A. 
It is determined that the number of signs in Coventry is excessive and is unduly distracting to motorists and pedestrians, creates a traffic hazard, and in some places reduces the effectiveness of signs needed to direct the public; that the appearance of Coventry is marred by the excessive number of signs; that the number of distracting signs ought to be reduced in order to minimize the aforementioned effects.
B. 
The purpose of this article is to minimize traffic hazards, protect property values, create a more attractive economic and business climate, enhance and protect the physical appearance of the community and preserve the scenic and natural beauty of designated areas.
A. 
The following signs are allowed without permits provided they conform to all applicable regulations, and are not illuminated:
(1) 
Name and address of resident. One per residence not to exceed 1 1/2 square feet in area.
(2) 
No trespassing signs.
(3) 
Bulletin boards. Not to exceed 12 square feet for public or religious institutions when located on the property thereof, provided there is no commercial advertising.
(4) 
For sale signs. Not to exceed six square feet in a residential zone and 32 square feet in a commercial or industrial zone.
(5) 
Instructional or directional signs. Identifying on-premises traffic, parking or other functional activity bearing no commercial advertising.
(6) 
Signs erected by the Town of Coventry, the State of Rhode Island or by the United States of America.
(7) 
Memorial signs or tablets. Denoting the date of erection of buildings.
(8) 
Identification signs. Places of worship or certified nonprofit educational institutions when located on the property thereof and not to exceed 15 square feet in area.
(9) 
Election signs and/or political signs. Shall not be attached to any tree or utility pole within the public right-of-way and shall be removed within 10 days after the election.
(10) 
Accessory signs denoting as hours of operation, credit cards, business affiliations, and the like.
(11) 
The following signs customary and necessary to the operation of gasoline filling stations:
(a) 
One wall-mounted sign over each garage, not larger than 10 inches in height consisting of words like "washing," "lubrication," and "repair."
(b) 
Signs and insignias on gas pumps such as brand name, lead warning sign and one price sign per pump not exceeding 2 1/2 square feet per side which is attached to the pump.
(c) 
One price per gallon sign not larger than 12 square feet per side, using numbers no larger than 18 inches in height. This sign shall be freestanding and shall have a clearance of at least seven feet from the ground.
(12) 
Time and temperature devices. Which contain no advertising and do not exceed 20 square feet.
(13) 
Awning signs. Less than 10 square feet in area, not to exceed one such awning sign per use.
(14) 
Sale of produce raised on land signs, the total of which shall not exceed 12 square feet in area.
B. 
The following signs shall not be permitted:
(1) 
Signs which have any visible moving parts, whether mobile, revolving or animated, which motion or animation is achieved by wind, motors or flashing lights, unless permitted by another section of this chapter.
(2) 
Flashing or animated signs.
(3) 
Any sign or sign support, which for any reasons constitutes a hazard by obstructing the vision of a driver; detracting from the vision of a driver; detracting from the visibility or effectiveness of any traffic sign or device; obstructing free ingress or egress from a fire escape, door, window or other required exit; or make use of words such as "stop," "look," "one way," "danger," "yield," or any similar words or characters, so as to interfere with, mislead or confuse traffic.
(4) 
String lights. Strung light bulbs, searchlights, streamers, pennants, banners, spinners, or other devices strung across, upon, over or along any structure or building in conjunction with a commercial or industrial use. A temporary sign permit may be issued for 30 days to allow such uses in conjunction with special events, but no more than three temporary sign permits may be issued for every twelve-month period to the same person, as defined in § 255-200A.
(5) 
Projecting signs. Erected so as to project approximately perpendicular from the exterior of any building or wall and which exceed 16 square feet in area, unless otherwise stated in this chapter, or which project more than four feet from the exterior of said building or wall or are less than 10 feet above sidewalk grade. Nothing herein shall be construed to permit the erection of any projecting sign over a public way without the approval of the Building Inspector or Zoning Enforcement Officer.
(6) 
Roof-mounted signs. Any sign that projects more than two feet above the roof parapet of a building or mounted upon any roof, parapet or ridge line of a building.
(7) 
Billboards. Or other off-premises signs.
(8) 
Portable signs. Defined as a metal or plastic framed, freestanding portable sign with or without changeable lettering, with or without illumination shall be prohibited. However, a portable A-frame sign with no interchangeable lettering, up to six square feet, shall be permitted as a temporary sign with the appropriate permit.
C. 
Signs: area, height, setback and number:
(1) 
The area of a sign is the total area within a line drawn around all surfaces or structures of the sign including spaces between or within letters and/or pictorial matter, slates, panels, and major supports or frames if designed as a integral part of the sign, but specifically excluding the spaces between major supports required for clearance between sign and the ground.
(2) 
The height of a sign shall be the vertical distance measured from the ground at the base of the sign to the highest point of any portion of the sign or supporting structure.
(3) 
Permitted signs shall be placed five feet back from front, side and rear lot lines except when the sign is located on the building. Such signs shall be located 50 feet away from any residential district boundary. The setback for a freestanding sign shall be measured from the lot line to the outermost edge of the sign or supporting structure, whichever is closer to the lot line.
D. 
Sign permits:
(1) 
A sign permit, issued by the Building Inspector or Zoning Enforcement Officer, shall be required for all permanent and temporary signs hereafter erected, installed or replaced, unless specifically exempted by this chapter. Any sign erected without a sign permit may be removed by the Building Inspector, Zoning Enforcement Officer or a designated representative. The Town, Building Inspector, Zoning Enforcement Officer or representative shall not be held liable for any damage to the sign as a result of such sign's removal or storage. The owner may claim the sign after paying any fees that result from the sign's storage and/or removal.
(2) 
Application for a sign permit.
(a) 
The following information shall be provided with the application for a sign permit:
[1] 
The size of the proposed sign, area, height, width, thickness, illumination and material of which it is to be constructed.
[2] 
A detailed drawing showing the construction details of the sign, position of lighting or other extraneous devices, and support structures.
[3] 
A plot plan showing the location of the sign in relation to the building and all property lines and streets.
(b) 
The Building Inspector or Zoning Enforcement Officer may require additional information or specify the location of the sign on the lot for safety purposes.
E. 
Temporary sign permits. The following temporary signs are permitted provided that they are not illuminated and a sign permit has been obtained.
(1) 
Signs in connection with construction work. One sign per project not to exceed 32 square feet.
(2) 
Signs advertising auctions and special events conducted by nonprofit organizations. Not to exceed 20 square feet and not to be in place for more than 30 days. No more than three signs advertising any such event shall be erected at any one time.
(3) 
Supplemental commercial advertising sign. Not to be in place for more than 30 days and no more than one sign per commercial establishment. There shall be no more than three temporary sign permits for every twelve-month period per establishment. Such signs shall be placed 10 feet back from property lines and shall not be located in any required parking space or access road. Where an existing building is located on the property line, such sign may be located on the sidewalk adjacent to the building.
F. 
A temporary permit shall be valid for no more than six months, unless otherwise specified in this chapter, and shall not be extended. The sign must be removed at the expiration of the permit period or within 10 days after the completion of the advertised activity, whichever is sooner. A cash bond of $25 shall be posted with the Building Inspector for each temporary sign. This sum will be returned upon removal of the temporary sign. If the sign is not removed when the permit expires, the Building Inspector or Zoning Enforcement Officer shall cause the sign to be removed and the cash bond shall be forfeited to the Town's General Fund to help defray the cost of removal.
All signs in residential zoning districts shall be at least five feet from the front lot line, except when the sign is located on the building; shall be placed no closer than 15 feet to a side or rear lot line; shall not extend over the public right-of-way; shall not extend more than six feet above the ground; and shall conform to the following regulations:
A. 
There shall be no more than one sign for a residential lot which may identify the premises and/or identify a permitted customary home occupation. Such sign shall not exceed 1 1/2 square feet.
B. 
The sign shall not be illuminated.
C. 
Permanent signs identifying residential developments at major entrances are permitted but shall bear no commercial advertising, and shall not exceed 15 square feet in area per side.
A. 
Signs in commercial and industrial districts.
(1) 
Signs in commercial and industrial districts may be either wall-mounted, freestanding or projecting and may be illuminated, except as provided for elsewhere in this chapter.
(2) 
In commercial and industrial districts, except shopping centers [§ 1530A(2)], there may be one wall-mounted sign for each main building or use as follows:
Table 15-1
Distance of Sign from Nearest Public Street Line
Maximum Permitted Area of Wall Mounted Sign
Less than 200 feet
1 square feet per lineal foot of building frontage.
Maximum area: 60 square feet
200 to 299 feet
1 square feet per lineal foot of building frontage.
Maximum area: 100 square feet
300 to 399 feet
1 square feet per lineal foot of building frontage.
Maximum area: 150 square feet
400 to 499 feet
1 square feet per lineal foot of building frontage.
Maximum area: 200 square feet
500+ feet
1 square feet per lineal foot of building frontage.
Maximum area: 250 square feet
(3) 
Additionally, one freestanding sign for each main building not to exceed 48 square feet per side may be allowed. The sign shall not exceed 20 feet in height above the finished grade and shall be erected so that it does not impede vision or obstruct access to any street, sidewalk, driveway, off-street parking or loading facility or any other required access. Where two or more structures are located on the same or contiguous lots, owned and operated as a unit, or where a number of commercial or industrial uses share the same entrance, a sign plaza in conformance with § 255-1530B(2) may be required. In place of any allowable wall-mounted or freestanding sign, a projecting sign in accordance with § 255-1510B(5) is permitted.
B. 
Signs in shopping centers.
(1) 
There may be one wall-mounted sign for each use or establishment, not to exceed one square foot for each lineal foot of the portion of the building's wall containing the use or establishment. Such sign shall be located in accordance with Table 15-1. The measurement shall be taken along the building frontage.
(2) 
In addition to such wall-mounted signs, there shall be permitted in shopping centers one common freestanding sign identifying all uses. Such freestanding signs shall conform to the following:
Table 15-2 Freestanding Signage
Zoning District
Maximum Area of Freestanding Sign
(square feet)
Maximum Height of Freestanding Sign
(feet from ground level)
Village Commercial Zones
12
6
GB and I
2.5 per 1,000 G.F.A (Maximum 150)
20
(3) 
Signs in shopping centers may be illuminated.
(4) 
A freestanding sign shall not be erected so as to impede the vision or obstruct access to or from any street, sidewalk, driveway, off-street parking or loading facility, or any other access required.
A. 
Notwithstanding the provisions of §§ 255-1520 through 255-1530, there shall be established village commercial sign regulations. The purposes of these regulations are to preserve the integrity of the village and rural neighborhoods that contain commercial buildings and structures. All signs erected within the zone shall conform to the regulations set forth in this section of the Ordinance.
B. 
The boundaries of the zone shall include all lots as delineated on the Coventry Zoning Map.
C. 
In addition to the prohibited signs delineated in § 255-1510B, the following signs shall be prohibited in the zone:
(1) 
Any interior illuminated sign or awning.
D. 
It is the intent that structural signs shall include incidental decorative trim and framework in addition to the message and lettering.
E. 
The following signs shall be permitted providing they meet the standards set forth in this section of the Ordinance.
(1) 
Wall-mounted or painted signs.
(a) 
Limited to one primary identification sign per business.
(b) 
The sign shall be affixed to the front facade of the building, and shall project outward from the wall to which it is attached no more than four inches.
(c) 
The area of the sign board shall not exceed 24 square feet.
(d) 
The wall sign shall not extend above the base of the second floor window sill, parapet, eave, or building facade.
(e) 
The height of the lettering and numbers shall not exceed 10 inches.
(f) 
Businesses located in corner buildings are permitted one sign for each street frontage.
(2) 
One wall-mounted sign, not exceeding six square feet in area, shall be permitted on any side or rear building facade. Such wall signs may only be lighted during the operating hours of the business.
(3) 
Wall-mounted building directory signs identifying the occupants of a commercial building, including upper story business uses.
(a) 
The sign shall be located next to the entrance.
(b) 
The sign shall project outward from the wall to which it is attached no more than four inches.
(c) 
The area of the sign board shall not exceed three square feet.
(4) 
Applied letters may substitute for wall-mounted signs, if constructed of painted wood, painted cast metal, bronze, brass or black anodized aluminum. Applied plastic letters shall not be permitted. The height of applied letters shall not exceed eight inches.
(5) 
Projecting signs, including graphic or icon signs, mounted perpendicular to the building wall.
(a) 
Limited to one sign per business.
(b) 
The signboard shall not exceed an area of six square feet.
(c) 
The distance from the ground to the lower edge of the signboard shall be 10 feet or greater.
(d) 
The height of the top edge of the sign board shall not exceed the height of the wall from which the sign projects, if attached to a single-story building, or the height of the sill or bottom of any second-story window, if attached to a multistory building.
(e) 
The width of the signboard shall not exceed three feet.
(f) 
The height of the lettering, numbers, shall not exceed eight inches.
(6) 
Painted or applied letter signs on window.
(a) 
Limited to one sign per business, painted or applied to the window, not to exceed 30% of the total glass area of the building front.
(b) 
May be in addition to only one of the following: a wall-mounted sign, a freestanding sign, a projecting sign or a valance awning sign.
(7) 
Awning signs.
(a) 
Shall be permitted for ground-floor level uses only.
(b) 
Limited to two such signs per business.
(c) 
Lettering or graphics shall not exceed 10 square feet in area, and the height of the lettering, numbers, or graphics shall not exceed eight inches.
(d) 
Shall not be in addition to a wall-mounted sign.
(8) 
Freestanding signs.
(a) 
Limited to one freestanding sign per building.
(b) 
The sign shall be set back a minimum of five feet from the street line.
(c) 
The area of the sign board shall not exceed 12 square feet.
(d) 
The height of the lettering and numbers shall not exceed six inches.
(e) 
The height of the top of the sign board shall not exceed six feet from the ground.
(f) 
The sign boards shall be architecturally compatible with the style, composition, materials, colors, and details of the building where applicable.
(g) 
No plastic signs shall be permitted.
(h) 
The sign board shall be exterior lit only.
(i) 
The sign shall not interfere with pedestrian or vehicular circulation.
(j) 
The area around the sign shall have a minimum landscaped area equal to twice the square footage of the sign.
(9) 
Directional signs. Limited to one directional sign, facing a rear parking lot. This sign may be either wall-mounted or freestanding on the rear facade, but shall be limited to three square feet in area.
(10) 
In addition to other signage, restaurants and cafes shall be permitted the following, limited to one sign per business:
(a) 
A wall-mounted display featuring the actual menu as used at the dining table, to be contained within a shallow wood or metal case, and clearly visible through a glass front. The display case shall be attached to the building wall, next to the main entrance, at a height of approximately five feet, shall not exceed a total area of two square feet, and may be lighted.
(b) 
A portable A-frame board sign, as follows:
[1] 
The area of the sign board shall not exceed five square feet per side.
[2] 
The sign board shall be constructed of wood, chalkboard, and/or finished metal.
[3] 
Letters can be painted or handwritten.
[4] 
The sign shall be located within four feet of the main entrance to the business and its location shall not interfere with pedestrian or vehicular circulation.
[5] 
The information displayed shall be limited to daily specials and hours of operation.
[6] 
The sign shall be removed at the end of the business day.
[7] 
The sign shall not have plastic interchangeable letters.
(11) 
Each business shall identify the number of its address within the sign board with a minimum of one sign facing each street or parking lot.
No sign shall be erected or altered except in conformance with this article. All signs must be kept clean, neatly maintained and free from all hazards and must be maintained in a safe condition. No sign shall be maintained which advertises a product or use of activity no longer available or in existence. Such obsolete signs shall be removed within 30 days after the date they become obsolete. If a sign is hazardous or obsolete, the Building Inspector or Zoning Enforcement Officer shall give written notice to the owner of the sign and to the owner of the land upon which the sign is erected directing that the sign be brought into conformance or removed within 30 days from the date of said notice.
Upon failure to comply with the notice specified in § 255-1550, the Building Inspector or Zoning Enforcement Officer shall notify the Town Solicitor of such violation and request appropriate legal action. When a sign is considered to be an immediate hazard and peril to the public safety or to property, the Building Inspector or Zoning Enforcement Officer is authorized to cause such sign to be removed without notice.
The following exemptions may be granted by the Board in accordance with the appropriate provisions of Article IV of this chapter, provided that they do not impair the intent and purpose of this chapter.
A. 
Off-street directional signs where the location of a use requires such signs in order to avoid confusion, traffic congestion or similar inconveniences, and to facilitate travel to such location. The Zoning Board may permit up to two signs for each establishment. Such sign shall be no greater than four square feet and may be illuminated.
A. 
Any sign legally existing at the time of the passage of this chapter which violates any provision thereof shall be deemed a nonconforming use and may be continued as may be permitted by law and may continued onto in accordance with this chapter.
B. 
Repairs to nonconforming signs. Reasonable repairs and alterations may be made to nonconforming signs. However, in the event any nonconforming sign is damaged after the effective date of this article and the cost of repair exceeds 50% of the cost to replace it, such cost to be determined by a competent appraiser, or in the event such sign is removed by any means, including an act of God, the nonconforming sign may be restored, reconstructed, altered or repaired only with the provisions of this chapter.