1167.01 SIGNS.

   (a)   Purpose. The purpose of this section is to provide standards to safeguard life, health, property and public welfare by regulating and controlling the design, quality of materials, location, installation and maintenance of signs, as defined in Section 1133.02 . The City recognizes that signs are important to the economic life and welfare of the City; however, when placed in an improper manner or used to an excessive extent, signs may be detrimental to the public safety and welfare. The public interest, conservation of property values, encouragement of orderly city development, aesthetic values and protection of the public health, safety and welfare therefore require that the use of signs be regulated.

   The following signs are allowed in all districts:

      (1)   A maximum of one temporary sign, as defined in Section 1133.02(96), advertising the sale or lease of real estate, but only when located upon real estate to which the sign refers and not located closer than ten feet from an adjoining property. Such signs shall be removed within ten business days of the closing following the sale or lease of the property. Signs advertising the sale or lease of real estate for other than the property on which they are displayed are prohibited and are in violation of this section.

      (2)   Temporary ground signs advertising future use of development of property on which such signs are located may be maintained subject to the provisions of this section, provided such signs do not exceed thirty square feet in area or remain longer than six months. “For Rent” and “For Lease” signs in commercial and industrial districts for new buildings shall not exceed forty-eight square feet or remain more than ninety days after the building is completed.

      (3)   Church or public building bulletin boards not exceeding twelve square feet in area.

      (4)   Traffic and public signs.

      (5)   Home occupation signs as defined herein.

   (b)   In the RA Residential Districts, there may be one wall sign attached to the building, projecting no more than twelve inches, not exceeding twenty-five square feet in area and relating only to the name or use of the building.

   (c)   In the C-1, C-2, C-3 and M Districts, there may be ground signs, wall signs, projecting signs, post signs, marquee signs, window and awning signs when displaying no advertising matter except pertaining to the business conducted in the building or on the premises on which such sign is placed. The total square foot area of ground signs, wall signs, projecting signs, marquee signs and awning signs shall not exceed one-fifth of the total square foot area of the face of the building on which they are placed. There shall not be more than one post sign for each 100 feet of street frontage. No post sign shall extend closer than ten feet to a lot line. (Ord. 2017-03. Passed 5-15-17.)

   (d)   The following additional sign regulations shall be observed:

      (1)   Awning signs. One awning sign shall be permitted on a premises. The total area of one face of the sign shall not exceed six square feet and the vertical dimension of the sign shall not exceed twelve inches.

      (2)   Billboard and roof signs. Billboard and roof signs are prohibited in all districts.

      (3)   Changeable copy signs. Changeable copy is prohibited except for bulletin boards and motion picture marquees.

      (4)   Gasoline service stations. Gasoline service stations whose principal business is the sale of motor fuel may display signs in addition to those herein authorized. Such signs shall be limited to the following:

         A.   One double-faced sign not exceeding five square feet on a side is permitted for each set of motor fuel pumps identifying "self-service" or "full service".

         B.   Signs, not exceeding three in number, with each sign being single or double-faced having a total aggregate area including the sign frame and surrounding surfaces of not more than fifteen square feet on each side are permitted for the display of motor fuel price information. The top of such signs shall not extend more than five feet above the finished grade of the service station. Such signs may be fixed or portable but shall not be located nearer to the street than the motor fuel pump islands that are nearest such street and such signs shall not be internally illuminated. These signs are limited to the identification of the grade or type of motor fuel sold and the price.

            (Ord. 94-33. Passed 10-3-94.)

      (5)   Ground signs. No ground sign shall impair or impede the safe and ordinary flow of vehicular or pedestrian travel or traffic or extend higher than six (6) feet above the finished grade. Permanent ground signs shall not be located within the required front and side yards unless approved by the Planning Commission. The total sign area shall not be more than sixty percent (60%) of the total sign area allowed under subsection (d)(2) hereof. The sixty percent (60%) total sign area applies whether a ground sign is used exclusively or in conjunction with other signs and is to be located not closer than ten feet to an adjoining property line. There shall be no more than one ground sign per parcel.
(Ord. 97-26. Passed 9-2-97.)

      (6)   Home occupation signs. (EDITOR’S NOTE: Former subsection 1167.01(d)(6) was repealed by Ordinance 94-34, passed December 5, 1994.)

      (7)   Illumination. Internally illuminated signs shall be constructed so as to allow the illumination of only letters, numbers or other identifying symbols on the display surface. Internally illuminated signs shall not exceed 800 milliampere fluorescent tubes mounted not closer than twelve inches on center. External illumination shall be installed so that the light source is not visible and reflects away from adjoining premises. No external light source shall be located or arranged so as to cause confusion or a hazard to traffic. No light shall pass through the background.

      (8)   Lettering and colors. There shall be no more than two styles nor three sizes of lettering used for any sign including characters or trademarks. No more than four colors, including black and white, shall be used.

      (9)   Marquee signs. Marquees may extend eight feet into a front yard. Marquees shall be not less than eleven feet above the ground at its lowest level. A sign may be placed upon a marquee provided such sign does not extend more than three feet above nor one foot below such marquee.

      (10)   Movement. No sign shall incorporate movement or the illusion of movement. Flashing signs shall not be permitted. (Ord. 90-44. Passed 9-4-90.)

      (11)   Numerical address. The owner of any commercial, industrial or public building abutting upon the streets within the corporate limits of the City shall display in a conspicuous place on the front side of such building a permanent sign displaying the numerical address of the building in Arabic numbers not less than four (4) inches and no more than twelve (12) inches in height. The color of the numbers shall be in contrast to the color of the surface on which they are mounted and the view of the numbers shall be unobstructed from the street on which the building is numbered. Signs within this specification shall not require a permit.
(Ord. 2009-41. Passed 3-1-10.)

      (12)   Off-premises signs. Off-premises signs are prohibited.

      (13)   Paper posters and certain signs or devices prohibited. Paper posters applied directly to the wall, building, pole or other support and letters or pictures in the form of advertising, printed or applied directly on the wall of a building are prohibited. Temporary signs may be displayed in or attached to the inside of show or display windows provided the total sign area does not exceed twenty percent (20%) of the show or display window area. Signs or devices which by color, location or design resemble or conflict with traffic control signs or devices are prohibited. No sign shall contain flashers, animators, mechanical movements or contrivances of any kind, excepting clocks.

         (Ord. 90-44. Passed 9-4-90.)

      (14)   Pennants/streamers/banners. Pennants, streamers and banners are prohibited unless approved by the Mayor. Upon such approval, pennants, streamers, and banners may be displayed for a time period not to exceed thirty days unless otherwise authorized by the Planning Commission.
(Ord. 01-10. Passed 6-4-01.)

      (15)   Temporary signs.

         A.   Display of temporary signs. No signs or banners may be displayed within the City, except upon the following conditions:

            1.   Temporary signs, as defined in Section 1133.02 (96), may be lettered on both sides, shall not exceed six square feet in area or display surface on any side, or an aggregate total of twelve square feet, and shall not be displayed in excess of four feet in height above the ground level, unless displayed from the window of a permanent structure.

            2.   Temporary signs shall not be placed on any public property, public right of way, utility pole or bridge abutment, or within fifteen feet of a street, or within five feet of a sidewalk or public right of way.

            3.   Signs shall not be illuminated in any manner.

            4.   No sign shall be located in a manner as to obstruct ingress or egress to adjacent property, obstruct pedestrian traffic on the public right of way, obstruct the vision of drives at intersections, or create safety hazards.

            5.   Signs shall not be located on any public property, street or right of way, nor shall such signs be attached to any tree, utility pole, fence, traffic sign or other structure located upon public property, street or right of way.

         B.   Enforcement. The Director of Building and Zoning shall order, in writing, the property owner or occupant of property upon which any sign has been erected in violation of the above conditions, to remove the sign forthwith or to bring it into compliance with the above-listed conditions. Any property owner or occupant of property that fails to obey the order of the Director of Building and Zoning within twenty-four hours of receiving notice shall be deemed to have committed a separate violation of this subsection for each improper sign listed in the order. Each day of such continued violation of each sign shall be deemed a separate offense.

The Director of Building and Zoning shall remove and impound all signs placed on any public property, street or right of way. Signs not claimed within 48 hours of impoundment may be destroyed.

         C.   Penalties. Any person or entity violating any of the provisions of this section shall be fined not more than $50, and upon conviction of a subsequent violation of the same provision within one year when the same is so specified in the complaint shall be guilty of a minor misdemeanor. Each day such violation is committed or permitted to continue shall constitute a separate offense and shall be punishable as such hereunder.

            (Ord. 2017-03. Passed 5-15-17.)

      (16)   Portable signs. Portable signs are prohibited.

         (Ord. 90-44. Passed 9-4-90.)

      (17)   Post signs. No post sign shall impair or impede the safe and ordinary flow of vehicular or pedestrian travel or traffic. The maximum square foot area for each face of a post sign shall not exceed a total area of fifty square feet per face or a total of 100 square feet for all faces. No post sign shall exceed six feet in height.

         (Ord. 97-26. Passed 9-2-97.)

      (18)   Projecting signs. Projecting signs may extend not more than four feet six inches from the building into the front yard.

      (19)   Sign area. The area of all permanent advertising signs for any single building shall be equivalent to one and one-half square feet of sign area for each lineal foot of width of building, but shall not exceed a maximum area of 100 square feet. In computing the area, all faces on which advertising is displayed are considered sign area.

      (20)   Wall signs. No wall sign shall extend beyond the building more than twelve inches. No wall sign shall be so erected as to cover the doors or windows of any building or otherwise prevent free ingress or egress to or from any window, door or any fire escape of any building nor shall it project beyond any corner or above the coping or eaves of any building. Wall signs are not to exceed forty square feet or ten percent (10%) of the eligible wall surface, whichever is greater.

      (21)   Window signs. The total area of window signs shall not exceed twenty-five percent (25%) of the frontal glass area.

   (e)   Nonconforming Signs. A sign which is nonconforming on the effective date of this chapter which does not conform with the regulations of this or a subsequent amendment, shall be deemed a nonconformity.

   The purpose of this chapter, in addition to providing specific standards for the design, construction and erection of every new graphic, sign, marquee, canopy and awning, is to cause every graphic or other sign in violation of any provision of this chapter to be removed, altered or replaced so as to conform with the provisions of this chapter.

      (1)   Authority to continue existing nonconformities. Any permanent graphic, sign, marquee, canopy or awning other than a temporary sign, which is deemed to be a nonconformity, which was erected pursuant to a City permit and in place on the effective date of this chapter, and which remains or becomes a nonconformity upon the adoption of this chapter or any subsequent amendment thereto, may be continued only in accordance with the following regulations:

         A.   Repairs. Ordinary repairs and nonstructural alterations may be made to a nonconforming sign. No structural alterations shall be made in, to or upon such nonconforming sign, except those required by law to make the sign conform to the regulations of this chapter.

         B.   Additions and enlargements. A nonconforming sign shall not be added to or enlarged in any manner, except to make the sign conform to the regulations of this chapter.

         C.   Moving. No nonconforming sign shall be moved in whole or in part to any other location unless such sign, and the use thereof, is made to conform to all regulations of this chapter.

         D.   Restoration of damaged nonconforming signs. A nonconforming sign which is destroyed or damaged by fire or other cause to the extent that the cost of restoration will exceed sixty percent (60%) of the replacement cost of such sign, shall not be restored unless it is made to conform to all the regulations of this chapter, or any subsequent amendment thereto. In the event that such damage or destruction is less than sixty percent (60%) of the original cost of such sign, no repairs or construction shall be made unless such restoration is started within six months from the date of the partial destruction and is diligently pursued to completion.

         E.   Discontinuance of use of nonconforming signs. A nonconforming sign, the use of which is discontinued for a period of thirty days, shall thereafter conform to the regulations of this chapter.

         F.   Change of use of nonconforming signs. Where the business, use or identity associated with the nonconforming sign at the time of the adoption of this chapter thereafter terminates or changes, such termination or change of use shall require termination of the nonconforming sign, and the use of such sign shall thereafter conform to the regulations of this chapter.

         G.   Conformance date. All graphics, signs, marquees, canopies and awnings rendered nonconforming by the provisions of this chapter are hereby declared a nuisance and shall be removed, altered or remodeled to conform to the provisions of this chapter no later than January 1, 1995.

         H.   When a structure and/or use is nonconforming and the signage restrictions for the district in which it is located would cause hardship, the regulations of the district most compatible with the current and/or proposed use shall be used.

         I.   Any sign, graphic or numeral display embossed, etched, engraved or otherwise an integral part of the original building's masonry architecture which was in existence prior to the effective date of this subsection (e) may be continued provided such sign, graphic or numeral display is maintained as originally designed and intended.

         J.   Penalty. Any person, firm or corporation violating the provisions of this chapter shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be fined not more than two hundred dollars ($200.00) for each offense. Each day that a sign is erected or maintained in violation of this chapter shall constitute a separate offense.

            (Ord. 90-44. Passed 9-4-90; Ord. 92-33. Passed 12-7-92.)

CODIFIED ORDINANCES OF GRANDVIEW HEIGHTS