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The maximum height of freestanding signs, when permitted, shall conform to the standards set forth in Schedule 1290.07 below, in compliance with the regulations set forth below.
Schedule 1290.07
MAXIMUM HEIGHT OF FREESTANDING SIGNS | |||||
Sign Type | Single -family Districts | Multi-family Districts | French Creek District | Business & Office Districts (Excluding FC) | Industrial Districts |
(a) Agricultural sign | 6 feet | 6 feet | 6 feet | 10 feet | 10 feet |
(b) Residential development identification sign | 6 feet | 6 feet | NP | NP | NP |
(c) Institution identification sign | 6 feet | 6 feet | 6 feet | 6 feet | 6 feet |
(d) Business identification sign | NP | NP | 6 feet | 10 feet | 10 feet |
(e) Directional sign | NP | 3 feet | 3 feet | 3 feet | 3 feet |
(f) Instructional sign | (a) | (a) | (a) | (a) | (a) |
(g) Temporary sign: | |||||
(1) Model home sign | 6 feet | 6 feet | NP | NP | NP |
(2) Project construction sign | 6 feet | 6 feet | 6 feet | 6 feet | 8 feet |
(3) Other sign | 4 feet | 4 feet | 6 feet | 6 feet | 8 feet |
NP = Not permitted. | |||||
(Ord. 58-01. Passed 5-29-01.)
Additional area for business identification signs shall be permitted for lots in business, office, and industrial districts in compliance with the following:
(a) Corner Lots and Side and Rear Entrances. When a building has more than one building frontage because of one or more of the following characteristics, each such building frontage shall be permitted business identification signs attached to such building wall in accordance with Schedule 1290.05:
(1) The building is located on a corner lot and faces two streets;
(2) The building has a customer entrance facing a parking lot and the customer entrance does not face the street.
(3) The building is on a lot that is contiguous to the I-90 right-of-way.
(b) Additional Area for Freestanding Signs on Corner Lots. One additional freestanding identification sign shall be permitted for a corner lot, provided that:
(1) The total frontage of both streets is not less than 300 feet;
(2) The area of each freestanding identification sign complies with Schedule 1290.05, and the total area of both freestanding signs shall not exceed 175% of the maximum area permitted for a single sign;
(3) The second freestanding sign is clearly located to provide identification along the secondary street; and
(4) The two signs may be aggregated into a single sign at the corner, provided that the area of any freestanding sign face shall not exceed 70 square feet, except as otherwise permitted in division (d) of this section.
(c) Large Building Setbacks. The maximum allowable area for identification signs attached to a building may be increased by one-half of a square foot of sign area for each foot of building frontage when the principal building is set back more than 200 feet from the primary street on which the building is located.
(d) Additional Area for Large Lots. The area and number of freestanding signs on large lots may be increased according to the following:
(1) The allowable area of any freestanding sign face may be increased by five square feet of area for every 20 lineal feet of lot frontage greater than 200 lineal feet.
(2) One freestanding sign shall be permitted for every 250 feet of lot frontage or fraction thereof, provided that the total area of freestanding signs does not exceed the maximum sign area permitted in division (d)(1) above.
(e) Common Business Identification Sign. In addition to the business identification sign provided for each business in this chapter, a commercial, office or industrial subdivision shall be permitted to have a common business identification sign. The maximum height of the common business identification sign shall be ten feet.
(Ord. 58-01. Passed 5-29-01.)
In addition to the requirements of this chapter, the following supplemental regulations shall apply to signs located in the French Creek District:
(a) No self-illuminating, free-standing ground signs are permitted. Only continuous, soft, non-glare, indirect-type lighting is permitted.
(b) All signs advertising a business or place of business shall be constructed of a natural material only, such as wood, masonry or wrought iron, and the design should be compatible with the character of the French Creek District. All permanent signs shall be reviewed and approved by the Planning Commission.
(c) Signs or banners which comply with the intent and purpose of the French Creek District may be placed or displayed in a public right-of-way in the French Creek District. No such signs or banners shall display any advertising, and all such signs must be reviewed and approved by the Zoning Enforcement Officer and Planning Coordinator before the issuance of a sign permit. Considering that the purpose of these signs or banners is to serve a governmental and not a proprietary interest, permit fees shall be waived.
(Ord. 58-01. Passed 5-29-01; Ord. 194-03. Passed 9-8-03; Ord. 250-03. Passed 12-22-03.)
The following regulations are in addition to the maximum sign area and height regulations set forth in Sections 1290.04 through 1290.08.
(a) Project Construction Signs. A project construction sign shall be permitted only in compliance with the following:
(1) The sign shall be erected and maintained on a lot only during the period of time that the building project is under construction. A project construction sign shall be removed within 14 days of completion of the project or within two days of the erection of a permanent identification sign, whichever comes first.
(2) One sign shall be permitted at each entrance to the development. However, not more than two signs per development shall be permitted. Permits for such temporary signs shall be for a period not exceeding two years, and may be renewed while construction is being pursued.
(3) A construction or remodeling sign for an individual dwelling unit may be erected during construction or remodeling, provided such sign shall not be located closer than 25 feet to any street line.
(b) Model Home Signs. Model home signs shall be permitted in Residential Districts in compliance with the following provisions:
(1) A model home sign will only be permitted to be displayed until all of the homes and/or lots in the subdivision are sold after which the sign shall be removed.
(2) Model home signs shall be set back five feet from the right-of-way.
(3) In addition to the model home sign, two flags not to exceed six square feet each may be erected to advertise the model home.
(c) Other Temporary Signs in Residential Districts. Non-commercial temporary signs are permitted in Residential Districts subject to the following provisions:
(1) Each residential unit shall be permitted to erect two temporary signs either in a window or as a freestanding sign in the front yard.
(2) In addition to division (c)(1) of this section, each residential unit shall be permitted to erect two temporary signs for a period not to exceed 45 consecutive days on two separate occasions in any calendar year.
(3) A reasonable amount of temporary signage shall be permitted. Such signage shall be located on the site of the open house and shall be permitted only during such open house hours but shall not exceed four hours in any one-week period. Such signage shall comply with the sign area set forth in Schedule 1290.05 and the requirements in division (c)(5) below.
(4) Institutional uses in Residential Districts shall be permitted to erect a temporary bulletin board sign for the purposes of advertising a special event. Such sign shall not exceed 24 square feet and shall not be displayed for more than three days on no more than two occasions in any calendar year.
(5) Temporary freestanding signs shall be located no closer than five feet from a public right-of-way or a side lot line.
(6) For the purposes of this section, a “noncommercial temporary sign” shall include signs advertising the sale of a dwelling located on the same lot as the sign.
(d) Temporary Signs in Business, Office and Industrial Districts. Temporary signs are permitted subject to the following provisions:
(1) Temporary window signs shall comply with the following:
A. The area of temporary window signs, either affixed thereto or visible from the outside, shall not exceed the percentage of the window area set forth in Schedule 1290.05. This area is in addition to the allowable sign area for identification signs permanently attached to windows.
B. All temporary window signs shall be displayed no longer than 30 days after placement, after which time such sign shall either be removed or replaced.
(2) Temporary signs advertising the sale, rental or lease of a building or part thereof shall be located on the lot occupied by the building or use advertised.
(3) All other temporary signs. One freestanding temporary sign or one banner sign attached to the front of the building shall be permitted for a period not to exceed 30 days no more than once per calendar year. A temporary freestanding sign shall be located no closer than five feet from the street right-of-way line.
(Ord. 58-01. Passed 5-29-01.)
The following signs shall be exempt from regulation under the Planning and Zoning Code.
(a) Any public regulations and information sign and any other notice or warning required by a valid and applicable federal, state or local law, regulation or resolution.
(b) Any sign inside a building, not attached to a window or door, that is not legible from a distance of more than three feet beyond the building in which such sign is located.
(c) Works of art that do not include a commercial message.
(d) Scoreboards for athletic fields.
(e) Religious and other holiday lights and decorations containing no commercial message when displayed during the appropriate time of the year.
(f) Flags of the United States, the state, foreign nations having diplomatic relations with the United States, and any other flag adopted or sanctioned by an elected legislative body of competent jurisdiction. These flags must be flown in accordance with protocol established by the Congress of the United States for the Stars and Stripes. Any flag not meeting these conditions shall be considered a sign and shall be subject to regulations as such.
(Ord. 58-01. Passed 5-29-01.)
All signs not expressly permitted in this chapter or exempt from regulation pursuant to Section 1290.11 are prohibited in the City. Such signs include but are not limited to the following:
(a) Abandoned signs.
(b) Signs shall not be located on trees, utility poles, public benches or any other form of public property, or in the public right-of-way, including paper posters, letters or representations in the form of advertising, whether printed, painted or applied directly to a wall, building, pole or other support.
(c) Searchlights, flashers, animators, rotating or whirligig devices, blinking, racer type, moving or revolving signs and signs containing movements or contrivances of any kind, except for time and temperature units.
(d) Pennants, festoons, streamers, inflatable signs, tethered balloons, streamers, exposed light bulbs, bare strings of light bulbs and other similar signs and devices.
(e) Signs containing any words or symbols that would cause confusion because of their resemblance to highway traffic control or direction signals.
(f) Signs on temporarily placed vehicles or trailers for the primary purpose of displaying such sign.
(g) Merchandise, equipment, products, vehicles or other items not themselves for sale and placed for attention-getting, identification or advertising purposes.
(h) Roof signs.
(i) No person shall display upon any sign or other advertising structure any obscene, indecent or immoral matter.
(j) Off-site advertising signs, unless otherwise specifically permitted in this Planning and Zoning Code.
(Ord. 58-01. Passed 5-29-01; Ord. 186-01. Passed 1-28-02.)
The proposed general design, arrangement, placement and construction of the sign shall be consistent with the intent, purposes, standards, and criteria of these sign regulations. Specific criteria for evaluating signs shall include, but not be limited, to the following:
(a) Design Standards.
(1) The lettering shall be large enough to be easily read but not overly large or out of scale with the building or site.
(2) The number of items, letters, symbols and shapes shall be consistent with the amount of information which can be comprehended by the viewer, reflect simplicity, avoid visual clutter and improve legibility.
(3) The shape of the sign shall be simple, and the sign should be consolidated into a minimum number of elements.
(4) A ratio between the message and the background shall permit easy recognition of the message.
(5) The size, style and location of the sign shall be appropriate to the activity of the site.
(6) The sign shall complement the building and adjacent buildings by being designed and placed to enhance the architecture. The sign shall also have a minimum of advertising and reflect the primary purpose of identifying the name and type of establishment.
(7) Signs shall have an appropriate contrast and be designed with a limited number of, and harmonious use of, colors.
(8) Signs, if seen in series, shall have a continuity of design with the style of sign generally consistent throughout the building or block.
(9) A sign should be constructed with a minimum of different types of material so as to provide a consistent overall appearance.
(b) Illumination. Signs in Residential Districts shall not be illuminated, except for bulletin boards, subdivision signs and identification signs for institutions. Unless otherwise specified, all signs in Business, Office and Industrial Districts may be illuminated. Except for illumination required for safety purposes, such lighting shall be permitted only during the hours the establishment is in operation.
(1) Signs may be illuminated by internally or reflected light provided that:
A. Light sources shall be shielded from all adjacent buildings and streets.
B. Light sources to illuminate signs or other advertising displays located inside or outside of buildings shall not be of excessive brightness or cause glare hazardous to pedestrians or drivers or automobiles or be objectionable to adjacent Residential Districts.
C. Flashing, moving or intermittent illumination, beacon lights and outline lighting shall not be permitted, except for permitted time, temperature and message signs. The Planning Commission may, however, make a finding and permit such lighting as a special use.
(2) Signs visible from sight lines along streets shall not contain symbols or words that resemble highway traffic signs or devices and shall not be lighted to obstruct traffic control or any other public informational signs.
(c) Construction Standards.
(1) The construction, erection, safety and maintenance of signs shall comply with the Ohio Building Code and the Ohio Revised Code and be professionally constructed.
(2) Signs shall be located so as to pose no threat to pedestrian or vehicular traffic.
(3) All signs shall be rigidly secured and no sign shall swing from a bar, crane, awing or other sign. No part of any sign shall be revolving, oscillating or otherwise designed to move to attract attention.
(4) All freestanding signs shall have self-supporting structures erected on or permanently attached to concrete foundations.
(5) No sign shall be erected so as to obstruct any window, door, fire escape, balcony, platform, stairway, ladder, vent or other means of ingress of any building.
(6) No sign shall be located on the roof of any building.
(7) Signs shall be fabricated on and of material that are of good quality, good durability and are complimentary to the building of which they become a part.
(8) Signs shall be located in such a way as to maintain horizontal and vertical clearance of all overhead electrical conductors in accordance with National Electrical Code specifications, depending on voltages concerned. However, in no case shall a sign be installed closer than 12 inches horizontally or vertically from any conductor or public utility guy wire.
(9) Signs shall be structurally designed to withstand wind pressure of 30 pounds per square foot in any direction.
(Ord. 58-01. Passed 5-29-01.)
All signs shall be maintained in accordance with the following:
(a) The property owner shall maintain the sign in a condition fit for the intended use, and has a continuing obligation to comply with all building code requirements.
(b) Every sign or other advertising structure hereafter erected shall have permanently displayed in a conspicuous place thereon, in letters not less than one-half inch in height, the date of erection, the name address and telephone number of a firm or person responsible for erecting the sign, the permit number, the primary voltage and the volt amperage of any electrical apparatus used in connection therewith. Every illuminated sign, which is internally illuminated must bear an Underwriters Laboratories, Inc., approval label. Any other illuminated sign must contain Underwriters approved parts.
(c) Whenever any sign, either conforming or nonconforming to these regulations, is required to be removed for the purpose of repair, relettering or repainting, the same may be done without a permit or any payment of fees, provided that all of the following conditions are met:
(1) There is no alteration or remodeling to the structure or the mounting of the sign itself.
(2) There is no enlargement or increase in any of the dimensions of the sign or its structure.
(3) The sign is accessory to a legally permitted, conditional or nonconforming use.
(d) In the event a sign is or becomes unsafe or is in danger of falling, the owner shall, upon written notice from the Zoning Enforcement Officer, proceed at once to put such sign in a safe and secure condition or remove the sign. If the correction has not been made within 30 days, the Zoning Enforcement Officer may remove or cause such unsafe sign to be removed, repaired or maintained at the expense of the property owner or lessee, sign owner or sign lessee.
(e) In cases of emergency, the Zoning Enforcement Officer may cause the immediate removal of a dangerous or defective sign, at the expense of the owner or lessee, without notice. Signs removed in this manner must present a hazard to the public safety as defined in the Ohio Building Code or the City Traffic Code.
(f) Any abandoned sign or sign no longer serving its intended purpose shall be removed within 30 days. Unauthorized signs shall be removed within 30 days.
(Ord. 58-01. Passed 5-29-01.)
A sign existing lawfully at the time this chapter is adopted, but which does not conform with the sign regulations of the district in which it is located, may be repaired and maintained in its original state, and structural or electrical parts may be repaired or restored to a safe condition in compliance with the National Electric Code.
(a) Nonconforming signs shall be removed and any subsequent modification or replacement, excluding maintenance pursuant to Section 1290.14, shall conform to all requirements of this chapter:
(1) When the Zoning Enforcement Officer determines that more than 50% of the market value of the sign as determined according to Section 1282.12 has been destroyed or has been taken down.
(2) When the use which the nonconforming sign is accessory to is vacant for 90 consecutive days; and
(3) Following five years from the date of the amendment to this chapter which made the sign nonconforming.
(b) A nonconforming sign may not be altered, modified or reconstructed other than to comply with this chapter.
(c) Notwithstanding division (b) above, a nonconforming sign may be altered:
(1) When either the existing use has new ownership which results in a change in the name of the use or business on the property; or the space is reoccupied by a similar use, and the new occupant requires no external building or site renovation; and
(2) The alterations do not require changes to the structure, framing or erection or relocation of the sign.
(Ord. 58-01. Passed 5-29-01.)
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