# Sign Regulations in Woburn, Massachusetts

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Woburn, Massachusetts (MA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/massachusetts/woburn
- **Data last verified:** 2026-04-27
- **Source:** [other municipal code](https://woburnma.gov/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Section-13-Sign-Regulations-3.pdf)

## At a glance

Woburn, Massachusetts regulates 54 sign types across 7 zoning districts. Drive-up Menu Board (Special Permit)s in the General Regulations For All Zones zoning district are capped at 8 ft tall, 50 sq ft per board, and 9 ft wide, with a ≥5 ft from property line setback (Sec. Sec. 11.6.10(b)(6) Menu Boards; Sec. 11.6.10(b)(1)–(5)). Most commercial signs in Woburn require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (7 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 17 | 8 ft | 50 sq ft per board | — |
| Residential Districts (R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4) | 7 | — | 20 sq ft | — |
| Downtown Business (B-D); Neighborhood Business (B-N) | 9 | 36 in (top no higher than: 20 ft above grade OR bottom of sills of first level of windows above first story OR height of building line, whichever is lowest) | 50 sq ft | — |
| Special Mixed Use Districts (S-1) | 13 | — | ≤50% of primary wall sign allowance | — |
| Highway Business Districts (B-H); Interstate Business (B-I) | 9 | 30 ft | 100 sq ft per side (double-faced signs allowed with identical language only) | — |
| Office Park (O-P); Industrial Park (I-P); Industrial General (I-G) | 11 | 30 ft | 100 sq ft per side (double-faced signs allowed with identical language only) | — |
| Industrial Park Two (IP-2) | 8 | 30 ft | 100 sq ft per side (double-faced signs allowed with identical language only) | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 7 zones)

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Dwelling Occupant Name/Address Sign (One- or Two-Family) | — | 1 sq ft (2 sq ft if for permitted accessory occupation/use) | — | — | One per dwelling within a residential building housing not more than two families | Attached to the residence or located in the front yard of the residence | — | Sec. 13.2(4); Sec. 13.1(2); Sec. 13.4.5 |
| Institutional Identification Signs (Churches, Schools, Other Institutional Uses) | — | One sign up to 20 sq ft and one sign up to 10 sq ft per street frontage | — | — | Two per street frontage | On the site; one sign per street frontage may be free-standing and may be used for notices/announcements | — | Sec. 13.2(7); Sec. 13.4.5 |
| On-site Directional Signs to Parking/Entrance | 4 ft | 4 sq ft (superseded by stricter district standards where applicable) | — | ≥5 ft from streets or driveways | As necessary to give clear directions | May be located within required yard areas but not closer than 5 ft to streets or driveways | — | Sec. 13.2(8); Sec. 13.6.2(3) (superseding); Sec. 13.4.5 |
| Temporary Identification Sign (During Sign Application Review) | — | Must conform to applicable dimensional regulations for the permanent sign | — | As applicable to the permanent sign | One | On the site for proposed sign | — | Sec. 13.2(10)(a) |
| Construction Signs (Temporary) | — | 32 sq ft (aggregate) | — | — | One or more (aggregate area limit applies) | On construction/alteration site | — | Sec. 13.2(10)(b) |
| Real Estate Signs (Temporary) | — | 12 sq ft in residential and mixed-use districts; 32 sq ft in business and industrial districts | — | — | One on the premises; additional carry-away signs allowed (non-residential only) as limited | On the premises offered for sale/rent/lease | — | Sec. 13.2(10)(c) |
| Drive-up Menu Board (Special Permit) | 8 ft | 50 sq ft per board | 9 ft | ≥5 ft from property line | Maximum two (2) per facility | Adjacent to the driveway leading to a drive-through window; at least 5 ft from the property line; positioned for legibility from vehicles | — | Sec. 11.6.10(b)(6) Menu Boards; Sec. 11.6.10(b)(1)–(5) |
| Drive-up Canopy Sign (Special Permit) | — | 50 sq ft | — | ≥5 ft from property line | One per drive-up facility | At the location of drive-up customer service facilities; at least 5 ft from the property line; positioned for legibility from vehicles | — | Sec. 11.6.10(b)(6) Canopy Signs |

### Special Mixed Use Districts (S-1)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Identification Sign - Dwelling Occupant (S-1 Residential) | — | 1 sq ft (or 2 sq ft if for permitted occupation/use) | — | — | One per dwelling | At each dwelling within a residential building (≤2 families) | — | Sec. 13.8(1)(1); Sec. 13.8(2)(1); Sec. 13.1(2) |
| Principal Wall Sign (S-1 Residential: buildings >2 families) | — | 10 sq ft | — | — | One (Option with free-standing sign) | On residential building (>2 families) | — | Sec. 13.8(1)(2); Sec. 13.8(2)(2) |
| Free-standing Sign (S-1 Residential: buildings >2 families) | — | 10 sq ft | — | General setbacks per Sec. 6; visibility triangle per Sec. 13.4.7 | One (Option with principal wall sign) | On lot of residential building (>2 families) | — | Sec. 13.8(1)(2); Sec. 13.8(2)(2) |
| Secondary Wall Sign (S-1 Residential; group buildings) | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | One per separate building | On each separate building within a group of residential buildings | — | Sec. 13.8(1)(2); Sec. 13.8(2)(2) |
| On-site Directional Signs (S-1 Residential: Entrance/Exit/Parking) | — | 3 sq ft | — | — | As needed | On premises for direction of persons/vehicles | — | Sec. 13.8(1)(3); Sec. 13.8(2)(3) |
| Wall Sign (S-1 Residential: Non-residential or Valid Non-conforming Use) | — | 20 sq ft | — | — | One (plus one free-standing sign allowed separately) | On the non-residential or valid non-conforming use building | — | Sec. 13.8(1)(4); Sec. 13.8(2)(4) |
| Free-standing Sign (S-1 Residential: Non-residential or Valid Non-conforming Use) | — | 20 sq ft | — | General setbacks per Sec. 6; visibility triangle per Sec. 13.4.7 | One (plus one wall sign allowed separately) | On the lot of the non-residential or valid non-conforming use | — | Sec. 13.8(1)(4); Sec. 13.8(2)(4) |
| Primary Wall Sign (S-1 Other Uses) | — | ≤10% of facade | — | — | One primary wall sign per establishment | On the facade | — | Sec. 13.8 (Other uses) 2(1) |

### Office Park (O-P); Industrial Park (I-P); Industrial General (I-G)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Primary Wall Sign | — | ≤10% of facade (first two stories) | — | — | One primary wall sign per tenant | On facade along front lot line | — | Sec. 13.10.2(1) |
| Secondary Wall Sign | — | ≤50% of primary allowance | — | — | One per separate entrance or frontage (max 2 per structure) | On separate entrances/frontages | — | Sec. 13.10.1(2); Sec. 13.10.2(2) |
| Directory Sign | — | — | — | — | One per entrance | At each separate entrance | — | Sec. 13.10.1(3); Sec. 13.10.2(3) |
| Primary Free-standing Sign (Option 2) | 30 ft | 40 sq ft per side (double-faced signs allowed with identical language only) | — | General setbacks per Sec. 6; visibility triangle per Sec. 13.4.7 | One per lot (Option 2) | On lot | — | Sec. 13.10.1(5); Sec. 13.10.2(8) |
| Primary Roof Sign (Option 1) | May not extend more than 4 ft above the main roof line of the building | 100 sq ft per side (double-faced signs allowed with identical language only) | — | — | One per lot (Option 1) | On roof of building | — | Sec. 13.10.1(5); Sec. 13.10.2(6); Sec. 13.3(2) |
| Secondary Free-standing Sign | Top of sign ≤6 ft above surrounding ground | 15 sq ft per side | — | ≥5 ft from any driveway or street; ≥200 ft separation from other free-standing signs (primary/secondary/cluster) on same lot or in same park | As determined by building floor area (see formula) | On lot | — | Sec. 13.10.1(6); Sec. 13.10.2(9); Sec. 13.10.2(11) |
| Cluster Free-standing Sign (Secondary) | Top of sign ≤9 ft above surrounding ground; address section may extend above, but entire sign ≤11 ft | ≤60 sq ft per face (aggregate); ≤15 sq ft per individual panel | Address section up to 10 ft long (2 ft high) directly on top of cluster sign | ≥5 ft from any driveway or street; ≥200 ft separation from other free-standing signs | As allowed in lieu of or in addition to secondary free-standing signs per park/lot plan | On lot; grouping for multiple tenants | — | Sec. 13.10.2(10); Sec. 13.10.1(6) (setback); Sec. 13.10.2(11) |
| Park Signage on Either Street (Multiple Buildings Under Common Management) | — | Per applicable primary/secondary/cluster limits | — | As applicable to sign type | As permitted under applicable sign type limits | Either of the two street frontages (not both) for eligible groupings | — | Sec. 13.10.2(12) |

## Prohibited signs in Woburn

- All non-necessary signs, including billboards, are prohibited citywide.
- Signs that extend more than four (4) feet above the main roof line of the building to which they are attached.
- String lights used in connection with commercial premises, except temporary holiday lighting.
- Signs or advertising devices with visible moving or movable parts, or with flashing, animated, or intermittent illumination; exception only for the portion of a time-and-temperature sign displaying time and temperature.
- Portable or movable signs (including trailer signs and signs affixed to or painted on a vehicle permanently parked to serve as a sign); exception for vehicles temporarily parked on the premises.
- Signs permanently affixed to any utility pole along a way in the City in connection with a private activity, business, enterprise, or event.
- No sign shall be placed so that it casts reflection upon any dwelling.
- All sign illumination must be interior, non-exposed, or shielded exterior illumination directed solely at the sign; illumination must be steady and stationary.
- No sign or its illuminator may, by reason of location, shape, size, or color, create a driving hazard to vehicles or obstruct the effectiveness of any official traffic sign, signal, or marking (as determined by the Chief of Police).
- No free-standing pole or pylon sign, nor any ground sign greater than three (3) feet and less than ten (10) feet in height, may be located within the defined visibility triangle near intersections (35 feet from the intersection along each line).
- No sign shall be maintained if it advertises a product no longer sold or a commercial enterprise no longer in operation on the premises; except allowed real estate 'For Sale' or 'For Lease' signs. No sign may remain on vacated premises for more than thirty (30) days from the day of vacancy.
- Holiday signs or decorations may not be posted more than sixty (60) days before any holiday or remain more than sixty (60) days after any holiday.
- On signs that contain a registered trademark or portray a specific commodity for sale, the trademark/portrayal may not occupy more than ten percent (10%) of the sign area unless sale or production of the commodity is the principal activity conducted on the premises.

## Signs exempt from permit in Woburn

- Building permit exemption: Identification signs not exceeding one (1) square foot attached to a residence or located in the front yard of a residence do not require a Building Permit.
- Government signs: Signs erected by or on the order of a governmental agency for governmental purposes (excluding any advertising) are permitted in all districts.
- Building identity plaques: Names of buildings, date of erection, monumental citations, and commemorative tablets made a permanent and integral part of a building, not to exceed ten (10) square feet.
- Government flags/banners: Banners or flags emblematic of or issued by national, state, or local governments.
- Residential occupant signs: For dwellings with no more than two families, one sign indicating the name and address of the occupant up to one (1) square foot; where a permitted accessory use or occupation exists, up to two (2) square feet.
- Clocks and thermometers displaying no information other than time and temperature.
- Warning/hazard/convenience signs up to two (2) square feet (e.g., 'no trespass', 'beware of dog', rest rooms).
- Institutional signs: For churches, schools, and other institutional uses, two signs per street frontage (one up to twenty (20) square feet and one up to ten (10) square feet); one per frontage may be free-standing and may be used for notices and announcements of services and events.
- On-premises directional signs to parking or building entrances: Up to four (4) square feet in area and up to four (4) feet high; may be in required yards but not closer than five (5) feet to streets or driveways.
- Customary signs on gasoline pumps indicating the name, type, and price of the gasoline.
- Temporary signs (subject to limits): (a) Temporary identification sign during the period from sign application submission to decision, conforming to applicable dimensional regulations; (b) Construction signs on-site during construction/alteration (aggregate not to exceed thirty-two (32) square feet), removed within forty-eight (48) hours after completion; (c) Real estate signs (one unlit sign; not exceeding twelve (12) square feet in residential and mixed use districts and thirty-two (32) square feet in business and industrial districts), removed within forty-eight (48) hours after sale/rental/lease; other sale/lease-related signs (excluding residential property) must be carry-away, not permanent, and in place no more than forty-eight (48) hours per week; (d) Event signs for civic, philanthropic, educational, or religious organizations up to thirty (30) square feet, limited to one per lot per street frontage, posted no earlier than fourteen (14) days before and removed within forty-eight (48) hours after the event; (e) Yard/garage sale signs up to five (5) square feet on private property, posted no earlier than fourteen (14) days before and removed within forty-eight (48) hours after the event; (f) Signs for charitable or public purposes that do not comply with the ordinance may be authorized by the Building Commissioner for up to thirty (30) days.
- Nonconforming signs: Signs erected prior to adoption of the ordinance may continue to be maintained if not enlarged, redesigned, or altered except to conform or by a finding under Section 7.3; this continuation terminates if the sign advertises products/activities no longer on the premises, is not repaired within thirty (30) days after notice, or in the specific temporary/nonconforming cases specified.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Building permit generally required: No sign shall be erected, constructed, or altered except in conformance with the ordinance and, except for residential identification signs ≤1 sq ft, without a Building Permit. Applications are filed with the Building Commissioner, who may require additional information on construction, installation, or location.
- Variance pathway: Persons seeking a variance from sign requirements may apply to the Board of Appeals under Section 11 (public hearing and decision per M.G.L. c.40A). Appeals of the Building Commissioner’s refusal to issue a sign permit may be filed with the Board of Appeals.
- B-D and B-N districts require Sign Review Board (SRB) approval: Except for temporary signs allowed by the ordinance, all signs in Downtown Business (B-D) and Business Neighborhood (B-N) districts require SRB review/approval before a Building Permit is issued.
- B-D/B-N application materials: Applicants must submit nine (9) copies including design (materials, lettering, lighting), scale drawings with maximum and proposed dimensions, building elevation, cross-section, site plan if applicable, and photographs of the existing building/site; the SRB reviews and acts within 28 days (failure to act is deemed favorable), after which Inspection Services issues the Building Permit.
- B-D/B-N appeals: SRB decisions may be appealed to the Planning Board, which holds a public hearing and issues a decision.
- Drive-up customer service facilities: All signs related to drive-up customer service facilities (including menu boards and canopy signs) require a Special Permit from the City Council; menu/canopy signs are reviewed for aesthetics and relation to overall signage and must meet specified standards.
- OP/IP/IG districts: Permits for secondary and cluster free-standing signs require written approval of the Chief of Police regarding traffic safety; separation and dimensional/location standards apply.
- B-I with Technology and Business Mixed Use Overlay: An additional free-standing identification sign per lot may be allowed; the Building Commissioner may approve the sign’s location notwithstanding standard setbacks.
- B-D/B-N process reference: For signs in B-D and B-N, the applicant must comply with Sections 13.7–13.12 sign application requirements; the Downtown and Business Neighborhood Sign Handbook may be used as a reference (not a substitute for the ordinance).

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

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