# Sign Regulations in Taunton, Massachusetts

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Taunton, Massachusetts (MA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/massachusetts/taunton
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-22
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/29007486#29007486)

## At a glance

Taunton, Massachusetts regulates 21 sign types across 5 zoning districts. Freestanding Signs in the Nonresidential Districts zoning district are capped at 30 ft. (if bottom of sign is >10 ft. above ground); otherwise max 3 ft. above ground tall and 200 sq. ft. (max), limited by formula, with a Min 10 ft from driveways, public ways, or rights-of-way setback (Sec. § 440-706F). Most commercial signs in Taunton require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (5 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Taunton Redevelopment Authority's Official Downtown, High Street and Court Street Revitalization Plans | 1 | — | — | — |
| Historic District (Historic District Commission) | 1 | — | — | — |
| Nonresidential Districts | 8 | 30 ft. (if bottom of sign is >10 ft. above ground); otherwise max 3 ft. above ground | 200 sq. ft. (max), limited by formula | — |
| Residential Districts | 5 | — | 24 sq. ft. max | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 8 | — | 2 sq. ft. | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 5 zones)

### Nonresidential Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign | 30 ft. (if bottom of sign is >10 ft. above ground); otherwise max 3 ft. above ground | 200 sq. ft. (max), limited by formula | — | Min 10 ft from driveways, public ways, or rights-of-way | 1 per lot | Min 10 ft from driveways, public ways, or rights-of-way; must not block sight lines | — | § 440-706F |
| Facade Sign | — | Limited by formula and not to exceed total frontage | — | — | Unlimited, subject to area limits | Parallel to building wall; cannot project more than 8 in. from wall | — | § 440-706G |
| Projecting Sign | — | 12 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per lot | At 90 degrees from building face; bottom must be at least 10 ft. above ground | — | § 440-706I |
| Awning Sign | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | § 440-706C(4)(c) |
| Window Sign (Permanent) | — | No more than 30% of total storefront window area | — | — | — | Window | — | § 440-706C(4)(d), § 440-706E(5) |
| Temporary Sign | — | 24 sq. ft. max | — | — | 1 per business | — | — | § 440-706C(3) |
| Construction Site Sign | — | 24 sq. ft. in aggregate per site | — | — | — | On active construction site | — | § 440-706C(1)(b) |
| For Sale/For Rent Sign | — | 15 sq. ft. aggregate per premises | — | — | — | Premises being advertised | — | § 440-706C(1)(d) |

### Residential Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Construction Site Sign | — | 12 sq. ft. in aggregate per site | — | — | — | On active construction site | — | § 440-706C(1)(b) |
| For Sale/For Rent Sign | — | 6 sq. ft. aggregate per premises | — | — | — | Premises being advertised | — | § 440-706C(1)(d) |
| Accessory Sign for Home Occupation | — | 2 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per premises | Premises of home occupation | — | § 440-706C(1)(e) |
| Permitted Temporary Sign | — | 24 sq. ft. max | — | — | 1 per business | — | — | § 440-706C(3) |
| Permitted Permanent Sign (Residential use) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | § 440-706C(4) |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Governmental Sign | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | § 440-706C(1)(a) |
| Flag | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | § 440-706C(1)(c) |
| Informational Sign | — | 2 sq. ft. | — | — | — | For institutions/schools/recreation/museum/library | — | § 440-706C(1)(g) |
| Legal Notice Sign | — | 2 sq. ft. | — | — | — | e.g. "No Trespassing", "No Hunting" | — | § 440-706C(1)(h) |
| Noncommercial Sign | — | 2 sq. ft. per premises | — | — | — | House numbers, names, identification | — | § 440-706C(1)(i) |
| Political Sign | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | § 440-706C(1)(j) |
| Vendor Sign | — | — | — | — | — | On machine/device | — | § 440-706C(1)(l) |
| Directory Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Premises/building with multiple tenants | — | § 440-706B (Definition), § 440-706C(4) |

## Prohibited signs in Taunton

- No sign shall be erected on or rise above the facade or vertical wall of the building (roof signs prohibited).
- No sign shall have any part which moves or is designed to move (moving signs prohibited).
- Signs mounted on vehicles and parked on a site for advertisement purposes, if not registered and utilized on a regular basis, are prohibited.
- No sign shall block the sight line of access driveways, parking lots, or public ways.
- No sign that flashes, shimmers, or scrolls is allowed.
- No animation, movement, or the appearance of movement (including flashing, scrolling, or movement of text or graphics/images) is allowed on illuminated changeable face signs or LED message centers.
- Text on illuminated changeable face signs or LED message centers shall not flash, scroll or move.
- Any person who willfully defaces, injures, moves, obstructs, or interferes with any official traffic sign, signal, or marking is subject to punishment.
- It is unlawful to injure, deface, or destroy any street sign, guidepost, or other structure set for the use or ornament of the City, or paint/draw any word or figure upon any curbstone or sidewalk.
- No person shall place, maintain, or display upon or in view of any street any unofficial sign, signal, or marking which purports to be or resembles an official traffic sign, or which attempts to direct traffic or hides from view any official sign or signal.
- No person shall park a vehicle on any street or highway for the sole purpose of displaying advertising signs.
- No temporary sign shall be placed in a manner that blocks visibility of motorists at intersections and driveways, or that impedes handicap accessibility.
- No sign may be erected, altered, or enlarged without a permit, unless otherwise exempted.
- No sign shall be illuminated so as to cause direct glare onto a public street or adjacent property.
- No flashing, shimmering, or scrolling illumination is allowed on signs.
- Permanent window signs shall not cover more than 30% of the total storefront window.
- No sign (including LED message centers) shall be left illuminated after closing.
- No more than one temporary sign per business is allowed, with a maximum square footage of 24 square feet.

## Signs exempt from permit in Taunton

- Traffic or warning signs erected or required by governmental agencies or bodies, including signs directing traffic to hospitals, parking areas, highways, cultural institutions, and commercial areas.
- Signs on active construction sites denoting the contractor, architect, engineer, or funding agency, not exceeding 24 square feet in aggregate per site in nonresidential districts or 12 square feet in aggregate per site in residential districts.
- Governmental flags and government insignia, except when displayed with a commercial message or in conjunction with a commercial promotion.
- "For sale" or "for rent" signs, not exceeding 15 square feet (nonresidential) or 6 square feet (residential), advertising the sale or rental of only the premises on which the sign is located.
- One accessory sign per premises for home occupations, not to exceed 2 square feet.
- Holiday lights and decorations, without a commercial message, displayed for up to 60 continuous days and no longer than 100 days per year per premises.
- Informational signs giving directions to a religious institution, school, museum, community recreational facility, or library, not to exceed 2 square feet.
- Legal notices and identifications not exceeding 2 square feet, including "no trespassing" and "no hunting" signs.
- Noncommercial signs, bearing house numbers, post box numbers, names of residents, or identification of premises, not exceeding 2 square feet per premises.
- Political signs advertising a candidate, party, or ballot issue.
- Signs exempted by law, including those described in MGL c. 93, § 32.
- Permanent signs on vending machines, gas pumps, ice containers, or similar devices indicating only the contents.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- No person shall place or maintain projecting signs, advertising devices, clocks, marquees, or awnings over any street or sidewalk without Municipal Council permission and filing plans satisfactory to the Building Commissioner showing size, type, and attachment method.
- A permit application must be submitted and approved by the City Planner and Building Inspector for any sign to be erected, altered, or enlarged (unless exempted).
- Any applicant must seek zoning approval from the City Planner before formally applying for a sign permit.
- Filing of plans is required to obtain a permit for projecting structures over the public way, such as projecting signs and awnings.
- Permit applications for signs must include all information required by the chapter and the State Building Code.

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

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