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ARTICLE 8 - SIGN AND BILLBOARD REGULATIONS8.1 Purpose
This section of this bylaw is adopted for the regulation and restriction of signs within the Town of Ayer in order to prevent or minimize damage to the environment, to protect and enhance the visual environment of this town and the safety, convenience and welfare of its residents. This section of this by-law is adopted as a Zoning by-law pursuant to Chapter 40A of the General laws. This section of this by-law is hereby declared to be remedial and protective, and is to be so construed and interpreted as to secure the beneficial interests and purposes thereof.
8.2 Administration and Enforcement
8.2.1 Enforcement
a. The Building Inspector is hereby authorized to enforce this by-law for any
sign erected before and after the adoption of this bylaw. The Building
Inspector is authorized to order the repair or removal of any sign and its supporting structure which in his judgment is dangerous, or in disrepair or which is erected or maintained contrary to this by-law.
b. Immediate removal may be ordered by the Building Inspector of any sign requiring a permit which has been erected without first obtaining such permit.
8.2.2 Permits
a. Except as provided below a sign permit from the Building Inspector shall be required for the erection, construction or alteration of a sign. The application for a permit shall be submitted in such a form as the Building Inspector may prescribe and shall include a drawing to scale and other such information as may be required for a complete understanding of the proposed work. The application shall be accompanied by the written consent of the owner or lessee of the premises upon which the sign is to be erected. In reviewing applications submitted to him, the Building Inspector shall apply the following standards in acting upon each permit, unless otherwise specifically provided:
c. No permit shall be required for a sign in a residential district erected in accordance with the provisions of this by-law.
d. Accessory signs legally erected before the adoption of this by-law which do not conform to the provisions of this by-law may continue to be maintained subject to compliance with the requirements for a permit in effect as of the adoption of this by-law, provided, however, that no such sign shall be permitted if, after the adoption of this bylaw, it is enlarged or altered in any substantial way, except to conform to the requirements of this by-law.
e. Any sign legally erected before the adoption of this by-law which after that date: advertises, calls attention to or identifies products, persons or activities which are no longer sold, located, or carried on at the premises must be removed within 60 days after notice by the Building Inspector; and any such sign predating this by-law which has not been repaired or properly maintained, must within 60 days after notice to that effect has been given by the Building Inspector, be brought into compliance with the requirements of the by-law or removed.
f. A sign permit shall become null and void if the work for which the permit was issued has not been completed within a six month period.
- Permits shall not be required for window signs.
8.2.3 Fees
a. All fees shall be paid to the Town and collected by the Building Inspector.
b. After the adoption of this by-law the sign permit fee shall be set by the
Building Inspector.
8.3 Sign Types.
Definitions for sign types are found in the Bylaw definitions section, Article 2 on page 7.
All Residential Districts
All Business and Industrial Districts PERMANENT SIGNS:
Canopy
Y
Y Free standing
Y
Y Marquee
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Y Projecting
Y
Y Roof
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- Wall
Y
Y
TEMPORARY SIGNS:
Banner
Y
Y Freestanding
Y
Y Movable
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DB: Y All other districts: - Wall
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Y Y = Permitted - = Prohibited DB = Downtown Business
8.4 Permitted Sign Uses
8.4.1 Permanent Signs
Y = Permitted N= Not Permitted
1
1
1
1
(Not including home occupations)
Permanent Signs Residential Identification Sign
All Residential Districts
Downtown Business
General Business
Industrial Districts
Y Y Y Y Regulation Sign Use per District
For Buildings with One to Four-Family Dwelling Units:
Maximum
Size1 sq. ft
1 sq. ft 1 sq. ft 1 sq. ft Maximum
Height12 ft.
12 ft. 12 ft. 12 ft. Number per Dwelling Unit
For Buildings with Five or More Family Dwelling Units:
Maximum
Size10 sq. ft.
10 sq. ft. 10 sq. ft. 10 sq. ft. Maximum
Height6 ft.
6 ft. 6 ft. 6 ft. Number per Development
1
1 1 1 Additional Condition
Free-standing sign only Free-standing sign only Free-standing sign only Free-standing sign only Home Occupation Sign
Y Y Y Y Regulation Sign Use per District
Maximum Size 2 sq. ft
2 sq. ft 2 sq. ft 2 sq. ft Maximum Height
4 ft.
4 ft. 4 ft. 4 ft. Number per Dwelling Unit
1
1 1 1 Residential Accessory Use Sign
Y Y Y Y Regulation Sign Use per District
Maximum Size 2 sq. ft
2 sq. ft 2 sq. ft 2 sq. ft Maximum Height
4 ft.
4 ft. 4 ft. 4 ft. Number per Dwelling Unit
1
1 1 1 Community Facility Sign
Y Y Y Y Regulation Sign Use per District
Maximum Size 10 sq. ft
10 sq. ft 10 sq. ft 10 sq. ft Maximum Height
6 ft.
6 ft. 6 ft. 6 ft. Number per Dwelling Unit
1
1 1 1 Agricultural Identification Sign
Y Y Y Y Regulation Sign Use per District
Maximum Size 10 sq. ft
10 sq. ft 10 sq. ft 10 sq. ft Maximum Height
6 ft.
6 ft. 6 ft. 6 ft. Number per Dwelling Unit
1
1 1 1
Political Sign
All Residential Districts Downtown Business General Business Industrial Districts
Y Y Y Y Regulation Sign Use per District
Maximum Size 6 sq. ft
6 sq. ft 6 sq. ft 6 sq. ft Maximum Height
6 ft.
6 ft. 6 ft. 6 ft. Number per Dwelling Unit
No limit
No limit No limit No limit Signs for Nonconforming Uses
Y Y Y Y Regulation Sign Use per District
Signs for Nonconforming Uses must conform to the sign standards for the permitted sign use of the conforming sign use Business Sign for Commercial, Retail or Service Use
N Y Y Y Regulation Sign Use per District
Maximum Size --
40 sq. ft 40 sq. ft 40 sq. ft Maximum Height
--
5 ft. 5 ft. 5 ft. Max. Ht. for Freestanding sign
--
10 ft. 15 ft. 15 ft. Max. Ht. for Other Sign Types
--
15 ft. 15 ft. 15 ft. Minimum Setback from Lot Line
--
None 10 ft. 10 ft. Number Per Single Use Building
--
2 2 2 Number Per Multi-Use Building
Per Business Use --
1 1 1 Per Development
--
1 1 1 Business Sign for Wholesale, Transportation or Industrial Use
N N N Y Regulation Sign Use per District
Maximum Size
--
-- -- 75 sq. ft Max. Ht. for Freestanding sign
--
-- -- 15 ft. Max. Ht. for Other Sign Types
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-- -- 20 ft. Minimum Setback from Lot Line
--
-- -- 25 ft. Number Per Single Use Building
--
-- -- 2 Number Per Multi-Use Building
Per Business Use --
-- -- 1 Per Development
--
-- -- 1 Traffic or Directional Signs of Government Body
Y Y Y Y Incidental Signs
N N N N
8.4.2 Temporary Signs
Architect, Engineer, or Contractor Sign
Y = Permitted N= Not Permitted
Temporary Use Signs For Sale, Rent or Lease Sign
All Residential Districts
Downtown Business
General Business
Industrial Districts
Y Y Y Y Regulation Sign Use per District
Maximum Size 4 sq. ft
4 sq. ft 4 sq. ft 4 sq. ft Maximum Height
6 ft.
6 ft. 6 ft. 6 ft. Number per Dwelling Unit
1
1 1 1
Y Y Y Y Regulation Sign Use per District
Maximum Size 4 sq. ft.
4 sq. ft 4 sq. ft 4 sq. ft Maximum Height
6 ft.
6 ft. 6 ft. 6 ft. Maximum Number Per Lot
1
1 1 1 Minimum Setback from Lot Line
10 ft.
10 ft 10 ft. 10 ft. Per Subdivision
Maximum Number
1
N/A N/A N/A Minimum
Setback from Lot Line10 ft.
N/A N/A N/A Special Event Sign
Y Y Y Y Regulation Sign Use per District
Additional Condition: Sign must be removed by 72 hours upon completion of the Special Event.
8.5 Prohibited Signs
No person may erect a sign which:
8.6 Variance.
An application for variance may be filed with the Board of Appeals as allowed in the Town of Ayer By-laws.
Each sign shall be maintained in a secure and safe condition. If the Building Inspector is of the opinion that a sign is not secure, safe or in good state of repair, he shall give written notice of this fact to the person responsible for the maintenance of the sign. If the defect in the sign is not corrected within the time permitted by the Building Inspector, the Building Inspector may revoke the permit to maintain the sign.
8.8 Nonconforming Signs.
Any sign or other advertising (billboard) devices heretofore legally erected may continue to be maintained, provided, however, that no such sign or other advertising device shall be permitted if it is enlarged.
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