Sign regulations
(a) Purpose. The purpose of this article is to promote and protect the public health, welfare and safety by regulating the use of existing and proposed outdoor signs, signs visible from the outside and other advertising devices. This article is intended to preserve and enhance the physical appearance and historic culture of the community, protect property values and contribute to an attractive business climate by allowing sufficient freedom to identify and promote the availability of goods and services. It is further intended to promote and protect public safety by reducing sign and advertising distractions, obstructions and hazards that may contribute to traffic accidents or personal injury. Models of projecting signs and monument signs, as defined below, may be obtained from the department of planning and economic development.
(b) Definitions. The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this article, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning:
Directory sign means a sign which contains listings of two or more commercial establishments and which is designed and constructed to allow for changes to the listings to reflect changes in occupancy without major alterations of the entire sign. Each individual directory sign shall not exceed eight square feet.
Lighting, indirect means lighting that is external to the sign.
Monument sign means a sign that is constructed from brick, fieldstone, cement or wood, and secured at base grade level via cement footing. Monument signs shall be indirectly lighted from the sign base and not exceed five feet in height.
Shopping center means two or more retail or mixed-use establishments contained within the same building and/or sharing a parking lot. Shopping centers include shopping malls.
Sign means any device, whether freestanding or attached to a building or structure, or that is erected, painted, represented or reproduced on any building or structure, which displays, reproduces or includes any letter, work, name, number, model, insignia, design, device or representation used for one or more of the following purposes:
(1) To identify the premises, occupant, or owner of the premises;
(2) To advertise the sale, rental, or use of all or part of any premises;
(3) To direct vehicular or pedestrian traffic other than state or municipal highway and roadway markers; and
(4) Including any announcement, declaration, demonstration, display, illustration, insignia or any representation used to advertise or intended to advertise or promote the interest of any person or corporation.
Sign, freestanding means a sign supported by a pole, uprights, braces or frame on or in the ground and not supported by any wall, building or similar structure. This definition includes ground-mounted signs.
Sign height means the vertical distance measured from the ground at the base of the sign to the highest point of any portion of the sign.
Sign, obsolete means any sign which advertises a use, business or product which is no longer in service or sold.
Sign, off-premises means any sign or advertising device, not exceeding 15 square feet, which advertises a use or activity not located or a product not sold or manufactured on the lot on which the sign or device is located.
Sign, projecting means a sign erected to project approximately perpendicular from the exterior of any building or wall.
Sign setback means the setback measured from the property line to the outermost edge of the sign or supporting structure, whichever is closer to the lot line.
Sign, wall-mounted means a sign erected against or attached to the wall of any building or structure, except a freestanding sign support, including signs affixed to fences, screens and freestanding walls.
Sign, window means a business name (i.e., John Doe Shoe Store) or other related service description (i.e., Shoe repair) applied to a storefront area window using either paint or water soluble marker. Such signs shall not exceed 50 percent of the total window area.
(c) Exemptions. The following signs shall be allowed in any zoning district without the necessity of obtaining a sign permit. Noncompliance with the terms of this section shall cause such a sign to forfeit its exempt status and require the owner to follow the permit procedure set forth in this article. Owners or lessees of such signs shall ensure that exempt signs conform to all other applicable regulations, and the owners and lessees shall be responsible for the safe and proper erection and maintenance of such signs:
(1) One sign not to exceed six square feet when identifying a residence.
(2) A memorial sign or tablet, or a sign not exceeding two square feet indicating the name of a building or the date of its erection.
(3) Bulletin boards for public or religious institutions when located on the property thereof, provided that such signs do not exceed 15 square feet and bear no commercial advertising.
(4) Pennants, spinners, streamers, banners, mobile signs and decorative flags when associated with events of religious, public or charitable organizations or new business openings for a period not to exceed 21 days. Such advertising device may be located off premises provided it is erected and maintained in a safe and proper condition.
(5) One sign customary and necessary in the offering of real estate for sale or to let by the owner or the owner's licensed broker or agent, which shall not exceed six square feet in residential zones or 20 square feet in nonresidential zones. Signs indicating the property has been sold must be removed within two weeks after the sale is closed.
(6) Construction or contractor signs where there is only one per location identifying the project, the building and subcontractors, not exceeding 32 square feet in area.
(7) Development/subdivision signs, one wall-mounted or freestanding sign, erected at the development/subdivision entrance. The sign shall not exceed 15 square feet.
(8) Signs erected by or on behalf of the United States of America, this state or the town pursuant to and in the discharge of any governmental function or required by any law, ordinance or governmental regulation (including state permit notice signs such RIDEM, RIDOT etc.).
(9) Non-permanent political and pre-election signs.
(10) The following signs customary and necessary to the operation of filling and service stations:
a. Lettering on buildings displayed over individual entrance doors consisting of the words "washing," "lubrication," "repairing" or words of similar import, provided that there shall not be more than one such sign over each entrance and that the letters shall not exceed ten inches in height.
b. Lettering or other insignia which is a structural part of a gasoline pump or lighting fixture consisting only of a brand name, lead-warning sign and other signs as required by law.
c. A credit card sign not exceeding two square feet in area, affixed to the building or a permanent sign structure.
d. One sign bearing the brand or trade name of the station, of a design specified by the manufacturer, permanently affixed to the building or its own metal substructure, such sign not to exceed 30 square feet.
e. All point of purchase materials or signs located no further than ten linear feet from the gasoline islands or ten linear feet from the physical structure.
(11) Farm and home products for sale signs in residential zoning districts or properties used for residential purposes when up to 12 square feet in area, located on site, and which advertise the sale of farm, garden, nursery or home craft products grown, raised or produced on the premises.
(12) Flags of all nations, states, counties, towns and cities when flown in compliance with the United States flag code.
(13) One directory sign per shopping center or office building. Directory sign alterations may be made without application, provided changes are in keeping with the directory design and graphics.
(14) The numerical street address provided the height of numbers does not exceed six inches and that the numbers are not internally illuminated.
(d) Prohibited signs. The following signs shall not be permitted in any zoning district
(1) Signs that incorporate any flashing or changing illumination or animation.
(2) Any sign that constitutes a hazard to public safety, health or that impedes vision or access to or from public streets, sidewalks or other places or ingress or egress. This includes signs which, because of size, location, content or manner or illumination, obstruct the vision of a driver or detract from the effectiveness of traffic control devices.
(3) Searchlights and inflatables.
(4) Billboards.
(5) Signs affixed to utility poles and trees.
(6) Obsolete or unsafe signs.
(7) Mobile signs.
(e) Permit procedure.
(1) Permit required. Any person intending to erect, relocate or alter any sign within the town shall, except as provided in this article, first obtain a sign permit from the office of the building official.
(2) Application. Application for a sign permit shall be made on forms provided by the building official and shall contain or shall have attached all of the following information:
a. A site plan which shall include the position of all existing and/or proposed signs, indicating the distance and relationship to all existing, proposed and/or adjoining structures or premises.
b. A scaled drawing of each face of all existing and/or proposed signs.
c. All size specifications, including the size of letters and graphics.
d. Description of sign and frame materials and colors.
e. Wall anchorage details.
f. Foundation mounting assembly and/or footing details.
(3) Description of indirect lighting proposed for the signage (i.e., fixture type) and its location on the property or building.
(4) Review of applications. It shall be the duty of the building official, upon the receipt of a completed application for a sign permit, to forward such application for review and comment to those departments with the responsibility to do so and to examine such plans, specifications, other data, and if necessary visit the premises upon which the sign is to be located.
(f) Nonconforming signs. Any sign existing and in compliance with a prior sign ordinance on the effective date of the ordinance from which this article derives, but not in compliance with the terms of this article, shall be considered a legal nonconforming sign. The owner shall be permitted to maintain and/or repair such a sign, provided that the sign shall not be enlarged or structurally altered in any way unless it conforms with this article.
Any change of use requires that any sign identifying the new use must comply with the provisions of this chapter and the previous sign must be removed.
(g) Requirements by zone. For the purpose of this section, subsections (1) and (2), below, take precedence over the underlying zone district(s).
(1) Route 102 overlay zone. Signs shall be constructed of either wood or field stone and indirectly illuminated. Signs shall not exceed 40 square feet in area and be limited to ten feet in height. Monument signs are strongly encouraged within the Route 102 overlay zone. Only signs may be allowed within the protected 50-foot forested buffer per the Route 102 overlay zone.
Shopping centers and office buildings, individual signs and directory signs shall be coordinated as to location, color, material composition and design.
(2) VPD/LDP overlay zone. Signs shall be either constructed of wood or wood composite material. Projecting signs and or window signs may be allowed in mixed-use buildings within the VPD/LDP overlay zone. Projecting signs shall not exceed 15 square feet in area.
(3) Commercial and industrial districts. Signs shall be either constructed of wood, hardy board (hardiplank), or wood composite material and may be indirectly illuminated. Projecting signs and or window signs may be allowed in mixed-use buildings and shall not exceed 15 square feet in area. Projecting signs shall be a minimum of eight feet above sidewalk in zero set back situations.
Shopping centers, plazas and office buildings, individual signs and directory signs shall be coordinated as to location, color, material composition and design.
(4) Residential zone districts. Signs shall not exceed 15 square feet in area and be limited to ten feet in height. Trees shall not be used as a means to secure or support signs. Sign lighting shall be indirect, only, and shall be shielded such that the light is not directed toward adjacent properties.
(Ord. of 5-26-04(2); Ord. of 2-26-2025(3))