1179.10 PERMITTED SIGNS IN NON-RESIDENTIAL DISTRICTS.
(a) Outdoor. In all non-residential districts, outdoor advertising signs shall be limited to in-place signs pertaining to and advertising exclusively the use established or goods sold or services rendered on the premises, except as provided in Section 1179.08(e). Except as provided in Section 1179.08(e), all other outdoor advertising devices, including billboards, pennants and whirligigs, shall be prohibited. All signs in these non-residential districts shall be accessory to a building or use permitted and shall conform to all regulations set forth in this chapter. They shall be located on the same lot as the business, service or use to which they direct attention. The following types of signs, as to contents, shall be permitted: nameplates and bulletin boards, if accessory to a permitted use, business and advertising signs, industrial signs, real estate and development signs, and directional signs.
(Ord. 2003-060. Passed 5-6-03.)
(b) Window Signs. Temporary window signs, not intended to be permanently attached to a building and containing information or messages other than the name of the business of the occupant, which are applied to or attached to a window or door within a building for the purpose of being visible to and read from the outside of the building and not exceeding twenty-five (25) percent of the total transparent glass area of the window in which the sign is placed shall be permitted. Temporary window signs in excess of twenty-five (25) percent are not permitted and shall be removed upon notice from the Building Division.
(Ord. 2005-141. Passed 10-18-05.)
(c) Permitted Signs, as to Design. The following types of signs, as to design, shall be permitted: flat and wall signs; projecting signs; pole and ground signs.
(d) Area of Signs. The total area of all permanent signs, except pole signs, for each land use or building use shall not exceed the number of square feet indicated in the following table:
District | Building Frontage (ft.) | Square Feet of Sign Per Foot of Frontage |
Local Retail and Office | First 50 | 2 sq. ft. |
Next 50 | 1 additional sq. ft. | |
Over 100 | 1 additional sq. ft. for each 2-1/2 ft. of frontage | |
Industrial | First 50 | 3 sq. ft. |
Next 100 | 2 additional sq. ft. | |
Over 150 | 1 additional sq. ft. for each 5 ft. of frontage | |
All other non-residential districts | First 50 | 3 sq. ft. |
Next 50 | 2 additional sq. ft. | |
Over 100 | 1 additional sq. ft. for each 5 ft. of frontage | |
(Ord. 2003-060. Passed 5-6-03.)
(e) Additional Signs. Additional signs shall be permitted as follows:
(1) Second entrances. Buildings having a second entrance or a rear door to a parking area may have additional signs not exceeding a maximum size of twelve (12) square feet.
(2) Nameplates. Professional or service offices and organizations above the ground floor of a building may have additional signs, provided the total area of the signs does not exceed two percent (2%) of the floor area occupied by the establishment or fifty (50) square feet, whichever is smaller. No window sign shall exceed two (2) square feet in area.
(3) Temporary development signs. Temporary development signs announcing a proposed building under construction or advertising the sale, rental or lease of a building or part thereof shall remain posted for a maximum period of one hundred twenty (120) days. Such advertisement shall be located on the lot occupied by the building or use advertised, not within the right-of-way and not interfering with the view of traffic. The maximum size of one face of the sign shall not exceed twenty (20) square feet. “V”-shaped signs shall be prohibited.
(4) Directional signs. Directional signs of permanent construction indicating traffic routes within parking areas or driveways and similar functions shall be permitted in addition to the above limitations if each sign does not exceed four (4) square feet in area.
(5) Temporary signs announcing sales, etc. Temporary signs announcing sales, products and special business events shall not remain posted for a period of time exceeding fourteen (14) days and shall not be permitted on the outside of buildings or in the yards where other signs are permitted.
(6) Temporary portable illuminated signs. Temporary portable illuminated signs announcing special business events such as sales or new business announcements shall be permitted to be displayed in accordance with the following regulations:
A. No sign shall exceed forty (40) square feet in area.
B. No flashing lights, rotating devices or moving visual accessories shall be permitted.
C. No sign shall be placed closer than five (5) feet to the public sidewalk or right-of-way.
D. No more than one (1) sign shall be permitted on any property at any one time.
E. Electrical installations shall comply with the National Electrical Code, Article 600.
F. Permits are limited to not more than four (4) times per calendar year (January 1 - December 31) up to twenty-eight (28) days total per year.
G. The duration of each permit shall not exceed twenty-eight (28) days. The maximum length of each permit shall be one (1) week.
(7) Temporary inflatable signs. Temporary inflatable signs announcing special business events such as sales or new business announcements or special City events on City property approved by the Mayor shall be permitted in accordance with a permit to be issued by the Building Division in accordance with the following regulations:
A. The company that installs inflatable signs must be a properly licensed contractor in the City.
B. Construction, erection, safety and maintenance of all inflatable signs shall be in accordance with the Building Code and State regulations, including the BOCA National Fire Prevention Code and the Ohio Basic Building Code.
C. Inflatable signs shall be secured in an approved manner so as not to encroach upon the air rights of adjoining properties, and no inflatable sign shall exceed thirty (30) feet in height, measured from the mounting level.
D. Inflatable signs shall not be installed below or within ten (10) feet horizontally of any electrical conductors, phone conductors, CATV conductors, fire alarm conductors, or any other similar installations.
E. The inflatable structure shall be ground-mounted or attached to supports and guy wires ground-mounted or securely attached to the building roof. No inflatable structure will be permitted to be secured to any mechanical equipment, parapet walls or other items normally found on the roof of a structure.
F. The location of the inflatable structure shall not create a nuisance to adjacent or surrounding properties.
G. A building permit is required for each inflatable sign to be erected. At the time of permit application, a sealed drawing of the inflatable sign and the subject property, showing the elevation, location and means of attachment, shall be submitted with a photograph or drawing depicting the sign. In addition, a fee, as set forth in Section 1329.09(d), shall be required for each permit.
H. Each applicant who uses an inflatable sign is limited to no more than four (4) times per calendar year (January 1 - December 31) with a limit of up to twenty-eight (28) total days per year.
I. The duration of each inflatable display will not exceed twenty- eight (28) consecutive days. The maximum length of each permit shall be one (1) week.
J. No inflatable sign shall be permitted within a quarter mile radius of another inflatable sign (whether located within or outside the City).
K. Signage on the inflatable sign shall be limited to no more than two (2) lines of copy, and all such signs shall advertise only for activities on the premises where the inflatable sign is located.
L. Sexually explicit or otherwise morally objectionable designs or copy shall be prohibited.
M. Inflatables shall not be used as political signs as defined in Section 503.03 of the General Offenses Code.
(Ord. 2005-141. Passed 10-18-05.)
(8) Temporary signs allowed during major road construction projects. A business fronting on a street or road that is undergoing long-term construction shall be permitted additional temporary signage in accordance with the following regulations:
A. Temporary construction signs shall be directional in nature and shall be limited to the name of the business, a logo or graphic, and such directional information as “entrance”, “exit”, or arrows. No advertising shall be permitted on such temporary construction signs.
B. Temporary construction signs shall not exceed sixteen (16) square feet in size.
C. All temporary construction signs shall be constructed out of durable materials, such as plywood or sheet metal. Such signs shall not be constructed of cardboard or other papers.
D. All temporary construction signs shall be maintained in good condition during the construction period. Damaged signs must be immediately repaired or removed.
E. Temporary construction signs are permitted in the parking area of the business or in the public rights-of-way, provided they do not interfere with traffic or construction.
F. Temporary construction signs shall not block the public sidewalk or obstruct vehicle sight distance or interfere with road construction.
G. Temporary construction signs must be removed when traffic flow is restored to normal.
H. Permits are required for temporary construction signs permitted by this subsection (8), but permit fees shall be waived. A sketch or drawing of the type of sign and location must be attached to the application for such a permit.
(f) Height of a Free-Standing Sign. The height of the lowest member of any sign which is not integral with a wall surface shall not be less than eight and one-half (8-1/2) feet above any sidewalk or other pedestrian way and not less than fourteen (14) feet if over or within eighteen (18) inches of the vertical projection of a pavement used for vehicular traffic. The maximum height of such sign shall not exceed twenty (20) feet.
(Ord. 2003-060. Passed 5-6-03.)