# Sign Regulations in Peabody, Massachusetts

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Peabody, Massachusetts (MA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/massachusetts/peabody
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-08
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/MA/Peabody/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=PTIICOOR_CH3ADSI)

## At a glance

Peabody, Massachusetts regulates 23 sign types across 6 zoning districts. Freestanding Sign (Setback > 30 ft)s in the BC, GB, GBD, BN, BN2 zoning district are capped at 12 ft top of sign tall and 40 sq ft (1 use), 60 sq ft (cluster for centers/multiple uses), with a Allowed only if building setback > 30 ft from street property line setback (Sec. 11.5.1.C). Most commercial signs in Peabody require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (6 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 2 | May not extend above roofline or wall on which it is located; not to exceed district max sign height. | — | — |
| BC, GB, GBD, BN, BN2 | 11 | Top of sign shall be no higher than the lowest of: 25 ft above grade; bottom of first level of windows above first story; height of building line. | 60 sq ft (and no more than 10% of wall face). | — |
| BR | 12 | 25 ft | 100 sq ft (1 use), 65 sq ft (cluster for shopping center/multi-use) | — |
| IL | 9 | 12 ft | 60 sq ft | — |
| IP | 10 | 10 ft | 60 sq ft | — |
| Residential Districts | 5 | 6 ft | 20 sq ft | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 6 zones)

### BC, GB, GBD, BN, BN2

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | Top of sign shall be no higher than the lowest of: 25 ft above grade; bottom of first level of windows above first story; height of building line. | 60 sq ft (and no more than 10% of wall face). | — | — | 2 per business (primary and secondary façade) | Primary and secondary facades of ground floor use, must face public way or parking lot, in sign band if exists, not obscuring architectural details. | — | 11.5.1.A |
| Wall Sign (BN only - Projection Limit) | See above for Wall Sign | 60 sq ft (and no more than 10% of wall face). | — | — | 2 per business | Same as above | — | 11.5.1.A |
| Hanging Sign (BC only) | Bottom of sign: min 10 ft, max 15 ft above ground; Top in line with either (a) between bottom sills of second story windows and tops of doors/windows of ground floor, or (b) lowest point of roof of a 1-story building. | 10 sq ft | — | — | 1 (in lieu of 1 wall sign) | In BC, allowed in lieu of a wall sign. | — | 11.5.1.B |
| Freestanding Sign (Setback > 30 ft) | 12 ft top of sign | 40 sq ft (1 use), 60 sq ft (cluster for centers/multiple uses) | — | Allowed only if building setback > 30 ft from street property line | 1 for building or center | Permitted only if building is set back more than 30 ft from property line on street side. | — | 11.5.1.C |
| Permanent Window Sign (Upper Floor Use) | — | 30% of window area | — | — | Max 2 per use, 1 per window | Windows of upper floors | — | 11.5.1.D.1 |
| Awning Sign | — | Area not exceeding wall sign area limit (60 sq ft). Letters/logos up to 2 lines, letters max 16 in high | — | — | 1 per use, or max 2 if no wall sign | Vertical face of awning | — | 11.5.1.E |
| Temporary Sign | — | Banners: up to wall sign limits (60 sq ft); A-frames/pole: 9 sq ft. Window: 30%. | — | — | Per permit limits | Private property | — | 11.5.1.F |
| Gasoline Filling Station Signs (Freestanding, Wall, Canopy) - Option 1 | — | Per above sign type limits; max 3 signs in combination | — | — | 3 (all types, only 1 freestanding permitted) | On premises at gasoline station | — | 11.5.1.H |

### BR

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | — | 75 sq ft (max 20% of wall face). | — | — | 2 per business | On primary and secondary facades facing public way or parking lot, in sign band if present. | — | 11.5.2.A |
| Marquee Sign (Theatre Only) | — | — | — | — | 1 (additional to wall signs) | Theatre only | — | 11.5.2.A |
| Freestanding Sign | 25 ft | 100 sq ft (1 use), 65 sq ft (cluster for shopping center/multi-use) | — | Sign pole min 5 ft from public way | 1 per building or group | — | — | 11.5.2.B |
| Electronic Message Board (as part of Freestanding Sign) | — | Max 30% of freestanding sign area. | — | — | 1 per sign | As part of freestanding sign. | — | 11.5.2.B.3 |
| Awning Sign | — | Area not exceeding wall sign area (75 sq ft) | — | — | 1 per use, or 2 if no wall sign | Vertical face of awning. | — | 11.5.2.D |
| Temporary Sign | — | Banners: up to wall sign limit (75 sq ft); Sandwich board/pole sign: max 9 sq ft. Windows: 30%. | — | — | Per permit limitations | Private property | — | 11.5.2.E |
| Gasoline Filling Station Signs (Freestanding, Wall, Canopy) - Option 1 | — | Per above sign type limits; max 3 signs combined | — | — | 3 combined | On premises at gasoline station | — | 11.5.2.G |
| Gasoline Filling Station Price Sign | — | 25 sq ft, max 2 faces | — | — | 1 per station | May be mounted to freestanding sign if present. | — | 11.5.2.H |

### IP

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | — | 60 sq ft | — | — | 2 per use | On primary and secondary façade facing parking or public way, in sign band if present. | — | 11.5.4.A |
| Freestanding Sign (Setback > 50 ft) | 10 ft | 50 sq ft (for 1), 60 sq ft (cluster) | — | Building must be set back more than 50 ft from street property line; sign pole min 10 ft from public way. | 1 per building/group | If building set back > 50 ft from property line. | — | 11.5.4.B |
| Permanent Window Sign (Upper Floor Use) | — | 30% of window area | — | — | 2 per use | — | — | 11.5.4.C.1 |
| Awning Sign | — | 60 sq ft | — | — | 1 per use (2 if no wall sign) | Vertical face of awning. | — | 11.5.4.D |
| Temporary Sign | — | Banners: up to wall sign limit; sandwich board/pole: max 9 sq ft; windows: 30%. | — | — | Per permit limits | Private property. | — | 11.5.4.E |
| Sandwich Board | — | 9 sq ft | — | — | — | On sidewalk in front. | — | 11.5.4.F |
| Gasoline Filling Station Signs (Freestanding, Wall, Canopy) - Option 1 | — | Per above types, max 3 in combination. | — | — | 3 in any combination; max 1 freestanding | — | — | 11.5.4.G |
| Gasoline Filling Station Price Sign | — | 25 sq ft, max 2 faces | — | — | 1 per station | May be mounted to freestanding sign. | — | 11.5.4.H |

## Prohibited signs in Peabody

- No sign may be erected, placed, established, painted, created, or maintained in the city except in conformance with the standards, procedures, exemptions, and requirements of the ordinance.
- All signs not expressly permitted by the ordinance are prohibited.
- Signs may not be placed to cover architectural elements such as cornices, columns, arches, or other building features or ornamentation.
- Signs may not extend above the building’s roofline or wall upon which they are located, nor may they exceed maximum sign height.
- A business wall sign may only be placed on the building in which the advertised business resides.
- Trademarks may not occupy more than 30% of a sign area unless the sale of the product is the major business conducted on the premises.
- Colored lighting, open flame, or bare bulbs may not be used for illumination.
- All lighted signs must be continuously illuminated by a factory-applied label from an approved testing agency.
- Upon change of use, removal, or closing of any commercial or industrial use, any nonconforming sign related to that use must be eliminated and new signs must comply.
- Any sign displaying flashing or intermittent lights, or lights of changing degrees of intensity is prohibited.
- No sign may be in motion by any means, including fluttering, rotating, or moving by atmospheric movement.
- No lighting by exposed tubing or string of lights outlining buildings or affixed to ornamental features, except for temporary holiday or seasonal decorations.
- No sign may obscure a sign displayed by a public authority or mimic government signs such as 'stop' or 'danger'.
- No sign may obstruct any window, door, fire escape, stairway, ladder or opening required for light, air, ingress, or egress.
- No sign or illumination may cause overt and direct glare into or upon any residential building other than the one to which the sign is related.
- Signs constructed, erected, or maintained upon or extending over the roof of any building are prohibited.
- Any off-premises sign which indicates a use or product not available on the property/building/portion where the sign is located is prohibited.
- Any sign which due to its placement obscures the visibility of motor vehicles thus creating a traffic hazard is prohibited.
- Banners, temporary window signs, and any other temporary sign are prohibited unless specifically approved by the building inspector with an application.
- Any static or digital billboard is prohibited.
- Any additional face to an existing billboard, billboard structure, or billboard monopole is prohibited.
- Signs not maintained in a safe, presentable, and good structural condition are prohibited.

## Signs exempt from permit in Peabody

- Signs erected by or on the order of a governmental agency when limited to governmental purposes, and excluding any advertising, are exempt but require building inspector review and approval.
- Names of buildings, date of erection, monument citation, and commemorative tablets made a permanent and integral part of a building or site (not exceeding ten square feet) are exempt but require building inspector review and approval.
- Banners or flags emblematic of or issued by national, state, or local governments are exempt but require building inspector review and approval.
- Holiday decorations and lights when in season are exempt but require building inspector review and approval.
- Signs not to exceed two square feet which indicate warnings, hazards, or public conveniences (e.g., 'trespass', 'beware of dog', rest room signs) are exempt but require building inspector review and approval.
- Signs not to exceed two square feet necessary for safety and direction of residents, employees, customers, and visitors (provided such signs do not carry the name or symbol of any business or product) are exempt but require building inspector review and approval.
- Signs not to exceed two square feet for direction and distance to houses of worship, community buildings, or real estate for sale/rent/lease/trade (not to be illuminated) are exempt but require building inspector review and approval.
- One sign not to exceed ten square feet in all residential districts or 32 square feet in all other districts to announce sale/rent/lease/trade of real estate property by the owner or agent is exempt but requires building inspector review and approval and must be removed within three days after transaction.
- Signs for structures listed on the National Register are exempt but require building inspector review and approval.
- Gasoline filling station price sign using electronic display is exempt but requires building inspector review and approval.
- Copy changes on changeable message boards, clocks, or thermometers are exempt from permit requirements.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A permit system is established to allow a variety of types of signs subject to the standards and permit procedures of the ordinance.
- No sign shall be erected, or existing sign altered in any way, without review and approval by City of Peabody Building Inspector or Zoning Board of Appeals, and without issuance of a building permit as required by the building inspector.
- All applications for a sign shall include drawings to scale with dimensions, mounting fixtures, lettering, graphics, area of ornamentation, representative colors, contractor/supplier list, site plan for freestanding signs, and illumination/electrical listing if applicable.
- All applications are subject to review for conformance with general policy and design guidelines of section 11.4 and specific standards of section 11.5 for the zoning district.
- Zoning Board of Appeals review and approval is required for any sign not explicitly allowed by the ordinance (i.e., when a variance is requested); after which the applicant must apply for a building permit.
- If a sign is erected without approval and permit, it must follow the application guidelines and will result in a permit fee of twice the regular amount.
- Freestanding sign applications require a site plan as part of the permit submission.

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

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