# Sign Regulations in Southwick Town, Massachusetts

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Southwick Town, Massachusetts (MA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/massachusetts/southwick-town
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/10448203#10448203)

## At a glance

Southwick Town, Massachusetts regulates 20 sign types across 1 zoning district. Contractor Signs in the General Regulations For All Zones zoning district are capped at 12 sq. ft. (Sec. §185-29C, §185-29H(1)(f)). Most commercial signs in Southwick Town require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (1 zone)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 20 | — | 32 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 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Incorporated into, or affixed to the wall of a building or structure. Must be mounted parallel or perpendicular to the wall of the building. Cannot project more than 1 foot from the wall if parallel, or more than 4 feet if perpendicular, and may not project into, on, or over a public sidewalk, street, or way. | — | §185-29C, §185-29F, §185-29G, §185-29K(2), §185-29J(7) |
| Freestanding Sign | — | — | — | 10 feet from nearest property line. | — | Must be located on the same lot as the principal building unless a way-finding sign permitted by the Department of Public Works or Mass DOT. | — | §185-29K(1), §185-29J(1), §185-29F, §185-29G |
| Awning Sign / Canopy Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Mounted on the facade of the business establishment owned or leased by the permit applicant. | — | §185-29C, §185-29H(1)(c), §185-29K(3) |
| Address Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Side of building facing the street. | — | §185-29C, §185-29H(1)(d) |
| Contractor Sign | — | 12 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per construction site | Displayed at a construction site. | — | §185-29C, §185-29H(1)(f) |
| Directory Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Located on a building. | — | §185-29C, §185-29H(1)(h) |
| Real Estate Sign | — | 4 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per premises | On the premises for sale, rent, or lease. | — | §185-29C, §185-29H(1)(n) |
| Real Estate Development Sign | — | 32 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per subdivision | On site of subdivision or development. | — | §185-29C, §185-29H(1)(o) |

## Prohibited signs in Southwick Town

- Abandoned signs identifying abandoned or discontinued business are prohibited and must be removed within 60 days following abandonment or discontinuance as ordered by the Building Inspector.
- Any non-exempt sign not specifically identified in Tables 1 to 6, Signage Allowances Based on Zone, District or Use, is prohibited.
- Animated, moving or flashing signs are prohibited.
- Audible signs are prohibited.
- Banners are prohibited.
- Imitation traffic signs which contain or are an imitation of an official traffic sign or signal, or contain words such as 'stop', 'go', 'slow', 'caution', 'warning', etc. in a manner resembling official traffic control signs, are prohibited.
- Movable signs are prohibited.
- Promotional beacons, laser lights or images are prohibited.
- Signs in the public right-of-way are prohibited except as permitted by the Department of Public Works or Mass DOT.
- Signs mounted or located on a tree, utility pole, or other similar structure are prohibited.
- Signs which depict obscene matter, or are considered obscene matter as defined in M.G.L. Chapter 272, § 31, are prohibited.
- Signs which advertise an activity that is illegal under federal, state or local laws are prohibited.
- Signs not in good repair, in violation of codes, or containing/exhibiting broken panels, visible rust, visible rot, damaged support structures, or missing letters are prohibited.
- No permanent sign is permitted in any district which does not relate to the identity or business of the legal occupant of the premises upon which it is located unless it is a way-finding sign.
- Open face channel letter illumination is prohibited.
- Exposed neon tubing or exposed LEDs are prohibited except for interior window signs.

## Signs exempt from permit in Southwick Town

- Any public notice or warning required by a valid and applicable federal, state, or local law, regulation, or statute.
- Any sign inside a building, not attached to a window or door.
- Awning and canopy signs (see Table 4).
- Address signs.
- Barber poles.
- Contractor sign (one sign allowed per construction site).
- Directional sign (see Table 4).
- Directory sign (see Table 4).
- Drive-thru menu board sign (see Table 6).
- Menu board sign (see Table 6).
- Pennant/flag for non-commercial use.
- Political sign (displayed only on private property with consent of the property owner).
- Portable sign (see Table 5).
- Real estate sign (one sign allowed per premises).
- Real estate development sign (one sign allowed per subdivision).
- Seasonal sign (see Table 4).
- Signs located on property owned by the Town and approved by the Board of Selectmen.
- Temporary sign (see Table 5).
- Traffic control sign.
- Way-finding sign.
- Works of art that do not include a commercial message.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Unless a sign permit is specifically not required by the standards of this bylaw, it is unlawful to erect or replace a sign outdoors without first having obtained a sign permit.
- All signs requiring a sign permit must also go through design review by the Planning Board, which issues an advisory recommendation regarding the design to the Building Inspector.
- Sign permit application must include substantial detail, including plans, drawings, property photos, and in the case of free standing signs, a location plan or survey.
- No sign permit can be issued before 45 days unless the positive advisory recommendation of the Planning Board has been received.
- A new permit application is required and a new fee paid if a sign is not installed within six months (subject to one possible extension).
- Permit transfer is allowed for the same-sized sign with a change in sign face only.
- Enforcement, rejection, and appeals procedures are specified for all sign permits.
- The section does not specifically reference a Master Sign Plan, but comprehensive design and zone/district-based requirements and Planning Board review function similarly.

## Full detail

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

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