The purpose of these sign regulations is to encourage the proper development and regulation of signs and signage systems within the Village of Ashville. It is the intent of these regulations to prevent signs from becoming a distraction or obstruction to the safe flow of pedestrian and vehicular traffic, to prevent signs from becoming a nuisance to adjacent properties or uses, to protect and encourage a healthful economic business environment in the community and thereby protect the general health, safety, and welfare of the community.
As used in this chapter, the following words or phrases shall have the meanings herein:
(a) "Awning" means a hood or cover that projects from the wall of a building and which can be retracted, folded or collapsed against the face of the supporting building.
(b) "Banner" means a nonrigid cloth, plastic or canvas sign typically related to a special event or promotion.
(c) "Canopy" means a structure separate from, but associated by use with the principal building. Such structure is supported independently by posts or columns, is open on all sides, and is intended only for shelter or ornamentation. A "canopy sign" is a sign that is attached to or a part of the roof of such a structure.
(d) "Directional sign" means any sign which indicates the direction or specific location of an institution, organization or business, which does not include advertising or any information regarding product lines or services offered.
(e) "Flashing" means a sign or graphic which in any manner, as a whole or in part, physically changes in light intensity or gives the appearance of such change.
(f) "Freestanding sign" means a sign erected on a pole, poles, pillars, or posts and which is wholly independent of any building for support.
(g) "Joint Identification sign" means a sign intended to provide the identity or name, for two or more uses within one building or on one property or the name of the building or its address for property occupied by two or more businesses.
(h) “Moving signs” means any sign, all or any part of which physically moves or is animated so as to give the appearance of movement.
(i) “Pennant” means a triangular-shaped banner.
(j) "Permanent subdivision identification sign" means those signage features specifically related to the denotation of a major entrance or entrances to a subdivision.
(k) "Permanent sign" means a sign intended to be erected, displayed or used, or in fact which is used for time period in excess of one (1) year.
(l) "Portable sign" means a sign designed or constructed in such a manner that it can be moved or relocated without involving any structural or support changes and shall include:
(1) “Trailer sign” meaning a sign that is constructed on a chassis intended for the mounting of wheels, thereby permitting the sign to be moved forward.
(2) "Folding portable sign" meaning a sign constructed of wood or other durable material which can be folded or collapsed for ease of transport.
(m) "Projecting sign" means a sign which extends outward perpendicular to the building face.
(n) "Roof sign" means any sign erected upon or completely over the roof of any building.
(o) "Sign" means any device for visual communication which is designed, intended, or used to convey a message, advertise, inform or otherwise direct attention to a person, institution, organization, activity, business, place, object or product. Signs that are placed internally within a structure or building that are not externally visible shall be excluded from the sign regulations of this Ordinance. Signs erected by the local, state or federal government for the purposes of discharging in any normal governmental function, such as traffic control or safety, are likewise excluded from the regulations of this chapter.
(p) "Streamer" means a ribbon-shaped or cord-like rope which may have pennants and/or banners attached which is stretched or hung between two (2) or more supports.
(q) "Temporary sign" means a sign intended to be displayed, or in fact displayed, for a time period of less than one (1) year.
(r) "Wall sign" means a sign attached to a building face, with the exposed face thereof in a plane parallel to the plan of the wall. Wall signs include painted murals, messages, graphics and other designs painted along with any letters or numerals mounted directly on buildings.
(s) "Window sign" means a sign, graphic, poster, symbol or other identification which is physically affixed to or painted on the glass or other structural component of the window.
(a) Permit Required. No permanent or temporary sign, except as exempted in Section 1171.04
of this Ordinance shall hereafter be erected, constructed or maintained within the Village of Ashville unless a permit for the same has been issued by the Zoning Inspector. Such permit shall be separate from a zoning permit for the permitted use of the property.
(b) Contents of Application. Application for a permit to construct or erect a sign shall be made by the owner of the property upon which the sign is proposed, or his agent. The fee shall be established by separate Ordinance.
Each application for a sign permit shall be made on forms provided by the Zoning Inspector, and shall include the following information:
(1) Name, address, and telephone number of the applicant.
(2) Drawing or drawings showing at a minimum:
A. The design and layout of the proposed sign, including the total area of the sign and the size, height, character, materials and color of letters, lines, and symbols.
B. The method of illumination.
C. The exact location of the sign in relation to the building and property.
D. Details and specifications for the construction, erection and attachment of the sign.
(c) Construction Commenced. Construction, erection or placement of a sign requiring a permit shall not occur until such sign permit has been obtained. The permit fee for any such sign shall be doubled if any construction, erection or placement activity has occurred prior to approval of the permit. (Ord. 2000-14. Passed 7-24-00.)
The following signs may be erected without a permit:
(a) Address and name of occupant of premises for a residential structure, not to include designations as to employment or home occupation, and to be limited in size to two (2) square feet.
(b) Signs required or authorized for a public purpose by any law, statute or ordinance of the Village. Such signs would include traffic control devices and school crossing signs, provided that such signs contain no supplementary advertising.
(c) Signs which are in the nature of cornerstones, commemorative tables and historical plaques, provided that such signs are less than nine (9) square feet in size and not illuminated.
(d) Signs clearly in the nature of decorations customarily associated with any national, local or religious holiday. Such signs may be of any illumination or animation provided that safety and visibility hazards are not clearly created.
(e) Signs or posters concerning candidates for elective office, public issues and similar matters to be decided by public election, to be displayed beginning no more than 45 days prior to election and to be removed no later than three (3) days after such election, subject to penalty. Such signs shall not exceed six (6) square feet in area, shall not be illuminated, and shall not create a safety or visibility hazard, nor be attached to any public utility pole or tree or be located within a public right-of-way.
(f) Signs that indicate the sale, development, rental or lease of a particular structure or land area, to be limited to one sign allowed per street front. Such signs shall not be located in a public right-of-way.
(g) Temporary window signs which promote special business sales, promotion or occasions.
(h) Signs, which are less than two (2) square feet in size and mounted or attached flat or parallel onto a building face of an administrative, business or professional office building, which denote the name and address of an occupant in a building where more than one tenant is located and which has individual and separate entries.
(i) A sign which advertises the sale of personal property, such as a garage, yard, porch or moving sale sign provided such sign, is located on the sale premises for a time period not greater than three (3) consecutive days, and is not to be located in a public right-of-way.
(j) Temporary construction signs which display the identification of the construction project including identification of the contractors, architects and other construction principals provided that such construction sign is removed upon the completion of construction or the commencement of occupancy, whichever event occurs first.
(k) Signs promoting community events and programs which last for a time period of 14 days or less and which are sponsored by nonprofit, public, educational, religious and charitable organizations. All such signs shall be removed not later than 48 hours after the scheduled activity.
(a) Compliance Required. Temporary and/or permanent signs shall be subject to the following requirements, as well as the requirements of the Schedule of Sign Regulations in Section 1171.09
.
(b) Wall Signs, Awning/Canopy Signs, Projecting Signs. Wall signs may be erected on any building wall or extension of a building wall which faces a street parking lot or service drive, and such sign may not extend beyond any building setback line. Wall signs shall be attached parallel to the building face and extend outward perpendicular from the building face a maximum of twelve (12) inches, except as follows:
(1) Signs may be painted on an awning area or attached to a canopy, marquee or roof which projects beyond the building provided that no part of such sign may extend above the roof line, canopy or marquee.
(2) Projecting sign not to exceed eight (8) square feet in size, is placed not less than eight (8) feet above the sidewalk or ground level, and projects no more than six (6) feet outward from the building face.
(c) Freestanding Signs. Freestanding signs may be erected on a lot provided the location, height and other characteristics of the sign meet the regulations of this chapter.
(d) Window Signs. Permanent window signs shall be limited to signs denoting the identification of the occupant, the address of the premises, and its use. Window signs shall be limited to one sign per window and shall not exceed thirty-three percent (33%) of the total area of the window.
(e) Off-Premises Signs. Not more than one (1) off-premises sign with a sign face area not exceeding twenty-five (25) square feet shall be permitted on a single lot.
(f) Portable Signs. Portable signs, as defined in Section 1171.02
, shall be permitted as temporary signs. Such signs may not be located within the right-of-way (including sidewalk areas) and must be removed prior to thirty (30) days from the date of first display. Once removed, such signs shall not be displayed for a period of thirty (30) days from the date of issuance.
(g) Roof Signs. Roof signs shall be prohibited.
(h) Joint Identification Signs. Joint identification signs shall be limited to wall or freestanding signs, and to premises where there are two (2) or more uses located on one (1) property. If the property fronts on one (1) public street, only one joint identification sign is permitted. If the property fronts on two (2) public streets, two (2) joint identification signs shall be permitted. Such joint identification signs shall be permitted in addition to the individual business signs as permitted in Section 1171.09
.
(i) Permanent Subdivision Identification Signs. Permanent signs identifying a residential subdivision shall be limited to wall mounted signs only, with placement on entrance features used to denote the entrance to the subdivision. Such signs shall conform to the provisions of Section 1171.09
.
(j) General Requirements.
(1) Illumination of signs shall be permitted in all districts. Illumination shall be from a concealed or indirect light source and shall not flash, blink, fluctuate in intensity, travel, move or in any manner fail to provide constant illumination, and shall not create a hazard or visibility problem or interfere with or impair vehicular traffic. The level of illumination emitted from a sign shall not be of an intensity to constitute a demonstrable safety hazard to vehicular movement on any street. Illuminated signs shall be constructed and maintained so that the source of illumination is shielded or otherwise prevented from beaming directly onto adjacent properties or streets.
(2) Moving signs and the animation of signs are prohibited.
(3) No permanent sign shall contain or consist of banners, pennants, ribbons, streamers, balloons or similar devices.
(4) All signs and parts thereof, including any electrical wiring, shall be erected, constructed, and maintained so as to not constitute a safety hazard.
(5) No sign or part of a sign, except for public signs as described in Section 1171.04
(b) above, shall be located within, over, or extend over any public right-of-way, nor shall any sign be located or attached to any utility pole or other utility structure. Signs located in the VC District may be located in or above sidewalk areas which may be within the street right-of-way, but shall not be attached to any utility pole.
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