# Sign Regulations in Burrillville, Rhode Island

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Burrillville, Rhode Island (RI)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/rhode-island/burrillville
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-07
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/RI/Burrillville/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=PTIIREGEOR_CH30ZO_ARTVSPRE_S30-157SIRE)

## At a glance

Burrillville, Rhode Island regulates 11 sign types across 10 zoning districts. Freestanding Signs in the Farming/Residential (F-5, F-2), Suburban Residential (R-40, R-20), Village Residential (R-12), Open Space (OS) zoning district are capped at 10 ft tall and 15 sq ft (Sec. Sec. 30-157(g)(4), Sec. 30-157(e)(1), Sec. 30-157(c)(5), (c)(1), (d)(2), (d)(5)). Most commercial signs in Burrillville require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (10 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Farming/Residential (F-5, F-2), Suburban Residential (R-40, R-20), Village Residential (R-12), Open Space (OS) | 3 | 10 ft | 15 sq ft | — |
| Village Commercial (VC), General Commercial (GC) | 5 | — | Not to exceed 50% of total window area | — |
| Limited Industrial (LI), General Industrial (GI) | 3 | 10 ft (Route 102), otherwise per permit | Route 102 Overlay: 40 sq ft & 10 ft height. In other areas, per permit and district plan. | — |
| Aquifer Overlay/Groundwater Protection (A-80, A-100, A-120) | 1 | — | — | — |
| Development Management District Overlay Zone (DMD) | 1 | 10 ft | 40 sq ft | — |
| Route 102 overlay zone | 1 | 10 ft | 40 sq ft | — |
| Floodplain Overlay District | 1 | — | — | — |
| Electric Generating Facility Management Overlay Zone | 1 | — | — | — |
| Village Planned Development Overlay Zone (VPD) | 2 | — | Not to exceed 50% of window area | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 1 | — | Typically 6 sq ft residence, 15 sq ft subdivision/development, 32 sq ft contractor, 2 sq ft numeric street address | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 10 zones)

### Farming/Residential (F-5, F-2), Suburban Residential (R-40, R-20), Village Residential (R-12), Open Space (OS)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign | 10 ft | 15 sq ft | — | — | 1 | On property | — | Sec. 30-157(g)(4), Sec. 30-157(e)(1), Sec. 30-157(c)(5), (c)(1), (d)(2), (d)(5) |
| Wall Sign | — | 15 sq ft | — | — | 1 | On building wall | — | Sec. 30-157(g)(4) |
| Home Occupation Sign | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | 1 | On dwelling unit | — | Sec. 30-155(e)(6) |

### Village Commercial (VC), General Commercial (GC)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign | — | Not specified; see general regulations (likely follows 'commercial zone' or overlay cap, i.e., 40 sq ft where Route 102 Overlay applies, else see monument sign/individual permit) | — | — | — | On property | — | Sec. 30-157(g)(1), Sec. 30-157(g)(3), Sec. 30-157(e) |
| Wall Sign | — | — | — | — | — | On building wall | — | Sec. 30-157(g)(3), (e) |
| Projecting Sign | — | 15 sq ft | — | — | — | On building, projecting over sidewalk | — | Sec. 30-157(g)(3) |
| Window Sign | — | Not to exceed 50% of total window area | — | — | — | Inside window | — | Sec. 30-157(g)(3), (b), (e) |
| Directory Sign (Shopping Center/Office Building) | — | 8 sq ft per individual directory sign | — | — | 1 per center or office bldg | Directory location per property plan | — | Sec. 30-157(g)(3), (b)(13) |

### Limited Industrial (LI), General Industrial (GI)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign | 10 ft (Route 102), otherwise per permit | Route 102 Overlay: 40 sq ft & 10 ft height. In other areas, per permit and district plan. | — | — | — | On property | — | Sec. 30-157(g)(1), (e) |
| Wall Sign | — | — | — | — | — | On building wall | — | Sec. 30-157(g)(3) |
| Projecting Sign | — | 15 sq ft | — | — | — | On building, projecting over sidewalk | — | Sec. 30-157(g)(3) |

## Prohibited signs in Burrillville

- Signs that incorporate any flashing or changing illumination or animation.
- Any sign that constitutes a hazard to public safety, health or that impedes vision or access to or from public streets, sidewalks or other places or ingress or egress. This includes signs which, because of size, location, content or manner or illumination, obstruct the vision of a driver or detract from the effectiveness of traffic control devices.
- Searchlights and inflatables.
- Billboards.
- Signs affixed to utility poles and trees.
- Obsolete or unsafe signs.
- Mobile signs.

## Signs exempt from permit in Burrillville

- One sign not to exceed six square feet when identifying a residence.
- A memorial sign or tablet, or a sign not exceeding two square feet indicating the name of a building or the date of its erection.
- Bulletin boards for public or religious institutions when located on the property thereof, provided that such signs do not exceed 15 square feet and bear no commercial advertising.
- Pennants, spinners, streamers, banners, mobile signs and decorative flags when associated with events of religious, public or charitable organizations or new business openings for a period not to exceed 21 days. Such advertising device may be located off premises provided it is erected and maintained in a safe and proper condition.
- One sign customary and necessary in the offering of real estate for sale or to let by the owner or the owner's licensed broker or agent, which shall not exceed six square feet in residential zones or 20 square feet in nonresidential zones. Signs indicating the property has been sold must be removed within two weeks after the sale is closed.
- Construction or contractor signs where there is only one per location identifying the project, the building and subcontractors, not exceeding 32 square feet in area.
- Development/subdivision signs, one wall-mounted or freestanding sign, erected at the development/subdivision entrance. The sign shall not exceed 15 square feet.
- Signs erected by or on behalf of the United States of America, this state or the town pursuant to and in the discharge of any governmental function or required by any law, ordinance or governmental regulation (including state permit notice signs such as RIDEM, RIDOT etc.).
- Political and pre-election signs erected no more than 60 days prior to the designated election day, and the signs shall be removed within ten days after the election. The candidate for office or a designee shall have the responsibility for the removal of signs advertising the candidacy.
- The following signs customary and necessary to the operation of filling and service stations: Lettering on buildings displayed over individual entrance doors (limited in size), lettering or insignia on gasoline pumps or lighting fixtures, a credit card sign not exceeding two square feet in area, one sign bearing the brand or trade name of the station not to exceed 30 square feet, point of purchase materials or signs located within ten linear feet from the gasoline islands or physical structure.
- Farm and home products for sale signs in residential zoning districts or properties used for residential purposes when up to 12 square feet in area, located on site, and which advertise the sale of farm, garden, nursery or home craft products grown, raised or produced on the premises.
- Flags of all nations, states, counties, towns and cities when flown in compliance with the United States flag code.
- One directory sign per shopping center or office building. Directory sign alterations may be made without application, provided changes are in keeping with the directory design and graphics.
- The numerical street address provided the height of numbers does not exceed six inches and that the numbers are not internally illuminated.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Permit required. Any person intending to erect, relocate or alter any sign within the town shall, except as provided in this article, first obtain a sign permit from the office of the building official.
- Application for a sign permit shall include a site plan which shall include the position of all existing and/or proposed signs, indicating the distance and relationship to all existing, proposed and/or adjoining structures or premises.
- Plans and specifications for the required parking facility and its access drives shall be submitted at the time of application for the zoning certificate for the main use. Similarly, plans and specifications for the required sign(s), including site plan, scaled drawings, and details, must be submitted for sign permits.
- Shopping centers and office buildings: Individual signs and directory signs shall be coordinated as to location, color, material composition and design. (Implying a coordinated sign program or plan is required for multi-tenant buildings.)
- One directory sign per shopping center or office building; alterations to directory signs may be made without application, provided changes are in keeping with the directory design and graphics.

## Full detail

This page publishes an overview of every zoning district plus a sample of 3 districts in full. Complete zone-by-zone requirements for all 10 zoning districts in Burrillville — every sign type, every field — are available with a free PermitPal account: https://app.permitpal.io/?address=Burrillville+RI&override=true&utm_source=landing&utm_medium=city-page&utm_campaign=city-burrillville

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