The purpose of this Article is to recognize
the function of signs in the City of Pawtucket, to provide for their
inclusion under this chapter and to regulate and control all matters
relating to such signs, including location, size and purpose. Signs
are accessory uses and are permitted only in conjunction with permitted
uses. Such signs are intended to advertise goods, services, facilities,
events or attractions available on the premises where located, to
identify the owner or occupant or to direct traffic on the premises.
It is the further purpose of the Article to preserve locally recognized
values of community appearance; to safeguard and enhance property
values in residential, commercial and industrial areas; to protect
public investment in and the character of public thoroughfares; to
reduce hazards to motorists and pedestrians traveling on the public
way, and thereby to promote the public health, safety and welfare.
These purposes will be accomplished by regulation of the display,
erection, use and maintenance of signs. The use of signs is regulated
according to zoning district. The placement and physical dimensions
of signs are regulated primarily by type and length of building frontage.
No sign will be permitted as a main or accessory
use except in accordance with the provisions of this Article.
[Amended 10-23-1997 by Ch. No. 2470; 8-25-2004 by Ch. No. 2739; 2-25-2010 by Ch. No. 2934]
A.
Governmental. Signs of every kind and nature erected by or on behalf
of any federal, state or local government agency, including official
traffic control or informational signs, hazard warning signs, City-sponsored
outdoor murals, legal notices, railroad crossing signs or other similar
signs required by law.
B.
Signage that does not exceed one square foot in area, is nonilluminated
and is limited to a total area of two square feet per structure.
C.
Signs that cannot be seen from the public right-of-way.
D.
Temporary signs. The following signs, whether fixed or portable,
are permitted in all zones.
(1)
Signs for events; provided, however, that no such temporary sign
may be erected for a period of more than 45 consecutive days in any
year nor more than 30 days prior to the event, plus the duration of
the event, with a total of 60 cumulative days throughout the year.
(a)
Within all residential and riverfront zones, such signs shall
not exceed a total area of 12 square feet and shall be set back a
minimum of six feet from any property line.
(b)
Within all commercial zones, such signs shall not exceed a total
area of 32 square feet and shall be set back a minimum of 10 feet
from any property line.
(c)
Within all manufacturing zones, such signs shall not exceed
a total area of 32 square feet and shall be set back a minimum of
10 feet from any property line.
The following signs shall be prohibited in all
zones in the City.
A.
Traffic or safety hazards. Signs determined to constitute
a traffic hazard by the Chief of Police, or other safety hazard by
the Director of Zoning and Code Enforcement. Said determination shall
be made by reason of size, support material(s) used, location or type
of illumination.
[Amended 3-22-2001 by Ch. No. 2592]
B.
Flashing/electronic signs: signs having lights or
illumination which flahses, moves, rotates, scintillates, blinks,
flickers, varies in intensity of color or uses interminttent electrical
pulsations.
[Amended 8-25-2004 by Ch. No. 2739; 9-21-2006 by Ch. No. 2825; 11-21-2007 by Ch. No.
2881; 2-25-2010 by Ord. No. 2934]
C.
[1]Signs on utility poles. Utility poles owned by any governmental
agency or utility company shall not be used for any type of sign or
message other than those specifically erected by such governmental
agency or utility company.
[1]
Editor's Note: Former Subsection C, Billboards,
was repealed 10-23-1997 by Ch. No. 2470. Said Ch. No. 2470 also redesignated
former Subsection D as Subsection C.
The following words are hereby defined in accordance
with the requirements of this article:
Any nonrigid material, such as fabric or flexible plastic,
that is supported by or stretched over a frame that is attached to
an exterior wall.
A sign placed directly on the surface of an awning.[1]
All off-site signs or off-site advertising, and any sign
that is used to attract attention to an object, person, product, institution,
organization, business, service, event or location that is not located
on the premises upon which the sign is located. This definition does
not include governmental traffic, directional or regulatory signs
or notices of the federal, state, county or City government or their
public agencies.
An extension of the roof of a building or a freestanding
structure that has a roof with support, but no walls.
A sign painted on or attached to a hood, awning or roof-like canopy. Individual letters, words or symbols may be affixed or applied to any surface, provided that the area of the sign does not exceed the maximum area allowed in § 410-88. A canopy sign is not considered a projecting sign. In no event shall such sign or part thereof be erected closer than two feet to the curbline.
A sign that is designed so that characters, letters or illustrations
can be manually changed or rearranged without altering the face or
surface of the sign.
[Amended 8-25-2004 by Ch. No. 2739]
A sign comprised of individual letters and graphics without
a frame or separate background.
[Added 2-25-2010 by Ch. No.
2934]
The actual area of the characters and letters displayed on
a sign face.
A sign identifying on-premises traffic, parking or other
functional activity bearing no commercial advertising. Such signs
are permitted in all zones except in residential zones and shall be
limited to four square feet in area per sign.
A sign which displays the names and/or addresses of the establishments
or uses of a building or group of buildings.
An exterior computer-programmable sign capable of displaying
words, symbols, figures or picture images that can be altered or rearranged
by remote means without altering the face or surface of the sign.
[Added 2-25-2010 by Ch. No.
2934]
To assemble, construct, build, raise, place, install, affix,
attach, create, paint, draw or in any other way bring into being or
establish.
The exterior front surface of a building.
A sign that is attached to, erected on or supported by some
structure (such as a pole, mast, frame or other structure, but not
any kind of antenna) that is not itself an integral part of or attached
to a building. A sign that stands without supporting elements, such
as sandwich sign, is also a freestanding sign. All permanently installed
freestanding signs shall be protected from vehicular circulation and
parking areas.
The length of a building that faces a street, parking area
or private drive.
The length of that part of a zoning lot that fronts a public
street.
Any sign erected or maintained in violation of a preceding
ordinance or erected, altered, removed or replaced in violation of
this chapter.
A sign illuminated in any manner by an artificial light source,
whether internally or externally illuminated.
An older sign of artistic or historic merit, uniqueness or
significance.
A permanent structure other than a roof, attached to, supported
by and projecting from a building and providing protection from natural
elements.
A sign attached to and made part of a marquee or any other
similar projection from a building.
A freestanding sign with a base affixed to the ground which
measures at least 2/3 the horizontal length of the sign.
A sign that met all legal requirements when constructed,
but is not in compliance with the present sign regulations. An illegal
sign is not a nonconforming sign.
Any sign that is used to attract attention to an object,
person, product, institution, organization, business, service, event
or location that is not located on the premises upon which the sign
is located. This definition does not include governmental traffic,
directional or regulatory signs or notices of the federal, state,
county or City government or their public agencies.
Any sign that is used to attract attention to an object,
person, product, institution, organization, business, service, event
or location that is located on the premises upon which the sign is
located.
A freestanding sign with a base at least eight feet above
the ground which is supported from the ground by a pole or a similar
support structure of narrow width.
A sign which is supported by an exterior wall of a building
and which is displayed perpendicular to the face of the building.
In no event shall such sign or part thereof be erected closer than
two feet to the curbline.
A sign that projects more than two feet above the roof, parapet
or ridge line of the building; or mounted upon any roof, parapet or
ridge line of a building.
Any freestanding, movable or immobile sign placed within the City right-of-way (sidewalk). See § 351.14 of Chapter 351, Streets and Sidewalks, of the Code of the City.
[Added 6-23-1999 by Ch. No. 2531]
Any object, device or structure, or part thereof, situated
outdoors which is used to advertise, identify, display, direct or
attract attention to an object, person, institution, organization,
business, product, service, event or location by any means, including
words, letters, figures, designs, symbols, fixtures, colors, illumination
or projected images. Signs include, but are not limited to, flags,
banners, pennants and bunting.
[Amended 2-25-2010 by Ch. No.
2934]
Any ownership interest in excess of 5% of the total ownership
interest.
A sign that is displayed only for a specified period of time
with a permit from the Division of Zoning and Code Enforcement.
Signs shall be located so that at every street intersection
there is a clear view between three feet and 10 feet above the plane
of a triangle formed by the two street lines and a third line joining
points on the street lines 20 feet from their intersection.
A sign attached to a wall of a building or is made of any
material, including vinyl and cloth signs, and which extends not more
than 15 inches from the face of the wall.
[Amended 6-23-1999 by Ch. No. 2531; 9-21-2006 by Ch. No. 2825]
A sign that is attached to the inside of any window or situated
within a building, so that the sign is visible from the public right-of-way.
[1]
Editor's Note: The former definition of "banner,"
which immediately followed this definition, was repealed 6-23-1999
by Ch. No. 2531.
A.
All permitted signs shall be measured as follows:
(1)
Area. Measured in square feet, the entire area within
a square, rectangle, circle, triangle or any other polygon enclosing
the extreme limits of graphic, writing or similar representation,
emblem or any fixture of similar character, together with any frame
or other material or color forming an integral part of the display
or used to differentiate the sign from the background against which
it is placed; excluding the necessary supports or uprights on which
such sign is placed. Where a sign has two or more faces, the area
of all faces shall be included in determining the area of the sign,
except that where two such faces are placed back to back and are at
no point more than two feet from one another, the area of the sign
shall be taken as the area of the one face if the two faces are of
equal area, or as the area of the larger face if the two faces are
of unequal area. For channel letter and dimensional letter signs only,
the copy area will be used to determine sign area if the copy area
is provided by the applicant, alone with a dimensioned drawing.
[Amended 2-25-2010 by Ch. No.
2934]
(2)
Height. Measured in feet, the overall height of a
sign is measured from the grade directly below the sign to the highest
point of the sign or any of its supports.
(3)
Setback measured in feet from the outermost edge of
the sign to the public right-of-way.
(4)
Projection over public right-of-way. Measurement in
feet, perpendicular to the property line, from the property line to
the outermost edge of the sign, over any public right-of-way.
B.
Maximum permitted sign area. In all zones but the
residential districts, the maximum permitted area for signs on a building
shall be based on the building frontage. Where a building fronts on
two or more streets, the total area for signs for each street frontage
shall be based on the building frontage for that street. For gas stations,
street frontage shall be used to calculate the permitted total area
of signs as permitted in the tables. For any drive-in business that
has a booth for employees only with no public access, including a
gas station, the maximum area of signs shall be based on the street
frontage, and on a corner lot, only one street frontage shall be used
to calculate maximum sign area.
A.
Externally illuminated sign. Any sign which is illuminated
by a light that reflects off the surface of the sign from an external
source shall be considered an externally illuminated sign.
B.
Internally illuminated sign. Any sign shall be considered
an internally illuminated sign where the source of the illumination
is inside the sign and light emanates through the message of the sign.
Signs that consist of or contain tubes that are filled with neon or
some other gas that glows where an electric current passes through
it and are intended to form or constitute all or part of the message
of the sign, rather than merely providing illumination to other parts
of the sign that contain the message, also shall be considered internally
illuminated signs.
C.
Illuminated signs are allowed only in Commercial and
Industrial and Riverfront Zoning Districts. Legal nonconforming nonresidential
uses, nonresidential uses allowed by right and multifamily residential
uses with more than 12 units within residential zoning districts are
allowed to be illuminated between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 11:00
p.m. only.
[Added 9-21-2006 by Ch. No. 2825; amended 2-25-2010 by Ch. No. 2934]
[Amended 10-23-1997 by Ch. No.
2470; 3-22-2001 by Ch. No.
2592; 12-19-2003 by Ch. No.
2709; 9-21-2006 by Ch. No.
2825; 11-21-2007 by Ch. No.
2881; 2-25-2010 by Ch. No.
2934]
A.
Residential zoning districts – residential uses up to 12 units.
In the zoning districts designated RL, RS, RT and RM, one of the following
types of signs is allowed:
|
Sign Type
|
Area
(square feet)
|
Height
(feet)
|
Setback
(feet)
|
Projection Over
Public Right-of-Way
| |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Freestanding
|
2
|
5
|
2
|
--
| |
|
Wall
|
2
|
--
|
--
|
--
| |
|
Canopy
|
Not permitted
|
--
|
--
|
--
| |
|
Monument
|
Not permitted
|
--
|
--
|
--
| |
|
Projecting
|
Not permitted
|
--
|
--
|
--
| |
|
Window
|
2
|
--
|
--
|
--
| |
|
Roof
|
Not permitted
|
--
|
--
|
--
|
B.
Residential Elevator District – residential uses. In the zoning
district designated RE, the following types of signs are allowed.
The maximum total area of all signs on any structure shall not exceed
one square foot per one linear foot of building frontage. The maximum
area of any individual sign shall be limited as follows:
|
Sign Type
|
Area
(square feet)
|
Height
(feet)
|
Setback
(feet)
|
Projection Over
Public Right-of-Way
| |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Freestanding
|
24
|
6
|
2
|
--
| |
|
Wall
|
1 per 1 foot of building frontage
|
--
|
--
|
--
| |
|
Canopy
|
1 per 1 foot of building frontage
|
--
|
--
|
4
| |
|
Monument
|
32
|
4
|
1
|
--
| |
|
Projecting
|
Not permitted
|
--
|
--
|
--
| |
|
Window
|
8 square feet, but no more than 25% of total glass area of window.
Signs that are attached to the glassed area of doorways which obscure
views from the public right-of-way are not permitted.
|
--
|
--
|
--
| |
|
Roof
|
Not permitted
|
--
|
--
|
--
|
C.
Residential zoning districts – nonresidential uses and residential
uses exceeding 12 units. In all residential zoning districts, the
following types of signs are allowed for legal nonconforming nonresidential
uses, nonresidential uses allowed by right and multifamily residential
uses with more than 12 units. The maximum total area of all signs
on any structure shall not exceed one square foot per two linear feet
of building frontage. The maximum area of any individual sign shall
be limited as follows:
|
Sign Type
|
Area
(square feet)
|
Height
(feet)
|
Setback
(feet)
|
Projection Over
Public Right-of-Way
| |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Freestanding
|
24
|
6
|
2
|
--
| |
|
Wall
|
1 per 2 feet of building frontage
|
--
|
--
|
--
| |
|
Canopy
|
1 per 2 feet of building frontage
|
--
|
--
|
4
| |
|
Monument
|
32
|
4
|
1
|
--
| |
|
Projecting
|
Not permitted
|
--
|
--
|
--
| |
|
Window
|
8 square feet, but no more than 25% of total glass area of window.
Signs that are attached to the glassed area of doorways which obscure
views from the public right-of-way are not permitted.
|
--
|
--
|
--
| |
|
Roof
|
Not permitted
|
--
|
--
|
--
|
|
NOTES:
| ||
|---|---|---|
|
1.
|
Only one freestanding sign is permitted per street frontage.
| |
|
2.
|
The City of Pawtucket can only permit projections over City-owned
rights-of-way.
| |
D.
Commercial zoning districts.
(1)
In the Commercial Local, General and Downtown Zoning Districts (CL,
CG and CD), the following types of signs are allowed, as listed under
sign type. The maximum total area of all signs on one structure shall
not exceed one square foot per one linear foot of building frontage.
A building, a freestanding and a monument sign are considered as separate
structures. An applicant may select either a freestanding sign or
a monument sign, but not both types. The maximum area of any individual
sign shall be limited as follows:
|
Sign Type
|
Area
(square feet)
|
Height
(feet)
|
Setback
(feet)
|
Projection Over
Public Right-of-Way
| |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Freestanding
|
72
|
20
|
--
|
--
| |
|
Wall
|
1 per 1 foot of building frontage
|
--
|
--
|
--
| |
|
Canopy
|
1 per 1 foot of building frontage
|
--
|
--
|
4
| |
|
Monument
|
32
|
5
|
2
|
--
| |
|
Projecting
|
24
|
12
|
--
|
4
| |
|
Window
|
8 square feet, but no more than 25% of total glass area of window.
Signs that are attached to the glassed area of doorways which obscure
views from the public right-of-way are not permitted.
|
--
|
--
|
--
| |
|
Roof
|
Not permitted
|
--
|
--
|
--
|
|
NOTES:
| ||
|---|---|---|
|
1.
|
Only one freestanding sign is permitted per street frontage.
| |
|
2.
|
The City of Pawtucket can only permit projections over City-owned
rights-of-way.
| |
(2)
In the Commercial General Zoning Districts, an electronic messaging
center/electronic message board is allowed by special use permit.
Because the EMC technology facilitates a display that is permitted
to change 60 times each hour, each square foot of the electronic messaging
center shall count as two square feet toward the calculation of maximum
total area of all signs. EMCs which are used to attract attention
to an object, person, product, institution, organization, business,
service, event or location that is not located on the premises upon
which the sign is located are billboards and are not permitted.
(3)
Where a structure has up to four separate businesses, wall sign area and freestanding sign area must be allocated equally to each business based upon building frontage occupied. For example, a commercial structure with 72 feet of building frontage and three commercial uses occupying 24 feet of building frontage each shall allocate 24 square feet per establishment for wall signs and three signs of 24 square feet per establishment on a freestanding or monument sign. Note also § 410-89 for shopping center signs for five or more establishments.
E.
Industrial
zoning districts.
(1)
In
the Manufacturing Built-Up and Open Zoning Districts, the following
types of signs are allowed. The maximum total area of all signs on
any one structure shall not exceed one square foot per one foot of
building frontage. The maximum area of any individual sign shall be
limited as follows:
|
Sign Type
|
Area
(square feet)
|
Height
(feet)
|
Setback
(feet)
|
Projection Over
Public Right-of-Way
| |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Freestanding
|
72
|
20
|
--
|
--
| |
|
Wall
|
1 per 1 foot of building frontage
|
--
|
--
|
--
| |
|
Canopy
|
1 per 1 foot of building frontage
|
--
|
--
|
--
| |
|
Monument
|
32
|
5
|
--
|
--
| |
|
Projecting
|
24
|
--
|
--
|
6
| |
|
Window
|
8 square feet, but no more than 25% of total glass area of window.
Signs that are attached to the glassed area of doorways which obscure
views from the public right-of-way are not permitted.
|
--
|
--
|
--
| |
|
Roof
|
Not permitted
|
--
|
--
|
--
|
|
NOTES:
| ||
|---|---|---|
|
1.
|
Only one freestanding sign is permitted per street frontage.
If the lot has more than one street frontage, only one freestanding
sign is permitted.
| |
(2)
In
Industrial Open Zoning Districts, an electronic messaging center/electronic
message board is allowed by special use permit. Because the EMC technology
facilitates a display that is permitted to change 60 times each hour,
each square foot of the electronic messaging center shall count as
two square feet toward the calculation of maximum total area of all
signs, with wall-mounted EMCs not to exceed 72 square feet in maximum
area. EMCs which are used to attract attention to an object, person,
product, institution, organization, business, service, event or location
that is not located on the premises upon which the sign is located
are billboards and are not permitted.
[Added 11-23-2016 by Ch.
No. 3117]
F.
Public open and public cemetery. In the zoning districts Public Open
and Public Cemetery, the following types of signs are allowed. The
maximum total area of all signs on any structure shall not exceed
one square foot per one foot of building frontage. The maximum area
of any individual sign shall be limited as follows:
|
Sign Type
|
Area
(square feet)
|
Height
(feet)
|
Setback
(feet)
|
Projection Over
Public Right-of-Way
| |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Freestanding
|
72
|
15
|
--
|
--
| |
|
Wall
|
1 per 1 foot of building frontage
|
--
|
--
|
--
| |
|
Projecting
|
Not permitted
|
--
|
--
|
--
| |
|
Canopy
|
1 per 1 foot of building frontage
|
--
|
--
|
4
| |
|
Monument
|
32
|
5
|
2
|
--
| |
|
Window
|
8 square feet, but no more than 25% of total glass area of window.
Signs that are attached to the glassed area of doorways which obscure
views from the public right-of-way are not permitted.
|
--
|
--
|
--
| |
|
Roof
|
Not permitted
|
--
|
--
|
--
|
G.
Riverfront Public Open, Riverfront Industrial and Riverfront Mixed
Use. In the zoning districts designated RD1, RD2 and RD3, the following
types of signs are allowed. The maximum total area of all signs on
any one structure shall not exceed one square foot per one foot of
building frontage. The maximum area of any individual sign shall be
limited as follows:
|
Sign Type
|
Area
(square feet)
|
Height
(feet)
|
Setback
(feet)
|
Projection Over
Public Right-of-Way
| |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Freestanding
|
72
|
20
|
--
|
--
| |
|
Wall
|
1 per 1 foot of building frontage
|
--
|
--
|
--
| |
|
Canopy
|
1 per 1 foot of building frontage
|
--
|
--
|
4
| |
|
Monument
|
32
|
5
|
2
|
--
| |
|
Projecting
|
24
|
12
|
--
|
--
| |
|
Window
|
6 square feet but cannot exceed 25% of total window area. Signs
that are attached to the glassed area of doorways which obscure views
from the public right-of-way are not permitted.
|
--
|
--
|
--
| |
|
Roof
|
Not permitted
|
--
|
--
|
--
|
|
NOTES:
| ||
|---|---|---|
|
1.
|
The maximum total area of all signs on one structure shall not
exceed one square foot per one linear foot of building frontage. A
building, a freestanding and a monument sign are considered as separate
structures. An applicant may select either a freestanding sign or
a monument sign, but not both types.
| |
|
2.
|
No sign may be painted on the building.
| |
A retail shopping center with five or more establishments
planned as an integrated development may erect signs based on the
following criteria:
A.
Types of signs.
(1)
Shopping center identification sign. One monument
or freestanding sign per street fronting the center, not to exceed
a total of two signs, identifying the name of the center shall be
permitted. Maximum area per sign shall be 32 square feet and maximum
height 22 feet, and the base of any freestanding sign shall be at
least seven feet above ground.
(2)
Individual establishment signs. No additional freestanding
signs shall be displayed for any establishment located within the
shopping center if a shopping center identification sign is used.
B.
The name of any major establishment within the center
may serve as the name for the entire center. In addition to identifying
the name of the center, additional signs may be part of the shopping
center identification signs and may identify other establishments
using the following standards:
[Amended 10-23-1997 by Ch. No. 2470]
A.
Any sign legally in existence prior to the effective
date of this chapter which does not satisfy the requirements of the
chapter is declared nonconforming.
B.
No nonconforming sign shall be enlarged, moved or
replaced unless the sign is brought into compliance with the provisions
of this chapter. In the event the structural supports fail, the structural
supports must be replaced or repaired or, in the alternative, the
sign must be removed. Nothing herein shall prohibit the repair or
maintenance of any signs and/or the repair, maintenance or replacement
of any structural supports thereof. All nonconforming signs in any
district shall be maintained by the owner.
[Amended 2-25-2010 by Ch. No.
2934]
C.
All nonconforming signs shall be presumed abandoned
and shall be removed if the advertising copy thereon is, in whole
or significant part, not legible for a period of at least 90 consecutive
days. All on-premises nonconforming signs shall be presumed abandoned
and shall be removed if the business advertised has been abandoned
for at least 90 days.
[Amended 2-25-2010 by Ch. No.
2934]
A.
Signs in Historic Districts. All signs, including
window signs, except political signs, in an Historic District shall
be subject to approval by the Historic District Commission.
B.
Signs in overlay zones. Signs in overlay zones shall
conform to the corresponding requirements of the underlying zone.
The Zoning Board of Review, as provided in Article XIII, may grant the following special use permits, provided that all other requirements of this chapter are met:
A.
Area. Any particular sign may be increased in area
by 25% over the requirements in this Article, provided that the total
area of all permitted signs on the building does not exceed the maximum
permitted sign area by more than 15%.
[1]
Editor's Note: Former § 410-92.1,
Cigarette advertising, added 10-23-1997 by Ch. No. 2470, was repealed
6-8-2006 by Ch. No. 2810.
