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City of Providence
City of Providence Zoning Ordinance
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§ 1603

DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION STANDARDS

1603 DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION STANDARDS All signs constructed, erected, modified, or altered shall comply with the provisions of this Ordinance and the requirements of the Code of Ordinances. All sign dimensions are measured in accordance with the rules of Section 202.

  • A. Prohibited Sign Locations

    1. No sign may be erected in a location that violates the building code, fire code, or other applicable regulations.

  • 2. No sign, other than that placed by agencies of government or a sign whose placement is authorized by this section or the City, may be erected on public property.

  • 3. No sign may be erected on private property without prior consent of the property owner.

  • 4. No sign may be erected in a manner that obstructs access to any ingress or egress, fire escapes, or standpipes.

  • 5. Signs shall be installed as to avoid obstruction of or permanent damage to significant architectural features.

    • B. Construction Standards

      1. Supports and braces shall be designed as an integral part of the overall sign design and hidden from public view to the extent technically feasible.

  • 2. All signs attached to a building shall be installed and maintained so that wall penetrations are watertight and the structure does not exceed allowable stresses of supporting materials.

  • 3. All signs shall be designed and constructed in accordance with building and fire codes.

  • 4. Glass forming any part of a sign shall be safety glass.

  • 5. All letters, figures, characters or representations in cut-out or irregular form, maintained in conjunction with, attached to or superimposed upon any sign shall be safely and securely built into or attached to the sign structure.

  • 6. Audio components are prohibited on any sign, with the exception of menuboards. For menuboards, the audio component is limited to communication between customer and service.

  • 7. All signs shall be fastened to masonry buildings so to be removable without leaving significant damage to the building façade. Attachments should be made at mortar joints, not at the surface of masonry units.

    • C. Electrical Wiring

      1. All electrical fixtures, devices, circuits, conduits, raceways or apparatus used to illuminate, move or project any sign shall be installed and maintained in accordance with the building code and the electrical code. Electrical permits are required for signs with an electrical component.

  • 2. Conduits and other components of a sign illumination system shall be designed as an integral part of the overall sign structure and hidden from public view to the extent technically feasible.

    • D. Sign Copy

      1. All sign copy shall relate to the name or nature of the business or establishment on the site. This does not apply to non-commercial messages.

  • 2. A noncommercial message may be substituted for a commercial message on any sign permitted by this Ordinance.

  • 3. Items of information are limited to a maximum of six items per sign face. Items of information are calculated as follows:

    • a. Each piece of information on a sign is defined as an item of information. For example, each of the following is defined as one item of information: establishment name, logo, telephone number, website address, or product or service. A street address number, if included in the sign copy, is not counted as an item of information.

    • b. If a sign advertises products or services, each product or service, including multi-word, is considered one item of information. Where multiple products are identified on a menu board or sidewalk sign, the list of products is considered one item of information.

    • c. A sign used to identify the tenants within a multi-tenant non-residential development is limited to one item of information per tenant within the development, in addition to the name and address of the development. The sign may exceed six items of information.

    • d. The message area of a changeable or electronic message display, on which information is changed manually or digitally, is counted as one item of information.

    • e. Directory signs, menuboards, and A-frame signs are exempt from the items of information limitation.

    • E. Required Maintenance

      1. All signs shall be maintained in a safe, neat, and orderly condition and appearance, and shall be repainted or otherwise maintained by the property owner to prevent corrosion or deterioration caused by the weather, age, or any other condition.

  • 2. All signs shall be maintained to prevent any kind of safety hazard, including faulty sign structures, a fire hazard, or an electrical shock hazard.

  • 3. All unused sign hardware or wiring that is visible from the right-of-way shall be removed.

  • 4. If a sign is maintained in an unsafe or unsecured condition, the City may serve notice to the property owner that such sign shall be removed or the condition corrected within 30 days of notice. If the sign is not removed or the condition is not corrected within 30 days, the City may remove the sign at the property owner’s expense. The City may remove any sign that is an immediate peril to persons or property summarily and without notice.