When approving an application for a sign permit, except for a temporary sign, the Zoning Administrator shall consider the following:
(a) Location of the Sign.
(1) No sign shall be erected, constructed or maintained so as to obstruct the view and sight lines of the traveling public or any fire escape, window, architectural features, door or other opening or so as to prevent free passage from one (1) part of a roof to any other part thereof. No sign shall be attached in any form, shape or manner to a fire escape or be so placed as to interfere with an opening which is required for legal ventilation.
(2) The signs are located to maintain safe and orderly pedestrian and vehicular circulation.
(3) The siting of ground signs shall be carefully related to other site and landscape features such as landscaped setbacks, trees and plantings.
(b) Engineering and Material. The following regulations regarding engineering design and materials shall apply to all signs per the requirements of the Ohio Building Code (OBC) as applicable:
(1) Wind Pressure. All signs shall be designed and constructed to withstand wind pressures of not less than those required for buildings and other structures.
(2) Earthquakes. Signs adequately designed to withstand wind pressures specified in subsection (1) hereof shall be considered capable of withstanding earthquake shock, except in areas subject to high-intensity shocks, where all signs shall be designed in accordance with local requirements to resist earthquake shock. Wind loads and earthquake loads need not be combined to determine the maximum horizontal loads acting upon a sign. Only the larger of the two (2) loads need be used for design specifications.
(3) Materials. All permanent signs shall be constructed of noncombustible materials, provided, however, that background panels, letters, figures, decorations and structural trim thereof may be made of approved combustible materials.
(c) Design Criteria. The Zoning Administrator shall ensure compliance with all numerical standards and engineering and material standards required in this chapter.
(d) Sign Illumination. The following regulations shall apply to sign illumination:
(1) Wall signs in all districts and ground signs in the B-4 and B-4a districts shall only be illuminated by either indirect lighting, or the internal illumination of the letters, logo or message. Internal illumination of the background area of these signs is not permitted, except for ground signs in districts other than the B-4 and B-4a districts.
(2) Lighting shall not interfere with the traffic on abutting streets.
(3) Illuminated signs shall be constructed of noncombustible materials, provided, however, that background panels, letters, figures, decorations and structural trim thereof may be made of approved combustible plastics.
(4) Illuminated signs shall be constructed in accordance with the “Standard for Electric Signs (U.L. 48) of Underwriters' Laboratories, Inc.” and shall bear the label of the Underwriters' Laboratories, Inc.
(5) No internally illuminated sign shall have a brightness greater than three-tenths (.3) of a foot candle above the ambient light in the area as measured at one hundred (100) feet from the sign.
(6) Electronic Message Centers:
A. Electronic Message Centers may only be used as part of a freestanding sign or drive thru sign in accordance with this chapter.
B. All Electronic Message Centers shall be set back a minimum of 100 feet from a residential dwelling unit.
C. Any message change shall be a static, instant message change.
D. Messages may only change once every 10 seconds or more.
E. The transition time between messages shall be less than one second.
F. All Electronic Message Centers shall contain a default mechanism that will cause the sign to revert immediately to a black screen if the sign malfunctions.
G. The Electronic Message Center shall be equipped with an automatic dimming photocell, which automatically adjusts the displays brightness based on ambient light conditions.
H. Illumination shall not exceed 0.3 footcandles over ambient lighting conditions when measured from a distance of 50 feet.
I. Audio emissions from Electronic Message Centers shall be prohibited.
(Ord. 2010-059. Passed 3-7-11; Ord. 2020-037. Passed 7-13-20.)