# Sign Regulations in Plainville Town, Massachusetts

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Plainville Town, Massachusetts (MA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/massachusetts/plainville-town
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/11814491#11814491)

## At a glance

Plainville Town, Massachusetts regulates 21 sign types across 4 zoning districts. Freestanding Signs in the Commercial District (CA, CB, CC, CD) zoning district are capped at 60 sq. ft. (or 120 sq. ft. for theaters/restaurants), with a 15 ft. from street line, 20 ft. from any side line setback (Sec. § 500-29D(2)). Most commercial signs in Plainville Town require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (4 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Residential District (RA, RB, RC, RD) | 2 | — | 15 sq. ft. | — |
| Commercial District (CA, CB, CC, CD) | 6 | May not extend above a flat roof or the elevation of the front wall by more than 20% of the average height of the front elevation | 60 sq. ft. (or 120 sq. ft. for theaters/restaurants) | — |
| Industrial District (IA, IB) | 3 | May not extend above a flat roof or front wall by more than 20% of the average height of the front elevation | 60 sq. ft. | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 11 | At least 8 ft. above ground | 32 sq. ft. | — |

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

### Commercial District (CA, CB, CC, CD)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall or Roof Sign (Single Occupant) | May not extend above a flat roof or the elevation of the front wall by more than 20% of the average height of the front elevation | — | — | — | 1 per building (single occupant) | Mounted on face or roof of building | — | § 500-29D(1) |
| Wall or Roof Sign (Multiple Occupants) | May not extend above roof/front wall by more than 20% of average front elevation height | — | — | — | Varies; see additional requirements | Mounted on face or roof of building | — | § 500-29D(1) |
| Wall or Roof Sign (Special Permit, CD District) | — | — | — | — | — | Mounted on face or roof of building in CD District | — | § 500-29D(1) |
| Freestanding Sign | — | 60 sq. ft. (or 120 sq. ft. for theaters/restaurants) | — | 15 ft. from street line, 20 ft. from any side line | 1 per building | Within front yard area of building with minimum setback of 30 ft. | — | § 500-29D(2) |
| Directional Sign | — | 3 sq. ft. | — | — | — | On site as needed | — | § 500-29D(3) |
| Window Sign | — | — | — | — | 1 per window | Per window | — | § 500-29D(4) |

### Industrial District (IA, IB)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall or Roof Sign (Main Building) | May not extend above a flat roof or front wall by more than 20% of the average height of the front elevation | — | — | — | 1 per main building | Mounted on face or roof of main building (oriented to principal trafficway/street) | — | § 500-29E(1) |
| Freestanding Sign | — | 60 sq. ft. | — | 20 ft. from street line; 30 ft. from lot lines | 1 per main building | Within front yard area | — | § 500-29E(2) |
| Directional Sign (Unlighted) | — | 3 sq. ft. | — | — | — | On site as needed | — | § 500-29E(3) |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Temporary Sign (Civic, Charitable, Church, Town Department, Public School) | — | — | — | Must conform to zoning setbacks | — | As needed | — | § 500-29F(3)(a) |
| Political Sign | — | — | — | Must conform to zoning setbacks | 1 per candidate per lot | As needed | — | § 500-29F(3)(b) |
| Real Estate Sign (For Sale/Rent) | — | 16 sq. ft. | — | Must conform to zoning setbacks | 1 per property | For sale/rental of building, space, or real estate | — | § 500-29F(3)(c) |
| Construction Sign | — | 32 sq. ft. | — | Must conform to zoning setbacks | 1 per lot/project | On construction site | — | § 500-29F(3)(d) |
| Temporary Window Sign (Business Establishment) | — | — | — | — | — | Inside windows | — | § 500-29F(3)(e) |
| Temporary Sign (New Business) | — | — | — | — | 1 per business (new only) | As approved | — | § 500-29F(3)(f) |
| Street Name Sign (Temporary) | — | — | — | — | Required at all intersections | At all street intersections/junctions (by developer) | — | § 540-37 |
| Street Name Sign (Permanent) | At least 8 ft. above ground | — | — | — | Required at all intersections | At all street intersections/junctions | — | § 540-37, § 540-71 |

## Prohibited signs in Plainville Town

- Signs consisting of moving or flashing parts, travelling lights or animated type, beacons or flashing devices, whether as a part, attached to, or apart from a sign are prohibited except as authorized by special permit.
- Temporary (including portable) signs are prohibited except as hereinafter expressly described.
- Wherever placed, whether by permit or without the requirement for a permit, all signs shall: conform to zoning setbacks, show no moving or flashing lights, and be constructed to withstand strong winds.
- Presently existing, unlawfully placed, nonconforming temporary signs must be removed in conformance with § 500-10. There shall be no further display of such signs as a result of present or previous existence.
- All illumination of signs shall be so arranged as not to be directed towards any portion of a public way or upon another lot other than that upon which it is located and shall not cause glare on any portion of a public way or upon another lot than that upon which it is located.

## Signs exempt from permit in Plainville Town

- Town departments, churches and church groups, public schools, civic and charitable organizations may, without application for permit, make use of temporary signs.
- Political signs may, without application for permit, be placed, not to exceed one per candidate per lot, not earlier than three weeks before an election and not later than three days after.
- Real estate sign for sale or rental of a building, space or real estate may be placed without application for permit; such signs shall be removed no later than 14 days after final sale, rental or lease of the property, and be limited to 16 square feet in area.
- A construction sign may be placed, without application for permit, not to exceed one per lot or project, to identify the building, owners, contractor, architect, financing source, etc. Such sign shall be removed within 30 days after occupancy or use of the facility and be limited to 32 square feet in area.
- Any business establishment may, without application for permit, paint or display temporary unlighted signs inside windows. All of which shall not exceed 30% of the window's area for a period not to exceed 30 days.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- The height and size of a sign in the CD District may exceed the requirements of this section by the issuance of a special permit from the Planning Board.
- A new business shall be granted, by application for permit by the Building Inspector in accordance with § 500-3, the right to display one temporary sign for a period not to exceed 14 days prior to opening and 30 days after opening. This permit is for one-time use only and is not renewable. Specifications for said sign shall be approved by the Building Inspector.
- Permits with an expiration date of not more than 60 days for other temporary signs may be granted by the Building Inspector if he so deems that such signs are not contrary to the best interests of the Town.

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

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