Longmeadow City Zoning Code
ARTICLE IX
Sign Regulations
§ 315-57 Purpose.
The purpose of this article is:
A.
To encourage signs which, by location and design, are harmonious to the buildings and sites on which they are placed and to adjacent buildings and sites;
B.
To promote effective visual identification of businesses and residences;
C.
To prevent hazards to vehicular and pedestrian traffic; and
D.
To preserve the physical character and visual quality of the community.
§ 315-58 Applicability.
The provisions of this article shall apply to the construction, erection, alteration, use, location, placement, replacement, relocation and maintenance of all signs affixed to the interior or exterior of any building or freestanding for the explicit purpose of being visible from any public way or adjacent property. All signs shall be placed in accordance with the provisions of this article and Chapter 242, Signs, Billboards and Other Advertising Devices, of the Town of Longmeadow General Bylaws. Any more specific provision of the General Bylaws shall take precedence over the terms of this article.
§ 315-59 Definitions.
As used in this article, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
Any sign, wording, logo, insignia, slogan or other representation that, directly or indirectly, names, advertises or calls attention to a business, product, service or other commercial activity.
A "sign" shall mean any object, device, or structure which is placed outdoors, or which is visible from outdoors, which is used to advertise, identify, display, direct or attract attention to an object, person, institution, organization, business, product, commercial activity, service, event, or location by any means, including words, letters, figures, designs, symbol fixtures, colors, illumination or projected images. A sign shall include billboards, bulletin boards, pennants, insignias, ribbons, streamers, moving devices, strings of lights, awnings, marquees, canopies, blimps, balloons and similar devices. It shall include any supporting structure or bracing.
The area of a sign shall be considered to include all lettering, wording, and accompanying designs and symbols, together with the background on which they are displayed, any frame around the sign and any cutouts or extensions, but shall not include any supporting structure or bracing.
The area of a sign consisting of individual letters or symbols attached to or painted on a surface, building, wall or window shall be considered to be that of the smallest quadrangle or triangle which encompasses all of the letters and symbols.
The area of a sign consisting of a three-dimensional object shall be considered to be the area of the largest vertical cross-section of that object.
The surface area of a sign shall be calculated by multiplying the largest width in any direction times the largest height. Except where specifically provided for, supporting structures shall not be included in the calculation of sign surface area so long as the supporting structures or bracing is incidental to the display.
A sign painted on or attached to a roof-like cover that projects from the exterior wall of a building for the purpose of shielding a doorway or window from the elements. For the purpose of this article, an awning shall be regulated as a facade sign.
A sign that extends perpendicularly from the facade of a building over a sidewalk, walkway or other pedestrianway.
A "bulletin board" shall mean any display or structure which is placed outdoors or which is visible from outdoors, which is used to provide notice to the public of activities, events and hours of operation and which is not essential for safety or normal operation of the organization or facility at which the bulletin board is located.
An on-premises sign giving instructions or facility information, which may include the name or logo of an establishment, but no advertising.
A sign that is attached to the exterior wall of a building below the roofline.
A self-supporting sign not attached to any building, wall, or fence, but in a fixed location. This does not include portable or trailer-type signs.
A sign made of durable materials where the entire bottom of the sign is affixed to the ground that is not internally illuminated and does not have variable/digital message boards.
Any sign which advertises or identifies any business product or service which is not located on the same premises on which the sign is erected or maintained, or which advertises the sale or rent of different premises.
A sign which is affixed to a building, tree, or other structure and which extends more than six inches beyond the surface to which it is affixed.
Any sign that has the intent to protect one's residential property, such as, but not limited to, signs that specify no trespassing; beware of dog; keep out.
[Amended 11-30-2004 STM by Art. 17, approved 8-11-2005]
A sign which is located above, or projected above, the lowest point of the eaves or the top of the parapet wall of any building, or which is painted on or fastened to a roof.
A sign designed to promote the sale of private goods in conjunction with a tag sale for which a valid permit has been issued by the Town of Longmeadow.
Any sign, including its support structure, intended to be maintained for a continuous period of not more than 30 days in any calendar year.
Any sign which is painted on, incorporated into, or affixed parallel to the wall of a building, and which extends not more than six inches from the surface of that building.
A sign affixed to the surface of a window (inside or outside) constructed with translucent material (e.g. etching or clear vinyl) so as to attract attention from the outside. Windows are not considered to be primary signs.
§ 315-60 General regulations.
A.
Permitted signs. Only signs which are accessory to uses permitted by right or by special permit are permitted, provided such signs conform to the provisions of this article.
B.
Prohibited signs.
(1)
Billboards or nonaccessory signs are not permitted.
(2)
Signs with moving parts, or signs designed to appear to have moving parts or containing reflective elements which sparkle or twinkle are not permitted.
(3)
Any sign advertising or identifying a business or organization which is either defunct or no longer located on the premises is not permitted.
(4)
In no case shall any sign exceed 40 square feet, and all signs shall conform to the size standards in § 315-65.
(5)
A trailer or vehicle which has a sign or signs placed thereon, which is so situated, parked or used as to appear that its purpose is to display a commercial message is not permitted. Exceptions to this include only vehicles performing a delivery function or providing a service.
(6)
Flags, buntings, banners, blimps and/or balloons which have as their primary purpose a commercial message are not permitted.
§ 315-61 General standards.
Any exterior sign or advertising device hereafter erected or maintained shall conform to the following restrictions in all districts, unless otherwise expressly provided:
A.
Any traffic, informational, warning or directional sign owned and installed by a governmental agency shall be permitted.
B.
The limitations as to the number of signs permitted does not apply to traffic, warning or directional signs which are necessary for the safety and direction of residents, employees, customers and visitors, whether in a vehicle or on foot, of any business, industry or residence. Such signs shall not contain a commercial message.
C.
No private sign shall be placed on a public property, except as provided for in Chapter 242, Signs, Billboards and Other Advertising Devices, of the Town of Longmeadow General Bylaws.
D.
Signs necessary to warn of a hazard or to post land shall be permitted as required by law.
E.
Signs should be neat and uncluttered and letters should be carefully formed and properly spaced.
F.
Sign materials should be durable and easy to maintain.
§ 315-62 Placement standards; sign height.
A.
Signs shall not be mounted on roofs or extend above the roofline.
B.
No freestanding sign, together with its supporting framework, shall extend above the maximum building height allowed in the district. Movable signs shall not extend more than six feet above ground level.
C.
All signs shall be maintained in good structural condition at all times. All signs, including support structures thereof, shall be neatly painted.
D.
No sign shall be placed so as to obstruct the movement or view of vehicular or pedestrian traffic or to interfere with public safety.
E.
Any sign that the Building Commissioner, Police Chief or Fire Chief deems a threat to public safety shall be removed immediately at the expense of the owner.
§ 315-63 Illumination standards.
A.
No sign shall incorporate, or be lighted by, flashing or blinking lights, or be designed to attract attention by a change in intensity or by repeated motion. Electronic devices using changeable lights to convey time, temperature shall be exempt from this prohibition.
B.
Any illumination provided for signs shall be a steady white light only.
C.
Signs shall be illuminated in such a way as to prevent glare or direct light shining onto a public way, adjacent property or interfering with pedestrian or vehicular traffic.
D.
No commercial sign shall be illuminated between the hours of 11:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. unless the premises on which it is located is open for business.
E.
No sign shall be illuminated by exposed gas-filled tubes (generally referred to as "neon").
§ 315-64 Additional standards for specific types of signs.
A.
Awning signs. Awning signs shall be painted on or attached flat against the surface of the awning, but not extend beyond the valance.
B.
Construction signs. One unlighted sign of an architect, engineer, or contractor erected during the period such person is performing work on the premises or no longer than 14 days (whichever is less). Such sign shall be permitted, provided that it shall not exceed four square feet in surface area.
[Amended 11-30-2004 STM by approved 8-11-2005]
C.
For sale, rent, or lease signs. Any temporary sign advertising property for sale or lease shall be permitted, provided that:
D.
Directory signs. A directory sign may be used to list several occupants of the same building or building complex or development, subject to the following restrictions:
(1)
The sign shall be of an integrated and uniform design.
(2)
The allowable sign area shall be computed at 10% of the building front face square footage (FFSF), as computed by the length times the width of the building facade, to achieve the base square footage, or 40 square feet, whichever is smaller.
E.
Commercial event signs. Temporary signs relating to an event of a commercial nature that is expected to occur within a reasonably short or definite period may be erected on premises on which the event is to occur, provided that:
F.
Window signs are limited in aggregate to 25% of total window area. Window signs must identify the name of the business or specify the products and/or services offered therein; they cannot be generic (i.e. "open," "Sale").
§ 315-65 Districts and special regulations.
A.
Signs in residential districts.
(1)
No permanent sign shall be permitted except as provided below.
(2)
Any permanent sign erected in the residential district shall not exceed four square feet except where specifically provided.
(3)
One sign per lot relating to an allowed accessory use shall be permitted, provided said sign shall not exceed two square feet in area.
(4)
Signs designating historical places or points of interest, erected by governmental authority or by a duly chartered historical association or the like are permitted, not to exceed four square feet in area.
(5)
Signs relating to residential property protection or hunting shall not exceed two square feet in area. The number of signs shall not exceed two signs within sight from any given point.
[Amended 11-30-2004 STM by Art. 16, approved 8-11-2005]
(6)
One professional nameplate for each medical doctor or dental practitioner, provided such sign shall not exceed one square foot in surface area.
(7)
One identification or address sign for each dwelling unit, provided such sign shall not exceed one square foot in surface area; if lighted, it shall be illuminated with white light by indirect method only, and it shall not be used other than for identifying the occupants.
(8)
One identification sign for each membership club, community facility or public utility, provided the sign shall not exceed 10 square feet in surface area, and if lighted, it shall be illuminated with white light by indirect method only.
(9)
One unlighted temporary sign relating to a new residential subdivision during the actual period of construction, provided it shall not exceed 20 square feet in surface area and it shall be set back at least 10 feet from any street line.
(10)
Except for professional and residential nameplates, any other sign in a residential district shall be set back at least 1/2 of the required depth of the front yard.
B.
Signs in nonresidential districts.
(1)
Each establishment shall not display more than one permanent exterior sign (to be considered the primary sign), which may include one of the following:
(a)
One facade sign for each establishment, provided it shall be attached and parallel to the main wall of a building.
(b)
One freestanding sign for each multiple tenant parcel in a nonresidential district, provided no portion of it shall be set back less than 10 feet from any street line; where a single parcel is occupied by more than one business, whether in the same structure or not, there shall be no more than one freestanding sign.
(c)
One awning sign.
(2)
Each establishment in a multiple-tenant parcel shall be permitted to display no more than one blade sign in addition to the primary sign, provided that the blade sign:
(4)
Such signs shall not exceed 40 square feet in area.
(5)
Temporary advertising signs inside windows are permitted.
(6)
The allowable size for a freestanding sign or wall sign shall be computed at 10% of the building front face square footage (FFSF), as computed by the length times the width of the building facade, to achieve the base square footage of width along the wall on which the business has its main entrance. In no case shall the area for any sign be greater than 40 square feet.
(7)
Any freestanding sign shall be set back from all adjacent public rights-of-way at a distance of at least two feet. Signs, in all cases, shall avoid conflicts with public facilities and services.
(8)
Signs on adjacent storefronts should be coordinated in height and proportion. The use of a continuous sign band for adjacent shops within the same building is encouraged, as a unifying element.
§ 315-66 Administration and enforcement.
A.
Permits.
(1)
No permanent sign shall be erected, altered, displayed, relocated, enlarged or created without first obtaining a permit from the Building Commissioner or Sign Officer, except for the following:
(2)
The Building Commissioner or Sign Officer shall issue a permit for a sign when an application therefor has been made and the sign complies with all applicable regulations of the Town and the State Building Code. Such application may be filed by the owner of the land or building, or any persons who have the authority to erect a sign on the premises.
[Amended 10-25-2022 STM by Art. 25, approved 3-29-2023]
(3)
The Building Commissioner or Sign Officer shall act within 30 days of receipt of said application, together with the fee. The Building Commissioner's or Sign Officer's action or failure to act may be appealed to the Zoning Board of Appeals.
B.
Enforcement.
(1)
Designation of the Sign Officer. The Building Commissioner (or any other qualified person) shall be appointed by the Select Board as the Sign Officer. The Sign Officer is authorized to order the repair or removal of any sign and supporting structure which is erected or maintained contrary to this bylaw. Whenever a Sign Officer is designated, the Selectmen should notify the Office of Outdoor Advertising in the State Department of Transportation.
[Amended 10-25-2022 STM by Art. 25, approved 3-29-2023]
(2)
Maintenance and removal. Every sign shall be maintained in good structural condition at all times. All signs shall be kept neatly painted, including all metal parts and supports thereof that are not galvanized or of rust-resistant material. The Building Commissioner or the Sign Officer shall inspect and shall have the authority to order the painting, repair, alteration or removal of a sign which shall constitute a hazard to safety, health, or public welfare by reason of inadequate maintenance, dilapidation or obsolescence.
(3)
Abandoned signs. Except as otherwise provided in this section, any sign that is located on property which becomes vacant and is unoccupied for a period for three months or more, or any sign which pertains to a time, event or purpose which no longer applies, shall be deemed to have been abandoned. Permanent signs applicable to a business temporarily suspended because of a change of ownership or management of such business shall not be deemed abandoned unless the property remains vacant for a period of six months or more. An abandoned sign is prohibited and shall be removed by the owner of the sign or owner of the premises.
(4)
Dangerous or defective signs. No person shall maintain or permit to be maintained on any premises owned or controlled by him any sign which is in a dangerous or defective condition. Any such sign shall be removed or repaired by the owner of the sign or the owner of the premises.
(5)
Removal of signs by the Building Commissioner or Sign Officer.
(a)
The Building Commissioner or Sign Officer shall cause to be removed any sign that endangers the public safety; such as an abandoned, dangerous, or materially, electrically, or structurally defective sign, or a sign for which no permit has been issued.
(b)
The Building Commissioner or Sign Officer shall prepare a notice which shall describe the sign and specify the violation involved and which shall state that, if the sign is not removed or the violation is not corrected within 20 days, the sign shall be removed in accordance with the provisions of this section.
(c)
All such notices shall be either hand delivered or sent by certified mail to the sign owner (if known) and to the owner of the property on which the sign is maintained. Any time periods provided in this section for removal or compliance or for appeals shall commence on the date the notice is mailed.
(d)
Any person having an interest in the sign or the property on which the sign is maintained may appeal the determination of the Building Commissioner or Sign Officer ordering removal or compliance by filing a written notice of appeal with the Town Clerk within 30 days of the date of the determination as provided in MGL c. 40A, § 15.
C.
Penalties. Violation of any provision of this bylaw or any lawful order of the Sign Officer shall be subject to a fine of $50 for the first offense and $100 for each additional offense. Each day that such violation continues shall constitute a separate offense.
D.
Nonconforming signs.
(1)
Continuance. A nonconforming sign lawfully existing at the time of adoption or subsequent amendment of this bylaw may continue although such sign does not conform to the provisions of this bylaw.
(2)
Replacement. Any sign replacing a nonconforming sign shall conform with the provisions of this article, and the nonconforming sign shall no longer be displayed.
(3)
Abandonment. If a nonconforming sign associated with a permitted use or structure has been abandoned for no less than six months (i.e., the structure has not been occupied for six months) then the nonconforming sign shall be removed and its nonconformity shall not continue.
E.
Severability. The invalidity, unconstitutionality or illegality of any provision of this article shall not have effect upon the validity, constitutionality, or legality of any other provision of this article.