Accessory signs in Office Building and General Business Districts shall be designed, erected, altered, moved and maintained, in whole or in part, in accordance with these regulations.
(a) Functional Types Permitted. Business signs, development signs of a temporary nature, directional signs, identification signs, nameplates, real estate signs, security signs and such other functional types as are specifically permitted by this chapter.
(b) Structural Types Permitted. Canopy, monument, wall, window and projection signs.
(c) Maximum Area and Number Permitted.
(1) Maximum sign face area. The maximum sign face area of all permanent signs permitted for each separate use occupying a building or unit of a building shall be related to the frontage of the building or unit thereof, as determined by the following formula:
Maximum sign face area = W x 2.0 square feet, except
that the total in all cases shall not exceed 100 square feet.
The elements of such formula being defined as follows:
"Maximum sign face area" means the total area of one surface
(2) Business signs. Within permanent business signs erected, placed, painted or located exterior to the facing of a building or use, the area devoted to the advertising of brand names of specific products or services shall be limited to fifty percent (50%) of the sign face area of wall signs and twenty-five percent (25%) of the sign face area of the other permitted types. Within permanent business signs erected, placed, painted or located exterior to the facing of a building or use, the area designed for the use of replaceable copy shall, except for those signs permitted by subsection (d)(4) hereof, be limited to fifty percent (50%) of the sign face area. Business signs shall be located on the same lot as the business or service to which it is directed.
(3) Canopy signs. One canopy sign may be attached to the soffit or fascia of a canopy over an entrance/exit way of each business or office use, provided the total area of the face of the sign does not exceed six square feet, the vertical dimension of the sign does not exceed twelve inches, the horizontal dimension of the sign does not exceed seventy-two inches and the lowest structural member is not less than eight feet above finished grade. Such a canopy sign suspended from a canopy shall be centered at the symmetrical center of the canopy and shall be surface mounted to the underside of the canopy. Signs of a canopy type may be placed on the vertical faces of a marquee but shall not be permitted where the marquee projects over any public right of way. Signs displayed and applied on an awning or canopy shall not exceed twenty percent (20%) of the total area of the canopy or awning.
(4) Development signs. One temporary development sign not to exceed twenty-four square feet in area, eight feet in height above finished grade and located not less than twenty feet from any lot line, announcing a proposed building or a building under construction shall be permitted on the lot to be occupied by the proposed building or building under construction. Such signs shall be removed within fourteen days of the beginning of the intended use of the development.
(5) Directional signs. Two directional signs of permanent construction, each not exceeding four square feet in area or four feet in height above finished grade indicating traffic routes within parking areas or driveways shall be permitted at any entrance/exit to any building or lot provided that no part of the sign or the support thereof is located less than two feet from any lot line. Horizontal directional signs on and flush with paved areas are exempt from these standards.
(6) Monument signs. One monument sign not to exceed twenty-four square feet in total area per side and six feet in height above finished grade shall be permitted subject to the requirements herein. Any permitted monument sign shall be located no closer than five feet from any lot line or access drive or twenty-five feet from a residential district. Such signs shall be located on the same lot as the business or service to which it directs attention. Supporting columns and structural trim of round or square-shaped configurations may be used, but in the event the cross-section area of such supports or trim exceed twenty-five percent (25%) of the sign face area, the sign face area shall be reduced in size by the amount of excess.
(7) Integral signs. One integral sign not to exceed two square feet in area.
(8) Nameplates. One nameplate, not exceeding one square foot in area for each store or office unit in the building, but not exceeding a total of ten nameplates per building, shall be permitted.
(9) Projection signs. One projection sign for each establishment or store unit not exceeding twelve square feet in area for each face may be permitted subject to the regulations herein. Such signs shall be attached to the wall and shall project no more than three feet therefrom at an angle of not less than ninety degrees. No projection sign shall project any closer than twenty-four inches from a vertical line projected from the public sidewalk. No projection sign shall swing from any bar, crane, awning or other sign; project over or obstruct the windows or doors of any building; be attached to or obstruct a fire escape or otherwise be in conflict with any safety provisions of the building code. A projection sign shall project from the building occupied by the business or service to which it directs attention and may extend above the top of the wall, provided that no more than thirty-five percent (35%) of the total height of the sign extends above the wall. Any face of a projection sign shall be not less than five feet from a side lot line or party wall of another store or unit and no projection sign shall be closer than twenty-five feet to any other projection sign. Use of projection signs shall be limited to applications which clearly complement a building's architectural style.
(10) Real estate signs. One temporary double-face, free standing or wall sign advertising the sale, lease or rental of the premises or part of the premises on which the sign is displayed, not exceeding six feet in height above finished grade or twenty-four square feet in area shall be allowed.
(11) Security signs. Security signs may only be of a type which is readily affixed to a window such as a sticker or decal and may be no more than fifteen square inches in area.
(12) Street number signs. Two street number signs not exceeding two square feet in area shall be allowed. Such signs shall be permitted on mailboxes and over doorways but shall otherwise be set back at least six feet from the nearest property line and shall not be over five feet above ground.
(13) Wall signs. Wall signs shall not project more than twelve inches from the building wall to which it is attached and shall be set back from the end of the building and party wall lines for a distance of at least three feet and shall not project beyond any corner or above the coping or eaves of any building. No wall sign shall be situated within a window or part of a window nor shall its supporting structure cover any window or part of any window. Wall signs placed in the vertical space between windows shall not exceed in height two-thirds of the distance between the top of the window and the sill of the window above or the major architectural details related thereto. No wall sign shall extend above the roof line or top of the parapet wall. No wall sign shall wholly or partially cover any wall opening or prevent free egress or ingress from any door, window or fire escape. Wall signs shall be attached to or integral with a wall occupied by a permitted business or activity. No wall sign shall be painted directly on the wall. Wall signs shall be designed to fit within any given frame of the architectural space intended for signage.
(14) Window signs. Permanent window signs shall not exceed twenty percent (20%) of the glass area to be calculated separately for each side of a building or business. Ten percent (10%) of the glass area may be used on a temporary basis (not to exceed thirty days) to advertise nonprofit activities. Twenty-five percent (25%) of glass area may be used for temporary signs - commercial. No window signs shall be painted directly on the window. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no more than fifty percent (50%) of the glass area may be covered by any combination of window signs at any one time. For purposes of this section, those signs displaying the credit cards accepted by a business enterprise and security signs shall be considered permanent window signs, and may only be of a type which is readily affixed such as a sticker or decal. Only one sign for each credit card accepted shall be permitted at each entrance.
(d) Supplementary Regulations.
(1) Additional signs. In addition to the sign face area permitted by Section 1145.04
(c), in cases where an office or business building has a back entrance from a parking area open to the public, additional sign area equal to twenty-five percent (25%) of that permitted along the main facade may be used; however any additional sign area allowed as a result hereof shall only be used on the building facade facing the back parking area.
(Ord. 90-27. Passed 7-2-90.)
(2) Regional shopping center identification signs; convenience shopping center identification signs.
A. Regional shopping center identification signs. In addition to sign face area permitted for each individual establishment, one shopping center identification sign identifying the name and/or logo of a unified shopping area comprised of a minimum of fifty acres and a minimum of fifty separate stores shall be permitted. Each sign face shall not exceed sixty square feet in area and shall be a monument sign, subject to the regulations governing such signs. A regional shopping center identification sign shall be part of a comprehensive sign format and designed for the unified shopping area and shall be subject to review and approval by the Planning and Design Commission.
B. Convenience shopping center identification signs. Where there are three or more separate and distinct occupant/tenants on the same zoning lot in a General Business "A" District or a General Business "B" District with separate exterior entrances to each occupant/tenant and which do not otherwise constitute a regional shopping center as defined in subsection (d)(2)A. hereof, one convenience shopping center identification sign identifying the name and/or logo of the unified shopping center and/or the individual establishments therein shall be permitted in addition to sign face area permitted for each establishment. Convenience shopping center identification signs shall be monument signs and the square feet in area of each sign face shall be in accordance with the following:
Square footage of Multi-Tenant Building | ||||
4000 | 5500 | 7000 | 8500+ | |
Sign Sq. Footage | 28 | 32 | 36 | 40 |
Sign Height | 6 ft. | 7 ft. | 8 ft. | 8 ft. |
A convenience shopping center identification sign shall be in lieu of any other monument sign on the same zoning lot and shall be subject to the regulations governing such signs. A convenience shopping center identification sign shall be part of a comprehensive sign format and design for the zoning lot and shall be subject to review and approval by the Planning and Design Commission.
(3) Special signs. Where innovative design is demonstrated, a sign utilizing the building design itself as a means to identify or advertise a product or service my be permitted. The design and area of the signage elements shall be subject to review and approval by the Planning and Design Commission.
(4) Drive-in menu signs. Menus, price lists and similar type graphics which are intended for communication to on-premises customers and are not intended or utilized as a means of communication to passing traffic or the public are permitted provided that one such sign not in excess of forty square feet or seven feet above finished grade only shall be allowed.
(5) Gasoline service stations. Signs for gasoline service stations shall conform with all regulations of this chapter except for those which directly conflict with the regulations stated below.
A. Monument signs. Such signs may display only sign panels which: (1) identify the company name; (2) identify the station ownership or management; and/or (3) advertise the price of fuel by type, grade or form of service. The sign panels indicating the price of fuel shall not exceed fifty percent (50%) of the total of any sign face area, and the numerals and letters on such signs shall not exceed two feet in height.
B. Signs at fuel pumps/service islands. These signs shall be limited to those which display information regarding type of service provided or other information essential in directing or instructing the motorist who has entered the station area. The number, area and height of such signs shall be as determined by the Planning and Design Commission.
C. Canopies. For canopy structures which shelter service islands, no signs shall be displayed on the canopy fascia area. Furthermore, the canopy fascia area shall be nonilluminated and shall be designed in a manner which does not call attention to the canopy structure.
(6) The Building Commissioner is directed to allocate the total allowable sign space for a building with more than one unit to the individual units as follows: maximum square footage allowed divided by total building frontage resulting in the square footage allowed per frontage foot of each building tenant.
(7) Any zoning lot may have, subject to the regulations applicable thereto, only one of the following structural types of signs; a monument sign or a projection sign provided however that any such sign on the premises of any zoning lot which offers or provides adult entertainment as defined in Section 1137.03
(a)(12) shall be behind the building line notwithstanding the regulations hereinbefore set forth relating to the permitted location of such signs. (Ord. 03-37. Passed 11-3-03.)