# Sign Regulations in Marblehead Town, Massachusetts

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Marblehead Town, Massachusetts (MA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/massachusetts/marblehead-town
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/10437787#10437787)

## At a glance

Marblehead Town, Massachusetts regulates 22 sign types across 4 zoning districts. Off-Premises Signs in the Business 1 Zoning District (B-1), Business Residential (B-R), Business (B), Unrestricted District zoning district are capped at Up to 12 ft (max) tall and As determined by Board of Appeals (up to 300 sq ft, see restrictions), with a See above setback (Sec. §148-7A(1)(b), §148-7B(1)). Most commercial signs in Marblehead Town require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (4 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Business 1 Zoning District (B-1), Business Residential (B-R), Business (B), Unrestricted District | 12 | 75% of awning height | As determined by Board of Appeals (up to 300 sq ft, see restrictions) | — |
| Residential District (Expanded Single Residence, Shoreline Expanded Single Residence, Shoreline Single Residence, Single Residence, General Residence, Shoreline General Residence, Central Residence, Shoreline Central Residence) | 5 | 7 ft | 2 sq ft | — |
| Historic District | 1 | — | — | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 4 | — | 6 sq ft | — |

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

### Business 1 Zoning District (B-1), Business Residential (B-R), Business (B), Unrestricted District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Awning Sign (Valence) | 75% of awning height | — | 50% of awning length | — | Max 3 exterior signs per store except as allowed by additional street/parking area frontage and may have an additional directory sign | Affixed to building | — | §148-7A(1)(b), §148-2(A,B) |
| Awning Sign (Face) | — | 10 sq ft | — | — | — | Affixed to building | — | §148-7A(1)(b) |
| Banners and Flags | — | 15 sq ft | — | — | 1 in addition to other signage | Affixed to building | — | §148-7A(1)(b), (i) |
| Freestanding Sign | — | 10 sq ft | — | — | — | Free-standing on lot | — | §148-7A(1)(b), (f); Definitions |
| Incidental Sign | — | 3 sq ft | — | — | Not included in sign number limit | Near relevant area on building or lot | — | §148-7A(1)(b), Definitions |
| Off-Premises Sign | Up to 12 ft (max) | As determined by Board of Appeals (up to 300 sq ft, see restrictions) | — | See above | — | As determined by Board of Appeals | — | §148-7A(1)(b), §148-7B(1) |
| Transom Sign | 2 ft | — | Full length of storefront | — | — | Above door/display window on storefront | — | §148-7A(1)(b), Definitions |
| Wall-Mounted Sign | 2 ft | — | 75% of length of store's wall | — | Max 3 exterior signs/store, plus additional under specified circumstances | Affixed to wall of building | — | §148-7A(1)(b), (c), (e) |

### Residential District (Expanded Single Residence, Shoreline Expanded Single Residence, Shoreline Single Residence, Single Residence, General Residence, Shoreline General Residence, Central Residence, Shoreline Central Residence)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign (Occupants of a Residence) | 7 ft | 2 sq ft | — | — | — | On residential property | — | §148-6A(1)(f) |
| Governmental/Public Service/Institutional/Recreational Use Sign | — | — | — | — | — | As appropriate for use | — | §148-6A(1)(b),(2) |
| Municipal/Street/Parking Control Sign (Town Erected) | — | — | — | — | — | As erected by Town | — | §148-6A(1)(c) |
| Street/Parking Sign (Private Erected w/ Permission) | — | — | — | — | — | As permitted by Select Board | — | §148-6A(1)(d) |
| Existing Nonconforming Business Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Property of nonconforming business | — | §148-6A(1)(e) |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Real Estate Sign | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | One per premises | On premises advertised for sale/rent | — | §148-9(B) |
| Political Campaign Sign | — | — | — | — | — | All areas | — | §148-9(C) |
| Temporary On-Premises Sign at Nonprofit Institution | — | — | — | — | — | On-institution property | — | §148-9(D) |
| Historical Sign | — | — | — | — | One per premises/entity | All areas | — | §148-9(E) |

## Prohibited signs in Marblehead Town

- No sign shall be erected, altered or relocated without a permit issued by the Building Commissioner.
- No sign or off-premises sign containing visible moving or movable parts or lighted with flashing, animated or intermittent illumination shall be erected or maintained in any district.
- No sign or off-premises sign which is comprised of exposed, illuminated tubes containing neon or other gases shall be erected or maintained in any district.
- Self-illuminating back-lit signs whether permanent or temporary, attached to the building or freestanding, including vending machines are expressly prohibited.
- No sign shall be painted or posted directly on the exterior surface of any wall except glass.
- Standing (freestanding) signs are prohibited, except as specifically allowed by special permit or during construction as a tradesman sign.
- All signs, whether erected before or after the effective date of this By-Law, shall be maintained in a safe condition and its original aesthetic condition to protect the safety of the public.
- No off-premises sign shall be erected or maintained in a residential area.
- No off-premises sign shall be erected or maintained in any business district within 50 feet of any public highway; within 300 feet of any public park, playground, or other public grounds, if within view of any portion of the same; within a radius of 150 feet from the point where the center lines of two or more public ways intersect; upon the roof of any building; exceeding an area of 300 square feet or a height of 12 feet; containing visible moving or movable parts or be lighted with flashing, animated or intermittent illumination; or without the approval of the Board of Appeals.
- The light from any sign or advertising lights shall be so shaded, shielded or directed or shall be maintained at a sufficiently low level of intensity and brightness that it shall not adversely affect neighboring premises nor the safe vision of operators of vehicles moving on public roads and highways. All lighted signs and advertising lights shall be so shaded, shielded or directed that they shall not reflect or shine on or into residential structures to an extent that would adversely affect them.
- No person shall remove, deface or otherwise damage any signs or structures in areas controlled by the Commission.

## Signs exempt from permit in Marblehead Town

- Signs not visible from the public rights-of-way are not governed by this By-Law.
- Public signs erected, owned and maintained by any local state or federal governmental agency or organization are not subject to the rules and regulations of this By-Law.
- In all areas, one real estate sign of not over six square feet in total area advertising the sale or rental of the premises on which it is located (permit not required).
- In all areas, political campaign signs (permit not required).
- In all areas, temporary on-premises signs at nonprofit institutions such as but not limited to religious institutions and schools (permit not required).
- In all areas, one historical sign as defined in Article II, Definitions § 148-5 (permit not required).
- This section shall not apply to signs exempted by Section 32 of Chapter 93 of the General Laws.
- Decorative residential flags, national, state and municipal flags, official flag of any institution or business shall not be regulated by this article.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Each application for a sign in the Business 1 (B-1) Zoning District must be reviewed by the Design Review Board.
- Each application for a sign within an historic district must be accompanied by a certificate of appropriateness from the Historic Districts Commission, unless such sign is exempt from the requirement of such a certificate under Section 6 of Massachusetts General Laws 1960:345.
- Applicants must provide a scale drawing and design of the sign, including colors, dimensions, and location, and any other information required by the Building Commissioner to ensure compliance with the By-Law and applicable law.
- All permanent freestanding signs (standing signs) are required to obtain a special permit from the Board of Appeals.

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

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