Standard sign use regulation.
§ 255-1510. Standard sign use regulation.
A. The following signs are allowed without permits provided they conform to all applicable regulations, and are not illuminated:
(1) Name and address of resident. One per residence not to exceed 1 1/2 square feet in area.
(2) No trespassing signs.
(3) Bulletin boards. Not to exceed 12 square feet for public or religious institutions when located on the property thereof, provided there is no commercial advertising.
(4) For sale signs. Not to exceed six square feet in a residential zone and 32 square feet in a commercial or industrial zone.
(5) Instructional or directional signs. Identifying on-premises traffic, parking or other functional activity bearing no commercial advertising.
(6) Signs erected by the Town of Coventry, the State of Rhode Island or by the United States of America.
(7) Memorial signs or tablets. Denoting the date of erection of buildings.
(8) Identification signs. Places of worship or certified nonprofit educational institutions when located on the property thereof and not to exceed 15 square feet in area.
(9) Election signs and/or political signs. Shall not be attached to any tree or utility pole within the public right-of-way and shall be removed within 10 days after the election.
(10) Accessory signs denoting as hours of operation, credit cards, business affiliations, and the like.
(11) The following signs customary and necessary to the operation of gasoline filling stations:
(a) One wall-mounted sign over each garage, not larger than 10 inches in height consisting of words like "washing," "lubrication," and "repair."
(b) Signs and insignias on gas pumps such as brand name, lead warning sign and one price sign per pump not exceeding 2 1/2 square feet per side which is attached to the pump.
(c) One price per gallon sign not larger than 12 square feet per side, using numbers no larger than 18 inches in height. This sign shall be freestanding and shall have a clearance of at least seven feet from the ground.
(12) Time and temperature devices. Which contain no advertising and do not exceed 20 square feet.
(13) Awning signs. Less than 10 square feet in area, not to exceed one such awning sign per use.
(14) Sale of produce raised on land signs, the total of which shall not exceed 12 square feet in area.
B. The following signs shall not be permitted:
(1) Signs which have any visible moving parts, whether mobile, revolving or animated, which motion or animation is achieved by wind, motors or flashing lights, unless permitted by another section of this chapter.
(2) Flashing or animated signs.
(3) Any sign or sign support, which for any reasons constitutes a hazard by obstructing the vision of a driver; detracting from the vision of a driver; detracting from the visibility or effectiveness of any traffic sign or device; obstructing free ingress or egress from a fire escape, door, window or other required exit; or make use of words such as "stop," "look," "one way," "danger," "yield," or any similar words or characters, so as to interfere with, mislead or confuse traffic.
(4) String lights. Strung light bulbs, searchlights, streamers, pennants, banners, spinners, or other devices strung across, upon, over or along any structure or building in conjunction with a commercial or industrial use. A temporary sign permit may be issued for 30 days to allow such uses in conjunction with special events, but no more than three temporary sign permits may be issued for every twelve-month period to the same person, as defined in § 255-200A.
(5) Projecting signs. Erected so as to project approximately perpendicular from the exterior of any building or wall and which exceed 16 square feet in area, unless otherwise stated in this chapter, or which project more than four feet from the exterior of said building or wall or are less than 10 feet above sidewalk grade. Nothing herein shall be construed to permit the erection of any projecting sign over a public way without the approval of the Building Inspector or Zoning Enforcement Officer.
(6) Roof-mounted signs. Any sign that projects more than two feet above the roof parapet of a building or mounted upon any roof, parapet or ridge line of a building.
(7) Billboards. Or other off-premises signs.
(8) Portable signs. Defined as a metal or plastic framed, freestanding portable sign with or without changeable lettering, with or without illumination shall be prohibited. However, a portable Aframe sign with no interchangeable lettering, up to six square feet, shall be permitted as a temporary sign with the appropriate permit.
C. Signs: area, height, setback and number:
(1) The area of a sign is the total area within a line drawn around all surfaces or structures of the sign including spaces between or within letters and/or pictorial matter, slates, panels, and major supports or frames if designed as a integral part of the sign, but specifically excluding the spaces between major supports required for clearance between sign and the ground.
(2) The height of a sign shall be the vertical distance measured from the ground at the base of the sign to the highest point of any portion of the sign or supporting structure.
(3) Permitted signs shall be placed five feet back from front, side and rear lot lines except when the sign is located on the building. Such signs shall be located 50 feet away from any residential district boundary. The setback for a freestanding sign shall be measured from the lot line to the outermost edge of the sign or supporting structure, whichever is closer to the lot line.
D. Sign permits:
(1) A sign permit, issued by the Building Inspector or Zoning Enforcement Officer, shall be required for all permanent and temporary signs hereafter erected, installed or replaced, unless specifically exempted by this chapter. Any sign erected without a sign permit may be removed by the Building Inspector, Zoning Enforcement Officer or a designated representative. The Town, Building Inspector, Zoning Enforcement Officer or representative shall not be held liable for any damage to the sign as a result of such sign's removal or storage. The owner may claim the sign after paying any fees that result from the sign's storage and/or removal.
(2) Application for a sign permit.
(a) The following information shall be provided with the application for a sign permit:
[1] The size of the proposed sign, area, height, width, thickness, illumination and material of which it is to be constructed.
[2] A detailed drawing showing the construction details of the sign, position of lighting or other extraneous devices, and support structures.
[3] A plot plan showing the location of the sign in relation to the building and all property lines and streets.
(b) The Building Inspector or Zoning Enforcement Officer may require additional information or specify the location of the sign on the lot for safety purposes.
E. Temporary sign permits. The following temporary signs are permitted provided that they are not illuminated and a sign permit has been obtained.
(1) Signs in connection with construction work. One sign per project not to exceed 32 square feet.
(2) Signs advertising auctions and special events conducted by nonprofit organizations. Not to exceed 20 square feet and not to be in place for more than 30 days. No more than three signs advertising any such event shall be erected at any one time.
(3) Supplemental commercial advertising sign. Not to be in place for more than 30 days and no more than one sign per commercial establishment. There shall be no more than three temporary sign permits for every twelve-month period per establishment. Such signs shall be placed 10 feet back from property lines and shall not be located in any required parking space or access road. Where an existing building is located on the property line, such sign may be located on the sidewalk adjacent to the building.
F. A temporary permit shall be valid for no more than six months, unless otherwise specified in this chapter, and shall not be extended. The sign must be removed at the expiration of the permit period or within 10 days after the completion of the advertised activity, whichever is sooner. A cash bond of $25 shall be posted with the Building Inspector for each temporary sign. This sum will be returned upon removal of the temporary sign. If the sign is not removed when the permit expires, the Building Inspector or Zoning Enforcement Officer shall cause the sign to be removed and the cash bond shall be forfeited to the Town's General Fund to help defray the cost of removal.