(A) Purpose. The purpose of this subchapter is to protect and retain the natural scenic beauty of the roadsides throughout the city. By the construction of public roads, the public has created views to which the public retains a right-of-way view, and it is the intent of these standards to prevent the taking of that right.
(B) Definitions. For the purpose of this subchapter, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
SIGN. A notice that directs attention to a product, place, activity, person, institution, organization or business for public view.
SIGN, ADVERTISING. A sign that directs attention to a business or profession or to a commodity, service or entertainment.
SIGN, AREA. The entire area within a continuous perimeter enclosing the extreme limits of the sign. However, the perimeter shall not include any structural elements lying outside of the sign and not forming an integral part or border of the sign.
SIGN, BANNER. Any sign made of flexible material hung up on a crossbar or between two points of any permanent structure or poles advertising an event such as a grand opening, special sale or similar situation.
SIGN, BILLBOARD. An outdoor panel for the display of large advertisements in public places, such as alongside highways, roads and streets.
SIGN, BUSINESS. A sign that directs attention to a business or profession or to the commodity, service or entertainment sold or offered upon the premises where the sign is located or to which it is attached.
SIGN, DISPLAY. Any commodity that is sold or produced by the occupant which is exhibited outside the premises for the purpose of bringing to the attention of others, those items currently for sale within the premises.
SIGN, FLASHING. An illuminated sign which has a light source not constant in intensity or color at all times while the sign is in use.
SIGN, GROUND. A sign which is supported by one or more uprights, poles or braces in or upon the ground.
SIGN, ILLUMINATED. A sign which is lighted with an artificial light source, that meets government mandated regulations and is appropriate to the application of a building’s historic period.
SIGN, MOTION. A sign that has moving parts.
SIGN, NAMEPLATE. A sign which states the address of a property, or in the case of a business or industrial property, the name and/or address of the business or industrial occupant.
SIGN, OFF-PREMISES DIRECTIONAL. A sign for public or non-profit organizations, including religious organizations, that is located distant from a building or activity area, and may or may not be located on the same parcel as the building or activity area.
SIGN, PORTABLE. An unlighted sign not affixed to the ground or building and easily carried or moved.
SIGN, REAL ESTATE. A sign offering property (land and/or buildings) for sale, lease or rent and located on the property being offered.
SIGN, ROOF. A sign erected upon or above a roof or parapet of a building.
SIGN, STRUCTURE. The supports, uprights, braces and framework of the sign.
SIGN, TEMPORARY. Any sign, except a banner sign, placed in a manner as not to be solidly affixed to any building, structure or land and advertising an event such as a bazaar, special sale, sporting event, or similar situation.
SIGN, WALL. A sign attached to or erected against the wall of a building with the exposed face of the sign parallel to the wall.
SIGN, WARNING. A sign which warns the public of a danger or hazard in the immediate vicinity and is obviously not intended for advertising purposes.
(C) Permit required.
(1) Except as otherwise provided in this subchapter, no sign shall be erected, constructed, altered, rebuilt or relocated until a conditional use permit or sign permit for the sign has been issued according to the sign permit chart in § 153.133 of this code.
(2) No permit will be required under this section for the following signs:
(a) Real estate sale signs nine square feet or less;
(b) Political signs;
(c) Warning signs which do not exceed five square feet in area;
(d) Public notices defined as notices placed or authorized by the city which are located on private property with permission of the landowner, or on public property or right-of-way; and
(e) Nameplate signs two square feet in area or less.
(D) Exceptions.
(1) The regulations contained in this subchapter do not apply to signs attached by adhesive or otherwise attached to or visible through windows and glass portions of doors.
(2) On-premises signs for churches or other places of worship shall be permitted by conditional use permit. The total surface area of all on-premises signs for churches or other places of worship shall not exceed 100 square feet. The top of the signs including supporting structure shall not exceed 14 feet above the average grade. The width of the signs shall not exceed 16 feet. The maximum surface area for any sign shall not one-tenth square feet per foot of road frontage. The signs may be illuminated as restricted in §§ 153.130 and 153.132 of this code.
(E) General prohibitions.
(1) No sign shall be allowed that prevents ingress or egress from any door, window or fire escape; that tends to accumulate debris as a fire hazard; or that is attached to a standpipe or fire escape or in any other way constitutes a hazard to health, safety or general welfare of the public.
(2) Signs shall not be painted directly on the outside wall of a building except by a sign permit. Signs shall not be placed or mounted on a fence, tree, stone or other natural growth nor on any utility pole or structure.
(3) Roof signs are prohibited in all zoning districts.
(4) Signs on benches, newsstands, car stands, bus stop shelters and similar places shall be prohibited.
(5) No sign shall contain any indecent or offensive picture or written matter.
(6) Signs flashing shall be prohibited.
(7) Neon and fluorescent signs are not allowed except for interior use.
(F) Sign design, construction and maintenance.
(1) Required marking on signs. Every sign for which a permit is required shall have painted in a conspicuous place thereon in letters not less than one inch in height, the date of erection, the permit number and the voltage of any electrical apparatus used in connection therewith.
(2) Projecting signs. Signs shall in no case project from a building or structure to any point closer than two feet of a line drawn perpendicularly upward from the curb line. No projecting sign shall be less than nine feet above the sidewalk or the ground level. All projecting signs for which a permit is required shall be constructed entirely of fire-resistant material.
(3) Ground signs.
(a) No ground sign for which a permit is required shall be erected to a height of more than 12 feet above the ground, unless the face is constructed of sheet metal or other noncombustible facing materials.
(b) The bottom of the facing of every ground sign shall be a minimum of one foot and a maximum of three feet above the ground, which space may be filled with landscaping, platform or decorative trim of light wood or metal construction.
(c) The soil used for the dug-in type of anchor or post support shall be carefully placed and thoroughly compacted. The anchors and supports shall penetrate to a depth below ground level of 42 inches.
(4) Multi-faced signs. Multi-faced signs shall not exceed two times the allowed square footage of single faced signs, except for billboard signs which shall be limited to single facing.
(5) Wall signs. Wall signs attached to exterior walls of solid masonry or concrete shall be safely and securely attached to the same by means of metal anchors, bolts or expansion screws of not less than three-eighths inch in diameter which shall be embedded at least five inches. No wooden blocks or anchorage with wood used in connection with screws or nails shall be considered proper anchorage, except in the case of wall signs attached to buildings with walls of wood. No wall sign shall be entirely supported by an unbraced parapet wall.
(6) Sign maintenance. The owner of any sign shall be required to have the sign properly painted at least once every two years, if needed, including all parts and supports of the sign, unless the parts or supports are galvanized or otherwise treated to prevent rust or decay. The owner or lessee of any sign, or the owner of the land on which the sign is located shall keep the grass, weeds or other growth cut and the area free from refuse between the sign and the street and also for a distance of six feet all around the sign.
(7) Unsafe or dangerous signs. Any sign which becomes structurally unsafe, in disrepair, abandoned or endangers the safety of a building or premises shall be taken down and removed or structurally improved by the owner, agent or person having the beneficial use of the building, structure or land upon which the sign is located within ten days after written notification from the Zoning Administrator.
(8) Obsolete signs. Any sign for which no permit has been issued or business has ceased to function shall be taken down and removed by the owner, agent or person having the beneficial use of the building, or land upon which the sign may be found within 30 days after written notice from the Zoning Administrator.
(Prior Code, § 12-210) (Ord. 01-2014, passed 5-20-2014) Penalty, see § 153.999
Cross-reference:
Signs in heritage preservation areas, see § 161.56
Street signs, see § 160.084