# Sign Regulations in North Smithfield Town, Rhode Island

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

- **Jurisdiction:** North Smithfield Town, Rhode Island (RI)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/rhode-island/north-smithfield-town
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/37922753#37922753)

## At a glance

North Smithfield Town, Rhode Island regulates 24 sign types across 8 zoning districts. Freestanding Signs in the Business and Manufacturing Districts (BN, BH, LC, M) zoning district are capped at BN: 8 ft, BH: 20 ft, LC: 12 ft, M: 20 ft tall and See table: BN: 12 sq ft, BH: 60 sq ft, LC: 30 sq ft, M: 60 sq ft, with a No closer than 10 feet to any lot line (§ 340-4.30E) setback (Sec. § 340-4.26A, D). Most commercial signs in North Smithfield Town require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (8 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 13 | — | 30% of window area | — |
| Residential Zoning Districts (REA, RA, RS, RU) | 5 | — | 9 sq ft | — |
| Business and Manufacturing Districts (BN, BH, LC, M) | 5 | BN: 8 ft, BH: 20 ft, LC: 12 ft, M: 20 ft | 30% of window area | — |
| Business Neighborhood District (BN) | 2 | 8 ft | 20 sq ft | — |
| Business Highway District (BH, BH1, BH Limited) | 2 | 20 ft | 60 sq ft (per side) | — |
| Limited Commercial District (LC) | 2 | 12 ft | 30 sq ft (per side) | — |
| Manufacturing District (M) | 2 | 20 ft | 75 sq ft | — |
| Historic District (HD) | 1 | — | — | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 8 zones)

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Governmental Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Erected by Town of North Smithfield, State of Rhode Island, or USA, pursuant to and in discharge of any governmental function, or required by law | — | § 340-4.23A |
| Identification Sign | — | 1.5 sq ft | — | — | — | — | — | § 340-4.23B |
| Announcement Board/Changeable Sign (Church, School, Public/Semipublic Use) | — | 12 sq ft | — | — | — | On premises of church, school, or public/semipublic use | — | § 340-4.23C |
| Directional/Instructional Sign | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | 1 per applicable activity | On-premises traffic, parking, or other functional activity | — | § 340-4.23D |
| Accessory Business Sign (Door or Wall-Mounted) | — | 3 sq ft per business/use | — | — | — | Located on a door or wall immediately adjacent to a public entrance | — | § 340-4.23E |
| Digital Clock/Time-Temperature Clock | — | 15 sq ft | — | — | — | — | — | § 340-4.23F |
| Produce Sale Sign | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | — | Produce raised on premises | — | § 340-4.23G |
| Permanent Window Sign | — | 30% of window area | — | — | — | Window | — | § 340-4.23H |

### Residential Zoning Districts (REA, RA, RS, RU)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign (Special Use Permit) | — | 9 sq ft | — | — | 1 | Permitted use authorized by the Zoning Board of Review (special use permit) | — | § 340-4.25A |
| Wall-Mounted Sign (Special Use Permit) | — | 9 sq ft | — | — | 1 | Permitted use authorized by the Zoning Board of Review (special use permit) | — | § 340-4.25A |
| Freestanding Sign (Home Occupation) | — | 3 sq ft | — | — | 1 | Permitted home occupation | — | § 340-4.25B |
| Wall-Mounted Sign (Home Occupation) | — | 3 sq ft | — | — | 1 | Permitted home occupation | — | § 340-4.25B |
| Accessory Use Sign | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | 1 | Approved accessory use | — | § 340-4.25C |

### Business and Manufacturing Districts (BN, BH, LC, M)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign | BN: 8 ft, BH: 20 ft, LC: 12 ft, M: 20 ft | See table: BN: 12 sq ft, BH: 60 sq ft, LC: 30 sq ft, M: 60 sq ft | — | No closer than 10 feet to any lot line (§ 340-4.30E) | 1 per principal building | On the lot of the principal building | — | § 340-4.26A, D |
| Wall-Mounted Sign | — | See formula | — | — | 1 per principal building (if no freestanding sign, then maximum two wall, awning, or projecting signs allowed; in any combination) | Exterior wall of principal building, facing a street or access road | — | § 340-4.26A, C, D |
| Projecting Sign | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | — | Projecting from building | — | § 340-4.26H |
| Window Sign | — | 30% of window area | — | — | — | Window | — | § 340-4.26I |
| Awning/Canopy Sign | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | — | Awning or canopy | — | § 340-4.26J |

## Prohibited signs in North Smithfield Town

- Billboards or other off-site advertising signs are prohibited in all zoning districts. Off-site directional signs may be permitted only by special use permit from the Zoning Board of Review.
- Portable signs, including sandwich board signs and trailer signs, are prohibited in all zoning districts.
- Changeable signs which change content or display more frequently than once every two minutes are prohibited in all zoning districts.
- Animated, revolving, sparkling, or flashing signs, or signs incorporating intermittent, oscillating, or moving spot lights are prohibited in all zoning districts.
- Signs attached to trees, traffic signs, regulating signs, or utility poles are prohibited, except for signs on private property posting hunting or trespassing restrictions not exceeding two square feet per sign.
- Permanent inflatable signs or inflatable objects displayed as a form of advertising are prohibited in all zoning districts.
- Roof-mounted signs are prohibited in all zoning districts.
- String lights, banners, or flags used to call attention to a business or activity are prohibited in all zoning districts. Exception: public, religious, or charitable organization use not exceeding 30 days per calendar year, and governmental flags used in accordance with display standards and not to attract attention to a business or activity.
- Projecting signs that extend over a public sidewalk or public way are prohibited without approval of the Building/Zoning Official.
- Any sign that constitutes a hazard to public safety or health is prohibited, including those that obstruct driver vision, detract from traffic control devices, or impede vision/access/egress from public streets, sidewalks, or entrances.
- Any obsolete sign, which no longer advertises a bona fide business conducted or product sold on the premises, must be removed within 30 days of becoming obsolete.

## Signs exempt from permit in North Smithfield Town

- Signs erected by the Town, State of Rhode Island, or United States of America pursuant to governmental function or required by law, ordinance, or regulation; these may be illuminated.
- Signs not exceeding 1.5 square feet in area that bear only property numbers, post box numbers, occupant names, or other identification of premises not having commercial connotations.
- An announcement board or changeable sign no greater than 12 square feet for a church, school, or other public/semipublic use; may be illuminated.
- Instructional or directional signs identifying on-premises traffic, parking, or other functional activity (one per activity, no commercial advertising, max two square feet, may be illuminated).
- Accessory signs incidental to a business indicating hours of operation, credit cards, business affiliation, etc., total not exceeding three square feet per business or use, and located on or adjacent to a public entrance.
- Digital clocks or time/temperature clocks containing no advertising and not exceeding 15 square feet.
- Sale of produce raised on premises signs, not exceeding six square feet.
- Permanent window signs not exceeding 30% of window area.
- Integral decorative or architectural building features, except letters, trademarks, moving parts, or moving lights.
- Holiday signs and decorations 45 days prior to and 15 days after the specific holiday, including all federal/state legal holidays and recognized religious holidays.
- Signs customary and necessary for the operation of filling and service stations and automotive fueling areas, subject to size and location regulations.
- Temporary signs in accordance with §340-4.28 (temporary signs for special events, real estate, subdivisions, etc.), generally allowed in all zoning districts without permit if removed within 10 days of advertised activity and not in place more than 30 days except as otherwise noted.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Any person intending to erect, relocate, or alter any sign must obtain a sign permit from the Building/Zoning Official, except for temporary signs and those explicitly exempted in §340-4.23.
- Sign permit applications must include: a site plan showing all signs and relationships to structures/premises, scaled drawings of all faces of all existing/proposed signs with design details, an elevation of the building wall with sign location and dimensions, names of persons performing the work, written consent of owner and lessor, an electrical permit if applicable, and description of proposed illumination.
- Shopping centers (as defined) have special regulations that may require coordinated sign plans identifying all uses and common freestanding signs.
- Projecting signs extending over public sidewalks or ways require approval by the Building/Zoning Official.
- Applications will be reviewed by the Building/Zoning Official and forwarded for departmental review as necessary; permits will be issued if all requirements are met.

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

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