# Sign Regulations in Williamstown Town, Massachusetts

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Williamstown Town, Massachusetts (MA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/massachusetts/williamstown-town
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/10632697#10632697)

## At a glance

Williamstown Town, Massachusetts regulates 23 sign types across 3 zoning districts. Freestanding Sign (Special Permit)s in the Residential districts zoning district are capped at 15 ft tall and 50% of maximum area permitted for nonresidential wall sign (see Nonresidential; e.g., 8-16 sq ft typical), with a Minimum 5 ft from street line setback (Sec. § 53-6.1A(1), § 53-3.3E). Most commercial signs in Williamstown 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 | 1 | — | — | — |
| Residential districts | 16 | 15 ft | 50% of maximum area permitted for nonresidential wall sign (see Nonresidential; e.g., 8-16 sq ft typical) | — |
| Nonresidential districts | 17 | 48 in (4 ft) | 36 inches x 18 inches (4.5 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 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| All Signs | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | § 53-3.1A-D |

### Residential districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Occupant Identification Sign | — | 1.5 sq ft | — | — | 1 per premises | On premises | — | § 53-3.2A |
| Real Estate Sign | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | 1 on premises; 1 per intersection, max 2, for open house | On premises | — | § 53-3.2B |
| Construction Project Sign | — | 6 sq ft or minimum required by law | — | — | 1 per project | On premises while construction is in progress | — | § 53-3.2C |
| Produce Sales Sign | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | 1 per premises | On premises | — | § 53-3.2E |
| Garage/Yard/Tag Sale Sign | — | 4 sq ft | — | — | 1 per premises | On premises | — | § 53-3.2F |
| Freestanding Sign (Special Permit) | 15 ft | 50% of maximum area permitted for nonresidential wall sign (see Nonresidential; e.g., 8-16 sq ft typical) | — | Minimum 5 ft from street line | 1 per use (in lieu of wall sign) | On premises, min 5 ft setback from street line | — | § 53-6.1A(1), § 53-3.3E |
| Temporary Business Sign | 5 ft | 3 sq ft per face; max aggregate 6 sq ft | — | Not within 15 feet of point of vehicular access from lot to road; may be in any required yard but not over any lot line | 1 per permit | On premises; not within 15 ft of vehicular access | — | § 53-7.2A-E |
| Temporary Political Sign | 5 ft | 4 sq ft | — | Must not create public safety hazard | 1 per lot | On zone lot | — | § 53-7.4 |

### Nonresidential districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Real Estate Sign | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | 1 on premises; 1 per intersection, max 2, for open house | On premises | — | § 53-3.2B, § 53-3.3A |
| Construction Project Sign | — | 6 sq ft or minimum required by law | — | — | 1 per project | On premises while construction is in progress | — | § 53-3.2C, § 53-3.3A |
| Produce Sales Sign | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | 1 per premises | On premises | — | § 53-3.2E, § 53-3.3A |
| Garage/Yard/Tag Sale Sign | — | 4 sq ft | — | — | 1 per premises | On premises | — | § 53-3.2F, § 53-3.3A |
| Freestanding Sign (In lieu of wall signs) | 15 ft | 16 sq ft (if Wall Sign Primary is maxed at 32 sq ft per formula) | — | Minimum 5 ft from street line | 1 per business establishment (in lieu of wall signs) | On premises, not on Spring Street | — | § 53-3.3E |
| Temporary Business Sign | 7 ft | 6 sq ft | — | Not within 15 feet of point of vehicular access from lot to road; may be in any required yard but not over any lot line | 1 per permit | On premises; not within 15 ft of vehicular access | — | § 53-7.2B(2), D(2), E |
| Temporary Political Sign | 7 ft | 6 sq ft | — | Must not create public safety hazard | 1 per lot | On zone lot | — | § 53-7.4 |
| Portable Business Sign (A-frame/Sandwich Board - Special Permit) | 48 in (4 ft) | Face: 24 in x 36 in; total: 27 in x 48 in | 27 in | — | 1 per establishment | On private property | — | § 53-7.5A-C |

## Prohibited signs in Williamstown Town

- No signs are allowed on or above any public way, or on private property within public view of a public way, public park or reservation, in the Town, except lawful traffic regulation devices, or except as otherwise provided in this chapter.
- All signs must be constructed of opaque material and, if lighted, must be lighted externally, either directly or indirectly, by white light of constant intensity. Such light shall be directed to light only the sign, preventing overspill and glare. Signs shall be lit only during normal business hours.
- All signs shall be kept in good repair.
- A nonconforming sign may continue under the terms of its approved permit. Alterations to a nonconforming sign shall comply with the requirements of this chapter for new signs.
- Any sign allowed under this chapter may, in lieu of any other copy specified herein, contain any otherwise lawful, noncommercial message that does not direct attention to a business or to a service or commodity for sale.
- A-frame or sandwich-board signs, sidewalk or curb signs, except as a temporary sign as provided for in Article VII, are prohibited.
- Banners, except as provided for in Articles III and VII, are prohibited.
- Off-premises signs, except as temporary signs as provided for in Article VII, are prohibited.
- Animated signs, beacons, integrally lit, tube illuminated graphics, changeable graphics are prohibited.
- Portable and wheeled signs, except as temporary signs as provided for in Article VII, are prohibited.
- Signs placed on or affixed to vehicles/trailers parked so as to be visible from a public right-of-way with the apparent purpose of advertising or directing people to a business/activity, unless incidental to the primary use of the vehicle/trailer, are prohibited.
- Signs attached or affixed to Town-owned trees are prohibited.
- Signs attached or affixed to telephone or light poles are prohibited.
- Signs which imitate, interfere with, obstruct, or can be confused with any authorized traffic sign, signal or other device are prohibited.
- Signs advertising individual or group businesses located outside of Williamstown are prohibited.
- Billboards are prohibited.
- Pennants, streamers, balloons and other gas-filled figures are prohibited.
- Signs painted with luminescent or reflective paint are prohibited.
- Any illuminated window sign, with the exception of one "open" sign of constant illumination, is prohibited.
- Any sign that is harmful to minors, has lascivious intent, is obscene or depicts or relates to sexual conduct or sexual excitement as defined in MGL c. 272, § 31 and is visible from outside the building is prohibited.
- Illumination of temporary signs is not permitted.

## Signs exempt from permit in Williamstown Town

- Signs described in MGL c. 93, § 32, as amended, are exempt from this chapter.
- Lawful traffic regulation devices are exempt from sign prohibitions.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A sign permit must be obtained for any sign to be erected or altered on the exterior of any building or on any land, except signs specifically exempted from permit requirements in §53-3.2A-F and §53-3.2B-F.
- A drawing or photograph of the building facade and a plot plan indicating the location of the proposed sign and all existing signs displayed on the zone lot must be submitted with a permit application.
- Special permits may be required for certain signs as outlined in Article VI.
- A special permit from the Sign Commission is required for temporary portable A-frame or sandwich-board-type signage (§53-7.5).
- Temporary signs (other than those specifically exempted by §53-3.2A-F) require a temporary permit from the Sign Inspector as provided for in Article V.
- Application for a sign permit must contain information on all existing signs displayed on the zone lot.
- Signs for certain uses (such as home occupations, tourist homes, nursing homes, funeral homes, municipal uses, nonprofit museums) in residential districts are subject to specific restrictions or special permitting.

## Full detail

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

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