted on registered motor vehicles or carried by hand are exempt.
- Removable signs on the inside of windows or transparent doors are exempt.
- Signs directing traffic flow are exempt.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- All signs must conform to the sign regulations set forth in the Zoning By-Law.
- No internal illumination of a sign is permitted except upon issuance of a special permit by the SPGA.
- The SPGA may issue special permits for more or larger signs than are provided, or for types/purposes not provided, if determined to be in the public interest.
- For projects requiring site plan review, the Planning Board may waive sign ordinance provisions.

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

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