(A) Dimensional requirements.
(1) Signs attached to buildings shall project no more than five feet from the wall on which they are attached, or in the case of wall signs that do not project, they shall not cover more than 15% of the wall upon which they are attached or extend above the maximum height of the wall upon which they are attached.
(2) Maximum aggregate sign area per lot.
(a) The maximum aggregate sign area allowed per lot is 100 square feet. This area shall include all permanent signage unless otherwise specified in this section.
(b) On commercial properties located outside of the Highway 14 commercial corridor, maximum aggregate signage may be increased to 150 square feet with approval of a conditional use permit or as part of an approved PUD.
(3) Freestanding sign height.
(a) As measured to the top of the sign, the following table specifies the maximum allowable freestanding sign height:
Table 152.10. Freestanding Height.
Use of Property | Sign height |
Commercial | 15 feet |
Industrial | 15 feet |
Non-residential use within Highway 14 corridor | 35 feet |
(b) On commercial properties within the Highway 14 corridor, the maximum height of any freestanding signs may be increased to 50 feet with approval of a conditional use permit or as part of an approved PUD.
(4) Signs located on property for lease shall have meet the following dimensions:
(a) Maximum sign area is 8 square feet.
(b) Maximum sign height:
(i) 10 feet for residential property
(ii) 16 feet for non-residential property
(B) On-premises permanent signs.
(1) The following permanent signs shall be allowed in the R-1, R-2, and R-3 zoning districts by permit:
(a) Ground or monument signs
(i) Two ground or monument signs shall be allowed at each principal entrance to a residential development.
a. Signs shall be set back a minimum of five feet from all property lines.
b. Each sign shall not exceed 20 square feet in area, exclusive of walls or supports.
c. Larger signs may be allowed as part of a PUD or with approval of a conditional use permit.
(ii) One ground or monument sign shall be allowed on property used for general agriculture, institutional, or membership organization uses.
a. No sign shall exceed ten square feet in area per side.
b. There shall be no more than one sign for each lot or principal structure.
(2) The following permanent signs shall allowed in the C and I zoning districts by permit:
(a) Wall signs
(i) Number
a. The maximum number of wall signs on any principal building shall be two. Each sign shall be placed on a separate building facade, with or without street frontage except as allowed in provision (iv) below.
b. For single-occupancy buildings, the maximum number of wall signs may be increased by two with the approval of conditional use permit provided following minimum standards are met:
i. No freestanding sign shall exceed six feet in height upon the lot.
ii. The wall signs shall be identical in style, wording, color and size.
c. For multiple-occupancy buildings, each occupant shall have no more than one sign, except that the end tenants may have a maximum of two signs each to be located on the front and side elevations of the tenant space.
(ii) Size
a. The cumulative total wall sign area, when added to the gross sign area of all freestanding signs on the site, shall not exceed the maximum aggregate allowable sign area per lot as specified in § 152.131(A).
b. When a building fronts on two or more streets, calculation of the maximum allowable sign area shall be based upon the front building facade and the smallest building facade facing a street frontage.
c. No building side may have signage in excess of the maximum allowable sign area of that building facade.
(iii) Wall signs shall be constructed with a maintenance-free/permanent finish material. Wall signs shall not be painted.
(iv) Temporary business signs made of cloth or clothlike material are allowed as a wall sign in lieu of a permanent wall sign subject to the following requirements:
a. Permits shall be limited in duration to no more than three months.
b. Temporary wall signs shall be securely attached to the building in such a manner that no portion of the sign will be allowed to blow around freely in the wind.
c. Where a sign criterion has been prescribed for multiple-occupancy buildings, the temporary wall sign shall be sized to fit within the specified sign band area.
d. There shall be no additional sign lighting allowed in addition to that which has been approved for the building.
(v) A sign that is above the highest roofline of a building but on a parapet wall that does not extend all the way around the building shall be architecturally integrated into the building design. This type of sign shall not be considered a roof sign.
(b) Freestanding signs.
(i) Number
a. One freestanding sign is allowed upon any single lot.
b. Additional freestanding signs may be allowed, provided they are in compliance with the following standards:
i. The signs are constructed as a monument sign and shall not exceed a height of six feet.
ii. Decorative shrubbery and flowers are incorporated as a part of the monument design and are maintained on a regular basis.
iii. The signs, if illuminated, may be either internally or externally lighted in accordance with these regulations.
iv. The gross area of the signs, when added together with all other freestanding and wall sign areas, does not exceed the maximum allowable sign area established for the lot.
v. Monument signs may incorporate additional berming on a slope of three-to-one where the berming is incorporated into an overall landscaping design plan. Landscaping shall be provided on the slopes of the berm in an interesting and varied appearance. Where a planter box is incorporated, the landscaping shall occur in and around the planter with a similar attractive design. In both cases, the height of the sign, including the planter box, shall not exceed six feet.
(ii) Size.
a. When added to the total wall sign area, the cumulative gross sign area of all freestanding signs shall not exceed the maximum aggregate sign area as specified in provision (A) above.
b. The gross area and total height of a freestanding sign shall be limited to the maximums prescribed in provision (A) above.
c. In the case of a multiple-occupancy building in the Commercial or Industrial zoning districts, a freestanding sign larger than provided for in provision (A) above may be approved by conditional use permit.
d. For monument signs, the copy and graphic area shall not exceed the maximum square feet permitted under provision (A) above.
e. The minimum pylon sign height clearance to the bottom of the sign, including
the cross-bracing, framing or sign enclosure, shall be eight feet.
(iii) Placement.
a. No signage shall be placed within the public right-of-way.
b. Freestanding signs
i. Freestanding signs exceeding six feet in height shall be located on the property served by the sign.
ii. Freestanding signs shall be located no closer than five feet from any driveway or parking space.
c. Monument signs shall be placed in compliance with § 152.081, Clear Vision Areas.
(c) Changeable copy signs.
(i) Changeable copy signs shall be allowed:
a. In the C district.
b. On any approved retail business property located in the I district.
c. On any approved institutional property in a residential district.
(ii) Any changeable copy sign shall meet the following standards:
a. All existing illegal temporary signage on the site shall be removed prior to approval of the sign permit.
b. Sign type
i. The sign shall be attached to or incorporated into a freestanding sign. The sign shall be designed to complement existing signage on the site.
ii. Changeable copy signs shall not be allowed as a wall sign, except as may be approved by a conditional use permit.
c. Size
i. The size of the sign shall not exceed 25% of the gross sign area when added to an existing pylon sign. This percentage limitation does not apply to totally new signage.
ii. The gross area of a freestanding sign and the maximum allowable aggregate sign area specified in provision (A) above may be increased by 24 square feet to accommodate a changeable copy sign.
d. The lower portion of the changeable copy sign shall meet the eight-foot minimum height clearance requirement. If the bottom of a changeable copy sign is proposed at a height below eight feet, the message board shall be enclosed with a vandal-proof encasement and shall be designed as a ground sign.
e. Where there is a grade difference of more than four feet between the proposed location of a freestanding sign and the higher grade of the street frontage towards which the sign is oriented, the sign height base elevation may be established at the center line of the street, provided that the property on which the sign is to be located either fronts on the street or is part of a PUD that fronts on the street.
(C) Off-premises permanent signs.
(1) Off-premises signs on public property.
(a) The Planning Commission and the City Council may authorize the installation of off-premises signs, either in the public right-of-way or on public property, for government buildings, public parks, hospitals, schools, lodging, and emergency care facilities.
(b) Such signs shall not exceed ten square feet in area.
(c) If located on public property, such shall comply with the setback requirements of provision (B) above.
(d) Where practical, such signs may be located on existing sign poles.
(2) Off-premises signs on private property.
(a) The Planning Commission and the City Council may authorize the installation of off-premises signs on private property for places of worship located on streets that are not classified in the Byron Comprehensive Plan as collectors or arterials.
(i) Such signs shall not exceed ten square feet in area.
(ii) Such signs shall comply with the setback requirements of provision (B) above.
(b) In a multiple-lot PUD that includes shared driveways and parking areas among the lots, a property may display signage pertaining to an adjacent property(s) within the PUD which have no public street frontage. Such signage shall:
(i) Count toward the total allowable sign area for the adjacent property(s);
(ii) Not exceed 10 square feet in area; and
(iii) Be designed to be compatible with the other signs in the PUD.
(c) Billboards.
(i) Billboards are permitted by conditional use permit in the Commercial and Industrial zoning districts.
(ii) Upon obtaining a conditional use permit for a billboard, the company or person obtaining the permit shall file with the city a performance bond in the minimum amount of $10,000 or a letter of credit or cash bond in like amount to guarantee compliance with the terms and conditions of the permit. The $10,000 shall cover one through five years.
(iii) Design standards.
a. The maximum sign size shall be 250 square feet. Billboards may incorporate cutouts protruding beyond the framed perimeter of the sign face, provided the total sign area does not exceed 250 square feet.
b. The maximum sign height to the uppermost portion of the billboard shall be 45 feet. Billboards shall adhere to principal structure setbacks for the zoning district in which they are located.
c. Billboards shall have a maximum of two faces.
d. Billboards shall be a single support, metal structure free of any supports or guy wires. The metal shall be either painted or treated in such a manner as to prevent deterioration.
e. All electrical wiring shall be underground and concealed.
(iv) Placement.
a. Billboards are permitted only where the adjacent streets are contiguous to the Highway 14 corridor.
b. The minimum distance between billboards shall be 1,000 feet.
c. No billboard shall be constructed within 150 feet of the point of tangency of the entrance or exit ramp on any intermediate arterial or interstate freeway or within 150 feet of the intersection of the nearest right-of-way lines of any other class of street. The point of tangency shall be measured from the point where the off-ramp meets the adjacent traffic lane. No billboard shall be constructed between ramps on an interchange.
d. All signs shall be located a minimum distance of 300 feet from any public right-of-way boundary.
(v) The lot on which a billboard is located shall be improved by landscaping and must be maintained in an acceptable manner.
(vi) Existing billboards are allowed as a principal use of property. Billboards shall be removed from a lot before any building or structure is erected on the lot.
(Ord. 2023-02, passed 5-9-23; Am. Ord. 2024-02, passed 5-14-24)