The following signs are permitted provided that all standards are met in addition to obtaining applicable permits from the Building Department:
(A) Agribusiness or recreational use signs.
(1) Shall be allowed 1 permanent sign identifying a permitted agribusiness, such as but not limited to: greenhouses, dog kennels, orchards, nurseries, golf courses, riding stables, or other specialized use or recreational use; and
(2) Shall not exceed an area of 50 square feet with a maximum height of 6 feet.
(B) Billboards/off-premise signs.
(1) Shall only be allowed in commercial or industrial zones;
(2) Shall be permitted only within 300 feet of I-69, M-21 (Corunna Road), or M-13 (Sheridan Avenue) rights-of-way;
(3) Shall be located a maximum of 1,000 feet from residentially zoned land.
(4) Shall be separated by at least 2,000 linear feet from any other billboard/off-premise sign;
(5) Shall not exceed an area of 1,200 square feet with a maximum height of 35 feet as measured from the elevation of I-69, or M-21, or M-13 directly opposite the lot on which the sign is located; and
(6) Shall also be regulated by the Highway Advertising Act, P.A. 106 of 1972, as amended.
(C) Changeable message/reader board signs (all).
(1) Shall be allowed only on ground signs in non-residential zones;
(2) Shall not exceed more than 40% of total sign area;
(3) Shall be allowed with a single background color and a single text color;
(4) Gasoline price signs may be permitted as part of a ground sign, but the price signs shall not to exceed 20 square feet in area;
(5) Theater marquee signs are not to exceed 100 square feet in area; and
(6) Electronic boards shall:
(a) Not be less than 1 minute in duration;
(b) Not be programmed with any animated, scrolling or flashing messages, symbols, logos, or other graphics. Only text and static logos are permissible;
(c) Have a minimum separation distance of 200 feet from any other reader board;
(d) Shall comply within the following thresholds for luminance:
Day | 60 – 1,000 cd/m
2 |
Night | 100 – 350/m2 |
The day/night transition shall occur within 1/2-half hour of the official sunrise/sunset | |
(e) Be maintained in good repair at all times. If any part of the message display is not functioning properly, the use of the reader board sign will be discontinued until sufficient repairs are made.
(D) Church signs.
(1) Shall be allowed in all districts for the purpose of identifying the church or church affiliated school, parsonage, or other facility (for signs including a message or bulletin-type face also see institutional bulletin board signs);
(2) Shall be allowed 1 sign per parcel, except on a corner parcel, where 2 signs shall be permitted facing respective streets. One additional sign shall be permitted for each school, parsonage, or other related facility;
(3) Shall not exceed 32 square feet with a maximum height of 6 feet (an area of 50 square feet allowed when used in conjunction with institutional bulletin board); and
(4) Shall comply with all setback requirements for the district in which they are located.
(E) Community identification signs.
(1) Shall be allowed 1 permanent sign per entrance to a residential development;
(2) Shall not exceed an area of 64 square feet with a maximum height of 6 feet;
(3) Shall be allowed 2 signs in a wing-wall arrangement facing opposite directions on opposite sides of an entrance drive may be permitted by the Planning Commission in cases where it is demonstrated that a single 2-sided sign could not be seen by approaching traffic from both directions on a single road or where the 2-sided sign will create a traffic hazard.
(F) Freestanding/pole/pylon signs.
(1) Shall be allowed 1 sign per business or shopping/business center advertising name of establishment or center;
(2) Shall not exceed a total display area of 200 square feet with a maximum height of 30 feet. Wall or canopy signs shall be permitted for individual businesses in a shopping/business center. Individual business shall not be permitted to establish free-standing signs; and
(3) Shall be set back a minimum of 10 feet from all road rights-of-way or easement lines.
(G) Institutional bulletin board signs for churches, schools, municipal buildings, museums, or libraries.
(1) Shall be permanent signs;
(2) Shall not exceed an area of 50 square feet with a maximum height of 6 feet; and
(3) Shall be setback a minimum of 10 feet from the road right-of-way.
(H) Menu board signs.
(1) Shall be allowed only in commercial zones where conforming use includes a drive-through facility;
(2) Shall be allowed 2 signs per location. The menu board may contain a communication system for placing orders for food or other merchandise;
(3) Shall not exceed an area of 24 square feet;
(4) Shall not be located between the front wall of the principal structure on the site and the street.
(I) Real estate development sales/construction signs.
(1) Shall be allowed in all zoning districts;
(2) Shall be allowed 1 sign per site, erected during the construction period and shall be removed 14 days after final occupancy permit is issued;
(3) Shall not exceed an area of 32 square fee with a maximum height of 6 feet;
(4) Shall be set back a minimum of 10 feet from any property line or right-of-way.
(J) Wall signs.
(1) Shall be flat signs attached and parallel to the face of the building wall;
(2) Shall be allowed 1 sign per street on each parcel;
(a) Buildings adjacent to I-69 shall be permitted 1 additional wall sign facing I-69;
(b) Shopping centers or multi-tenant buildings shall be permitted 1 wall sign per tenant. Tenants occupying a corner space shall be permitted to have 1 sign per side of building. Where several tenants share a common entrance only 1 wall sign shall be permitted, with the total sign area allocated among the tenants;
(4) Shall not exceed 90% of width of wall to which sign is attached with a maximum height of 10 feet;
(5) Shall extend no greater than 15 inches from the exterior face of the wall to which it is attached;
(6) Shall be a minimum of 8 feet above the ground level or sidewalk, whichever is greater; and
(7) Shall not extend or project above the highest elevation of the wall to which it is attached.
(K) Window signs.
(1) Shall be allowed 1 sign per window;
(2) Shall not cover more than 25% of the window;
(3) Shall count towards permitted wall sign area; and
(4) Shall not be illuminated by a direct light source.
(L) Political signs. Other than official government signs or warning signs required by law, no campaign sign shall be permitted without complying with the following requirements.
(1) Posting. A campaign sign posted on private property must have permission of the property owner before placing a sign in the yard; even if the person is a known supporter.
(2) Time frame. Campaign signs may be posted 30 days prior to the election date and must be removed within 10 days after the election.
(3) Location.
(a) Campaign signs cannot be posted in a place that blocks the public right-of-way. For example, signs cannot be set in a place which obstructs the view of cars and/or pedestrians.
(b) Campaign signs cannot be posted on any municipal or governmental properties.
(4) Size. Campaign sign dimensions may range between 2 feet by 2 feet [2' x 2'] and 4 feet by 8 feet [4' x 8'].
(5) Style. Style is subject to the sponsor but must not violate the provisions outlined in § 152.091, Prohibited Signs.
(6) Compliance. Campaign signs not meeting the aforementioned criteria must be removed. Any person, partnership, firm, or corporation, who violates, disobeys, omits, neglects, or refuses to comply or who resists the enforcement of any of the provisions of Title XV, Chapter 152, § 152.089(L), political sign ordinance, shall be deemed responsible for a civil municipal infraction subject to the terms and penalties set forth in §§ 150.65 through 150.72.
(Ord. 434, passed 7-10-2008; Am. Ord. 444, passed 9-12-2013)