A. Wall Sign Area: Wall sign area shall include the entire face of the sign, frame, and artwork incidental to its decoration and includes any spacing between letters, figures, and designs but shall not include the bracing or structure. When the sign consists only of letters, designs, or figures, the total area of the sign shall be calculated by using no more than three (3) standard geometric shapes within which all of the fixed lettering, spacing between letters, and/or artwork is inscribed. Standard geometric shapes include the square, rectangle, triangle, circle, oval, and half-circle. Proper font tails of lowercase letters will not be included in the sign area calculation. Customized or extended tails are included.
1. Measurement by One Geometric Shape:
2. Measurement by Two (2) Geometric Shapes:
3. Measurement by Three (3) Geometric Shapes:
B. Freestanding Sign Area:
1. Freestanding Sign Area Elements: Freestanding sign area shall include the frame, if any, but shall not include:
a. A pole or other structural support unless the pole or structural support is internally illuminated or otherwise so designed to constitute a display device, or a part of a display device.
b. Architectural features that are either part of the building or part of a freestanding structure, and not an integral part of the sign, and which may consist of landscaping, building or structural forms complementing the site in general.
2. Calculation of Freestanding Sign Area:
C. Additional Sign Measurement Provisions:
1. Clearance for projecting signs shall be measured by the smallest vertical distance between existing grade and the lowest point of the sign, including any framework or other embellishments.
2. All sides of a sign that are visible from any one vantage point shall be measured in determining the area of a sign, except that only one side of a sign shall be measured if the two (2) sides are back-to-back or separated by an angle of forty-five (45) degrees or less. If the two (2) sides are not of equal size, the larger side shall be measured. A back-to-back sign shall have parallel faces, separated by not more than four (4) feet.
3. A line shall be drawn horizontally across the lowest point of copy or cabinet. The area below this is considered the base and will not be included as sign area. Above the base, lines shall be drawn across the top and bottom of each area of individual copy, continuous message, or cabinets. These lines shall extend to the edge of the sign on monoliths and to the poles or pole covers on other types of signs. The area within these lines shall be included in the sign area calculation. If blank areas or air spaces between the copy and/or cabinet are less than six (6) inches then these areas shall also be included in the sign area calculation. Irregular spaces shall be measured at the median point. Any area above the highest point of copy or cabinet shall be considered a topper since it is not required for the support of any copy. The sign area calculation shall not include any portion of a topper so long as the topper portion does not exceed twenty-five (25) percent of the total allowable sign area.
4. The height of any sign shall be determined by the distance between the topmost portion of the sign structure and the ground elevation at the base of the sign. The grade may not be artificially changed to affect the sign height measurement. Signs on a slope are measured at the midpoint of the sign.
(Ord. 23-03)