# Sign Regulations in Glocester Town, Rhode Island

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Glocester Town, Rhode Island (RI)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/rhode-island/glocester-town
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/9717798#9717798)

## At a glance

Glocester Town, Rhode Island regulates 28 sign types across 5 zoning districts. Freestanding Sign (Single Building)s in the Commercial Zone, Neighborhood Commercial Zone, Highway Commercial Zone zoning district are capped at 15 feet; clearance of 7 feet tall and 24 square feet per side (may be dual-faced) (Sec. §350-32B). Most commercial signs in Glocester Town require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (5 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Residential Zone, Agricultural Zone | 3 | 6 feet above ground level | 15 square feet | — |
| Commercial Zone, Neighborhood Commercial Zone, Highway Commercial Zone | 4 | 15 feet; clearance of 7 feet | 48 square feet per side (may be dual-faced) | — |
| Industrial Zone, Industrial Park | 4 | 15 feet from ground to top of sign, clearance of 7 feet | 64 square feet per side (may be dual-faced) | — |
| Historic District | 2 | — | — | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 17 | — | 30 square feet | — |

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

### Commercial Zone, Neighborhood Commercial Zone, Highway Commercial Zone

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall-Mounted Sign (Customer Entrance Wall) | 3 feet plus 1 inch for every 10 feet the building is set back from the property line; maximum 6 feet | — | 80% of width of storefront/wall | — | 1 per customer's entrance wall | On customer's entrance wall | — | §350-32B |
| Wall-Mounted Sign (Wall Facing Street) | 3 feet plus 1 inch for every 10 feet the building is set back from the property line; maximum 6 feet | — | 80% of width of storefront/wall | — | 1 per wall facing a street | On wall facing a street | — | §350-32B |
| Freestanding Sign (Single Building) | 15 feet; clearance of 7 feet | 24 square feet per side (may be dual-faced) | — | — | 1 per building | On property, not over property line | — | §350-32B |
| Freestanding Sign (Shopping Center) | 15 feet; clearance of 7 feet | 48 square feet per side (may be dual-faced) | — | — | 1 per center | On property, not over property line | — | §350-32B |

### Industrial Zone, Industrial Park

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall-Mounted Sign (Customer Entrance Wall) | 3 feet plus 1 inch for every 10 feet the building is set back from the property line; maximum 6 feet | — | 80% of width of building frontage/wall | — | 1 per customer's entrance wall | On customer's entrance wall | — | §350-32C(1) |
| Wall-Mounted Sign (Wall Facing Street) | 3 feet plus 1 inch for every 10 feet the building is set back from the property line; maximum 6 feet | — | 80% of width of building frontage/wall | — | 1 per wall facing a street | On wall facing a street | — | §350-32C(1) |
| Freestanding Sign (Individual Building) | 4 feet from ground to top of sign | 24 square feet per side (may be dual-faced) | — | — | 1 per building | On property | — | §350-32C(2) |
| Freestanding Sign (Industrial Park Directory) | 15 feet from ground to top of sign, clearance of 7 feet | 64 square feet per side (may be dual-faced) | — | — | 1 per industrial park | At industrial park entrance or as directory sign | — | §350-32C(2) |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Resident Name/Address Sign | — | 2 square feet | — | — | — | On property | — | §350-26A |
| "No Trespassing" or Property Regulation Sign (Residential/Agricultural/Commercial/Industrial) | — | 2 square feet (except 5 sq ft in commercial and industrial zones) | — | — | — | On property | — | §350-26B |
| Temporary Sale/Lease/Improvement Sign (Residential/Agricultural) | — | 6 square feet | — | — | — | On selling/leasing/improving property | — | §350-26C |
| Temporary Sale/Lease/Improvement Sign (Commercial) | — | 20 square feet | — | — | — | On selling/leasing/improving property | — | §350-26C |
| Temporary Sale/Lease/Improvement Sign (Industrial) | — | 30 square feet | — | — | — | On selling/leasing/improving property | — | §350-26C |
| Bulletin Board (Charitable/Religious On Property) | — | 25 square feet | — | — | — | On charitable/religious property | — | §350-26D |
| Functional/Directional Sign (Wall-Mounted) | — | 2 square feet per sign | — | — | 1 per activity | On property; wall-mounted | — | §350-26E |
| Functional/Directional Sign (Freestanding) | — | 4 square feet per sign | — | — | 1 per activity | On property; freestanding | — | §350-26E |

## Prohibited signs in Glocester Town

- Signs which incorporate in any manner any flashing or moving illumination or with illumination which varies in color. Digital data displays transmitting the time of day and the temperature are exempted.
- Signs which have any visible moving parts, including signs which achieve movement by action of wind currents. Hanging signs which swing in the wind and barber poles are exempted, provided they comply with all other provisions of this article.
- Any sign or sign structure 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.
- Any obsolete sign, which no longer advertises a bona fide business conducted, or product sold on the premises. Such signs shall be removed within 30 days of the date on which they became obsolete.
- Signs on publicly owned property or publicly owned rights-of-way, other than signs erected by the Town of Glocester, the State of Rhode Island or the United States of America. No sign located on public property or on a public right-of-way shall bear any commercial advertising or the name of any commercial business unless otherwise specified in this article.
- Signs painted on, attached to, or supported by a tree, stone, cliff, or other natural object, except for temporary "For Sale" signs where no other means of suspension is possible in agricultural and residential zones.
- String lights and strip lighting, other than those associated with religious and charitable organizations for a period not to exceed 10 days, other than holiday decorations, to be removed within 14 days after such holiday.
- Searchlights, pennants, spinners, banners and streamers, other than those associated with events of religious and charitable organizations for a period not to exceed 10 days.
- Projecting signs over 16 square feet in area, and extending more than five feet from the wall to which they are attached.
- Roof signs erected on or extended above the building roof or roof eaves.
- Off-site directional signs are not permitted unless otherwise specified in this article.

## Signs exempt from permit in Glocester Town

- Name and address of resident, not to include any commercial advertising, not exceeding two square feet, nonilluminated and nonelectric.
- “No trespassing” signs, or other such signs regulating the use of the property, not exceeding two square feet in most zones (five square feet in commercial and industrial zones), nonilluminated and nonelectric.
- Temporary signs advertising sale, rental, lease or improvement of the property, subject to size and duration restrictions; nonilluminated and nonelectric.
- Bulletin boards for public charitable or religious institutions when on the property, area not exceeding 25 square feet, no commercial advertising; may be illuminated but must be nonelectric.
- Signs identifying on-premises traffic, parking, or other functional activity, bearing no commercial advertising and subject to size limits; may be illuminated or electric.
- Signs erected by the Town of Glocester and traffic control devices erected by the State of Rhode Island or the United States of America, provided such signs bear no commercial advertising.
- Memorial signs or tablets and signs denoting the date of erection or name of a building when cut into any masonry surface or constructed of bronze or other noncombustible material; subject to size and mounting restrictions, nonilluminated and nonelectric.
- The flag, pennant or insignia of any government, or of any religious, charitable or fraternal organization.
- Temporary signs no larger than 12 square feet advertising auctions and special events/charities/public service groups, for no more than 10 days; nonilluminated and nonelectric.
- Signs identifying churches and places of worship, when on the property, no larger than 12 square feet; may be illuminated but not electric.
- Signs identifying nonprofit educational institutions, when on the property, no larger than 12 square feet; may be illuminated but not electric.
- Incidental business signs indicating hours of operation, credit card, business affiliations, etc., total area not to exceed two square feet per entrance.
- Election signs on certain premises, vehicles, or existing billboards, subject to removal regulations; may be illuminated but nonelectric.
- Temporary signs advertising special sales and events attached to store windows, total not to exceed 30% of window space.
- Yard sale signs up to 12 square feet in size, placed only on the premises, for a limited duration, nonilluminated and nonelectric.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Except as specified in this article, it is unlawful to erect, replace or relocate any sign in the Town of Glocester without first obtaining a sign permit issued for such signs as are specifically allowed for the premises and zones by the provisions of this article.
- All proposed signs in the Historic District require approval from the Glocester Historic District Commission in addition to a building permit. All requests must be submitted for review as part of an overall sign proposal for the business and/or property.
- The Town Council, upon recommendation by the Planning Board, may establish sign plazas. The Planning Board may establish regulations regarding the content, size, shape, color, material, texture, etc. of signs to be erected in the plaza, and shall have the right to approve or disapprove the layout and design of the plaza itself.

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

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