# Sign Regulations in Norwell Town, Massachusetts

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Norwell Town, Massachusetts (MA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/massachusetts/norwell-town
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/32060943#32060943)

## At a glance

Norwell Town, Massachusetts regulates 18 sign types across 4 zoning districts. Freestanding Sign (Single Tenant)s in the Business District A zoning district are capped at 25 ft tall and 30 sq ft (not including up to 25% for site name/address and up to 20% for vacancy/rent info), with a 10 ft from all property lines and way lines. setback (Sec. § 201-14.6A(1), § 201-14.5A(5)(b), § 201-14.5A(6)(a), § 201-14.5A(1)). Most commercial signs in Norwell Town require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (4 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Business District A | 9 | 25 ft | 40 sq ft (not including up to 25% for site name/address, up to 20% for vacancy/rent info) | — |
| Business District B, Business District C | 9 | 25 ft | 60 sq ft (not including up to 25% for site name/address and up to 20% for vacancy/rent info) | — |
| All residential districts | 5 | 25 ft (freestanding; per general) | 12 sq ft | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 3 | — | 10 sq ft per side | — |

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

### Business District A

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign (Single Tenant) | 25 ft | 30 sq ft (not including up to 25% for site name/address and up to 20% for vacancy/rent info) | — | 10 ft from all property lines and way lines. | 1 per lot | 1 per lot; must be on the same lot as the building; at least 10 ft setback from all property lines and way lines. | — | § 201-14.6A(1), § 201-14.5A(5)(b), § 201-14.5A(6)(a), § 201-14.5A(1) |
| Freestanding Sign (Multiple Tenants) | 25 ft | 40 sq ft (not including up to 25% for site name/address, up to 20% for vacancy/rent info) | — | 10 ft from all property lines and way lines. | 1 per lot | On same lot; at least 10 ft setback from all property lines and way lines. | — | § 201-14.6A(1) |
| Awning Sign | — | 8 sq ft | — | — | 1 per business | 1 per business, on awning/canopy | — | § 201-14.6A(2), § 201-14.5B(1) |
| Directory Sign | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | 1 per public entrance | 1 per shared public entrance (multi-tenant) | — | § 201-14.6A(3) |
| Hanging Sign | — | 8 sq ft | — | — | 1 per business | 1 per business, must have at least 10 ft clearance over sidewalk, project no more than 5 ft. | — | § 201-14.6A(4), § 201-14.5A(4), § 201-14.5B(3) |
| Wall Sign | 20 ft (max mounting height) | 20 sq ft | — | — | 1 per building | 1 per building | — | § 201-14.6A(5), § 201-14.5A(6)(b) |
| Window Sign (Permanent) | — | 25% of window glass area | — | — | — | On or inside window (within 3 ft). | — | § 201-14.6A(6) |
| Window Sign (Temporary/Sale/Promotion) | — | 20% of window glass area | — | — | — | On or inside window. | — | § 201-14.6A(6) |

### Business District B, Business District C

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Awning Sign | — | 8 sq ft | — | — | 1 per business | 1 per business | — | § 201-14.6B(1), § 201-14.5B(1) |
| Directory Sign | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | 1 per public entrance | 1 per shared public entrance (multi-tenant) | — | § 201-14.6B(2) |
| Freestanding Sign (Single Tenant) | 25 ft | 50 sq ft (not including up to 25% for name/address and up to 20% for vacancy/rent info) | — | 10 ft from all property lines and way lines. | 1 per lot | 1 per lot; on same lot as building; at least 10 ft from all property lines and way lines. | — | § 201-14.6B(3) |
| Freestanding Sign (Multiple Tenants) | 25 ft | 60 sq ft (not including up to 25% for site name/address and up to 20% for vacancy/rent info) | — | 10 ft from all property lines and way lines. | 1 per lot | On same lot; at least 10 ft setback from all property lines and way lines. | — | § 201-14.6B(3) |
| Freestanding Directional Sign | 6 ft | 4 sq ft | — | — | 1 per curb cut | 1 per lot at curb cut. | — | § 201-14.6B(4) |
| Wall Sign | 20 ft (max mounting height, general) | 10% of wall area | — | — | 1 per building | 1 per building | — | § 201-14.6B(5), § 201-14.5A(6)(b) |
| Window Sign (Permanent) | — | 25% of window glass area | — | — | — | On or inside window (within 3 ft). | — | § 201-14.6B(6) |
| Window Sign (Temporary/Sale/Promotion) | — | 50% of window glass area | — | — | — | On or inside window. | — | § 201-14.6B(6) |

### All residential districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Accessory/Professional Office/Accessory Use Sign | 25 ft (freestanding; per general) | 12 sq ft | — | 10 ft from property lines if freestanding. | — | — | — | § 201-14.6C(1)(a)-(b), § 201-14.5A(1), (2), (5)(b), (6)(a) |
| For Lease/Sale/Use Sign | 25 ft (freestanding; per general) | 6 sq ft (total) | — | 10 ft from property lines if freestanding. | — | — | — | § 201-14.6C(1)(c) |
| Bulletin/Announcement Board or Institution Identification (Church, Synagogue, etc.) | — | 10 sq ft | — | — | 3 per institution | At public entrance to institution | — | § 201-14.6C(1)(d) |
| Contractor's Sign | — | 10 sq ft (unless otherwise required by law) | — | — | 1 per construction | On premises with construction in progress. | — | § 201-14.6C(1)(e) |
| Subdivision Entrance Sign | — | 10 sq ft | — | — | 1 per entrance | Public entrance to subdivision. | — | § 201-14.6C(1)(f) |

## Prohibited signs in Norwell Town

- Any sign not specifically allowed, or which has not obtained the appropriate approvals required by this bylaw.
- Illumination, except as described in § 201-14.5A(1)(a) through (c).
- Flashing signs.
- Pennants/streamers/feather banners.
- Portable signs on wheeled trailers.
- Signs which are attached in any form, shape, or manner to a fire escape.
- Signs on trash receptacles, benches, shelters, and any other similar structures or units.
- Exposed gaseous tubes.
- Billboards (off-premises signs).
- Roof signs and V-shaped signs.
- Movement, except as described in § 201-14.5A(2).
- Signs within a right-of-way, except for hanging signs which project over a right-of-way but otherwise comply with this section, and those signs belonging to, or approved by, a government, public service agency, or railroad.
- Signs which are considered obscene or depict obscene matter, as defined in MGL c. 272, § 31, or which advertise an activity that is illegal under federal, state, or local laws.
- Signs in violation of building codes, or containing or exhibiting broken panels, visible rust or rot, damaged support structures, or missing letters. Such signs shall be remedied or the sign removed within 60 days.
- Signs identifying abandoned or discontinued businesses. Such signs shall be removed within 30 days following the abandonment or discontinuance.

## Signs exempt from permit in Norwell Town

- Any public notice or warning required by applicable federal, state, or local law, regulation, ordinance, or statute.
- Signs created and/or approved by the Norwell Historical Commission, Norwell Conservation Commission, or other such public entity that display information about historic properties, sites, areas, or other such public uses.
- Works of art that do not include or convey a commercial message.
- Holiday decorations.
- Political signs.

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

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