Chicopee, MA Sign Regulations: Digital Billboards (2026)

Section 275-50, Signs, treats billboards in subsection A. The number of billboards in the City of Chicopee is limited to 59 faces, and a face is a single-sided advertising area or space. Every billboard must be permitted by both the City and the Outdoor Advertising Division of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and billboards and nonaccessory signs are governed by special permit. Permitted billboards can be maintained and repaired but not enlarged, and a petition to enlarge or change location faces the same requirements as a new application. The definition of sign, billboard in § 275-4 is a sign which advertises an activity or business other than one conducted on the property.

The sign section does not use the word digital. The printed limit is on light and image behavior. For billboards that do not exceed 144 square feet, and separately for billboards greater than 144 square feet but less than 800 square feet, the criteria say the billboard may not contain or project any flashing or distracting lights or images. Spacing differs by size. Both tiers keep billboards at least 1,500 feet from a park or the main building entrance of a school or church and 500 feet from residentially zoned land. The smaller tier needs 350 feet from any other freestanding billboard or nonaccessory sign, and the larger tier needs 750 feet. The City Council can waive distance requirements on a written request that shows no traffic hazard or visual nuisance, and can require photographic simulations or balloon-type tests.

On-premises signs are handled in subsection C. Under C(2)(a) and (b), signs with visible moving, revolving or rotating parts, all animated and electronically activated changeable signs except time, temperature and date signs, and signs animated with lights that flash, move, rotate, scintillate, blink, flicker, vary in intensity, vary in color or use intermittent electronic pulsations require a special permit issued by the City Council.

Each applicant pays a nonrefundable $100 application fee to the City Clerk, and each permit holder pays a $100 annual inspection fee per face on or before January 15.