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The following restrictions shall apply to all Outdoor Signs after the date this section is adopted. All signs permitted erected pursuant to a valid permit prior to adoption of this section are legal nonconforming signs. These restrictions apply to any Outdoor Signs erected and maintained adjacent to any roads and other public rights-of-way within the City of Bridgeport.
(a) No sign shall be erected or maintained which involves rapid motion or rotation of the structure or any part thereof;
(b) No sign shall contain lighting which is not appropriately shielded, and any lighting shall be of such low intensity as not to cause a glare or impair the vision of the operator of any motor vehicle, nor be a nuisance to any adjacent residential area;
(c) No sign shall be comprised of or illuminated by any rapid flashing intermittent light or lights;
(d) No sign shall be painted, affixed or attached to any natural feature;
(e) No sign shall hinder the clear, unobstructed view of approaching merging traffic, or obscure from view any traffic sign or other official sign;
(f) No sign shall be so located as to obscure the view of any connecting road or intersection;
(g) The style of a sign, the height of a sign, maximum allowable square footage and number of Outdoor signs shall comply with those regulations prescribed for the particular Zoning District in which the sign is to be located as more fully set forth in Sections 1325.14; 1325.15; 1325.16; and, 1325.17.
(h) Murals shall not encompass more than one hundred percent (100%) of the particular side of the building upon which it is affixed.
(i) No off-premises commercial advertising signs or billboards.
(Passed 9-14-20.)
(a) Outdoor Signs lawfully existing on the effective date of this code that do not conform to the provisions of this code, and signs that are accessory to a nonconforming use shall be deemed nonconforming signs and may remain except as qualified below.
(1) Nonconforming signs shall not be enlarged nor shall any feature of a nonconforming sign, such as illumination or technology, be increased.
(2) Nonconforming signs shall not be extended, structurally reconstructed, altered in any manner, or replaced with another nonconforming sign nor increased in technological advancement, except as permitted by this code.
(3) Nonconforming signs shall not be moved for any distance on the same lot or to any other lot unless such change in location will make the sign conform in all respects to the provisions of this article.
(4) A nonconforming sign that is destroyed or damaged by any casualty to an extent not exceeding fifty percent (50%) of its area may be restored within six (6) months after such destruction or damage but shall not be enlarged. If such sign is so destroyed or damaged to an extent exceeding fifty percent (50%) of its area, the sign shall not be reconstructed but may be replaced with a sign that is in full accordance with this code.
(5) Nonconforming sign structures shall be removed if the use to which they are accessory has not been in operation for a period of one (1) year or more. Such sign structure shall be removed or made conforming by the owner or lessee of the property. If the owner or lessee fails to remove or make conforming the sign structure within thirty (30) days of notice by the Community Development Director, Code Enforcement Officer or other authorized City personnel, the Community Development Director, Code Enforcement Officer or other authorized City personnel may cause the sign to be made conforming or removed and the cost of such removal or modification shall be charged to the owner, person having control, or person receiving benefit from such sign, with payment due within thirty (30) days of notice of charges.
(6) If a nonconforming sign is altered such that the sign is conforming or is replaced by a conforming sign, such sign shall thereafter be kept in accordance with the provisions of this code.
(b) The burden of establishing nonconforming status of signs and the physical characteristics and location of such signs shall be with the owner of the property. Upon notice from the Community Development Director, Code Enforcement Officer or other authorized City personnel, a property owner shall submit verification that sign(s) were lawfully erected.
Failure to provide such verification shall cause the sign to be deemed an illegal sign.
(c) Nothing in this section prevents keeping a nonconforming sign in good repair.
(Passed 9-14-20.)
(a) All Outdoor Signs and Billboards shall be constructed and mounted in compliance with the West Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code. All signs and components thereof shall be maintained in good repair and in a safe, neat, and clean condition.
(b) Safety Hazard. The Community Development Director, Code Enforcement Officer or other authorized City personnel may cause to have removed or repaired immediately without written notice any sign which, in his or her opinion, has become insecure, in danger of falling, or otherwise unsafe, and, as such, presents an immediate threat to the safety of the public. If such action is necessary to render a sign safe, the cost of such emergency removal or repair shall be charged to the owner, person having control, or person receiving benefit from such sign, with payment due within thirty (30) days of notice of charges.
(c) Nuisance. Any sign which constitutes a nuisance shall be abated by the owner within thirty (30) days of notice by the Community Development Director, Code Enforcement Officer or other authorized City personnel. At any time, the Community Development Director, Code Enforcement Officer or other authorized City personnel may cause the nuisance to be abated with the costs charged to the owner, person having control, or person receiving benefit from such sign, with payment due within thirty (30) days of notice of charges.
(d) Illegal Sign and Disrepair. Any sign which is illegal or in disrepair shall be made conforming or repaired within thirty (30) days of notice from the Community Development Director, Code Enforcement Officer or other authorized City personnel. Signs of disrepair include chipped paint, missing or significantly faded letters or other aspects of the sign, cracked portions of the sign face, broken lighting, graffiti, and unleveled portions of the sign structure or face. If an illegal sign or a sign in disrepair is not made conforming or repaired, the Community Development Director, Code Enforcement Officer or other authorized City personnel may cause the sign to be removed or repaired and the cost of such removal or repair shall be charged to the owner, person having control, or person receiving benefit from such sign, with payment due within thirty (30) days of notice of charges.
(e) Expired Permit. Any sign for which a sign permit has expired shall be removed within five (5) days of the permit expiration. If the sign is not removed, the Community Development Director, Code Enforcement Officer or other authorized City personnel may cause the sign to be removed and the cost of such removal shall be charged to the owner, person having control, or person receiving benefit from such sign, with payment due within thirty (30) days of notice of charges.
(f) Signs located within ten (10) feet of any public right-of-way and in violation of this code may be impounded at any time.
(g) The owner of any commercial sign, whether conforming or nonconforming, other than a permitted off-premise sign, located on commercial property where the use or business has ceased operating shall, within sixty (60) days of the cessation of the use or business operation, remove Temporary signs and all aspects of any permanent sign that refer to the use or business. Property owner may request, in writing, a waiver of such requirement, if the businesses is temporarily or seasonally operational, is remodeling, or otherwise has the good will intention of opening that business back up within one (1) year of time of cessation.
(Passed 9-14-20.)
Temporary signs pose distinct concerns with visual clutter, safety in erection and display, and removal when the time for display has concluded. Temporary signs also pose distinct concerns with materials quality. The following provisions and individual zoning of temporary signs per district serve to address these concerns.
(a) All temporary signs shall be permitted for a maximum of thirty (30) days prior to the event they advertise or provide notice of and Temporary Signs advertising or providing notice of a particular event must be removed forty-eight (48) hours after the conclusion of the event. Any Temporary Sign advertising or providing notice of an event that remains in place after said forty-eight-hour (48) period may be confiscated by the City and the owner of the Temporary Sign may be subject to prosecution.
(b) Any Temporary Sign which is in a state of disrepair shall be removed by the owner, person having control, or the person receiving benefit from such sign, within five (5) days of notification by the City. If the Temporary Sign is not removed, the Community Development Director, Code Enforcement Officer or other authorized City personnel may cause the sign to be removed and the cost of such removal shall be charged to the owner, person having control, or person receiving benefit from such sign, with payment due within thirty (30) days of notice of charges. (Passed 9-14-20.)
(a) Purpose. Signage in residential districts poses a heightened risk of visual blight and unsightly clutter, as residential neighborhoods typically contain markedly less signage than other districts in order to maintain the residential character of the neighborhood. At the same time, communicating from one's residence is a distinct and impactful form of speech that should be protected, and nonresidential uses should be afforded adequate signage incidental to the primary use in the form of on-premises signs. Signs permitted in these districts are smaller, fewer in number, and limited in sign type in order to limit visual clutter and distraction, while affording ample speech.
(b) Signs Permitted as Accessory to Dwellings.
(1) Permitted permanent sign use as accessory to dwellings: Freestanding, Minor, Projecting, Wall, Wicket, Window. No more than four (4) permanent signs are permitted by right per dwelling.
(2) Temporary signs as accessory to dwellings: A-frame, Banner, Beacon, Chalkboard, Geological, Inflatable/Tethered, Minor, Wall, Wicket, Window. No more than ten (10) Temporary signs are permitted by right per dwelling.
(3) No more than three (3) flags as accessory to dwellings.
(c) Signs Permitted as Accessory to Non-dwellings.
(1) Permitted permanent sign use as accessory to non-dwellings: Freestanding, Geological, Minor, Projecting, Wall, Wicket, Window. No more than five (5) permanent signs are permitted by right per use.
(2) Temporary signs: A-frame, Banner, Beacon, Chalkboard, Changeable Copy, Inflatable/Tethered, Minor, Wall, Wicket, Window. No more than three (3) Temporary signs are permitted by right per use.
(3) No more than three (3) flags.
(d) Dimension Specifications Chart. All maximum sign area requirements include the sum total sign area of all signs per use.
Permitted as Accessory to Dwellings | Permitted as Accessory to Non-dwellings | Temporary/Minor Signs | Flags | |
Max. Sign Area | 9 sq. ft. | 9 sq. ft. | 16 sq. ft. | 16 sq. ft. each |
Max. Height | 3 ft. | 3 ft. | 4 ft. | 25 ft. |
(Passed 9-14-20.)
(a) Purpose. On-premises signage in mixed-use areas is essential for the operation of a variety of uses. In Professional Office Districts, particularly those near residential development and neighboring residential districts, signage that is less intrusive by being smaller, shorter in height, and more uniform in sign type improves the aesthetic qualities of these and neighboring districts and limits the visual distraction of signage.
(c) Sign Permitted as Accessory to Non-dwellings.
(1) Permitted permanent sign use as accessory to non-dwellings: A-frame, Awning/Canopy, Chalkboard, Changeable Copy, EMO Static, EMO Static with Transition, EMD Static Partially Animated, Freestanding, Geological, Inflatable/Tethered, Marquee, Minor, Monwnent, Neon, Pennant, Projecting, Wall, Wicket, Window. No more than seven (7) permanent signs are permitted by right per use.
(2) Permitted Temporary signs: A-frame, Banner, Beacon, Chalkboard, Changeable Copy, Inflatable/Tethered, Minor, Person-assisted, Wall, Wicket, Window. No more than five (5) Temporary signs are permitted by right per use.
(3) No more than three (3) flags.
(d) Dimension Specifications Chart. All maximum sign area requirements include the sum total sum area per use.
Freestanding Outdoor Signs | All Other Signs | Temporary/Minor Signs | Flags | |
Max. Sign Area | 20 sq. ft. | 2 sq. ft. per 1 sq. ft. lineal building frontage (Max is half size of building) | 60 sq. ft. | 16 sq. ft. each |
Max. Height | 10 ft. | 4 ft. | 5 ft. | 25 ft. |
(Passed 9-14-20.)
(a) Purpose. Signage in B-1 Districts are allowed to a greater extent, in size, number, and sign type, in order to maintain proportion to the size and scope of uses typically present within these areas. However, given the closer proximity of businesses in a B-1 Business District the more intensive use districts in smaller communities are still limited in signage to some degree in order to maintain the small-town character of smaller communities and to limit visual distraction by signage.
(c) Sign Permitted as Accessory to Non-dwellings.
(1) Permitted permanent sign use as accessory to non-dwellings: A-frame, Awning/Canopy, Chalkboard, Changeable Copy, EMO Static, EMO Static with Transition, EMO Static Partially Animated, Freestanding, Geological, Inflatable/Tethered, Marquee, Stacked, Side-By-Side, Minor, Monument, Neon, Off-premises, Pennant, Projecting, Wall, Wicket, Window. No more than ten (10) permanent signs are permitted by right per use.
(2) Temporary signs: A-frame, Banner, Beacon, Chalkboard, Changeable Copy, Inflatable/Tethered, Minor, Off-premises, Pennant, Person-assisted, Wall, Wicket, Window. No more than seven (7) Temporary signs are permitted by right per use.
(3) No more than three (3) flags.
(d) Dimension Specifications Chart. All maximum sign area requirements include the sum total sign area per use.
Freestanding Outdoor Signs | All Other Signs | Temporary/Minor Signs | Flags | |
Max. Sign Area | 90 sq. ft. | 50 sq. ft. | 24 sq. ft. | 16 sq. ft. each |
Max. Height | 20 ft. | 10 ft. | 6 ft. | 25 ft. |
(Passed 9-14-20.)
(a) Purpose. Signage in A-1, B-2, I-1 and I-2 Districts are allowed to a greater extent, in size, number, and sign type, in order to maintain proportion to the size and scope of uses typically present within these areas. However, even the most intensive use districts in smaller communities are still limited in signage to some degree in order to maintain the small-town character of smaller communities and to limit visual distraction by signage.
(c) Sign Permitted as Accessory to Non-dwellings.
(1) Permitted permanent sign use as accessory to non-dwellings: A-frame, Awning/Canopy, Chalkboard, Changeable Copy, EMD Static, EMD Static with Transition, EMD Static Partially Animated, Freestanding, Geological, Inflatable/Tethered, Marquee, Minor, Monument, Stacked, Side-By-Side, Neon, Off-premises, Pennant, Projecting, Wall, Wicket, Window. No more than ten (10) permanent signs are permitted by right per use.
(2) Temporary signs: A-frame, Banner, Beacon, Chalkboard, Changeable Copy, Inflatable/Tethered, Minor, Off-premises, Pennant, Person-assisted, Wall, Wicket, Window. No more than seven (7) Temporary signs are permitted by right per use.
(3) No more than three (3) flags.
(d) Dimension Specifications Chart. All maximum sign area requirements include the sum total sign area per use.
Freestanding Outdoor Signs | All Other Signs | Temporary/Minor Signs | Flags | |
Max. Sign Area | 90 sq. ft. | 50 sq. ft. | 24 sq. ft. | 16 sq. ft. each |
Max. Height | 20 ft. | 10 ft. | 6 ft. | 25 ft. |
(Passed 9-14-20.)
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