# Sign Regulations in Whitman Town, Massachusetts

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Whitman Town, Massachusetts (MA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/massachusetts/whitman-town
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/35145262#35145262)

## At a glance

Whitman Town, Massachusetts regulates 17 sign types across 3 zoning districts. Street Number/Occupant Name Signs in the Residential Districts zoning district are capped at 6 feet (if on post or rod) tall and 2 square feet, with a Not less than 3 feet from street line setback (Sec. § 240-9.3A). Most commercial signs in Whitman 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 | 20 feet | over 4 square feet requires permit | — |
| Residential Districts | 5 | 6 feet (if on post or rod) | 20 square feet | — |
| Business Districts, Industrial Districts | 7 | 20 feet max; 8 feet min above ground | 100 square feet (overall sign) | — |

## 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 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Any Sign (over 4 sq ft) | — | over 4 square feet requires permit | — | — | — | — | — | § 240-9.1.A-B |
| Animated or Flashing Signs | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | § 240-9.2A |
| Directional Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Along traveled ways | — | § 240-9.2E |
| All Signs | 20 feet | — | — | — | — | — | — | § 240-9.2F |
| All Projecting Signs | — | — | — | — | — | May not project over public streets; up to 4 feet over public walks | — | § 240-9.2G |

### Residential Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Street Number/Occupant Name Sign | 6 feet (if on post or rod) | 2 square feet | — | Not less than 3 feet from street line | 1 per premises | Attached to building, or on rod/post at least 3 ft from street line | — | § 240-9.3A |
| Bulletin/Announcement Board or Identification Sign (Nonresidential/Institutional) | — | 10 square feet per board | — | — | 1 per building | On each permitted nonresidential building or use | — | § 240-9.3B |
| Real Estate Sign (For Sale/For Rent) | — | 6 square feet | — | — | — | — | — | § 240-9.3C |
| Subdivision/Multifamily Development Entrance Sign | — | 20 square feet | — | — | — | At street entrance to subdivision or development | — | § 240-9.3D |
| Contractor/Owner/Designer/Engineer Sign (Construction Site) | — | — | — | — | — | On active construction site | — | § 240-9.3E |

### Business Districts, Industrial Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign (Standard) | — | Based on building frontage (1 sq ft per linear ft); projections limited to 12 inches perpendicular to facade | — | — | 1 per establishment | Attached flat to facade; parallels street | — | § 240-9.4B(1) |
| Wall Sign (Open Lot Business) | — | Max 32 sq ft per 100 ft of lot frontage | — | — | — | Wall sign area calculated from lot frontage for open-lot businesses | — | § 240-9.4B(2) |
| Wall or Freestanding Sign (Entrance/Perpendicular) | — | 40 square feet per side | — | — | 1 per establishment | Immediately adjacent/over entrance; or freestanding at parking lot entrance | — | § 240-9.4B(3) |
| Iconic/Symbolic Sign (No Advertising Text) | — | 15 square feet (cross-section) | — | — | — | — | — | § 240-9.4C |
| Shopping Center/Cooperative Directory Sign | 20 feet max; 8 feet min above ground | 100 square feet (overall sign) | — | — | 1 cooperative sign per shopping center or business group | Next to public way; adjacent to parking entrance | — | § 240-9.4D |
| Freestanding Sign (Setback > 30 ft) | 20 feet max; 8 feet min above ground | 100 square feet per side | — | Minimum 10 feet from lot line | — | Edge of sign not less than 10 feet from lot line | — | § 240-9.4E |
| Exterior Signs (General Limit) | — | — | — | — | 3 per store/business (excluding exit/entrance signs) | — | — | § 240-9.4F |

## Prohibited signs in Whitman Town

- No sign in excess of four square feet in area shall be erected, replaced, located or relocated within the Town without first obtaining a sign erection permit from the Building Commissioner/Inspector of Buildings.
- All signs shall be nonanimated, nonflashing, and permanently fixed, except for short-term displays not to exceed 14 days each year.
- Signs or their illuminator shall not interfere with traffic or obstruct the view or effectiveness of any official traffic sign, traffic signal or traffic marking.
- No sign shall obstruct visibility in such a way as to constitute a hazard to the safety of persons traveling upon a public way.
- No commercial advertising shall be affixed upon or painted upon any rock, tree or utility pole within the Town.
- Signs may be no higher than 20 feet in height.
- Private signs shall not project over public streets and no more than four feet over public walks.
- No signs, whether permanent or temporary, shall be erected or affixed to any object in a public right-of-way.
- The lowest point of the sign shall be at least 10 feet above the finished grade.
- All signs shall be maintained in a safe condition to the satisfaction of the Building Commissioner/Inspector of Buildings.

## Signs exempt from permit in Whitman Town

- Interior window displays or signs.
- A community bulletin board for the purpose of displaying notices such as public events, schedules and personal notices; such bulletin boards are not to be used for the purposes named in § 240-9.3B and may be 10 square feet on each side.
- Customary signs necessary to the operation of a filling or service station, including lettering over entrance doors not exceeding 10 inches in height and signs as part of the gas pumps and other signs required by law.
- A memorial sign or tablet indicating the name of a building or the date of its erection when cut into any masonry surface or constructed of bronze or other incombustible material.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Applications for signs not in accord with the specifications set forth in this article shall be referred to the Board of Appeals for a special permit.
- Signs placed along traveled ways for the purpose of indicating directions to business or institutional facilities require a special permit from the Board of Appeals.

## Full detail

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

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