Norfolk County, MA Sign Regulations: Political Signs (2026)
Key Facts
- County Rule?
- None: municipal zoning
- State Authority
- MGL c. 40 §21(19)
- Brookline
- 6 sq ft max private property
- Quincy/Weymouth
- 6-8 sq ft max
- ROW
- Prohibited all 3 towns
Summary
Norfolk County has no political sign rule. Under MGL c. 40 §21(19), MA towns may regulate temporary political signs but cannot impose content-based restrictions. Post-Reed v. Gilbert, most Norfolk County towns removed pre-election time limits.
Section 65. At an election of state or city officers, and of town officers in towns where official ballots are used, the presiding election officer at each polling place shall, before the opening of the polls, post at least three cards of instruction, three cards containing abstracts of the laws imposing penalties upon voters, and at least three specimen ballots within the polling place outside the guard rail, and have available at the check in area at state elections a number of copies of the information for voters material provided for in section fifty-four at least one for every one hundred
Full Breakdown
Massachusetts political signs are protected speech under the First Amendment and Article 16 of the MA Declaration of Rights. MGL c. 40 §21(19) authorizes municipalities to regulate temporary signs in a content-neutral manner. After Reed v. Town of Gilbert (2015), Brookline, Quincy, and Weymouth revised sign bylaws to remove duration limits specific to political signs (which were content-based). Private-property political signs are generally allowed with size limits. Brookline Zoning Bylaw §7.04 allows temporary signs up to 6 sq ft; Quincy Zoning Ordinance §8.1 permits temporary residential signs up to 6 sq ft; Weymouth Zoning §120-35 allows temporary signs up to 8 sq ft. All three prohibit signs in public rights-of-way and on utility poles. MassDOT prohibits signs in state highway ROW under 720 CMR 9.00.
Violations & Fines
Removal from public ROW by DPW. Quincy/Weymouth/Brookline: $50-$300 per sign for ROW placement. MassDOT ROW: removal plus $100-$500.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are typical penalties for violating political signs rules?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Norfolk County
Compare Norfolk County to another location·View the Massachusetts sign regulations overview
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