Barrington City Zoning Code
ARTICLE XVII
Signs
§ 185-88 Intent and purposes.
The intent of this article shall be to regulate, restrict and place such limitations on the size, location, alteration, type and illumination of all signs as will assure that they will be appropriate to the land, building or use to which they are appurtenant, and to achieve the following general purposes:
A.
To protect and enhance commercial and residential property values by creating a visually harmonious environment.
B.
To promote the general business interests of the Town by maintaining and improving the visual quality of commercial areas.
C.
To provide for the general safety of the public.
D.
To enhance the traditional qualities and characteristics of the Town of Barrington, and to further the objectives of the Comprehensive Plan.
[Amended 12-4-2023 by Ord. No. 2023-12]
§ 185-89 General sign standards. [1]
To achieve the purposes of this article, the following general standards shall be applied to signs in the Town of Barrington:
A.
Every sign shall have appropriate scale and proportion in its design and in its visual relationship to buildings and surroundings.
B.
Every sign shall be designed as an integral architectural element of the building and site to which it principally relates.
C.
The colors, materials and lighting of every sign shall be restrained and harmonious with the building and site to which it principally relates.
D.
The number of graphic elements on a sign shall be held to the minimum needed to convey the sign's major message and shall be composed in proportion to the area of the sign face.
E.
Identification signs of a prototype design and corporation logos shall conform to the criteria for all other signs.
§ 185-90 Common signage plans.
A.
For individual shopping centers on one or more zoning lots or where a zoning lot otherwise contains more than one principal use or establishment, the provisions of this article shall apply to the shopping center or zoning lot as a whole.
B.
The property owner(s) shall be responsible for allocating permitted signs and display surface areas among the individual uses or establishments.
C.
The common signage plan submitted for such zoning lot or shopping center shall show all business, directory and directional signs located or proposed thereon and shall be designed so that all signs are harmonious with each other in terms of number, type, size and location.
D.
For applicable new development, as part of the development plan review or land development process, the property owner(s) shall submit a common signage plan for review by the Technical Review Committee and Planning Board, as applicable, in accordance with current Town standards to which all signs on the building or within the shopping center will conform. The plan must be approved by and on file with the Planning Board prior to or in concert with review and approval of individual signage for each establishment or activity on the building or within the shopping center.
E.
The common signage plan shall display harmony and consistency with regard to placement of signs, materials, and type of lighting.
F.
It shall be the responsibility of the property owner to inform its tenants of this requirement and to furnish each tenant with a copy of the approved signage plan for their center.
G.
Signage proposed for individual commercial units on sites subject to the common signage plan requirements that lack a required common signage plan, per § 185-90A, shall be reviewed by the Technical Review Committee, with approval subject to a positive finding that the proposed signage is consistent in terms of placement, materials and type of illumination with existing business signs at the site.
§ 185-91 Specific sign standards.
All new and replacement signs subject to this chapter shall also conform to such sign design standards as may be adopted from time to time by the Barrington Town Council under Article XXIV of this chapter relating to design review of commercial and industrial signage. These standards may vary according to the zoning district in which the proposed sign is located. In the absence of such specific standards, the general standards of § 185-89 shall apply.
§ 185-92 Illumination.
A.
Signs may be illuminated externally by a stationary light of white or off-white color. The light illuminating any sign shall be so shaded, shielded or directed, or shall be so maintained at a sufficiently low level of intensity and brightness, that it will not adversely affect neighboring premises, nor the safe vision of operators of vehicles moving on public roads and highways. Such light shall be so shaded, shielded or directed that it does not reflect or shine on or into residential structures to an extent that would adversely affect the residents therein.
B.
Signs consisting of individually mounted opaque lettering and logos may be back-lit, subject to approval by the Technical Review Committee.
C.
No awning may be internally illuminated.
§ 185-93 Sign permit application.
Any person desiring and intending to erect, relocate or alter any sign within the Town of Barrington, except permanent and temporary window signs (§ 185-97E and F) and those exempted under § 185-100 hereof, shall first apply for and obtain a sign permit from the Building Official. The application for a sign permit shall be made upon forms provided by the Building Official and shall contain or have attached the following information:
A.
The name, address and telephone number of the applicant.
B.
The location of premises on which or to which the sign is proposed to be erected or attached.
C.
The position of the sign, indicating its relation to its premises and adjoining premises.
D.
Sign details which include the following:
(1)
A scaled drawing of each face of the proposed sign with all sign specifications, including size, material, color, lettering type and size, logo and type of mounting and building placement; a description of the materials to be used for the sign and frame; and wall anchorage details for all wall-mounted signs. (Note: Anchorage must be interior to the sign and camouflaged.)
(2)
An elevation drawn to scale of the entire wall of the building to which the sign is to be fixed correctly locating the sign, for all wall-mounted signs.
(3)
An eight-inch-by-ten-inch color photograph (or color copy) of the existing building and/or site where the sign is to be located.
E.
The name of the person performing the work.
F.
Written consent of the owner and lessor of the premises.
G.
The electrical permit, if required.
§ 185-94 Application review procedures; term of permit.
A.
It shall be the duty of the Administrative Officer, upon the filing of a completed application for a sign permit, to examine such plans and specifications and other data and the premises upon which the sign is to be located.
B.
Except for those applications described in § 185-94D, when the sign permit application relates to the installation of new signage or the replacement of existing signage and is in compliance with the requirements of the Zoning Ordinance, the Administrative Officer shall approve the application and notify the Building Official of the approval within 10 business days of receipt of a complete sign application.
C.
Signs that are found by the Administrative Officer to be consistent with an approved common signage plan (§ 185-90) shall not require TRC review. Copies of all submitted supporting material shall be retained by the Administrative Officer as Town records. The denial of a sign permit application by the Administrative Officer may be appealed to the Zoning Board in accordance with § 185-58.
D.
The Administrative Officer shall refer the following applications for review by the TRC:
F.
If an application does not require relief from the Zoning Board, the TRC shall either approve the application, with or without conditions, or deny the application. The TRC's decision on the application shall be binding on the applicant; provided, however, that the denial of a sign permit application by the TRC may be appealed to the Zoning Board in accordance with § 185-58. Upon approval by the TRC the Building Official shall issue the sign permit.
G.
Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions, when an application for a sign permit also requires relief from the Zoning Board of Review, a decision of the TRC shall be required prior to consideration by the Zoning Board and shall be advisory only to the Zoning Board. Relief from the Zoning Board of Review, when applicable, is required prior to the issuance of any sign permit by the Building Official.
H.
A sign permit shall expire 12 months from the date of issue unless the applicant exercises the permission granted, commences substantial construction and diligently completes same. The TRC or the Zoning Board, as applicable, may, upon written request and for good cause shown, grant one additional six-month extension.
§ 185-95 Fees.
§ 185-96 Permitted signs in Open Space and Residence Districts.
Within the Open Space-Passive Recreation (OS-P) and the Open Space-Active Recreation (OS-A) Districts, within the Residence (R-40, R-25 and R-10) Districts, and within the Recreation and Education (RE) District, except as otherwise provided herein, only the following signs shall be permitted:
A.
On premises used for residential purposes, a sign or signs identifying the resident or the street address, or both, provided that no such sign shall have an area of more than two square feet, nor shall the total area of two or more such signs exceed three square feet.
B.
On premises used for residential purposes which also contain a professional home office, in addition to the sign or signs permitted for residential purposes, one professional announcement sign, the area of said sign not to exceed two square feet.
C.
On premises used for church, school, day care center, hospital, library, museum or other charitable purposes allowed by this chapter, in addition to the sign or signs permitted for residential purposes, one sign referring to the premises upon which it is located or displayed, or to the activities carried on therein, not to exceed 25 square feet in area, whether affixed to a structure or freestanding.
D.
On premises used for club, fraternal, recreation, athletic or social purposes and maintained by a membership organization, one sign indicating only the name or occupancy or use, or any of the foregoing, not to exceed six square feet in area.
§ 185-97 Permitted signs in business and manufacturing districts.
Within the Neighborhood Business (NB), Residence-Business Flex (RBF), Business (B), Waterfront Business (WB) and Limited Manufacturing (LM) Districts, only the following signs shall be permitted:
A.
Flush wall sign.
(1)
Building or structure occupied by a single business establishment or activity.
(a)
One flush wall sign with a sign area of up to 3% of the building facade area (BFA) or 20 square feet, whichever is greater, not to exceed 32 square feet.
(b)
The sign shall be located on the entrance facade of the business establishment or activity.
(c)
The content of such signs should be limited to only the address, the name of the business, a business logo and/or product or service information.
(2)
Building housing more than a single business establishment or activity.
(a)
One flush wall sign with a sign area of up to 3% of the building facade area (BFA) or 20 square feet, whichever is greater, not to exceed 32 square feet, for the entrance facade of each business establishment or activity.
(b)
All such signs shall be of harmony and consistency with regard to placement of signs, materials, and type of lighting.
(c)
Businesses are strongly encouraged to limit the content of their signs to the address, the name of the business, a business logo and/or product or service information.
(d)
Whenever possible, such signs shall be located above the doorway but below the building cornice or roofline. When there is insufficient space over the doorway for such signs, the signs may be located at the side of the doorway, preferably on the left.
(3)
Buildings with a public entrance and parking in the rear, as well as the front facade of the building.
(a)
A second sign not exceeding 15 square feet may be placed over the rear entrance to the building.
(b)
Whenever possible, all such signs shall be located above the doorway but below the building cornice or roofline. When there is insufficient space above the doorway for such signs, the signs may be located to the side of the doorway, preferably on the left.
(c)
Businesses are strongly encouraged to limit the content of their signs to only the address, the name of the business, a business logo and/or product or service information.
(4)
For single-occupant buildings with frontage on two or more public streets.
(a)
One wall sign per street frontage is permitted, not to exceed two wall signs. The maximum sign area of the wall sign on the main entrance facade is limited to 3% of the building facade area (BFA) or 20 square feet, whichever is greater, not to exceed 32 square feet. The second wall sign shall not exceed 20 square feet in sign area.
(5)
Stores located in a shopping center that are more than 500 feet from a state highway and located parallel to a state highway.
(a)
There may be one flush wall sign for each use, not to exceed one square foot for each linear foot of the front wall of the portion of the building containing the use, and on which the sign is located, not to exceed 75 square feet.
(6)
For establishments that also have a projecting sign or freestanding sign, the maximum flush-wall sign area shall be 20 square feet.
(7)
One flush wall sign not exceeding four square feet in area identifying the location of parking for the business establishment or activity is permitted.
(8)
All such flush wall signs shall not extend beyond the wall upon which they are mounted nor project more than one foot outward from the mounting wall. Where more than one sign is placed on a structure, such signs shall be of uniform shape and shall be affixed to the building in the same manner and at the same height above ground level.
B.
Projecting sign.
(1)
One projecting sign not exceeding 16 square feet per side in area under the following conditions:
(a)
The facade of the building to which the sign is attached shall be no more than 10 feet from the paved portion of any street or right-of-way used for travel purposes.
(b)
The sign shall not project above the cornice line of the building. Projecting signs shall clear sidewalks and pedestrian and bicycle paths by a height of at least eight feet above finished grade and shall project no more than four feet from the building to which they are attached. The bottom of the sign shall not be more than 10 feet above ground level. In no case shall the sign present a hazard to pedestrian travel.
(c)
Businesses shall limit the content of their signs to only the building's street number, the name of the business, a business logo and/or product or service information.
(d)
There is no equivalent flush wall-mounted sign for the business establishment or activity larger than 20 square feet in sign area.
(e)
No projecting sign shall be permitted on the same zoning lot street frontage along which there is a freestanding sign.
(f)
Projecting signs shall not be located at the intersection of building corners except at right angles to a building facade.
(g)
Projecting signs shall be centered over or located near the principal doorway to the building.
(h)
Projecting signs shall not overhang into any roadway.
(2)
One such projecting sign may be permitted for each business establishment or activity in a building or structure housing more than a single business establishment or activity. All such signs shall be of harmony and consistency with regard to placement of signs, materials, and type of lighting.
(3)
Businesses shall limit the content of their signs to only the street number, the name of the business, a business logo and/or product or service information.
(4)
For businesses providing hair-cutting services, one striped red and white pole (customarily referred to as a "barber pole") shall be permitted. In no case shall the pole present a hazard to pedestrian travel. It shall be located to the side of the doorway, preferably on the left, and shall protrude less than one foot from the building and be no more than eight feet from the ground to the top.
C.
Freestanding sign.
(1)
The zoning lot on which a freestanding sign is located shall be accessible by automobile and contain off-street parking for the principal use(s).
(2)
One freestanding sign for an individual business establishment or activity subject to the prohibitions in § 185-98, provided that the buildings or structures housing the principal use(s) on a zoning lot on which a freestanding sign is located are set back at least 10 feet from the abutting street right-of-way. Such sign shall be in compliance with the following additional conditions:
(a)
The total area shall not exceed 25 square feet, except that when the total gross floor area (GFA) of the individual business use associated with the sign exceeds 5,000 square feet, the total area of the sign shall not exceed 32 square feet.
(b)
No such sign shall exceed seven feet in height from ground level to the top of the sign.
(c)
No such sign shall be located closer than four feet to any street right-of-way, which, absent a survey, is assumed to be the back edge of a sidewalk along a public street, within four feet of any side property line or within 50 feet of any dwelling on an adjacent lot, nor shall it obstruct driver visibility.
(d)
Businesses shall limit the content of their signs to only the building's street number, the name of the business, a business logo, the name of the building and/or product or service information.
(e)
There is no equivalent projecting sign for the business establishment or activity.
(3)
Whenever possible and without obstructing driver visibility, freestanding signs shall be incorporated in a hedge or landscaping feature.
(4)
No freestanding sign shall be permitted for an individual business located in a multitenant building or in a multibusiness shopping center, provided that one such sign may be permitted for the building or shopping center to provide joint identification of the occupant business enterprises and the name of the center. (See Subsection D below.)
D.
Directory sign.
(1)
One flush wall-mounted or freestanding directory sign for any building or structure housing more than one business establishment or activity having a common public access, under the following conditions:
(a)
The total area of the directory sign shall not exceed 25 square feet, except under the provisions of Subsection D(2) below.
(b)
Each sign panel for individual businesses shall contain only the address, the name of the tenant businesses and/or business logos; the color of the panel and text shall be consistent for the individual panels in the directory sign
(2)
For shopping centers or for parcels used for more than one business or manufacturing activity, directory signs shall conform to the following regulations:
[Amended 9-11-2017 by Ord. No. 2017-13]
Zoning District | GFA of Shopping Center (square feet) | Maximum Area of Directory Sign (square feet) | Maximum Height of Freestanding Sign (feet)* |
|---|---|---|---|
NB, RBF | All GFA | 25 | 7 |
B, WB, LM | Less than 7,000 | 25 | 7 |
B, WB, LM | 7,000 or more | 32 | 8 |
*NOTE: Directory signs not exceeding four feet in height are preferred. |
(3)
No such sign shall be located closer than four feet to any street right-of-way or back edge of a sidewalk or within 50 feet of any dwelling located on an adjacent lot, nor shall it obstruct driver visibility.
(4)
Whenever possible and without obstructing driver visibility, freestanding directory signs shall be located to the left of the entrance to parking for the building or structure and incorporated in any hedge or landscaping feature.
E.
Window sign. Permanent window signs indicating the name and/or logo of the business, the nature of the business, the hours and days of business, the credit cards honored and/or other information related to the business establishment or activity may be painted on or affixed to the inside of windows located on the entrance facade of the business. Temporary window signs may be affixed to the inside of the windows of a business establishment or activity to advertise specific goods, services or sales. Window signs shall not cover more than 40% of the total area of any one window.
[Amended 2-6-2023 by Ord. No. 2022-23]
G.
Awnings shall be of traditional angular, rather than rounded, design and shall be constructed of canvas or canvas-like material only. Awning signs shall include only the address, the name of the business and/or a business logo, not to exceed 15 square feet of the awning area.
§ 185-98 Prohibited signs and related actions.
Any sign not specifically permitted or exempted under this article is prohibited. In addition, the following are specific prohibited signs and actions:
A.
Any sign relating to a use, commodity or service not located or offered on the premises, including billboards.
B.
Any sign affixed to or forming part of a roof of any building or structure, or affixed to or forming any part of any cupola, tower, spire, chimney or other object or structure located on or above the roof of any building.
C.
Any sign erected at or near the intersection of any two streets, or of any street and driveway, in such a manner as to obstruct free and clear vision; or erected at any location where, by reason of position, shape, color, illumination or wording, it may interfere with, obstruct the view of or be confused with any authorized traffic control sign, signal or device; or otherwise constitute a hazard to pedestrian or vehicular traffic because of intensity or direction of illumination.
D.
Any exposed or neon tube sign on the outside of a building or visible through a window is prohibited.
E.
The use of flashing or moving light or fluorescent print on any sign. This includes lights designed to attract attention by a change in light intensity or repeated motion, and includes, without limitation, time-temperature indicators.
F.
All mechanical moving or rotating signs, including those with streamers, pennants, banners, spinners, ribbons and strings of light bulbs, and other similar signs.
G.
Any sign not repaired or properly maintained within 60 days after the notice to that effect has been given by the Building Official; such sign shall be removed forthwith by the owner.
H.
Mobile or portable signs mounted on a trailer or other portable base.
I.
Signs which advertise an activity, business, product or service no longer produced or conducted on the premises upon which the sign is located. No such sign shall remain in place in or on vacated premises for more than 90 days from the date the vacancy commenced.
J.
Signs illuminated externally by other than a stationary white or off-white steady light. No sign shall be illuminated after 11:00 p.m. local time or after the closing time of the identified business or activity, whichever is later.
K.
Signs which are pasted on or attached to utility poles, trees, fences or structures such as overpasses and bridges.
L.
Signs posted or attached to other signs, unless such subsidiary portions are an integral part of the total sign design.
M.
Inflatable devices, such as, but not limited to, inflatable animals, characters, or large balloons, shall not be allowed in the Business, Neighborhood Business or Residence-Business Flex zone.
[Amended 9-11-2017 by Ord. No. 2017-13[
N.
Licensed vehicles used on a daily basis as part of a business operation for the transport of goods or the delivery of services may display signs which relate to that business. Parked vehicles are prohibited from being used as signs (i.e., placement of the vehicles so as to draw attention to the business) or from being used to support signs.
O.
Internally illuminated signs.
§ 185-99 Exemptions.
A.
The provisions and regulations of this article requiring a sign permit shall not apply to the following signs; provided, however, that said signs remain subject to the provisions of § 185-100:
(1)
A bulletin board for public, charitable or religious institutions when located upon the premises of said institutions, not to exceed 10 square feet in area.
(2)
A memorial sign or tablet, or a sign indicating the name of a building or the date of its erection, when cut into any masonry surface or when constructed of bronze or other incombustible material.
(3)
The following signs, customary and necessary to the operation of filling and service stations:
(a)
Lettering on buildings displayed over individual entrance doors consisting of the words "repairing," "lubrication," "washing" or words of similar import, provided that there shall be not more than one such sign over each entrance, and that the letters not exceed 10 inches in height.
(b)
Lettering or other insignia which are a structural part of a gasoline pump, consisting only of a brand name, lead warning sign and other signs as required by law.
(c)
A credit card sign affixed to the building or permanent sign structure of the sign next referred to, not to exceed two square feet in area.
(d)
One sign bearing the brand or trade name of the station of a design specified by the manufacturer, permanently affixed to the building or freestanding, not to exceed 25 square feet in area and five feet in height overall and incorporated in any hedge or landscaping feature whenever possible. Such signs shall be constructed of wood or metal and shall be externally illuminated with white or off-white lighting.
(e)
A sign attached to each gas pump with the price of the product, as required by law.
(4)
Holiday decorations and lights in season.
(5)
Signs of every kind and nature erected by or on behalf of the United States of America, the State of Rhode Island and the Town of Barrington, relating to governmental regulatory activities or governmental activities conducted on the premises on which such sign is located, and including traffic controls, railroad crossing signs and legal notices and other such signs required by law.
(6)
Signs customary and necessary in the offering of real estate for sale or lease by the owner thereof, or their real estate agent or broker, in residence and open space districts, not to exceed six square feet in area.
(7)
Signs customary and necessary in the offering of real estate for sale or lease by the owner thereof, or their real estate agent or broker, in business and manufacturing districts, not to exceed 20 square feet in area.
(8)
Signs customarily used to indicate that real estate offered for sale or lease has been sold or leased by the real estate agent or broker concerned, in residence and open space districts, not to exceed three square feet in area and not to be maintained more than two weeks after the initial erection thereof.
(9)
Signs customarily used to indicate that real estate offered for sale or lease has been sold or leased by the real estate agent or broker concerned, in business and manufacturing districts, not to exceed 20 square feet in area and not to be maintained more than two weeks after the initial erection.
(10)
Signs identifying the contractor, builder, painter, architect or other person currently performing work on a structure, such sign to be removed by such person upon completion of the services being performed with respect to such structure, not to exceed six square feet in area.
(11)
The interior contents of lawfully permitted signs specifically designed to be changed from time to time, such as church announcement boards, theater marquees, restaurant menus, the Booster Board and the like.
(12)
All flags.
(13)
The Barrington Booster Club Board.
(14)
Directional signs that provide driving directions for vehicular, bicycle and pedestrian circulation; however, only one entrance/exit sign is allowed per legal driveway and a directional sign may not exceed four square feet nor block the sight lines of drivers entering or exiting the property. Directional signs shall not include commercial logos; however, the background of these signs may be of a color that is consistent with the logo of the business on the site.
§ 185-100 Temporary event signs.
A.
The following restrictions on temporary event signs shall apply:
(1)
No temporary sign in excess of the maximum size limitations set forth below shall be permitted. All such signs must be at least eight feet from the inner sidewalk line and, if there is no sidewalk, at least 20 feet from the street line. The maximum size limitations of temporary signs are as follows:
(a)
On premises in all residence and open space districts used for residential purposes: six square feet.
(b)
On premises in all residence and open space districts used for club, fraternal, recreation, athletic or social purposes, and maintained by a membership organization: 15 square feet.
(c)
On premises in all residence and open space districts used for church, hospital, library, museum or other charitable purposes allowed by this chapter: 15 square feet.
(2)
No temporary sign shall extend into, over or across any public roadway or in any way obstruct access or visibility of roadway traffic unless an exemption is obtained from the Town Council. Such exemption shall state the duration and any other restrictions imposed by the Town Council.
(3)
No temporary sign shall be erected more than six weeks before the work, event, sale or occurrence to which it refers is scheduled to take place.
(4)
No temporary sign shall remain posted more than four days after the work, event, sale or occurrence to which it refers has taken place.
B.
The Building Official for the Town of Barrington is authorized to request the removal of any temporary sign in violation of the provisions of this chapter and has the authority to enforce such request for removal.
§ 185-100.1 A-Frame Signs.
A.
A-Frame signs may be placed on sidewalks in the public right-of-way and on sidewalks on private property in front of commercial establishments in B, NB, RBF and WB zones, subject to the issuance of a temporary permit from the Building Official and compliance with the following requirements:
(2)
Content. Content shall be limited to information/advertising for business; no endorsement or logos for any other business are permitted.
(3)
Locking arm shall be required for stabilization.
(4)
The sign shall meet wind/safety standards.
(5)
Display of such signs shall be limited to only during operating hours of business.
(6)
Materials. Unadorned wood-frame A-frame signs with chalkboard or slate sign panels, with handwritten messaging in chalk, are permitted. Signs constructed of other materials, including but not limited to plastic or metal, are not permitted.
(7)
Signs shall not be adorned with balloons, pennants, decorative bulbs, or any other feature that is not part of a frame authorized through the approval process.
(8)
Location:
(a)
Located in front of the business and within 15 feet of the main entrance to the establishment.
(b)
A minimum sidewalk clearance of four feet between the sign and the curb or sidewalk edge at the street or parking lot shall be maintained at all times.
(c)
Businesses with street-level public access: place sign within tenant frontage of business.
(d)
Multitenant developments: a limit of one A-frame sign per each common exterior public business entrance.
(e)
Minimum of 15 feet linear feet of spacing from other A-frame signs.
(9)
No internal illumination.
(10)
Temporary permit shall be valid for 6 months; renewal valid for an additional six months, for a total of one year, whereby application for a new temporary permit shall be required.
(11)
Sign permit stick shall be affixed to the sign (on the inside of the sign, not visible from the outside).
(12)
The Town may require temporary removal during special events.
(13)
For signs located on sidewalks in the public right-of-way, the applicant shall submit to the Building Official proof of a minimum of $1,000,000 in liability insurance naming the Town of Barrington as additional insured.
§ 185-101 Alteration or relocation of signs.
A.
No sign, whether previously constructed by virtue of a sign permit or considered a legal nonconforming use, shall be altered in any manner or include changes in graphics, lettering, color, brackets or posts without obtaining a sign permit as outlined in § 185-93. Directory sign alterations may be made without application, provided that these changes are in keeping with the directory design and graphics.
§ 185-102 Dimensional variance.
The Zoning Board of Review may hear and grant relief from the provisions of this article by way of a dimensional variance as provided in Article XIII.
§ 185-103 Existing nonconforming signs.
A.
Any sign in existence on the effective date of this chapter which was constructed in accordance with the applicable regulations in effect on the date of its construction, but which by reason of its size, height, location, design, construction or other factors is not in conformance with the provisions of this article, shall be considered to be a lawful nonconforming sign. The following regulations regarding nonconforming signs shall apply:
(1)
Each nonconforming sign and sign structure shall be allowed to be displayed for a period of time that provides a reasonable opportunity for the owner to benefit from the investment made in the sign. This period shall be seven years from the effective date of this chapter. After this time has expired, nonconforming signs and sign structures shall be removed or otherwise brought into conformance with the provisions of this article. Any nonconforming signs not removed or brought into compliance within this period shall be deemed a public nuisance, and may be removed or altered to comply by the Building Official at the expense of the owner, agent or person having the beneficial use of the premises upon which such sign may be erected.
(2)
If any existing nonconforming sign is abandoned, demolished or replaced in any manner by the voluntary action of the owner or other authorized parties or governmental agency within this seven-year period, such sign shall not be rebuilt or replaced except in a manner conforming to all applicable provisions of this article.
(3)
A nonconforming sign which is destroyed or damaged by any casualty within this seven-year period may be restored within six months after such destruction or damage only after the owner has demonstrated that the damage does not exceed 50% of the appraised value of the sign. If such sign is destroyed or damaged to an extent exceeding 50%, it shall be removed and not be rebuilt or replaced except in a manner conforming to all applicable provisions of this article.
B.
The provisions of this article shall not apply to signs granted relief from the standards of this article through the issuance of a special use permit, under the provisions of Article XIV as provided in § 185-102 above, provided that such special use permit is issued after the effective date of this chapter.
§ 185-104 Unsafe or abandoned signs.
A.
If the Building Official shall find that any sign is unsafe or insecure, is a menace to the public or has been abandoned, they shall give written notice to the owner, agent or person having the beneficial use of the premises upon which such sign may be erected. A sign shall be considered to be abandoned if it contains information that is no longer descriptive of the business or use of the building or land to which it is associated, or is unused, and has met either of these conditions for a period of 90 days or more.
B.
If such owner, agent or person fails to remove or alter the sign so as to comply with the standards herein set forth within 10 days after such notice, such sign or other advertising structure may be removed or altered to comply by the Building Official at the expense of the owner, agent or person having the beneficial use of the premises upon which such sign may be erected. The Building Official may cause any sign or advertising structure which is an immediate peril to persons or property to be removed summarily and without notice.
§ 185-105 Enforcement.
This article shall be administered and enforced by the Building Official of the Town of Barrington, with § 185-44 of this chapter being fully applicable to all penalties for violations.