Detached signs are permitted in business zoning districts as follows:
(a) Definitions. In this section:
(1) EFFECTIVE-AREA-TO-HEIGHT RATIO means the ratio of the effective area of a sign to its height. For example, a sign with an effective area of 50 square feet and a height of 25 feet has an effective-area-to-height ratio of 2:1.
(2) MONUMENT SIGN means a detached sign applied directly onto a ground-level support structure (instead of a pole support) with no separation between the sign and the ground, or mounted on a fence.
(3) MULTI-TENANT SIGN means a detached sign that advertises two or more businesses on a single premise.
(4) NON-MONUMENT SIGN means a detached sign that is not a monument sign.
(5) SETBACK-TO-HEIGHT SLOPE is a plane projected upward and inward from a point of beginning located at the property line 7.5 feet above a level plane going through the nearest point of the vehicular traffic surface of the adjacent improved public right-of-way other than an alley and extending infinitely, as illustrated below. A .5:1 setback-to-height slope moves one-half foot away from the point of beginning for every one foot the slope rises, resulting in a 63.4349 degree slope. A 1:1 setback-to-height slope moves one foot away from the point of beginning for every one foot the slope rises, resulting in a 45 degree slope. A 2:1 setback-to-height slope moves two feet away from the point of beginning for every one foot the slope rises, resulting in a 26.5651 degree slope.
(6) SINGLE-TENANT SIGN means a detached sign that advertises only one business.
(7) UNITY-AGREEMENT SIGN means a detached sign erected under a detached sign unity agreement pursuant to Section 51A-7.213.
(b) General regulations applicable to all detached signs.
(1) Except as provided in Section 51A-7.306(a), detached signs must be premise signs.
(2) No portion of a detached sign may be located above a residential proximity slope. See Section 51A-4.412.
(3) Non-monument signs are not allowed within 250 feet of either private property in a non-business zoning district or a public park of more than one acre. The board of adjustment may grant a special exception to this provision when, in the opinion of the board, the special exception will not adversely affect neighboring property.
(4) Only one detached sign is allowed per street frontage other than expressways. One expressway sign is allowed for every 450 feet of frontage or fraction thereof on an expressway.
(5) Detached signs on the same premise must be at least 200 feet apart.
(6) All of the premises operating under a detached sign unity agreement may together have only one unity-agreement sign per street frontage, but each premise operating under that detached sign unity agreement may have one single-tenant monument sign.
(7) Detached signs may not be placed in a visibility triangle. See Section 51A-4.602(d).
(8) The support structure for monument signs must be constructed of concrete, metal, or masonry; wood is prohibited. The board of adjustment may grant a special exception to this provision when, in the opinion of the board, an alternative material will be as durable as concrete, metal, or masonry. This provision does not control the material used for the sign itself.
(9) Measurements of distance under this section are taken radially unless otherwise specified. “Radial” measurement is measurement taken along the shortest distance between a sign or proposed sign location and the nearest point of the object.
(10) The effective area of a sign attached to a fence is the effective area of the sign only, not the area of the entire fence.
(c) Regulations applicable to single-tenant signs.
(1) Setback.
(A) Monument signs. There is no minimum setback for a single-tenant monument sign.
(B) Non-monument signs. The minimum setback for a single-tenant non-monument sign is 15 feet.
(2) Height. The height of a single-tenant sign may not exceed a 2:1 setback-to-height slope or 35 feet, whichever is less.
(3) Effective area. The effective area of a single-tenant sign may not exceed an 8:1 effective-area-to-height ratio or 200 square feet, whichever is less.
(d) Regulations applicable to multi-tenant signs.
(1) Setback.
(A) Monument signs. The minimum setback for a multi-tenant monument sign is five feet.
(B) Non-monument signs. The minimum setback for a multi-tenant non-monument sign is 15 feet.
(2) Height. The height of a multi-tenant sign may not exceed a 1:1 setback-to-height slope or 35 feet, whichever is less.
(3) Effective area.
(A) Monument signs. The effective area of a multi-tenant monument sign may not exceed a 10:1 effective-area-to-height ratio or 200 square feet, whichever is less.
(B) Non-monument signs. The effective area of a multi-tenant non-monument sign may not exceed a 5:1 effective-area-to-height ratio or 200 square feet, whichever is less.
(4) Address required. A multi-tenant sign must contain the address of the premise.
(e) Regulations applicable to unity-agreement signs.
(1) Applicability. This subsection controls over Subsections (c) and (d) of this section.
(2) Setback.
(A) Monument signs. The minimum setback for a unity-agreement monument sign is five feet.
(B) Non-monument signs. The minimum setback for a unity-agreement non-monument sign is 15 feet.
(3) Height. The height of a unity-agreement sign may not exceed a .5:1 setback-to-height slope or 35 feet, whichever is less.
(4) Effective area. The effective area of a unity-agreement sign may not exceed a 10:1 effective-area-to-height ratio or 200 square feet, whichever is less.
(f) Regulations applicable to expressway signs.
(1) Applicability. This subsection controls over Subsections (c), (d), and (e) of this section.
(2) Setback, height, and effective area generally.
(A) An expressway sign with a minimum setback of five feet may have a maximum height of 20 feet and maximum effective area of 50 square feet.
(B) An expressway sign with a minimum setback of 15 feet may have a maximum height of 30 feet and a maximum effective area of 150 square feet.
(C) An expressway sign with a minimum setback of 25 feet may have a maximum height of 40 feet and a maximum effective area of 400 square feet.
(D) The height of an expressway sign may be extended to 50 feet, or to 30 feet above the nearest point on the nearest travel surface of the nearest expressway or new expressway, whichever is higher, if the total height of the sign does not exceed 60 feet above the ground at the base of the sign.
(3) Setback, height, and effective area of unity-agreement expressway signs.
(A) A unity-agreement expressway sign with a minimum setback of five feet may have a maximum height of 30 feet and a maximum effective area of 150 square feet.
(B) A unity-agreement expressway sign with a minimum setback of 15 feet may have a maximum height of 40 feet and a maximum effective area of 250 square feet.
(C) A unity-agreement expressway sign with a minimum setback of 25 feet may have a maximum height of 50 feet and a maximum effective area of 450 square feet.
(D) The height of a unity-agreement expressway sign may be extended to 50 feet, or to 30 feet above the nearest point on the nearest travel surface of the nearest expressway or new expressway, whichever is higher, if the total height of the sign does not exceed 60 feet above the ground at the base of the sign. (Ord. Nos. 19455; 20927; 21186; 21455; 21797; 21798; 24232; 25786; 25814; 26082; 29024)