(a) The area of a sign, expressed in square feet, shall mean the entire area within any circle, triangle or rectangle or square enclosing the extreme limits of writing, representation, emblem or any figure or similar character, together with any frame or other material or color forming an integral part of the display or used to differentiate the sign from the background against which it is placed, excluding the necessary supports or uprights on which such sign is placed. Refer to the figure.
Figure 24. Area of a Sign
(b) Where a sign has two or more faces, the area of all faces shall be included in determining the area of the sign, except that where two such faces are placed back to back and are at no point more than two feet from one another, the area of the sign shall be taken as the area of one face if the two faces are of equal area, or as the area of the larger face if the two faces are of unequal area.
(c) Supporting framework or bracing that is clearly incidental to the display itself shall is not be computed as sign area unless it too contains advertising lettering, materials or symbols.
(d) Where a sign consists of one or more three-dimensional objects (i.e., balls, cubes, clusters of objects, sculpture, or statue-like trademarks), the sign area is measured as their maximum projection, upon a vertical plane, as viewed from a position in the public right-of-way which produces the largest visual projection. See figure 25.
Figure 25. Sign Area, Three-Dimensional Objects
(e) Regardless of their spacing, the letters forming a word or name shall are be considered a single sign. The area of such a sign shall be measured as provided in this chapter.
(Ord. 10-2020. Passed 11-24-20; Ord. 03-2023. Passed 5- 2-2023.)