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Asheville, NC Code of Ordinances
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Sec. 7-13-5. Off-premises signs.
(a)   General provisions for off-premises signs. Following August 28, 1990, off-premises signs shall not be erected, or maintained in any zoning district except in compliance with the provisions set forth in this article.
(1)   Computation of sign area.
a.   The area of a sign shall be considered to be that of the smallest rectangular figure which encompasses all lettering, wording, frame, design or symbols, together with any background on which the sign is located and any illuminated part of the sign, if such background or such illuminated part of the sign is designed as an integral part of and related to the sign. Any cutouts or extensions shall be included in the area of a sign, but supports and bracing which are not intended as part of the sign shall be excluded. In the case of a multi-faced sign, the area of the sign shall be considered to include all faces visible from one direction.
b.   Where three-dimensional figures are used as or on signs, the area shall be the total of all sides made an integral part of the projected figure used in conveying the intended message.
(2)   Encroachment into the right-of-way. No part of any sign shall be located on, or extended into, a public right-of-way unless it can meet the following criteria:
a.   The property is located along a city right-of-way with a width greater than 75 feet.
b.   No part of the sign footer or structure is located closer than 25 feet from the edge of pavement.
c.   The city's traffic engineer has determined that the sign would not create any traffic hazard.
d.   The sign does not conflict with any utility or traffic control device.
e.   The sign complies with all height and square footage allowances.
(3)   Illumination. Illuminated signs shall be subject to the following conditions:
a.   Any light used for the illumination shall be shielded so that the beams or rays of light will not shine directly into surrounding areas or on the public roadway.
b.   Neither direct nor reflected light from any light source shall create a traffic hazard or distraction to operators of motor vehicles on public thoroughfares.
(4)   Visibility. No sign or structure shall be erected or maintained to impede safe and adequate visibility from vehicles or for pedestrians.
(5)   Extensions. No extension(s) shall be allowed beyond those dimensions for the sign area as initially permitted.
(b)   Off-premises signs by zoning districts. The following sign regulations shall be applicable within the zoning districts wherein off-premises signs are allowed. Any sign not specifically allowed is prohibited.
In the Community Business II, Highway Business, Regional Business, River, Commercial Industrial, and Industrial District off-premises signs are allowed subject to the restrictions set forth herein.
(1)   Size. No off-premises sign shall exceed six square feet per directional flow of traffic 12 square feet total per sign structure). In no event shall the board of adjustment grant a variance to allow a larger off- premises sign.
(2)   Height. No off-premises sign shall exceed six feet in height.
(3)   Spacing.
a.   The minimum distance between any two sign structures shall be 1,000 linear feet on either side of the same street.
b.   No off-premises sign shall be located within a 200-foot radius of a school, place of worship, public park, national park and/or forest land(s) or bridge.
c.   No off-premises sign shall be located within nor cause obstruction to the sight visibility triangles of street intersections as described in subsection 7-11-3(g) of this chapter.
d.   No off-premises sign shall be located within a 100-foot radius of a property zoned single-family residential or property in a multi-family zone that is in single-family residential use.
e.   No off-premises sign shall be located within 50 feet of any building or on-premises sign.
(4)   Setback. Minimum setback shall be ten feet.
(5)   Reserved.
(c)   Second tier development signage. Properties located one lot back from a thoroughfare with no direct frontage and having shared access with adjacent or adjoining parcels may share space on an adjacent property's freestanding sign in lieu of the second tier property's freestanding sign allowance, or may erect a sign on that property (meeting second tier sign standards) with the permission of the property owner if no other sign is used on that property. This option limits allowances to those normally provided for under the applicable zoning district in which the sign is located and does not increase square footage allowances or render a single tenant property multi-tenant.
(Ord. No. 2369, § 1, 5-27-97; Ord. No. 2426, § 3, 11-11-97; Ord. No. 2565, § 2, 4-27-99; Ord. No. 2777, § 1(i), 12-19- 00; Ord. No. 4064, §§ 1e, g, 2-28-12; Ord. No. 4208, § 1d, 6-25-13; Ord. No. 4228, § 1d, 8-27-13)