The following signs shall be permitted in Business Districts C-1 through C-4, except automotive dealers:
(A) Single business/single storefront.
(1) Exempted signs;
(2) Permanent identification signs:
(a) Wall signs.
1. Location: no wall sign shall project over, into, or otherwise encroach upon a public right-of-way. No wall sign shall cover, wholly or partially, any wall opening nor project beyond the ends or top of the wall to which it is affixed.
2. Area: the gross area of a sign on a side wall of a principal building shall not exceed 20% of the area of the side wall of the principal building and shall not exceed 60 square feet in total area. For the purpose of this calculation of the side wall, the height dimension shall not exceed 15 feet, and there shall be excluded from the calculation the dimensions of all windows and doors.
3. Number: one wall sign is permitted per business/storefront.
(b) Freestanding signs.
1. Location: no freestanding sign shall project into, over or otherwise encroach upon a public right-of-way. No freestanding sign shall be erected such that its hemisphere, described by a radius equal to the vertical height of the freestanding sign with the vertical center line of the freestanding sign located at the center of the hemisphere, intersects with any utility lines, electrical conductors or service drops. Freestanding signs shall be located not less than ten feet from a lot line.
2. Area: the area of the single business/single storefront freestanding sign, in square feet per sign face, shall not exceed 60 square feet.
3. Number: one freestanding sign is permitted.
4. Height: shall not exceed six feet measured from the ground to the top of the sign in lineal feet.
5. Materials: shall include a base constructed of brick, stone, or masonry materials and be matched in type and color to these materials used on the buildings on the premises if those materials are present.
6. Landscaping: a five-foot landscaped area consisting of trees, shrubs, and ground covers shall be provided around the base of the sign.
(c) Shingle signs; location. Shingle signs may be placed perpendicular or parallel to the street. The sign shall be suspended from a roof overhang, covered walkway, covered porch, or open lattice walkway. No part of the suspended sign shall extend beyond the edge of the overhang. Signs placed parallel to the street may be attached to the fascia; provided, no part of the sign extends above or below the fascia. A minimum clearance of eight feet shall be maintained between the bottom of the fascia and the nearest grade or sidewalk.
(d) Pole-mounted shingle signs. Pole-mounted shingle signs must be located on private property:
1. Area: shall not exceed eight square feet per sign face. Pole-mounted shingle signs shall not exceed two square feet per sign face;
2. Number: one sign perpendicular to or one sign parallel to each business front and shall be adjacent to the business it identifies; and
3. Items of information: the sign must display only the name of the individual business or building complex.
(e) Permanent window signs.
1. Area: may not exceed 50% of the total frontage window area. The area shall be determined by drawing an imaginary square or rectangular envelope so as to completely enclose each entire symbol, word, phrase, title, number, or name appearing on the sign and by computing the sum of all the envelopes; and
2. Items of information: items of information shall be affixed to the window via paint or any other means acceptable to the village.
(3) Promotional and advertising signs:
(a) Area of changeable copy/window signs: the combined area of permanent window signs and changeable copy signs shall not exceed 75% of the total frontage window area;
(b) Temporary portable signs, flags, and banners:
1. Permit process.
a. A permit must be obtained for all temporary portable signs, flags, banners, and inflatable signs/objects; portable signs with changeable copy are prohibited.
b. Permits shall be limited in duration according to the following criteria:
i. Sign permits for special events’ signs, including but not limited to grand opening, new management, going-out-of-business sales, and events held by tax-exempt organizations shall not exceed a total duration in any calendar year of:
Grand Opening | 180 days (one per year) |
Going Out Of Business | 90 days (one per year) |
Under New Management | 180 days (one per year) |
Special Event | 45 days (four per year) |
Event to be held by tax-exempt organizations | 60 days unlimited per year, but can only display one at a time |
ii. Permits for inflatable signs or objects shall be limited in duration for seven days and shall only be permitted in conjunction with a grand opening event; and
iii. All temporary signs must be removed within 24 hours after the expiration of the permit.
c. The permit fee is $65. Village can waive the permit fee for tax-exempt organizations at the discretion of the Board.
2. Area. For signs affixed to buildings, a maximum one-half square foot lineal feet of building face to which the sign is affixed. For freestanding signs a maximum of 32 square feet.
3. Number. One temporary/portable sign and one flag or banner per permit.
4. Height. Not to exceed ten feet.
(c) Real estate signs:
1. Type and number. One freestanding or one wall sign shall be permitted per business;
2. Location. The sign shall be located upon private property. Location is dependent upon sign type and zoning district. Freestanding or wall sign regulations shall apply per appropriate zoning district;
3. Area. Twelve square feet of area per sign face; and
4. Height. Eight feet, measured from the ground to the top of the sign.
(B) Multiple tenant/multiple storefront commercial uses. For purposes of this subchapter, MULTIPLE TENANT/MULTIPLE STOREFRONT COMMERCIAL USES shall mean a commercial development in which there exists a number of separate commercial activities, in which there are appurtenant shared facilities (such as parking or pedestrian areas) and which are designed to provide a single area in which the public can obtain varied products and/or services. Distinguishing characteristics of a MULTIPLE TENANT/MULTIPLE STOREFRONT COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT may, but need not, include common ownership of the real property upon which the center is located, common-wall construction and multiple-occupant commercial use of a single structure.
(1) Exempted signs.
(2) Permanent identification signs.
(a) Wall signs.
1. Location. No wall sign shall project over, into, or otherwise encroach upon a public right-of-way. No wall sign shall cover, wholly or partially, any wall opening nor project beyond the ends or top of the wall to which it is affixed;
2. Area.
a. The allowable wall sign area for individual stores with a floor area greater than 7,500 square feet (anchor stores) is calculated using the formula: 1.50 x lineal feet of store frontage; and
b. The allowable wall sign area, in square feet, for individual stores with a floor area less than 7,500 square feet is calculated using the formula: 1.25 x lineal feet of store frontage.
3. Number. One wall sign is permitted for each road frontage per business or store storefront;
4. Design. All wall signs in a multiple tenant/multiple storefront development shall be of uniformity of design, common vertical height and common architecture, however, no sign shall be designed contrary to the regulations of this subchapter.
(b) Freestanding monument and signs.
1. Location. No freestanding or monument sign shall project into, over, or otherwise encroach upon a public right-of-way. No freestanding or monument sign shall be erected such that its hemisphere, described by a radius equal to the vertical height of the freestanding or monument sign with the vertical center line of the freestanding or monument sign at the center of the hemisphere, intersects with any utility lines, electrical conductors, or service drops. Freestanding and monument signs shall be located not less than ten feet from a lot line;
2. Area. Shall not exceed 100 square feet per sign face. No more than 50% of the allowable area may be used for purposes of identifying individual tenants;
3. Number. One freestanding or monument sign is permitted per multiple tenant/multiple storefront commercial use;
4. Height. Shall not exceed 20 feet measured from the ground to the top of the sign structure, in lineal feet;
5. Materials. Shall include a base constructed of brick, stone, or masonry materials and be matched in type and color to these materials used on the buildings on the premises if such materials are present; and
6. Landscaping. A five-foot landscaped area consisting of trees, shrubs, and ground covers shall be provided around the base of the sign.
7. Electronic changeable copy. As long as the freestanding or monument sign abuts a state highway, an applicant may request for a permit to be granted. Said applications will be reviewed individually by the Board and voted on a case-by-case basis.
(c) Shingle signs.
1. Location. Shingle signs may be placed perpendicular or parallel to the street. The sign shall be suspended from a roof overhang, covered walkway, covered porch, or open lattice walkway. No part of the suspended sign shall extend beyond the edge of the overhang. Signs placed parallel to the street may be attached to the fascia; provided, no part of the sign extends above or below the fascia. A minimum clearance of eight feet shall be maintained between the bottom of the fascia and the nearest grade or sidewalk. Pole-mounted shingle signs must be located on private property.
2. Area. Shall not exceed eight square feet per sign face. Pole-mounted shingle signs may not exceed two square feet per sign face.
3. Number. One sign perpendicular to or one sign parallel to each business front and shall be adjacent to the business it identifies.
4. Items of information. The sign must display only the name of the individual business or building complex.
(d) Permanent window signs.
1. Area: May not exceed 50% of the total frontage window area. The area shall be determined by drawing an imaginary square or rectangular envelope so as to completely enclose each entire symbol, word, phrase, title, number, or name appearing on the sign and by computing the sum of all the envelops; and
2. Items of information shall be affixed to the window via paint or any other means acceptable to the village.
(3) Promotional and advertising signs.
(a) Area of changeable copy/window signs. The combined area of permanent window signs and changeable copy window signs may not exceed 75% of the total frontage window area; and
(b) Temporary portable signs, balloons, flags, and banners.
1. Permit process.
a. A permit must be obtained for all temporary portable signs, flags, banners, and inflatable signs/objects. Portable signs with changeable copy are prohibited;
b. Permits shall be limited in duration according to the following criteria:
i. Sign permits for special events’ signs, including but not limited to grand opening, under new management, going-out-of-business, special events, and events held by tax-exempt organizations shall not exceed a total duration in any calendar year of:
Grand Opening | 180 days (one per year) |
Going Out Of Business | 90 days (one per year) |
Under New Management | 180 days (one per year) |
Special Event | 45 days (four per year) |
Event to be held by tax-exempt organizations | 60 days unlimited per year, but can only display one at a time |
ii. Permits for inflatable signs or objects shall be limited in duration for seven days and shall only be permitted in conjunction with a grand opening event; and
iii. All temporary signs must be removed within 24 hours after the expiration of the permit.
c. The permit fee is $65. Village can waive the permit fees for tax-exempt organizations at the discretion of the Board;
2. Area. For signs affixed to buildings, a maximum one-half square foot per lineal feet of building face to which the sign is affixed. For freestanding signs a maximum of 32 square feet;
3. Number. One temporary/portable sign and one flag or banner per permit; and
4. Height. Not to exceed ten feet.
(C) Church, school, and other public/quasi-public institution identification signs.
(1) Freestanding signs.
(a) Location. No sign shall project into, over, or otherwise encroach upon a public right-of-way. No sign shall be erected such that its hemisphere, described by a radius equal to the vertical center line of the freestanding sign located at the center of the hemisphere, intersects with any utility lines, electrical conductors, or service drops. Freestanding signs shall be located not less than ten feet from a lot line;
(b) Area. Shall not exceed 48 square feet per sign face;
(c) Number. One freestanding sign per site;
(d) Height. Eight feet, measured from the ground to the top of the sign;
(e) Materials. Shall include a base constructed of brick, stone, or masonry materials and be matched in type and color to these materials used on the buildings on the premises if such materials are present; and
(f) Landscaping. A five-foot landscaped area consisting of trees, shrubs, and groundcovers shall be provided around the base of the sign.
(2) Wall signs.
(a) Location. No wall sign shall project over, into, or otherwise encroach upon a public right-of-way. No wall sign shall cover, wholly or partially, any wall opening nor project beyond the ends or top of the wall to which it is affixed;
(b) Area. Shall not exceed 40 square feet; and
(c) Number. One wall sign per site.
(Ord. 656, passed 7-2-2001; Am. Ord. 1015, passed 8-7-2013)