The following requirements shall apply to all permanent and temporary signs located and erected within the Village regardless of type, style, location, design or other classification.
(a) Conformance to Codes. Any sign erected hereafter shall conform to the provisions of this chapter and the provisions of the Ohio Building Code and of any other ordinance or regulation within this jurisdiction.
(b) Location. No sign shall be located nor project into the right-of-way of any public or private road within the Village. Signs shall not prevent free ingress to or free egress from any door, window or fire escape. Said sign or signs shall be located in strict compliance with this chapter.
No sign shall be permitted in the Village of Elida that interferes with the visibility of pedestrian or vehicular traffic entering, leaving or operating on thoroughfares. Refer to illustration A for specific minimum sight triangle clearance requirements.
(c) Size. The surface area of a sign shall be computed as including the entire area within a regular geometric form or combination of regular geometric forms comprising all of the display area of the sign and including all of the elements of the matter displayed. Frames, bracing and structural members shall not be included in the computation of the surface area unless such support members are made a part of the message or face of the sign. Architectural features of a building and nonstructural or decorative trim and areas separated from the background surface upon which the sign copy is displayed by a distinct delineation, such as a reveal or border, are also not included in the surface area of a sign. Where a sign has two (2) or more display faces, the areas of all faces of the sign shall be included in determining the area of the sign, unless the two (2) faces are joined back to back, are parallel to each other and not more than twenty-four (24) inches apart. In the case of a sphere, the area shall be two (2) times the area of a circle. In the case of panel or cabinet signs, the sign face shall include the entire area of the sign panel, cabinet or face substrate upon which the sign copy is displayed or illustrated, but not open space between separate panels or cabinets. In the case of sign structures with routed areas of sign copy, the sign face shall include the entire area of the surface that is routed, except where interrupted by a reveal, border, or a contrasting surface or color. In the case of signs painted on a building, or individual letters or graphic elements affixed to a building or structure, the sign face shall be considered to be that of the smallest single rectangle which encompasses the letters or separate graphic elements comprising the sign copy, but not open space between separate groupings of sign copy on the same building or structure.
(d) Height. No sign shall be erected to a greater height than permitted by the specific provisions of this chapter. If no maximum height is otherwise set forth, no sign shall be erected at a height greater than twenty (20) feet. The height of a sign shall be the distance from the established grade line at the base of the sign to the highest point of the sign or sign structure.
(e) Design.
(1) Signs. Shall not use the words "STOP", "LOOK", "DANGER", or other similar words that may mislead or confuse traffic.
(2) Traffic safety-colors, etc. Display signs shall not closely resemble or approximate emergency vehicles, or the shape, form and/or color of official traffic signs, signals and devices.
(f) Lighting. If illuminated, signs shall be illuminated only by the following means:
(1) By a white steady, stationary light of reasonable intensity directed solely at the sign and shielded or otherwise prevented from beaming directly onto adjacent properties or street.
(2) By white interior light of reasonable intensity with logos and/or letters lit or silhouetted on a translucent background. No additional lighting shall be permitted.
(3) Non-flashing neon.
(4) Digital message board.
The level of illumination emitted or reflected from a sign shall not be of an 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. Light trespass from illuminated signage that extends ten (10) feet beyond the right-of-way or property line of the site shall not exceed one-half (0.5) foot candle in residential areas and one (1 .0) foot candle in all other districts.
(g) Structure. All signs shall be so constructed that they will withstand a wind pressure of at least thirty (30) pounds per square foot of surface and will be otherwise fastened, suspended or supported so that they will not be a menace to persons or property. Signs subject to the Ohio Building Code must also conform to applicable provisions therein.
(h) Maintenance. All signs shall be maintained in safe and sound structural condition at all times and shall be presentable. All signs shall be free of rust or corrosion, exposed wiring, chipped paint or faces, cracked, broken, or missing faces, or loose materials. The Zoning Inspector shall cause the removal of any off-premises advertising signs or structure found to be unsafe or structurally unsound within ten (10) days of issuing a notification. The Zoning Inspector shall cause the removal of any on-premise sign which is determined to be unsafe or structurally unsound within ten (10) days of issuance of notification.
(i) Visibility. Any interior window sign visible from the outside shall be considered an exterior sign and shall be subject to all provisions of the Village of Elida Zoning Ordinance.
(j) Multi-Tenant Properties. For all buildings or complexes designed and/or intended for multi-tenant usage, a total sign plan conforming to the requirements of this chapter must be submitted to the Zoning Inspector or designee before any sign permit for the complex or individual tenant will be issued. The sign plan shall address, at a minimum the following:
(1) Proposed sign locations;
(2) Materials;
(3) Type of illumination;
(4) Design of free-standing structures;
(5) Size;
(6) Quantity; and,
(7) Uniform standards for non-business signage, including directional and informational signs.
(Ord. 1045. Passed 10-14-14.)
(Ord. 1045. Passed 10-14-14.)