# Sign Regulations in Sunderland Town, Massachusetts

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Sunderland Town, Massachusetts (MA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/massachusetts/sunderland-town
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/32542643#32542643)

## At a glance

Sunderland Town, Massachusetts regulates 19 sign types across 4 zoning districts. Freestanding Sign - Business Complexs in the Commercial Districts, Village Center District (lots with primary access FROM Route 116) zoning district are capped at 15 feet tall, 20 square feet for main sign; sub-signs for businesses beneath, each with letters not over 3 inches wide by 4 inches high; total length of firm names not to exceed width of business complex sign, and 5 feet (for the main sign) wide, with a Minimum yard setback requirements setback (Sec. § 125-III-2.B(2)(a), (c)). Most commercial signs in Sunderland Town require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (4 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Residential Districts, Village Center District (lots with primary access NOT from Route 116) | 3 | — | 16 square feet (total area) | — |
| Commercial Districts, Village Center District (lots with primary access FROM Route 116) | 5 | 15 feet | 36 square feet (per sign), aggregate limit per formula | — |
| Village Center District (Sign Special Permit Options) | 1 | — | — | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 10 | 7 to 8 feet from ground level | 50% of window area | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 4 zones)

### Residential Districts, Village Center District (lots with primary access NOT from Route 116)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Residence or Permitted Accessory Use Sign | — | 4 square feet | — | — | 1 | On property of the residential use or accessory use | — | § 125-III-2.A(1) |
| Permitted Non-Residential Building/Use Sign | — | 10 square feet | — | — | 1 | On premises for permitted buildings/structures/uses (other than one- or two-family dwellings and accessory uses) | — | § 125-III-2.A(2) |
| Temporary Construction/Lease/Sale Sign | — | 16 square feet (total area) | — | — | — | On premises pertaining to construction, lease or sale | — | § 125-III-2.A(3) |

### Commercial Districts, Village Center District (lots with primary access FROM Route 116)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign - Standard | — | 36 square feet (per sign), aggregate limit per formula | — | — | 1 per firm or business | Attached flat against the wall of the building | — | § 125-III-2.B(1)(a) |
| Wall Sign - Marquee/Entrance | — | 4 square feet | — | — | 1 per firm | Marquee or next to entranceway | — | § 125-III-2.B(1)(b) |
| Freestanding Sign - Business Complex | 15 feet | 20 square feet for main sign; sub-signs for businesses beneath, each with letters not over 3 inches wide by 4 inches high; total length of firm names not to exceed width of business complex sign | 5 feet (for the main sign) | Minimum yard setback requirements | 1 per business complex | Freestanding, located per minimum yard setback requirements | — | § 125-III-2.B(2)(a), (c) |
| Freestanding Sign - Single Business | 15 feet | 20 square feet | 5 feet | Minimum yard setback requirements | 1 per business or firm | Freestanding, located per minimum yard setback requirements | — | § 125-III-2.B(2)(b), (c) |
| Above Roof Sign (In lieu of Freestanding Sign) | 15 feet above ground | 16 square feet | — | — | 1 per business | Above one-story commercial building (in lieu of freestanding sign) | — | § 125-III-2.B(2)(d) |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Announcement/Bulletin Board Sign (Public/Charitable/Religious) | — | 16 square feet | — | — | — | Associated with public, charitable, or religious use | — | § 125-III-2.C(1) |
| Street Name Sign at Intersection | 7 to 8 feet from ground level | — | 2 ft 6 in (length), 10 in (width) | — | — | At intersection serving 3 or more dwelling units | — | § 125-III-2.C(7) |
| Temporary Sign - Sale/Rental | — | 16 square feet | — | — | — | On premises | — | § 125-III-2.E(1) |
| Temporary Sign - Public/Charitable/Religious Event | — | 32 square feet | — | — | — | — | — | § 125-III-2.E(2) |
| Temporary Sign - Seasonal Farm Stand (Commercial District) | — | 32 square feet | — | — | — | — | — | § 125-III-2.E(3) |
| Temporary Sign - Seasonal Farm Stand (Residential/Village Center District) | — | 16 square feet | — | — | — | — | — | § 125-III-2.E(3) |
| Temporary Contractor Sign | — | 16 square feet | — | — | 1 per property | One sign per property | — | § 125-III-2.E(4) |
| Window Sign (Temporary) | — | 50% of window area | — | — | — | Inside window, facing out | — | § 125-III-2.E(7) |

## Prohibited signs in Sunderland Town

- No sign or advertising device shall project over any pedestrian or vehicular way customarily used by the public.
- No exterior sign or advertising device shall incorporate motion or be lighted by flashing or blinking lights or utilize a change in light intensity.
- All illumination of signs or other advertising devices shall be shielded or indirect. No uplighting of signs shall be permitted.
- No nonaccessory sign or billboard shall be allowed.
- No exterior sign shall be illuminated during the hours the business is not open.

## Signs exempt from permit in Sunderland Town

- Signs, announcements or bulletin boards not exceeding sixteen (16) square feet in area are allowed in all zoning districts in connection with public, charitable or religious uses.
- Street signs at intersections for public or private ways serving three (3) or more dwelling units shall be allowed in all districts, not to exceed two (2) feet six (6) inches in length or ten (10) inches in width, placed not less than seven (7) feet nor more than eight (8) feet from ground level.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- No explicit requirement for a master sign plan, sign plan, or sign-related variance meeting is stated in this ordinance 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 4 zoning districts in Sunderland Town — every sign type, every field — are available with a free PermitPal account: https://app.permitpal.io/?address=Sunderland+Town+MA&override=true&utm_source=landing&utm_medium=city-page&utm_campaign=city-sunderland-town

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