# Sign Regulations in Norton Town, Massachusetts

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Norton Town, Massachusetts (MA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/massachusetts/norton-town
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/28321303#28321303)

## At a glance

Norton Town, Massachusetts regulates 17 sign types across 5 zoning districts. Freestanding Signs in the Village Commercial Zoning District zoning district are capped at 10 ft tall and 32 sq ft, with a 10 ft setback from vehicular right-of-way; 15 ft clearance over vehicular area; 10 ft over pedestrian setback (Sec. §175-8.4D(2)(a), §175-8.4D(10)). Most commercial signs in Norton Town require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (5 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 9 | 10 ft | 6 sq ft (residential zones); 32 sq ft (all other zones) | — |
| Residential Zones | 2 | — | 20 sq ft | — |
| Village Commercial Zoning District | 7 | 10 ft | 72 sq ft or 15% of frontal area (whichever is less) | — |
| Commercial Zoning District | 7 | 12 ft | 72 sq ft or 15% of frontal area (whichever is less) | — |
| Industrial Zoning District | 8 | 90 ft | 672 sq ft (14 ft x 48 ft) | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 5 zones)

### Village Commercial Zoning District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign | 10 ft | 32 sq ft | — | 10 ft setback from vehicular right-of-way; 15 ft clearance over vehicular area; 10 ft over pedestrian | 1 per 120 ft frontage (max 2 per lot) | Per street frontage | — | §175-8.4D(2)(a), §175-8.4D(10) |
| Wall Sign | — | 72 sq ft or 15% of frontal area (whichever is less) | — | — | One per occupancy (potentially two if on a corner or multiple frontages) | Per occupancy | — | §175-8.4D(3), §175-8.4D(9) |
| Awning/Marquee Sign | — | 15% of awning/marquee surface | — | — | One per occupancy | Per occupancy | — | §175-8.4D(4) |
| Under-Canopy Sign | — | 10 sq ft (per sign) | — | — | Two per occupancy | Per occupancy | — | §175-8.4D(5), §175-8.4D(10) |
| Banner Sign | — | 50 sq ft aggregate | — | — | Two per occupancy | Per occupancy | — | §175-8.4D(7) |
| Incidental Sign | — | 20 sq ft aggregate per occupancy | — | — | — | On-premises | — | §175-8.4D(6) |
| Portable Sign | 10 ft | 32 sq ft | — | 10 ft setback from vehicular right-of-way | One per lot | Per lot | — | §175-8.4D(8) |

### Commercial Zoning District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign | 12 ft | 48 sq ft | — | 10 ft setback from vehicular right-of-way; 15 ft clearance over vehicular area; 10 ft over pedestrian | 1 per 120 ft frontage (max 2 per lot) | Per street frontage | — | §175-8.4D(2)(b), §175-8.4D(10) |
| Wall Sign | — | 72 sq ft or 15% of frontal area (whichever is less) | — | — | One per occupancy (potentially two if on a corner or multiple frontages) | Per occupancy | — | §175-8.4D(3), §175-8.4D(9) |
| Awning/Marquee Sign | — | 15% of awning/marquee surface | — | — | One per occupancy | Per occupancy | — | §175-8.4D(4) |
| Under-Canopy Sign | — | 10 sq ft (per sign) | — | — | Two per occupancy | Per occupancy | — | §175-8.4D(5), §175-8.4D(10) |
| Banner Sign | — | 50 sq ft aggregate | — | — | Two per occupancy | Per occupancy | — | §175-8.4D(7) |
| Incidental Sign | — | 20 sq ft aggregate per occupancy | — | — | — | On-premises | — | §175-8.4D(6) |
| Portable Sign | 12 ft | 48 sq ft | — | 10 ft setback from vehicular right-of-way | One per lot | Per lot | — | §175-8.4D(8) |

### Industrial Zoning District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign | 12 ft | 48 sq ft | — | 10 ft setback from vehicular right-of-way; 15 ft clearance over vehicular area; 10 ft over pedestrian | 1 per 150 ft frontage (max 2 per lot) | Per street frontage | — | §175-8.4D(2)(c), §175-8.4D(10) |
| Wall Sign | — | 72 sq ft or 15% of frontal area (whichever is less) | — | — | One per occupancy (potentially two if on a corner or multiple frontages) | Per occupancy | — | §175-8.4D(3), §175-8.4D(9) |
| Awning/Marquee Sign | — | 15% of awning/marquee surface | — | — | One per occupancy | Per occupancy | — | §175-8.4D(4) |
| Under-Canopy Sign | — | 10 sq ft (per sign) | — | — | Two per occupancy | Per occupancy | — | §175-8.4D(5), §175-8.4D(10) |
| Banner Sign | — | 50 sq ft aggregate | — | — | Two per occupancy | Per occupancy | — | §175-8.4D(7) |
| Incidental Sign | — | 20 sq ft aggregate per occupancy | — | — | — | On-premises | — | §175-8.4D(6) |
| Portable Sign | 12 ft | 48 sq ft | — | 10 ft setback from vehicular right-of-way | One per lot | Per lot | — | §175-8.4D(8) |
| Digital/Electronic Billboard | 90 ft | 672 sq ft (14 ft x 48 ft) | 48 ft | — | One per eligible lot | Must be on lot with 10,000 sq ft vacant area and 150 ft frontage, within 2,000 ft of Interstate 495, not within 1,000 ft of a residence, not within 1,000 ft of another billboard | — | §175-8.4D(2)(d) |

## Prohibited signs in Norton Town

- The following types of signs are prohibited in all districts: Abandoned signs.
- Any sign which, by reason of its location, shape, size, or color, will interfere with traffic signs, signals, or markings.
- Signs imitating or resembling official traffic or government signs or signals.
- Flashing or animated signs.
- Semi-tractor trailers left abandoned.
- No person may erect a sign which flashes, rotates, has motorized moving parts, or utilizes a revolving beacon light.
- No sign shall be directly or indirectly illuminated between the hours of 11:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. unless the premises on which it is located is open for business.
- No person may erect a sign that constitutes a hazard to pedestrian or vehicular traffic because of intensity or direction of illumination.
- Signs shall be illuminated only with steady, stationary, shielded light sources directed solely onto the sign without causing glare.
- Illuminated signs shall not be permitted to shine onto residential properties and traveled ways.
- No sign shall be suspended by nonrigid attachments that will allow the sign to swing in a wind.
- No signs shall be erected, constructed or maintained so as to obstruct any fire escape, required exit, window or door opening as a means of egress.
- No sign shall be attached in any form, shape, or manner which will interfere with any opening required for ventilation, except for signs that may be erected in front of and may cover transom windows when not in violation of the provisions of the Massachusetts Building or Fire Prevention Codes.
- Signs shall be located in such a way as to maintain horizontal and vertical clearance of all overhead electrical conductors in accordance with the National Electrical Code specifications, depending on voltages concerned. However, in no case shall a sign be installed closer than 60 inches horizontally or vertically to any conductor or public utility guy wire.

## Signs exempt from permit in Norton Town

- Signs used by churches, synagogues, or civic organizations.
- Construction signs of 32 square feet or less.
- Directional/Information signs of six square feet or less.
- Holiday or special event decorations.
- Nameplates of six square feet or less.
- Political signs.
- Public signs or notices, or any sign relating to an emergency.
- Real estate signs.
- Window signs.
- Incidental signs.
- Banner signs (as allowed in § 175-8.4C).
- Festoons.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- No sign shall be permitted as a main or accessory use except in accordance with the provisions of this bylaw.
- All signs shall require permits and payment of fees as described in § 175-11.3, unless otherwise provided in the bylaw.
- No permit is required for the maintenance of a sign or for a change of copy on painted, printed, or changeable copy signs.
- Certain signs (as detailed in § 175-8.3C) are exempt from permit requirements, but must comply with all other bylaw requirements.
- An electronic message center (EMC) may only be allowed upon grant of a special permit from the Planning Board and is subject to standards (see definition section).
- Off-premises directional signs require a special permit by the Board of Appeals.
- Digital/electronic billboards in the Industrial Zoning District require a special permit under § 175-8.4D(2) by the Planning Board.

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

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