A permit is required for the following signs.
(A) Window signs.
(1) There shall be no more than one permanent window sign per window.
(2) The total coverage of all permanent window signs shall not exceed 20% of the total glass area of the window.
(3) Neon tube signs displayed indoors are permitted as permanent window signs. Only one neon sign shall be permitted per business.
(4) No temporary window sign, as allowed in § 154.805(I), shall be displayed for a period of greater than 30 days, nor shall it exceed the coverage requirements of division (2) above, by 25%.
(5) (a) Any electronic display device, such as a television, monitor, digital frame or similar device, regardless of content, when located between zero feet and one and one-half feet behind the window of a building, and when oriented so as to be viewed from the street or sidewalk shall be prohibited. Such and electronic display device, regardless of content, when located between one and one-half feet and ten feet behind the window of a building, and when oriented so as to be viewed from the street or sidewalk shall be permitted as permanent window sign with a maximum display area of 15 feet in the diagonal dimension. Only one such electronic display device shall be allowed per business.
(b) The display content of electronic display devices located between one and one-half feet and five feet behind a window shall be regulated as follows:
1. Display content shall be limited to still images only, except when changing from one still image to another. Flashing, scrolling, motion, and full motion/television programs are strictly prohibited.
2. Still image display time shall be no less than eight seconds. The maximum time for changing between still images shall be two seconds. Scrolling, fading and other similar effects between stills are permitted.
(B) Wall signs. For aesthetic and safety reasons, wall-mounted signs are preferred to freestanding signs.
(1) No more than one wall sign shall be allowed per business or use per building side.
(2) Except as specified in the provisions of § 154.808, no wall sign shall be larger than 32 square feet.
(3) Wall signs may be located either on the front of the building abutting a street or on either side wall perpendicular to the street frontage.
(4) A wall sign shall be safely and securely affixed to the building wall to the satisfaction of the Building Official or Zoning Administrator.
(5) Wall signs must be affixed flat against the building wall. Any projection will be limited to the necessary mounting frame and shall not extend more than four inches.
(6) No wall sign shall be affixed to a wall at a height of less than four feet above the sidewalk or ground. Wall signs mounted at less than eight feet above the ground shall not be allowed unless flush against the wall, if there is an adjacent sidewalk.
(7) No wall sign shall cover wholly or partially any wall opening or architectural feature, nor shall any wall sign project beyond the ends of the wall or beyond the top of the building to which it is affixed.
(8) Fully enclosed and weather-tight bulletin boards are permitted and are not to exceed three square feet, provided that the boards are firmly attached to a building in the same manner as a wall sign. Bulletin boards shall be limited to two per storefront.
(C) Projecting signs.
(1) Any commercial or institutional activity may display one projecting sign on the building in which that activity occurs per street frontage.
(2) Projecting signs shall not exceed 12 square feet.
(3) Every projecting sign, including the frames, braces and supports thereof, shall be securely built and designed and may require approval from a structural engineer or registered architect as requested by the Building Official.
(4) Projecting signs must clear sidewalks by at least eight feet and may project no more than four feet from the building or closer than two feet to the edge of the sidewalk, whichever is less.
(5) Projecting signs shall not extend above a point 15 feet above the ground.
(6) Projecting signs are not permitted at the intersection of streets except at right angles to a building front.
(D) Marquees.
(1) There shall be a limit of one marquee sign (per marquee face) per building, provided that no wall signs are directed to the same street frontage.
(2) Marquee signs may be mounted on the face (vertical edges only) of the marquee proper. Signs shall not be erected above the roof line of the marquee.
(3) The signable area for marquee signs shall not extend beyond the marquee face on which the sign is located. No sign or portion of a sign shall exceed the borderline of any outer edge of said marquee. No sign shall be placed on or over the roof of said marquee.
(4) The surface area of a marquee sign shall not exceed 40% of the signable area of a marquee attached to a building front.
(5) Marquee signs shall be constructed of a non-combustible type material.
(6) Marquee signs outside the Historic District may only be internally illuminated or backlit.
(7) Marquees shall be supported solely by the building to which they are attached and no columns or posts shall be permitted as supports.
(8) No portion of a marquee shall be less than eight feet above the level of the sidewalk or other public thoroughfare. However, if the marquee extends beyond two-thirds of the distance between the building and curb it must be 12 feet above the sidewalk.
(9) No marquee shall be permitted to extend beyond a point two feet inside the curb line.
(10) Marquees shall be designed to withstand a wind pressure of not less than 80 miles per hour.
(11) The roof of any marquee shall be designed and constructed to support a live load of not less than 60 pounds per square foot.
(12) The roofs of all marquees shall be used for no other purpose than to form and constitute a roof.
(13) The roofs of all marquees shall be properly guttered and connected by downspouts to a drain so that the water therefrom will not drip or flow directly onto public property.
(14) Marquee signs shall be harmonious in scale and proportion with the building they are mounted to and with the architectural elements of the building. A marquee sign shall not visually overpower those elements nor detract from the composition of the building facade.
(15) The outlined shape and silhouette of a marquee sign shall be simple and compatible with the building it is mounted on. Shapes that disrupt the architectural order and composition of building facade are not acceptable.
(E) Canopies.
(1) There shall be a limit of one canopy sign per canopy face and one canopy per street frontage provided that no wall signs are directed to the same street frontage. Canopy signs are intended to be identification signs.
(2) Canopy signs may be mounted only on the face (vertical edges only) of the canopy proper.
(3) The signable area for canopy signs shall not extend beyond the canopy face on which the sign is located. No sign or portion of a sign shall exceed the borderline of any outer edge of said canopy. No sign shall be placed on the roof of said canopy.
(4) The surface area of a canopy sign shall not exceed 40% of the signable surface area of the face of a canopy. The sign letters shall not exceed 20 inches in height on the front and side portions thereof.
(5) The construction materials and manner of construction of all canopies shall be subject to the approval of the Zoning Administrator and Building Official.
(6) A minimum clearance of eight feet shall be maintained from the lowest point on the canopy to the grade or walkway under said canopy.
(7) A canopy shall not extend beyond a point two feet inside the curb line.
(8) All canopy supports shall be designed so as not to obstruct the continuous flow of pedestrian traffic along any sidewalk and in conformance with any other reasonable requirements established by the Zoning Administrator or Building Official.
(9) Canopy signs shall be harmonious in scale and proportion with the building they are mounted to and with the architectural elements of the building.
(10) The outlined shape and silhouette of a canopy sign shall be simple and compatible with the building it is mounted on.
(11) Canopies and canopy signs shall not be illuminated.
(12) Free-standing canopies for automobile service stations are regulated separately in § 154.806(I).
(F) Awnings.
(1) An identification sign may be painted on or otherwise permanently placed in letters not exceeding 20 inches in height on the front and side portions thereof.
(2) The construction materials and manner of construction of all awnings shall be subject to the approval of the Zoning Administrator and Building Official.
(3) Every awning shall be securely attached to and supported by the building. Posts or columns beyond the building line shall not be permitted.
(4) No awning shall be constructed and erected so that the lowest portion thereof is less than eight feet above the sidewalk or parkway.
(5) No awning or canopy shall be permitted to extend beyond a point two feet inside the curb line.
(G) Freestanding signs.
(1) Not more than one freestanding monument style sign shall be displayed on any street front of any lot. All pole signs are prohibited.
(2) No freestanding sign shall exceed 100 square feet in area or twelve feet in any dimension.
(3) All freestanding signs shall be located at least 100 feet apart.
(4) All freestanding signs shall be securely built, constructed, erected and certified safe by a registered architect or engineer upon posts and standards or footings of sufficient depth to prevent overturning, and all signs shall be installed to the satisfaction of the Building Official.
(5) When attached to a post or other supports, the top edge of a freestanding sign (including supporting structure) shall not exceed 12 feet in height. Height is measured from the finished normal grade.
(6) No part of any freestanding sign shall intrude into or project over any public right-of-way. All structural supports of any freestanding sign shall be situated at least ten feet from the public right-of-way.
(7) No freestanding sign shall be erected closer than ten feet to any side or rear lot line.
(8) Any freestanding sign within three feet of a driveway, parking area or maneuvering area shall be completely surrounded by a curbing that is not less than three feet from the outermost perimeter of the sign, unless the sign is mounted on a concrete base of at least three feet in height.
(H) Temporary signs.
(1) Certain portable signs, as defined in this chapter, and attention-getting devices referred to in § 154.804(B)(3), may be permitted on a property up to four times per year. Such signs may be used for, but limited to, promoting special community activities and special events such as grand openings or activities of nonprofit organizations subject to the following provisions.
(2) Not more than one temporary sign, as defined by this chapter, shall be permitted on a parcel of property, except for temporary window signs in accordance with § 154.815(I).
(3) No portable sign shall exceed 32 square feet in sign area.
(4) Permits for temporary signs shall be limited to 14 days or less as determined by the Zoning Administrator. Such signs shall be removed within 24 hours after the expiration of the permit unless a new permit is obtained.
(5) See § 154.815 concerning use of the city's floodgate banner.
(I) Automobile service station signs. The following sign requirements shall apply to automobile service stations:
(2) Canopy signs.
(a) A maximum of three faces (vertical edges) per automobile service station shall be permitted to have signage, provided the canopy is free-standing. Changeable copy for the price of fuel offered for sale may be included if no other price signage is erected on premises.
(b) The surface area of a canopy sign shall not exceed 10% of the signable surface area of the face of a canopy.
(c) Signs shall not exceed the width of the canopy.
(d) No canopy sign shall project more than six inches from the canopy proper.
(3) Free-standing signs.
(a) There shall be a limit of one free-standing sign on the property.
(c) A changeable copy board may be incorporated into the overall sign design for the purpose of providing gasoline pricing information.
(Ord. O-05-04, passed 4-11-05; Am. Ord. O-10-10, passed 3-22-10; Am. Ord. O-10-19, passed 5-24-10; Am. Ord. O-11-16, passed 5-23-11)