Requirements by zone and type of sign
(a) Business and industrial districts. In the business and industrial districts, signs shall be in compliance with the following standards listed below. Properties located in the Post Road District (PRD), Wickford Village District (WVD), and the Historic District (HD) may have additional requirements by zoning and physical standards contained within this chapter.
(1) Size and number when the minimum building setback is equal to or greater than 30 feet. When the building zoning setback or physical setback is equal to or greater than 30 feet from the property line, the size and number of signs shall not exceed the following:
a. Freestanding signs. When multiple freestanding signs are allowed, such signs must be at least 150 feet apart. The number of signs per support is not limited. The aggregate square footage of all signs on each support may not exceed the following, based on total linear frontage:
1. From zero to 100 feet, one freestanding sign is allowed, not to exceed 30 square feet.
2. From greater than 100—200 feet, one freestanding sign is allowed, not to exceed 40 square feet.
3. From greater than 200—300 feet, one freestanding sign is allowed, not to exceed 50 square feet.
4. From greater than 300—400 feet, two freestanding supports are allowed, each shall not exceed 40 square feet.
5. From greater than 400—500 feet, two freestanding supports are allowed, each shall not exceed 45 square feet.
6. For greater than 500 feet or more, two freestanding supports are allowed, each of which shall not exceed 50 square feet.
b. Wall-mounted, awning, projecting or permanent glass signs. Wall-mounted, awning, projecting or permanent glass signs may be used in any number or combination on the front of the building, provided that the signs do not exceed ten percent of the store front area.
1. Side wall signs may be used in any combination that does not exceed ten square feet when the store side directly or indirectly abuts a parking lot or street. Wall-mounted and projecting signs shall not extend more than 12 inches from the wall.
2. One awning sign may only be used when mounted on the main entrance of a nonresidential use. No awnings shall be allowed above the second floor.
a. If an awning encompasses more than one store front, each establishment having an entrance under the awning is allowed one sign located at the main entrance of such establishment.
b. The awning sign shall be flat against the awning surface and located only on the portion of the awning which is parallel to the building front. Signage is not allowed on awning sides.
c. The area of signage on an awning is calculated by drawing the smallest possible square or rectangle around the alphanumeric characters and/or graphic elements of the sign portion of the awning.
d. Any awning sign must be designed in accordance with RI SBI-C Rhode Island Building Code (Commercial) requirements.
e. No more than 30% of the awning may be used for signage which may include lettering, logos, symbols, and graphics.
f. An awning sign shall not be lit from underneath or behind.
g. Individual window awnings shall not contain signage.
c. Digital/electronic signs. Digital or electronic signs shall be allowed subject to receiving a sign permit with the following requirements:
1. Digital/electronic signage shall be allowed only on freestanding or groundmounted signs. No digital/electronic signage shall be wall mounted.
2. Digital signs shall be allowed only in the following areas: commercial or business zoned properties with property frontage on Route 2, Route 102, Route 1, Route 4, Route 402, and Route 1A (excluding Wickford Village Business District).
3. The digital/electronic sign shall be integral to the full sign.
4. The digital/electronic portion of the sign shall not exceed eight square feet.
5. The digital/electronic message of the sign cannot change more than once every 12 hours, unless the digital/electronic sign is a time and temperature sign.
6. The sign shall be monochromatic with no flashing.
(2) Size and number when the minimum building setback is less than 30 feet. When the building zoning setback or physical setback is less than 30 feet from the property line, property owners may at their discretion, and where physically possible, utilize either a projecting sign or front wall-mounted sign. The square footage requirements for either a wall-mounted or projecting sign will be the same as subsection (a)(1)(b) of this section. Side wall-mounted signs as described in subsection (a)(1)(b) of this section shall be allowed. However, if property owners at their discretion elect not to use either a projecting or front wall-mounted sign, the area allowed for side wall-mounted signs shall not exceed ten percent of the store front area. Lighting for buildings set back less than 30 feet shall be indirect only.
(3) Shopping centers and office buildings. In shopping centers and office buildings, individual signs shall be coordinated as to location, color and design whenever possible.
(4) Directory signs. Directory signage shall not exceed eight square feet.
(5) Height requirements. Freestanding signs must be erected so that the lowest portion of the sign, not including the support, is higher than seven feet and the highest portion of the sign, including the support, is not above 15 feet. Ground-mounted signs shall not exceed five feet in height.
(6) Setbacks. Setback requirements shall be as follows:
a. Signs shall be set back from street rights-of-way in accordance with the terms of this section and shall be exempt from the setback and corner clearance requirements contained in Section 21-306.
b. Any freestanding or ground-mounted sign that is to be located on a lot that abuts a residential zoning district shall be required to comply with the side yard and rear yard setbacks of that residential zoning district.
c. Ground-mounted signs must be at least 15 feet from the property line and driveway.
(7) A-frame signage.
a. No more than one A-frame sign shall be allowed per business, per lot.
b. Where multiple businesses are located on a single lot with frontage in excess of 50 feet, a maximum of one A-frame sign per 50 feet of frontage is allowed up to a maximum of four signs per property.
c. A-frame signs that are to be located on a lot which abuts a residential zoning district shall be required to comply with the side yard and rear yard setbacks of that residential zoning district.
d. A-frame signs shall be placed on the lot of record for that business and shall not be placed in public rights-of-ways.
e. The sign panel on each side shall not exceed six square feet.
f. A-frame signs shall only be allowed to be displayed during hours of business operation. Signs shall be removed and stored so that they are not visible when the business is closed.
g. A-frame signs shall be properly secured and used in a manner so as to not cause harm to the public.
h. A-frame signs shall not be permanently anchored, attached, or chained to a pole, utility pole, newspaper box, or other structures or appurtenances.
i. A-frame signs shall not contain any electrical components nor have any moving parts.
j. For businesses that do not have public road frontage, one A-frame sign may be allowed on an abutting property with written permission from the landowner subject to meeting all of the above criteria.
k. A-frame signs shall not require permits except for those on public property. A-frames on public property must receive permission in writing from town administration.
(8) Signage requirements for all properties in the Post Road District (PRD) shall follow this section as well as the sign design guidelines located in the Subdivisions and Land Development Regulations.
(b) Residential district. In residential districts, signs shall be in compliance with the following:
(1) No signs are allowed in residential districts except those that are exempt from this article according to section 21-243.
(2) For business uses permitted by special exception in a residential district, one sign of up to 12 square feet shall be allowed.
(3) Sign lighting shall be indirect, only, and shall be shielded such that the light is not directed toward and does not shine light upon adjacent properties.
(4) Signs in residential districts shall comply with the setback requirements established in subsection (a)(6) of this section.
(Ord. No. 94-14, § 1, 8-15-1994; Ord. No. 03-8, § 8, 6-9-2003; Ord. No. 12-13, § 5, 10-22-2012; Ord. No. 15-11, § 3, 10-19-2015; Ord. No. 25-08, § 3, 10-20-2025)