Framingham, MA Sign Regulations: Window Signs (2026)

Chapter 373, the sign ordinance, defines a window sign broadly: any sign placed within four feet of a glassed area and visible from outside, apart from ordinary merchandise displays, at § 373-9N(3). Subsection (1) bans a window sign that carries a commercial message outright in the city's 'R' (residential) and 'G' (General Residence) zoning districts, which leaves window advertising unavailable to any home-based or accessory commercial use in those districts even where signage is otherwise permitted. Where commercial window signs are allowed, § 373-9N(2) caps all combined window signage at 10% of the total glass area on any one facade or side of the building, a limit applied per facade rather than to the building as a whole, so a storefront with heavy signage on its front window cannot offset that against a side window with none.

The chapter carves out one district-wide exception: businesses in the Central Business District may exceed the general window-sign framework under the separate Central Business District signage rule at § 373-9D(1), which lets upper-floor businesses place one identification sign directly on the glass covering up to 40% of a single window pane. Illumination of a window sign is governed by the chapter's general illumination rule at § 373-8B, which limits sign lighting hours to one hour before and after business hours in most districts, 24 hours in HC/RC and CBD, and bars neon or other add-on lighting beyond the sign face itself.

A retailer papering a storefront window with sale posters, event flyers or product graphics needs to measure that glass area against the 10% cap before adding more, since the Building Commissioner enforces window-sign violations, including the 24-hour cure period the code sets for easily removable signs, under § 373-13B.