Signs in Non-Residence districts, except the Trailer Park District, shall conform to the
standards set forth in this Section.
(a) Maximum Number and Area of Permanent Signs Attached to Buildings. A permanent sign attached to buildings shall conform to the maximum number and area limitations set forth in Schedule 1179.06(a).
Schedule 1179.06(a) Building Signs for the Primary Frontage | ||||||
Type of Sign | Maximum Area of Wall Signs, Awnings, and Canopies | |||||
TCOD | NRC | GB | SC-1 | LIO | I | |
(1) Wall, awning, canopy and marquee (a) | 2 sq. ft. per linear ft. of building or tenant space frontage, as applicable | 2 sq. ft. per linear ft. of building or tenant space frontage, as applicable | 2 sq. ft. per linear ft. of building or tenant space frontage, as applicable | 3 sq. ft. per linear ft. of building or tenant space frontage, as applicable | 2 sq. per linear ft. of building or tenant space frontage, as applicable | 3 sq. ft. per linear ft. of building or tenant space frontage, as applicable |
(2) Projecting | See Section 1179.06 (b)(3) | NP | NP | |||
(3) Incidental Instructional Signs (b) | Maximum Area = 4 sq. ft. | |||||
(4) Window Signs | 25% of window area | |||||
(a) The number of signs is not limited to a specific number. A building is permitted to have any number provided the total area of all signs does not exceed the maximum area allocation. (b) Incidental Instructional signs shall be permitted in addition to all other signs when they are of such size and location that satisfy the intended instructional, way-finding purpose. Incidental instructional signs shall be permitted pursuant to Schedule 1179.06(a) and may include the name of the business and logos. NP = Not Permitted | ||||||
(b) Building Signs. A building sign permitted in Schedule 1179.06(a) shall be erected in compliance with the following additional regulations.
(1) Sign Bonuses for Large Building Setbacks. The maximum allowable area for a building sign may be increased· by twenty-five percent (25%) for each 100 feet of building setback where the building is visible from the street and located more than 100 feet from the street on which the building fronts. The sign bonus allowed herein shall not exceed two hundred percent (200%) of the maximum allowable area.
(2) Sign bonuses for Corner Lots and Side and Rear Entrances. The maximum allowable area for building signs shall be increased above the allowable area set forth in Schedule 1179.06(a) when the following conditions apply:
A. Additional area shall be permitted when a building has a secondary frontage.
B. The sign area for signs on each secondary building frontage may be no greater than sixty percent (60%) of the sign area permitted for the primary frontage.
C. At the applicant's discretion, some or all of the sign area permitted for the primary frontage may be transferred to a secondary frontage. The resulting total area on the secondary frontage shall not exceed the maximum sign area permitted for the primary frontage. The election to transfer primary frontage sign area to secondary frontage shall be made in the sign application.
(3) Projecting Signs. In addition to the permitted sign area set forth in Schedule 1179.06(a), one projecting sign per tenant space when all of the following conditions are met:
A. Projecting signs shall be limited to not more than one sign for each establishment or business unit. Such signs shall be attached to the wall and shall not extend above any parapet wall.
B. Projecting signs shall be constructed of noncombustible materials, provided, however, that facings, letters, figures, decorations and structural trim thereof may be made of approved combustible materials.
C. Projecting signs may have letters, panels or ornaments of porcelain enamel, glass, approved combustible plastics, or other hard materials.
D. Projecting signs shall be supported by a decorative bracket attached to walls of buildings with through bolts, expansion bolts or another equally secure method, and shall be braced and held firmly in place. All such supports shall be attached to walls of buildings with expansion bolts or an equivalent method.
E. Projecting signs shall have a maximum area of twelve (12) square feet. The maximum width shall be three (3') feet; the maximum height shall be four (4') feet.
F. All projecting signs shall have a minimum clearance of eight (8') feet from grade to the bottom of the sign unless the projecting sign is located above a landscaped area or other area where pedestrian traffic beneath the sign is not permitted. Projecting signs shall have a maximum height of fourteen (14') feet from grade to the top of the projecting sign or structural support whichever is highest.
G. No portion of a projecting sign, including its frame or support, shall extend more than four (4') feet from the building wall to which it is attached.
(4) Wall Signs. Wall signs shall be located within the primary or secondary frontage of the advertised tenant space. The width of a wall sign shall not exceed ninety percent (90%) of the width of the tenant space. At least five percent (5%) on each end shall remain open and unoccupied. A letter, number or character, logo, or pictorial matter shall not exceed four (4') feet in height.
Permanent Freestanding Signs(f) | |||||
Maximum Number | Maximum Sign Area | Maximum Sign Height | Minimum Setback from ROW | Minimum Setback from Side Lot Line (c) | |
(1) Primary Ground Sign(a) | |||||
A. TCOD | 1 per lot (b) | 40 sq. ft. (d) | 6 ft. | 10 feet | 5 ft. |
B. NRC | 1 per lot (b) | 40 sq. ft. (d) | 6 ft. | 10 feet | 5 ft. |
C. GB | 1 per lot (b) | 40 sq. ft. (d) | 6 ft. | 10 feet | 5 ft. |
D. SC-1 | 1 per lot (b) | 75 sq. ft. (d) | 15 ft. | 10 feet | 5 ft. |
E. LIO | 1 per lot (b) | 50 sq. ft. (d) | 6 ft. | 10 feet | 5 ft. |
F. I Industrial District | 1 per lot (b) | 50 sq. ft. (d) | 6 ft. | 10 feet | 5 ft. |
(2) Pedestrian Sign | 1 per tenant space | 12 sq. ft. | 4 ft. | NA | NA |
(3) Incidental Instructional Signs(e) | Maximum Height – 4 feet | ||||
Maximum Area – 4 sq. ft. | |||||
(a) Not permitted on the site when the building is setback less than 10 feet from the street right-of-way. (b) Except as otherwise permitted in Section 1179.06 (c) (2) for lots that have 400 feet or more of street frontage. (c) Except that when a side lot line coincides with a Residence District boundary line, then the minimum setback shall be 25 feet. (d) Plus 1 sq. ft. for every 5 ft. of lot frontage >200 ft. Notwithstanding any provision of this Section, the area of any ground sign shall not exceed 75 square feet. (e) Incidental Instructional signs shall be permitted in addition to all other signs when they are of such size and location that satisfy the intended instructional, way-finding purpose. Incidental instructional signs shall be permitted pursuant to Schedule 1179.06(c) and may include the name of the business and logos. (f) Only ground signs are permitted. The Planning Commission may permit other types of freestanding signs per sub-section 1179.12 (c). If the Planning Commission permits other types of freestanding signs, such signs shall comply with the standards for ground signs. NA – Not applicable | |||||
(c) Permanent Freestanding Signs. Permanent freestanding signs in Non-Residence districts, except the Trailer Park District, shall comply with the following regulations.
(1) Maximum Number, Area and Height, Minimum Setback of Permanent Freestanding signs. Permanent freestanding signs shall comply with Schedule 1179.06(c).
(2) Additional Ground Signs for Large Lots. The number of ground signs on large lots (lots with at least 400 feet of frontage on one street) may be increased as follows. The allowable sign area permitted by this Section may be distributed to one or more freestanding sign(s) for each 200 feet of lot frontage. (For example, a lot with 400 feet of frontage would be permitted to have two ground signs. See Figure 8. The total area of all ground signs along the same street frontage shall comply with Schedule 1179.06(c).
Figure 8
Illustration of Additional Freestanding Signs for Large Lots
 | Lot with 400 feet of frontage Number of ground signs permitted = 2 400 ft./200 = 2 signs |
(3) Signs on Lots with Multiple Public Street Frontages. For a lot with frontage on multiple public streets, each street frontage shall be considered and calculated separately. The allowable sign area permitted by this Section may be divided among one or more ground sign(s) for each 200 feet of lot frontage. The total area of all freestanding signs shall comply with Schedule 1179.06(c). Two (2) signs may be aggregated into a single sign provided that the area of a ground sign face shall not exceed seventy-five (75) square feet.
(4) Minimum Separation of Ground Sign. Ground signs on a single lot shall be separated by a minimum of 200 feet, as measured along the street right-of-way line. For corner lots, both sides of the intersection shall be used to measure the distance of separation.
(5) Minimum Sign Setback from Intersection. On corner lots, ground signs shall comply with the minimum sign setback from both street rights-of-way, as set forth in Schedule 1179.06(c).
(6) Landscaping. Ground signs shall be erected in a landscaped area and not on sidewalks, drives or in parking lots. Neither the landscaping nor the freestanding sign shall obstruct the view of vehicles entering or exiting the property.
(7) Multi-Occupant Facilities. When a ground sign is permitted on a site that has more than one occupant, the property owner shall designate which occupants shall be identified on the sign area.
(8) Pedestrian Signs. Pedestrian signs shall be allowed in all Non-Residence Districts except the Trailer Park District pursuant to Schedule 1179.06(c). The sign shall be placed adjacent to the building. The pedestrian sign shall be removed at the close of each business day.
(d) Electronic Message Center/Changeable Copy Signs.
(1) Changeable copy signs may be utilized on any permitted sign.
(2) Electronic message centers (EMCs) are prohibited in the Residence Districts.
(3) Electronic message centers shall only be permitted in conformance with the following regulations:
A. Electronic message centers shall only be permitted in the General Business District, Northfield Road Commercial District - Tier 1 and 2, Industrial District, and the Light Industrial/Office District.
B. Setback from Residence Districts. The leading edge of the sign shall be a minimum distance of 100 feet from an abutting Residence District boundary.
C. Orientation. When located within 150 feet of a residentially-used lot in a Residence District, all parts of the electronic changeable copy sign shall be oriented so that no portion of the sign face is visible from an existing or permitted principal structure on such residential lot.
D. An electronic message center shall only be permitted on a ground sign whose sign area is in conformance with the permitted areas in Schedule 1179.06(c), provided it shall not exceed twenty-five percent (25%) of the total sign area of the ground sign.
E. Electronic Message Center Illumination. The brightness ofthe EMC's illuminance shall not exceed 0.3 foot-candles above the ambient light level in accordance with the following procedure:
i. The illuminance of an EMC shall be measured with an illuminance meter set to measure foot candles accurate to at least two (2) decimals.
ii. Illuminance shall be measured with the EMC off, and again with the EMC displaying a white image for a full color-capable EMC, or a solid message for a single-color EMC.
iii. All measurements shall be taken as close as practical to a perpendicular plane of the sign at the distance determined by the following formula : The square root of the Area of Sign in Sq. Ft x 100.
All permitted EMCs shall be equipped with a sensor or other device that automatically determines the ambient illumination is programmed to automatically dim according to ambient light conditions, or that can be adjusted to comply with the 0.3- foot candle measurements.
Each EMC sign shall be operated with monitoring and methods in place that shall either turn off the display, or show a full black image on the display, in the event of a malfunction that affects more than fifty percent (50%) of the EMC sign face.
F. EMC signs shall have a minimum display time of eight (8) seconds. The transition time between messages and/or message frames is limited to three (3) seconds. Transitions may employ fade, dissolve, and or other transition effects. The following EMC display features and functions are prohibited: continuous scrolling and/or traveling, flashing, spinning, rotating, and similar moving effects, and all dynamic frame effects or patterns of illusionary movement or simulating movement.
G. Audio Prohibited. EMCs shall not utilize audio devices to create sound.
H. Electronic Message Center signs shall be subject to approval by the Planning Commission and City Council.
(e) Temporary Signs in Non-Residence Districts. The following regulations for temporary signs in Non-Residence districts, excluding the Trailer Park District, supplement and are in addition to the maximum sign area and other regulations set forth in Section 1179.06 (a)- (d).
(1) Setbacks: All temporary freestanding signs shall be located no closer than five (5) feet from the street right-of-way line and ten (10) feet from a side lot line, unless specifically regulated otherwise.
(2) Illumination: Temporary signs shall not be illuminated.
(3) Number and Size: One temporary sign shall be permitted per developed nonresidential property. Maximum size for a freestanding sign is sixteen (16) square feet and the maximum size for a temporary sign attached to a building is forty (40) square feet. The maximum height for a freestanding temporary sign is six (6) feet.
(4) One additional temporary sign may be located on a property during active construction authorized by a Zoning Permit as long as the sign does not exceed thirty-two (32) square feet.
(5) One temporary sign shall be permitted per undeveloped property. Maximum size for a freestanding sign is sixteen (16) square feet. The maximum height for a freestanding temporary sign is six (6) feet.
(6) No temporary sign shall be erected so as to prevent free ingress to, or egress from, any door, window, fire escape or ventilating equipment, nor shall any sign be attached to any standpipe or fire escape. Except as otherwise permitted in this Zoning Code, no temporary sign shall extend over or into any street, alley, sidewalk or other public thoroughfare or be placed or project over any wall openings.
(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 Sign Permit to be issued 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.
(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 (e)(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.
I. Height of a Freestanding 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. 2024-052. Passed 6-18-24.)