# Sign Regulations in Southborough Town, Massachusetts

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Southborough Town, Massachusetts (MA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/massachusetts/southborough-town
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/9539376#9539376)

## At a glance

Southborough Town, Massachusetts regulates 16 sign types across 6 zoning districts. Standing Signs in the Highway Business, Industrial, Industrial Park Districts fronting streets other than Route 9 zoning district are capped at 15 ft. tall and 75 sq. ft. (Sec. §174-11D Table; §174-11C(9), (3)). Most commercial signs in Southborough Town require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (6 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Residential District, Conservation District, Research, Scientific and Professional District | 2 | 6 ft. | 6 sq. ft. | — |
| Business Village District, Downtown District | 4 | 15 ft. | 25 sq. ft. | — |
| Highway Business, Industrial, Industrial Park Districts fronting streets other than Route 9 | 6 | 20 ft. | 75 sq. ft. | — |
| Highway Business, Industrial, Industrial Park Districts fronting Route 9 | 6 | 25 ft. | 100 sq. ft. | — |
| Municipal, state, federal or private educational institution, religious institution within a Residential District | 4 | 15 ft. | 12 sq. ft. | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 10 | — | 32 sq. ft. | — |

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

### Highway Business, Industrial, Industrial Park Districts fronting streets other than Route 9

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Standing Sign | 15 ft. | 75 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per lot | 1 per lot | — | §174-11D Table; §174-11C(9), (3) |
| Wall Sign | 20 ft. | 50 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per business | 1 per business | — | §174-11D Table; §174-11C(10) |
| Window Sign (Permanent) | — | 10 sq. ft. or 10% of total exterior window area exclusive of doors, whichever is less | — | — | 1 per business | 1 per business | — | §174-11D Table, Note 3 |
| Awning Sign | — | 25% of awning/canopy or 10% of facade, whichever is less | — | — | 1 per business | At first floor level, painted or attached flat to face of awning/canopy | — | §174-11D Table; §174-11C(15) |
| Temporary Window Sign | — | 25% of window area (paper or posterboard only) | — | — | — | — | — | §174-11D Table, Note 4 |
| Temporary Sign | 10 ft. | 25 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per lot | 1 per lot | — | §174-11D Table; §174-11C(1)(i), (11) |

### Highway Business, Industrial, Industrial Park Districts fronting Route 9

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Standing Sign | 25 ft. | 100 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per lot | 1 per lot | — | §174-11D Table; §174-11C(3); exceptions for internal illumination on Route 9 businesses. |
| Wall Sign | 20 ft. | 75 sq. ft. or 10% of facade, whichever is less | — | — | 1 per business | 1 per business | — | §174-11D Table; §174-11C(3), (10) |
| Window Sign (Permanent) | — | 10 sq. ft. or 10% of total exterior window area exclusive of doors, whichever is less | — | — | 1 per business | 1 per business | — | §174-11D Table, Note 3; §174-11C(3) |
| Awning Sign | — | 25% of awning/canopy or 10% of facade, whichever is less | — | — | 1 per business | At first floor level, painted or attached flat to face of awning/canopy | — | §174-11D Table; §174-11C(15) |
| Temporary Window Sign | — | 25% of window area (paper or posterboard only) | — | — | — | — | — | §174-11D Table, Note 4 |
| Temporary Sign | 10 ft. | 25 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per lot | 1 per lot | — | §174-11D Table; §174-11C(1)(i), (11) |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Property Number/Name Sign | — | 4 sq. ft. | — | — | — | — | — | §174-11C(1)(a) |
| Flag (governmental, not for commercial promotion) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | §174-11C(1)(b) |
| Decorative/Architectural Feature (non-sign elements) | — | — | — | — | — | Integral to building | — | §174-11C(1)(d) |
| Private Parking/Directional Sign (no advertising) | — | — | — | — | — | On private property | — | §174-11C(1)(e) |
| Standard Gasoline Fuel Pump Sign | — | — | — | — | — | On fuel pumps at gas stations. | — | §174-11C(1)(f) |
| Open/Closed Sign | — | 6 sq. ft. (2 feet x 3 feet) | 3 ft. | — | 1 per business | 1 per business | — | §174-11C(1)(g) |
| Open Flag | — | 15 sq. ft. (3 feet x 5 feet) | 5 ft. | — | 1 per business | 1 per business | — | §174-11C(1)(h) |
| Agricultural Sign | — | 32 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per premises | 1 per premises; wording may be changed | — | §174-11C(14) |

## Prohibited signs in Southborough Town

- Billboards and similar signs are specifically prohibited.
- Flashing, moving, changing message and animated signs are prohibited.
- No sign may be illuminated between 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. except signs identifying police or fire stations or businesses open to serve the public on site.
- "No hunting, fishing, etc.," signs exceeding one square foot are prohibited.
- No sign may depict or represent any sexual conduct or state of sexual excitement as defined in MGL c. 272, § 31, nor shall any such representations or depictions be placed upon or within the windows or walls of the premises so as to be visible to the public from the exterior of the premises.
- Banners, pennants, streamers, ribbons, spinners and other moving, fluttering, revolving or changing devices and strings of lights shall not be used as signs or parts thereof, with exceptions only for religious celebrations not connected to commercial promotion and temporary political signs.
- No sign may utilize translucent panels, canvas or other fabric, letters, devices or other similar components to create an image by allowing light to pass through, except for businesses fronting on Route 9.
- Illuminated signs are prohibited in residential and conservation districts.
- No sign shall be painted or posted directly on the exterior surface of any wall or roof; all signs must be attached to a substantial intermediary removable surface.
- No sign shall be erected or maintained on the roof of any building or structure in any district.
- No standing sign shall be erected if, in the opinion of the Building Inspector, it creates a safety hazard to vehicular or pedestrian traffic.
- A wall sign shall not project more than one-foot (parallel) or four feet (perpendicular) from the face of the wall; in no case shall a perpendicular sign project into, on, or over a public sidewalk, street, or way.
- Temporary signs shall not be maintained for more than a thirty-day period unless otherwise specifically provided or a proper permit is obtained.
- Paper or posterboard temporary window signs shall not be placed on any window with a permanent window sign.
- No sign shall be erected or altered on the exterior of any building or on any land unless and until application for the erection or alteration of such sign has been filed with the Building Inspector and a permit has been issued.

## Signs exempt from permit in Southborough Town

- Signs not exceeding four square feet in area and bearing only property numbers, or names of residents of premises.
- Flags and insignia of any government, except when displayed in connection with commercial promotion.
- Legal notices, identification information or direction signs erected by governmental bodies.
- Integral decorative or architectural features of buildings, except letters, trademarks, moving parts or moving lights.
- Signs directing and guiding traffic and parking on private property, but bearing no advertising matter.
- Standard gasoline fuel pump signs on service station fuel pumps bearing thereon in usual size and form the name, type and price of the gasoline, in accordance with MGL c. 94, § 295C.
- Open/closed signs not exceeding two feet by three feet; one per business.
- Open flags, not exceeding three feet by five feet and not containing any promotional logos or advertising; one per business.
- Temporary signs.
- The regulations contained herein shall not apply to traffic signs not exceeding four square feet in area.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- No sign shall be erected or altered on the exterior of any building or on any land unless and until application for the erection or alteration of such sign has been filed with the Building Inspector, with such information and drawings as he may require, and a permit for the erection of the sign has been issued.
- The Board of Appeals shall consider requests for special permits or variances and will not act on any special permit or variance application without first receiving a written report from the Planning Board; sign scale, design, placement, and harmony will be considered.
- A favorable report of the Planning Board for a variance or special permit shall indicate that sign scale, placement, materials, colors, illumination, and relation to architecture have been reviewed and found in compliance with set criteria.
- Any legal nonconforming sign may not be enlarged, reworded, redesigned, or altered in any way unless it is brought into conformity with current requirements.

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

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