To preserve and enhance Town character by requiring new or replacement signs which are compatible with their surroundings, are appropriately sized for their location and appropriate for the zoning district within which a sign is located without unduly restricting the conduct of lawful enterprise or expression.

To promote the public welfare and safety through the elimination of roadside distractions.

This bylaw shall be administered by the Building Inspector. Except as required by law and as otherwise set forth below, no sign shall be erected without a permit issued by the Building Inspector.

Signs erected by the municipal, county, state or federal government as may be deemed necessary for their respective functions are exempted from the provisions of the Sign Bylaw.

Signs required by municipal, county, state or federal regulation or law are exempted from the provisions of this Sign Bylaw.

One flag per business, to a maximum size of 15 square feet, is exempted from the provisions of this Sign Bylaw.

All signs must be located on the premises of the use, business, occupation, event or activity for which the sign conveys a message to the public, or intends to advertise, direct, invite, announce, or draw attention to, directly or indirectly.

All temporary signs shall be removed promptly upon conclusion of the events or activities announced thereon.

A nonconforming sign in existence at the time of adoption of this bylaw shall be allowed to remain until one or more of the following conditions occurs: the sign is substantially relocated, replaced, reconstructed.

When the provisions of this bylaw, or the drawing and specifications approved thereunder, or the terms of a permit issued thereunder, are not complied with, a stop-work or removal order shall be served on the property owner and/or his representative, tenant, or person in possession of the property by the Building Inspector, and a copy thereof shall be posted at the site of the violation. Such stop-work or removal order shall not be removed except by written notice from the Building Inspector's office after satisfactory evidence has been supplied that the violation has been corrected. Failure to comply with such stop-work or removal order shall constitute a violation of this bylaw. Any person violating any provision of the bylaw shall be fined as provided in § 235-8.3 from the time that the stop-work or removal order is first served, for each offense.

Persons aggrieved by this bylaw, or actions of the Building Inspector relative to it, may appeal to the Wellfleet Zoning Board of Appeals pursuant to § 235-8.4A.

All signs must be located on the premises in such a way as not to obstruct the view of traffic or create other safety hazards. Signs must be located with at least a two-foot setback from the property line.

Signs that project over a public right-of-way shall be allowed only in the Central District and only on buildings which cannot meet setback requirements. Such signs shall not project more than three feet from the face of the building, and must have a minimum clearance of nine feet above the public right-of-way. No signs shall project over roadways. Signs projecting over a public right-of-way, including sidewalks, must be approved by the Selectboard.

Signs, including temporary signs, shall not be placed on sidewalks.

One sign for each family residing on the premises indicating the owner or occupant, provided that no sign shall exceed two square feet of sign area.

One unlighted sign for home occupations on each premises not exceeding six square feet of sign area or five feet in height, advertising all home occupation(s).

On each premises, not more than four unlighted directional signs, each not exceeding one square foot of sign area.

On each premises, one unlighted sign related to the sale, rent or lease may be displayed while the premises, or any part thereof, is on offer for sale, rent or lease. Such sign shall not exceed six square feet of sign area or five feet in height, except in the National Seashore Park District, where the sign shall not exceed two square feet of sign area, or three feet in height.

On each premises, one unlighted sign may be displayed while the premises, or any part thereof, is subject to a valid building permit. Such sign shall not exceed six square feet of sign area or five feet in height and shall be related to the building permit. All such signs shall be removed prior to issuance of a certificate of occupancy.

Signs not requiring permits under this § 235-7.5 shall not be included in the aggregate limits under § 235-7.6.

Service trade home business(es) may have one sign not exceeding six square feet of sign area or five feet in height on each premises.

Except as provided in § 235-7.6C below, a business may have an aggregate total of 24 square feet of sign area on each premises, including temporary signs. No sign shall exceed 12 square feet of sign area. No freestanding sign shall exceed the greater of eight feet in height above the natural grade, or eight feet above the grade of the adjacent roadway. Signs may be attached to the building; however, signs attached to building sides shall not project more than three feet from the building and must have a minimum clearance of nine feet above the ground level. Signs shall not project above the roof line.

For a business on a premises having frontage on and access onto Route 6 and located in the Commercial District, the business may have an aggregate total of 64 square feet of sign area, including temporary signs. No sign shall exceed 36 square feet of sign area. No sign shall exceed the greater of 10 feet in height above the natural grade or 10 feet above the grade of the adjacent roadway. Signs may be attached to the building; however, signs attached to a building shall not project more than three feet from the building sides and must have a minimum clearance of nine feet above ground level. Signs shall not project above the roof line.

One sign bearing the name of a subdivision or condominium, not to exceed 12 square feet of sign area or eight feet in height. Alternatively, the subdivision or condominium may have one ladder-type sign, not to exceed eight feet in height, bearing multiple names of residents, provided that each name sign does not exceed one square foot in sign area.

Flashing signs, signs containing moving parts, and signs which create the illusion of motion are prohibited.

The source of any sign's illumination which is visible from any public way or from any premises other than that upon which the sign is located, or light which is directed above the sign toward the sky, is prohibited.

All signs internally illuminated by means of any concealed light source are prohibited, except for directional signs.

All neon, neon-like or signs made of lights, including but not limited to light-emitting diode (LED), are prohibited.

Any sign which identifies a business, service, project, or activity that is defunct or which has not existed on the premises for 12 consecutive months or more shall be considered to be an abandoned sign and is prohibited.

Off-premises signs are prohibited.

Signs installed on the roof, or on building, shall not project above the ridge of said roof.

All signs must be maintained in a secure and safe condition.

Any sign that is deemed by the Building Inspector to be unsafe, not properly permitted, or to be a prohibited sign must be removed forthwith upon issuance of a citation to the owner. After 30 consecutive days of non-compliance, the Building Inspector may cause the sign to be removed at the owner's expense, subject to constitutional limitations and pursuant to the Building Inspector's authority to enforce this bylaw under § 235-8.1. and MGL c. 40A, § 7.

Wrapping of signs is prohibited. Signs may be removed for winter storage or covered with painted plywood panels or other rigid material. Removal of signs for storage or maintenance shall not jeopardize protection provided under § 235-7.3G of this bylaw.