(a) Visibility at Intersections. Signs shall be located and designed so as to maintain a substantially clear view between 2.5 feet and eight feet above grade in a triangle formed by intersecting street right-of-way lines and a line 20 feet from the point where the street right-of-way lines intersect or from the intersection of a driveway and a public street right-of-way.
(b) Construction Standards.
(1) The construction, erection, safety and maintenance of signs shall comply with the Ohio Building Code and the Euclid Codified Ordinances.
(2) Signs shall be structurally sound and located so as to pose no threat to pedestrian or vehicular traffic.
(3) Permanent signs shall be fabricated of rigid materials of good quality and durability, with a minimum life span expectancy of five years.
(4) No sign shall be erected so as to project over and obstruct any window, door, fire escape, balcony, platform, stairway, ladder, vent or other means of ingress of any building.
(5) No sign shall be attached to a utility pole, tree, trash receptacle, bench or other structure not intended or approved as a sign support.
(6) Temporary signs shall be durable and weather-resistant and fastened or anchored sufficiently to prevent flapping or movement, whether attached to the building or positioned in the ground. No temporary sign shall have moveable lettering or lettering capable of being moved or replaced.
(7) No sign regulated by any of the provisions of this section shall be erected in the right-of-way, in proximity to railroad crossings, or at the intersection of any streets in such a manner as to obstruct free and clear vision; or at any location where, by reason of the position, shape, or color, it may interfere with, obstruct the view of, or be confused with, any authorized traffic sign signal or device as defined in the Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices; or which makes use of the words “STOP,” “LOOK,” “DANGER”, or any other word, phrase, symbol or character in such a manner as to interfere with, mislead, or confuse traffic.
(c) Maintenance. All signs shall be maintained in accordance with the following:
(1) The property owner, occupant, or other person responsible for the sign shall maintain the sign in a condition fit for the intended use and he or she shall have a continuing obligation to comply with all building code requirements.
(2) If the Zoning Commissioner finds that any sign is unsafe, insecure, a menace to the public; or constructed, erected, or maintained in violation of the provisions of this Code, the owner shall be notified in writing. The owner of the business shall, within 48 hours of such notification, correct such unsafe condition or remove the sign. If the correction has not been made within the 48 hours, the sign may be removed or altered by the City to comply with these regulations at the expense of the owner or occupant of the property upon which the sign is located.
(3) Whenever any sign, either conforming or nonconforming to these regulations, is required to be removed for the purpose of repair, refurbishing, or repainting, the same may be done without a permit or any payment of fees provided that all of the following conditions are met:
A. There shall be no alteration or remodeling to the sign face, lettering (except as otherwise permitted for changeable copy), sign base, sign support(s) or the mounting of the sign itself.
B. There shall be no enlargement or increase in any of the dimensions of the sign or its structure.
C. The sign shall be accessory to a legally permitted, conditional or nonconforming use.
(4) The Zoning Commissioner may order any sign to be painted or refurbished whenever needed to keep the sign in a neat and safe condition. All supports, guys, braces and anchors for such signs shall be maintained in a safe condition, and it shall be unlawful for the owners or person having charge of such sign not to remove the same after receiving notice from the Zoning Commissioner.
(5) If a sign panel is removed from an existing sign box due to a discontinuance of the use, a blank panel shall be inserted in the existing sign box.
(6) Any temporary sign that is found to be in violation of any part of this chapter may be removed immediately by the Zoning Commissioner.
(Ord. 87-2009. Passed 4-20-09. Effective 5-20-09.)