# Sign Regulations in Coventry Town, Rhode Island

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Coventry Town, Rhode Island (RI)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/rhode-island/coventry-town
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/6647410#6647410)

## At a glance

Coventry Town, Rhode Island regulates 43 sign types across 5 zoning districts. Freestanding Signs in the Village Commercial Zones, village commercial zoning district are capped at 6 ft tall and 12 sq ft, with a 5 ft min from street line setback (Sec. §255-1540E(8)). Most commercial signs in Coventry Town require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (5 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 20 | 10 inches (height of sign) | 32 sq ft | — |
| Residential zoning districts | 2 | — | 15 sq ft per side | — |
| Commercial and industrial districts, GB, I | 7 | 20 ft | 250 sq ft | — |
| Shopping centers | 3 | 20 ft | 150 sq ft | — |
| Village Commercial Zones, village commercial | 12 | 8 inches (letter height) | 30% of total glass area of building front | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 5 zones)

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Name and Address Sign | — | 1.5 sq ft | — | — | 1 | On residence | — | §255-1510A(1) |
| Bulletin Board | — | 12 sq ft | — | — | — | On property of institution | — | §255-1510A(3) |
| For Sale Sign (Residential) | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | — | Residential zone | — | §255-1510A(4) |
| For Sale Sign (Commercial/Industrial) | — | 32 sq ft | — | — | — | Commercial or industrial zone | — | §255-1510A(4) |
| Identification Sign (Worship/Nonprofit) | — | 15 sq ft | — | — | — | On property | — | §255-1510A(8) |
| Gas Station Wall Sign | 10 inches (height of sign) | — | — | — | 1 per garage bay | Over each garage | — | §255-1510A(11)(a) |
| Gas Pump Sign | — | 2.5 sq ft per side | — | — | 1 per pump | Attached to pump | — | §255-1510A(11)(b) |
| Gas Price Freestanding Sign | — | 12 sq ft per side | — | — | — | Freestanding | — | §255-1510A(11)(c) |

### Commercial and industrial districts, GB, I

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall-mounted Sign (<200 ft from street) | — | 60 sq ft | — | — | 1 per main building or use | On main building | — | §255-1530A(2); Table 15-1 |
| Wall-mounted Sign (200-299 ft from street) | — | 100 sq ft | — | — | 1 per main building or use | On main building | — | §255-1530A(2); Table 15-1 |
| Wall-mounted Sign (300-399 ft from street) | — | 150 sq ft | — | — | 1 per main building or use | On main building | — | §255-1530A(2); Table 15-1 |
| Wall-mounted Sign (400-499 ft from street) | — | 200 sq ft | — | — | 1 per main building or use | On main building | — | §255-1530A(2); Table 15-1 |
| Wall-mounted Sign (500+ ft from street) | — | 250 sq ft | — | — | 1 per main building or use | On main building | — | §255-1530A(2); Table 15-1 |
| Freestanding Sign | 20 ft | 48 sq ft per side | — | — | 1 per main building | Adjacent to main building; must not impede vision or access. | — | §255-1530A(3) |
| Projecting Sign (Commercial/Industrial) | — | 16 sq ft | Projects <4 ft from wall | — | — | Perpendicular to building exterior | — | §255-1510B(5) |

### Village Commercial Zones, village commercial

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall-mounted Sign (Primary Business Identification) | — | 24 sq ft | — | — | 1 per business (or per street on corners) | Front facade | — | §255-1540E(1) |
| Wall-mounted Sign (Side/Rear Facade) | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | 1 per side/rear facade | Side or rear building facade | — | §255-1540E(2) |
| Projecting Sign | Top edge cannot exceed wall or sill height of second-story window | 6 sq ft | 3 ft | — | 1 per business | Mounted perpendicular to building wall | — | §255-1540E(5) |
| Painted/Applied Window Sign | — | 30% of total glass area of building front | — | — | 1 per business | Window | — | §255-1540E(6) |
| Valance/Awning Sign | — | 10 sq ft (per sign) | — | — | 2 per business | Awning | — | §255-1540E(7) |
| Freestanding Sign | 6 ft | 12 sq ft | — | 5 ft min from street line | 1 per building | Set back at least 5 ft from street line; on premises | — | §255-1540E(8) |
| Directional Sign (Village Commercial) | — | 3 sq ft | — | — | 1 per business | Rear facade or lot | — | §255-1540E(9) |
| Menu Display Case (Restaurant/Cafe) | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | 1 per business | Attached to wall, next to main entrance | — | §255-1540E(10)(a) |

## Prohibited signs in Coventry Town

- No person shall place or cause to be placed any sign on any utility pole, light pole, traffic control device or tree within the right-of-way of any public way.
- Signs with any visible moving parts, whether mobile, revolving or animated, achieved by wind, motors, or flashing lights are not permitted unless otherwise stated.
- Flashing or animated signs are not permitted.
- Any sign or sign support that constitutes a hazard by obstructing the vision of a driver; detracting from visibility or effectiveness of any traffic sign or device; obstructing free ingress or egress from fire escapes, doors, windows, or other exits; or which use words such as 'stop,' 'look,' 'one way,' 'danger,' 'yield,' etc., so as to interfere with, mislead, or confuse traffic are not permitted.
- String lights, strung light bulbs, searchlights, streamers, pennants, banners, spinners, or other similar devices across, upon, over, or along any structure or building in conjunction with a commercial or industrial use are not permitted except by a temporary sign permit for up to 30 days and not more than three permits per year.
- Projecting signs which exceed 16 square feet in area, project more than four feet from the exterior of a building or are less than 10 feet above sidewalk grade, or are erected over a public way without the approval of the Building Inspector or Zoning Enforcement Officer are not permitted.
- Roof-mounted signs projecting more than two feet above the roof parapet or mounted upon any roof, parapet, or ridge line of a building are not permitted.
- Billboards or other off-premises signs are not permitted.
- Portable signs (metal or plastic framed, freestanding portable sign with or without changeable lettering, with or without illumination) are prohibited, except for permitted A-frame signs with no interchangeable lettering up to six square feet as a temporary sign with a permit.
- No sign shall be maintained that advertises a product, use, or activity no longer available or in existence; such obsolete signs must be removed within 30 days.
- All signs must be kept clean, neatly maintained, free from hazards, and maintained in a safe condition.
- No sign may be erected or altered except in conformance with the ordinance.
- No sign is allowed to be erected so as to impede the vision or obstruct access to any street, sidewalk, driveway, off-street parking or loading facility, or any other required access.

## Signs exempt from permit in Coventry Town

- This article does not apply to signs placed by governmental authorities.
- The following signs are allowed without permits if not illuminated: name and address of resident (one per residence, max 1.5 sq ft); no trespassing signs; bulletin boards for public or religious institutions (max 12 sq ft, no commercial advertising, located on property); for sale signs (max 6 sq ft in residential, 32 sq ft in commercial/industrial); instructional or directional signs identifying on-premises activity without commercial advertising; signs erected by the Town, State, or United States; memorial signs/tablets denoting date of building erection; identification signs for worship/nonprofit educational institutions (on property, max 15 sq ft); election/political signs (must not be attached to tree/utility pole in right-of-way, must be removed within 10 days after election); accessory signs for hours of operation, credit cards, business affiliations, etc.; customary/necessary signs for gasoline filling stations as specified; time and temperature devices (no advertising, max 20 sq ft); awning signs (less than 10 sq ft, one per use); signs advertising on-site produce sales (max 12 sq ft).
- Yard sale signs are allowed on the premises to advertise the sale, up to 18x24 inches, not placed earlier than seven days prior and must be removed at conclusion.
- The Board may grant exemptions for off-street directional signs (max two per establishment, max four sq ft, may be illuminated) where necessary to avoid confusion, congestion, or facilitate travel, provided the exemption does not impair the ordinance's intent and purpose.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A sign permit, issued by the Building Inspector or Zoning Enforcement Officer, is required for all permanent and temporary signs unless specifically exempted by the chapter.
- Application for a sign permit must include details such as size, area, height, width, thickness, illumination, materials, detailed construction drawings, lighting details, and a plot plan showing the sign's location in relation to the building and property lines.
- The Building Inspector or Zoning Enforcement Officer may require additional information or specify the sign location for safety purposes.
- Temporary signs require a permit and a $25 cash bond for each temporary sign.
- In commercial/industrial districts, where two or more structures are located on the same or contiguous lots operated as a unit, or where multiple uses share an entrance, a sign plaza consistent with § 255-1530B(2) may be required.
- The ordinance applies in addition to other sign-related ordinances; if ordinances conflict, the most restrictive governs.

## 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 5 zoning districts in Coventry Town — every sign type, every field — are available with a free PermitPal account: https://app.permitpal.io/?address=Coventry+Town+RI&override=true&utm_source=landing&utm_medium=city-page&utm_campaign=city-coventry-town

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