Zoning Board of Appeals

Overview

In September 2019, the City of Medford passed a Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) posting ordinance outlining signage requirements for development projects applying for special permits and variances. The ordinance ensures that the public is properly notified of the requested zoning relief and public hearing dates for projects under ZBA review.

Requirements

The ZBA posting ordinance requires that projects applying for a variance or special permit post at least one sign at the project site, which must be visible and legible from the public street.

The ordinance outlines the following content requirements for signage:

• Name of the applicant
• Description and street address of the project site
• Date, time, and place of the public hearing
• Proposed project description and requested relief or action
• Application case number and where the full application can be accessed
• Information on where written comments may be submitted
• Phone number of the municipal agency or contact person where further information can be requested

The ordinance outlines the following physical and dimensional requirements for signage:

• Signage location must be approved administratively
• Signage must be posted no more than 20ft from the street line
• One sign is required for lots with less than 200 feet of street frontage, with one additional sign required per 500 feet of additional street frontage
• Signage must be installed at least 14 days before the public hearing date and promptly removed after the Notice of Decision is filed
• Damaged or stolen signs must be replaced promptly
• Minimum dimensional requirements for signage are 18 inches x 24 inches and text must be size 16-point font or larger
• Signs must be made of weather resistant material

Optional Word and PDF signage templates are available below.

The full ordinance can be found in Section II of Chapter 94 of the Ordinances of the City of Medford.

Click Here to Review the Full Ordinance

If you have any questions about the City of Medford’s ZBA posting ordinance, please contact the Zoning Board of Appeals Secretary Denis MacDougall at dmacdougall@medford-ma.gov.