# Sign Regulations in Swansea Town, Massachusetts

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Swansea Town, Massachusetts (MA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/massachusetts/swansea-town
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/34313990#34313990)

## At a glance

Swansea Town, Massachusetts regulates 14 sign types across 3 zoning districts. Freestanding Signs in the Non-residential districts zoning district are capped at 18 feet tall and 20 square feet (Sec. § 265-10.6.A(1)). Most commercial signs in Swansea Town require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (3 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Non-residential districts | 8 | 18 feet | 33% of window area | — |
| Residential districts | 5 | — | 12 square feet | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 5 | — | 2 square feet | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements

### Non-residential districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign | 18 feet | 20 square feet | — | — | One per business | — | — | § 265-10.6.A(1) |
| Belt Sign | 2 feet | — | Length of the building | — | One per business | Running across the facade of the building housing the business | — | § 265-10.6.A(2) |
| Window Sign | — | 33% of window area | — | — | — | On windows | — | § 265-10.6.A(3) |
| Temporary Sign | — | 32 square feet | — | — | — | — | — | § 265-10.6.A(4) |
| Construction Site Sign | — | 24 square feet | — | — | — | On active construction sites | — | § 265-10.5.B |
| Real Estate Sign | — | 12 square feet | — | — | — | — | — | § 265-10.5.C |
| Public Information Sign | — | 3 square feet | — | — | — | — | — | § 265-10.6.C |
| Access Sign | — | 2 square feet | — | — | — | Indicating entrance to or exit from public places | — | § 265-10.5.G |

### Residential districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Construction Site Sign | — | 12 square feet | — | — | — | On active construction sites | — | § 265-10.5.B |
| Real Estate Sign | — | 3 square feet | — | — | — | — | — | § 265-10.5.C |
| Home Occupation Sign | — | 2 square feet | — | — | One | On property where home occupation occurs | — | § 265-10.5.D |
| Public Information Sign | — | 3 square feet | — | — | — | — | — | § 265-10.6.C |
| Access Sign | — | 2 square feet | — | — | — | Indicating entrance to or exit from public places | — | § 265-10.5.G |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Governmental Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Erected or required by government agencies | — | § 265-10.5.A |
| Legal Notice Sign | — | 2 square feet | — | — | — | — | — | § 265-10.5.E |
| Political Sign | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | § 265-10.5.F |
| Illuminated or Electronic Sign | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | § 265-10.6.B |
| Street Sign | — | — | — | — | — | At every intersection | — | § 310-23 |

## Prohibited signs in Swansea Town

- No sign which does not advertise or indicate the person occupying the premises or the business transacted thereon, or advertise the premises or part thereof for sale or lease, shall be erected within public view of a public or private way or public park without a permit lawfully issued by the outdoor advertising authority of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
- No signs will be permitted on Town or state property, including the rights of way for streets, roads, and highways without the specific authorization of the Board of Selectmen or of the Massachusetts Highway Dept.
- Signs capable of being readily moved or relocated, including signs on wheels or supported by legs which are not permanently attached, affixed, or secured to the ground or to a building, shall not be allowed except as temporary signs subject to the requirements of this bylaw regulating temporary signs.
- Mobile signs, as defined herein, shall not be allowed except as temporary signs subject to the requirements of this bylaw regulating temporary signs.
- Moving Signs, as defined herein, are not allowed.
- Signs erected on top of or which rise above the facade of the building upon which they are mounted are not allowed.
- It shall be unlawful for any person to wilfully deface, injure, move, obstruct or interfere with any official traffic sign, signal or marking.

## Signs exempt from permit in Swansea Town

- Traffic or warning signs erected or required by government agencies or bodies, including signs directing traffic to hospitals, parking areas, highways, cultural institutions, and commercial areas are allowed in all districts.
- Legal notices and signs, such as No Trespassing and No Hunting signs, are allowed if they do not exceed two square feet in area.
- Signs required by the Planning Board (such as street signs labeled as 'Private Way', 'Keep Right', 'One Way') may be installed as specified.
- Temporary street signs, meeting the approval of the Planning Board for material, size, and location, may be utilized until construction permits final installation.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Signs other than those specifically allowed by right or permit from the Building Inspector shall require a special permit from the Zoning Board of Appeals after a determination as specified in § 265-10.7.

## Full detail

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

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