# Sign Regulations in Winthrop, Massachusetts

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Winthrop, Massachusetts (MA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/massachusetts/winthrop
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-09
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/MA/Winthrop/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=TIT10VETR_CH10.08SISIMA)

## At a glance

Winthrop, Massachusetts regulates 26 sign types across 4 zoning districts. A-frame/Advertising Sign (Sandwich Board, Freestanding)s in the Business Districts, Industrial or Office Park zoning district are capped at 4 ft tall, 8 sq ft (2 ft x 4 ft), and 2 ft wide (Sec. 17.32.050(C)(7)). Most commercial signs in Winthrop require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (4 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Residential Districts | 9 | — | 20 sq ft (primary), 10 sq ft (secondary) | — |
| Multiple Residence Districts | 8 | — | 32 sq ft | — |
| Business Districts, Industrial or Office Park | 16 | 4 ft | 20 sq ft (primary), 10 sq ft (secondary) | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 5 | 12 ft | 24 sq ft | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 4 zones)

### Residential Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign (Single Residence) | — | 1 sq ft | — | — | 1 per residence | On building | — | 17.32.050(D)(1) |
| Wall Sign (Multiple Residence Building - Main Sign) | — | 3 sq ft | — | — | 1 per establishment | On building | — | 17.32.050(D)(2) |
| Wall Sign (Multiple Residence Building - Secondary Sign) | — | 1 sq ft | — | — | 1 per separate building | On building | — | 17.32.050(D)(2) |
| Freestanding Sign (Religious Uses) | — | 20 sq ft (primary), 10 sq ft (secondary) | — | — | 2 per use | One may be freestanding | — | 17.32.030(B) |
| Wall or Freestanding Sign (Membership Club, Community Facility, Funeral Establishment, Public Utilities, Place of Assembly, Extended Care) | — | 15 sq ft | — | — | 1 per use | On premises | — | 17.32.030(C) |
| Temporary Sign (Political) | — | 3 sq ft | — | — | 1 per lot | On premises | — | 17.32.030(D) |
| Names, Date, Monumental Citations, Commemorative Tablets | — | 10 sq ft | — | — | — | On building | — | 17.32.050(E)(1) |
| Directory Sign | — | — | — | — | 1 per entrance | Affixed at each entrance | — | 17.32.050(E)(2) |

### Multiple Residence Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign (Multiple Residence Building - Main Sign) | — | 3 sq ft | — | — | 1 per establishment | On building | — | 17.32.050(D)(2) |
| Wall Sign (Multiple Residence Building - Secondary Sign) | — | 1 sq ft | — | — | 1 per separate building | On building | — | 17.32.050(D)(2) |
| Wall or Freestanding Sign (Membership Club, Community Facility, Funeral Establishment, Public Utilities, Place of Assembly, Extended Care) | — | 15 sq ft | — | — | 1 per use | On premises | — | 17.32.030(C) |
| Temporary Sign (Construction - Illuminated) | — | 32 sq ft | — | — | 1 per lot | On premises | — | 17.32.050(H)(1) |
| Temporary Sign (Political) | — | 3 sq ft | — | — | 1 per lot | On premises | — | 17.32.030(D), 17.32.050(H)(4) |
| Names, Date, Monumental Citations, Commemorative Tablets | — | 10 sq ft | — | — | — | On building | — | 17.32.050(E)(1) |
| Directory Sign | — | — | — | — | 1 per entrance | Affixed at each entrance | — | 17.32.050(E)(2) |
| Traffic, Guidance, Orientational Sign | — | 1 sq ft (orientational), otherwise standard traffic control sizes | — | — | — | On premises as needed | — | 17.32.050(E)(3) |

### Business Districts, Industrial or Office Park

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | — | 20 sq ft (primary), 10 sq ft (secondary) | — | — | One per street or parking lot frontage, total two | On building | — | 17.32.050(C)(1)(a)(b) |
| Ground Sign | — | 20 sq ft (primary), 10 sq ft (secondary) | — | — | One per street or parking lot frontage, total two | On premises | — | 17.32.050(C)(1) |
| Wall Sign (Individual Letters/Devices) | — | Same as Wall Sign | — | — | As Wall Sign | On building | — | 17.32.050(C)(1)(b) |
| Marquee Sign (per Public Entrance) | 4 ft | — | — | — | One per entrance | Over public entrance | — | 17.32.050(C)(2) |
| Freestanding Sign (Shopping Center or Industrial or Office Park) | — | 20 sq ft | — | — | One per qualifying property | Freestanding on premises | — | 17.32.050(C)(4) |
| Freestanding Sign (Gasoline Station) | — | 20 sq ft | — | — | One | On premises | — | 17.32.050(C)(5) |
| A-frame/Advertising Sign (Sandwich Board, Freestanding) | 4 ft | 8 sq ft (2 ft x 4 ft) | 2 ft | — | One per business | On business property (within property boundaries) | — | 17.32.050(C)(7) |
| Wall or Freestanding Sign (Religious Uses) | — | 20 sq ft (primary), 10 sq ft (secondary) | — | — | 2 per use | One may be freestanding | — | 17.32.030(B) |

## Prohibited signs in Winthrop

- Signs incorporating flashing, moving or intermittent lighting, excluding public service signs showing time and temperature.
- Wind signs, including banners, pennants, spinners, streamers, and other wind-actuated components.
- String lights used in connection with commercial premises, except for temporary lighting for holiday decorations.
- Signs advertising a business or product previously sold or located on the premises but no longer sold or located there.
- Portable signs, except as specifically permitted in Section 17.32.050(C)(7).
- Window signs covering more than twenty-five percent of the window area.
- Signs for home occupations.
- Signs painted or posted directly on the exterior surface of any wall, except for awning signs as allowed in Section 17.32.050(C)(3).
- Signs erected so as to obstruct any door, window or fire escape.
- Signs constructed, erected or maintained upon the roof of any building.
- Colored lights and illuminated signs employing colors used in traffic signal lights within view of any signalized intersection.
- Signs or illuminators that interfere with, are confused with, or obstruct the view or effectiveness of official traffic signs, signals, or markings.
- Imitation of official traffic signs or signals and the use of such words as 'stop,' 'look,' 'danger,' 'go slow,' 'caution,' or 'warning.'
- Fluorescent colors in the yellow to red spectrum.
- Signs advertising products or activities not conducted on the premises (nonaccessory signs) or incorporating such advertising by including product trademarks or trade names in an accessory sign design.

## Signs exempt from permit in Winthrop

- Flags and insignia of any government except when displayed in connection with commercial promotion.
- Legal notices or informational devices erected or required by public agencies.
- Integral decorative or architectural features of buildings, except letters, trademarks, moving parts, or parts internally illuminated or decorated with gaseous tube or other lights.
- On awnings or similar devices, lettering not exceeding three inches in height or symbols not exceeding four square feet in area.
- Interior signs, except for window signs, wholly within a building.
- Standard gasoline pump signs indicating name/type/price of gasoline (temporary or movable signs except State Motor Vehicle Inspection Station signs are prohibited).
- Residential signs as described in Section 17.32.050(D).
- Temporary signs as described in Section 17.32.050(H): construction signs, real estate signs, display window signs (business districts), political signs, and event signs as specified.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- All persons desiring to erect, install, place, construct, alter, move, or maintain a sign shall apply to the inspector of buildings for a permit, which requires a drawing showing the proposed sign, existing signs, location, specifications, and sometimes photographs.
- For a special permit to allow more or larger or differently located signs (Section 17.32.080), the applicant must provide information as required for a regular permit (Section 17.32.070), and additionally provide perspectives, renderings, photographs, models, or other representations sufficient to show the nature and effect of the proposed sign on the immediate surroundings. The board of appeals will receive comments from the planning board prior to granting such a permit.

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

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