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SIGNS
The purpose of this subchapter is to protect the general health, safety, and welfare of the community by providing an instrument for protecting the physical appearance of the community and for encouraging high quality, effective outdoor graphics for the purposes of navigation, information and identification. Specifically, it is the intent of this subchapter to provide businesses in the municipality with equitable sign standards in accord with fair competition and aesthetic standards acceptable to the community, to provide the public with a safe and effective means of locating businesses, services and points of interest within the municipality, and to provide for a safe vehicular and pedestrian traffic environment. This subchapter is based on the premise that signs are as much subject to control as noise, odors, debris and other similar characteristics of land use, that if not regulated, can become a nuisance to adjacent properties or the community in general, or depreciate the value of other properties within the community. It is also the intent of this subchapter, as with the entire Dublin Planning and Zoning Code, to guarantee equal treatment under the laws through accurate record keeping and consistent enforcement. Finally, it is the intent of this subchapter to comply with all requirements of the U.S. and Ohio constitutional, statutory, and case law decisions requiring that sign regulations remain content neutral.
('80 Code, § 1189.01) (Ord. 66-94, passed 3-20-95; Am. Ord. 12-21, passed 4-12-21)
All signs located on land within or hereafter annexed to the municipality shall comply with this subchapter unless specifically exempt by § 153.155. No person shall locate or retain any sign, or cause a sign to be located, relocated, altered, modified, or retained unless all provisions of this subchapter have been met. To ensure compliance with these regulations, a sign permit shall be secured from the Planning Director or designee for each sign unless such sign is specifically exempted in this subchapter. Any sign requiring a structural steel foundation and/or electricity must obtain required approvals from the Building Division, as well as a sign permit. An application fee will be required at the time of application. No permit shall be issued until a completed application and fees have been submitted. Prior to issuance of a permit, signs within the Architectural Review District must be approved by the Architectural Review Board. Such signs may be subject to different or more stringent criteria as adopted for the Architectural Review District.
('80 Code, § 1189.03) (Ord. 66-94, passed 3-20-95; Am. Ord. 12-21, passed 4-12-21)
When applying for a sign permit, the following materials must be submitted:
(A) A completed application and fee for each requested sign.
(B) Scale elevation drawing(s) of proposed sign(s).
(C) Foundation and anchoring drawing(s) of proposed sign(s).
(D) A dimensioned site plan showing the location of proposed sign(s) and adjacent buildings or other structures.
(E) For wall signs, a building elevation drawn to scale showing the proposed wall sign and the dimension from established grade to the top of the sign.
(F) For ground signs, a sign base landscaping plan.
('80 Code, § 1189.04) (Ord. 66-94, passed 3-20-95; Am. Ord. 12-21, passed 4-12-21) Penalty, see § 153.999
The following signs or similar devices are prohibited: Off-premise signs, trailblazer signs, externally visible neon and neon look-alike signs, trailer signs, search lights, laser lights, pennants, streamers, spinners, bench signs, portable signs (except for sandwich board signs), roof signs, billboards, changeable copy (except for gasoline station price signs and drive-thru menu boards under § 153.159, flashing signs, projected images and animated signs, signs with moving or moveable parts, and any look-alike version of any of these prohibited sign types.
('80 Code, § 1189.05) (Ord. 66-94, passed 3-20-95; Am. Ord. 103-95, passed 12-18-95; Am. Ord. 12-21, passed 4-12-21) Penalty, see § 153.999
Signs may not be installed in any of the following locations:
(A) In any public right-of-way, unless specifically authorized by this subchapter and the City Engineer;
(B) In any utility easement or no-build zone;
(C) In any public park or other public property;
(D) On any traffic control signs, construction signs, fences, utility poles, street signs, trees or other natural objects;
(E) In any location where the view of approaching and intersecting traffic would be obstructed. No sign shall be located so as to interfere with the safe movement of vehicles or pedestrians entering, leaving, or crossing a public right-of-way;
(G) On any property without the prior authorization granted by the property owner on which any sign is to be placed.
('80 Code, § 1189.06) (Ord. 66-94, passed 3-20-95; Am. Ord. 103-95, passed 12-18-95; Am. Ord. 12-21, passed 4-12-21) Penalty, see § 153.999
The following permanent signs do not require a permit, but are subject to the restrictions listed in §§ 153.154, 153.156 and 153.162 of this subchapter unless expressly exempted. Nothing in this section shall be construed to allow any sign which is prohibited in § 153.153, unless any such sign is expressly permitted.
(A) Flags. Poles for such flags must be no more than 35 feet in height, or lower if in a lower structure height district. A foundation permit must be received from the Building Department for all flagpoles. The area of such flags shall not exceed five feet by nine feet six inches.
(B) Governmental Signs. Such signs shall be consolidated with other governmental signs whenever possible. Signs may only include three colors, including black and white, unless otherwise required by government regulation. If the sign is located in right-of-way it must be approved by City Engineer.
(C) Street Address Signs. Signs bearing only the street address of the properties on which they are located for the purpose of aiding first responders.
(1) For residences, such numbers must consist of Arabic numerals no less than three inches nor more than eight inches in height.
(2) For non-residential uses, maximum number height varies according to front setback.
(a) If the setback is less than 100 feet, the maximum number height is 12 inches.
(b) For setbacks between 100 and 200 feet, the maximum height is 18 inches.
(c) For setbacks over 200 feet, the maximum height is 24 inches.
(3) All street address signs shall contrast to the color of the surface on which they are mounted and shall be clearly identifiable from the street.
(4) Every building is required to post its street address.
(D) Private Traffic and on site Directional Signs. Traffic and directional signs indicating points of entry or exit for a facility or off-street parking area, provided such signs are limited a maximum of four square feet in area and three feet in height and do not interfere with safe vehicular or pedestrian traffic circulation or obstruct the view of drivers exiting onto highways or thoroughfares. Such signs may contain information such as "in," "enter," "entrance," "out," "exit," "do not enter" or similar language as approved by the Planning Director or designee. Arrows indicating desired traffic movement may also be used for directional signage. Such signs may contain no advertising, including logos and must be of a rectangular shape. Such signs must be on the property to which they refer and may not be placed within a public right-of-way.
(E) Residential Information Signs. Information signs are allowed only when they display information necessary for the safety and convenience of residents and visitors, such as “beware of dog” and “no trespassing.” Such signs may not exceed two square feet in area and may contain no advertising.
(F) Security System Signs. Signs displaying information about the security system protecting buildings or property, provided that such signs do not exceed one square foot in area.
(G) Barber Poles. According to state law, all barber shops must display either a barber pole or a window sign reading “Barber.” If a pole is displayed, it may not exceed 28 inches in height.
(H) ATMs. Signage for all ATMs (Automated Teller Machines) shall be limited to one square foot of sign area and include no more than three colors. ATM signage must have an opaque background. If the ATM contains a logo, it may be internally illuminated. (All external illumination shall comply with the Dublin Lighting Guidelines.) In addition, monochromatic, non-illuminated logos of accepted credit systems, (Visa, Mastercard, American Express, etc.), are limited to less than one square foot in area and must be oriented to the user of the device only.
('80 Code, § 1189.08) (Ord. 66-94, passed 3-20-95; Am. Ord. 103-95, passed 12-18-95; Am. Ord. 66-04, passed 9-20-04; Am. Ord. 12-21, passed 4-12-21) Penalty, see § 153.999
(B) Size. Sign area shall include the face of the entire display area not including the bracing, framing and structural supports of the sign, unless such support members are made part of the message or face of the sign. Where a sign has two or more display faces, the area of all faces of the sign shall be included in determining the area of the sign, unless the two faces are joined back to back, are parallel to each other and not more than 24 inches apart. The area of a sign consisting of individual letters or symbols, either freestanding or attached to or painted on a surface, building, wall, or window, shall be considered to be that of the smallest single rectangle which encompasses all the letters and symbols.
(C) Design. Signs shall be designed with the maximum of creativity and the highest quality of materials and fabrication. It is strongly recommended that all signs be designed by a professional sign designer and be installed by a qualified sign builder or contractor. Signs shall be designed to fully integrate with the building architecture and overall site design.
(1) Signs shall not resemble the color, shape, design or other characteristics of any common traffic control device, directional or warning signs directed or maintained by the state, city, or any railroad, public utility, or similar agency concerned with the protection of the public health and safety.
(2) Permanent signs shall display as the primary image only the name of the business in text. Logos and any additional text, graphic, or image displayed on the sign face will be considered a secondary image shall not exceed 20% of the maximum permitted area of the sign face.
(3) All permanent and temporary ground signs must be of a rectangular shape. This requirement does not apply when individual channel letters are used.
(4) Colors.
(a) Except as provided in division (b) below, signs shall be limited to three colors. Black and white are considered colors. The background color is considered one of the three permissible colors, unless channel letters are used, in which case the background is not to be considered one of the three permissible colors.
(b) A corporate trademark or symbol used as a logo or secondary image shall not be limited in the number of colors used in a sign, but shall be considered as one of three permissible colors. The primary image, or secondary images, and/or background shall use one of the colors used in the corporate trademark or symbol logo.
(5) Any multi-faced sign shall consistently display the same name, message and graphics on all faces.
(6) Reverse sides of signs shall be unobtrusive and blend with the surroundings.
(7) Reverse sides of all permanent signs and structural supports must be completely enclosed.
(D) Landscaping. The base of all permanent ground signs shall be effectively landscaped with living plant material and maintained in good condition at all times. The minimum landscaped area shall extend at least three feet beyond all faces or supporting structures in all directions. Exposed foundations must be constructed with a finished material such as brick, stone, or wood, or be screened with evergreens to the top of the anchor bolts. The landscaped area shall include all points where sign structural supports attach to the ground.
(E) Lighting.
(1) Signs shall be illuminated only by the following means:
(a) By a white, steady, stationary light of reasonable intensity, directed solely at the sign and/or otherwise prevented from beaming directly onto adjacent properties or rights-of-way. Light fixtures shall be screened from view by site grading or evergreen shrubs. No exposed light sources are permitted.
(b) By white interior light of reasonable intensity with primary and secondary images lit or silhouetted on an opaque background. The background must be opaque. No additional background lighting or illuminated borders or outlines shall be permitted.
(2) The level of illumination emitted or reflected from a sign shall not be of intensity sufficient to constitute a demonstrable hazard to vehicular traffic on any right-of-way or parking lot from which the sign may be viewed.
(F) Construction and Maintenance.
(1) All permanent signs must be constructed to meet all current building code regulations of the municipality.
(2) All signs and related surroundings shall be properly maintained and shall not show signs of rust or corrosion, exposed wiring, chipped paint or faces, cracked, broken, or missing faces, or loose materials.
(3) The structural integrity of all sign foundations must be maintained.
(4) All signs shall be constructed of quality materials commensurate with the duration of sign and that are colorfast.
(5) Approved signs shall be inspected on a regular basis to ensure compliance with the regulations.
('80 Code, § 1189.09) (Ord. 66-94, passed 3-20-95; Am. Ord. 103-95, passed 12-18-95; Am. Ord. 19-12, passed 4-23-12; Am. Ord. 12-21, passed 4-12-21) Penalty, see § 153.999
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