# Sign Regulations in Norfolk Town, Massachusetts

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Norfolk Town, Massachusetts (MA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/massachusetts/norfolk-town
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/36231217#36231217)

## At a glance

Norfolk Town, Massachusetts regulates 29 sign types across 4 zoning districts. Temporary Banner (Civic/Charitable)s in the General Regulations For All Zones zoning district are capped at 3 ft tall, 60 sq ft (20 ft x 3 ft), and 20 ft wide (Sec. § 252-5). Most commercial signs in Norfolk Town 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 | 11 | 4 ft | 60 sq ft (20 ft x 3 ft) | — |
| Residential District (R) | 6 | — | 12 sq ft per side (24 sq ft per side by special permit) | — |
| Business District (B-1, B-2, B-3, B-4) | 14 | Upper edge no more than 14 ft above ground level; must be at least 8 ft above ground | 20 sq ft (up to 48 sq ft by special permit) | — |
| Commercial District (C-1, C-1a, C-1b, C-1c, C-4, C-6) | 14 | Upper edge no more than 14 ft above ground level; must be at least 8 ft above ground | 20 sq ft (up to 48 sq ft by special permit) | — |

## 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 Political Sign | — | 8 sq ft per sign | — | — | Unlimited | On private property, one sign per lot unless otherwise allowed; not on street right-of-way or municipal property unless authorized by Select Board | — | § 252-4A |
| Temporary Personal Announcement Sign | — | 8 sq ft per sign | — | — | 2 | On private property | — | § 252-4B |
| Temporary Yard/Garage Sale Sign | — | 4 sq ft per sign | — | — | 2 | On private property | — | § 252-4C |
| Flag | — | — | — | — | — | On private property | — | § 252-4D |
| Temporary Event Sign | — | 32 sq ft per sign | — | — | 2 | On private property | — | § 252-4E |
| Handheld Sign (Noncommercial) | — | 10 sq ft per sign | — | — | — | Handheld, not affixed to ground. | — | § 252-4H |
| Pond Street Fence Temporary Vinyl Sign | 4 ft | 24 sq ft (4 ft x 6 ft) | 6 ft | — | — | Pond Street fences | — | § 252-4J |
| Temporary Banner (Civic/Charitable) | 3 ft | 60 sq ft (20 ft x 3 ft) | 20 ft | — | 1 per event | Over public way | — | § 252-5 |

### Business District (B-1, B-2, B-3, B-4)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Name Plate | — | 2 sq ft per sign | — | — | 1 per family | Affixed to building or at entry | — | § 310-6.9B(1)(a) |
| Freestanding Sign (Town Property Name/Function) | — | 12 sq ft per side (24 sq ft per side by special permit) | — | — | 1 | On ground for Town or its subgroups | — | § 310-6.9B(1)(a)[1] |
| Announcement Sign (Business) | — | 12 sq ft per side | — | — | 1 per premises | On premises | — | § 310-6.9B(1)(b)[1] and [2] |
| Freestanding Sign (Agricultural Advertising) | — | 8 sq ft per side | — | — | 1 | On property with primary agricultural use | — | § 310-6.9B(1)(c)[1] |
| Wall Sign (Agricultural Advertising) | — | 8 sq ft | — | — | 1 | On property with primary agricultural use | — | § 310-6.9B(1)(c)[1] |
| Wall Sign (Business/Establishment) | — | 20 sq ft (up to 48 sq ft by special permit) | — | — | 1 per establishment per street | Per street, road, or private way for each separate and distinct establishment | — | § 310-6.9B(1)(c)[2] |
| Freestanding Sign (Business Building) | — | 12 sq ft per side (24 sq ft per side by special permit) | — | No nearer to side property line than the permitted side setback for that zone § 310-6.9A(9) | 1 per building | On ground for each separate building housing one or more establishments | — | § 310-6.9B(1)(c)[4] |
| Sandwich Board Sign | 4 ft | 8 sq ft (2 ft wide x 4 ft high) | 2 ft | — | 1 per business | In front of business it advertises | — | § 310-6.9B(1)(c)[10] |

### Commercial District (C-1, C-1a, C-1b, C-1c, C-4, C-6)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Name Plate | — | 2 sq ft per sign | — | — | 1 per family | Affixed to building or at entry | — | § 310-6.9B(1)(a) |
| Freestanding Sign (Town Property Name/Function) | — | 12 sq ft per side (24 sq ft per side by special permit) | — | — | 1 | On ground for Town or its subgroups | — | § 310-6.9B(1)(a)[1] |
| Announcement Sign (Commercial) | — | 12 sq ft per side | — | — | 1 per premises | On premises | — | § 310-6.9B(1)(b)[1] and [2] |
| Freestanding Sign (Agricultural Advertising) | — | 8 sq ft per side | — | — | 1 | On property with primary agricultural use | — | § 310-6.9B(1)(c)[1] |
| Wall Sign (Agricultural Advertising) | — | 8 sq ft | — | — | 1 | On property with primary agricultural use | — | § 310-6.9B(1)(c)[1] |
| Wall Sign (Commercial/Establishment) | — | 20 sq ft (up to 48 sq ft by special permit) | — | — | 1 per establishment per street | Per street, road, or private way for each separate and distinct establishment | — | § 310-6.9B(1)(c)[2] |
| Freestanding Sign (Business Building) | — | 12 sq ft per side (24 sq ft per side by special permit) | — | No nearer to side property line than the permitted side setback for that zone § 310-6.9A(9) | 1 per building | On ground for each separate building housing one or more establishments | — | § 310-6.9B(1)(c)[4] |
| Sandwich Board Sign | 4 ft | 8 sq ft (2 ft wide x 4 ft high) | 2 ft | — | 1 per business | In front of business it advertises | — | § 310-6.9B(1)(c)[10] |

## Prohibited signs in Norfolk Town

- No sign or other advertising structure shall obstruct free and clear vision at any street intersection.
- No sign or other advertising structure shall interfere with, obstruct the view of, or be confused with any authorized traffic sign, signal, or device because of its position, shape, or color.
- No sign or other advertising structure shall make use of the words 'stop,' 'look,' 'drive-in,' 'danger' or other word, phrase, symbol, or character in a manner that interferes with, misleads, or confuses traffic.
- No sign or other advertising structure shall constitute a hazard to safety or health by reason of inadequate design, construction, or maintenance.
- No sign or other advertising structure shall display any matter with a dominant theme appealing to prurient interest in sex, or is patently offensive and without redeeming social value.
- Signs attached to motor vehicles, trailers, or other movable objects regularly or recurrently located for fixed display are prohibited.
- No sign or other advertising structure shall have visible moving, revolving or rotating parts or visible mechanical movement of any kind.
- Billboards are prohibited.
- Temporary commercial signs, streamers, or pennants, other than as provided in §252-4J, are prohibited.
- Signs in a right-of-way other than municipal signs are prohibited.
- No sign shall be erected so as to obstruct view between points on connecting streets within 50 feet of a corner, or obstruct any door, window, or fire escape.
- Signs shall not use any rock, tree, fence, or pole other than for structural support.
- No sign may be affixed to any fence or utility pole.
- No sign shall obstruct or interfere with traffic, or by reason of size, placement, or words such as 'stop,' 'danger,' 'go slow,' 'caution,' or 'warning,' create confusion or obscure any official traffic signs or signals.
- No sign using flashing or intermittent lights except such portions of a sign as consist solely of indicators of time and/or temperature.
- No moving or animated signs.
- No reflectorized signs.
- No signs painted directly on any building surface, excluding external windows.
- No sign above the wall area of a building.
- No advertising sign or signboard shall obstruct view on connecting streets within 50 feet of a corner, or rights-of-way, or obstruct any door, window, or fire escape.
- No sign may have more than two sides, excluding frames and supports.
- No freestanding sign shall be located nearer any side property line than the permitted side setback distance.
- Any sign advertising a business no longer conducted at that premises shall be removed immediately.
- No freestanding sign shall be higher than 10 feet, except up to 15 feet by special permit.
- A wall sign shall be attached flat against the wall, protruding no more than 12 inches, and not above wall area.
- No subdivision sign shall be erected upon Town property or on any street right-of-way.
- No sign with the exception of nameplate signs shall be erected unless a building permit has been issued.
- No person shall willfully, intentionally and without right destroy, deface, mar or injure any sign or other device erected on Town-owned property by the direction of the Town.

## Signs exempt from permit in Norfolk Town

- Flags of any government or governmental agency or any patriotic, religious, charitable, civic, educational, or fraternal organization.
- Handheld signs of a noncommercial nature not set on or affixed to the ground and not exceeding 10 square feet in area.
- Signs mandated by Department of Environmental Protection or any other state or local agency.
- Signs required by the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources to exempt property from being sprayed during ground area-wide spray programs (posted March 1 - October 31).
- Mailboxes and house numbers (as required by Town bylaws) are excluded from these regulations.
- Municipal signs and handheld signs do not require approval by the Select Board.
- Temporary vinyl signs up to four feet by six feet attached to Pond Street fences under direction of the Norfolk Recreation Commission, only green and white, approved by the Commission.
- Name plate signs (one sign for each family residing on the premises, up to 2 square feet in area) are exempt from permit requirements.
- Temporary displays or decorations customarily associated with holidays or celebrations, displayed within allowed duration.
- Signs having lawful noncommercial messages in lieu of any other copy, as long as not for business or commodity/service for sale and complying with bylaw.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Any person may erect temporary signs as specifically defined and allowed in the bylaw without obtaining a building permit, sign permit, authorization, or special permit, except as otherwise provided.
- A special permit from the sign granting authority (Select Board) is required to allow signs to exceed duration and number requirements.
- Persons desiring to erect a banner within the street right-of-way must apply to the Select Board for permission; an application form and fee are required.
- Special permit applications require submission of property information, sign location and specifications, owner consent, certified abutters list, and a public hearing with abutter notification.
- No sign (except nameplate signs) may be erected unless a building permit has been issued (per §310-6.9C).
- The Planning Board may issue special permits for larger or additional signs if in the public interest, requiring drawings and supporting information.
- A variance/special permit requires a meeting and public hearing, with abutter notification and findings that such exception does not conflict with the bylaw's purposes.
- Externally or internally illuminated and projecting signs may require special permit through the Planning Board in certain districts.

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

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