# Sign Regulations in Plymouth, Massachusetts

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Plymouth, Massachusetts (MA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/massachusetts/plymouth
- **Data last verified:** 2025-02-20
- **Source:** [other municipal code](https://www.plymouth-ma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/7334/Zoning-Bylaw-10-2024#page=47)

## At a glance

Plymouth, Massachusetts regulates 26 sign types across 3 zoning districts. Permanent Commercial Sign - Freestanding (within 10 ft of street)s in the Mixed Use & Commercial Districts - (GC, HC, AC, MC, NC, TC) zoning district are capped at ≤25 feet tall and 30 sf (Sec. §203-3 D. Table 1). Most commercial signs in Plymouth require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (3 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 19 | — | 10 sf | Yes |
| Mixed Commerce (MC), Arterial Commercial (AC), Highway Commercial (HC), Industrial Waterfront (LI/WF) | 1 | — | — | Yes |
| Mixed Use & Commercial Districts - (GC, HC, AC, MC, NC, TC) | 7 | ≤25 feet | 100 sf | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Architectural Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Attached parallel to the wall of a Structure in which the main entrance is located. | — | §203-3 C.3. |
| Secondary Architectural Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Attached parallel to the wall of a Structure other than the wall where the main entrance is located. | — | §203-3 D.2. |
| Hanging Architectural Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Attached perpendicular to the wall of a Structure above or adjacent to the main entrance. | — | §203-3 D.2. |
| Freestanding Sign | — | — | — | Not less than 10 feet from the street layout. | — | Does not use a building for structural support. | — | §203-3 D.4.d. |
| Temporary Commercial Sign | — | 10 sf | — | — | 2 signs at 5 sf each or 1 sign at 10 sf | On-premises | — | §203-3 D. Table 1 |
| Special Event Sign | — | 5 sf | — | — | No limit | See C(4) above | — | §203-3 D. Table 1 |
| Mobile Sign | — | — | — | — | — | On-Premises | Yes | §203-3 D.2. |
| Master Planned Development Sign | — | — | — | — | — | For developments with more than 100,000 square feet of building space or multiple buildings on adjacent lots. | Yes | §203-3 G.1. |

### Mixed Commerce (MC), Arterial Commercial (AC), Highway Commercial (HC), Industrial Waterfront (LI/WF)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Master Planned Development Sign | — | — | — | — | — | For developments with more than 100,000 square feet of building space or multiple buildings on adjacent lots. | Yes | §203-3 G.1. |

### Mixed Use & Commercial Districts - (GC, HC, AC, MC, NC, TC)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Permanent Commercial Sign - Hanging Architectural | — | 10 sf | — | — | 1 | Hanging over sidewalk/public way. | — | §203-3 D. Table 1 |
| Permanent Commercial Sign - Architectural Façade | — | 100 sf | — | — | 1 | Parallel to wall. | — | §203-3 D. Table 1 |
| Permanent Commercial Sign - Secondary Architectural Façade | — | 40 sf total | — | — | 2 | Parallel to wall. | — | §203-3 D. Table 1 |
| Permanent Commercial Sign - Freestanding (within 10 ft of street) | ≤25 feet | 30 sf | — | — | 1 | Within 10 ft of street. | — | §203-3 D. Table 1 |
| Permanent Commercial Sign - Freestanding (10-20 ft from road) | ≤25 feet | 50 sf | — | — | 1 | 10-20 ft from road. | — | §203-3 D. Table 1 |
| Permanent Commercial Sign - Freestanding (>20 ft from road) | ≤25 feet | 75 sf | — | — | 1 | >20 ft from road. | — | §203-3 D. Table 1 |
| Permanent Commercial Sign - Building Directory | — | 20 sf | — | — | 1 | On wall adjacent to main entry. | — | §203-3 D. Table 1 |

## Prohibited signs in Plymouth

- Billboards
- Moving Signs
- Architectural Signs which project more than one foot above the wall of a structure (i.e. roof top signs)
- Non‑municipal signs shall not be located on public property, with the exception of a location to be designated by a policy of the Select Board.
- No sign or sign structure shall interfere in any way with a paved roadway or sidewalk on a public way.
- Lighting that is Animated or flashing Signs shall not be permitted in any district.
- Strings of flags, spinners, reflectors, lights or similar devices that tend to unduly divert driver attention from the road shall not be permitted.
- No red or green lights shall be used on any Sign if such light would create a driving hazard.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Quantities in excess of the limit established in Table 1 require a Special Permit from the Zoning Board of Appeals.
- Signs in excess of the Maximum Size require a Special Permit from the Zoning Board of Appeals.
- For Master Planned Developments that include more than 100,000 square feet of building space or multiple buildings on one or more adjacent lots, the Zoning Board of Appeals may grant a Special Permit for Master Planned Signage to govern the size, quantity, location, illumination and nature of Signs within the Master Planned Development.
- A Special Permit for Master Planned Signage shall be subject to approval by the Zoning Board of Appeals based on detailed submissions by the applicant as set forth herein.

## Full detail

Complete sign requirements for Plymouth, including every field PermitPal tracks for each sign type, are available with a free PermitPal account: https://app.permitpal.io/?address=Plymouth+MA&override=true&utm_source=landing&utm_medium=city-page&utm_campaign=city-plymouth

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