Sign Regulations

Sec. 6.17. Sign Regulations.

• 6.17.1 Purpose. The purpose of these regulations is to encourage the effective use of signs as a means of communication in the town, provide for the protection of the scenic, historic, cultural and natural character of North Smithfield, maintain and enhance a healthy business environment in commercial and industrial zones, improve pedestrian and traffic safety, minimize the adverse effect of visual clutter on property values, and to enable fair and consistent enforcement of these sign restrictions by regulating only the time, place, size and illumination of such signs, and not in any way regulating the content of such signs.

• 6.17.2. Definitions – Signs Outdoor advertising business- Those persons who provide outdoor advertising to other businesses.

in its subject matter to the premises on which it is located, or to products, activities on the premises. On-site signs do not include signs erected by the in the conduct of the outdoor advertising business.

advertising device, including a billboard which advertises a use or activity not service not sold, manufactured or conducted on the lot upon which the sign or than an on-site sign. any permanent or temporary device, reproduction, material or structure which is: freestanding, attached to a building or structure or erected, painted, represented or reproduced inside or outside any building, structure or natural object, including window display area, which displays, reproduces or includes any lettered or pictorial matter; which is used to identify the premises , occupant or owner of the premises; to advertise any trade, business, profession, industry, service or other activity; to advertise any product or item; to advertise the sale, rental or use of all or part of any premises or item, including that upon which it is displayed; to direct vehicular or pedestrian traffic other than 6-15 public highway markers; and shall also include any announcement, demonstration, display, illustration, logo or insignia used to advertise or promote the interests of any persons or business when the same is placed in order to attract the general public. In no event shall the word "sign" be construed to mean any sign in the interior of any structure, not visible from the outside, unless specifically set forth in this Ordinance. Excluded from this definition also are pavement markings or driveway directional arrows painted on the ground, which contain no advertising. Outdoor advertising-The use of outdoor signs to promote or advertise goods or services to the public. Shopping Center- A group (two or more) of commercial establishments, planned, developed, owned, and/or managed as a unit, with off-street parking provided on the same lot or contiguous lots; or any group of commercial establishments sharing common walls; or a group of separately owned establishments which share a common parking lot with spaces for at least ten (10) cars. Sign, Awning or Canopy- A sign painted on or attached to the cover of a structural frame; movably hinged, rolled, folding or rigid. Sign, Changeable- A sign whose informational content can be changed or altered by manual, electric, electro-mechanical, or electronic means. Changeable signs include the following :

• 1. Manual: Signs whose alphabetic, pictographic, or symbolic informational content can be changed or altered by manual means.

• 2. Electrical : Signs whose alphabetic, pictographic, or symbolic informational content can be changed or altered on a fixed display surface composed of electrically illuminated or mechanically driven changeable segments. Includes two types: o Fixed Message Electronic Signs: Signs whose basic informational content has been preprogrammed to include only certain types of information projection.

• Computer Controlled Variable Message Electronic Signs: Signs whose informational o content can be changed or altered by means of computer-driven electronic impulses. Sign, Externally Illuminated- A sign illuminated with an artificial light directed primarily toward such sign from an exterior source. Sign, Freestanding- A sign located on the ground and supported by a pole, uprights, braces or frame and not attached to any building or similar structure. Sign, Inflatable- A sign whose principal system of structural support is by means of compressed gases, air blower, hot air or similar methods. Such sign may be in the shape of a balloon or other threedimensional shape and may be free-standing, supported or tethered and may be constructed of flexible and/or solid materials. Sign, Internally Illuminated-A sign designed to give forth light from an artificial source in such a manner as to be an integral part of the construction of the sign, and signs illuminated from within. This also includes backlit signs, and so-called halo or silhouette signs where the lighting source is located behind individual letters or other sign elements. 6-16 Sign, Obsolete- Any sign which advertises an area, use, business or product no longer sold on site or

offered.

sign which is erected so as to extend approximately perpendicular from an exterior building or structure.

A sign painted upon, placed upon, or affixed to or located above the roof of any thereof. that will be displayed for a limited duration. which is mounted or designed for mounting on wheels, or which is mounted or on a self-propelled or towed vehicle. Such signs shall include, but not be limited signs attached to a truck, chassis, detachable vehicle trailer or other such mobile include signs painted or otherwise inscribed on a self-propelled vehicle or towed the product, service or an activity for which the vehicle is used, unless the vehicle is for advertising purposes.

A single-faced sign erected against, painted on or attached to the exterior wall of (except a freestanding sign support) including signs attached to fences, screens sign painted upon, placed upon or maintained inside or outside an exterior glass the outside and which is intended to be visible from any public or private street. -The surface area of the vertical front wall of a building facing a public street or private access road, measured from left sidewall to right sidewall and from the top of the first floor joist or building slab to the top of the floor joist or ceiling rafter of the uppermost floor of the business.

• 6.17.3. Signs permitted in any zoning district without permits The following signs shall be permitted in any zoning district without a permit, and shall not be counted when calculating the maximum number of signs permitted or the total permitted sign area. Such signs shall not be illuminated, except as otherwise noted.

• • (a) Signs erected by the Town of North Smithfield, the State of Rhode Island or the United States of America pursuant to and in discharge of any governmental function, or required by any law, ordinance or governmental regulation. Such signs may be illuminated internally or externally.

• • (b) Signs not exceeding one and one-half (1-1/2) square feet in area and bearing only property numbers, post box numbers, names of occupants of premises, or other identification of premises not having commercial connotations.

• • (c) An announcement board, or changeable sign, no greater than twelve (12) square feet in area, for a church, school or other public or semi-public use. Such signs may be illuminated internally or externally.

• • (d) Instructional or directional signs identifying on-premises traffic, parking or other functional activity. There shall be no more than one sign for each applicable activity, and bearing no 6-17 commercial advertising. Each sign shall not exceed two (2) sq. ft. in area, and such signs may be illuminated internally or externally.

• • (e) Accessory signs incidental to a business conducted on the premises indicating hours of operation, credit cards, business affiliation and the like, provided that the total area of all such signs does not exceed three (3) square feet per business or use, and are located on a door or are wallmounted at or immediately adjacent to a public entrance to the building on the premises.

• • (f) Digital clocks or time/temperature clocks which contain no advertising, and which do not exceed fifteen (15) square feet in area.

• • (g) Sale of produce raised on the premises signs, not exceeding six (6) square feet in area.

• • (h) Permanent window signs which do not exceed thirty (30) percent of the window area.

• • (i) Integral decorative or architectural features of buildings, except letters, trademarks, moving parts, or moving lights.

• • (j) Holiday signs and decorations 45 days prior to and 15 days after the specific holiday. The term "holiday" means and includes all federal or state legal holidays and all recognized religious holidays.

• • (k) Signs customary and necessary to the operation of filling and service stations and automotive fueling areas. The number, area and height of freestanding signs shall be regulated by Section 6.17.6 of this Ordinance.

• 1. 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.

• 2. 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, price-per-gallon sign or other signs as required by law.

• 3. A credit card sign not exceeding two square feet in area, affixed to the building or a permanent sign structure.

• 4. One or more signs 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 as a canopy or roof located above pump islands, the total area of such signs not to exceed 30 square feet.

• 5. All point of purchase materials or signs located no further than ten linear feet from the gasoline islands or ten linear feet from the principal building.

• 6. Any such freestanding sign may be internally illuminated, regardless of the zoning district in which it is located.

• 6.17.4. Signs prohibited in all zoning districts.

• • (a) Billboards or other off-site advertising signs. Off-site directional signs may be permitted only by the granting of a special use permit by the Zoning Board of Review.

• • (b) Portable signs, including sandwich-board signs and trailer signs.

• • (c) Changeable signs, which change the content or display more frequently than once every two (2) minutes.

• • (d) Animated, revolving, sparkling or flashing signs, or signs which incorporate intermittent, oscillating, or moving spot lights. 6-18

    (e) Signs attached to trees, traffic signs, regulating signs, or utility poles; except for signs on private property posting restrictions on hunting or trespassing , not exceeding two (2) square feet in area per sign.

• • (f) Permanent inflatable signs or inflatable objects displayed as a form of advertising.

• • (g) Roof-mounted signs.

• • (h) String lights, banners or flags. The use of string lights, banners or flags to call attention to a business or activity are prohibited. However, such signs associated with public, religious, or charitable organizations are permitted for a period not to exceed thirty (30) days in any calendar year. The use of established governmental flags are permitted, provided the use is consistent with the established standards of display and the intent is not to call attention to the business and activity. Factors that shall be considered by the Building Official in making such determination shall include, but not be limited to, the size and quantity of the flags, banners or lights.

• • (i) Projecting signs which extend over a public sidewalk or public way, without the approval of the Building Official.

• • (j) Any sign that constitutes a hazard to public safety or health, including signs which because of size, location, or manner of illumination, obstruct the vision of a driver or detract from the effectiveness of traffic control devices, or that impede vision or access to or from public streets, sidewalks or other places or ingress or egress.

• • (k) Any obsolete sign, which no longer advertises a bonafide business conducted or product sold on the premises. Such signs shall be removed within thirty (30) days of the date on which they became obsolete.

• 6.17.5. Signs in residential zoning districts (REA, RA, RS, and RU) shall be governed by the following regulations:

• • (a) One freestanding or one wall-mounted sign shall be permitted for a use authorized by the Zoning Board of Review by the granting of a special use permit. No such sign shall exceed nine (9) square feet in area, and shall not be illuminated.

• • (b) One freestanding or wall-mounted sign identifying a permitted home occupation shall be permitted. No such sign shall exceed six (6) square feet in area, and shall not be illuminated.

• • (c) One non-illuminated sign for an approved accessory use, not to exceed six (6) sq. ft.

• 6.17.6. Signs in business and manufacturing districts (BN, BH, PS, LC and M) shall be governed by the following regulations:

• • (a) Except as noted below for shopping centers, there shall be a maximum of two (2) regulated signs per principal building in any business or manufacturing zoning district. Permitted signs include a maximum of one freestanding sign, which may be two-sided, plus either one wall-mounted, projecting or awning sign.

• • (b) Where a building fronts on two or more streets or access roadways, the total area of signs shall be based on the building’s frontage on a given street and as other wise provided in tables (b) and 6-19 (d) below. A maximum of two street frontages may be counted in the calculation of sign area for a single user building located on a corner.

• • (c) If there is no freestanding sign, there may be a maximum of two (2) wall-mounted, projecting or awning signs, in any combination. In BN, LC and PS zones, signs may be externally illuminated only. Signs in BH and M zones may be either internally or externally illuminated.

• • (d) The maximum area per sign of any permitted sign shall be as follows:

(e) common business or internally

• (f) in shopping is to be The maximum number of wall-mounted signs shall not be limited, provided however that the total area of all wall-mounted signs shall not exceed the area specified in the table above. 6-20

  (g) Freestanding signs in shopping centers. A maximum of one (1) freestanding sign per shopping center is permitted. Provided, however that shopping centers which have more than one principal entrance, and (1) each entrance is located on a separate street; or (2) the entrances are at least 1000 feet apart, the maximum number of freestanding signs may be increased to two (2).

• Freestanding signs may be either internally or externally illuminated.

• The maximum area and height of freestanding signs for shopping centers shall not exceed the limits specified in the table below.

permitted wallthe permitted sign text 1 Including BH Limited 6-21 Construction, alteration, or repair of a sign in a Historic District shall be governed by the provisions of Section 19 of this Ordinance.

• 6.17.8. Temporary signs. All temporary signs identified herein shall be permitted in any zoning district without a permit provided that they are removed within ten (10) days following the completion of the advertised activity. No such temporary sign shall be in place more than a total of 30 days, except as otherwise noted.

• • (a) Special events. One sign not to exceed 32 sq. ft. in area denoting a special event of a noncommercial nature, such as fairs, auctions, sporting events, etc. Such signs may be erected not more than thirty (30) days prior to the event and shall be removed within ten (10) days after the event. Such signs may not be illuminated.

• • (b) 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 (6) square feet in residential zones or twenty (20) square feet in nonresidential zones. Signs indicating the property has been sold must be removed within ten (10) days after the sale is completed.

• • (c) Temporary signs for subdivisions or other real estate developments (six months renewable, three (3) year maximum), no greater than thirty-two (32) square feet in area. The wording shall be restricted to the advertising of the sale or lease of the subject property.

• 6.17.9. Political, election, and non-commercial free speech signs.

• • (a) Purpose. It is the purpose of this section to regulate only the time, place, size and illumination of such signs, and not in any way to regulate the content of such signs.

• • (b) Such signs shall not be attached to any tree, traffic sign, regulating sign or utility pole or within the public right-of-way.

• • (c) No such individual sign shall exceed six (6) square feet (2’x 3’).

• • (d) In a Residential Zone, such signs may be illuminated, but only externally.

• • Any such sign that pertains to a particular event (such as an election or referendum), or public figure (such as person holding public office), or public policy shall be removed within ten (10) days after the particular event 6.17.10. Signs, number, area, height, illumination and placement.

• • (a) Number. For the purposes of determining the number of signs, a sign shall be considered to be a single display surface or display device containing elements organized, related, and composed to form a unit. Where matter is displayed in a random manner without organized relationship of elements, or where there is reasonable doubt about the relationship of elements, each element shall be considered to be a single sign.

• • (b) Measurement of Sign Area. The surface area of a sign shall be computed as including the entire area within a regular geometric form or combinations of regular geometric forms comprising all of the display 6-22 area of the sign and including all of the elements of the matter displayed. Frames and structural members not bearing advertising matter shall not be included in computation of surface area. For a sign consisting of individual letters or symbols attached to or painted on a surface, building, wall or window, the area shall be considered to be that of the smallest single geometric form or other single shape which encompasses all of the letters or symbols. When a sign has two or more faces, the area of all faces shall be included in determining the area, except where two faces are placed back to back and are at no point more than one foot from each other. In this case, the sign area shall be taken as the area of either face, and if the faces are unequal, the larger shall determine the area.

• • (c) Height. The height of a sign shall mean the vertical distance measured from the average ground level at the base of the sign to the highest portion of any portion of the sign or supporting structure.

• • (d) Illumination. Where permitted by this ordinance, signs may be internally or externally illuminated. Indirect light sources, including light bulbs or tubes shall be shielded so as not to create glare upon abutting or nearby streets or abutting property. Direct light sources, including signs having internal lighting, shall be designed so as to either shine through a plastic or other translucent covering, or to create backlighting of individual letters or graphic material. The light source shall be shielded and focused not to extend beyond the sign border.

• • (e) Placement Standards. No freestanding sign shall be paced closer than ten (10) feet to any lot line.

• 6.17.11. Permit procedure.

• • (a) 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 Building Official or designee. This requirement shall not apply to temporary signs and signs listed in Section 6.17.3 herein.

• • (b) Application. Application for a sign permit shall be made on forms provided by the Building Official/Zoning Official and shall contain or shall have attached all of the following information:

• • • (1) Submittal requirements are as follows:

• 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 is required, including but not limited to the following:

• 1. All size specifications, including the size of letters and graphics.

• 2. Description of sign and frame materials and colors.

• 3. Wall anchorage details. (Note: Anchorage must be interior to the sign or camouflaged).

• 4. Foundation mounting assembly and/or footing details.

• • c. An elevation drawn to scale of the entire wall of the building to which the sign is to be fixed, correctly locating the sign, and providing the width of the building or affected unit and the height of the first floor.

• • • (2) Names of persons performing the work.

• • • (3) Written consent of the owner and lessor of the premises. 6-23

      (4) The electrical permit, if any, when required by the state building code.

• • • (5) Description of illumination proposed for the sign and its location on the property or building if the proposed sign is to be illuminated.

• • • • (c) Fees. Each application for signs shall be accompanied by a filing fee or such other fees as shall from time to time be established by the town council.

• • • • (d) Review of applications. It shall be the duty of the Building Official or designee, 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. If it shall appear that the proposed sign is in compliance with all requirements and other town ordinances, the Building Official or designee shall approve the application and issue the permit.