Suffolk County allows temporary yard-sale signs on private property. Boston Code §16-10 requires signs to be removed after the event and prohibits posting on public property or utility poles. Chelsea, Revere, and Winthrop require yard-sale signs be limited in size (roughly 4 sq ft), removed within 24 hours of the sale, and never placed on poles or traffic signs.
Yard sale signs in Suffolk County are treated as temporary non-commercial signs with minimal permit requirements. Boston Code of Ordinances Chapter 16 §16-10 prohibits posting on utility poles, street signs, trees in the public way, and city property — signs violating this provision may be removed by the DPW and the poster fined. Signs advertising yard sales may be placed on private property with owner permission. Most Boston neighborhoods allow 3-4 directional signs off-premises; size is limited by zoning (typically 4-6 sq ft). Chelsea Code §9-116 and Zoning §34-290 allow temporary signs for garage sales up to 4 sq ft, limited to the property and with owner permission off-premises. Revere §10.04 and Zoning §17.16.300 permit yard-sale signs for 72 hours maximum around the sale date. Winthrop Town Bylaws Chapter 8 treats yard sale signs similarly — private property only, removed promptly. Winthrop requires a yard-sale permit from the Town Clerk for any sale (residents limited to 2 sales per year). Signs must be removed within 24 hours of the sale ending; failure results in DPW cleanup and fines. Attaching signs with staples, nails, or tape to utility poles is considered defacement under MGL c. 266, §126A.
Signs on poles/public property: removal and $50-$100 fine under MGL c. 85, §8A. Not removed within 24 hours: $25-$50 per sign, per day. Unpermitted yard sale (Winthrop): $50-$200 fine.
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