# Sign Regulations in Wayland Town, Massachusetts

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Wayland Town, Massachusetts (MA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/massachusetts/wayland-town
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/12285339#12285339)

## At a glance

Wayland Town, Massachusetts regulates 9 sign types across 3 zoning districts. Freestanding Signs in the Roadside Business District zoning district are capped at 15 ft (including supporting structures and light sources) tall and 40 sq ft (aggregate on lot), with a 30 feet minimum from any lot or street lot line setback (Sec. §198-501.1, §198-1002.1.5, §198-1002.1.6). Most commercial signs in Wayland Town require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (3 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 5 | — | 15 sq ft | — |
| Residential Districts | 2 | — | — | — |
| Roadside Business District | 2 | 15 ft (including supporting structures and light sources) | 40 sq ft (aggregate on lot) | — |

## 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 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Billboard, Sign or Other Advertising Device | — | — | — | — | — | Must not be within 300 feet of any cemetery, public playground, public building, hospital, church, railway crossing, or bridge; Must not be within 300 feet of any part of a curve on any highway; Applies if within public view of any highway, public park or reservation. | — | §97-1, §97-2, §97-3 |
| Real Estate Sign | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | — | Permitted in all districts as of right on the property it refers to | — | §198-502.1 |
| Contractor's Sign | — | 9 sq ft | — | — | 1 per lot | On the lot while a building is actually under construction or being renovated | — | §198-502.2 |
| Nonresidential Site Development / Subdivision Sign - Wall-mounted | — | 15 sq ft | — | — | 1 per entrance | At development/subdivision entrance from a street | — | §198-502.3 |
| Nonresidential Site Development / Subdivision Sign - Freestanding | — | 15 sq ft | — | — | 1 per entrance | At development/subdivision entrance from a street | — | §198-502.3 |

### Residential Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Lamppost Sign | — | — | — | Minimum 15 feet from front property line (front yard setback) | — | Freestanding lamppost at a residence | — | §198-501.1 |
| Other Signs (permitted by other sections) | — | — | — | — | — | As permitted elsewhere in the Bylaw | — | §198-501.1 |

### Roadside Business District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign | 15 ft (including supporting structures and light sources) | 40 sq ft (aggregate on lot) | — | Accessory signs: 30 feet minimum from any lot or street lot line | 1 per building/structure (not attached); building-attached signs per design | Not more than one sign (other than those attached to/part of building design) per building or structure. | — | §198-501.1, §198-1002.1.5, §198-1002.1.6 |
| Wall Sign | — | 40 sq ft (aggregate on lot) | — | — | Not more than one sign other than those attached to and part of the architectural design of a building or structure | On building façade (architectural part of building). | — | §198-501.1, §198-1002.1.5 |

## Prohibited signs in Wayland Town

- No billboard, sign or other advertising device within public view of any highway, public park or reservation shall be erected or maintained within 300 feet of any cemetery, public playground, public building, hospital or church.
- No billboard, sign or other advertising device within public view of any highway, public park or reservation shall be erected or maintained within 300 feet of any railroad or railway crossing or of any bridge.
- No billboard, sign or other advertising device within public view of any highway, public park or reservation shall be erected or maintained within 300 feet of any part of a curve on any highway.
- No billboard, sign or other advertising device within public view of any highway, public park, reservation, cemetery, public playground, public building, hospital or church, except those fastened to a building, shall be located less than one foot or more than three feet above the highest ground directly over which any part of such billboard, sign or other advertising device is erected.
- Only signs and exterior lighting as pertain to buildings, structures, or uses permitted in this Zoning Bylaw and on the same lot are permitted.
- Signs attached to buildings may not rise above the front roofline of the building.
- Signs must be fixed in position and may not rotate or oscillate.
- Signs with moving parts and internally illuminated signs are prohibited.
- Exterior lighting and lighting of signs shall be continuous illumination, not flashing, blinking or varying in color.
- Exterior lighting fixtures must be shielded or diffused so as not to produce glare at any point along exterior lines of ways adjacent to the lot or at another lot in a residential district.

## Signs exempt from permit in Wayland Town

- The provisions do not apply to the seasonal display of lights for the purpose of the celebration of holidays.
- The provisions do not apply to signs and advertising devices that have been installed or erected pursuant to a special permit issued by the Select Board for purposes set forth in MGL c. 180, §§ 2 and 4 (valid for seven days).

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Signage in excess of that which is permitted may be allowed with a special permit issued by the special permit granting authority with appropriate jurisdictional responsibility for site plan approval.
- A special permit from the Select Board may be granted to install, erect, or display one or more signs or advertising devices for certain purposes, with the permit expiring after seven days and a copy filed with the Town Clerk.
- Illumination of athletic fields, golf courses and tennis courts is permitted only when a special permit is issued by the Zoning Board of Appeals under the relevant section.

## Full detail

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

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