# Sign Regulations in Rockland Town, Massachusetts

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Rockland Town, Massachusetts (MA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/massachusetts/rockland-town
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/12681487#12681487)

## At a glance

Rockland Town, Massachusetts regulates 21 sign types across 6 zoning districts. Free Standing Ground Signs in the Business I zoning district are capped at 4 feet tall and 24 square feet, with a 10 feet setback (Sec. § 415-45B(2)(b)). Most commercial signs in Rockland Town 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 | 11 | — | 120 square inches | — |
| Residential District | 2 | — | 12 square feet | — |
| Business I | 9 | 12 feet | 24 square feet | — |
| Business II | 10 | 46 inches overall | 24 square feet | — |
| Industrial Districts | 9 | 46 inches overall | 35 square feet | — |
| Route 3 Corridor Sign Overlay District | 1 | Top: 50 feet from Route 3 elevation; Bottom: 70 feet from normal grade | 672 square feet per face, 14 feet x 48 feet max per face | — |

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

### Business I

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | 4 feet | 24 square feet | — | — | — | — | — | § 415-45B(1) |
| Free Standing Pole Sign | 12 feet | — | 6 feet | 6 feet (from property line abutting street) | — | — | — | § 415-45B(2)(a) |
| Free Standing Ground Sign | 4 feet | 24 square feet | — | 10 feet | — | — | — | § 415-45B(2)(b) |
| Individual Sign | 4 feet | — | 6 feet | — | — | — | — | § 415-45B(2)(c) |
| Temporary Sign | — | 6 square feet (for construction/contractor) | — | — | One per site (120 days) OR two per site (60 days) | — | — | § 415-45B(2)(d) |
| Awning Sign | — | — | — | — | — | At least 8 feet above traveled surface | — | § 415-45B(2)(e) |
| Directional Sign | 2 feet | — | 2.5 feet | — | — | — | — | § 415-45B(2)(f) |
| Projection Sign | 2 feet | — | 3 feet | — | — | At least 8 feet above traveled surface | — | § 415-45B(2)(h) |

### Business II

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | 4 feet | 24 square feet | — | — | — | — | — | § 415-45C(1) |
| Free Standing Pole Sign | 12 feet | — | 6 feet | 6 feet (from property line abutting street) | — | — | — | § 415-45C(2)(a) |
| Free Standing Ground Sign | 4 feet | 24 square feet | — | 10 feet | — | — | — | § 415-45C(2)(b) |
| Individual Sign | 4 feet | — | 6 feet | — | — | — | — | § 415-45C(2)(c) |
| Temporary Sign | — | 6 square feet (for construction/contractor) | — | — | One per site (120 days) OR two per site (60 days) | — | — | § 415-45C(2)(d) |
| Directional Sign | 2 feet | — | 2.5 feet | — | — | — | — | § 415-45C(2)(f) |
| Digital Display/Electronic Message Board | Subject to the applicable sign | Subject to applicable sign it's placed on, not to exceed its max area | — | — | One per lot | — | — | § 415-45C(2)(h) |
| Sandwich Board, A-Frame, and the like | 46 inches overall | 24 inches x 36 inches (max area) | — | — | 1 per lot | Placed on ground/grade, not on public property | — | § 415-45C(2)(i) |

### Industrial Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | 5 feet | 24 square feet | — | — | Max 1 per building; 2 if on two street frontages | — | — | § 415-45D(1) |
| Free Standing Pole Sign | 15 feet | — | 8 feet | 6 feet (from property line abutting street) | — | — | — | § 415-45D(2)(a) |
| Free Standing Ground Sign | 5 feet | 35 square feet | — | 10 feet | — | — | — | § 415-45D(2)(b) |
| Individual Sign | 5 feet | — | 7 feet | — | — | — | — | § 415-45D(2)(c) |
| Temporary Sign | — | 6 square feet (construction/contractor signs) | — | — | One per site (120 days) OR two per site (60 days) | — | — | § 415-45D(2)(d) |
| Directional Sign | 2 feet | — | 2.5 feet | — | — | — | — | § 415-45D(2)(e) |
| Digital Display/Electronic Message Board | Subject to applicable sign | Subject to applicable sign it's placed on, not to exceed its max area | — | — | One per lot | — | — | § 415-45D(2)(g) |
| Sandwich Board, A-Frame, and the like | 46 inches overall | 24 inches x 36 inches (max area) | — | — | 1 per lot | Placed on ground/grade, not on public property | — | § 415-45D(2)(h) |

## Prohibited signs in Rockland Town

- No more than one principal sign per building and no more than two secondary signs per tenant for each building; of the two secondary signs, one may only be a wall sign and the other may only be located on a freestanding pole or ground sign (§415-39).
- No sign shall be erected, re-erected, constructed, altered, or maintained, except as provided by the bylaw and after a permit has been issued by the Building Inspector (§415-40).
- Portable electric signs and all other electric signs not covered by the provided definition are strictly prohibited in all districts (§415-44, Electric Signs).
- Individual letter signs that are mounted on top of a parapet or a roof edge of a building are strictly prohibited in all districts (§415-44, Individual Letter Signs).
- Moving signs, including swinging, flashing, or revolving signs and revolving beacons, search lights and animated signs, are strictly prohibited in all districts (§415-44, Moving Signs).
- Roof signs are strictly prohibited in all districts (§415-44, Roof Signs).
- Any sign not specifically permitted or not specifically defined herein and not shown as permitted in the Table is prohibited (§415-44, Prohibited Signs).
- String pennant flags, string flags or pennant strings or the like are prohibited except for the opening of a new business which shall be allowed for seven consecutive calendar days (§415-45E(8)).
- No sign in any zoning district shall obstruct visibility in such a way as to constitute a hazard to the safety of persons traveling upon a public way (§415-45E(4)).
- No sign or their illumination, by reason of their location, shape, size, or color, shall interfere with traffic, sight lines or be confused with or obstruct the view or effectiveness of any official traffic sign, signal or markings (§415-45E(5)).
- Political signs shall not be placed on public property (§415-45E(3)).
- No person shall establish or maintain over any sidewalk, or other part of any public way, or affix to any tree, tree guard, post, board or other object thereon, any sign, sign board or advertising device unless he shall have first obtained a permit from the Selectmen (§342-2).
- No person shall injure, deface or destroy any street sign, guide board, lamp post or lantern thereon, nor any tree, building, fence or post or other thing set, erected or made for the use or ornament of the Town (§342-14).

## Signs exempt from permit in Rockland Town

- No permit is required to change the advertising copy or message on a changeable letter sign; repainting, cleaning, repair or maintenance shall not be considered an erection or alteration requiring a permit unless a structural change is made (§415-40E).
- Signs indicating properties for sale, for lease or for rent are exempt from the 60-day time limit for temporary signs (§415-44, Temporary Signs).
- Political signs are exempt from Article VI of this bylaw except that such signs shall not be placed on public property and shall be removed within 48 hours of said election (§415-45E(3)).
- Digital display/electronic message boards are allowed for municipal buildings with a permit from the Building Department; the message must be static and not operate between 11:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. (§415-45E(7)).

## Sign plan & submission notes

- The Building Inspector may require the filing of plans or other pertinent information such as the method of construction, the method of installation or support, etc., as part of the sign permit application (§415-40B).
- In the Route 3 Corridor Sign Overlay District, special permit applications for billboards require submission of a site plan, area maps, architectural depictions, and construction details (§415-21.3D(1)).
- For uses requiring Site Plan approval, the number of directional signs may exceed two, but only as approved by the Planning Board under Site Plan review (§415-44, Directional 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 6 zoning districts in Rockland Town — every sign type, every field — are available with a free PermitPal account: https://app.permitpal.io/?address=Rockland+Town+MA&override=true&utm_source=landing&utm_medium=city-page&utm_campaign=city-rockland-town

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