# Sign Regulations in Yarmouth Town, Massachusetts

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Yarmouth Town, Massachusetts (MA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/massachusetts/yarmouth-town
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/9083475#9083475)

## At a glance

Yarmouth Town, Massachusetts regulates 34 sign types across 6 zoning districts. Freestanding Sign (Singly Occupied/Co-branded Location)s in the B1, B2, B3, Village Center Overlay District (VCOD) zoning district are capped at 12 ft; max face or width 8 ft tall, 24 sq ft, and 8 ft wide, with a 6 ft from any property line setback (Sec. §303.5.4.1). Most commercial signs in Yarmouth Town require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (6 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 15 | 36 inches | Areas up to 200 sq ft: 3 sq ft; 200-500 sq ft: 2 signs max 6 sq ft combined; over 500 sq ft: 2 signs max 8 sq ft combined | — |
| B1, B2, B3, Village Center Overlay District (VCOD) | 13 | 12 ft | 72 sq in per machine | — |
| Residential Zoning Districts | 3 | — | 12 sq ft | — |
| Town-owned/operated Marina Facilities | 1 | — | 18 in x 36 in | — |
| Pools | 1 | — | — | — |
| Parking Spaces/Handicapped Parking | 1 | — | — | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 6 zones)

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Temporary Sign - Special Event (Temporary Outdoor Recreation) | — | Per Selectmen's Fundraising/Special Event Sign Policy | — | — | One per event | On town-owned land, with approval | — | §303.4.1.2 |
| Temporary Sign - Special Commercial (e.g., grand opening, sale) | — | 18 sq ft | — | — | One annually | Location must be approved by Building Commissioner | — | §303.4.1.3 |
| Real Estate Sign (On-premise, Temporary) | — | 6 sq ft | — | Setback not required except for safety | 1-2 (see restrictions) | — | — | §303.4.1.4 |
| Real Estate Sign (Off-premise Open House) | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | Max 2 per sale/lease property, 1 per lot | Private property with owner permission | — | §303.4.1.4.1 |
| Residential Construction Site Sign | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | One per trade/service, max 5 | On property where work is performed | — | §303.4.1.6 |
| Commercial Construction Site Sign | — | 32 sq ft | — | — | One | On property where work is performed | — | §303.4.1.7 |
| Sandwich Board/A-frame Sign (Mobile Food Vendors) | — | 6 sq ft | — | Not within 2 feet of traveled surface of any road | One | Cannot be in public road layout, must not impede traffic/visibility | — | §303.4.1.8 |
| Adopt-a-Landscape Sign | 36 inches | Areas up to 200 sq ft: 3 sq ft; 200-500 sq ft: 2 signs max 6 sq ft combined; over 500 sq ft: 2 signs max 8 sq ft combined | — | — | See area-based restrictions | Designated Adopt-a-Landscape area as approved by DPW | — | §303.4.2.5 |

### B1, B2, B3, Village Center Overlay District (VCOD)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Unlettered Sculpture | 12 ft | — | 8 ft | 30 ft from front property line | — | Min 30 ft back from front property line | — | §303.5.1 |
| On-premise Directional Sign | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | As needed | As needed to direct on-site traffic | — | §303.5.2 |
| Freestanding Sign (Singly Occupied/Co-branded Location) | 12 ft; max face or width 8 ft | 24 sq ft | 8 ft | 6 ft from any property line | One per lot | — | — | §303.5.4.1 |
| Freestanding Sign (Business Center, <3 tenants or <20,000 sq ft) | 12 ft; max face height/width: 8 ft | 24 sq ft | 8 ft | 6 ft from property line | One | — | — | §303.5.4.2 |
| Freestanding Sign (Business Center, 3+ tenants & ≥20,000 sq ft) | 12 ft; max face height/width: 8 ft | 48 sq ft or two 32 sq ft if >1000' frontage | 8 ft | 12 ft (one 48 sq ft sign); 50 ft sideline setback for dual signs | One (or two if >1000' frontage) | — | — | §303.5.4.2 |
| Attached Sign (Singly Occupied/Co-branded Business Location) | 2 ft | 60 sq ft per sign | — | 6 ft from any property line | 2 | Affixed to building wall. No extension above roof ridge or beyond roofline. | — | §303.5.5.1 - .5.5.2 |
| Attached Sign (Business Center) | 2 ft | 60 sq ft per sign | — | 6 ft from any property line | One per business (+one 4 sq ft secondary entrance sign if applicable) | — | — | §303.5.5.3 |
| Drive-Through Menu Board | 12 ft; max face/width 10 ft | 66 sq ft | 10 ft | — | One | Directed to drive-through traffic; screened from street view | — | §303.5.4.5 |

### Residential Zoning Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Attached/Commercial Signs (Preexisting nonconforming or special permit/variance) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | §303.7.1 |
| Subdivision Sign | — | 12 sq ft | — | — | — | May, with DPW approval, be in a road layout | — | §303.7.2 |
| Residential Decorative Sign | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | One per dwelling unit | At the residence | — | §303.7.3 |

## Prohibited signs in Yarmouth Town

- Pennants, balloons, aerially supported devices, electronic message centers (unless specifically stated otherwise), quills/feathers, or any other sign not specifically allowed, are prohibited in all districts.
- No sign shall move, contain any moving parts, or give the appearance of motion due to flashing or intermittent light, except portions of a sign which include electronic message centers as permitted.
- No sign shall contain colors which are fluorescent, luminescent, or 'day-glo' paints.
- Except as otherwise specified, no off-premises signs will be allowed.
- No sign shall be erected in such a way as to create a traffic hazard as determined by the Building Commissioner.
- No sign will be allowed to be attached to a utility pole, light pole, tree, vegetation, or other similar vertical surface, excepting roadway banners as allowed.
- No truck or other vehicle shall be used exclusively or primarily as a sign. All other vehicles bearing signs must be registered, insured, and inspected.
- Signs illuminated with exposed neon or gas filled tubes will not be allowed, except as otherwise provided.
- No illumination will be allowed that conflicts with the ability to readily see traffic lights or causes hazardous traffic safety conditions.
- No sign illumination will be allowed that casts direct light or glare on abutting or other neighboring premises.
- Except for seasonal decorative strings of lights between Nov 10 and Feb 28, no blinking lights will be allowed.
- No sign shall be erected nor maintained except as specifically allowed in this section.

## Signs exempt from permit in Yarmouth Town

- Temporary Real Estate signs, Political signs, Residential Construction site sign, Commercial Construction site sign, Roadway Banners, Menu and Directory Signs, Commercial Real Estate sign, signs indicating the name of the occupant of a dwelling, other Residential Decorative Signs, any sign erected by any governmental agency to promote traffic safety, and window signs (except as required by certain window sign sections) do not require a permit.
- No permit or fee is required for temporary real estate signs, open house signs (as specified), political signs (with owner permission), residential construction site signs, commercial construction site signs, menu and directory signs, commercial real estate signs, or certain window signs.
- Accessory signs, Public Service signs, On-premises Directional signs, and temporary and off-premises signs for religious, civic and nonprofit organizations or for Special Event Signs for Temporary Outdoor Recreation do not require a fee.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- No sign, except those indicated in the exemptions section, will be erected or altered without a sign permit issued by the Building Commissioner.
- A permit is required for all signs unless they are specifically listed as not requiring a permit.
- Permits are required for temporary as well as permanent signs, unless specifically exempt.
- Relief from certain requirements may be granted by the Board of Appeals by special permit. All other relief shall be in the form of a variance, as provided in section 102.2.2.
- Business centers: All freestanding business center signs must conform to each other, and this may imply a need to coordinate designs (potentially through a sign plan, though not explicitly named as such).

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

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