(A) Table 1: Summary of sign regulations.
SUMMARY OF SIGN REGULATIONS | ||||||
Sign Type | Zoning Districts Permitted | Sign Permit Required | Max. Number of Signs | Max. Sign Height (feet) | Max. Sign Area (square feet) | Other Regulations |
SUMMARY OF SIGN REGULATIONS | ||||||
Sign Type | Zoning Districts Permitted | Sign Permit Required | Max. Number of Signs | Max. Sign Height (feet) | Max. Sign Area (square feet) | Other Regulations |
Awning and canopy signs | C2, CBD, R* with discretion | Yes | 1 per 1st or 2nd story tenant | - | Part of total allowed wall sign area | See division (B)(1) |
Billboards | I | Yes | 1 | 60 | 700 | See division (B)(2) |
Changeable message | All districts | Yes | - | - | - | See division (B)(3) |
Electronic message boards | All districts | Yes | - | - | - | See division (B)(4) |
Flags | All districts | No | 3 | - | - | See division (B)(5) |
Freestanding signs | C2, CBD, I | Yes | - | 20 max. (C2/CBD) 6 max. (I) | 1/linear foot of lot frontage; 60 max. (C2/CBD) 40 max. (I) | See division (B)(6) |
Interior signs | All districts | No | - | - | - | |
Menu boards | C2, CBD | No | - | - | 50 | See division (B)(7) |
On-site directional signs | All districts | No | - | 3 | 4 | See division (B)(8) |
Projecting and marquee signs | C2, CBD, R* with discretion | Yes | 1 per 1st or 2nd story tenant | - | 6 | See division (B)(9) |
Public signs | All districts | No | - | - | - | |
Signs advertising developments or | R, R-M | Yes | - | 6 | 18 | See division (B)(10) |
Temporary signs | All districts | No | - | 4 | 24 (total) | See division (B)(11) |
Wall signs | C2, CBD, I, R* with discretion | Yes | - | Height of building (all) 20 max. (C2/CBD/R) | 2.5/linear foot of building; 100 max. (C2/CBD/R) 1/linear foot of building; 200 max. (I) | See division (B)(12) |
Window signs | C2, CBD, I, R* with discretion | Yes | - | - | 25% of total window area (other regulations for specific window sign types) | See division (B)(13) |
*These signs may be permitted on commercial storefronts in the Residential District per the discretion of the CED Department. This does not apply to signs on home occupations in residential structures. | ||||||
(B) Footnotes to Table 1: Summary of Sign Regulations.
(1) Awning and canopy signs. Awning and canopy signs shall be permitted for ground or second floor uses only in the C2 and CBD districts, and may be permitted in the R District per CED Department discretion, subject to the following limitations:
(a) Signs may be straight sheds or curved.
(b) Signs shall be limited to one awning sign per first or second story business tenant, on either awning or valance, but not on both.
(c) Such signs are considered wall signs for computing the total allowed sign area per building.
(d) The distance from the sidewalk to the lower drip edge of the awning or canopy shall be between eight feet and 12 feet.
(2) Billboards.
(a) Billboards shall be permitted only on parcels abutting interstate highways or freeways in the I (Industrial) Zoning District provided that such billboard shall not be placed on a parcel having any other structure within 100 feet of the billboard, no other structure shall be placed on the parcel within 100 feet of the billboard and no billboard shall be located within 300 feet of a Residential District. Billboards shall not be located within any required setback of such parcel.
(b) Billboards shall not be less than 2,500 feet apart. A double face (back to back) or a V-type structure shall be considered a single billboard provided the two faces are not separated by more than ten feet, or the interior angle does not exceed 20 degrees, whichever is applicable.
(c) The total surface area, facing in the same direction, of any billboard, shall not exceed 700 square feet and shall be contained on a single panel.
(d) Billboards shall not exceed 60 feet in height from the adjacent grade.
(e) Billboards shall not be erected on the roof of any building.
(3) Changeable messages. Changeable message signs whose message copy or content is changed manually may be incorporated as part of any permitted sign. The message shall not change more than once every 30 seconds.
(4) Electronic message boards. Electronic changeable message boards (signs) may be included as part of any permitted sign. The message shall not change more than once every 30 seconds. Moving or scrolling text and/or moving video displays shall not be permitted. The change cycle for time and temperature shall not be less than 30 seconds. In no case shall any sign illumination produce an increase in the ambient light level at the property line of any adjacent residentially zoned property.
(5) Flags. No more than three flags are permitted on any site.
(6) Freestanding signs. All freestanding signs located within 50 feet of any intersecting right-of-way lines shall be subject to the approval of the Building Official or his or her designee. All freestanding signs are subject to the following regulations by district:
(a) In the C2 and CBD Districts. One freestanding sign for each business development.
1. Not over 20 feet in height above the adjacent grade nor more than 22 feet above the adjacent roadway.
2. Signs may not obstruct visibility at driveways or intersections. The Building Official may require the sign base or height of the bottom of the sign to be adjusted to protect the public safety.
3. No sign shall be located closer than 30 feet to any property line of an adjacent R Residential District.
4. The base of the sign be not less than ten feet from a side lot line.
5. Freestanding signs under this section shall not exceed one square foot per each lineal foot of lot frontage to a total maximum of 60 square feet.
6. Individual freestanding signs for each business tenant in a development are prohibited.
(b) In the I District.
1. One sign is permitted in the front yard with a minimum setback of one-quarter of the building setback.
2. Such sign shall not exceed six feet in total height nor more than ten feet in total length and contain no more than 40 square feet in sign area.
3. No more than one sign is allowed for each principal structure on the property.
(7) Menu boards. Menu boards shall not be permitted to exceed 50 square feet.
(8) On-site directional signs. Signs with the sole purpose of directing traffic movement onto or within a property shall not require a permit. Such signs shall not exceed three feet in height or four square feet in area for each sign. A directional sign shall be located on the property to which it is directing traffic and shall be located behind the front right-of-way line.
(9) Projecting and marquee signs. Projecting and marquee signs shall be permitted for ground or second floor uses only in commercial districts, and at the discretion of the CED Department in the R District, subject to the following limitations:
(a) No more than one projecting sign for each business tenant shall be permitted.
(b) Projecting signs shall be spaced no less than 20 feet apart horizontally and no less than ten feet apart vertically.
(c) Minimum distance from the ground to the lower edge of the signboard: eight feet.
(d) Maximum area of the projecting sign: 12 square feet.
(e) Maximum distance from the primary face of building to the signboard: six inches.
(f) Projecting signs over county roads shall meet conditions established by Wayne County.
(10) Signs advertising developments or subdivisions. Signs advertising developments or subdivisions not exceeding 18 square feet in area, and six feet in overall height, may be erected in a common area as shown on the approved site plan or plat. Where a commercial use is permitted in the District the requirements of the C2 District shall apply to that structure.
(11) Temporary signs. The following regulations shall apply to all exterior temporary signs:
(a) Temporary sign(s) may be located only on private property with the owner's permission.
(b) Except as provided herein, signs shall not be placed in the public right-of-way or between the public sidewalk and the road. Signs improperly placed in the right-of-way shall be removed and discarded.
1. Exception: In the C2 and CBD Zoning Districts, where a building is less than three feet from the property line, a freestanding temporary sign may be placed on the public sidewalk. Such sign shall be placed in such a manner to maintain a minimum of five feet of clear sidewalk. If the building is more than three feet from the sidewalk the sign shall be placed on private property. Such sign shall be displayed only during the hours when the business is open and shall be stored indoors otherwise.
(c) The total combined area of all temporary signs shall not exceed 24 square feet per address.
(d) No sign shall be greater in height than four feet above the ground.
(e) In the R and R-M Districts, one or more temporary signs for each address may be displayed, up to the maximum permitted 16 square feet sign area. In all other zoning districts, one temporary sign for each address may be displayed, up to the maximum permitted 16 square feet sign area.
(f) Signs shall not be attached to any utility pole, street sign, traffic signal pole, street light, hydrant or tree. Signs shall not block visibility at intersections, sidewalks or driveways.
(g) Damaged temporary signs shall be removed promptly.
(h) Wall-mounted temporary signs shall not be placed in the same location for more than 90 consecutive days.
(12) Wall signs.
(a) The total maximum allowable area for wall signs shall include all sides of the building or structure, with the following specific standards by zoning district:
1. In the C2, CBD, and R Districts: two and one-half square feet for each lineal foot of building frontage, not to exceed a total wall sign area of 100 square feet.
2. In the I District, one square foot for each lineal foot of building frontage, not to exceed a total wall sign area of 200 square feet.
(b) No wall sign shall protrude more than 18 inches from the building or structure wall on which it is mounted.
(c) No wall sign shall cover wholly or partially any wall opening.
(d) No wall sign shall be erected to extend above the top of the wall to which it is attached, nor extend beyond the ends of the wall to which it is attached.
(e) Wall signs larger than 50 square feet shall be comprised of non-combustible material.
(f) Service entrances may be identified with one sign not exceeding two square feet.
(g) In a multi-tenant building, each additional tenant shall be permitted one identification sign. Such sign shall include only the name of the tenant business and shall consist only of block letters or numbers no greater than six inches in height.
(h) The following standards apply to all wall signs in the C2 and CBD Zoning Districts:
1. Wall signs shall be permitted for each business development (that is, one or more uses within a building).
2. No portion of a wall sign shall be more than 20 feet above grade.
3. One wall sign, not exceeding six square feet in area, shall be permitted on any side or rear entrance open to the public.
(i) Painted signs shall be treated as wall signs and are subject to their requirements in this chapter.
(13) Window signs.
(a) Total signage placed on interior window glass of a building, whether carrying a message or not, shall not cover more than 25% of the total glass area, excluding doors, for that side of the building.
(b) Signs located inside a building that are visible from the front lot line shall be included in the total allowable sign area of this provision.
(c) Signage placed on exterior window glass shall be considered a wall sign.
(d) In an enclosed building in a C2 or CBD Use District where the public is not allowed in the building and where food is offered to the public through a window for immediate consumption the maximum coverage shall be 50%.
(e) Compact neon signs shall be permitted within the interior of shop fronts if they do not exceed a maximum of four square feet in area per 50 square feet of window area.
(f) In the C2, CBD, or R Districts, one open/closed sign not exceeding two square feet may be displayed in the window or above the door, but not both. In the I District, one open/closed sign not exceeding two square feet may be displayed in the window or door, but not both.
(Ord. 497, passed 2-3-2004; Am. Ord. 523, passed 6-13-2006; Am. Ord. 2011-7, passed 12-13-2011; Am. Ord. 2019-02, passed 10-8-2019; Am. Ord. 2020-28, passed 3-3-2020; Am. Res. 2021-46, passed 4-13-2021; Am. Ord. passed 8-24-2021; Am. Res. 2024–120b, passed 10-8-2024)