INTERNALLY ILLUMINATED SIGN — A sign whose light source is located in the interior of the sign so that the light becomes visible by shining through a translucent surface, but not including changing-image signs. The luminance of sign elements shall not exceed 2,000 nits during daytime operation nor 200 nits during nighttime operation. Internally illuminated signs on the premises shall collectively total no more than 15,000 lumens.

EXTERNALLY ILLUMINATED SIGN — A sign that is illuminated from an external source such as a floodlight directed toward or across or by backlighting from a source not within the sign. The luminance of sign elements shall not exceed 200 nits during nighttime operation. The correlated color temperature of the illumination source shall not exceed 3,000K, except that an illumination source with a CCT not exceeding 4,000K may be granted by special permit.

NEON SIGN — An illuminated sign containing neon, argon or any other similar gas to illuminate transparent or translucent tubing or other materials to create a colored light.

BULLETIN-BOARD SIGN — A freestanding, wall or window sign with letters, words or numerals that are manually moveable, indicating the names of persons associated with, or events conducted upon, or products or services offered upon the premises upon which such sign is maintained. Such sign is permitted in all zoning districts as applicable.

ELECTRONIC MESSAGE/IMAGE BOARD — A sign or portion thereof using digital, electronic or other methods to create characters, letters, illustrations or images that can be changed, altered or rearranged without altering the face or the surface of the sign. Such signs shall not be changed, altered or rearranged more than once per day. A digital display of time, temperature, or fuel prices shall not be considered a changing message/image sign. The luminance of sign elements shall not exceed 2,000 nits during daytime operation nor 200 nits during nighttime operation.

TEMPORARY SIGN — A sign which is not permanently affixed to a building or mounted in the ground, or placed on the ground, which is designed to be movable and/or portable. Temporary signs may include small ground signs such as A-frame, H-frame, T-frame (also known as sandwich signs), small wall signs (also known as banner signs) and special signs. Portable temporary signs shall not include trailers or motorized vehicles. Such a sign shall not be lit, erected on a sidewalk, walkway or driveway, or within five feet from the sideline of a street or right-of-way customarily used by the general public. Such signs shall not block vision of vehicles entering or exiting driveways, and the Building Commissioner has the discretion to request portable signs be moved when there is a safety issue.

SPECIAL SIGN — A temporary sign used for advertising, identification or promotion such as an opening, reopening, under new management, sale or service, product, commodity, entertainment or activity. Such sign is not intended to advertise a continuing or regularly reoccurring operation.

Allowable sign area may be divided between two signs, each sign to be attached to a different wall of the building, and the total allowable sign area shall not exceed an area equivalent to 20% of the front wall area of said building or 80 square feet, whichever is smaller.

In the case of buildings with multiple occupants, each occupant is allowed one sign, with the above total allowable sign area divided among them in proportion to their share of total floor area.

No attached sign shall extend above the wall to which it is attached. No sign shall be attached to a roof, real or simulated.

A building located at an intersection fronting on two public ways may divide the allowable sign area between two signs, each sign to be attached to a different wall of the building, and the total allowable sign area shall not exceed an area equivalent to 20% of the front wall area of said building or 80 square feet, whichever is smaller.

One freestanding sign located within the front yard area of the lot and not exceeding 5% of the front wall of the building or 40 square feet, whichever is smaller, provided that the building has a minimum setback of 30 feet and the sign is so located as to be set back 15 feet from the street line and 20 feet from any side lot line. On special permit from the Board of Appeals the allowable sign area may be increased to 60 square feet.

Directory signs. A freestanding directory sign, representing multi-tenants, must have uniformity of size and color, and the overall sign must meet the criteria for freestanding signs.

Such signs shall not exceed five square feet in area or cover more than 20% of the window in which they are situated, whichever is less, and shall only be allowed in ground-floor windows.

Such signs shall be equipped with a timer which shall permit illumination no longer than 30 minutes before opening or after closing of the business.

Such signs shall not flash or blink or use lights changing in intensity.

Such signs illuminated by a neon source shall be composed of primarily single-strand glass tubing with a maximum outside diameter of one inch.

Such signs within three feet of a window shall be considered to be a window sign for purposes of these standards.

Such signs shall not have a lit background.

Any luminaire with a lamp or lamps rated at a total of more than 2,000 lumens, and all flood or spot luminaires with a lamp or lamps rated at a total of more than 1,000 lumens, shall be of a full cutoff design, with the lamp or lamps surrounded and shielded such that no direct light is emitted above a horizontal plane through the lowest part of the luminaire emitting direct light. If any spot or flood luminaire rated 1,000 lumens or less is directed or focused such as to cause direct light from the luminaire to be cast toward residential buildings on adjacent or nearby land, or to create glare perceptible to persons operating motor vehicles on public ways, the luminaire shall be redirected or its light output controlled as necessary to eliminate such conditions.

Illuminated signs, parking lot lighting, building floodlighting or other exterior lighting shall be so designed and arranged that their collective result does not create so much light overspill onto adjacent premises that it casts observable shadows and so that it does not create glare from unshielded light sources.

Luminaires used primarily for sign illumination may be mounted at any height to a maximum of 25 feet, regardless of lumen rating.

The maximum height of the luminaire shall not exceed 25 feet. A maximum luminaire height of 35 feet may be allowed by special permit from the Planning Board upon a finding that the increase in luminaire height will not negatively impact abutting properties, particularly property used or zoned for residential purposes.

Internally illuminated signs on the premises shall collectively total no more than 15,000 lumens.

No sign or building in any residential district or within 300 feet of any residential district if within sight from it shall be illuminated between the hours of 11:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. unless indicating an establishment open to the public during those hours.

Luminaires intended solely to illuminate any freestanding sign or the walls, roof or any other architectural feature of any building shall be shielded so that its direct light is confined to the surface of such sign or building, and its lumen output shall be such that the average illumination on the ground or on any vertical surface is not greater than 0.5 footcandle or five lux.

No flashing, moving, color (white only) or revolving lights shall be maintained.

All temporary emergency lighting needed by the Police or Fire Departments or other emergency services, as well as all vehicular luminaires, shall be exempt from the requirements of this article.

All hazard-warning luminaires required by federal regulatory agencies are exempt from the requirements of this article, except that all luminaires used shall be red and shall be shown to be as close as possible to the federally required minimum lumen output requirement for the specific task.

Luminaires used to illuminate nighttime sporting events shall not exceed 35 feet. A greater luminaire height may be allowed by special permit from the Planning Board upon a finding that the increase in luminaire height will not negatively impact abutting properties, particularly property used or zoned for residential purposes. Such luminaires shall not be illuminated after 11:00 p.m.

Plans indicating the location on the premises of each illuminating device, both existing and proposed.

Description of all illuminating devices, fixtures, lamps, supports, reflectors, both existing and proposed. The description may include, but is not limited to, catalog cuts and illustrations by manufacturers (including sections where required).

Photometric data, such as that furnished by manufacturers, or similar showing the angle of cut off of light emissions.

Political signs. Temporary, freestanding political signs, not exceeding in aggregate 24 square feet in area, which are designed to influence the action of voters for the passage or defeat of a referendum question or other measure appearing on the ballot of an election duly called in the Town of Chelmsford or designed to influence the action of voters for election of a candidate whose name appears on the ballot of an election duly called in the Town of Chelmsford are allowed in all districts. It is the Town's preference that such signs be erected no sooner than 21 days prior to the date of election and be removed not later than 14 days after such election. Signs permitted by this subsection shall not be higher than three feet above ground level; shall not be artificially illuminated; shall be freestanding and not attached to a building, tree, utility pole or fence; shall be set back at least 15 feet from the street line; and shall only be located within the front or side yard area of the property. These signs require no sign permit.

Construction signs. Temporary, freestanding signs may be erected on the premises to identify any building under construction and its owner, architect, builder or other associated with it, provided that such sign shall not exceed 60 square feet in area and shall not be erected to interfere with sight lines along the public way. Such sign shall be removed within seven days of the issuance of an occupancy permit. These signs require no sign permit if they are not more than 12 square feet in area and are removed within 30 days of erection.

Real estate signs. A temporary freestanding sign or signs attached to the front wall of the building and pertaining to the sale, rental or lease of the premises are allowed in all districts. Such sign shall be removed within seven days of the sale, rental or lease of said premises. These signs require no sign permit if the erecting agent has obtained a one-year permit from the Inspector of Buildings for erecting such signs. Signs advertising an open house shall be situated only on the property which is for sale and/or at nearby intersections to guide potential buyers to that location and only during the hours of the open house.

Yard sale signs. A sign advertising a yard sale shall not exceed two square feet in area, shall not be erected more than 72 hours before the sale and shall be removed immediately thereafter. No permit is required for a yard sale sign.

Special signs. Any use may erect one special sign as follows:

Sign registration for special signs. The following procedures and standards apply:

Nonmunicipal signs on Town property and within or over Town-owned rights-of-way. Signs related to community based events, sponsored by public, charitable, religious or agricultural organizations and/or businesses and the like, may erect signs as follows:

Any increase above the basic maxima for the size and number of signs should be justifiable because of multiple frontages, development scale or other special needs and should be appropriate in relation to street width, signage on nearby structures and speed of vehicular travel.

Sign content normally should not occupy more than 40% of the sign background, whether a signboard or a building element.

Signs should be simple, neat and avoid distracting elements so that contents can be quickly and easily read.

Signs should be sized and located so as not to interrupt, obscure or hide the continuity of columns, cornices, roof eaves, sill lines or other elements of building structure and, where possible, should reflect and emphasize building structural form.

Sign materials, form, colors and lettering shall be reflective of the character of the building to which the sign relates.

Clutter should be avoided by not using support brackets extending above the sign or guy wires and turnbuckles.

Signs should not display brand names, symbols or slogans of nationally distributed products except in cases where the majority of the floor or lot area on the premises is devoted to manufacturing, sale or other processing of that specific product.

Premises chiefly identified by a product brand name (such as a gasoline or auto brand) should devote some part of their permitted sign area to also displaying the identity of the local outlet.

Signs should not contain selling slogans, product descriptions, help wanted notices or other advertising that is not an integral part of the name or other identification of the location or the enterprise.