(A) Wall signs. A wall sign may be painted on or attached to the exterior surface of a building, structure or wall. Each business in the C-1, C-2 and Industrial Districts shall be permitted wall signs that conform to the following:
(1) The total area of all wall signs shall not exceed the aggregate three square feet of area for each linear foot of lot frontage;
(2) A wall sign shall project not more than two feet horizontally from a building facade. A wall sign shall not project more than tree feet above the average height of the roof of the structure involved. However, no sign shall be erected on a roof in any district; and
(3) A wall sign may project downward from a fixed awning only so far as shall allow a minimum of nine feet of vertical clearance from grade to the bottom of the sign.
(B) Projecting signs. Projecting signs are permitted only in the C-1 District. One projecting sign is allowed per building per street frontage. Such signs shall project not more than four feet outward from the wall of the structure, shall not exceed 20 square feet in area and shall be perpendicular to the wall of the structure to which they are attached. All projecting signs shall be located not less than nine feet above the finished sidewalk or ground level. Such signs shall be of sturdy construction and shall be erected in such a manner as to protect persons who pass underneath from possible injury. Sign users who place projecting signs over the public right-of-way shall assume sole liability for such sign.
(C) Freestanding signs. Freestanding signs shall be supported upon the ground by poles, braces, or posts, and shall be permitted in C-1, C-2 and I (Industrial) Districts in accordance with the following requirements.
(1) There shall not be more than one freestanding, on-premise sign per business activity along each street frontage the use abuts. Where commercial uses are located on the same property with common features, such as shopping centers or commercial complexes, all such on-premise signs shall be supported by only one structure per lot with street frontage.
(2) Freestanding signs shall not be located upon or project over any right-of-way.
(3) Freestanding signs shall not obstruct or adversely affect vision clearance or traffic visibility.
(4) The maximum height from grade for freestanding signs shall be not more than 20 feet in the C-1 District and 30 feet in the C-2 and I (Industrial) Districts.
(5) The maximum area size for freestanding signs shall not be larger than 40 square feet in the C-1 District and 100 square feet in the C-2 and I (Industrial) Districts.
(6) Freestanding signs shall not measure less than nine feet from grade to the lowest point of the sign or its supporting structure if such sign is designed and/or located to allow pedestrian traffic to pass underneath; for vehicle passage under the sign the minimum clearance from grade is 15 feet.
(7) All freestanding signs shall be located a minimum of 25 feet from any adjoining property line or residential district.
(8) Freestanding signs that are of a temporary or portable nature may be permitted in addition to permanently-mounted, freestanding signs, subject to the following provisions:
(b) Such signs, when located in the C-1 District, shall not exceed 24 square feet in area; when located in C-2 and I (Industrial) Districts, portable and temporary signs shall not exceed 50 square feet in area;
(c) No portable or temporary sign shall exceed six feet in height from grade;
(d) No portable or temporary sign shall be located in a manner that obstructs or adversely affects traffic visibility;
(e) Not more than one portable or temporary sign shall be permitted for each complete 100 feet of lot frontage on public streets (individually-owned lots that are less than 100 feet in width shall also be permitted one such sign);
(f) No portable or temporary sign shall be placed in the public right-of-way;
(g) A temporary, non-portable sign announcing the construction of a building and the architects, builders, contractors, and the like, involved may be erected upon the premises for a period of 30 consecutive days in addition to the construction period;
(h) Portable and/or temporary signs shall be permitted for a period not to exceed 21 days, a maximum of four times per year. Temporary signs consisting of banners, posters, pennants, ribbons, streamers, spinners, or other moving devices, as well as air-activated graphics or balloons used for commercial or other advertising purposes shall be permitted for a period of not more than 14 consecutive days, renewable not more than two times per annum by the same business; and
(i) It shall be the responsibility of the applicant or owner of the sign to maintain the portable or temporary sign in a sound and safe condition and to remove such signs when the allowable time limit has expired.
(D) Marquee, awning and canopy signs. Marquee, awning, and canopy signs shall be permitted in all commercial and industrial districts subject to the following provisions.
(1) The total area of such signs shall not exceed the aggregate two square feet of area for each linear foot of building frontage and, if combined with wall signs, the total area of all signage shall not exceed the aggregate three square feet of area for each linear foot of building frontage.
(2) Sign area limits shall be defined as the rectangular space occupied by the sign lettering or insignia and the space immediately surrounding such lettering or insignia.
(3) Signs shall not project more than three feet horizontally from a building facade over a public right-of-way, and not more than six feet horizontally from a building facade over private property.
(4) Such signs shall have a minimum clearance of nine feet above the sidewalk grade or the edge of roadway grade nearest the sign and shall not be located closer than two feet from the curb of any roadway.
(5) Overall height should not exceed three feet above the average height of the roof line or the parapet wall of the building to which it is attached, and should not exceed the allowable building height for that zoning district.
(6) Such signs shall be limited to single-story buildings or to the first level only of multi-story buildings.
(E) Window signs. Window signs are only permitted in the ground or first floor windows of all commercial and industrial districts. No window sign shall occupy more than 25% of the total window surface on a given side of the building.
(F) Enter/exit signs. Enter/exit signs may be permitted in addition to freestanding signs, subject to the following provisions.
(2) No enter/exit signs shall be permitted in the right-of-way of any street or alley.
(3) The area of such signs shall not exceed two square feet.
(4) Not more than one enter and one exit sign shall be permitted for each lot. Corner lots may be permitted one additional enter and exit sign; provided there is an access to the public street on both street frontages.
(5) No lettering or sign message other than “enter” and “exit” shall be permitted.
(6) The maximum height for an enter/exit sign shall be three feet, and such sign shall not be located in a manner that obstructs or adversely affects traffic visibility.
(G) Interstate signs. Signs that are not attached to a building, that are less than 1,900 feet from the centerline of an interstate highway right-of-way, that are at least 25 feet in height and that are intended to be read from the interstate highway. An interstate sign is an accessory use that directs attention to an on-premise business, enterprise or activity located upon a property that adjoins an interstate highway. A business may be permitted an interstate sign as a conditional use, subject to the following provisions.
(1) Signs must conform to the requirements established under R.C. Chapter 5516.
(2) Signs shall not be closer than 25 feet to any right-of-way line.
(3) Signs shall not be closer than 15 feet to any adjoining property line.
(4) Signs shall not be larger than 400 square feet in area.
(5) Signs shall measure not more than 90 feet in height from the ground elevation on which it is located.
(Ord. 03-04, passed - -2002) Penalty, see § 153.999