(a) General Requirements for All Signs and Districts. The regulations contained in this section shall apply to all signs and all use districts.
(1) In no event shall an illuminated sign or lighting device be placed or directed so as to permit the beams and illumination therefrom to be directed or beamed upon a public thoroughfare, highway, sidewalk, or adjacent premises so as to cause glare or reflection that may constitute a traffic hazard or nuisance;
(2) All wiring, fittings, and materials used in the construction, connection and operation of electrically illuminated signs shall be in accordance with the provisions of the local electric code in effect, if any;
(3) No projecting sign shall be erected or maintained from the front or face of a building a distance of more than two feet, including those projecting from the face of any theater, hotel, or motel marquee;
(4) No sign shall be placed on the roof of any building, except those signs whose supporting structure is screened so the sign appears to be a continuation of the face of the building;
(5) No portable or temporary sign shall be placed on the front or face of a building or on any premises, except as provided in subsection (f) hereof;
(6) No sign erected or maintained in the window of a building, visible from any public or private street or highway, shall occupy more than twenty percent (20%) of the window surface;
(7) No sign of any classification shall be installed, erected, or attached in any form, shape, or manner to a fire escape or any door or window giving access to any fire escape;
(8) Should any sign be or become unsafe or be in danger of falling, the owner thereof or the person maintaining the same, shall upon receipt of written notice from the Zoning Inspector proceed at once to put such sign in a safe and secure condition or remove the sign;
(9) No sign shall be placed in any public right-of-way except publicly-owned signs, such as traffic control signs and directional signs. Signs directing and guiding traffic and parking on private property but bearing no advertising matter shall be permitted on any property;
(b) Measurement of Sign Area. The surface of a sign shall be computed as including the entire area within a regular, geometric form or combinations of regular, geometric forms comprising all of the display area of the sign and including all of the elements of the matter displayed. Frames and structural members not being advertising matter shall not be included in computation of surface area.
(c) Signs Permitted in All Districts Not Requiring a Permit.
(1) Signs advertising the sale, lease, or rental of the premises upon which the sign is located, shall not exceed twelve square feet in area, except in all residential districts where the area of the sign shall not be more than six square feet;
(2) Professional name plates not to exceed four square feet in area;
(3) Signs denoting the name and address of the occupants of the premises, not to exceed two square feet in area.
(d) Signs Permitted in Any District Requiring a Permit.
(1) Signs or bulletin boards customarily incidental to places of worship, libraries, museums, social clubs, or societies, which signs or bulletin boards shall not exceed fifteen square feet in area and which shall be located on the premises of such institution;
(2) Any sign advertising a commercial enterprise, including real estate developers or subdividers, in a district zoned residential shall not exceed twelve square feet in area and shall advertise only the names of the owners, trade names, products sold and/or the business or activity conducted on the premises where such sign is located.
(e) Signs Permitted in Commercial and Manufacturing Districts Requiring a Permit. The regulations set forth in this section shall apply to signs in all commercial and manufacturing districts and such signs shall require a permit.
(1) In a commercial or manufacturing district, each business shall be permitted one flat or wall on-premises sign. Projection of wall signs shall not exceed two feet measured from the face of the main building. The area of all permanent on-premises signs for any single business enterprise may have an area equivalent to one and one-half square feet of sign area for each lineal foot of building width, or part of a building, occupied by such enterprise but shall not exceed a maximum area of 100 square feet.
(2) In a commercial or manufacturing district, two off-premises signs with a total area not exceeding 600 square feet may be permitted at a single location. No single off-premises signs shall exceed 600 square feet nor shall off-premises signs visible to approaching traffic have a minimum spacing of less than 200 feet. Off-premises signs shall conform to all applicable yard and height regulations for the appropriate zoning district. Off-premises wall signs shall have all structural and supporting members concealed from view.
(f) Temporary Signs. Temporary signs not exceeding fifty square feet in area, announcing special public or institutional events, the erection of a building, the architect, the builders, or contractors may be erected for a period of sixty days plus the construction period. Such temporary signs shall conform to the general requirements listed in subsection (a), the setback requirements in subsections (j) to (m) and, in addition, such other standards deemed necessary to accomplish the intent of this section. These signs shall require an improvement location permit.
(g) Free Standing Signs. Free-standing on-premises signs not over thirty feet in height, having a maximum total sign area of 100 sq. ft. per display area and located not closer than ten feet to any street right-of-way line and not closer than thirty feet to any adjoining lot line may be erected to serve a group of business establishments. There shall be only one free-standing sign for each building, regardless of the number of businesses conducted in said building. These signs shall require an improvement location permit.
(h) Wall Signs Pertaining to Non-Conforming Uses. On-premises wall signs pertaining to a non-conforming use shall be permitted on the same premises of such use, provided the area of such sign does not exceed twelve square feet. These signs shall require an improvement location permit.
(i) Political Signs. No political sign shall be posted in any place or in any manner that is destructive to public property upon posting or removal. No political sign shall be posted in a public right-of-way nor shall any such sign be posted on a utility pole. No political sign shall be posted more than sixty days before an election. All candidates for public office, their campaign committees, or other persons responsible for the posting on public property of campaign material shall remove such material within two weeks following election day. These signs shall require an improvement location permit.
(j) Sign Setback Requirements. Except as modified in subsections (k) to (n), on- premises signs where permitted, shall be set back from the established right-of-way line of any thoroughfare at least ten feet. No off-premises sign shall be erected in front of the required setback line for the appropriate zoning district.
(k) Increased Setback. For every square foot by which any on-premises sign exceeds fifty square feet, the setback shall be increased by one-half foot but need not exceed 100 feet.
(l) Setbacks for Off-Premises Signs. If a setback line is not established for the appropriate zoning district, off-premises signs shall be set back a minimum of twenty feet from the right-of-way line.
(m) Setbacks for Public and Quasipublic Signs. Real estate signs and bulletin boards for a church, school or any other public, religious or educational institution may be erected not less than ten feet from the established right-of-way line of any street or highway provided such sign or bulletin board does not obstruct traffic visibility at street or highway intersections.
(n) Special Yard Provisions. On-premises signs where permitted shall be erected or placed in conformity with the side and rear yard requirements of the district in which located, except that in any residential district, on-premises signs shall not be erected or placed within twelve feet of a side or rear lot line. If the requirement for a single side yard in the appropriate zoning district is more than twelve feet, the latter shall apply.
(o) Limitation. Regulation of off-premises signs along interstate and primary highways shall conform to the requirements of Ohio R. C. Chapter 5516 and the regulations adopted pursuant thereto.
(p) Violations. In case any sign shall be installed, erected, constructed, or maintained in violation of any of the terms of this Zoning Ordinance, the Zoning Inspector shall notify in writing the owner or lessee thereof to alter such sign so as to comply with this Zoning Ordinance. Failure to comply with any of the provisions of this section shall be deemed a violation and shall be punishable under Section 1141.99. Political signs posted in violation of subsection (i) hereof are subject to removal by the Zoning Inspector five days after written notice of violation has been given. (Ord. 312. Passed 9-26-77.)