# Sign Regulations in Jamestown, Rhode Island

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Jamestown, Rhode Island (RI)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/rhode-island/jamestown
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-08
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/RI/Jamestown/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=PTIICOOR_CH82ZO_ART13SIRE)

## At a glance

Jamestown, Rhode Island regulates 28 sign types across 4 zoning districts. Gasoline Station/Garage/Boating Facility Ground or Ladder Signs in the Commercial Districts (CD, CL, CW) zoning district are capped at 5 feet tall and 20 square feet (Sec. Sec. 82-1305(7)). Most commercial signs in Jamestown require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (4 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 12 | — | 12 square feet | — |
| Commercial Districts (CD, CL, CW) | 9 | 40 inches | 20 square feet | — |
| CL District | 1 | 5 feet | 20 square feet | — |
| Residential Districts | 6 | — | 20 square feet | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 4 zones)

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Residence Sign | — | 2 square feet | — | — | — | On premises, displaying name and address of occupant | — | Sec. 82-1302(1) |
| Real Estate Sign | — | 8 square feet | — | — | — | On premises | — | Sec. 82-1302(2) |
| Tag/Yard/Garage Sale Sign | — | 2 square feet per sign | — | — | 4 | On own post | — | Sec. 82-1302(3) |
| Warning/Utility/Public Notice Sign | — | 2 square feet | — | — | — | — | — | Sec. 82-1302(4) |
| Directional Sign (Entrance/Exit/Parking) | — | 1.5 square feet | — | — | — | On premises | — | Sec. 82-1302(8) |
| Church/School/Public Use Sign | — | 12 square feet | — | — | 1 | — | — | Sec. 82-1302(9) |
| Political Sign (Building Attached/Window) | — | 12 square feet | — | — | — | Attached or affixed to exterior of building or window | — | Sec. 82-1308(1)(3) |
| Political Sign (Freestanding) | — | 12 square feet | — | — | — | Freestanding | — | Sec. 82-1308(2)(3) |

### Commercial Districts (CD, CL, CW)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | — | 16 square feet | — | — | 1 per street frontage | Attached parallel to, or painted on, building exterior wall | — | Sec. 82-1305(1) |
| Window Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Affixed to, in contact with, or within 12 inches of a window | — | Sec. 82-1305(2) |
| Projecting/Overhanging Blade Sign | — | 8 square feet | — | — | 1 per business | Projecting over public ways, perpendicular to the facade in the first layer | — | Sec. 82-1305(4) |
| Sandwich Board Sign | 40 inches | — | 24 inches | — | — | Town-owned property or public sidewalks | — | Sec. 82-1305(8) |
| Signs for Multiuse Commercial Establishments (Group Sign) | — | 20 square feet | — | — | 1 | — | — | Sec. 82-1305(6) |
| Signs for Multiuse Commercial Establishments (Wall Sign) | — | 12 square feet | — | — | 1 per commercial unit | Wall-mounted | — | Sec. 82-1305(6) |
| Gasoline Station/Garage/Boating Facility Wall Signs (Divided) | — | 16 square feet (total for all signs on wall) | — | — | — | Affixed to and parallel to front wall | — | Sec. 82-1305(7) |
| Gasoline Station/Garage/Boating Facility Ground or Ladder Sign | 5 feet | 20 square feet | — | — | 1 | Freestanding | — | Sec. 82-1305(7) |

### Residential Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Projecting/Overhanging Blade Sign (Home Occupation) | — | 2 square feet | — | — | 1 | Perpendicular to facade within first layer | — | Sec. 82-1306(1) |
| Ladder-Type Sign (Group Listing) | — | — | — | — | — | For properties sharing unnamed driveway/private road | — | Sec. 82-1306(2) |
| Real Estate Developer Sign | — | 20 square feet | — | — | 1 | — | — | Sec. 82-1306(3) |
| Permanent Residential Development Entrance Sign | — | 15 square feet | — | — | — | Major entrance to residential development | — | Sec. 82-1306(4) |
| Real Estate Open House Sign (Off-Premises) | — | 6 square feet | — | — | Up to 4 per event | Off-premises | — | Sec. 82-1306(5) |
| Bed and Breakfast House Sign | — | 2 square feet | — | — | 1 | — | — | Sec. 82-1306(6) |

## Prohibited signs in Jamestown

- Advertising signs tacked, posted, painted or otherwise attached to utility poles, trees, sidewalks, curbs or rocks.
- Billboards or any sign or advertising device which advertises a use or activity not located on, or a product not sold nor manufactured on the lot upon which the sign or device is located.
- Interior-lighted signs, which are signs lighted by an interior lighting source and projected through a translucent sign material; except certain neon signs as permitted in section 82-1309.
- Moving, revolving, flashing, mobile or animated signs, or signs with any such visible parts. Clocks, barber poles, and time/temperature devices are permitted only if they comply with all other provisions of the ordinance. Signs with any visible moving parts are also prohibited.
- Roof signs or display signs placed above or supported on the top of a building or structure.
- Trailer signs, defined as any sign which is or can be mounted on wheels or vehicles, including mobile advertising signs, except signs on vehicles used for purposes other than principal advertising.

## Signs exempt from permit in Jamestown

- Residence signs, not exceeding two square feet, displaying the name and address of the occupant or resident.
- Real estate signs advertising sale or rent, or signs naming the builder, architect, developer or engineer of a project in progress, placed on the premises, not exceeding eight square feet and removed within seven days of sale, rental, or project completion.
- Notices of tag, yard, or garage sales (maximum of four signs per sale, not exceeding two square feet each, provided the sale is licensed by the town clerk; all signs removed within 48 hours of sale).
- Signs prohibiting trespass, hunting, warning of danger, or necessary public utility signs, not to exceed two square feet in area.
- Temporary window signs, such as advertising a sale. Normal displays of merchandise in windows are not considered signs.
- Traffic and other governmental signs, erected by public safety agencies in the discharge of governmental functions, including illuminated signs as allowed by section 82-1309.
- Signs designating historical places or points of interest, erected by governmental authority or similar, not exceeding 12 square feet.
- Signs indicating entrance, exit, parking, erected on premises for direction of people and vehicles, not exceeding 1.5 square feet, integrated by style/materials with other signage and landscaping.
- One sign for church, school or other public use, not exceeding 12 square feet, which may be illuminated in accordance with section 82-1309.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- No mention is made of a required Master Sign Plan or sign plan for all signs; however, all signs (except exempt signs) require a building permit, and the application may require submission of drawings, descriptions, or plot plans of the sign and/or its location as may be reasonably necessary for administration.
- Signs in connection with uses permitted by special use permit are subject to review and approval of the zoning board of review.
- Temporary signs, banners, posters, and special promotions (except window posters) require a special permit from the zoning enforcement officer.

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

---

PermitPal — AI sign code research. Full HTML page: https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/rhode-island/jamestown