# Sign Regulations in Wrentham Town, Massachusetts

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Wrentham Town, Massachusetts (MA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/massachusetts/wrentham-town
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/35948357#35948357)

## At a glance

Wrentham Town, Massachusetts regulates 34 sign types across 3 zoning districts. Freestanding Sign (Single Business, B-1/VZA)s in the Business Districts (B-1, B-2), Commercial Districts (C-1, C-2), Route 1 Districts (C-1N, C-1S), Village Zone Districts (VZA, VZB) zoning district are capped at 10 sq ft, with a 20 ft from any lot line setback (Sec. §390-18.5C). Most commercial signs in Wrentham Town require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (3 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Residential Districts (R-30, R-43, R-87) | 13 | — | 14 sq ft | — |
| Business Districts (B-1, B-2), Commercial Districts (C-1, C-2), Route 1 Districts (C-1N, C-1S), Village Zone Districts (VZA, VZB) | 13 | — | 40 sq ft | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 9 | — | 32 sq ft (total surface area) | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements

### Residential Districts (R-30, R-43, R-87)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Name/Address Sign - Option 1 | — | 2 sq ft per side | — | — | 1 | On the lot | — | §390-18.4A(1) |
| Name/Address Sign - Option 2 | — | 2 sq ft per sign | — | — | 2 | On either side of an entrance drive, on the lot | — | §390-18.4A(2) |
| Quarterboard Sign (Residential Use) | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | 1 | Attached to a building or fence | — | §390-18.4A(3) |
| Double-Faced Sign (Other Lawful Uses) | — | 6 sq ft per side | — | — | 1 | On the lot | — | §390-18.4B(1) |
| Quarterboard/Other Wall Sign (Other Lawful Uses) | — | 12 sq ft | — | — | 1 | Attached to a building | — | §390-18.4B(2) |
| Accessory Use Sign (Home Occupation or B&B) | — | 8 sq ft | — | — | 1 | On the lot | — | §390-18.4C |
| Antique/Secondhand/Junk Dealer Sign | — | 8 sq ft | — | — | 1 | On the lot | — | §390-18.4D |
| Freestanding Sign (Town-owned Facility/Nonprofit) | — | 14 sq ft | — | — | 1 | On the lot | — | §390-18.4E |

### Business Districts (B-1, B-2), Commercial Districts (C-1, C-2), Route 1 Districts (C-1N, C-1S), Village Zone Districts (VZA, VZB)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Business Sign - General (Freestanding & One Additional Sign) | — | — | — | 20 ft from any lot line | 2 (plus 1 additional for multiple frontages per above requirements) | — | — | §390-18.5B |
| Freestanding Sign (Single Business, B-1/VZA) | — | 10 sq ft | — | 20 ft from any lot line | 1 | — | — | §390-18.5C |
| Wall/Projecting/Roof/Awning Sign (Single Business, B-1/VZA) | — | 8 sq ft (or 18 sq ft if no freestanding sign used) | — | — | 1 | — | — | §390-18.5C |
| Freestanding Sign (Single Business, C-1, C-1N, C-1S, VZB) | — | 15 sq ft | — | 20 ft from any lot line | 1 | — | — | §390-18.5C |
| Wall/Projecting/Roof/Awning Sign (Single Business, C-1, C-1N, C-1S, VZB) | — | 12 sq ft (or 27 sq ft if no freestanding sign used) | — | — | 1 | — | — | §390-18.5C |
| Freestanding Sign (Row Commercial/Planned Business, Up to 160 ft Frontage) | — | 20 sq ft | — | 20 ft from any lot line | 1 | For the complex | — | §390-18.5D(1) |
| Freestanding Sign (Row Commercial/Planned Business, Over 160 ft Frontage) | — | 40 sq ft | — | 20 ft from any lot line | 1 | For the complex | — | §390-18.5D(1), Table 18.5D(1) |
| Freestanding Sign (Row Commercial/Planned Business, 320+ ft Frontage) | — | 40 sq ft per sign | — | 20 ft from any lot line | 2 | For the complex | — | §390-18.5D(1)(b) |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Changeable-Copy Sign | — | 8 sq ft | — | — | 1 per permit | On- or off-premises | — | §390-18.8A |
| Accessory Sign | — | 7 sq ft total (no single sign > 6 sq ft) | — | — | — | On premises only | — | §390-18.8B |
| Directional/Informational/Safety Sign | — | 1 sq ft (up to 4 per site) | — | — | Max 4 (exceptions possible) | On or off premises | — | §390-18.8C |
| Inflatable Sign | — | 32 sq ft (total surface area) | — | — | 1 per permit | On premises only | — | §390-18.8D |
| Temporary Sign - Construction/Real Estate | — | 5 sq ft (residential lots); 136 sq ft (commercial/business, only if >150 ft from public way) | — | — | 1 per street frontage | On site | — | §390-18.8E(1)-(1)(c) |
| Subdivision Lot Plan Sign | — | 12 sq ft | — | — | 1 subdivision plan sign; 1 lot number sign per lot | Within subdivision | — | §390-18.8F(1) |
| Door/Window Sign | — | 25% of glass area on which the signs appear | — | — | — | Inside of door or window, facing exterior | — | §390-18.8F(2) |
| Special Event Sign (Nonresidential Districts) | — | 12 sq ft | — | — | — | In nonresidential districts | — | §390-18.8F(3) |

## Prohibited signs in Wrentham Town

- Animated and/or flashing signs or signs with beacons attached are prohibited.
- No sign shall be in excess of 15 feet in height.
- No sign shall be constructed in a manner that obstructs public passage.
- Banners or flags to call attention to a business or activity are prohibited, unless determined to be an accessory sign by the Sign Inspector.
- Advertising on mailboxes is not permitted.
- No illumination of a sign shall interfere with an abutter's use of his property.
- Light bulbs or tubes shall not be visible to the motoring public from a public way.
- Signs exceeding height, size, or placement requirements are prohibited.
- No awning, shade, shade-frame, canopy, sign, or sign-board may be less than seven feet from the ground in the lowest part, nor extend beyond the line of the sidewalk.

## Signs exempt from permit in Wrentham Town

- Government signs (temporary or permanent) erected and maintained by a governmental agency are exempt.
- Public safety, informational, street and highway signs by Town boards and commissions (as specified), where possible, shall be in spirit and harmony with these regulations (No permit required).
- Noncommercial message signs are permitted in all districts (No permit required for some, per §390-18.3A).
- Residential use signs per §390-18.4A (No permit required).
- Signs denoting the name of a way as described in §390-18.4G (No permit required).
- Certain temporary signs: construction signs and real estate signs (No permit required).
- Directional, warning, informational or safety signs necessary for safety and convenience, in all areas, do not require a permit (§390-18.8C).
- Door and window signs, as long as total area does not exceed 25% of glass area (No permit required).
- Mailboxes with numerals and/or letters of the specified size are exempt.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Wherever site plan approval is required, it will include review and approval of all proposed signs, including location, type, size, use, and illumination.
- In Business and Commercial Zones, the Planning Board may vary or waive certain sign provisions during the granting of site plan approval, provided the intent of the ordinance is maintained.
- Site plan approval is specifically listed as a trigger for sign review in the residential, business, and commercial sections.
- Subdivision lot plan signs in subdivisions of eight or more lots require site plan approval for review and approval of sign; location, type, size, use, and illumination.
- As part of any site plan approval application for a project in a Business or Commercial Zone, the Planning Board has authority to waive strict compliance with Article XVIII, except for off-premises signs in Residential Districts.

## Full detail

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

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