# Sign Regulations in New Bedford, Massachusetts

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

- **Jurisdiction:** New Bedford, Massachusetts (MA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/massachusetts/new-bedford
- **Data last verified:** 2025-07-24
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/ma/new_bedford/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=COOR_CH9COZO_S3000GERE_3200SIRE)

## At a glance

New Bedford, Massachusetts regulates 26 sign types across 24 zoning districts. Ground Signs in the Mixed Use Business District zoning district are capped at Top of sign not more than 15 ft above grade; bottom of sign not more than 10 ft above grade. tall and Up to 25 sq ft maximum., with a At least 6 ft from any lot line; must not project over a public way. setback (Sec. §3254–§3256; §3285; §3210; §3222). Most commercial signs in New Bedford require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (24 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Residence A District | 18 | Lower edge must be at least 8 feet above the sidewalk. | 20 sq ft | — |
| Residence B District | 18 | Lower edge must be at least 8 feet above the sidewalk. | 20 sq ft | — |
| Residence C District | 18 | Lower edge must be at least 8 feet above the sidewalk. | 20 sq ft | — |
| Residence AA District | 18 | Lower edge must be at least 8 feet above the sidewalk. | 20 sq ft | — |
| Mixed Use Business District | 17 | Top of sign not more than 15 ft above grade; bottom of sign not more than 10 ft above grade. | Up to 25 sq ft maximum. | — |
| Planned Business District | 15 | Lower edge must be at least 8 ft above the sidewalk. | 20 sq ft | — |
| Industrial A District | 16 | Lower edge must be at least 8 feet above the sidewalk. | 20 sq ft | — |
| Industrial B District | 16 | Lower edge must be at least 8 feet above the sidewalk. | 20 sq ft | — |
| Industrial C District | 13 | Bottom of awning not less than 8 feet above sidewalk. | 20 sq ft | — |
| Waterfront Industrial District | 13 | Bottom of awning not less than 8 feet above sidewalk. | 20 sq ft | — |
| Hicks Logan District | 12 | Bottom of awning not less than 8 feet above sidewalk. | 20 sq ft | — |
| MacArthur Drive District | 12 | Bottom of awning not less than 8 feet above sidewalk. | 20 sq ft | — |
| Central Business District | 17 | 25 ft maximum height | 32 sq ft per sign | — |
| Advanced Manufacturing Campus Overlay | 12 | Bottom of awning not less than 8 feet above sidewalk. | 20 sq ft | — |
| Chapter 40C Historic District | 14 | Bottom of awning not less than 8 feet above sidewalk. | 20 sq ft | — |
| Downtown Business Overlay District | 12 | Bottom of awning not less than 8 feet above sidewalk. | 20 sq ft | — |
| Riverside Avenue Mill Overlay District | 12 | Bottom of awning not less than 8 feet above sidewalk. | 20 sq ft | — |
| Flood Hazard Overlay District | 12 | Bottom of awning not less than 8 feet above sidewalk. | 20 sq ft | — |
| Downtown Overlay District | 12 | Bottom of awning not less than 8 feet above sidewalk. | 20 sq ft | — |
| Working Waterfront Overlay District | 12 | Bottom of awning not less than 8 feet above sidewalk. | 20 sq ft | — |
| Cove Street Mill Overlay District | 12 | Bottom of awning not less than 8 feet above sidewalk. | 20 sq ft | — |
| Mott-David-Ruth Mill Overlay District | 12 | Bottom of awning not less than 8 feet above sidewalk. | 20 sq ft | — |
| Soule Mill Overlay District | 12 | Bottom of awning not less than 8 feet above sidewalk. | 20 sq ft | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 12 | Bottom of awning not less than 8 feet above sidewalk. | 20 sq ft | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 24 zones)

### Residence A District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign (Nonconforming business/industrial use in residential district) | — | No increase over existing; also capped by the MUB wall sign formula if smaller. | — | If projecting into street layout, must remain 24 inches back from curbline; 8-foot minimum clearance above sidewalk. | — | On nonconforming business/industrial buildings in RA; replacement or maintenance of existing wall signs only. | — | §3259; §3251; §3252 (MUB cap reference); §3222; §3281–§3285 |
| Awning/Canopy Sign Projection Over Sidewalk | Lower edge must be at least 8 feet above the sidewalk. | — | — | Must stop at least 24 inches short of the curb line; 8-foot minimum clearance above sidewalk. | — | Awnings or shades projecting into the sidewalk area of a street; markings/printing on compliant awnings are allowed. | — | §3242; §3222 |
| Temporary Cloth/Fabric Sign (on wood frame) | — | 20 sq ft | — | Up to 5-foot projection into street layout; if sidewalk <7 ft wide, keep 2 ft from curbline. | — | May project into the street layout up to 5 feet, subject to clearance rules. | — | §3282; §3283 |
| Awning/Canopy Sign Projecting Over Sidewalk | Lower edge must be at least 8 ft above the sidewalk. | — | — | Maintain at least 24 inches clearance from the curb line; general projection limit of 24 inches back from curbline for permanent signs. | — | Awning or shade supported from above, projecting into the sidewalk area of a street. | — | §3242; §3281; §3283; §3222 |
| Cloth or Fabric Temporary Sign | — | 20 sq ft | — | If sidewalk is <7 ft wide, maintain ≥2 ft from curbline. | — | Over public sidewalk or within street layout subject to restrictions. | — | §3282; §3283; §3285; §3222 |
| Awning/Canopy Sign Over Sidewalk | Bottom of awning not less than 8 feet above sidewalk. | — | — | At least 24 inches back from curb-perpendicular line. | — | Over public sidewalk; supported from above. | — | 3242; 3240; 3283; 3222; 3260–3262 |
| Temporary Cloth/Fabric Sign | — | 20 sq ft | — | Maintain at least 2 feet from curbline if sidewalk < 7 feet wide. | — | Above sidewalk or building frontage. | — | 3282; 3222; 3290 |
| Awning/Canopy Projection with Signage | Minimum 8 feet above sidewalk | — | — | Stop at least 24 inches from curb; maintain 8-foot clearance. | — | Awnings/shades projecting into sidewalk area; markings/printing permitted on compliant awnings. | — | §3242; §3222 |

### Residence B District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign (Nonconforming business/industrial use in residential district) | — | No increase over existing; also capped by the MUB wall sign formula if smaller. | — | If projecting into street layout, must remain 24 inches back from curbline; 8-foot minimum clearance above sidewalk. | — | On nonconforming business/industrial buildings in RB; replacement or maintenance of existing wall signs only. | — | §3259; §3251; §3252 (MUB cap reference); §3222; §3281–§3285 |
| Awning/Canopy Sign Projection Over Sidewalk | Lower edge must be at least 8 feet above the sidewalk. | — | — | Must stop at least 24 inches short of the curb line; 8-foot minimum clearance above sidewalk. | — | Awnings or shades projecting into the sidewalk area of a street; markings/printing on compliant awnings are allowed. | — | §3242; §3222 |
| Temporary Cloth/Fabric Sign (on wood frame) | — | 20 sq ft | — | Up to 5-foot projection into street layout; if sidewalk <7 ft wide, keep 2 ft from curbline. | — | May project into the street layout up to 5 feet, subject to clearance rules. | — | §3282; §3283 |
| Awning/Canopy Sign Projecting Over Sidewalk | Lower edge must be at least 8 ft above the sidewalk. | — | — | Maintain at least 24 inches clearance from the curb line; general projection limit of 24 inches back from curbline for permanent signs. | — | Awning or shade supported from above, projecting into the sidewalk area of a street. | — | §3242; §3281; §3283; §3222 |
| Cloth or Fabric Temporary Sign | — | 20 sq ft | — | If sidewalk is <7 ft wide, maintain ≥2 ft from curbline. | — | Over public sidewalk or within street layout subject to restrictions. | — | §3282; §3283; §3285; §3222 |
| Awning/Canopy Sign Over Sidewalk | Bottom of awning not less than 8 feet above sidewalk. | — | — | At least 24 inches back from curb-perpendicular line. | — | Over public sidewalk; supported from above. | — | 3242; 3240; 3283; 3222; 3260–3262 |
| Temporary Cloth/Fabric Sign | — | 20 sq ft | — | Maintain at least 2 feet from curbline if sidewalk < 7 feet wide. | — | Above sidewalk or building frontage. | — | 3282; 3222; 3290 |
| Awning/Canopy Projection with Signage | Minimum 8 feet above sidewalk | — | — | Stop at least 24 inches from curb; maintain 8-foot clearance. | — | Awnings/shades projecting into sidewalk area; markings/printing permitted on compliant awnings. | — | §3242; §3222 |

### Mixed Use Business District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Ground Sign | Top of sign not more than 15 ft above grade; bottom of sign not more than 10 ft above grade. | Up to 25 sq ft maximum. | — | At least 6 ft from any lot line; must not project over a public way. | One ground sign per lot in MUB. | On the lot to which it is appurtenant; must not project over any public way. | — | §3254–§3256; §3285; §3210; §3222 |
| Ground Sign (Shopping Center Identification) | Top of sign not more than 15 ft above grade; bottom of sign not more than 10 ft above grade. | Up to 25 sq ft maximum. | — | At least 6 ft from any lot line; must not project over a public way. | One shopping center identification ground sign; separate establishment ground signs prohibited. | On the shopping center lot at a compliant location; must not project over a public way. | — | §3258 (size as in §3255); §3255–§3256; §3222; §3285 |
| Awning/Canopy Sign Projecting Over Sidewalk | Lower edge must be at least 8 ft above the sidewalk. | — | — | Maintain at least 24 inches clearance from the curb line; general projection limit of 24 inches back from curbline for permanent signs. | — | Awning or shade supported from above, projecting into the sidewalk area of a street. | — | §3242; §3281; §3283; §3222 |
| Cloth or Fabric Temporary Sign | — | 20 sq ft | — | If sidewalk is <7 ft wide, maintain ≥2 ft from curbline. | — | Over public sidewalk or within street layout subject to restrictions. | — | §3282; §3283; §3285; §3222 |
| Awning/Canopy Sign Projection Over Sidewalk | Lower edge must be at least 8 feet above the sidewalk. | — | — | Must stop at least 24 inches short of the curb line; 8-foot minimum clearance above sidewalk. | — | Awnings or shades projecting into the sidewalk area of a street; markings/printing on compliant awnings are allowed. | — | §3242; §3222 |
| Temporary Cloth/Fabric Sign (on wood frame) | — | 20 sq ft | — | Up to 5-foot projection into street layout; if sidewalk <7 ft wide, keep 2 ft from curbline. | — | May project into the street layout up to 5 feet, subject to clearance rules. | — | §3282; §3283 |
| Awning/Canopy Sign Over Sidewalk | Bottom of awning not less than 8 feet above sidewalk. | — | — | At least 24 inches back from curb-perpendicular line. | — | Over public sidewalk; supported from above. | — | 3242; 3240; 3283; 3222; 3260–3262 |
| Temporary Cloth/Fabric Sign | — | 20 sq ft | — | Maintain at least 2 feet from curbline if sidewalk < 7 feet wide. | — | Above sidewalk or building frontage. | — | 3282; 3222; 3290 |

## Prohibited signs in New Bedford

- Any sign that may be confused with or construed as a public safety device or traffic/emergency sign or light because of its color, shape, or design
- Any sign that incorporates moving, flashing, animated, or intermittent lighting, except public service signs displaying time and/or temperature
- Signs that mimic the appearance or copy of traffic signs or signals
- Revolving signs
- Portable signs mounted on wheeled trailers
- Signs constructed, mounted, or maintained upon the roof of any building
- Construction of new off-premise signs, including billboards, electronic signs, digital billboards, Commercial Electronic Variable Message Signs (CEVMS), or Dynamic Displays, and the City may not issue permits for their construction or relocation
- Reconstruction, enhancement, upgrading, or conversion of an existing off-premise sign to an off-premise Dynamic Display, Electronic Sign, or CEVMS

## Signs exempt from permit in New Bedford

- Signs erected by government agencies are exempt from the ordinance
- No permit is required for a sign that weighs 10 pounds or less, and no permits are required for poles, wires, conduits, and appurtenances of railroad, telephone, water, gas, and electric companies

## Sign permit fees & timelines in New Bedford

| Item | Details | Citation |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Permits issued by the City Clerk under this Section (e.g., signs projecting over sidewalks/streets, banners across streets, awnings/shades, cloth temporary signs) | $1 | — |

_The full published fee and review-timeline schedule for New Bedford is available in PermitPal (free account)._

## 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 24 zoning districts in New Bedford — every sign type, every field — are available with a free PermitPal account: https://app.permitpal.io/?address=New+Bedford+MA&override=true&utm_source=landing&utm_medium=city-page&utm_campaign=city-new-bedford

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