# Sign Regulations in Barrington Town, Rhode Island

Sign permit rules, size and height limits, setbacks, and ordinance citations for Barrington Town, Rhode Island, compiled by PermitPal from the jurisdiction's published municipal code.

- **Jurisdiction:** Barrington Town, Rhode Island (RI)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/rhode-island/barrington-town
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/7121396#7121396)

## At a glance

Barrington Town, Rhode Island regulates 29 sign types across 3 zoning districts. Freestanding Sign (Individual Establishment)s in the Neighborhood Business District (NB), Residence-Business Flex District (RBF), Business District (B), Waterfront Business District (WB), Limited Manufacturing District (LM) zoning district are capped at 7 ft tall and 25 sq ft (if GFA ≤ 5,000 sq ft); 32 sq ft (if GFA > 5,000 sq ft), with a Not closer than 4 ft to right-of-way and side property line or within 50 ft of dwelling on adjacent lot setback (Sec. §185-97C(2)). Most commercial signs in Barrington Town require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (3 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Open Space-Passive Recreation District (OS-P), Open Space-Active Recreation District (OS-A), Residence District (R-40, R-25, R-10), Recreation and Education District (RE) | 4 | — | 25 sq ft | — |
| Neighborhood Business District (NB), Residence-Business Flex District (RBF), Business District (B), Waterfront Business District (WB), Limited Manufacturing District (LM) | 15 | Min 28 inches, Max 42 inches | 75 sq ft | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 10 | — | 20 sq ft (sale/lease or sold/leased) | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements

### Open Space-Passive Recreation District (OS-P), Open Space-Active Recreation District (OS-A), Residence District (R-40, R-25, R-10), Recreation and Education District (RE)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Residential Identification Sign | — | 2 sq ft per sign; max 3 sq ft total for all signs | — | — | Multiple (as long as total does not exceed 3 sq ft) | On premises used for residential purposes | — | §185-96A |
| Professional Announcement Sign | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | 1 | On premises used for residential purposes which also contain a professional home office | — | §185-96B |
| Institutional Sign (Church, School, Day Care, Hospital, Library, Museum, Charitable Uses) | — | 25 sq ft | — | — | 1 | On premises used for institutional charitable purposes; affixed to structure or freestanding | — | §185-96C |
| Membership Organization Sign | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | 1 | On premises used for club, fraternal, recreation, athletic or social purposes maintained by a membership organization | — | §185-96D |

### Neighborhood Business District (NB), Residence-Business Flex District (RBF), Business District (B), Waterfront Business District (WB), Limited Manufacturing District (LM)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Flush Wall Sign (Single Business Entrance Facade) | — | 32 sq ft | — | — | 1 | Entrance facade of the establishment | — | §185-97A(1) |
| Flush Wall Sign (Multiple Business, Each Entrance Facade) | — | 32 sq ft per entrance facade | — | — | 1 per business entrance | Entrance facade for each business establishment | — | §185-97A(2) |
| Flush Wall Sign (Rear Entrance, Public Entry/Parking in Rear) | — | 15 sq ft | — | — | 1 | Above rear entrance | — | §185-97A(3) |
| Flush Wall Sign (Multiple Street Frontages, Single Occupant Building) | — | Main - 32 sq ft, Second - 20 sq ft | — | — | 2 (one per street frontage) | Each street frontage | — | §185-97A(4) |
| Projecting Sign | No more than 10 ft above grade (bottom of sign) | 16 sq ft per side | — | — | 1 per business establishment | Façade no more than 10 ft from paved street/right-of-way; centered over/near principal doorway; not at building corner except at right angles; not overhanging roadway | — | §185-97B |
| Freestanding Sign (Individual Establishment) | 7 ft | 25 sq ft (if GFA ≤ 5,000 sq ft); 32 sq ft (if GFA > 5,000 sq ft) | — | Not closer than 4 ft to right-of-way and side property line or within 50 ft of dwelling on adjacent lot | 1 | On zoning lot accessible by automobile, with off-street parking. Buildings must be at least 10 ft setback from street right-of-way. | — | §185-97C(2) |
| Freestanding Directory Sign (Joint, Shopping Center or Multi-Tenant) | NB, RBF: 7 ft; B, WB, LM: <7,000 GFA - 7 ft; 7,000+ GFA - 8 ft (4 ft height preferred) | NB, RBF: 25 sq ft; B, WB, LM: <7,000 GFA - 25 sq ft; 7,000+ GFA - 32 sq ft | — | Not within 4 ft of right-of-way/sidewalk; not within 50 ft of dwelling | 1 per center or multi-tenant parcel | To left of entrance to parking; incorporated in hedge/landscaping if possible | — | §185-97D(2)-(3) |
| A-Frame (Sidewalk) Sign | Min 28 inches, Max 42 inches | — | Min 18 inches, Max 24 inches | Min 4 ft sidewalk clearance; within 15 ft of main entrance | 1 per business/common business entrance | On sidewalk in public right-of-way or private property, in front of business, within 15 ft of entrance | — | §185-100.1A |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Temporary Real Estate Sign (Residence/Open Space) | — | 6 sq ft (sale/lease), 3 sq ft (sold/leased) | — | — | — | On property for sale/lease | — | §185-99A(6), (8) |
| Temporary Real Estate Sign (Business/Manufacturing) | — | 20 sq ft (sale/lease or sold/leased) | — | — | — | On property for sale/lease | — | §185-99A(7), (9) |
| Directional Sign | — | 4 sq ft | — | — | One per legal driveway | Onsite, giving directions for vehicle/bike/pedestrian | — | §185-99A(14) |
| Temporary Event Sign (Residential/Open Space - Residential use) | — | 6 sq ft | — | 8 ft from sidewalk; 20 ft from street if no sidewalk | — | On premises in residence/open space districts for residential use | — | §185-100A(1)(a), (3), (4) |
| Temporary Event Sign (Club/Recreation/Social Organization, Residential/Open Space) | — | 15 sq ft | — | 8 ft from sidewalk; 20 ft from street if no sidewalk | — | On premises in residence/open space for club, fraternal, etc. | — | §185-100A(1)(b), (3), (4) |
| Temporary Event Sign (Church/Hospital/Library etc., Residential/Open Space) | — | 15 sq ft | — | 8 ft from sidewalk; 20 ft from street if no sidewalk | — | On premises in residence/open space for institutional/church/etc. | — | §185-100A(1)(c), (3), (4) |
| Temporary Event Sign (Business/Manufacturing Districts) | — | 20 sq ft | — | 8 ft from sidewalk; 20 ft from street if no sidewalk | — | On premises in business and limited manufacturing districts | — | §185-100A(1)(d), (3), (4) |
| Demolition Permit Public Notice Sign | — | — | — | At sufficient height to be visible from street | 1 per demolition permit | On site of building/structure to be demolished, visible from nearest public/private street | — | §79-3 |

## Prohibited signs in Barrington Town

- Any sign not specifically permitted or exempted under this article is prohibited.
- Any sign relating to a use, commodity or service not located or offered on the premises, including billboards.
- 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.
- 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.
- Any exposed or neon tube sign on the outside of a building or visible through a window.
- 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.
- All mechanical moving or rotating signs, including those with streamers, pennants, banners, spinners, ribbons and strings of light bulbs, and other similar signs.
- 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.
- Mobile or portable signs mounted on a trailer or other portable base.
- 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.
- 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.
- Signs which are pasted on or attached to utility poles, trees, fences or structures such as overpasses and bridges.
- Signs posted or attached to other signs, unless such subsidiary portions are an integral part of the total sign design.
- 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.
- 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. (Licensed vehicles used on a daily basis as part of a business operation may display signs related to that business.)
- Internally illuminated signs.

## Signs exempt from permit in Barrington Town

- Bulletin boards for public, charitable or religious institutions when located on the premises, not to exceed 10 square feet in area.
- Memorial signs or tablets, or signs indicating the name of a building or the date of its erection, when cut into any masonry surface or constructed of bronze or other incombustible material.
- Lettering on buildings displayed over individual entrance doors of filling and service stations, with certain word/height restrictions.
- Lettering or 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.
- A credit card sign affixed to the building or permanent sign structure of the station, not to exceed two square feet in area.
- One sign bearing the brand or trade name of the station, permanently affixed or freestanding, not to exceed 25 square feet in area and five feet in height, constructed of wood or metal, externally illuminated with white or off-white lighting.
- A sign attached to each gas pump with the price of the product, as required by law.
- Holiday decorations and lights in season.
- 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, including traffic controls, railroad crossing signs, legal notices and other required signs.
- Signs customary and necessary in the offering of real estate for sale or lease by the owner, agent or broker in residence and open space districts, not to exceed six square feet in area.
- Signs customary and necessary in the offering of real estate for sale or lease by the owner, agent or broker in business and manufacturing districts, not to exceed 20 square feet in area.
- Signs customarily used to indicate that real estate offered for sale or lease has been sold or leased in residence and open space districts, not to exceed three square feet in area and not maintained more than two weeks after initial erection.
- Signs customarily used to indicate that real estate offered for sale or lease has been sold or leased in business and manufacturing districts, not to exceed 20 square feet in area and not maintained more than two weeks after initial erection.
- Signs identifying contractors, builders, painters, architects or other persons currently performing work on a structure, to be removed upon completion of services, not to exceed six square feet in area.
- 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.
- All flags.
- The Barrington Booster Club Board.
- Directional signs that provide driving directions for vehicular, bicycle and pedestrian circulation, limited to one entrance/exit sign per legal driveway and no more than four square feet, not blocking sight lines. No commercial logos allowed, but the background may match the business logo colors.
- All signs referenced in this section may be attached to the premises or freestanding, subject to other limitations.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- For individual shopping centers or zoning lots containing more than one principal use or establishment, a common signage plan is required and must be submitted (showing all business, directory and directional signs, and designed for harmony).
- For applicable new developments, as part of the development plan review or land development process, the property owner(s) must submit a common signage plan for review and approval by the Technical Review Committee and Planning Board. The approved plan must be on file with the Planning Board prior to or concurrent with approval of individual signage for each establishment.
- If a site is subject to common signage plan requirements but lacks a required plan, proposals for individual commercial unit signage will be reviewed by the Technical Review Committee for consistency with existing business signage.
- A common signage plan must include: site plan, dimensional info and spreadsheet for all tenant spaces, digital files with images and plans, project information (theme, style, color), number/location/size of signs, allocations for each tenant, lighting details, ground sign site plan or aerials.
- Signs found consistent with an approved common signage plan do not require Technical Review Committee review beyond administrative approval.
- When an application for a sign permit requires relief from sign regulations (variance), a meeting/hearing before the Technical Review Committee is required prior to Zoning Board consideration, and Zoning Board approval is necessary prior to permit issuance.
- In cases of commercial, industrial, or mixed-use developments where a sign permit is part of the application, the permitting authority must apply all sign standards and regulations from Article XVII (i.e., master sign plan requirements may trigger in broader project reviews).

## Full detail

Complete sign requirements for Barrington Town, including every field PermitPal tracks for each sign type, are available with a free PermitPal account: https://app.permitpal.io/?address=Barrington+Town+RI&override=true&utm_source=landing&utm_medium=city-page&utm_campaign=city-barrington-town

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