# Sign Regulations in Exeter, Rhode Island

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

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

## At a glance

Exeter, Rhode Island regulates 29 sign types across 5 zoning districts. Freestanding Signs in the Business Districts, Commercial Districts, Industrial Districts, Manufacturing Districts zoning district are capped at 15 feet from ground level tall and 32 square feet (see Shopping Centers for variations by use), with a Not within 100 feet of rural/residential/conservation; not in corner triangle; not within 10 feet of front lot line or 15 feet to side/rear setback (Sec. Sec. 6.6.A, 6.6.B.2.a, 6.6.B.3). Most commercial signs in Exeter require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (5 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Residential Zoning Districts | 13 | — | 32 square feet | — |
| Business Districts, Commercial Districts, Industrial Districts, Manufacturing Districts | 6 | 15 feet from ground level | 32 square feet | — |
| Light Business/Residential Districts, Light Industrial Zones | 2 | 20 feet | 32 square feet | — |
| Shopping Centers | 3 | 20 feet | 32 square feet | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 7 | — | 30% of area of window | — |

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

### Residential Zoning Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Name and Address Sign | — | 3 square feet per side | — | Not closer than ten feet from any lot line | 1 | — | — | Sec. 6.3.A, Sec. 6.5.A-B |
| No Trespassing/Regulatory Sign | — | 3 square feet | — | — | — | On property being regulated | — | Sec. 6.3.B |
| Bulletin Board | — | 15 square feet per side | — | — | — | On the property of public or religious institution | — | Sec. 6.3.C |
| For Sale Sign | — | 6 square feet | — | — | 1 | On the property being sold/leased/rented | — | Sec. 6.3.D, 6.7.C |
| Instructional or Directional Sign (Wall-Mounted) | — | 2 square feet | — | — | One per applicable activity | Wall-mounted, on-premises | — | Sec. 6.3.E |
| Instructional or Directional Sign (Freestanding) | — | 4 square feet | — | — | One per applicable activity | Freestanding, on-premises | — | Sec. 6.3.E |
| Memorial Signs/Tablets and Date Signs (Wall-Mounted) | — | 3 square feet | — | — | — | Wall-mounted (For date of erection) | — | Sec. 6.3.G |
| Church/Nonprofit Educational Institution Identification Sign | — | 15 square feet | — | — | — | On property of church or institution | — | Sec. 6.3.H |

### Business Districts, Commercial Districts, Industrial Districts, Manufacturing Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall-Mounted Sign | — | 32 square feet | — | No sign within 100 feet of rural/residential/conservation or within "corner triangle" as described in Article II 6.7; not within 10 feet of front lot line or 15 feet to side or rear lot line | 1 | Wall of principal building | — | Sec. 6.6.A-B.1.a, Sec. 6.6.B.3 |
| Freestanding Sign | 15 feet from ground level | 32 square feet (see Shopping Centers for variations by use) | — | Not within 100 feet of rural/residential/conservation; not in corner triangle; not within 10 feet of front lot line or 15 feet to side/rear | 1 | On the property | — | Sec. 6.6.A, 6.6.B.2.a, 6.6.B.3 |
| Projecting Sign | — | 12 square feet | — | — | — | Perpendicular from building or wall | — | Sec. 6.6.A, 6.4.F |
| Temporary Construction Sign | — | 20 square feet in commercial; 30 square feet in manufacturing | — | — | 1 | — | — | Sec. 6.7.A, 6.12 |
| Temporary For Sale Sign | — | 6 square feet in commercial; 32 square feet in manufacturing | — | — | 1 | On premises for sale/rent/lease | — | Sec. 6.7.C |
| Menu Board Sign (Drive-Thru) - Option 1 | 8 feet | 32 square feet | — | — | 1 | Menu board at drive-thru | — | Sec. 6.8.B, Table |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Window Sign | — | 30% of area of window | — | — | — | In window, visible from public or private street | — | Sec. 6.3.M |
| Temporary Window Sign | — | 30% of area of window | — | — | — | In window, visible from public or private street | — | Sec. 6.3.N |
| Awning Sign | — | 10 square feet | — | — | 1 per use | On awning | — | Sec. 6.3.O |
| Digital Clock/Time-Temperature Clock | — | 20 square feet | — | — | — | — | — | Sec. 6.3.L |
| Off-Premises Sign (Special Permit) | — | 4 square feet (each) | — | — | Maximum 2 | Not within a street right-of-way | — | Sec. 6.16 |
| Temporary Promotional Sign/Banner | — | — | — | — | No more than 3 per event | — | — | Sec. 6.4.E, 6.7.B |
| Sign Notifying Planning Board Application | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Sec. 6.3.Q |

## Prohibited signs in Exeter

- Signs which have visible moving parts, including signs which are designed to achieve movement by action of wind currents, or which have mobile or revolving parts or which have animated parts (except time or temperature devices), except barber poles are permitted if they comply with all provisions of this ordinance.
- Signs which incorporate in any manner any flashing or moving illumination, animation or illumination which varies in color.
- Any sign or sign support which constitutes a hazard to public safety or health, including signs which by reason of size, location, content, coloring or manner of illumination obstruct the vision of a driver, or obstruct or detract from the visibility or effectiveness of any traffic sign or control device on public streets and roads; or which obstruct free ingress to or egress from a fire escape, door, window or other required exitway; or which make use of words such as 'stop', 'look,' 'one-way,' 'danger,' 'yield,' or any similar words, phrases, symbols, lights or characters, in such a manner as to interfere with, mislead or confuse traffic.
- String lights or strung light bulbs are prohibited except as part of decorations associated with recognized legal holidays for a period not to exceed 30 days.
- Searchlights, pennants, spinners, banners and streamers are prohibited, except that pennants, spinners, banners and streamers associated with events of religious, public or charitable organizations are permitted for up to ten days or for new business openings for up to three days.
- Projecting signs which are erected so as to project approximately perpendicular from the exterior of any building or wall and which exceed 12 square feet in area, or which project more than four feet from the exterior of said building or wall; projecting signs over a public way are not permitted without the approval of the building inspector.
- Roof-mounted signs, as defined by this ordinance. No allowable roof-mounted sign shall be erected in such a manner as to increase the maximum allowable building height, nor shall any sign project more than 15 feet above the roofline of any building.
- Off-site directional signs, unless otherwise specified in this ordinance.
- Trailer signs or portable signs.
- Off-premises signs, unless otherwise specified in this ordinance.
- Billboard signs as defined herein.
- Illuminated signs as defined herein.

## Signs exempt from permit in Exeter

- Signs erected by the Town of Exeter, the State of Rhode Island or the United States of America, pursuant to and in discharge of any governmental function, or required by any law, ordinance or governmental regulation. Such signs may be illuminated or directly illuminated.
- String lights as part of decorations associated with recognized legal holidays are permitted for a period not to exceed 30 days.
- Pennants, spinners, banners and streamers associated with events of religious, public or charitable organizations are permitted for a period not to exceed ten days or for new business openings for a period not to exceed three days.
- Barber poles, ordinarily and customarily used in connection with barber shops, are allowed if they comply with all provisions of this ordinance.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A sign permit shall be required for all signs thereafter erected, installed or replaced, unless specifically exempt by this ordinance. Such permits shall be issued by the zoning inspector and shall be in addition to any other permits required by this or any other ordinance in the town.
- Application for a sign permit must include detailed sign information, drawings, and plot plans as specified in the ordinance.
- A temporary sign permit is required for temporary signs as described in the ordinance. No permit for a temporary sign may be extended or renewed, and any temporary sign remaining in place more than six months shall be deemed a permanent sign and regulated as such.
- Sign permits shall not be issued for signs which do not comply with the ordinance.
- Special use permits are required for certain off-premises signs.
- In shopping centers, a uniform grouping of plaza signs (as referenced in the definition of 'Sign, plaza') is regulated by the Town of Exeter as provided in the ordinance.

## 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 Exeter — every sign type, every field — are available with a free PermitPal account: https://app.permitpal.io/?address=Exeter+RI&override=true&utm_source=landing&utm_medium=city-page&utm_campaign=city-exeter

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