# Sign Regulations in Sherborn Town, Massachusetts

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Sherborn Town, Massachusetts (MA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/massachusetts/sherborn-town
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/38074088#38074088)

## At a glance

Sherborn Town, Massachusetts regulates 20 sign types across 3 zoning districts. Primary Ground Sign (Business District - Special Permit Option)s in the Business District zoning district are capped at 12 ft tall, 24 sq ft; not more than 6 ft in any dimension and not more than 12 ft in height, and 6 ft wide, with a 10 ft from pavement, 30 ft from residence district setback (Sec. §240-5.2G(2)(b)[2]). Most commercial signs in Sherborn Town 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 | 2 | — | 30 sq ft (primary building signs) | — |
| Residence District | 5 | 10 ft | 40 sq ft | — |
| Business District | 13 | 12 ft | 60 sq ft | — |

## 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 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| All Signs (Permanent) | — | 30 sq ft (primary building signs) | — | 10 ft from edge of street pavement. Traffic and parking signs excluded. | — | All permanent signs must be set back at least 10 feet from the edge of pavement. | — | §240-5.2C(1)-(5) |
| Temporary Sign - All Zones (By Special Permit) | — | As specified in permit | — | — | — | As allowed by special permit on Town property. | — | §240-5.2D(1)-(3) |

### Residence District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Primary Ground Sign (Residence District) | 6 ft above ground | 2 sq ft | — | 10 ft from edge of pavement per General Regs | 1 per lot | On any lot, must comply with §240-5.2C location requirements (10' setback). | — | §240-5.2F(1)(b) |
| Primary Building Sign (Residence District) | 5 ft above entryway/threshold | 1 sq ft | — | — | 1 per lot | On wall of a building. | — | §240-5.2F(1)(c) |
| Primary Ground Sign (Residence District - Specially Permitted Nonresidential Uses) | 10 ft | 16 sq ft | — | 10 ft from pavement | 1 per lot | On lot with business, professional, or other lawful use allowed by specified zoning sections. | — | §240-5.2F(2) |
| Temporary Primary Ground Sign (Sale/Rental/Lease/Construction) | 10 ft | 8 sq ft (sale/rental/lease); 12 sq ft (identifying construction participants) | — | — | 1 per lot | On any lot in a residence district. | — | §240-5.2F(3) |
| Temporary Primary Ground Sign (Subdivision, Special Permit) | — | 40 sq ft | — | — | 1 per subdivision | 1 per residential subdivision of 6 or more lots. | — | §240-5.2F(4) |

### Business District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Primary Ground Sign (Business District - Standard) | — | 2 sq ft | — | 10 ft from pavement | 1 per lot | On each lot; must be at least 10 ft from pavement. | — | §240-5.2G(2)(a)[2] |
| Primary Ground Sign (Business District - Special Permit Option) | 12 ft | 24 sq ft; not more than 6 ft in any dimension and not more than 12 ft in height | 6 ft | 10 ft from pavement, 30 ft from residence district | 1 per lot (in lieu of standard ground sign) | At least 10 ft from pavement and 30 ft from a residence district. | — | §240-5.2G(2)(b)[2] |
| Primary Building Sign (Business District - Single Building/Single Public Entrance) | — | 30 sq ft | — | — | 1 per business per entrance (see below) | On wall of building. | — | §240-5.2G(2)(c)[1]-[2] |
| Primary Building Sign (Business District - Multiple Entrances) | — | Second/additional sign: 1/2 of primary sign (max 15 sq ft if primary is maxed out at 30 sq ft) | — | — | 1 per additional entrance | Affixed to each wall per additional public entrance not served by the primary sign. | — | §240-5.2G(2)(c)[2] |
| Primary Building Sign (Business District - Special Permit Larger/Perpendicular) | — | 60 sq ft | — | — | 1 per building | On building; may be perpendicular. | — | §240-5.2G(2)(d) |
| Temporary Primary Ground Sign (Business District - Construction) | — | 15 sq ft | — | 20 ft from lot line | 1 per lot | On lot in business district, set back at least 20 feet from any lot line. | — | §240-5.2G(2)(e)[1] |
| Temporary Primary Ground Sign (Business District - Sale/Rental/Lease/Construction, as per Residence District) | 10 ft | 8 sq ft (sale/rental/lease); 12 sq ft (construction) | — | — | 1 per lot | As per Residence District provisions. | — | §240-5.2G(2)(e)[2] |
| Temporary Secondary Ground Sign (Business District - Sandwich Board/A-frame/Flag, Special Permit) | 5 ft | 15 sq ft | — | — | May be limited by permit per property location | On business property (not public or in way of walkway). | — | §240-5.2G(2)(f)[2] |

## Prohibited signs in Sherborn Town

- Any sign not expressly allowed or permitted or exempted under this bylaw is prohibited.
- No sign shall be erected at or near the intersection of any streets or a street and driveway in such a manner as to obstruct free and clear vision or erected at any location where for any reason it may interfere with or obstruct the view of or which by reason of its shape, color, location or other characteristics could be confused with any traffic sign, signal or device.
- No sign shall be painted or posted directly on a window or affixed to an exterior wall except as permitted under Subsection G(2)(e)[3].
- No sign shall be affixed in any way to or from a part of any cupola, tower, spire, chimney, enclosure or other object or structure located on or above the roof of any building.
- Sign graphics shall be painted, carved or otherwise permanently affixed with no moving, movable or animated elements except that secondary signs may utilize changeable type or messages, not of an electronic nature.
- Sign illumination is limited to a fixed white light from an external source. Illumination shall not incorporate tube-type gaseous or 'neon' elements, nor internal light sources, and shall be directed solely at the sign with glare shielded from the street or abutting premises.
- No sign shall be illuminated between 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m., except that if the business establishment or office is open to the public after 10:00 p.m., the sign may be illuminated until closing but not later than midnight.
- All permanent signs shall be set back no less than 10 feet from the edge of the pavement of any street. Traffic and parking signs shall be excluded.

## Signs exempt from permit in Sherborn Town

- Signs expressly protected by any constitution, or law of the federal or state government.
- Signs erected on Town property under the authority of the Town of Sherborn.
- Nonconforming signs as provided for in § 240-1.4E of this bylaw.
- Any sign, not exceeding four square feet in area, limited solely to directing traffic within a parking area or indicating parking restrictions in the use of such parking area.
- Any sign not exceeding one square foot in area, marking or identifying a foot or bridle path over privately owned land.
- Customary signs on gasoline pumps and the price thereof.
- Holiday decorations and lights in season.
- Religious organization and nonprofit educational organization are permitted to erect and maintain on each lot upon which a church, synagogue, place of worship or other facility used by the religious organization or nonprofit educational organization directly to foster its religious or educational purposes, a sign or signs meeting the following criteria: (a) One bulletin or announcement board sign or entrance sign for each public entrance, up to but not exceeding a total of three such signs; (b) Each sign shall not exceed 35 square feet in area; (c) Each sign shall not exceed seven feet in height above the ground level.
- Any sign, not exceeding three square feet in area, that is affixed to any building listed on the Sherborn Historical Resources Survey, as maintained by the Sherborn Historical Commission, and indicates the construction date and/or name of the building, as specified in the survey; or is affixed to any building listed on the National Register of Historic Places, as maintained by the National Park Service, and indicates the fact of such listing, and/or the construction date and or/name of the building as listed on the Register.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Any proposed signs shall be shown on the site plan and must conform to § 240-5.2 of the Zoning Bylaw.

## Full detail

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

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