# Sign Regulations in Webster Town, Massachusetts

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Webster Town, Massachusetts (MA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/massachusetts/webster-town
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/28392681#28392681)

## At a glance

Webster Town, Massachusetts regulates 23 sign types across 3 zoning districts. Freestanding Business Signs in the Business Districts, Industrial Districts zoning district are capped at 12 ft tall and 24 sq ft, with a No part closer than 10 ft from traveled roadway or side/rear lot lines setback (Sec. §650-38.6E). Most commercial signs in Webster 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 | 8 | 40 ft | 100 sq ft | — |
| Business Districts, Industrial Districts | 9 | 12 ft | 75% of window or door area (aggregate) | — |
| Residential Districts | 6 | — | 24 sq ft | — |

## 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 | 40 ft | 100 sq ft | — | — | — | — | — | §553-1; §650-38.4A |
| Sign on Utility Pole/Tree/Fence | — | — | — | — | — | Utility poles, trees, or fences | — | §650-38.4B |
| Pennants, Ribbons, Streamers, Spinners, Revolving Beacons, Searchlights, Animated Signs | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | §650-38.4C |
| Rotating/Moving/Noisy Sign | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | §650-38.4D |
| Roof Sign (Non-Mansard) | — | — | — | — | — | At least 1 foot below the top of the lower slope of a mansard roof | — | §650-38.4E |
| Mobile Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Chassis, designed to be moved site to site | — | §650-38.4F |
| Portable Sign (Non-A-frame) | — | — | — | — | — | Sidewalks | — | §650-38.4G |
| A-Frame Sign | — | 6 sq ft per side | — | — | 1 per business | Sidewalk | — | §650-38.4G |

### Business Districts, Industrial Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign/Individual Letter Sign (First Floor) | 4 ft overall height | 40 sq ft | — | — | 1 exterior sign per business | Front facade, first floor | — | §650-38.6A[1] |
| Wall Sign/Individual Letter Sign (Other than First Floor) | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | — | Other than first floor on front facade | — | §650-38.6A[1] |
| Projecting Sign | — | 24 sq ft | 1.5 ft thickness, 6 ft max projection | — | 1 per business (Industrial: 1 per exterior doorway, 6 sq ft max each) | Attached to building, may project over sidewalk | — | §650-38.6A[2] |
| Secondary Sign | — | 24 sq ft (total for all secondary signs) | — | — | Max 2 per business | Wall other than front that faces street or parking, including those with entrance | — | §650-38.6B |
| Directory Sign | — | 4 sq ft per occupant | — | — | 1 per entrance/location | Exterior wall or pole of building, at each entrance or appropriate location | — | §650-38.6C |
| Directional Sign | 6 ft (if wall mounted), 3.5 ft (if freestanding) | 2 sq ft | — | — | — | Near street, driveway or parking | — | §650-38.6D |
| Freestanding Business Sign | 12 ft | 24 sq ft | — | No part closer than 10 ft from traveled roadway or side/rear lot lines | 1 per lot | Lot, only if no other sign except directory or directional sign on same lot | — | §650-38.6E |
| Window Sign | — | 75% of window or door area (aggregate) | — | — | — | Inside window/door | — | §650-38.5E |

### Residential Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Home Occupation/Professional Office Sign | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | 1 per occupation | Street side only | — | §650-38.8A |
| Resident Identification Sign | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | 1 per lot | Street side only | — | §650-38.8D |
| Real Estate Sign | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | — | On premises for sale or rent | — | §650-38.8B; §650-38.5G |
| Political Sign | — | 24 sq ft | — | — | — | Private property | — | §650-38.8C; §650-38.5F |
| Contractor Sign | — | — | — | 10 ft from street or property line | 1 per construction | No closer than 10 ft from any street or property line | — | §650-38.8E |
| Home Occupation/Any Use Sign (Other permitted uses) | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | 1 per use | Street side only | — | §650-38.5A |

## Prohibited signs in Webster Town

- All billboards are prohibited in the Town regardless of zone (except nonconforming, legally permitted ones).
- Signs on utility poles, trees, or fences and all signs not located on the same premises as the advertised activity, business, product, or person are prohibited.
- All signs consisting of pennants, ribbons, streamers, spinners, revolving beacons, searchlights, or animated signs are prohibited, except by Special Permit.
- No sign shall rotate or make noise. No sign shall move or give the illusion of moving, except for indicators of time and temperature or barber poles.
- No roof signs shall be erected except those placed at least one foot below the top of the lower slope of a mansard roof.
- Mobile signs—signs that are placed on a chassis or designed to be taken from site to site—are not allowed.
- Portable signs on sidewalks that swing freely are prohibited, except for A-Frame signs that do not exceed 6 square feet per side and do not impede safety; limited to one sign per business and must be removed at close of business each day.

## Signs exempt from permit in Webster Town

- Resident identification signs for single and two-family residential uses in any district (one per lot, not exceeding six square feet, using only indirect white light if lighted, placed on the street side) do not require a sign permit.
- Signs erected and maintained by the Town of Webster, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, or the Federal Government on any land, building, or structure used by such agencies, and any signs required by such agencies for public health, safety, or other public purposes are exempt from sign permitting.
- One temporary construction sign for a new project (not illuminated, not exceeding thirty-two square feet, to be removed within seven days of construction completion or occupancy permit issuance) does not require a permit.
- Fuel pump signs identifying the name or type of fuel and price thereof do not require a sign permit.
- Window signs in the Business or Industrial Districts (aggregate display not more than 75% of window/door; public service/charitable event signs not counted toward 75%) do not require a permit.
- Political signs are allowed on private property for sixty days before an election and must be removed within seven days after the election; signs may not exceed twenty-four square feet.
- Real estate signs are allowed for up to thirty days beyond the closing of sale.
- Signs announcing fundraising and community service events for service and charitable organizations are allowed for sixty days before an event and must be removed within seven days after the event.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- No sign which requires a permit shall be constructed except in conformity with a sign permit from the Building Inspector.
- All signs require a sign permit unless specifically exempted in § 650-38.5.
- Applications for sign permits must include detailed information (location, ownership, scale drawing with construction details, illumination method, etc.).
- Building Inspector may reject incomplete applications.
- Permit applications must be acted upon within 60 days; if not, permit is deemed approved provided the sign complies with bylaws.
- Sign permit fees are established and published by the Board of Selectmen.

## Full detail

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

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