# Sign Regulations in Medfield Town, Massachusetts

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Medfield Town, Massachusetts (MA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/massachusetts/medfield-town
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/27374439#27374439)

## At a glance

Medfield Town, Massachusetts regulates 21 sign types across 6 zoning districts. Freestanding Signs in the Business District (B), Business-Industrial District (BI), Agricultural District (Retail Sales Areas) zoning district are capped at 15 feet above ground level tall, with a No closer to a property line than building setback. setback (Sec. § 300-13.3G, § 300-13.3H, § 300-13.7C, § 300-13.7F). Most commercial signs in Medfield Town require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (6 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Business District (B), Business-Industrial District (BI), Agricultural District (Retail Sales Areas) | 10 | 15 feet above ground level | Calculated by formula per §300-13.8E. | — |
| Industrial-Extensive District (IE) | 6 | 15 feet above ground level | Calculated by formula per §300-13.8F. | — |
| Residential District | 3 | — | 8 sq ft | — |
| Residential-Urban District | 1 | — | 8 sq ft per side | — |
| Nonresidential Zone | 1 | — | 16 sq ft | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 5 | — | 5 sq ft | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 6 zones)

### Business District (B), Business-Industrial District (BI), Agricultural District (Retail Sales Areas)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign | 15 feet above ground level | — | — | No closer to a property line than building setback. | One per building. | No nearer to any property line than permitted setback distance for a building on the same lot. | — | § 300-13.3G, § 300-13.3H, § 300-13.7C, § 300-13.7F |
| Projecting Sign | — | — | — | — | Counted towards maximum two sign types/tenant and max two signs/tenant. | May project up to five feet from building face, not within three feet of public way reserved for vehicles. | — | § 300-13.7A, § 300-13.7B, § 300-13.3G, § 300-13.3L |
| Wall Sign (Parallel Sign) | — | Calculated by formula per §300-13.8E. | — | — | No more than two sign types/building. Each occupant max two signs. | Parallel to building wall. | — | § 300-13.7A, § 300-13.7D, § 300-13.7E, § 300-13.8E, § 300-13.3F |
| Permanent Window Sign | — | One-third of total glass area of the window. | — | — | — | In the window of the business. | — | § 300-13.3F |
| Temporary Sign - Real Estate/Contractor/Service | — | 8 sq ft | — | — | One | On the lot where premises are for sale, lease, rent, or where services are performed. | — | § 300-13.5C |
| Entrance/Exit Sign (Parking Area) | — | 3 sq ft per side | — | — | One per entrance or exit | At parking area entrance/exit. | — | § 300-13.3K |
| Parking Facility "P" Sign | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | One | At parking facility entrance/exit. | — | § 300-13.3J |
| "OPEN" Flag | — | 3 ft x 5 ft (15 sq ft) | 3 ft | — | One per retail business | Mounted to building façade. | — | § 300-13.3M |

### Industrial-Extensive District (IE)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign | 15 feet above ground level | — | — | No closer to a property line than building setback. | One per building. | No nearer to any property line than permitted setback distance for a building on the same lot. | — | § 300-13.3G, § 300-13.3H, § 300-13.7C, § 300-13.7F |
| Wall Sign (Parallel Sign) | — | Calculated by formula per §300-13.8F. | — | — | No more than two sign types/building. Each occupant max two signs. | Parallel to building wall. | — | § 300-13.7A, § 300-13.7D, § 300-13.7E, § 300-13.8F |
| Permanent Window Sign | — | One-third of total glass area of the window. | — | — | — | In the window of the business. | — | § 300-13.3F |
| Temporary Sign - Real Estate (IE) | — | 25 sq ft | — | — | One | On the lot where premises are for sale, lease, rent. | — | § 300-13.5D |
| Entrance/Exit Sign (Parking Area) | — | 3 sq ft per side | — | — | One per entrance or exit | At parking area entrance/exit. | — | § 300-13.3K |
| Parking Facility "P" Sign | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | One | At parking facility entrance/exit. | — | § 300-13.3J |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Historic Marker / Commemorative Tablet | — | 5 sq ft | — | — | — | On building | — | § 300-13.8G(1) |
| Nonprofit Organization / Public Facility Identification Sign | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | — | On site of restrooms, telephones, etc. | — | § 300-13.8G(2) |
| Bed-and-Breakfast Identification Sign | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | — | On bed-and-breakfast property. | — | § 300-13.8G(3) |
| Fire Lane - No Parking Sign | — | — | 12" x 18" | — | As designated by Fire Chief / Safety Officer. | At areas designated as fire lanes. | — | § 130-4 |
| Handicapped Parking Sign | — | — | — | — | — | At handicapped parking spaces. | — | § 260-5 |

## Prohibited signs in Medfield Town

- Off-premises signs are prohibited, except temporary signs used to advertise special events whose proceeds are used for charity, schools or nonprofit organizations, provided an approved sign permit is obtained.
- No sign or light shall move, flash, or make noise. (Indicators of time and temperature may move.)
- Any imitation of official traffic signs or signals and the use of such words as STOP, LOOK, DANGER, GO SLOW, CAUTION, or WARNING is prohibited.
- Signs near traffic signals or intersections shall not obscure visibility or create confusion when viewed from a vehicle stopped at or approaching a signal or intersection.
- Colored lights for sign or building illumination are prohibited in residential areas. This requirement does not apply to holiday signs or lights.
- A permanent window sign may not exceed one-third of the total glass area of the window in which it is mounted.
- A freestanding or projecting sign may only include lettering and symbols to indicate the name of the business, trademark or logo, telephone number, and hours of operation. Such signs may not have more than two sides, excluding frames and supports.
- There shall be no more than two different types of permanent signs employed per building, regardless of the number of occupancies. Each occupant shall be restricted to no more than two signs. There shall be no more than one freestanding sign per building.
- The registered trademark of a specific product may occupy no more than one-quarter of the area of the sign face unless the specific product is at least 50% of the business by dollar volume.
- Backlighted (internally illuminated) informational signs or structures with translucent faces are not allowed. Signs may be illuminated only by an external light fixture (white) or halo-lighted (no 'day-glo' colors). Lamps or tubes shall not be visible to the motoring public from a public way. Sign graphics may not be translucent.
- No person shall attach or post any commercial sign within any public right-of-way or upon any building, pole, post, other structure or tree therein, except as permitted for municipal or nonprofit organizations by the Board of Selectmen.
- No parallel sign or any portion thereof shall be allowed above the bottom of the sills of second story windows of the building on which it is mounted.
- No sign or support for a sign may extend above the cornice line of the building to which it is attached.
- No sign shall be reconstructed, extended, changed structurally, repaired or replaced except in accordance with this Bylaw and then only if a new permit is issued following the requirements.

## Signs exempt from permit in Medfield Town

- Noncommercial signs less than one square foot are exempt from permit requirement.
- Signs specifically enumerated in § 300-13.4 (Required signs) and § 300-13.5 (Temporary signs) are exempt from permit requirement.
- Building identification numbers conforming to the requirements of Chapter 110 are exempt from permit requirement.
- In nonresidential zones, required construction signs up to 16 square feet are exempt from permit requirement.
- Temporary window signs in Business Districts for no more than 30 days, covering no more than one-third of total area of exterior street side windows, are allowed without a permit.
- Temporary real estate, contractor, subcontractor, and temporary services signs in Residential and Business Districts, limited to one unlighted sign up to eight square feet, are allowed without permit.
- Real estate signs in Industrial-Extensive Districts, limited to one unlighted sign up to 25 square feet, are allowed without permit.
- Historic markers and commemorative tablets up to five square feet in area made a permanent and integral part of the building are allowed in all districts in addition to maximum sign area.
- Signs up to two square feet in area used for identifying nonprofit organizations, rest rooms, telephones, and other public facilities are allowed for purposes of identification in all zoning districts in addition to maximum sign area.
- A bed-and-breakfast use shall be allowed a two-square-foot sign in all zoning districts in addition to maximum sign area.
- Off-street parking directional 'P' and entrance/exit signs, as specified in § 300-13.3J-K, are not counted in total sign area calculations.
- One 'OPEN' flag per retail business, up to three feet by five feet, is permitted.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- No explicit requirement for a master sign plan or sign plan for all signs, but the Sign Advisory Board is tasked to review and recommend action on all sign permit applications.
- For nonconforming signs or new signs on multi-tenant buildings that would violate allowable sign area, a permit may be issued based on the floor area proportion each tenant occupies.
- Application for sign permit must be accompanied by scale drawings, photographs, and other information as the Building Inspector may require.
- Permit required for all signs except those noncommercial signs less than one square foot, required signs (§ 300-13.4), and temporary signs (§ 300-13.5).

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

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