# Sign Regulations in Townsend, Massachusetts

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Townsend, Massachusetts (MA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/massachusetts/townsend
- **Data last verified:** 2025-11-07
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/9542857#9542857)

## At a glance

Townsend, Massachusetts regulates 8 sign types across 4 zoning districts. Freestanding Signs in the Commercial District (NCD, DCD, OCD) zoning district are capped at 25 feet vertical measure above the average level of the ground between the supports tall and 100 square feet, with a No part to be nearer than 12 feet to any lot line setback (Sec. § 145-57.A, B, C; § 145-58; § 145-59; § 145-60; § 145-61).

## Sign rules by zoning district (4 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Residential Districts (RA, RB) | 6 | — | 10 square feet | — |
| Commercial District (NCD, DCD, OCD) | 2 | 25 feet vertical measure above the average level of the ground between the supports | 100 square feet | — |
| Industrial District (ID) | 2 | 25 feet vertical measure above the average level of the ground between the supports | 100 square feet | — |

_1 additional zoning district is covered in PermitPal (free account)._

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

### Residential Districts (RA, RB)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Street Number or Occupant Identification Sign | — | 4 square feet | — | Not nearer than 12 feet from the street line | 1 | Attached to a building or on a rod or post | — | § 145-56.A and F |
| Bulletin or Announcement Board or Identification Sign (Nonresidential Use) | — | 6 square feet | — | Not nearer a street than 1/2 the required front yard depth | 1 | On the premises | — | § 145-56.B and F |
| Church or Institution Bulletin or Announcement Board or Identification Sign | — | 10 square feet | — | Not nearer a street than 1/2 the required front yard depth | 2 | On the building | — | § 145-56.B and F |
| Nonconforming Use Sign | — | 6 square feet | — | — | 1 | On the premises with a lawfully nonconforming use | — | § 145-56.C and F |
| For Sale or For Rent Sign | — | 6 square feet | — | — | 1 | On the premises | — | § 145-56.D and F |
| Building Contractor's Sign | — | 6 square feet | — | — | 1 | On a building while actually under construction | — | § 145-56.E and F |

### Commercial District (NCD, DCD, OCD)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | Top edge not higher than the roof ridge of the building, or the highest point of the roof if no ridge pole, or the plate of a flat roof | 100 square feet | 3/4 of the length of the face of the building on which the sign is affixed | — | 1 per occupant | Affixed to the exterior of a building | — | § 145-57.B, C; § 145-60; § 145-61 |
| Freestanding Sign | 25 feet vertical measure above the average level of the ground between the supports | 100 square feet | — | No part to be nearer than 12 feet to any lot line | 1 per lot | Within the front yard space | — | § 145-57.A, B, C; § 145-58; § 145-59; § 145-60; § 145-61 |

### Industrial District (ID)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | Top edge not higher than the roof ridge of the building, or the highest point of the roof if no ridge pole, or the plate of a flat roof | 100 square feet | 3/4 of the length of the face of the building on which the sign is affixed | — | 1 per occupant | Affixed to the exterior of a building | — | § 145-57.B, C; § 145-60; § 145-61 |
| Freestanding Sign | 25 feet vertical measure above the average level of the ground between the supports | 100 square feet | — | No part to be nearer than 12 feet to any lot line | 1 per lot | Within the front yard space | — | § 145-57.A, B, C; § 145-58; § 145-59; § 145-60; § 145-61 |

## Prohibited signs in Townsend

- No signs or advertising devices of any kind or nature shall be erected on any premises or affixed to the outside of any structure or be visible from the outside of any structure in Townsend except as specifically permitted in this article (§145-55).
- No sign shall be intermittently illuminated, nor of a traveling, animated or flashing light type (§145-60A).
- Each steadily illuminated sign shall not exceed 100 square feet gross display area (§145-60B).
- Sign illumination is permitted only between the hours of seven o'clock in the morning and eleven o'clock in the evening, except that signs of retail establishments may be illuminated during any hours these establishments are open to the public (§145-60C).
- Any private outdoor lighting fixture, whether temporary or permanent, other than gaseous tube letters in signs, shall be so placed or hooded that the light source itself shall not be directly visible at any point beyond the lot lines of the premises illuminated (§145-61).

## Signs exempt from permit in Townsend

- Any sign which is required by law, rule, regulation or permit of the federal or state government or any agency thereof or any public authority created thereby (§145-62A(1)).
- Any sign placed on any Town premises under the provisions of any Town bylaw or the State Building Code or by direction of the Town board or committee having jurisdiction over such premises (§145-62A(2)).
- Any directional sign or signs indicating parking restrictions in a parking area, provided the signs do not exceed four square feet in area (§145-62A(3)).
- Any sign not exceeding one square foot in area marking or identifying privately owned land (examples: 'No Hunting,' 'No Trespassing') (§145-62A(4)).
- Any temporary, unlighted signs, not exceeding two square feet in a residential district, advertising the sale or offering of pets, personal or household articles or a vehicle, trailer or boat belonging to the owner or occupant of the premises, or signs pertaining to campaigns for local, state or federal office, which shall be removed promptly following the sale or disposal of the pets or the articles or after the election has taken place. This exemption permits no more than two such signs per premises (§145-62A(5)).
- Any temporary, unlighted signs, not exceeding 10 square feet in area in a commercial district or on the premises of an existing commercial nonconforming use, advertising a special promotion or special service, which shall be removed promptly at the end of the special promotion or special service. This exemption permits no more than two such signs per premises (§145-62A(6)).
- Holiday decorations and lights when in season (§145-62A(7)).
- Any temporary, unlighted signs or banners, including banners overhanging a public way, of not more than 100 square feet in area advertising a special event by a nonprofit local organization or the Town government, which shall be removed promptly at the end of the special event (§145-62A(8)).
- All those who place exempted signs must be able to show that the proposed use will be in harmony with the general purpose and intent of this bylaw and no signs exempt by Subsection A(5), (6) and (8) shall be in place for more than two weeks in a three-month period (§145-62B).

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

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