# Sign Regulations in Newbury Town, Massachusetts

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Newbury Town, Massachusetts (MA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/massachusetts/newbury-town
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/12472777#12472777)

## At a glance

Newbury Town, Massachusetts regulates 21 sign types across 8 zoning districts. Freestanding Sign (For sale/lease/use)s in the Commercial Highway, Commercial Highway A zoning district are capped at 18 sq ft (Sec. § 97-8.H(1)). Most commercial signs in Newbury Town require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (8 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 6 | — | — | — |
| Agricultural-Residential, Parker River Residential | 4 | — | 32 sq ft | — |
| Residential Districts | 1 | — | 20 sq ft | — |
| Commercial Highway, Commercial Highway A | 9 | — | 36 sq ft | — |
| Byfield Village Business District, Upper Green Business District, Residential-Limited Business District | 8 | — | 20% of window glass area | — |
| Light Industrial Byfield District | 3 | — | 36 sq ft | — |
| Business and Light Industrial District | 9 | — | 36 sq ft | — |
| Parker River Marine District | 9 | — | 36 sq ft | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 8 zones)

### Commercial Highway, Commercial Highway A

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign (For sale/lease/use) | — | 18 sq ft | — | — | 1 per lot or building | On lot or building which it pertains | — | § 97-8.H(1) |
| Ground Sign (Identification/Advertising) | — | 36 sq ft | — | — | 1 per lot | On lot for identification and advertising of goods/services | — | § 97-8.H(2) |
| Wall Sign (Identification) | — | — | — | — | 1 per building | On building wall to which it is attached | — | § 97-8.H(3) |
| Window Sign (Opaque) | — | 36 sq ft or less (must not exceed 36 sq ft of the window glass area) | — | — | — | On window | — | § 97-8.H(4) |
| Ground Sign (Mixed Use/Multi-tenant/Bldg Identification) | — | 30 sq ft + 4 sq ft per tenant | — | — | 1 per lot | On lot for building and rentable unit identification | — | § 97-8.H(5)(a) |
| Projecting Sign (Per Tenant, Option) | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | 1 per tenant | Per tenant, projecting sign | — | § 97-8.H(5)(b) |
| Wall Sign (Secondary Entrance, Option) | — | 2 sq ft per tenant | — | — | 1 per tenant (additional) | Secondary entrance from a parking area | — | § 97-8.H(5)(c) |
| Freestanding Sign (Mixed Use/Multi-tenant) | — | 18 sq ft | — | — | 1 per lot or building | Sale/lease/use of lot or building | — | § 97-8.H(5)(d) |

### Business and Light Industrial District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign (For sale/lease/use) | — | 24 sq ft | — | — | 1 per lot or building | On lot or building to which it pertains | — | § 97-8.K(1) |
| Ground Sign (Identification) | — | 36 sq ft | — | — | 1 per lot | On lot for identification | — | § 97-8.K(2) |
| Wall Sign (Identification) | — | — | — | — | 1 per building | On building wall facing the street | — | § 97-8.K(3) |
| Window Sign (Opaque) | — | 36 sq ft or less (must not exceed 36 sq ft of the window glass area) | — | — | — | On window | — | § 97-8.K(4) |
| Ground Sign (Mixed Use/Multi-tenant/Bldg Identification) | — | 30 sq ft + 4 sq ft per tenant | — | — | 1 per lot | On lot for building and rentable unit identification | — | § 97-8.K(5)(a) |
| Projecting Sign (Per Tenant, Option) | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | 1 per tenant | Per tenant, projecting sign | — | § 97-8.K(5)(b) |
| Wall Sign (Secondary Entrance, Option) | — | 2 sq ft per tenant | — | — | 1 per tenant (additional) | Secondary entrance from parking area | — | § 97-8.K(5)(c) |
| Freestanding Sign (Mixed Use/Multi-tenant) | — | 18 sq ft | — | — | 1 per lot or building | Sale/lease/use of lot or building | — | § 97-8.K(5)(d) |

### Parker River Marine District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign (For sale/lease/use) | — | 24 sq ft | — | — | 1 per lot or building | On lot or building to which it pertains | — | § 97-8.L(1) |
| Ground Sign (Identification) | — | 36 sq ft | — | — | 1 per lot | On lot for identification | — | § 97-8.L(2) |
| Wall Sign (Identification) | — | — | — | — | 1 per building | On building wall facing the street | — | § 97-8.L(3) |
| Window Sign (Opaque) | — | 36 sq ft or less (must not exceed 36 sq ft of the window glass area) | — | — | — | On window | — | § 97-8.L(4) |
| Ground Sign (Mixed Use/Multi-tenant/Bldg Identification) | — | 30 sq ft + 4 sq ft per tenant | — | — | 1 per lot | On lot for building and rentable unit identification | — | § 97-8.L(5)(a) |
| Projecting Sign (Per Tenant, Option) | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | 1 per tenant | Per tenant, projecting sign | — | § 97-8.L(5)(b) |
| Wall Sign (Secondary Entrance, Option) | — | 2 sq ft per tenant | — | — | 1 per tenant (additional) | Secondary entrance from parking area | — | § 97-8.L(5)(c) |
| Freestanding Sign (Mixed Use/Multi-tenant) | — | 18 sq ft | — | — | 1 per lot or building | Sale/lease/use of lot or building | — | § 97-8.L(5)(d) |

## Prohibited signs in Newbury Town

- Animated signs are not allowed.
- Roof signs are not allowed.
- Off-Premise signs are not allowed, except for signs indicating locations of places of public assembly or interest (such as churches, schools, museums, libraries, fraternal or civic organizations) if otherwise in conformity with the bylaw.
- Signs containing red or green lights are not allowed, except for holiday signs.
- Signs purposefully erected upon motor vehicles, trailers, or other movable objects regularly or recurrently located with the intent of fixed display are not allowed.
- Signs illuminated between the hours of 11:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. are not allowed, unless the premise is open to the public during those hours.
- Signs illuminated so as to cast a glare onto any portion of a way which would create a traffic hazard are not allowed.
- No sign shall cause direct illumination of adjacent property.
- Signs erected within the right-of-way of any street are not allowed, except for traffic control and as specified for agricultural signs.
- No sign of any kind shall be attached to a public utility pole.
- No sign shall exceed 25 feet in height or be higher than the main roof line of the building, whichever is greater.
- No sign shall project over or extend beyond the property line.
- No sign shall obstruct the vision of vehicular traffic entering or exiting the premises.
- Ground signs must be set back a minimum of 10 feet from the traveled way or property line in all districts.
- It is unlawful to place or maintain or display upon or in view of any street any unofficial sign, signal, or marking which imitates or resembles an official traffic sign, attempts to direct traffic, or hides any official sign.
- It is unlawful to willfully deface, injure, move, obstruct, or interfere with any official traffic sign, signal, or marking.

## Signs exempt from permit in Newbury Town

- Public signs of a non-commercial nature and in the public interest erected by or on the order of a public official (e.g., safety, danger, trespassing, traffic, street, memorial plaques, historical interest, public project/improvement signs).
- Integral signs such as names of buildings, dates, monumental citations, commemorative tablets, etc., that are carved into or made an integral part of a structure.
- Identifying signs used for 911 purposes.
- Any sign of a non-commercial use not exceeding 6 square feet in area.
- Holiday signs.
- A maximum of three temporary signs per lot plus one for each additional unit; temporary signs not to exceed 6 feet in height and 6 square feet each, to be set back at least 10 feet from the traveled way, or attached to a building when insufficient setback exists. Temporary signage must be removed within 14 days after the event or election.
- Construction signs (identifying architects, trades, purpose of building, etc.), real estate signs (for sale/lease/rent), political campaign signs, and temporary signs on Town property upon application to the Selectmen, provided removal within 14 days of conclusion of event.
- In Agricultural-Residential and Parker River Residential, no permits are required for: one identification sign per dwelling unit (max 2 sq ft), one identification sign for a registered home occupation (max 6 sq ft), and one identification sign for community facility or public utility use (max 32 sq ft, with required setbacks and white lighting).

## Sign plan & submission notes

- No sign shall be erected until a Sign Permit has been issued by the Building Inspector, except for exempt signs described in Section 97-8.F.
- Site Plan Review, if required in the district, must show building and sign location and height, entrances/exits, parking, loading, and must be accompanied by a detailed drawing of the proposed sign.
- Signs not meeting exemption requirements (Section 97-8.F) must apply for a Special Permit from the Zoning Board of Appeals.
- Permanent subdivision identification signs are allowed at the discretion of the Planning Board and must conform to zoning bylaw requirements.
- Temporary signs on Town owned property require application to the Selectmen.
- Exceptions to permitted sign size and setback may be granted only by Special Permit from the Zoning Board of Appeals (see Section 97-8.M).

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

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