# Sign Regulations in North Adams, Massachusetts

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

- **Jurisdiction:** North Adams, Massachusetts (MA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/massachusetts/north-adams
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-21
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/27081188#27081188)

## At a glance

North Adams, Massachusetts regulates 16 sign types across 4 zoning districts. Directional Sign (Accessory, Freestanding)s in the General Regulations For All Zones zoning district are capped at 3 ft tall and 2 sq ft, with a 10 ft from lot line setback (Sec. Section 7.3.3). Most commercial signs in North Adams require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (4 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Residential zone | 2 | — | 8 sq ft | — |
| B-1, B-2, CBD, S-1, I-1, AP-1 | 4 | May not exceed 20% of building height over the top of building, never exceeding 6 ft | 200 sq ft (for all signs) | — |
| District allowing for a shopping center use | 2 | 14 ft at highest point | 200 sq ft per tenant | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 8 | 3 ft | 16 sq ft | — |

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

### Residential zone

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Primary Sign (Commercial Activity) | — | 8 sq ft | — | — | 1 | On-premise, associated with permitted commercial activities only | — | Section 7.4.1(2) |
| Secondary Sign (Commercial Activity) | — | 3 sq ft | — | — | 1 | On-premise, associated with permitted commercial activities only | — | Section 7.4.1(2) |

### B-1, B-2, CBD, S-1, I-1, AP-1

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Signs (Aggregate) | — | 200 sq ft (for all signs) | — | — | — | On-premise | — | Section 7.4.1(1) |
| Freestanding Sign | 14 ft at highest point | 25% of max permitted sign area for lot (i.e., up to 50 sq ft if max allowed is 200 sq ft) | — | 15 ft from any street line | — | Must be on-premise, not closer than 15 ft to any street line | — | Section 7.2.9, 7.4.1(1) |
| Window Sign | — | 20 sq ft or 15% of window area (whichever is less) | — | — | — | Inside or attached to windows | — | Section 7.3.5 |
| Roof Sign (Special Permit) | May not exceed 20% of building height over the top of building, never exceeding 6 ft | 25% of total max permitted sign area (e.g., 50 sq ft if lot max is 200 sq ft) | 1/2 of the horizontal dimension of the wall (min 10 ft permitted) | — | 1 | On roof (above wall) | — | Section 7.2.12 |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Temporary For Sale/Lease/Construction Sign | — | 5 sq ft | — | — | 1 | On-premise | — | Section 7.3.1 |
| Historic Marker Sign | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | 1 | On-premise, identifying historic buildings | — | Section 7.3.2 |
| Directional Sign (Accessory, Freestanding) | 3 ft | 2 sq ft | — | 10 ft from lot line | Minimum number needed to give clear directions | On-premise for entrance/exit direction only | — | Section 7.3.3 |
| Temporary Civic/Religious/Fraternal Event Sign | — | 16 sq ft | — | — | — | On-premise or off-premise by special permit | — | Section 7.3.4 |
| Temporary Political Sign | — | 4 sq ft | — | — | — | On-premise | — | Section 7.3.6 |
| Open/Closed/Flag Sign | — | — | — | — | — | On-premise | — | Section 7.3.7 |
| Temporary Sale/Announcement Sign | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | — | On-premise | — | Section 7.3.8 |
| Sign projecting over public way (Awnings, Marquees, Clocks, etc.) | — | — | — | — | — | Projecting over public sidewalk/way | — | Sections 21-29 through 21-34 |

## Prohibited signs in North Adams

- No sign shall be placed or worded, designed, colored or illuminated so as to obscure or distract from signs regulating traffic.
- No sign shall be located so as to obstruct vision at the corners of intersected streets.
- Signs are not to be illuminated or placed in such a manner as to create a hazard to pedestrians or to motor vehicle traffic. No lights shall be allowed which can blind or otherwise interfere with the safe operation of any other vehicles.
- No off-site sign or billboard shall be erected in a residential zone.
- No sign shall contain any moving, flashing or animated lights, or lights of varying intensity, or visible moving or movable parts, except marquees advertising motion pictures or theatrical performances.
- No sign shall be erected, displayed or maintained on any rock, tree or utility pole.
- No sign shall be erected or maintained with any lighting or control mechanism which causes radio or television interference.
- Naked or unshaded incandescent or fluorescent electric light bulbs shall not be allowed by themselves or as part of any sign, except as part of holiday season decorations or community events or celebrations, or unless they are contained within the sign as internal illuminations.
- All signs, together with their supports, braces, guys and anchors, shall be kept in good repair and in safe condition. The owner of the premises on which a sign is erected shall be responsible for keeping such sign and premises around it safe, neat and clean condition.
- Upon termination of any business which has employed a sign, that sign shall be removed by the property owner within 90 days of the closure of the business. Two extensions of three months each may be granted by the Zoning Board of Appeals.
- No person shall allow to remain or place over any sidewalk, in front of any building any sign, advertising device, clock, marquee or other like structure less than 10 feet in height above the sidewalk at the lowest part thereof, or a permanent awning less than seven feet in height above the sidewalk at the lowest part thereof.
- No person, except as otherwise provided by law, shall place or maintain or cause or allow to be placed or maintained a sign, advertising device, clock, marquee, permanent awning and other like structures projecting into or over a public way, without first obtaining a permit therefor from the City Council.

## Signs exempt from permit in North Adams

- Signs not exceeding two square feet in area that are customarily associated with residential use and that are not of a commercial nature.
- Signs giving property identification names or numbers or names of occupant.
- Signs on mailboxes or newspaper tubes.
- Signs posted on private property relating to private parking or warning the public against trespassing or danger from animals.
- Signs erected by or on behalf of or pursuant to the authorization of a government body, including legal notices, identification and informational signs, and traffic, directional or regulatory signs.
- Flags, pennants or insignia of any governmental or nonprofit organization.
- Signs not exceeding four square feet in area directing and guiding traffic on private property and that bear no advertising matter.
- Church bulletin boards, church identification signs and church directional signs that do not exceed 24 square feet in area.
- Signs painted on or otherwise permanently attached to currently registered motor vehicles that are not primarily used as signs.
- A sign, not exceeding six square feet in area, erected by any fraternal, civic, religious or service organization or club announcing its presence in the City and the time and place of its regular meeting or special event.
- Signs in lawful existence as of the effective date of this section.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Wherever site plan approval is required (see Section 12.4 of this ordinance), it will include review and approval of sign location, size and illumination.
- No person, except as otherwise provided by law, shall place or maintain or cause or allow to be placed or maintained a sign, advertising device, clock, marquee, permanent awning and other like structures projecting into or over a public way, without first obtaining a permit therefor from the City Council to be exercised under the supervision of the Commissioner of Public Works.
- Each application for a permit required by this article shall be made on a form furnished by the Commissioner of Public Services and shall be signed by either the occupant or owner or other person in control of the premises, in connection with which the same are to be attached or placed and shall be accompanied by a bond or insurance as specified.
- Any request for more than four signs per lot for a use other than a shopping center shall require a special permit from the Zoning Board of Appeals.
- Roof signs may be authorized by a special permit from the Zoning Board of Appeals and require submission of pictures, sketches and/or drawings establishing the relative size and configuration of the sign in relation to the building.
- An off-site sign or billboard may be erected in other zones only by special permit from the Zoning Board of Appeals.

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

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