# Sign Regulations in Westerly Town, Rhode Island

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Westerly Town, Rhode Island (RI)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/rhode-island/westerly-town
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/7755440#7755440)

## At a glance

Westerly Town, Rhode Island regulates 23 sign types across 4 zoning districts. Portable Sign (Sandwich Board)s in the DC-1 Zoning District, DC-2 Zoning District, NB Zoning District, MC Zoning District, SC-WH Zoning District zoning district are capped at 4 ft tall, 12 sq ft, and 3 ft (base) wide (Sec. § 260-86I(5)). Most commercial signs in Westerly Town 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 | 9 | If lot lacks principal building: 6 ft | 10 sq ft (except temporary community event banners) | — |
| Residential Zoning Districts, OSR Zoning Districts | 3 | 6 ft | 6 sq ft | — |
| HC Zoning District, GC Zoning District, SC-G Zoning District, CR Zoning District, GI Zoning District, LI Zoning District | 7 | 16 ft or height of building, whichever is less | 72 sq ft | — |
| DC-1 Zoning District, DC-2 Zoning District, NB Zoning District, MC Zoning District, SC-WH Zoning District | 7 | 6 ft | 36 sq ft (or multi-occupant sign) | — |

## 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 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign (General Requirements) | — | — | — | — | — | Attached to exterior wall of structure; cannot project over property line or be painted directly on the wall. | — | § 260-86D(5) |
| Freestanding Sign (General Requirements) | If lot lacks principal building: 6 ft | — | — | No part of sign within 10 ft of any lot line. | 1 per lot | On ground, not within 10 ft of any lot line. | — | § 260-86D(6) |
| Projecting Sign (General Requirements) | — | 10 sq ft (except temporary community event banners) | — | — | — | Dependent on building; must be at least 8 ft above ground if over public walks. | — | § 260-86D(7) |
| Identification Sign (permitted by right) | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | — | On premises; not of commercial nature. | — | § 260-86E(1)(a) |
| Mailbox/Newspaper Tube Sign (permitted by right) | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | — | On mailbox/newspaper tube | — | § 260-86E(1)(b) |
| Private Property Notice Sign (No Trespassing, etc.) | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | — | — | — | § 260-86E(1)(c) |
| Government/Regulatory Sign | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | § 260-86E(2) |
| Real Estate Sign (Permitted by right) | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | 1 per lot | On property being advertised | — | § 260-86E(6) |

### HC Zoning District, GC Zoning District, SC-G Zoning District, CR Zoning District, GI Zoning District, LI Zoning District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign (Single Occupant) | 16 ft or height of building, whichever is less | 36 sq ft | — | — | 1 per single occupant parcel | Property of business. Not for individual occupants in multi-occupant buildings. | — | § 260-86H(1)(a) |
| Projecting Sign | — | 12 sq ft | — | — | 1 per single occupant parcel | — | — | § 260-86H(1)(b) |
| Wall Sign | — | — | — | — | 1 per street-facing facade | — | — | § 260-86H(1)(c) |
| Canopy Sign | — | — | — | — | 1 per street-facing facade | On canopy/awning | — | § 260-86H(1)(d) |
| Freestanding Sign (Multi-Occupant) | 16 ft or average building height, whichever is less | 72 sq ft | — | — | 1 per multi-occupant parcel | — | — | § 260-86H(2)(a) |
| Wall Sign (Multi-Occupant) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | § 260-86H(2)(b) |
| Exposed Neon Tube Window Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Interior window | — | § 260-86H(3) |

### DC-1 Zoning District, DC-2 Zoning District, NB Zoning District, MC Zoning District, SC-WH Zoning District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Window Sign (Permanent) | — | Up to 15% of total window area per storefront (permanent signs) | — | — | — | On or within 3 feet of window, visible to public | — | § 260-86I(1) |
| Wall Sign | — | — | — | — | 1 per building face (or per occupant's area) | On exterior wall | — | § 260-86I(2) |
| Freestanding Sign | 6 ft | 36 sq ft (or multi-occupant sign) | — | — | 1 per lot | On lot, not on or over sidewalk | — | § 260-86I(3) |
| Projecting Sign | — | 12 sq ft | — | — | 1 per business | On building, over sidewalk | — | § 260-86I(4) |
| Portable Sign (Sandwich Board) | 4 ft | 12 sq ft | 3 ft (base) | — | 1 per unit | On sidewalk abutting unit advertised | — | § 260-86I(5) |
| Marquee Sign | — | — | — | — | — | On existing historic marquee | — | § 260-86I(6) |
| Canopy Sign | — | — | — | — | — | On awning/canopy/structure over entry | — | § 260-86I(7) |

## Prohibited signs in Westerly Town

- No person or organization shall post or otherwise affix, paint, print, mark or cause to be posted or affixed, painted, printed or marked any sign, bill, poster, notice or advertisement upon any tree, fence, board, post, pole, telephone or utility pole, traffic regulating sign or any utility structure or the like or upon any street or highway, except with the approval, in writing, of the Chief of Police.
- Signs which are not expressly permitted by these regulations are prohibited.
- All signs, billboards and digital media display panels that are self-illuminated utilizing LED, OLED panels, LCD or plasma screens for the purposes of advertisement in public display are not allowed in any zoning district, except for a sign stating 'open' (≤2 sq.ft.), time and temperature, and fuel prices (not permitted in NB district).
- No sign may be illuminated such that it is brighter than 0.3 footcandle above ambient light levels, as measured at 150 feet from the sign.
- No sign shall be painted directly onto any building, fence, utility pole, rock, tree or other similar object.
- Illuminated tubing or strings of lights that outline properties, sales areas, rooflines, doors, windows, or similar areas are prohibited except for temporary use in observance of holidays.
- No sign shall be located so as to obstruct or interfere with the visibility or movement of vehicular or pedestrian traffic.
- No sign shall be located on any corner so as to violate visibility requirements.
- No sign shall be located on a sidewalk unless otherwise permitted.
- No wall sign shall extend beyond the outer edge of any wall or above the eaves of the building or be painted directly upon any wall.
- No person may, for the purpose of increasing or enhancing the visibility of any sign, damage, trim, destroy, or remove any trees, shrubs, or other vegetation located where landscaping is required by zoning approval or within the right-of-way of any public street or highway, unless authorized in writing by the Public Works Director.
- The following signs are prohibited in all zoning districts (unless otherwise permitted): billboard signs, snipe or bandit signs, inflatable signs, abandoned signs, flags displaying commercial content, roof signs, banners, vehicular signs.

## Signs exempt from permit in Westerly Town

- Signs not exceeding six square feet in area that are not of a commercial nature, such as identification signs, signs on mailboxes or newspaper tubes, and signs relating to private parking or warning the public against trespassing, hunting or danger from animals.
- Government/regulatory signs erected by, or pursuant to, the authorization of a governmental or quasi-governmental body, including legal notices, identification and informational signs, and traffic, directional or regulatory signs.
- Integral decorative or architectural features of buildings or works of art, so long as such features do not contain letters, trademarks, moving parts, or lights.
- Signs directing and guiding traffic that bear no advertising matter.
- Signs proclaiming religious or political activities that do not exceed one per lot and 12 square feet in area and are not internally illuminated (with duration restrictions for election/campaign signs).
- Real estate signs giving notice that the property is for sale, lease, or rent, not exceeding six square feet and no more than one per lot (must be removed after sale/lease/rental).
- Community event signs (freestanding temporary portable signs by government, quasi-government, institutions, libraries, schools and nonprofits), limited to 10 days prior to event and immediately removed after.
- Temporary signs (such as for yard sales), one per lot, not over two square feet, for no longer than three consecutive days or more than 10 days/year.
- Temporary window signs (in or on a window), not occupying more than 25% of window area, not in place more than 30 days.
- Flags of a foreign nation, the US, State of Rhode Island, Town of Westerly, or associated with military, National Guard, police, and fire departments.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Owners of multi-occupant developments (shopping centers, educational and medical institutions, office parks, recreational facilities, mixed-use facilities) must submit to the Planning Board an integrated signage package for any minor or major land development project approval.
- Applications for such projects must include information required for a sign permit and the opinion and recommendation of the Zoning Officer on consistency with the Zoning Ordinance.
- Planning Board approval of an integrated sign package does not waive the requirement for the applicant to obtain necessary relief from the Zoning Official or Zoning Board; if relief is required, the applicant must apply to the Zoning Board and seek an advisory recommendation from the Planning Board.

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

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