# Sign Regulations in Weymouth, Massachusetts

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Weymouth, Massachusetts (MA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/massachusetts/weymouth
- **Data last verified:** 2025-10-13
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/30091927#30091927)

## At a glance

Weymouth, Massachusetts regulates 18 sign types across 6 zoning districts. Name and/or Occupation Signs in the Residential Districts (R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4) zoning district are capped at 6 feet (freestanding) tall and 2 square feet, with a At least 3 feet from the street line setback (Sec. §120-64.1A). Most commercial signs in Weymouth require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (6 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Residential Districts (R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4) | 10 | 25 feet above grade (per business district criteria) | 20 square feet | — |
| Neighborhood Center District (NCD) | 2 | 20 feet above grade or roofline (whichever lower) | 20 square feet | — |
| Business Districts (B-1, B-2, HT, MS) | 2 | 25 feet above grade (within 25 feet of street: uppermost edge no more than 3 feet above grade or lowermost edge no less than 8 feet above grade and uppermost not to exceed 25 feet) | 75 square feet | — |
| Industrial Districts (I-1, I-2, PIP, POP) | 3 | 25 feet above grade (lower edge no less than 8 feet above grade if within 25 feet of a street or way line) | 100 square feet per surface (total of all surfaces not exceeding 200 square feet) | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 4 | — | 40 square feet per surface (total of all surfaces not exceeding 40 square feet) | — |
| Billboard Relocation Overlay District | 1 | 35 feet from existing ground elevation | — | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 6 zones)

### Residential Districts (R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Name and/or Occupation Sign | 6 feet (freestanding) | 2 square feet | — | At least 3 feet from the street line | 1 | Attached to building or on rod/post | — | §120-64.1A |
| Wall Sign (Multi-Unit Identification) | 20 feet above grade | 12 square feet | — | — | 1 (or 1 freestanding alternative) | Attached to building | — | §120-64.1B(1) |
| Freestanding Sign (Multi-Unit Identification) | 25 feet above grade (per business district criteria) | 12 square feet per side (total surface area of all sides not exceeding 24 square feet) | — | As specified for business districts (minimum 3 feet from front lot line in B-1 equivalent) | 1 (or 1 wall alternative) | On lot | — | §120-64.1B(2) |
| For Sale or For Rent Sign | — | 6 square feet | — | — | 1 | On premises | — | §120-64.1C |
| Wall Sign (Nonresidential or Nonconforming Use) | 20 feet above grade | 6 square feet | — | — | 1 (or 1 freestanding alternative) | Attached to building | — | §120-64.1E |
| Freestanding Sign (Nonresidential or Nonconforming Use) | 20 feet above grade | 6 square feet per side (total surface area of all sides not exceeding 12 square feet) | — | — | 1 (or 1 wall alternative) | On lot | — | §120-64.1E |
| Wall Sign (Conforming Use in R-2) | 20 feet above grade or roofline (whichever lower) | 20 square feet | — | Set back from adjoining residential district lot line at least the front yard distance required in the adjoining residential district | 1 per place of business | Parallel to exterior building facade | — | §120-64.2A |
| Freestanding Sign (Conforming Use in R-2) | 20 feet above grade (within 25 feet of street: uppermost edge no more than 3 feet above grade or lowermost edge no less than 8 feet above grade and uppermost not to exceed 20 feet) | 15 square feet per side (total surface area of all sides not exceeding 30 square feet) | — | Set back from adjoining residential district lot line at least the front yard distance required in the adjoining residential district | 1 per lot | On lot (foremost building set back minimum 10 feet from front lot line) | — | §120-64.2B |

### Industrial Districts (I-1, I-2, PIP, POP)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | — | 75 square feet | — | Set back from adjoining residential district lot line at least the front yard distance required in the adjoining residential district | 1 per place of business | Parallel to an exterior wall of a building | — | §120-64.4A |
| Freestanding Sign | 6 feet above grade | 20 square feet per side (total surface area of all sides not exceeding 40 square feet) | — | Minimum 10 feet from any street, way, driveway, parking area, and loading area; set back from adjoining residential district lot line at least the front yard distance required in the adjoining residential district | 1 per lot | On lot | — | §120-64.4B |
| Freestanding Directory Sign | 25 feet above grade (lower edge no less than 8 feet above grade if within 25 feet of a street or way line) | 100 square feet per surface (total of all surfaces not exceeding 200 square feet) | — | Minimum 10 feet from any street, way, driveway, parking area, and loading area; set back from adjoining residential district lot line at least the front yard distance required in the adjoining residential district | 1 per lot (alternative to freestanding sign) | At principal entrance to group of buildings | — | §120-64.4C |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign (Churches and Nonprofit Institutions) | — | 20 square feet total for all signs | — | — | 2 maximum | Attached to building | — | §120-64.5A |
| Freestanding Sign (Churches and Nonprofit Institutions) | — | 40 square feet per surface (total of all surfaces not exceeding 40 square feet) | — | — | 1 | On lot | — | §120-64.5A |
| Directional Sign | — | 4.5 square feet | — | — | — | At designated locations | — | §120-64.9B |
| Business Sign with Clock/Thermometer/Calendar | — | — | — | — | — | Within permitted sign area | — | §120-64.5B |

## Prohibited signs in Weymouth

- Any sign or advertising device with visible moving or movable parts (except as provided in this bylaw) or with flashing, animated or intermittent illumination or which is noise-making.
- Any colored sign so located as to attract attention from or obscure a traffic control light so as to reduce its visibility and effect.
- Any sign within 25 feet of an intersection of two streets so placed in any way as to obstruct clear vision in any direction.
- Any device illuminating a sign which directs light toward a public way in such a manner as to cast its beam in the eyes of oncoming motorists or pedestrians.
- Any sign which contains a registered trademark or portrays a specific commodity for sale, unless said trademark or commodity is the principal activity conducted therein.
- Billboards of any kind are prohibited.

## Signs exempt from permit in Weymouth

- Automated, illuminated barber pole, used in advertising the licensed profession of barbering, which does not exceed 39 inches in height and 10 1/2 inches in width and is attached to the building (exempt from prohibition on moving parts).
- Churches and nonprofit institutions may be permitted either a maximum of two wall signs (total area not exceeding 20 square feet) or one freestanding sign (area per surface not exceeding 40 square feet, total not exceeding 40 square feet).
- A permitted business use may use any portion of its permitted sign area for a clock, thermometer and/or calendar, which changes on a synchronized basis.
- Directional signs for the purpose of maintaining traffic control for public safety are permitted with approval of the Inspector of Buildings (size not exceeding 4 1/2 square feet each).

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Any proposed signage not in conformance with the regulations set forth in business districts shall be subject to site plan review under Article XXVA.
- Construction of billboards and related facilities within the Billboard Relocation Overlay District shall be subject to a special permitting process by the Board of Zoning Appeals.

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

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