Springfield's Sign Regulations: The Rules That Matter
Every city handles sign regulations a little differently. In Springfield, Massachusetts, there are 5 distinct rules that residents and property owners should be aware of. Some are stricter than what neighboring cities enforce, and others are more relaxed. Here is what you need to know.
Holiday Displays
Springfield's sign ordinance bans pennants, streamers, balloons and decorative string lights citywide, but exempts strings of lights tied to a religious holiday or seasonal celebration from that ban entirely.
Key details: Governing section: § 9.2.60 Pennant Signs. Holiday/seasonal string lights: Exempt, no permit needed. Non-holiday string lights, pennants: Banned citywide. Enforcement: Building Commissioner; $100-$300/day.
Non-holiday pennants, streamers, balloons or decorative string lights remain prohibited signs; the Building Commissioner can order removal, and § 11.1.21 sets fines of $100 for a first offense and $300 for each day the violation continues.
If you are coming from a city with tighter rules, you will find Springfield gives residents more flexibility on holiday displays.
Digital Billboards
Digital non-accessory signs (billboards) in Springfield need a Tier 3 special permit, are limited to Business B and Industrial A zones, and must meet strict brightness, dimming and message-timing standards.
Key details: Permit required: Tier 3 special permit, City Council. Allowed zones: Business B, Industrial A only. Message transition: 1 second or less. Frame hold time: At least 10 seconds. Brightness cap: 0.3 foot-candles over ambient.
Digital signs put up without the Tier 3 special permit, or that flash, run video, exceed brightness limits, or sit within 500 feet of a school or residential district, are zoning violations, fined $100-$300 per day under § 11.1.21.
This is not one of those rules that cities tend to ignore. Springfield actively enforces its digital billboards requirements.
Freeway-Facing Signs
Ground signs next to the elevated stretch of Interstate 91 through downtown Springfield face a special height cap, measured from the highway's road surface rather than street grade.
Key details: Affected frontages: E./W. Columbus St. near I-91. Height limit: 10 ft above I-91 road surface. Overlay carve-out: West Columbus Urban Renewal District. Governing table: Zoning Table 9-2.
A ground sign built taller than 10 feet above the I-91 road surface (or the applicable base limit) on the affected Columbus Street frontages is a zoning violation, enforceable by the Building Commissioner with $100-$300 daily fines under § 11.1.21.
Window Signs
Window signs in Springfield's commercial and industrial districts can cover up to 50% of a window without a sign permit; covering more requires one from the Building Commissioner.
Key details: No-permit coverage limit: 50% of window area. Over 50% coverage: Sign permit required. Charity/public-service signs: Excluded from 50% cap. Illumination: Not permitted (non-neon).
Window signage exceeding 50% window coverage without a sign permit, or an illuminated non-neon window sign, is a zoning violation the Building Commissioner can order removed, with fines of $100 to $300 per day under § 11.1.21.
Political Signs
Springfield allows political signs on private property with size limits. Signs in public rights-of-way are typically prohibited. First Amendment protections apply. Removal required within a set period after elections.
The rules around political signs in Springfield lean permissive, but that does not mean anything goes.
The Bottom Line
Compared to many U.S. cities, Springfield gives residents more room on sign regulations. 2 of the 5 rules here are rated permissive. But permissive does not mean unregulated. There are still requirements, and the city does enforce them when violations are reported.
Keep in mind that Springfield can amend these rules at any council meeting. For the most current version of any rule mentioned here, check the specific ordinance page, where we track updates as they happen.