# Sign Regulations in Tiverton, Rhode Island

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Tiverton, Rhode Island (RI)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/rhode-island/tiverton
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-09
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/RI/Tiverton/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=PTIIICOOR_APXAZO_ARTXIISIRE)

## At a glance

Tiverton, Rhode Island regulates 22 sign types across 5 zoning districts. Monument Sign (Single-family subdivision identification)s in the Residential districts zoning district are capped at 8 ft tall and 20 sq ft, with a Minimum 5 feet setback (Sec. Section 4.a.(1)).

## Sign rules by zoning district (5 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Residential districts | 3 | 8 ft | 20 sq ft | — |
| Commercial districts, Industrial districts | 10 | 20 ft | 80 sq ft | — |
| Shopping centers | 3 | Same as monument or pole sign (see above; 5 ft or 20 ft, depending on structure type) | 28 sq ft for center ID; each business: 8 sq ft (as part of the same structure) | — |
| Gasoline stations | 2 | — | 16 sq ft | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 4 | 3 ft | 8 sq ft | — |

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

### Residential districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Monument Sign (Single-family subdivision identification) | 8 ft | 20 sq ft | — | Minimum 5 feet | One per entrance, max two per subdivision | At subdivision entrance | — | Section 4.a.(1) |
| Wall Sign (Multifamily complex accessory office) | Below roofline | 6 sq ft | — | Minimum 5 feet | One per accessory management/rental office | On multifamily complex, below roofline | — | Section 4.a.(2) |
| Monument/Wall/Projecting/Pole Sign (Legal nonconforming use) | 8 ft | 20 sq ft | — | Minimum 5 feet | One | On site | — | Section 4.a.(3) |

### Commercial districts, Industrial districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign - Monument | 5 ft | 28 sq ft | — | 10 feet; 50 feet from residential district boundary | One per lot (single establishment) | Ground mounted, not attached to building | — | Section 4.b.(2)(a), Section 7 |
| Freestanding Sign - Pole | 20 ft | 28 sq ft | — | 10 feet; 50 feet from residential district boundary | One per lot (single establishment) | Pole mounted, not attached to building | — | Section 4.b.(2)(b), Section 7 |
| Wall Sign (0–25 ft Setback) | Below the roof ridge line and district height limit | 20 sq ft | — | 10 feet (lot setback) | Maximum of two per lot; each establishment in shopping centers may have one | Parallel to wall, facing street frontage; installed flat, not extending more than 12 inches from wall | — | Section 4.b.(2)(c), Section 3.c, Section 7 |
| Wall Sign (26–49 ft Setback) | Below the roof ridge line and district height limit | 50 sq ft | — | 10 feet (lot setback) | Maximum of two per lot; each establishment in shopping centers may have one | Parallel to wall, facing street frontage; installed flat, not extending more than 12 inches from wall | — | Section 4.b.(2)(c), Section 3.c, Section 7 |
| Wall Sign (50–99 ft Setback) | Below the roof ridge line and district height limit | 60 sq ft | — | 10 feet (lot setback) | Maximum of two per lot; each establishment in shopping centers may have one | Parallel to wall, facing street frontage; installed flat, not extending more than 12 inches from wall | — | Section 4.b.(2)(c), Section 3.c, Section 7 |
| Wall Sign (100–149 ft Setback) | Below the roof ridge line and district height limit | 70 sq ft | — | 10 feet (lot setback) | Maximum of two per lot; each establishment in shopping centers may have one | Parallel to wall, facing street frontage; installed flat, not extending more than 12 inches from wall | — | Section 4.b.(2)(c), Section 3.c, Section 7 |
| Wall Sign (150+ ft Setback) | Below the roof ridge line and district height limit | 80 sq ft | — | 10 feet (lot setback) | Maximum of two per lot; each establishment in shopping centers may have one | Parallel to wall, facing street frontage; installed flat, not extending more than 12 inches from wall | — | Section 4.b.(2)(c), Section 3.c, Section 7 |
| Marquee Sign | Below the roof ridge line and district height limit | Follow wall sign regulations by setback | — | 10 feet (lot setback) | One per business establishment | Attached to building/marquee, facing street frontage | — | Section 4.b.(2)(c), Section 3.c, Section 7 |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Directional Sign (Exempt) | — | 4 sq ft | — | — | — | On site, for direction | — | Section 10.d |
| Point-of-Sale Sign (Exempt) | — | 8 sq ft | — | — | One per point of sale | At point of sale window/area | — | Section 10.i |
| Temporary On-site Real Estate Sign (Exempt) | — | 6 sq ft (residential), 24 sq ft (commercial/industrial) | — | — | One per property | On site (property for lease/sale) | — | Section 10.o |
| "A" Frame Sign (Exempt, Commercial Zone) | 3 ft | 6 sq ft | 2 ft | — | One per business | Sidewalk display | — | Section 10.q |

## Prohibited signs in Tiverton

- Animated signs, electric signs, electronic message centers, and internally illuminated signs (including any sign that uses artificial illumination), except those used by government highway departments. Externally illuminated signs are permitted except as otherwise stated in the ordinance.
- Moving signs, including pennants, flags with commercial messages, streamers, propellers, discs, and searchlights.
- Flashing signs, including any sign with flashing, blinking or intermittent lights, except for time-and-temperature display signs or government highway department signs.
- Glaring signs or signs with light sources or reflectivity of such brightness to constitute a hazard or nuisance as determined by the inspector.
- Inflatable signs and objects.
- Off-site signs.
- Portable signs, except for authorized temporary signs.
- Simulated traffic signs or obstructions or those which may be confused with or obstruct the view of authorized traffic signs or signals.
- Any sign or type of sign not specifically addressed in this ordinance.

## Signs exempt from permit in Tiverton

- A duplicate of a legal sign replaced within one year of damage or destruction due to an act of God (grandfather rights expire after one year).
- Attached signs indicating the address and/or name of residential occupants and/or date of construction for historical structures, not exceeding 1.5 square feet, and not including any commercial advertising.
- Works of art that do not include commercial messages or references.
- Directional signs not exceeding four square feet.
- Flags, emblems or insignia of any governmental, religious, charitable, public or nonprofit organization, not exceeding 20 feet in height and three flags per lot.
- Signs indicating handicapped parking spaces.
- One sign per lot for houses of worship, schools and public uses, not exceeding 16 square feet in size and eight feet in height.
- An on-site special event sign displayed by a nonprofit organization, not exceeding 20 square feet, maximum of one such sign twice in a 12-month period for 14 days.
- Point-of-sale signs (e.g., menu signs at walk-up windows or drive-throughs), one per point of sale, not exceeding eight square feet with letters no greater than two inches high.
- On-site signs not exceeding two square feet, limited to one per drive or road entrance, and limited to private road and location copy.
- Political campaign signs posted on private property with owner's approval, to be removed within seven days after the election.
- Signs erected by government agencies or utilities relating to traffic, utilities, safety, and identification of public facilities.
- On-site security or warning signs (e.g., 'no trespassing'), not exceeding four square feet in residential, sixteen square feet in commercial/industrial areas.
- Temporary on-site farm product signs (max two, not exceeding 20 square feet per sign).
- Temporary on-site real estate signs: one per property, max six square feet in residential, 24 square feet in commercial/industrial; must be removed within seven days of settlement or lease.
- "Two-day signs": private or semiprivate noncommercial event signs not exceeding four square feet, posted for 48 hours with property owner's permission, removed following the event.
- One portable 'A' frame sign per commercial business in commercial zones, not exceeding 3 feet by 2 feet, for sidewalk display during business hours.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- No explicit requirement for a master sign plan or sign plan is stated in the ordinance.
- For cases where regulations do not specifically address a sign requested for a permissible use, a special use permit must be obtained.
- Petition for relief from the requirements of this article may be made to the zoning board of review as a special use permit.
- If the requested sign is a matter of interpretation, the inspector may obtain a written interpretation from the town solicitor.
- No sign shall be erected, significantly altered, replaced, or relocated unless a permit has been obtained from the inspector, except for the exemptions listed in Section 10.
- Shopping centers with five or more business establishments planned as an integrated development and located at a street intersection are authorized specific sign allowances but are not required to submit a sign plan.

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

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