(A) General requirements. All signs shall meet the construction and design standards of this chapter and Part 14 (Building and Housing) of this Code.
(B) Installation. Sign installation shall comply with the following standards.
(1) Identification. Every permanent sign shall be installed with a prominently located identification plate that includes the date of erection of the sign, its permit number, and the voltage of any electrical equipment connected to the sign.
(2) Supports and braces. All signs shall be installed so that necessary supports and braces are an integral part of the sign design.
(3) Attachment to building. All signs attached to a building shall be installed and maintained so that wall penetrations are watertight and the sign installation does not exceed the allowable stresses of the building materials.
(4) Wind pressure. All signs shall be designed and installed to withstand wind pressure of at least 30 pounds per square foot of net surface area, and to receive dead loads as required by Part 14 (Building and Housing) of this Code.
(C) Location. All signs shall comply with the following standards.
(1) Public property. Signs may only be placed on public property by a government agency, as authorized by this chapter, or the Building Director. Any sign placed on public property without authorization may be removed without notice.
(2) Private property. Signs may only be placed on private property with prior consent of the property owner and, if applicable, an approved sign permit issued by the city.
(3) Building exterior. A sign mounted on the exterior of a building shall not conceal any windows, doors, or unique architectural features. This does not apply to window signs.
(4) Visibility obstruction.
(a) A sign shall not obstruct free and clear vision at any street, intersection, driveway, or parking lot entrance or exit.
(b) In any residential district, no sign shall be placed in a manner that will create a visibility obstruction for motorists, bicyclists, or pedestrians. No sign shall exceed three feet in height within 25 feet of two or more intersecting streets measured along the curb line, or edge of pavement if no curbs are present.
(D) Illumination. All signs shall comply with the following illumination standards.
(1) Electrical components. All electrical components used in the construction of a sign shall be installed and maintained as required by Chapter 1424 (National Electrical Code) of this Code.
(2) Light level.
(a) LED lighting. The light level of an illuminated sign lit with LED bulbs shall be no greater than 5,000 nits of luminance from dawn to dusk and no greater than 150 nits of luminance from dusk to dawn.
(b) Non-LED lighting. The light level of an illuminated sign lit with bulbs other than LED bulbs shall be no greater than one footcandle at any time of day as measured at the curb line.
(3) Direct light and glare. All sign illumination shall be located, shielded, and directed to illuminate only the sign face and to prevent direct light or glare from being cast upon adjacent rights-of-way and surrounding properties. No sign illumination may be combined with reflective materials, such as mirrors, polished metal, or highly-glazed tiles, which would increase glare.
(4) External illumination. Signs shall be externally illuminated with steady, stationary, fully shielded light sources concentrated on the face of the sign so as not to cause glare.
(5) Neon signs. Marquee signs may be illuminated with neon. Window signs that are illuminated with neon are permitted per the standards of § 1476.05(B)(10) (Window Signs). Pole and monument signs that are illuminated with neon are only permitted in the C-4 District along Ogden Avenue.
(6) Hours of operation. Illuminated signs shall be turned off from 11:00 p.m. until 7:00 a.m., or 30 minutes after close of business, whichever is later. Uses that remain in operation between 11:00 p.m. until 7:00 a.m. are exempt from this requirement during the period of operation only.
(E) Items of information. Refer to Figure 1476.03-A. Items of Information.
(1) Applicability. The following standards apply to all permanent signs, with the exception of drive-through signs.
(2) Limitation. No sign face shall include more than six items of information, except as provided in this section. Each of the following items is considered one item of information: business name, business logo, telephone number, website, slogan, and products or services offered. If the sign advertises products or services, each product or service is considered one item of information. The following exceptions apply:
(a) Street address. The street address of a business is not considered an item of information.
(b) Electronic message signs and manually changeable copy signs. An electronic message sign or manually changeable copy sign shall be counted as one item of information. A sign that includes an electronic message sign or manually changeable copy sign component shall include no more than three items of information.
(c) Multi-tenant commercial building signs. Monument and pole signs for multi-tenant commercial buildings are limited to one item of information per tenant, which may exceed six items of information in total, in addition to the name and address of the development.
(3) Commercial and non-commercial signs. All items of information on a commercial sign must be related to the products and services offered on the premises. This limitation on items of information is not applicable to non-commercial signs.
Figure 1476.03-A. Items of Information
(F) Maintenance, inspection, and removal.
(1) Maintenanc e. All signs, support structures, and the area immediately adjacent to signs, shall be regularly maintained, including cleaning, repainting, and repairs. No sign may be constructed, erected, or maintained in a manner that is unsafe, insecure, or a danger to the public.
(2) Inspection. The Building Director may inspect any sign regulated by this chapter at any time to determine whether the sign is in need of repair or removal, or whether it is in conformance with the provisions of this chapter.
(3) Removal. Any sign that is an immediate peril to persons or property may be removed by the city without prior notice to the owner thereof.
(Ord. 17-33, passed 9-12-2017)