To restrict private signs which overload the public's capacity to receive information, which violate privacy or which increase the probability of accidents by distracting attention or obstructing vision.

To encourage signing and other private communications which aid orientation, identify activities, express local history and character or serve other educational purposes.

To reduce conflict among private signs and between the private and public environmental information systems.

A nonconforming sign is any sign which does not conform to the regulations of this article. Any nonconforming sign legally erected prior to the adoption of this article or any amendment hereto may be continued to be used and maintained but shall not be enlarged, reduced, redesigned or altered in any way unless it conforms to the provisions contained herein. Rewording of a sign is allowed except when there is a change of use. Any sign which has been destroyed or damaged to the extent that the cost of repair or restoration will exceed 80% of the replacement value as of the date of destruction shall not be repaired, rebuilt, restored or changed unless in conformity with this article.

The exemption herein granted shall not apply to any sign which has been abandoned (not used for six months or more) or which shall not have been repaired or properly maintained within 60 days after notice to that effect has been given by the Building Inspector.

The owner of a discontinued or abandoned sign of the kind specified in Subsection D(1)(a) or (b) below or the owner of the premises shall remove said sign, together with any separate supporting structure, within 60 days after written notification from the Building Inspector:

The Building Inspector may cause to be removed any sign that endangers public safety.

For each residential building housing not more than two families, there may be one such sign for each residence. Such sign shall not exceed one square foot.

For each residential building housing more than two families or, in the case of a group of such buildings forming a single housing establishment, with each such establishment there may be one primary sign which shall not exceed three square feet and one secondary sign for each separate building in a group of such buildings which shall not exceed one square foot.

During construction there may be one temporary, unlighted sign on each lot advertising the sale or rental of the premises or the name and address of the contractor responsible for any construction, painting or repair, provided that such sign shall not exceed nine square feet in area and shall be removed within 14 days after such sale, rental or construction, painting or repair has been completed.

There may be one temporary unlighted sign on each lot advertising rental or sale of the premises, provided that such sign shall not exceed nine square feet in area and shall be removed within 30 days after the rental or sale of the premises.

There may be an accessory sign or signs on the premises of any building constructed, erected, altered, enlarged, extended or reconstructed which is used for the purpose of any permitted nonconforming or nonresidential use, the number and type in each case to be subject to the approval of the Board of Appeals. Window signs comprising posters, placards or signs painted on or otherwise displayed on windows and visible from the street shall not exceed 10% of the individual window area or 5% of the glass area of any exit door.

No nonaccessory signs shall be erected or maintained in a residential district.

Churches, schools or public uses shall not be subject to the limitations of this section.

A permitted home occupation shall be allowed a single identifying sign not exceeding two square feet in area.

Temporary signs shall be permitted as described in Subsection G below.

Accessory signs. Signs whose subject matter relates exclusively to the premises on which they are located or to products, accommodations or activities on those premises (accessory signs) shall be allowed.

Number and type of signs.

Names of buildings, date of erection, monumental citations and commemorative tablets up to 10 square feet in area, when made a permanent and integral part of the building.

Building directories. In a business or industrial zone each lot is allowed one freestanding directory sign. The area shall be no greater than one square foot per occupant or tenant. Such sign may be white lighted indirectly. The height from the base on the ground to the highest part should not exceed six feet. No part of the sign structure shall be set back less than 100 feet from the edge of the right-of-way on which the industrial or business building is situated.

Traffic control and guidance signs in conformance with public traffic sign standards but located on private property and orientational signs up to two square feet in area displayed for purposes of direction or convenience, including signs identifying rest rooms, freight entrances and the like.

No sign shall project over a public right-of-way or come within three feet of the curbline. A sign on a marquee or canopy providing shelter may project over a sidewalk but may not come within three feet of the curbline on a private right-of-way. A sign attached to a building, built flush with the front property line, may extend into the public right-of-way by an amount equal to the width of the sign but not more than 12 inches.

No sign shall extend more than three feet above the roofplate line of the wall to which it is attached nor above the third floor of a multistory building. No roof signs are allowed.

The top of pedestrian signs shall be no higher than 10 feet above the sidewalk.

Occupancy signs for other than first floor occupants, if any, shall be located between the second and third floors.

Any sign attached to a building shall meet the setback requirements for that building. Any other sign shall be set back from any lot line a distance equal to its height, but not less than eight feet.

Individual sign sizes. The total sign area allowed, as calculated in accordance with the provisions of Subsection E(2) below, may be distributed among the various signs on the premises. However, individual signs shall not exceed the following maximum sizes:

Total area of signage permitted per lot, not to exceed the maximum sizes stated in Subsection E(1).

Permanent window signs. Permanent signs on the surface of or inside display windows shall cover no more than 10% of the display window area.

Signs shall be illuminated only by steady, stationary, shielded light sources directed solely at the sign or internal to it, without causing glare for motorists, pedestrians or neighboring premises.

Illuminated signs, including neon signs, shall not produce more than one footcandle of illumination four feet from the sign.

Signs shall not be illuminated between the hours of 11:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. unless related to an establishment operating between those hours.

All permanent outdoor lights, such as those used for area lighting or building floodlighting, shall be steady, stationary, shielded sources directed so as to avoid causing glare for motorists, pedestrians or neighboring premises. The marginal increase in light, as measured at any property line other than a street line, shall not exceed one footcandle.

Construction signs identifying parties involved in construction on the premises. These signs shall be set back a minimum of eight feet from any lot line and shall be removed after completion of construction.

Real estate signs: one unlighted sign of up to nine square feet pertaining to the sale, rental or lease of the premises on which the sign is displayed, to be removed within 14 days after sale, rental or lease.

Display window signs: signs on the surface of or inside display windows, lighted only by building illumination and covering no more than 20% of the display area (business districts only).

Political signs: freestanding unlighted sign of six square feet or less. Such sign shall be put up no earlier than 30 days prior to the election and shall be removed no later than 10 days after the election. Political signs shall be set back a minimum of eight feet from any lot line and shall not be attached to trees or utility poles but shall have their own self-supporting frame and means of being affixed to the land.

Those exempted under § 190-81, which follows.

Residential signs as described in § 190-77.

Temporary signs as described in § 190-77.

An application in duplicate for a permit on appropriate forms furnished by the Building Inspector. The written consent of the owner of the premises concerned, or of his authorized agent, shall be required.

Full name, residence and business address of the owner of the property, of the lessee, if any, and of any authorized agent to whom notices may be sent.

Location, position and dimensions of sign.

Such plans, structural drawings and specifications as the Inspector may require for temporary examination and permanent record.

A surety company bond as required by the Building Code of the Town of Wakefield.[1]

Issuance of permit. The Building Inspector shall, within 21 days, approve or reject any applications for a sign filed with him in accordance with all requirements of this article and all other applicable laws, bylaws and regulations.

Electrical inspections. Electrical permits are required for any sign which is to be illuminated. The permit must be issued simultaneously with the building permit. The sign and the sign's power supply shall conform to the National Electrical Code.

Applicability of Building Code. Signs shall be deemed to be structures subject to all applicable provisions of the Town Building Code[2] and to all of the powers thereby granted to the Building Inspector.

Flags and insignia of any government, except when displayed in connection with commercial promotion.

Legal notices or informational devices erected or required by public agencies.

Integral decorative or architectural features of buildings, except letters, trademarks, moving parts or parts internally illuminated or decorated with gaseous tube or other lights.

On awnings or similar devices, lettering not exceeding three inches in height or symbols; together they cannot exceed four square feet in area.