# Sign Regulations in Melrose, Massachusetts

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Melrose, Massachusetts (MA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/massachusetts/melrose
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-21
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/27327445#27327445)

## At a glance

Melrose, Massachusetts regulates 21 sign types across 4 zoning districts. Identification Sign (Club, Funeral Home, School, Municipal, Worship, Multifamily, Utility, Community Facility)s in the Residential District (R districts) zoning district are capped at 6 ft tall and 10 sq ft, with a At least half the required depth of the front yard setback (Sec. §235-31C). Most commercial signs in Melrose require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (4 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 7 | 4 ft above ground | 6 sq ft | — |
| Downtown Historic District | 1 | — | — | — |
| Residential District (R districts) | 4 | 6 ft | 40 sq ft | — |
| Business District (B districts), Industrial District (I districts) | 12 | 16 in (letter height, two lines) | 50 sq ft (or 10% of wall, lesser) | — |

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

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Temporary Sign (Political) | — | 6 sq ft | — | 5 ft from front lot line. | — | Private property, must be set back at least 5 ft from the front lot line. | — | §235-28B(3) |
| Temporary Sign (For Sale or Lease) | — | 6 sq ft | — | 5 ft from front lot line. | 1 per parcel | Each parcel in one ownership. | — | §235-28B(4) |
| Temporary Sign (Architect, Engineer, or Contractor) | — | 6 sq ft | — | 5 ft from front lot line. | 1 per premises | Premises under construction/renovation. | — | §235-28B(5) |
| Traffic or Directional Sign (Private, not governmental) | 4 ft above ground | 2 sq ft | — | — | — | On premises as necessary for safety and direction. | — | §235-28B(6) |
| Interior Illuminated Window Sign | — | 4 sq ft | — | — | Max 2 per establishment | Window (single sign per window). | — | §235-28B(7) |
| Interior Window Sign (Temporary or Permanent, Not Illuminated) | — | — | — | — | — | Attached to inside glass or within 5 feet of glass. | — | §235-28B(8) |
| Temporary Banner (Exterior Business Use) | — | — | — | — | 1 per establishment per year | Exterior of business establishment. | — | §235-29A |

### Residential District (R districts)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Professional Nameplate | — | 1 sq ft | — | — | 1 per practitioner | — | — | §235-31A |
| Dwelling Unit Identification Sign | — | 1 sq ft | — | — | 1 per dwelling unit | — | — | §235-31B |
| Identification Sign (Club, Funeral Home, School, Municipal, Worship, Multifamily, Utility, Community Facility) | 6 ft | 10 sq ft | — | At least half the required depth of the front yard | 1 per use | — | — | §235-31C |
| Standing Sign (School, Municipal Building, House of Worship, Community Facility) | 6 ft | 40 sq ft | — | As per §235-31C | 1 additional per use | Standing sign on premises | — | §235-31C |

### Business District (B districts), Industrial District (I districts)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Identification Sign (Club, Funeral Home, School, Municipal, Worship, Multifamily, Utility, Community Facility) | 6 ft | 10 sq ft | — | At least half the required depth of the front yard | 1 per use | — | — | §235-31.1A/§235-31C |
| Wall Sign | — | 50 sq ft (or 10% of wall, lesser) | — | — | One per lot street frontage per business/industrial establishment | Attached, parallel to main wall, faces lot street frontage; not above first floor; not projecting more than 15 inches. | — | §235-31.1B(1), (2), (5) |
| Wall Sign (Parking Lot Entrance Identification) | — | 50 sq ft (or 10% of wall, lesser) | — | — | 1 per customer parking lot entrance | At parking lot entrance to business with customer lot entrance | — | §235-31.1B(3) |
| Awning Sign (No Wall Sign) | 16 in (letter height, two lines) | 50 sq ft or 10% of wall (whichever is less, same as wall sign) | — | — | 1 per ground floor business | Valance or vertical face of awning | — | §235-31.1C(2), (3) |
| Standing Sign | 6 ft | 40 sq ft per face (max 2 faces) | — | 10 ft from front lot line | 1 per lot | Standing sign on premises; 10 ft setback from front lot line | — | §235-31.1D(1), (2) |
| Identification Sign (Multifamily, nonresidential district) | 6 ft | 10 sq ft | — | 10 ft from front lot line | 1 per multifamily development | Standing sign on premises | — | §235-31.1D(3) |
| Standing Sign (Gasoline Filling Station) | 10 ft | 40 sq ft (each face), max 2 faces | — | 10 ft from lot line | 1 per filling station | Standing sign for filling station; 10 ft setback from front lot line | — | §235-31.1E(1),(2) |
| Canopy Sign (Gasoline Filling Station) | 12 in (letter height) | 12 in height x 6 ft length (per sign), max 2 signs | 6 ft | — | 2 per filling station | On filling station canopy | — | §235-31.1E(3), (4) |

## Prohibited signs in Melrose

- No sign shall be erected, altered, or relocated without a permit issued by the Building Commissioner, except as otherwise exempted.
- All signs must comply with the Building Code of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and applicable state and local regulations.
- Signs and their illuminators shall not, by reason of location, shape, size, or color, interfere with traffic or be confused with or obstruct the view or effectiveness of any official traffic sign, signal, or marking.
- All illumination of signs must be by steady, stationary, white light, of reasonable intensity, shielded and directed solely at the sign, and arranged to prevent glare onto any public way or into any residential area.
- No sign shall be illuminated between 12:00 midnight and 6:00 a.m., except signs identifying police, fire stations, or hospitals and signs on premises open for business and only while open for business.
- It is a violation to operate an individual letter or segmented sign with only some letters or segments lighted; all letters or segments must be either all properly lighted or all not lighted.
- Any sign not addressed by the chapter is deemed prohibited.
- Moving, changing, or flashing signs and signs illuminated by or including any flashing, projecting, or oscillating light are prohibited.
- Billboards, off-premises signs, electronic billboards, and reader boards are prohibited.
- Strings of pennants, whirlygigs, or similar devices are prohibited.
- Flashing or animated signs of any color or light source, including incandescent, neon, fluorescent, LED, and plasma, are not permitted.
- Neon signs are prohibited except as allowed for interior window display under specific provisions.
- Any sign erected so as to obstruct any door, window, or fire escape is prohibited.
- Signs constructed, erected, or maintained above the height of any roof or upon any roof are prohibited.
- Exterior window signs are prohibited.
- Interior window signs, both permanent and temporary, which cover more than 30% of a window are prohibited.
- Signs in the public way not permanently affixed to a building, structure, or the ground (including sandwich board or A-frame signs) are prohibited unless permitted by the Superintendent of Public Works.
- Signs mounted, affixed, or painted on a motor vehicle whose primary function is as a sign (not for transport of goods or merchandise) are prohibited.
- It is a violation to display any illuminated sign that advertises any product, service, or entity other than the establishment which occupies the premises or a product manufactured by and at the establishment.
- It is unlawful for any person to place, maintain, or display upon or in view of any street any unofficial sign, signal, or marking that imitates or resembles an official traffic sign or signal, attempts to direct movement of traffic, or hides any official sign or signal from view.
- It is unlawful for any person to willfully deface, injure, move, obstruct, or interfere with any official traffic sign, signal, or marking or with any sign or marker in a public parking area.
- No person shall operate or park a vehicle on any street or highway for the sole purpose of displaying advertising signs.

## Signs exempt from permit in Melrose

- Any traffic or directional sign owned and installed by a governmental agency.
- Temporary signs or banners for public or charitable purposes (displayed more often or larger in size than allowed elsewhere) for periods not exceeding 30 consecutive days.
- Political signs on private property, provided they do not exceed six square feet in area, are set back at least five feet from the front lot line, are not a traffic or pedestrian safety hazard, and are not displayed for more than 30 days prior to and seven days following an election.
- One unlighted temporary sign offering premises for sale or lease for each parcel in one ownership, not exceeding six square feet, set back at least five feet from the front lot line, and removed upon completion of sale or lease.
- One unlighted temporary sign of an architect, engineer, or contractor erected during the period such person is performing work on the premises, not exceeding six square feet, set back at least five feet from the front lot line, and removed upon completion of work.
- Traffic or directional signs necessary for the safety and direction of residents, employees, customers, and visitors of any business, industry, or residence, provided they do not display business or product names or logos, are not internally illuminated, do not exceed two square feet in area, and top not more than four feet above the ground.
- Interior illuminated window signs, provided they are placed only in a window (not door), do not exceed four square feet in area, are at least ten feet from another illuminated window sign, are in a window with no other signs, illuminated only during business hours, and lit by steady (not flashing, changing, or moving) light only, with no more than two per establishment.
- Interior window signs, temporary or permanent and not illuminated, attached to the inside glass surface of a window or door, or within five feet but visible from outside, provided they are uniformly located, do not exceed 30% of the glass, contain no letters larger than six inches, are of professional appearance and good order, and are not attached to the outside surface of the window or door.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- There is no requirement in the general provisions for a master sign plan, a general sign plan, or for a required variance meeting for all signs across all zones.
- Special permits are referenced for certain types of signs (e.g., civic organization signs at the city boundary require a special permit from the Board of Appeals), and division of wall sign area into multiple signs may be allowed by special permit from the Board of Appeals.
- Signs for property in the Downtown Historic District must be accompanied by a certificate of appropriateness by the Historic District Commission prior to applying for a building permit.

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

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