18D-053 - /f� — .1-i?
Oottm4p1.
Cri#p of Northampton .- _* _ /
# .!y` �':idssA[{tl[Sttts ^ __Wi -
__
1.-41" DEPARTMENT OF BUILDING INSPECTIONS -. .1 1i Y
212 Main Street • Municipal Building
INSPECT tember 7, 1999 mi''
Northampton, MA 01060
Mr. Tony Long
80 Damon Road
Apt. 2�-
Northampton, MA 01062
Mr. Long,
A staff person in our office said that you had called last week inquiring about the number
of political signs that are allowed to be displayed on ones property. I have enclosed the
section of the zoning ordinance that pertains to that, Section 7.2-3. If you need any other
information please feel free to contact me at 587-1240.
Sincerely,
.4 /Z ...A4:ie 1
Anthony Patillo
Building Commissioner
City of Northampton
7-bAl LOB
oti
. ,7r Z303
Section 7.0
SIGNS
Section 7.1 Applicability. All signs (accessory and non-accessory) shall comply with the
regulations for the erection and construction of signs contained in the Building Code of the City of
Northampton, and all other applicable regulations including the sign regulations contained in this
Ordinance. In addition to the provisions of this Ordinance, all non-accessory signs, including the
typical billboard signs, shall be required to have the appropriate annual permit from the
Massachusetts Outdoor Advertising Board for any non-accessory sign which is not in conformity
with applicable ordinances of the City of Northampton enacted in accordance with Section 29 of
Chapter 93 of the General Laws.
Section 7.2 General Sign Regulations.
1. Any traffic, informational or directional sign or festive banner owned and installed by or for
a governmental agency shall be permitted. (Amended 12/21/95)
2. A sign(including temporary interior window displays or banners) or its illuminator shall not
be reason of its location, shape, size, or color interfere with traffic or be confused with or
obstruct the view or effectiveness of any official traffic sign, traffic signal, or traffic marking.
A sign or any part thereof which moves or flashes, all signs of the traveling light or
animated type, and all beacons and flashing devices are prohibited except such portions of
a sign as consists solely of indicators of time and/or temperature or automatically changing
message shall be permitted if the Planning Board and Chief of Police determine that the sign
is not a hazard to traffic and pedestrian safety. All illumination of signs must be so arranged
as to prevent glare onto any portion of any public way or into any residential area.
3. Temporary free-standing ground signs advocating any candidacy or cause which is under
consideration at a particular election or any other cause or issue(not to exceed one sign per
candidate/cause per lot) shall be permitted provided such signs:
A. shall not exceed a size of six(6) square feet and shall not be any closer than ten(10)
feet from any lot line,
B. shall not be any higher(the top) than four(4) feet from the ground,
C. may not be displayed on a building or structure unless said building or structure is
the headquarters or chief office of the candidate or organization(said wall sign shall
conform to the wall sign criteria,for that Zoning District within which it is located),
D. may only be permitted to be placed on a building which is not the headquarters or
chief office of the candidate or organization, when the Building Commissioner
determines that,because of the size of the lot's setback areas and the location of the
building on the lot, such a sign cannot be adequately displayed on the ground itself
E. shall not be displayed more than three(3)months prior to the election date, if the sign
June 29, 1998 7-1