Enough is enough for Selectman Patrick Tropeano when it comes to the signs that clutter public and private space throughout town.

While the Board of Selectmen allowed the Onset Bay Association and the Don't Trash Wareham group to post small signs on town property for a 30-day period, Tropeano said the town would soon begin taking down signs illegally posted throughout town.

"We're going to get serious about these things. Every light pole has something stuck to it," Tropeano said. "No one should have a sign that doesn't meet the requirements of the bylaw."

A new sign bylaw aimed at codifying the rules and making them enforceable, was adopted by town meeting in October 2013. The bylaw states that any new sign requires a permit, except for the following:

Address signs, awning signs, construction signs, for sale signs, political signs, flags, window signs and off-premises directional signs that direct people to local businesses. Although these signs do not require permits, they still must meet certain specifications within the bylaw in regards to size and placement.

Also included in that group are signs that direct people to one day events such as yard sales, open houses, road races, lost pets, etc.. Those signs can be displayed on a public or private ways for a maximum of 18 hours but "may not be placed on public trees, poles, lightpoles, etc."

The complete bylaw is available online here starting on page 61. Some things covered in the bylaw are as follows:

No flashing signs, roof signs, signs containing moving parts or reflective elements are allowed without a special permit. This does not include barber poles or time/temperature signs, which are allowed.

Any sign advertising a business or organization which is either defunct or no longer on the premises where the sign is located is not allowed.

No billboards, streamers, pennants or ribbons are allowed except with a special permit obtained from the ZBA.

No sign shall be larger than 40 square feet, except for a mall, shopping center or free- standing sign, which cannot exceed 120 square feet.

According to Selectman Alan Slavin, the Director of Inspectional Services can appoint anyone he sees fit to remove the offending signs.

"There are a lot of signs that don't belong out there that are going to be removed very shortly," Tropeano said.