The following signs may be erected or maintained, as shown for each zoning district or land use, only after obtaining a permit from the city and payment of permit fees, providing the standards and restrictions in this section are met.
(A) Table of types of signs permitted. The types of signs permitted upon issuance of a permit shall be as detailed in Appendix C of this chapter.
(B) Building signs; location on building.
(1) Building signs shall be affixed to buildings according to the following requirements:
(a) Prior to issuance of a sign permit, the owner of the building shall designate a signage plan for all sides of single or multi-occupant buildings. The signage plan shall include the maximum height and width of signs, materials and colors to be used on signs and the location and dimensions of the sign band area. All building signs shall be affixed to a building wall, within the designated sign band area, and shall not exceed the allowable dimensions of this code. All signs proposed by building owners or tenants shall adhere to the requirements outlined in the signage plan for the building.
(b) The sign band area shall be located no higher than the top of the parapet walls or the overhang of the roof.
(c) In multi-story buildings, no signs shall be permitted above the ceiling of the first floor, except as provided in division (C) below.
(d) Primary signs shall be placed on the side of the building where the main entrance is located. In buildings with individual entrances, business identification signs shall be placed within ten feet of the main entrance to each business. Signs on the exterior of an enclosed mall shall be located near entrances closest to the business location. Sign locations for each tenant shall be assigned and identified in the signage plan.
(e) Additional building or business identification signs are permitted under the following conditions:
1. The owner/agent shall submit a master signage plan containing the following information:
a. A dimensioned site plan and elevations of the building or buildings to be included in the master sign plan;
b. Computation of the maximum total sign area, the maximum area for individual signs, the height of the signs, and the number of free-standing signs allowed in the plan under this ordinance; and
c. An accurate indication on the site plan of the proposed location of each present and future sign of any type.
2. The maximum number of signs affixed to a building by each business within the building shall be controlled through the master sign plan.
3. Additional signs are allowed on a side of a building which abuts business or industrially zoned property or a public street, except where the side of the building faces an adjacent public street which abuts residentially zoned property. The exception in the prior sentence shall not apply to projecting signs installed in compliance with this chapter. Additional signs shall not be installed on the same face of the building as the main entrance sign, with the exception of projecting signs installed in compliance with this chapter.
4. The wall of a building where additional signs are located shall have sign band, wall materials and/or exterior colors similar to the main entrance wall and all trash, storage, and loading facilities along the wall shall be screened from adjacent properties in the same materials and/or exterior colors.
5. In multi-occupant buildings, additional signs shall be affixed to the building sign band, which is identified in the master signage plan.
6. Additional building signs shall be identical to the main primary business sign, but shall not be considered as part of the total square footage allowed for that property or business.
(2) Common signage plan.
(a) If the owners of two or more contiguous (disregarding intervening streets and alleys) lots or the owner of a single lot with more than one building (not including any accessory building) file with the city a common signage plan conforming with the provisions of this section, a 25% increase in the maximum total sign area shall be allowed for each building or lot included. This bonus shall be allocated as the owner(s) elect.
(b) The common signage plan shall contain all of the information required for a master signage plan and shall also specify standards for consistency among all signs on the lots affected by the plan with regard to color scheme, lettering or graphic style, lighting, location of each sign on the buildings, materials and sign proportions.
(c) Other provisions of a plan may contain other restrictions as the owners of the development or buildings may reasonably determine.
(d) The plan shall be signed by all owners or their authorized agents in form as required by the city.
(e) A signage plan shall be included with any building permit authorization, site plan review, nonresidential planned unit development, exterior remodel or other official plan required for the proposed development and shall be reviewed simultaneously with other plans.
(f) A signage plan may be amended by filing a new plan that conforms with all of the requirements of the city code in effect at that time.
(g) Existing signs not conforming to plan. If a new or amended signage plan is filed for a property on which existing signs are located, it shall include a schedule for bringing into compliance, within three years, all signs not conforming to the proposed amended plan or requirements of this chapter in effect on the date of submission.
(h) After approval of a signage plan, no sign shall be erected, placed, painted or maintained, except in conformance with the plan, and the plan may be enforced in the same way as any provision of this code. In case of any conflict between the provisions of a plan and this code, the code shall control.
(C) Multi-story building signs. For multi-story buildings, in all zoning districts, no signs attached to the building, temporary or permanent, shall be permitted above the first floor except for the following:
(1) Building of four stories or more, located in a commercial or industrial district shall be permitted additional building signs in addition to any signs otherwise permitted by this chapter.
(2) The additional building signs shall be a maximum of two signs with each sign not to exceed two square feet of sign area for each 1,000 square feet of gross floor area of the building.
(3) The two additional building signs shall not be located upon the same side of the building.
(4) The two additional building signs shall be identical in all respects.
(5) The two additional building signs shall not extend above the highest outside wall or below the fourth floor of the building.
(6) The two additional building signs shall not extend across more than 40% of the width of the side of the building upon which it is located or 40% of the height for vertical signs.
(7) The additional building signs shall only be permitted after review by the city Planning Commission and approval by the City Council.
(D) Monument signs. A monument sign intended to permanently identify a multiple dwelling or single-family residential development shall be permitted under the following conditions:
(1) There shall be an entity established to the satisfaction of the city such as homeowners association, which shall be clearly responsible for the perpetual maintenance of the monument sign and its environs with corresponding powers to raise maintenance capital; or
(2) In the alternative, there shall be a $1,000 fee paid to the city and a ground easement surrounding the monument sign granted to the city in order that the city may remove the monument sign and its environs if it is not maintained or if it otherwise becomes necessary to remove the sign.
(3) The monument sign shall not exceed 40 square feet of copy area.
(4) The monument sign shall be a minimum of 30 feet from any existing or future residence.
(5) The city, at the discretion of the City Council, may deny a permit for a monument sign where it is determined that the monument sign may create an undue burden upon the city by virtue of its size, location, building materials or potential need for maintenance.
(E) Major anchor/center signs.
(1) Major anchor signage. One major anchor/center sign may be permitted to identify tenants or building occupants in excess of 50,000 square feet, subject to subsection (3) below.
(2) Shopping center signage. Two major anchor/center signs may be permitted for a center in excess of 150,000 square feet, subject to the provisions of subsection (3) below.
(3) Conditional use permit. All major anchor/center sign structures are subject to a conditional use permit, as provided in § 155.399 of the code, and site plan approval by the City Council. The following criteria shall apply to all major anchor/center signs:
(a) The property on which the sign is to be located shall be zoned “RB” or “SC” and the sign shall abut County Road 42 (150th Street), County Road 23 (Cedar Avenue), or a portion of the Downtown Ring Route.
(b) The major anchor/center sign(s) shall be the only freestanding sign(s) permitted for the business or center. Signs may be placed on any lot within the planned unit development or subdivision provided the sign applicant controls the land by easement or title.
(c) A maximum of 75% of the sign structure exterior face shall be encased in the same style and color brick, or other approved exterior material, used on the face of the principle building. A minimum of 25% of the exterior face of the sign structure shall be encased in a brick, title, glass or steel rail similar in design and color to the city’s downtown streetscape improvements. This material shall be concentrated between the finished ground grade and 42 inches above the grade.
(d) The sign shall be set back a minimum of 13 feet from the property line, pathway easement or public street right-of-way line. Signs may be no closer than 300 feet to the nearest freestanding sign on the same side of the right-of-way, nor closer than 50 feet to a corner intersection of two right-of-way lines.
(e) The maximum height of the sign structure shall be 28 feet above finished grade. Architectural design details, similar to the design of the principle building, may extend five feet above the maximum height, 28 feet, of the sign. Sign area shall not exceed 180 square feet per side of the sign, two sides maximum.
(f) All signage shall have individual, internal backlit letters and symbols. Additional sign lighting may be ground lighting, the source of which is concealed from view.
(g) Landscaping plans for the area around the base of the sign shall be completed and reviewed as part of the conditional use permit/site plan approval process.
(F) Area identification sign. Area identification sign(s) shall be located in the following manner:
(1) Area identification sign(s) shall be located upon the property of the development complex it is identifying.
(2) Area identification sign(s) shall be located along a public street frontage.
(3) Area identification signs shall be located a minimum of 50 feet apart from any other area identification sign or pylon sign.
(4) No more than one area identification sign for a particular complex shall be located along the same street frontage.
(5) An area identification sign(s) may identify individual businesses within the complex, subject to all of the following regulations:
(a) The area identification sign is located in a non-retail commercial, industrial or business park zoning districts.
(b) The lot on which the area identification sign is located and the lot on which the business that is identified on the area identification sign must be located within the same zoning district or within the same planned development.
(c) The lot on which the area identification sign is located and the lot on which the business that is identified on the area identification sign must be located on separate lots within the same development complex, but served by and have direct access to the same public street.
(d) The lot on which the business that is identified on the area identification sign must have 50 feet or less frontage on the public street providing direct access, and less than 400 feet frontage on an arterial or collector road thereby limiting direct visibility of the building in which the business is located.
(e) The sign copy for an individual business(es) on the area identification sign shall be permitted only as part of the area identification sign subject to the following requirements:
1. The area identification sign structure as a whole shall not exceed 8 feet in height or 20 feet in length.
2. The area identification sign structure shall consist of the same style and color brick, stone, or other approved exterior material used on the face of the principal building. The exterior face shall be encased in the same style and color brick, or other approved exterior material, used on the face of the principal building(s).
3. The area identification sign shall have a maximum copy area of 110 sq. ft.
4. The copy area for all individual businesses to be identified shall not exceed 60% of the total copy area of the area identification sign.
(G) Gasoline pump island signs.
(1) Gasoline pump island canopies shall be entitled to two signs in addition to those otherwise permitted on the principal structure.
(2) Canopy signs shall not exceed ten feet in length or 20 square feet each and shall not be placed on the same side of the canopy.
(3) Lettering on the signs shall not exceed two feet in height or the average height of the letters on the sign attached to the principal structure, whichever is less.
(4) Canopy signs shall be placed in a manner that will allow a six-inch minimum border between the top, bottom and sides of a canopy face. The sign area is determined by measuring the text only. Stripes or colors do not contribute to the sign area computation.
(H) Building sign substitution. A ground sign may be substituted for all permitted building signs when all of the following conditions are met.
(1) The lot must be in a limited business zone (LB) or be a limited business use in a planned development zone.
(2) The lot must be a through lot with double street frontage, but may not be a corner lot.
(3) The building’s architecture must be of a style or character which does not lend itself to the use of a building sign.
(4) Any existing building signs must be removed and no otherwise permitted building signs shall be erected.
(5) The ground sign must be located on the side of the lot abutting the minor or interior roadway.
(6) The ground sign must meet the size, height and setback requirements for the primary ground sign permitted on the site.
(7) The ground sign shall be in addition to all other permitted ground signs.
(I) Other signs. The following additional signs are permitted under this section, subject to the restrictions thereof.
(1) Projecting signs are permitted in commercial, industrial, and institutional zoning districts upon the issuance of a permit from the city and in accordance with the following requirements:
(a) Compliance with building sign requirements. Projecting signs are subject to the building sign requirements in this chapter. Where there is a conflict between the requirements governing projecting signs and building signs, the requirements for projecting signs shall control for projecting signs only.
(b) Number of projecting signs. A building tenant shall have no more than one projecting sign attached outside the tenant’s space within building. Only one projecting sign shall be permitted per entrance to the building. The projecting sign may be in addition to other signage permitted by this chapter.
(c) Attachment to building. Projecting signs attached directly to the building facade shall be supported in a stationary position by a cantilevered structure without the use of any guy wires, cables, angle irons, or turnbuckles. Projecting signs attached to the underside of an overhang covering the pedestrian walkway shall be securely attached by metal anchors, bolts, or expansion screws and hang by a metal pole or chain of sufficient gauge to hold the weight of the sign. The only permissible attachment angle shall be 90 degrees from the building facade and positioned perpendicular to a pedestrian walkway so to be viewable in both directions of the walkway. The projecting sign shall be attached to the building within ten feet of the tenant’s entrance for the public from the exterior as measured along the building facade. The projecting sign shall not extend more than four feet from the building measured from the face of the wall to which the sign is mounted to the farthest edge of the sign structure including any mounting equipment. The sign shall not extend over a public right-of- way, a parking area, or a loading area. A projecting sign hanging over a pedestrian walkway shall not conflict with the use of the walkway and in no case shall the bottom edge of the sign structure, including mounting devises, be less than eight feet above grade of the walkway. The top edge of the sign shall not be taller than the roof line of a single-story building, nor a windowsill of the second story of a multi-story building. If multiple projecting signs are attached to the same building, they shall be attached at the same height so to present a uniform appearance.
(d) Sign size. A projecting sign structure (not copy area on sign), excluding the mounting equipment, shall not exceed eight square feet. The thickness of the sign shall be no more than one foot.
(2) Temporary special event or promotion signs. Professionally manufactured banners, streamers, balloon, or other temporary signs are permitted, upon the issuance of a permit from the city therefor, in commercial, industrial, and institutional zoning districts for the purposes of promoting commercial promotions, sales, or events, or promoting temporary outdoor events as defined in the zoning regulations. Such temporary signs shall also be permitted on properties located in the “M-4” to “M-8” zoning districts that are used for multiple residential apartments or rental unit buildings under single ownership in order to advertise such properties or units for rent or lease. A temporary sign permitted hereunder shall be located upon the site of the promotion, sale, or event. A sign allowed by permit under this provision shall be removed within 24 hours of expiration of the permit. Any person/entity seeking a temporary sign permit hereunder shall be limited to no more than 45 days per calendar year for placement of a single sign or multiple signs throughout the year.
(J) Menu boards. Menu boards subject to the following conditions:
(1) A maximum of one menu board shall be permitted on a parcel of land with a restaurant providing drive-up window service. Restaurants providing drive-up through window service shall be permitted one menu board per drive-through lane up to a maximum two menu boards.
(2) When one menu board exists for a drive-through window service, the menu board shall be a maximum of 50 square feet in area; if more than one menu board exists, each menu board shall be a maximum of 36 square feet in area and may be in addition to any other signs permitted by this chapter.
(3) The menu board shall be single-sided and oriented in such a manner so that the signs provide information to the patrons using the drive-through facility only, and do not provide supplemental advertising to pass-by traffic.
(4) The menu board signage shall be completely enclosed within one sign area.
(5) Order confirmation signage no greater than one square foot and incorporated into the drive-through speaker pedestal shall not be calculated as part of the menu board signage area. Order confirmation signage greater than one square foot shall be incorporated into menu board and calculated as part of said board's sign area.
(K) Digital or LED display sign for motor fuel sales price sign. A portion of an approved sign for a motor fuel sales use may include a digital or LED display sign, provided the following requirements are met:
(1) The display shall be steady, stationary, shielded artificial light sources that emanate directly from the interior of the sign.
(2) The digital or LED display depicts only the motor fuel sale price.
(3) The display does not cause glare for motorists, pedestrians or neighboring premises.
(4) The digital or LED copy may not exceed 16 inches in height.
(5) The digital or LED copy may not compromise more than 25% of the total area of the approved sign.
(L) Changeable signs subject to the following requirements:
(1) Only reader board signs and electronic message signs are permitted;
(2) The sign and the structure on which it is located shall be permanently installed and shall not be a portable sign;
(3) The sign shall not be located within any residential or multiple family residential district;
(4) If the changeable sign is an electronic message sign, the following requirements shall be met:
(a) The images and messages displayed must be static, and the transition from one static display to another must be instantaneous without any special effects.
(b) The message shall be static, but may be changed at no less than a 60 seconds intervals, and the message text shall not scroll or ticker across the sign display area. The only exception to this provision shall be for time, date, and temperature information which may be considered one display message and may change every three seconds.
(c) The images and message displayed must be complete in a single interval display; no image or message shall continue in content to the next image or message displayed or to any other sign.
(d) Digital or LED display signs must be designed and equipped to freeze the device in one position if a malfunction occurs. The displays must also be equipped with a means to immediately discontinue the display if it malfunctions, and the sign owner must immediately stop the dynamic display when notified by the city that it is not complying with the standards of this section.
(5) There shall be no illuminated border around or within the display area;
(6) No changeable sign shall be affixed to the building; and
(7) Electronic message signs used in connection with public roadway operations by the state, county or city shall not be subject to the permit or permit fee required herein.
(‘81 Code, § 6-105) (Ord. 495, passed 9-20-90; Am. Ord. 536, passed 2-27-92; Am. Ord. 555, passed 5-13-93; Am. Ord. 645, passed 4-9-98; Am. Ord. 711, passed 4-25-02; Am. Ord. 783, passed 9-22-05; Am. Ord.790, passed 4-27-06; Am. Ord. 939, passed 2-28-13; Am. Ord. 958, passed 12-26-13; Am. Ord. 964, passed 4-24-14; Am. Ord. 1059, passed 3-28-19; Am. Ord. 1091, passed 6-10-21; Am. Ord. 1110, passed 4-14-22; Am. Ord. 1123, passed 7-13-23)