# Sign Regulations in West Springfield, Massachusetts

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

- **Jurisdiction:** West Springfield, Massachusetts (MA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/massachusetts/west-springfield
- **Data last verified:** 2026-02-10
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/33009318)

## At a glance

West Springfield, Massachusetts regulates 88 sign types across 14 zoning districts. Freestanding Sign (Residential – Accessory/Home Occupation)s in the Residence A (RA), Residence A-1 (RA-1), Residence A-2 (RA-2), Residence B (RB), Residence C (RC) zoning district are capped at 6 ft tall and 8 sq ft for allowed accessory use or home occupation use, with a 10 ft, or at least 1/2 distance between front lot line and principal building, whichever is less setback (Sec. Table 9‑4A, Residential column, “Freestanding sign – Maximum size (square feet)” and “Maximum height (feet)”; §300‑9.2C(6)). Most commercial signs in West Springfield require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (14 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 26 | 6 ft if freestanding | As component of overall sign: fixed electronic copy/image up to 100% of allowed sign area; changeable copy/image up to 75% of allowed sign area, except BOD billboards | — |
| Residence A (RA), Residence A-1 (RA-1), Residence A-2 (RA-2), Residence B (RB), Residence C (RC) | 12 | 6 ft | 16 sq ft for allowed principal nonresidential use | — |
| Neighborhood Business (NB) | 11 | 6 ft | Allowed only by special permit (size not specified beyond general secondary limit of 10% of wall facade area) | — |
| Business A (BA), Business A-1 (BA-1), Business B (BB), Business B-1 (BB-1) | 16 | 25 ft above ground elevation or principal building height, whichever is less | 50 sq ft maximum | — |
| Central Business (CB) | 12 | — | 16 sq ft | — |
| Industrial (I), Industrial Park (IP), Industrial Park - Light (IP-L) | 11 | 25 ft or height of principal structure, whichever is less | 50 sq ft | — |
| Planned Unit Development (PUD) | 11 | 25 ft or height of principal structure, whichever is less | Up to 75 sq ft by special permit (default 50 sq ft not explicitly stated but implied by industrial/other standard) | — |
| Special Use (Technical) (SU-T), Special Use (Office) (SU-O), Special Use (Multifamily) (SU-M), Special Use (Mobile Home) (SU-H) | 11 | 25 ft or height of principal structure, whichever is less | 50 sq ft | — |
| Recreation (REC) | 11 | 25 ft or height of principal structure, whichever is less | 50 sq ft | — |
| Billboard Overlay District (BOD) | 2 | Up to 150 ft from ground to top of billboard | Up to 1,200 sq ft per face | — |
| Flood Hazard Overlay District | 1 | — | — | — |
| Age Restricted Housing Overlay Zoning District (ARH) | 1 | — | — | — |
| Water Supply Protection District | 1 | — | — | — |
| Memorial Corridor Overlay District | 1 | — | — | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 14 zones)

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| All Sign Types - General Permit Threshold | — | Signs larger than 1 sq ft related to a residential and/or commercial use require a permit | — | — | — | All on-premises exterior signs, including those affixed to buildings and freestanding | — | §300-9.2B(1)-(2) |
| Roof Sign (General Prohibition) | Not allowed to project above peak of roof (general); separate BOD billboard rules | — | — | — | — | All districts except as allowed for billboards in BOD; mansard-mounted treated as wall sign if within height limit | — | §300-9.2D(2)(b); Table 9‑3 “Roof”, Note A |
| Trespassing / Hunting Sign (Exempt) | — | 2 sq ft maximum per sign | — | — | 1 per 50 ft of frontage | On property boundaries; up to one sign per 50 ft of frontage | — | §300-9.2D(3)(c) |
| Dwelling Occupant Identification Sign (Exempt) | 6 ft if freestanding | 1 sq ft | — | — | — | On dwelling lot | — | §300-9.2D(3)(f) |
| General Sign Projection / Height Standard | No sign may extend above maximum building height in underlying district (except BOD billboards); building‑mounted wall signs also may not extend above wall | — | — | — | — | All exterior signs in all districts | — | §300-9.2E(1)-(3); §300-9.2H(1)(a) |
| Electronic Changeable‑Copy Component (ECC) – General | — | As component of overall sign: fixed electronic copy/image up to 100% of allowed sign area; changeable copy/image up to 75% of allowed sign area, except BOD billboards | — | 10 ft from property line or 1/2 distance to property line if less than 10 ft | — | Only where sign type with ECC is allowed by Table 9‑3 | — | §300-9.2H(8)(a)[1]-[6]; Notes C, D, 6 to Tables 9‑4A/B |
| Construction Sign – General | — | Per Tables 9‑4A/9‑4B by district (see zone‑specific entries) | — | — | 1 per premises | On premises where architect/engineer/contractor is performing work | — | §300-9.2C definition CONSTRUCTION SIGN; §300-9.2H(4); Tables 9‑4A/9‑4B “Construction sign” |
| For Sale / Rent / Lease Sign – General | — | Per Tables 9‑4A/9‑4B by district (see zone‑specific entries) | — | — | 1 per property | On property being sold, rented, or leased | — | §300-9.2C definition FOR SALE, RENT OR LEASE SIGN; §300-9.2H(5); Tables 9‑4A/9‑4B “For sale, rent or lease sign” |

### Residence A (RA), Residence A-1 (RA-1), Residence A-2 (RA-2), Residence B (RB), Residence C (RC)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Primary Wall Sign (Residential – Accessory/Home Occupation) | — | 8 sq ft for allowed accessory use or home occupation use | — | — | 1 per lot | On principal building wall facing street where permitted accessory or home occupation use exists | — | Table 9‑4A, Residential column, “Wall sign, primary – Maximum size” |
| Primary Wall Sign (Residential – Principal Nonresidential Use) | — | 16 sq ft for allowed principal nonresidential use | — | — | 1 per lot | On building where an allowed principal nonresidential use is located | — | Table 9‑4A, Residential column, “Wall sign, primary – Maximum size” |
| Freestanding Sign (Residential – Accessory/Home Occupation) | 6 ft | 8 sq ft for allowed accessory use or home occupation use | — | 10 ft, or at least 1/2 distance between front lot line and principal building, whichever is less | 1 per lot (plus one extra if frontage >300 ft – see Note 3) | On the lot of the residential property | — | Table 9‑4A, Residential column, “Freestanding sign – Maximum size (square feet)” and “Maximum height (feet)”; §300‑9.2C(6) |
| Freestanding Sign (Residential – Principal Nonresidential Use) | 6 ft | 16 sq ft for allowed principal nonresidential use | — | 10 ft, or at least 1/2 distance between front lot line and principal building, whichever is less | 1 per lot (plus 1 additional for lots with >300 ft frontage) | On lot with allowed principal nonresidential use | — | Table 9‑4A, Residential column, “Freestanding sign – Maximum size (square feet)”; Notes 3 and 5 |
| Freestanding Sign (Residential C – Elm Street Westerly Side – Multi‑Tenant) | 6 ft | 10 sq ft per tenant up to 50 sq ft maximum for principal nonresidential multiple tenanted uses | — | 10 ft, or at least 1/2 distance between front lot line and principal building, whichever is less | 1 per lot (plus note on multi‑tenant allocation) | Residential C District along the westerly side of Elm Street only, for principal nonresidential multiple‑tenant uses | — | Table 9‑4A Note 5 |
| Freestanding Sign (Residential C – Elm Street Westerly Side – Single‑Tenant) | 6 ft | 16 sq ft for allowed principal nonresidential single‑tenant use | — | 10 ft, or at least 1/2 distance between front lot line and principal building, whichever is less | 1 per lot | Residential C District along the westerly side of Elm Street only, for principal nonresidential single‑tenant use | — | Table 9‑4A Note 5 |
| For Sale / Rent / Lease Sign (Residential) | — | 8 sq ft | — | — | 1 | On property for sale, rent, or lease in residential districts | — | Table 9‑4A, Residential column, “For sale, rent or lease sign – Maximum size (square feet)”; §300‑9.2H(5) |
| Construction Sign (Residential) | — | 4 sq ft | — | — | 1 | On residential property where construction is occurring | — | Table 9‑4A, Residential column, “Construction sign – Maximum size (square feet)”; §300‑9.2H(4) |

### Business A (BA), Business A-1 (BA-1), Business B (BB), Business B-1 (BB-1)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Primary Wall Sign | — | 10% of FFSF, not to exceed 300 sq ft | — | — | 1 per business | On primary facade where business has main entrance | — | Table 9‑4A, BA/BA‑1/BB/BB‑1 columns, “Wall sign, primary – Maximum size 10% of FFSF”; Table 9‑4A/B Note 1; Table 9‑3 “Primary wall” |
| Freestanding Sign – BA | 25 ft above ground elevation or principal building height, whichever is less | 50 sq ft maximum | — | 10 ft, or at least 1/2 distance between front lot line and principal building, whichever is less | 1 per lot (plus additional per Notes 3 and 4) | On BA lots, typically near frontage | — | Table 9‑4A, BA column, “Freestanding sign – Maximum size (square feet) = 50”; “Maximum height (feet)”; Notes 3 and 4; Note G |
| Freestanding Sign – BA-1 | 25 ft above ground or principal building height, whichever is less | 16 sq ft | — | 10 ft, or at least 1/2 distance between front lot line and principal building, whichever is less | 1 per lot (plus potential additional per Notes 3 and 4) | On BA‑1 lots | — | Table 9‑4A, BA‑1 column, “Freestanding sign – Maximum size (square feet) = 16”; “Maximum height (feet)” row; Notes 3 and 4; Note G |
| Freestanding Sign – BB and BB-1 | 25 ft above ground or principal building height, whichever is less | 50 sq ft | — | 10 ft, or at least 1/2 distance between front lot line and principal building, whichever is less | 1 per lot (plus additional per Notes 3 and 4) | On BB and BB‑1 lots | — | Table 9‑4A, BB and BB‑1 columns, “Freestanding sign – Maximum size (square feet) = 50”; “Maximum height (feet)”; Notes 3 and 4; Note G |
| Freestanding Sign w/ECC (Business A & Business B Only) | 25 ft above ground or principal building height, whichever is less | Same as freestanding sign area (50 sq ft), ECC component ≤ ECC percentage limit | — | 10 ft from property line or 1/2 distance to property line if less than 10 ft | — | On BA and BB properties | — | Table 9‑3 “Freestanding w/ECC – A‑1,B‑1 = SP; A,B = Y; CB = N”; Notes C, D |
| For Sale / Rent / Lease Sign (BA, BA-1, BB, BB-1) | — | 30 sq ft | — | — | 1 | On business properties in these districts | — | Table 9‑4A, BA/BA‑1/BB/BB‑1 columns, “For sale, rent or lease sign – Maximum size (square feet) = 30”; §300‑9.2H(5) |
| Construction Sign (BA) | — | 32 sq ft | — | — | 1 | On BA lot where construction is ongoing | — | Table 9‑4A, BA column, “Construction sign – Maximum size (square feet) = 32”; §300‑9.2H(4) |
| Construction Sign (BA-1, BB, BB-1) | — | 4 sq ft | — | — | 1 | On BA‑1, BB, BB‑1 lots with construction | — | Table 9‑4A, BA‑1/BB/BB‑1 columns, “Construction sign – Maximum size (square feet) = 4”; §300‑9.2H(4) |

## Prohibited signs in West Springfield

- Only signs which refer to a permitted use or an approved conditional use as set forth in the Zoning Ordinance are permitted.
- Off-premises signs are not permitted, except for billboards and digital billboards located within the Billboard Overlay District.
- Signs which project above the peak of a roof are not permitted, except for billboards and digital billboards located within the Billboard Overlay District.
- Portable signs are not permitted.
- Flashing signs, signs containing moving parts, inflatable signs, tethered balloon signs, and signs containing reflective elements which sparkle in the sunlight are not permitted (except pre‑12/1/2008 flashing elements allowed to remain as nonconforming).
- Any sign advertising or identifying a business or organization which is either defunct or no longer located on the premises is not permitted.
- No private sign shall be placed on public property, except for billboards and digital billboards located within the Billboard Overlay District.
- With the exception of canopy and marquee signs, no sign shall project over or into any pedestrian or vehicular way.
- No sign, together with any supporting framework, shall extend to a height above the maximum building height in the underlying zoning district, except for billboards and digital billboards within the Billboard Overlay District.
- A sign or its illuminator shall not, by reason of its location, obstruct the view of any official traffic sign, traffic signal or traffic marking.
- No sign shall incorporate or be lighted by flashing or blinking lights, or be designed to attract attention by a change in intensity or by repeated motion, unless otherwise specifically allowed for electronic changeable-copy signs.
- No sign permit shall be issued for an additional sign or to allow a structural alteration to an existing sign on a lot or structure upon which exists a preexisting nonconforming sign unless the nonconforming sign is brought into conformity (structural maintenance or repair only is allowed).
- Electronic signs shall not incorporate video, animation, or scrolling of text or images.
- Electronic signs shall not emit any sound.
- Electronic signs shall not cause beams or rays of light to be directed at any portion of the traveled way when of such intensity as to cause glare or impair drivers’ vision or otherwise interfere with vehicle operation.
- Electronic signs shall not obscure or interfere with the effectiveness of an official traffic sign, device or signal; signs within 200 feet of a traffic signal shall not be illuminated in solid red, solid yellow, or solid green.
- Electronic sign images or messages shall not rotate, sparkle, blink, fluctuate in light intensity, use intermittent stroking or moving light, or create the illusion of movement.
- Electronic message signs are restricted to alphanumeric characters only; pictorials, video, animation, images and scrolling text are prohibited, and shading of colors is prohibited.
- No electronic sign shall be permitted less than five feet from the inside of a window facing a street, public way, or public pedestrian way.
- No sign permit shall be issued for an LED message sign on a lot where a preexisting nonconforming sign exists unless that sign is brought into conformity with the ordinance.
- No permit shall be granted for a billboard on or attached to a tree or rock.
- No portable billboards are permitted.
- No sexually oriented business or sexually provocative business shall be advertised on a billboard.
- Any sign that remains on a property that has been vacant and unoccupied for 12 months or more is deemed abandoned and must be removed.

## Signs exempt from permit in West Springfield

- The general sign regulations apply only to on‑premises signs; off‑premises signs (other than billboards in the Billboard Overlay District) are generally prohibited and separately treated.
- No sign permit is required for any sign of one square foot or less related to a residential and/or commercial use.
- Any traffic, informational, or directional sign owned and installed by a governmental agency is permitted without being subject to the general sign regulations.
- Signs necessary to warn of a hazard are permitted as required to accomplish these purposes.
- Signs relating to trespassing and hunting not exceeding two square feet in area, at a maximum of one sign per 50 feet of frontage, are permitted.
- Any sign required by law or by governmental order, rule, or regulation is permitted.
- Numbers used to identify the street address of a building or structure are permitted.
- Signs identifying the occupants of a dwelling, not exceeding one square foot in area and, if freestanding, not exceeding six feet in height, are permitted.
- Signs not visible off the premises on which they are located are permitted.
- Window signs are permitted and are listed as exempted signs.
- Signs required by state law on gas pumps are allowed without a permit, in the minimum number and minimum size required by state law.
- Government signs, including portable signs, erected and maintained by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts or the federal government on land, buildings, or structures in use by such entities do not require a sign permit.
- Other signs erected by a governmental entity at any location that are required for public or environmental health, safety, or notification purposes, or announcing the date, time and place of elections or other events, do not require a sign permit.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A sign permit from the Building Inspector is required before any sign larger than one square foot related to a residential or commercial use is erected, altered, displayed, relocated, enlarged, or created; applications must include a scale drawing specifying dimensions, illumination, materials, and location.
- Signs requiring a special permit from the Planning Board must follow the special permit process in Article XII; the Planning Board is the special permit granting authority for § 300-9.2 and may impose conditions (color, size, illumination, hours of illumination, removal).
- The special permit granting authority may not grant special permits for sign types that are specifically prohibited by § 300-9.2(D)(2).
- Any upgrades, improvements, or alterations to grandfathered off‑premises signs must follow the special permit process as outlined in the ordinance.
- Requests for larger freestanding or marquee signs or for a larger sign base/support structure than otherwise allowed may be approved only by special permit from the Planning Board, following the special permit process and requirements of § 300-9.2(E)(7).
- Any installation of a billboard or digital billboard within the Billboard Overlay District requires a special permit, and must also obtain any required approvals from the Massachusetts Office of Outdoor Advertising.
- Electronic changeable-copy signs, where permitted, must comply with the specific dimensional, brightness, timing, and operational standards in § 300-9.2(H)(8) in addition to any special permit conditions where applicable.

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

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