(A) Purpose of signage regulations. Signage regulations are intended to promote the public health, safety, and welfare by regulating existing and proposed signs. They are also intended to protect property values and reduce potential hazards while creating a positive economic and business environment.
(B) General provisions for all signs.
(1) All new signs in excess of 20 square feet and not an integral part of another structure shall require a sign permit unless excepted from the terms of this chapter by division (C) below.
(2) All signs, either temporary or permanent, shall be maintained in a presentable manner for the life of the sign.
(3) Any non-conforming sign that is or becomes in a rundown or objectionable condition shall be removed from the premises by the owner of said sign. Said condition shall exist when the sign is determined to be in excess of 30% destroyed by natural causes or otherwise.
(4) Any non-conforming advertising sign existing upon effective date of this chapter shall be discontinued on or before ten years after the effective date of this subchapter unless, in the meantime, it is determined or made conforming to this section.
(5) Advertising signs may contain not more than one sign per facing, nor more than two sides per said device.
(6) Any sign that is deemed a traffic hazard for reason of obstructing the view of an approaching road or intersection, railroad, school playground or park pedestrian crosswalk, or any other situation that may endanger health and welfare of any pedestrian or occupant of any vehicle shall be prohibited.
(7) All signs shall be a minimum of 1,320 feet from another sign located on the same side of a two-lane state, federal, or county highway. Where located in a commercial zone, there shall be a separation requirement of 600 feet. Where located in an industrial zone, there shall be a separation requirement of 300 feet. (No series of signs relaying a message are allowed in any zone.) This provision only applies to the unincorporated areas of the county.
(8) Any sign which advertises a product or service no longer available on the premises of a business which has closed permanently or moved from the premises shall be removed by the owner of such premises.
(9) Semi-trailers shall not be used as advertising signs.
(C) Exceptions to signage regulations. The following shall be excluded from the regulations of this section:
(1) All signs necessary established by the Federal, State, and County Highway Departments;
(2) Temporary advertising signs or signs giving directions to special events. The sponsors of such events shall remove all signs within 25 hours after the signs become no longer applicable;
(3) Window signs;
(4) Public or government signs;
(5) “No trespassing,” “no dumping,” “no parking,” and “no hunting” signs; and
(6) Political signs.
(D) Signage regulations for churches, schools, and institutions. All churches, public or parochial, primary or secondary schools, and all institutions shall be limited to one free-standing advertising sign not to exceed 32 square feet (for example, four feet by eight feet). In the event the church, school, or institution faces more than one street, one advertising sign per street may be permitted on the building’s site. All such signs shall be located not less than 15 feet behind the front/side lot line, except where affixed to the building and not extending over the sidewalk.
(E) Signage regulations in F and A zones.
(1) Advertising signs pertaining to a home occupation or sale of farm product not to exceed 20 square feet.
(2) Free-standing, non-accessory advertising sign, that is, any sign advertising a business, use, activity, product, or merchandise not sold, handled, or occurring on the property on which the device is located, shall be subject to the following.
(a) Such sign shall have a 15-foot front yard setback requirement from the road right-of-way and 15 feet from the side property line.
(b) Said device shall be a minimum of 300 feet from a church, school, public institution, or place of public assembly.
(c) Said device shall be a minimum of 400 feet from any dwelling or land platted or zoned for residential use.
(F) Signage regulations in R-1 and R-2 zones.
(1) Home occupations: unlighted, not to exceed four square feet. The required setbacks shall be not less than 15 feet from the front and/or side property lines.
(2) Temporary signs: one per lot, not to exceed four square feet pertaining to the sale or rent of property or signs naming contractors during a construction period.
(3) Temporary (subdivisions only): one sign not to exceed 64 square feet advertising lots within the subdivision. Said sign shall be removed by the developer upon the completion/sale of 90% of the lots in the subdivision. The setback shall be not less than 15 feet from the front and/or side property lines.
(4) Permanent: one identification sign (per entrance) not exceeding 20 square feet, provided that such sign shall be located not less than 15 feet from the front and side property lines, except where affixed to the wall of a building and not extending over any sidewalks.
(5) All advertising signs, except as mentioned in division (A) above and this division (F), and official signs of governmental agencies, are prohibited in R-1 or R-2 zones.
(G) Signage regulations for R-3 or planned residential zones. Same as regulations for R-1 and R-2 zones as provided in division (F) above.
(H) Signage regulations in C and I zones. In any C-1, C-2, C-3, I-1, or I-2 zone, an advertising sign may be permitted, provided that when same is located within 75 feet of an R zone or residentially used area boundary line, it shall be affixed to or be a part of a building, and not to project over any street line or project above the roof line, and shall pertain only to the use conducted within the building. The size shall be limited to three square feet of area to each lineal front foot of the principal building on the premises.
(1) No free standing sign shall have an advertising area exceeding 300 square feet. Total height of the sign from ground level shall not exceed 30 feet. Such sign shall be located not less than four feet from the front and/or side property line/right-of-way.
(2) No flashing advertising sign shall be located within 300 feet of any residential zone or developed areas.
(3) Yard restrictions shall be as required in the zone in which the device is located.
(I) Signage regulations in a planned commercial zone.
(1) One entrance sign not to exceed 600 square feet in area on each thoroughfare on which the shopping center has established entrance drives. Such sign shall give the name of the center and may be used to give the names of individual stores but shall not be used to advertise any products or merchandise within the center.
(2) No free-standing advertising sign shall be permitted within the shopping center, except as permitted in division (I)(1) above.
(3) Advertising signs attached to the buildings, not projecting above the roof line, shall be permitted. Such signs shall give the name of the store or use and shall not be used to advertise merchandise sold in the property. The size shall be limited to three square feet of area to each lineal front foot of the building displaying such a sign.
(4) Yard restrictions shall be as required in division (G) above.
(5) Small hanging name plates not to exceed four square feet in area shall be permitted within the pedestrian mall or over walkways at a minimum height of seven and one-half feet above the walkway, attached to the store or use, giving the name of the store or use and at no time being used for advertising products or merchandise sold on the property. All such name plates shall be of uniform design throughout the shopping center.
(6) Any advertising signs attached to or painted on the display windows of the building shall be exempted.
(7) The nature of all advertising signs within the shopping center shall be included in the secondary development plan and shall be subject to the approval or disapproval of the Commission.
(J) Signage regulations in a planned industrial zone.
(1) An entrance sign at each major entrance to the planned industrial park, not to exceed 600 square feet in area, stating the name of the park if applicable, and listing the names of the various industrial uses located within the park.
(2) Temporary signs advertising the sale of lots and directional signs at major intersections within the park which aid in the location of establishments, truck loading docks, and visitors’ parking facilities. Such signs shall not exceed 20 square feet in area and shall be situated so as not to cause a traffic hazard, and they shall be of uniform design throughout the planned industrial area.
(3) Yard restrictions shall be as required in division (E) above.
(4) Flat wall signs attached to the building or use stating the name of the operation shall not be placed so as to exceed ten feet in height above the roof line of the building. Not more than 25% of the area of such sign shall be devoted to product advertising and then only for advertising of products produced on the premises.
(5) (a) Any advertising signs attached to or painted on the display windows of the building shall be exempted.
(b) The nature of all advertising signs within the planned industrial zone shall be included in the secondary development plan and subject to the approval or disapproval of the Commission.
(Ord. 2005-01, passed 2-17-2005) Penalty, see § 153.999