# Sign Regulations in Southampton Town, Massachusetts

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Southampton Town, Massachusetts (MA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/massachusetts/southampton-town
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/38189195#38189195)

## At a glance

Southampton Town, Massachusetts regulates 14 sign types across 7 zoning districts. Pole Signs in the C Districts (C-V, C-H) zoning district are capped at 30 ft tall and 40 sq ft, with a At least 10 ft from any street lot line setback (Sec. § 275-8.3D(3)). Most commercial signs in Southampton Town require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (7 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 4 | — | 6 sq ft | — |
| R Districts (R-R, R-N, R-V) | 5 | — | 20 sq ft | — |
| C Districts (C-V, C-H) | 4 | 30 ft | 40 sq ft (or less if 10% of wall area is less) | — |
| I-P District | 2 | 15 ft | 40 sq ft (or less if 10% of wall area is less) | — |

_3 additional zoning districts are covered in PermitPal (free account)._

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 7 zones)

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Traffic or Directional Sign (Governmental) | — | — | — | — | No limit | Anywhere as necessary for safety and direction | — | § 275-8.3B(1) |
| Temporary Interior Window Display / Banner (Automotive Establishments) | — | — | — | — | — | Inside window | — | § 275-8.3B(2) |
| Temporary Sign (For Sale or Lease) | — | 6 sq ft | — | At least 10 ft from street lot line | 1 per parcel | On premises offered for sale or lease | — | § 275-8.3B(8) |
| Temporary Sign (Architect, Engineer, Contractor) | — | 4 sq ft | — | At least 10 ft from street lot line | 1 per premises | Premises where work is being performed | — | § 275-8.3B(9) |

### R Districts (R-R, R-N, R-V)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Professional Nameplate | — | 1 sq ft | — | — | 1 per doctor or practitioner | On-premises, for each medical doctor or dental practitioner | — | § 275-8.3C(1) |
| Identification Sign (Dwelling Unit) | — | 1 sq ft | — | — | 1 per dwelling unit | For each dwelling unit | — | § 275-8.3C(2) |
| Identification Sign (Membership Club, Funeral Establishment, Community Facility, Public Utility) | — | 10 sq ft | — | — | 1 per use | For each respective use | — | § 275-8.3C(3) |
| Temporary Sign (New Residential Subdivision during Construction) | — | 20 sq ft | — | At least 10 ft from street lot line | 1 | Relates to new residential subdivision, only during construction period | — | § 275-8.3C(4) |
| Other Signs (Excluding Nameplates) | — | — | — | At least 1/2 required front yard depth | See general regulation: no more than one in addition to a nameplate (§ 275-8.3B(5)) | On premises | — | § 275-8.3C(5) |

### C Districts (C-V, C-H)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | — | 40 sq ft (or less if 10% of wall area is less) | — | — | 1 per lot street frontage per establishment | Attached and parallel to main wall; one per lot street frontage per establishment | — | § 275-8.3D(2) |
| Pole Sign | 30 ft | 40 sq ft | — | At least 10 ft from any street lot line | 1 per street frontage of each establishment | 1 per street frontage of each establishment | — | § 275-8.3D(3) |
| Freestanding Sign (C-H Only) | 12 ft | 40 sq ft per side | — | At least 10 ft from any street lot line | 1 per lot street frontage | 1 per lot street frontage of a business establishment in the C-H District | — | § 275-8.3D(4) |
| Business Signs (Other than Wall, Pole, Freestanding) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | § 275-8.3D(1) |

## Prohibited signs in Southampton Town

- No signs shall be attached, erected or otherwise installed on any property without first obtaining a sign permit from the Zoning Enforcement Officer.
- A sign (including temporary interior window displays or banners) or its illuminator shall not by reason of its location, shape, size, or color interfere with traffic or be confused with or obstruct the view or effectiveness of any official traffic sign, traffic signal or traffic marking.
- Flashing or animated signs are not permitted.
- Red, yellow or green colored lights shall not be permitted.
- No sign shall extend above the roofline of the building to which it is attached.
- Roof signs are not allowed.

## Signs exempt from permit in Southampton Town

- Any traffic or directional sign or construction sign (for the duration of the construction) owned or installed by a governmental agency shall be permitted.
- Temporary interior window displays or temporary banners for automotive establishments shall be permitted except as provided in specific restrictions (Temporary means not exceeding 30 consecutive days).
- Limitations as to the number of signs permitted does not apply to traffic or directional signs which are necessary for the safety and direction of residents, employees, customers, and visitors, whether in vehicle or on foot, of any business, industry or residence.
- In any district, one unlighted temporary sign offering premises for sale or lease for each parcel in one ownership shall be permitted, provided it does not exceed six square feet in surface area and is set back at least 10 feet from the street lot line.
- In any district, one unlighted temporary sign of an architect, engineer or contractor erected during the period such person is performing work on the premises on which such sign is erected shall be permitted, provided it does not exceed four square feet in surface area and is set back at least 10 feet from the street lot line.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- No explicit mention in the provided text of when a master sign plan, sign plan, or variance meeting is required. All signs require a sign permit from the Zoning Enforcement Officer.

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

---

PermitPal — AI sign code research. Full HTML page: https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/massachusetts/southampton-town