Sign face area, sign height and sign location, as regulated in OBBC and this Building Code, shall be measured according to the following standards.
(a) Sign Face Area. Standards to compute the amount of sign face area permitted by these regulations are herein established as follows:
(1) Measurement of Sign Face Area.
A. Panel Signs. Sign face area shall be measured to include the surface area of the smallest single rectangle enclosing the sign panel. For two (2) sided free-standing signs, which conform to the standards of OBBC and Chapter 3113 of this Building Code, only one (1) side shall be included in the measurement. For any free-standing sign, measurement of sign face area shall also include any portion of the structural supports which extends above the base of the sign panel. However, the entire structural support shall be included in the measurement if such supports are designed and used to convey part of the sign’s message.
B. Nonpanel Signs. Sign face area shall be measured to include the surface area of the smallest single rectangle enclosing the letters or characters of the sign.
(2) Measurement of Building Frontage. The frontage of a building shall be the width of the facade(s) of the building, excluding any roof overhang or non-bearing decorative walls, which faces the principal street or contains the main entrance. If a building is divided into units, the building unit frontage shall be the width of that unit as measured from the party wall centerlines, on the frontage of the building.
(3) Measurement of Temporary Window Sign Coverage. In determining the percentage of window area covered by temporary signs, each facade or side of the building shall be considered separately. Window area shall be measured to include all windows and the glass portions of doors but shall exclude all such area covered by permanent signs or other relatively permanent material.
(b) Sign Height. The height of freestanding signs shall be measured from the base of the sign at its point of attachment to the ground to its topmost element. However, if the support of a free-standing sign is attached to a wall or other man-made base, including a graded earth mound, the sign height shall be measured from the grade of the nearest street, drive or parking area, as determined by the Commissioner of Building and Housing.
(c) Sign Location. In determining the location of signs in relation to lot lines, including district and street right-of-way lines, distances shall be measured from the vertical projection of the lot line to the closest point on the sign. For corner lots, two (2) lot lines shall be considered street right-of-way lines.