Pawtucket City Zoning Code
ARTICLE X
Signs
§ 410-81 Purpose.
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.
§ 410-82 Compliance required.
No sign will be permitted as a main or accessory use except in accordance with the provisions of this Article.
§ 410-83 Signs that do not require permits.
[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.
§ 410-84 Signs prohibited in all zones.
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.
§ 410-85 Definitions.
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.
§ 410-86 Sign measurements; maximum sign area.
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.
§ 410-87 Illumination.
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]
§ 410-88 Permitted signs by zoning district.
[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. | |
§ 410-89 Shopping center signs.
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:
§ 410-90 Nonconforming signs.
[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]
§ 410-91 Sign in Historic Districts and overlay zones.
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.
§ 410-92 Special use permits for signs.
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%.
§ 410-92.1 (Reserved) [1]
[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.