# Sign Regulations in Sharon Town, Massachusetts

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Sharon Town, Massachusetts (MA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/massachusetts/sharon-town
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/29564067#29564067)

## At a glance

Sharon Town, Massachusetts regulates 27 sign types across 6 zoning districts. Freestanding/Projecting Sign - Retailing Complexs in the Business District B, Professional District, Light Industrial District zoning district are capped at 20 ft tall and 80 sq ft, with a Not within 5 ft of street/property line setback (Sec. §221-17B(1)-(4)). Most commercial signs in Sharon 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 | 5 | — | 10 sq ft (on premises ≤ 40,000 sq ft); 25 sq ft (other cases), unless a larger size is required by state or federal funding agency | — |
| Residence District, Suburban District, Rural District, Housing Authority District | 2 | — | 10 sq ft | — |
| Business District A | 4 | 10 ft above ground | 30 sq ft | — |
| Business District B, Professional District, Light Industrial District | 6 | 60 ft | 720 sq ft | — |
| Business District D, Residential and Recreational Overlay District | 9 | 60 ft | 720 sq ft | — |
| Senior Living Overlay District (Senior Living District) | 5 | 10 ft | 100 sq ft (per sign) | — |

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

### Business District B, Professional District, Light Industrial District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | — | 100 sq ft (if for Route 1/I-95 visibility), or 50 sq ft (other cases) | — | — | 1 per occupant per abutting street | Flat against building or visible through windows; not extending above or beyond wall or roof; may overhang by up to 6 in. | — | §221-17A(1)-(3) |
| Freestanding/Projecting Sign - Retailing Complex | 20 ft | 80 sq ft | — | Not within 5 ft of street/property line | 1 per abutting street | Not within 5 ft of any street or property line | — | §221-17B(1)-(4) |
| Freestanding/Projecting Sign - Other | 20 ft | 150 sq ft (if for Route 1/I-95 visibility), 25 sq ft (other cases) | — | Not within 5 ft of street/property line | 1 per abutting street | Not within 5 ft of any street or property line | — | §221-17B(1)-(5) |
| Electronic Message Center | — | As above per sign configuration | — | — | — | On permitted freestanding/projecting signs | — | §221-17B(5) |
| Temporary Window Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Inside windows | — | §221-17C |
| Billboard (Freestanding Pylon) (Light Industrial District, Business District D, Residential and Recreational Overlay District, see zone combination) | 60 ft | 720 sq ft | — | — | 1 per qualifying lot | Freestanding pylon; west of Route I-95 (Light Industrial); within 350 ft east of Route I-95 (RR Overlay & Business D) | — | §221-17D(1)-(5) |

### Business District D, Residential and Recreational Overlay District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign - Primary | — | 40 sq ft (general), 1,000 sq ft (anchor store with >100,000 sq ft facing and <150 ft from I-95), 400 sq ft (other facades >100,000 sq ft), 300 sq ft (>40,000-100,000 sq ft), 150 sq ft (>10,000-40,000 sq ft) | — | — | 1 per facade (anchor store exception) | On permitted building facades; not above, beyond wall/roof or more than 6 in. projection | — | §221-18A(1), (3), (6), (7), (4), (5); §221-18G |
| Wall Sign - Accessory | — | 40 sq ft (stores >10,000 sq ft); 60 sq ft (stores >40,000 sq ft) | — | — | — | Where wall signs are permitted | — | §221-18A(2), (3), (6), (7), (5), (4); §221-18G |
| Freestanding Pylon Sign | 60 ft | 720 sq ft | — | — | 1 per lot | Freestanding | — | §221-18B(1)-(3) |
| Freestanding Monument Sign | 14 ft | 150 sq ft | — | — | 1 per driveway on abutting streets | At driveway entrances on abutting streets | — | §221-18B(1)-(3) |
| Blade Sign (Projecting) | — | 15 sq ft | — | — | 1 per occupant | Perpendicular to and not above the facade | — | §221-18C |
| Permanent Directional (Way-finding) Sign | — | 12 sq ft | — | — | 1 per 2 acres | — | — | §221-18D |
| Awning Sign | — | 20 sq ft | — | — | — | On awning | — | §221-18F |
| Billboard (Freestanding Pylon) | 60 ft | 720 sq ft | — | — | 1 per qualifying lot | See district-specific location | — | §221-17D(1)-(5) |

### Senior Living Overlay District (Senior Living District)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | — | 100 sq ft (per sign) | — | — | 2 per building; not more than one per side | Flat against building or visible through windows; not above or beyond wall/roof or overhang more than 6 in. | — | §221-20A(1)-(3) |
| Freestanding or Projecting Sign | 10 ft | 50 sq ft per side | — | Not within 5 ft of street/property line | 1 per abutting street | Not within 5 ft of street or property line | — | §221-20B(1)-(3) |
| Internal Way-Finding Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Internal (traffic control, way-finding) | — | §221-20C |
| Additional Freestanding Building Identification Sign | 8 ft | 20 sq ft per side | — | — | 2 per building | — | — | §221-20D |
| Temporary Sign (Sale/Rental/Lease/Availability) | — | 100 sq ft | — | — | 2 | Advertising the sale, rental, lease or availability of a unit or bed in a nursing home facility | — | §221-20E |

## Prohibited signs in Sharon Town

- No sign shall be erected, enlarged, reworded, redesigned or structurally altered without a sign permit issued by the Building Inspector, unless specifically exempted.
- Signs shall be lighted only by a steady, stationary light shielded and directed solely at or internal to the sign.
- No illumination shall be permitted which casts glare onto any residentially used premises or onto any portion of a way so as to create a traffic hazard.
- No signs shall be attached to motor vehicles, trailers, or other movable objects regularly or recurrently located for fixed display.
- No sign shall be attached to a radio, television, or water tower, or any other type of tower or smoke stack.
- Pennants, streamers, flags used for commercial messages, spinners, or similar devices shall not be permitted.
- No animated or revolving sign shall be permitted, and only time and temperature indicators shall be allowed to flash.
- All signs shall be maintained in a safe and neat condition to the satisfaction of the Building Inspector, and in accordance with requirements of the State Building Code.
- Structural damage, missing letters, or other deterioration obscuring content shall be remedied or the sign removed within 60 days.
- Off-premises signs are generally prohibited except as specifically allowed under ordinance provisions.
- Temporary signs not meeting requirements for permanent signs shall not be used to advertise a continuing or regularly recurring business operation and must be removed when information is out of date.
- Corner visibility shall not be obstructed within the limits established at Section 2414 of the Zoning Bylaw.
- Signs facing and set back less than 200 feet from South Walpole Street are prohibited (Business D District).

## Signs exempt from permit in Sharon Town

- Flags, except when displayed in connection with a commercial message.
- Legal notices or informational devices erected or required by public agencies.
- Standard gasoline pumps bearing thereon in usual size and form the name, type, and price of gasoline.
- Integral decorative or architectural features of buildings, except letters, trademarks, moving parts, or parts internally illuminated or decorated with gaseous tube or other lights.
- On-premises devices guiding and directing traffic and parking not exceeding two square feet in area and bearing no commercial message.
- One sign (attached or freestanding) indicating only the name of the owner or occupant, the street number, and uses or occupations engaged in thereon, not exceeding two square feet in area.
- Unlighted, temporary signs of no more than six square feet pertaining to a noncommercial event, cause, or expression of political, religious, or ideological views.
- One temporary unlighted real estate sign not larger than six square feet advertising the sale, rental, or lease of the premises or subdivision, if the erecting agent has obtained a one-year permit and paid an annual fee.
- One temporary unlighted sign indicating the name and address of parties involved in construction, subject to area limits, unless a larger size is required by a state or federal funding agency.
- Temporary signs as specified in ordinance, provided they comply with all permanent sign requirements (including permit), unless otherwise specified.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Permit applications must be accompanied by two prints of scale drawings of the sign, supporting structure, and location.
- For signs subject to design review and hearing, a public hearing shall be held by the Sign Committee; the applicant must submit photographs of the premises and those abutting on either side.
- Signs (including variances) may be subject to design review and hearing before the Sign Committee.
- When there are two or more secondary signs on the building facing a parking lot in Business A District, they shall conform to a master signage plan for the building, prepared and submitted by the occupant/applicant and approved by the Planning Board.
- In certain districts/applications, the Planning Board or Board of Appeals may act as Sign Committee for purposes of sign approvals and reviews.
- A variance may be requested for exceptions to the bylaw after an appeal and design review/hearing.
- Sign Committee may authorize a 50% increase above sign area limits if five of eight design guidelines are met, following design review and hearing.

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

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