# Sign Regulations in Southborough, Massachusetts

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Southborough, Massachusetts (MA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/massachusetts/southborough
- **Data last verified:** 2025-12-17
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/9539621#9540073)

## At a glance

Southborough, Massachusetts regulates 12 sign types across 16 zoning districts. Standing Signs in the Highway Business Districts (BH Districts) (fronting streets other than Route 9); Industrial Districts (ID Districts) (fronting streets other than Route 9); Industrial Park Districts (IP Districts) (fronting streets other than Route 9) zoning district are capped at 15 ft tall and 75 sq ft (Sec. § 174-11 D (Highway Business/Industrial/Industrial Park, non-Route 9: Standing row); § 174-11 C(9); § 174-11 C(3)). Most commercial signs in Southborough require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (16 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 6 | — | 32 sq ft | — |
| Residence A Districts (RA Districts); Residence B Districts (RB Districts) | 3 | 6 ft | 6 sq ft | — |
| Residence A Districts (RA Districts) (Educational or Religious Institutions); Residence B Districts (RB Districts) (Educational or Religious Institutions) | 4 | 15 ft | 12 sq ft | — |
| Conservation Districts (C Districts) | 3 | 6 ft | 6 sq ft | — |
| Research, Scientific and Professional Districts (SP Districts) | 3 | 6 ft | 6 sq ft | — |
| Village Business Districts (BV Districts); Downtown District (DD) | 4 | 15 ft | 25 sq ft | — |
| Highway Business Districts (BH Districts) (fronting streets other than Route 9); Industrial Districts (ID Districts) (fronting streets other than Route 9); Industrial Park Districts (IP Districts) (fronting streets other than Route 9) | 6 | 20 ft | 75 sq ft | — |
| Highway Business Districts (BH Districts) (fronting Route 9); Industrial Districts (ID Districts) (fronting Route 9); Industrial Park Districts (IP Districts) (fronting Route 9) | 6 | 25 ft | 100 sq ft | — |

_8 additional zoning districts are covered in PermitPal (free account)._

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 16 zones)

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Directory Sign (Exterior Wall at Public Entrance) | — | Up to 6 sq ft total; or 1 sq ft per tenant, whichever is less | — | — | One directory at each public entrance | Attached to the exterior wall at each public entrance to the building | — | § 174-11 C(4)(b) |
| Agricultural Sign | — | 32 sq ft | — | — | 1 per agricultural premises | On premises advertising products raised or grown principally on the premises | — | § 174-11 C(14) |
| Wall Sign - Projection Limits | — | — | — | — | — | Parallel or perpendicular to a building wall; may not project into, on, or over a public sidewalk, street, or way | — | § 174-11 C(10) |
| Awning Sign - General Restrictions | — | ≤ 25% of awning/canopy; and ≤ 10% of facade area (whichever is less) | — | — | Typically 1 per business in districts where awning signs are listed in the table | First floor level only; painted on or attached flat to awning or canopy; not on sides or underside; not beyond valance | — | § 174-11 C(15); Table notes ^2 |
| Temporary Sign - General | — | — | — | — | — | Premises display | — | § 174-11 C(1)(i); § 174-11 C(11) |
| Additional Signs at Multiple Entrances (Wall/Other) | — | ≤ 15 sq ft or ≤ 10% of facade (whichever less) | — | — | Additional signs at each qualifying entrance and secondary building as allowed | At each public entrance other than the wall to which the principal sign is attached; and on secondary buildings within same business establishment | — | § 174-11 C(4)(a) |

### Highway Business Districts (BH Districts) (fronting streets other than Route 9); Industrial Districts (ID Districts) (fronting streets other than Route 9); Industrial Park Districts (IP 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 | On lot | — | § 174-11 D (Highway Business/Industrial/Industrial Park, non-Route 9: Standing row); § 174-11 C(9); § 174-11 C(3) |
| Wall Sign | 20 ft | 50 sq ft | — | — | 1 per business | Attached parallel or perpendicular to a wall | — | § 174-11 D (Highway Business/Industrial/Industrial Park, non-Route 9: Wall row); § 174-11 C(10); § 174-11 C(5); § 174-11 C(3) |
| Window Sign (Permanent) | — | 10 sq ft or 10% of exterior window area (excluding doors), whichever is less | — | — | 1 per business | On or behind window glass, designed to be visible from outside | — | § 174-11 D (Highway Business/Industrial/Industrial Park, non-Route 9: Window (permanent) row); Table note ^3; § 174-11 C(5); § 174-11 B (Window Sign definition); § 174-11 C(3) |
| Awning Sign | — | ≤ 25% of awning/canopy; and ≤ 10% of facade area (whichever is less) | — | — | 1 per business | First floor level only; flat on awning/canopy; not beyond valance; not on sides/underside | — | § 174-11 D (Highway Business/Industrial/Industrial Park, non-Route 9: Awning row); § 174-11 C(15); Table notes ^2; § 174-11 C(5); § 174-11 C(4) |
| Temporary Window Sign | — | ≤ 25% of window area | — | — | — | On window | — | § 174-11 D (Highway Business/Industrial/Industrial Park, non-Route 9: Temporary window row); Table note ^4; § 174-11 C(1)(i); § 174-11 C(11) |
| Temporary Sign | 10 ft | 25 sq ft | — | — | 1 per lot | On lot | — | § 174-11 D (Highway Business/Industrial/Industrial Park, non-Route 9: Temporary row); § 174-11 C(1)(i); § 174-11 C(11) |

### Highway Business Districts (BH Districts) (fronting Route 9); Industrial Districts (ID Districts) (fronting Route 9); Industrial Park Districts (IP 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 | On lot fronting Route 9 | — | § 174-11 D (Highway Business/Industrial/Industrial Park, Route 9: Standing row); § 174-11 C(9); § 174-11 C(3) (Route 9 exception) |
| Wall Sign | 20 ft | 75 sq ft or 10% of facade area, whichever is less | — | — | 1 per business | Attached parallel or perpendicular to a wall | — | § 174-11 D (Highway Business/Industrial/Industrial Park, Route 9: Wall row); Table note ^2; § 174-11 C(10); § 174-11 C(5); § 174-11 C(3) (Route 9 exception) |
| Window Sign (Permanent) | — | 10 sq ft or 10% of exterior window area (excluding doors), whichever is less | — | — | 1 per business | On or behind window glass, designed to be visible from outside | — | § 174-11 D (Highway Business/Industrial/Industrial Park, Route 9: Window (permanent) row); Table note ^3; § 174-11 C(5); § 174-11 B (Window Sign definition); § 174-11 C(3) (Route 9 exception) |
| Awning Sign | — | ≤ 25% of awning/canopy; and ≤ 10% of facade area (whichever is less) | — | — | 1 per business | First floor level only; flat on awning/canopy; not beyond valance; not on sides/underside | — | § 174-11 D (Highway Business/Industrial/Industrial Park, Route 9: Awning row); § 174-11 C(15); Table notes ^2; § 174-11 C(5); § 174-11 C(4) |
| Temporary Window Sign | — | ≤ 25% of window area | — | — | — | On window | — | § 174-11 D (Highway Business/Industrial/Industrial Park, Route 9: Temporary window row); Table note ^4; § 174-11 C(1)(i); § 174-11 C(11) |
| Temporary Sign | 10 ft | 25 sq ft | — | — | 1 per lot | On lot fronting Route 9 | — | § 174-11 D (Highway Business/Industrial/Industrial Park, Route 9: Temporary row); § 174-11 C(1)(i); § 174-11 C(11) |

## Prohibited signs in Southborough

- Only on-premises signs are allowed (signs must advertise the person or business on the premises or the property itself for sale or rent); off-premises advertising is prohibited
- Billboards and similar signs are prohibited
- Flashing, moving, changing-message, and animated signs are prohibited
- Illumination of any sign between 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. is prohibited, except for police/fire station identification or businesses open on site
- “No hunting/fishing/etc.” signs larger than 1 square foot are prohibited
- Signs may not depict sexual conduct or sexual excitement (as defined in MGL c.272 §31) visible from outside the premises
- Banners, pennants, streamers, ribbons, spinners, other moving/fluttering/revolving/changing devices, and strings of lights may not be used as signs or parts of signs (except for noncommercial religious celebrations and temporary political banners)
- Signs may not use translucent panels, fabric, letters, devices, or similar components to create an image by allowing light to pass through, except for businesses fronting on Route 9
- Lighting that causes glare or throws light onto streets, sidewalks, or nearby properties creating a traffic hazard or nuisance is prohibited
- More than two sign types (wall, window, standing, awning) per business establishment is prohibited, unless specific exceptions are met
- Aggregate area of wall, window, and awning signs per business may not exceed 10% of the facade or 50 sq ft off Route 9 / 75 sq ft on Route 9
- Legal nonconforming signs may not be enlarged, reworded, redesigned, or altered unless brought into conformity; if destroyed/damaged beyond 35% of replacement value, they may not be repaired/rebuilt unless conforming
- Nonconforming sign exemptions terminate if the sign is abandoned for 6 months, advertises discontinued products/activities for 6 months, or is not repaired within 60 days after notice
- No sign may be painted or posted directly on any exterior wall or roof (must be attached to an intermediary removable surface or consist of securely attached individual letters/devices)
- Roof signs are prohibited in any district
- Standing signs that create a safety hazard to vehicular or pedestrian traffic (as determined by the Building Inspector) are prohibited
- Wall signs may not project into, on, or over public sidewalks, streets, or ways; projection is limited to 1 foot (parallel) or 4 feet (perpendicular) and may not exceed the top or face of the wall
- Temporary signs may not be displayed for more than 30 days without a permit and must be removed promptly after the event; temporary construction signs may not be erected before work commences

## Signs exempt from permit in Southborough

- Signs not exceeding 4 sq ft bearing only property numbers or resident names do not require a permit
- Government flags and insignia (not displayed for commercial promotion) do not require a permit and are not considered signs
- Legal notices, identification information, or directional signs erected by governmental bodies do not require a permit
- Integral decorative or architectural building features (excluding letters, trademarks, moving parts, or moving lights) do not require a permit
- Signs directing and guiding traffic and parking on private property with no advertising do not require a permit
- Standard gasoline fuel pump signs required by MGL c.94 §295C (name, type, price) do not require a permit
- One open/closed sign per business up to 2 ft by 3 ft does not require a permit
- One open flag per business up to 3 ft by 5 ft with no promotional logos/advertising does not require a permit
- Temporary signs do not require a permit (subject to display limits and other rules elsewhere in the ordinance)
- Traffic signs not exceeding 4 sq ft are exempt from the regulations in §174-11
- Historical date plaques/markers approved by the Historical Commission and government flags/insignias are not considered signs (unless displayed for commercial promotion)

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A sign permit from the Building Inspector is required before erecting or altering any sign on the exterior of a building or on any land; applications must include required information and drawings
- Special permits may be granted by the Board of Appeals for signs that deviate from limits on height, number, illumination, area, and minimum setback, subject to absolute ceilings and prohibitions (e.g., no wall sign above the top of the wall; no signs in Residential Districts except for legal nonconforming uses)
- The Board of Appeals will not act on any special permit or variance application without first receiving a written report from the Planning Board; the Planning Board evaluates scale, placement, design harmony, materials/colors/illumination, and safety
- No master sign plan requirement is specified in the provided text

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

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