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(a) Permit generally required. Except as provided in subsection (b), a permit shall be obtained from the Department of Inspections and Permits before posting a sign.
(b) When permit not required. The following signs do not require a permit:
(1) a temporary sign;
(2) a directional sign that is less than four square feet in area;
(3) a permanent directional sign in a County right-of-way, but pre-approval is required as provided in § 18-3-305;
(4) a sign forming an integral part of a transportation shelter, fuel-dispensing pump, vending machine, or service appliance; or
(5) a sign posted at a parking lot as required by § 12-3-107 of this Code.
(Bill No. 4-05; Bill No. 18-09)
(a) Definition. For purposes of this section, a "changeable copy sign" means a sign designed so that characters, letters, or illustrations on the sign can be changed or rearranged without altering the face or surface of the sign.
(b) Prohibition. The following types of signs are prohibited:
(1) a portable sign, including a portable changeable copy sign, with or without wheels;
(2) a sandwich sign;
(3) revolving signs and whirling signs; and
(4) a sign that projects above the roof of a structure, a sign painted on the roof of a structure, and a sign supported by poles, uprights, or braces extending from or attached to the roof of a structure.
(Bill No. 4-05; Bill No. 78-05; Bill No. 66-21)
(a) How area is measured. Sign area is measured as the smallest rectangular area enclosing all elements of the sign, including the extreme limits of the writing, representation, emblem, logo, or other display, any material or color forming an integral part of the background of the display, and all ornamental attachments and inner connecting links. Only one face of a freestanding sign is measured if the faces are placed back to back no more than three feet apart, are of the same dimensions, and have identical copy except for minor differences necessary for directional purposes. Supporting framework, bracing, or decorative fences or walls are not included.
(b) How height is measured. The height of a sign is measured as the distance from the base of the sign at grade level to the top of the highest attached component of the sign.
(Bill No. 4-05)
(a) Generally. A permanent offsite directional sign stating the name of a cultural or historical site; a club, lodge, or fraternal or service organization; community business areas; a hotel or motel; a marina; a religious facility; a restaurant; or a waterfront event is allowed in a County right-of-way if the use to which the sign relates is located on a local or collector road and at least 1,000 feet, measured by road distance, from an arterial or higher classification road.
(b) Airport parking. A permanent offsite directional sign stating the name of a private parking facility is allowed in a County right-of-way if the use to which the sign relates is located in the area shown on the official map adopted by the County Council entitled “Airport Permanent Offsite Directional Signs, 2005”.
(c) Restrictions. No more than four signs are allowed on a single sign pole, and no more than one sign is allowed for a single business or business area in one direction on an arterial road. No more than two sign poles are allowed in any one direction at an arterial road intersection.
(d) Pre-approval required. An application for approval of a permanent directional offsite sign shall be filed with the Office of Planning and Zoning and shall contain the location of the business or business area, the intersections requested for the location of the sign, and the name of the business or business area that will appear on the sign.
(e) Installation. The Department of Public Works shall be responsible for the installation of an offsite directional sign in a location determined by the Department.
(Bill No. 4-05; Bill No. 78-05)
Editor’s note – A small-scale representation of the official map adopted by Bill No. 78-05 is included as an appendix to this article.
(a) Generally.
(1) A temporary sign is allowed in all zoning districts.
(2) A temporary sign on property that 500 feet or more of road frontage or a temporary sign that applies to more than 10 adjacent lots may have a maximum area of 64 square feet. Otherwise, a temporary sign shall have a maximum area of nine square feet in residential districts and 24 square feet in all other districts.
(3) The height of a temporary sign may not exceed 12 feet above grade level.
(4) The total number of temporary wind signs on private property may not exceed four.
(5) A temporary sign that is unrelated to an event may not be displayed for more than two periods of 60-consecutive days in any 12-month period.
(6) A temporary sign that is related to an event may not be displayed for more than 60 days before the start of the event and shall be removed within 7 days after the conclusion of the event.
(b) Temporary directional signs.
(1) A maximum of six temporary directional signs of no more than three square feet in area or three feet in height are allowed per event or destination, with a double-faced sign counting as one sign.
(2) A temporary directional sign shall be self-supporting and may be posted only on weekends between 8:00 a.m. on Friday and 9:00 a.m. on the following Monday or between 9:00 a.m. on County, State, or federal holidays and 9:00 a.m. on the following day.
(3) Temporary directional signs may be placed within a County right-of-way if the signs are located at least three feet from any curbed or paved area.
(Bill No. 4-05; Bill No. 78-05; Bill No. 9-09; Bill No. 66-21)
(a) Scope. This section applies to signs in residential districts and to signs for adult independent dwelling units, multifamily dwellings, and townhouse dwellings located in commercial districts.
(b) Freestanding signs.
(1) A residential development without a community facility or multifamily dwelling may have two freestanding signs at the main roadway entry point. If one sign is used, it may not exceed 40 square feet in area. If two signs are used, each sign may not exceed 20 square feet in area. The signs may not exceed a height of six feet.
(2) A residential development with a community facility or multifamily dwelling may have the freestanding signs allowed by subsection (b)(1). The development also may have one freestanding sign for each community facility or multifamily dwelling within the development, and each sign may not exceed two square feet in area or a height of four feet.
(c) Identification signs. A residential development may have one identification sign on each main entrance facade of a community facility or multifamily dwelling. Each sign may not exceed two square feet in area.
(d) Directional signs. A residential development may have directional signs as necessary. Each sign may not exceed six square feet in area or a height of five feet.
(e) Nonresidential and institutional use signs. Except as otherwise provided in this section, each nonresidential or institutional use located in a residential district may have one freestanding sign, one identification sign on not more than two facades, and directional signs as necessary. A freestanding sign may not exceed an area of 64 square feet or a height of 10 feet. The total square footage of all identification signs may not exceed 400 square feet. Each directional sign may not exceed 20 square feet in area or a height of seven feet.
(f) Home occupation signs. One freestanding sign that does not exceed two square feet in area or a height of five feet is allowed to identify a home occupation.
(g) Bed and breakfast homes and inns signs. One freestanding sign that does not exceed four square feet in area or a height of five feet is allowed to identify a bed and breakfast home or bed and breakfast inn.
(h) Waterman's home commercial use sign. One freestanding sign that does not exceed two square feet in area or a height of five feet is allowed to identify a waterman's home commercial use.
(i) Roadside stand signs. Two freestanding signs are allowed for the sale of agricultural produce at a roadside stand. Each sign may not exceed 20 square feet in area or a height of eight feet.
(Bill No. 4-05; Bill No. 78-05)
(a) Freestanding signs. A business complex may have one freestanding sign at each road frontage. The area of the sign may not exceed the lesser of 400 square feet or one square foot for each one foot of road frontage, except that the area of the sign for a movie theater may not exceed 450 square feet. The height of the sign may not exceed 40 feet. An automobile gasoline station may have one additional freestanding sign at each road frontage, and the area of the sign may not exceed 60 square feet or a height of 10 feet.
(b) Identification signs. A business complex may have:
(1) identification signs for the name of the business complex on not more than three facades, so long as the area of the signs does not exceed 12% of the area of each facade and the area of all signs does not exceed 400 square feet;
(2) identification signs for the name of a tenant on not more than two facades in a one or two story structure, so long as the area of the signs does not exceed, for each tenant facade, the lesser of 10% of the area of the facade or 200 square feet;
(3) one identification sign at each service entry, so long as the area of each sign does not exceed four square feet;
(4) one identification sign on each entry facade if the business complex is a mall or otherwise enclosed, so long as the area of each sign does not exceed 10% of the area of the facade and the area of all signs does not exceed 200 square feet;
(5) one identification sign for each secondary business in a structure that contains one principal use, so long as the area of all identification signs on the structure does not exceed 400 square feet; and
(6) no more than three identification signs on a canopy over a group of gas pumps at an automobile gasoline station, so long as the area of the sign does not exceed 25 square feet.
(c) Directional signs. A business complex may have directional signs as necessary. Each sign may not exceed six square feet in area or a height of five feet.
(d) Service windows. An establishment in a business complex with a ticket, drive-through, or ordering window may have no more than two signs, freestanding or identification, that relate to the business operation or services provided at the window. The area of each sign may not exceed 32 square feet. The height of a freestanding sign may not exceed six feet.
(Bill No. 78-05; Bill No. 88-20)
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