Permitting, signage allowed, and supplemental sign regulations
(a) All signs shall meet all applicable local and state building and electrical codes. Application for sign approval, sign relocation, and/or sign alteration shall be made in writing by an owner or an applicant having the legal permission of the owner of the building, structure or land to which or on which the sign is to be erected on forms prescribed and provided by the building division, which shall include the following:
(1) A site plan which shall include a scale drawing of the building and lot on which the signage is proposed and shall show the position of all existing and/or proposed signs, including directional signs. Such site plan shall include the distance and relationship to all existing, proposed and/or adjoining structures or premises. The site plan shall show the location of any existing and proposed signs in relation to all property lines, right-of-way lines, and streets. The building official and/or zoning officer may require any such other information as may be reasonably necessary to administer the provisions of this ordinance relating to signs.
(2) Scaled drawings of all proposed signs and all specifications. Scaled drawings shall be submitted which shall show each proposed sign, including the area, height, width, thickness, illumination and material of which the sign is proposed to be constructed. This information shall include all sign specifications, including the size of letters and graphics, and a description of the sign and frame materials and colors, and associated construction and electrical specifications and details. The area of the sign shall be considered to include all lettering, wording and accompanying designs and symbols, together with the background, whether open space or enclosed.
(3) Building permit fee.
(b) For properties within the East Providence Special Development Waterfront Districts, refer to article IX of this chapter for process, standards and regulations.
(c) Signage for developments consisting of one structure with a gross building area of 10,000 square feet or greater or a multitenant development of gross building area of 10,000 square feet or greater, shall be reviewed under the development plan review process. Sign applications may be referred to other city staff as appropriate, including the police chief, for review for safety and access considerations.
(d) Issuance of permits. If the building official and zoning officer find the proposed sign(s) to be in conformance with this chapter, a building permit shall be issued. If the erection or installation of the sign authorized under any such permit has not been started within six months from the date of the issuance of such permit, the permit shall become null and void.
(e) Maximum permitted sign area. In all zoning districts but the residential districts, the maximum permitted area for signs on a building shall be based on the building frontage. In buildings with more than one tenant, each tenant's sign shall be based on the building frontage of each individual tenant space, as long as the total area of all signs on the buildings does not exceed the total allowable signage. Where a building fronts on two or more streets, the total area for signs for each building street shall be based on the building frontage for that street.
TABLE 1
Office uses (Commercial 1, Commercial 2, and Business Technology): The maximum total area of all signs on any premises shall not exceed 1.5 square feet per every one foot of building frontage. Window signs shall not be included in this calculation. Such signs may be externally or internally illuminated. The maximum area of any individual sign shall be limited as follows:
| Sign Type |
Area
(Maximum) |
Height
(Feet) |
Setback
(Feet) |
Projection Over
Public Right-of-Way (Feet) |
| Canopy | 1.5 s.f. (square feet) per 1 foot of building frontage | — | — | — (2) |
| Freestanding (1) | 30 s.f. per side, not to exceed 60 s.f. | 20 Maximum | 5 Minimum | — |
| Projecting | 3 s.f. per side, not to exceed 6 s.f. | 3 | — | Maximum 3 feet over public sidewalk (3) |
| Roof | Not permitted | — | — | — |
| Wall | 60 s.f. | — | — | — |
| Window | 10% of building's window area | — | — | — |
(1) Only one freestanding sign is permitted per street frontage. A monument sign may be used in place of a freestanding sign.
(2) An awning covering a window or door may extend no more than two feet over a sidewalk or an area of pedestrian activity.
(3) A projected sign shall not extend from the exterior of a building, ceiling or wall more than five feet from over any publicly traveled way other than a sidewalk.
TABLE 2
General business, highway business, and heavy business (C-3, C-4, C-5): The maximum area of all signs on any premises shall not exceed two square feet per one foot of building frontage. Window signs shall not be included in this calculation. Such signs may be externally or internally illuminated. The maximum area of any individual sign shall be limited as follows:
| Sign Type |
Area
(Maximum) |
Height
(Feet) |
Setback
(Feet) |
Projection Over
Public Right-of-Way (Feet) |
| Canopy | 2 s.f. per 1 foot of building frontage | — | — | — (2) |
| Freestanding (1) |
100 s.f. per side, not to exceed 200 s.f.
Digital cannot exceed 50 percent of the overall sign face per side |
25 | 5 | — |
| Projecting | 20 s.f. | 5 | 1 (3) | |
| Roof | Not permitted | — | — | — |
| Wall | 200 s.f. | — | — | — |
| Window | 25% of building's window area | — | — | — |
(1) Only one freestanding sign is permitted per street frontage. A monument sign may be used in place of a freestanding sign.
(2) An awning covering a window or door may extend no more than two feet over a sidewalk or an area of pedestrian activity.
(3) A projected sign shall not extend from the exterior of a building, ceiling or wall more than five feet from over any publicly traveled way other than a sidewalk.
TABLE 3
Industrial 1, Industrial 2, Industrial 3: The maximum area of all signs on any premises shall not exceed one square foot per one foot of building frontage. Window signs shall not be included in this calculation. Such signs may be externally or internally illuminated. The maximum area of any individual sign shall be limited as follows:
| Sign Type |
Area
(Maximum) |
Height
(Feet) |
Setback
(Feet) |
Projection Over
Public Right-of-Way (Feet) |
| Canopy | 2 s.f. per 1 linear foot of building frontage | — | — | — (2) |
| Freestanding (1) | 50 s.f. per side, not to exceed 100 s.f. | 20 | 5 | — |
| Projecting | 20 | 10 | 1 (3) | |
| Roof | Not permitted | — | — | — |
| Wall | 100 s.f. | — | — | — |
| Window | Not permitted | — | — | — |
(1) Only one freestanding sign is permitted per street frontage. A monument sign may be used in place of a freestanding sign.
(2) An awning covering a window or door may extend no more than two feet over a sidewalk and/or an area of pedestrian activity.
(3) A projected sign shall not extend from the exterior of a building, ceiling or wall more than five feet from over any publicly traveled way other than a sidewalk.
(f) Supplemental sign regulations.
(1) Exterior signs in all commercial and industrial districts shall be lighted only by electrical illumination so arranged as to reflect light away from adjoining residential districts and streets and shall be located 25 feet or more from any residential district boundary line or at least 50 feet from the property lines of any residential use. Such signs shall pertain only to a use or business connected on the premises on which it is located and freestanding signs shall not exceed 20 feet in height. Projecting signs shall not extend more than three feet from the face of any building over any sidewalk, but in any case shall not project within three feet of the curb line.
(2) In the instance of a lot or parcel containing frontage on more than one street, each street frontage may have one freestanding sign.
(3) Illumination standards:
a. No signs which are internally illuminated shall be located in any designated historic districts.
b. Illuminated signs shall not cause off-site glare, nor shall they direct light or shine light off the premises on which the sign is located.
(4) Sign maintenance. With all zones and districts, all signs shall be constructed of durable materials and shall be maintained in good structural condition and appearance in compliance with this article at all times. All supports, braces, guys and anchors shall be kept in good repair and shall be kept clean, and free from all hazards so as not to endanger public safety.
(5) For corridors identified in the comprehensive plan for targeted revitalization and/or retention as scenic or residential parkway corridors, the following standards for signs shall be adhered to:
a. Willett Avenue: For properties with frontage on Willett Avenue located from the intersection on the north side of Pawtucket Avenue and Willett Avenue to the intersection of the north side of Park Drive and Willett Avenue, there shall be no internal illumination or backlighting of signs. Any sign illumination shall be external, meaning by a light source located at a distance from the sign and with said light illuminating the sign face, e.g., gooseneck lighting or a spotlight. Signs may be illuminated by a stationary white or off-white steady light only. These lights shall not provide glare, nor shall they direct light or shine off the premises.
b. Veteran's Memorial Parkway: Only monument signs shall be allowed along the frontage of this State-designated Scenic Roadway and shall be externally lit.
(Ch. 506, § XIV, 7-20-10; Ch. 642, § XVI, 3-15-16; Ch. 914, § I(Att.), 12-19-23)