§ 156.087 NON-RESIDENTIAL SIGN STANDARDS.

   PROJECTING SIGN NOTE. Signs that project into the right-of-way of a public street shall require the approval of the applicable legislative body.

   (A)   Sign standards applicable to the commercial: neighborhood and village overlay zoning districts.

      (1)   Signs for ground floor uses. The signs for ground floor uses shall meet the following standards. These standards shall also apply to any business use occupying multiple floors, including the ground floor. A permit shall be required unless otherwise specified in this chapter.

         (a)   Sign area. The aggregate sign area shall be equivalent to one and one-half square feet of for every one linear foot per tenant frontage on a public right-of-way or private street.

            1.   In no instance shall the aggregate sign area for any tenant/ business use exceed 100 square feet in area.

            2.   The number of graphic elements shall be held to the minimum needed to convey the sign's primary message and shall be composed in proportion to the overall sign area.

         (b)   Number of signs. No more than one of each sign permitted below shall be allowed per street frontage for ground floor uses. The total sign area shall not exceed the aggregate square footage.

         (c)   Sign types permitted. Any combination of the following signs may be used for each use as long as they are consistent with the total area allowed per use, the total number of signs permitted per use, and the other development standards listed in this section:

            1.   Wall signs,

            2.   Awning signs;

            3.   Projecting signs;

            4.   Window signs;

            5.   Time and temperature signs; and

            6.   Ground/monument signs.

         (d)   Development standards by sign type. Development standards for each type of sign are as follows:

            1.   Wall sign. Wall signs shall be located on the facade of the primary structure facing a public or private street. Signs shall not exceed 50% of the signable area. Signs shall not project more than 12 inches from the wall.

            2.   Awning sign. Awning signs shall not exceed 50% of the principal face of the awning. The lowest point of the awning shall not be closer than 8½ feet above the adjacent grade.

            3.   Projecting sign. No projecting sign shall, at its lowest point (except for the supporting building, structure, or column), be less than 8½ feet above grade level. A maximum of one sign per frontage on a public or private street shall be permitted per business. Projecting signs shall not exceed 24 square feet, nor project more than four feet from the building. Proof of insurance may be required.

            4.   Window signs. Window signs shall not exceed 25% of the window area.

            5.   Time and temperature signs. Time/temperature signs shall be counted toward the aggregate sign area, and shall meet the development standards that are consistent with the manner in which they are mounted. The illumination of the copy shall not cause glare to be inflicted upon adjacent property owners or the traveling public.

            6.   Ground/monument signs. One ground sign per lot is permitted and shall not exceed 32 square feet in sign area and shall not exceed six feet in height. Ground signs shall be no closer than 150 feet. An increase in square footage may be allowed for multiple tenant usage.

      (2)   Signs for upper floor uses.  

         (a)   Signage for upper-floor uses shall be permitted in addition to ground floor uses, subject to the following standards. In addition to the provisions below, upper-floor uses are permitted window signs consistent with division (A)(1)(d)4. above. This applies to multi-tenant uses.

         (b)   If the upper floors of any structure is occupied by a single use that is separate and distinct from any that is located on the ground floor, that use shall be permitted wall signs not exceeding one square foot of sign area for every one linear foot of building frontage, with a maximum square footage of 50 square feet. The wall sign shall be located on the structure between the eaves, cornice or other roof element and the top of windows on the uppermost floor.

      (3)   Signs for residential uses. Residential uses located within a Commercial: Neighborhood zoning district shall be permitted signs consistent with the provisions of § 156.086. Suspended, awning and projecting signs are encouraged and shall not exceed six square feet in area.

      (4)   Illumination. External, internal or indirect illumination is permitted.

   (B)   Sign standards applicable to the agriculture, commercial: community; commercial :regional; and industrial zoning districts.

      (1)   Signs permitted. The sign standards provided in the Sign Standards Table at the end of this section shall apply to all signs and properties as indicated. A permit for each sign shall be required unless otherwise specified by this section.

         (a)   Sign area.  

            1.   Aggregate sign area per tenant shall be two square feet per one lineal foot of building frontage on a public right-of-way or private street. Sign area shall not exceed 200 square feet.

            2.   The number of graphic elements on a sign shall be held to the minimum needed to convey the sign's primary message and shall be composed in proportion to the overall sign area.

         (b)   Sign types permitted. Any combination of the signs indicated in the Sign Standards Table at the end of this section may be used as long as the aggregate area does not exceed the total allowed per use and the sign is consistent with the other development standards provided by the table or listed in this section.

         (c)   Development standards by sign type. Development standards for each type of sign are as follows:

            1.   Wall sign. The aggregate sign area shall not exceed two square feet per one lineal foot of tenant frontage on a public right-of-way or private street. Signs for secondary frontages shall be calculated at a rate of one square foot per one lineal foot of the facade and shall not be deducted from the aggregate sign area. Wall sign shall not exceed 75% of the signable area. For purposes of this section, a wall sign is not a barn sign.

            2.   Awning sign. Awning signs shall not exceed 50% of the principal face of the awning which at its lowest point shall not be closer than 8½ feet above the adjacent grade. Awning signs shall be deducted from the aggregate sign area.

            3.   Projecting sign. No projecting sign shall, at its lowest point (except for the supporting building, structure, or column), not be less than 8½ feet above grade level. A maximum of one sign per frontage on a public or private street shall be permitted per tenant. Projecting signs shall not exceed 24 square feet nor project more than four feet from the building. These signs shall be deducted from the aggregate sign area. Proof of insurance may be required.

            4.   Ground/monument sign. Single and multi-tenant ground signs shall be placed a minimum of ten feet from the public right-of way. Ground sign area is based on he total area of the face used to display the signage not including the supporting structure. Ground signs shall not exceed 32 square feet in area or eight feet in height. Signs greater that 25 square feet shall be setback a minimum of 20 feet. Landscaping consisting of shrubs and perennial groundcover shall be provided at a rate of two square feet per one square foot of sign area.

            5.   Changeable copy/time and temperature signs. Signs with changeable copy shall comply with the changeable copy sign standards of this chapter. Time/temperature signs shall be counted toward the aggregate sign area, and shall meet the development standards that are consistent with the manner in which they are mounted. The illumination of the copy shall not cause glare to be inflicted upon adjacent property owners or the traveling public.

            6.   Multi-tenant joint signs. Structures and/or centers under one ownership containing multiple businesses may be allowed by special exception one monument or freestanding pole sign for the structure or center for the joint use of all tenants for which the facility is designed, including any outlots. Multi-tenant signs may be permitted an increase in maximum square footage up to 25%. The sign shall be setback a minimum of ten feet from all public rights-of-way.

            7.   Window signs. Window signs that do not exceed 25% of the ground floor window area shall be permitted. Window sign area shall be counted toward the aggregate.

            8.   Off-premise and billboard signs. Off-premise and billboard signs may be permitted only in the CC, CR, IL, and IG districts. For purposes of this section, neither an off-premises sign nor a billboard sign is a barn sign.

            9.   Freestanding pole signs. Pole signs may be allowed by special exception within 1,000 feet of an interstate interchange.

         (d)   Illumination. Signs may be internally, indirectly or externally illuminated unless otherwise specified in this chapter.

      (2)   Signs for residential uses. Residential uses located within a commercial: community; commercial: regional; or industrial zoning district shall be permitted signs consistent with the provisions of § 156.086.

      (3)   Temporary signs. In addition to the signs permitted by division (B)(1) above, one temporary sign for each business shall be permitted for no more than seven consecutive days, a maximum of four times per calendar year. A permit shall be required each time a temporary sign is to be used, and the sign shall meet the following requirements:

         (a)   Illumination. The sign may be illuminated consistent with the exterior lighting standards of § 156.077. In no instance shall any temporary sign use any flashing or blinking lights or other effect prohibited by this chapter.

         (b)   Height and area. The sign shall not exceed 12 square feet in area or four feet in height from ground level.

         (c)   Setback. The sign shall be placed a minimum of ten feet from any public right-of-way and any other property line.

         (d)   Types of temporary signs. In no instance shall this provision be interpreted as temporarily or permanently permitting any sign prohibited by § 156.085(D).

         (e)   Conversion to a permanent sign. No sign manufactured, designed, and otherwise intended for use as a temporary sign shall be used as a permanent sign.

   (C)   Institutional permanent sign standards applicable to the institutional zoning district. The following sign regulations shall apply. All signs require a permit unless otherwise specified.

      (1)   Freestanding signs.

         (a)   Location. No more than one sign shall be placed at any one entrance.

         (b)   Setback. No such sign shall be located closer than ten feet to a public right-of-way or private street.

         (c)   Height and area. The primary sign area shall be calculated based on ten square feet per 10,000 square feet of building area. No such sign shall exceed eight feet in height or 50 square feet in area. Secondary signs at other entrances shall be calculated at a rate of five square feet per 10,000 square feet of building area not to exceed 25 square feet.

      (2)   Wall signs. Signs identifying individual structures at the facility shall be two square feet per lineal foot of building frontage on a public right-of-way or private street. No sign shall exceed 100 square feet in area.

      (3)   Illumination. Internal illumination shall be restricted within 500 feet of a residential use or residential district as measured to the closest point of the sign.

Downtown Sign Examples   Ground Sign

Projecting Signs

Non-Residential Sign Standards
Sign Standards	Zoning District
	A	R	CN/OL	CC	CR	IN	IBP	Il	IG
Step 1 - Sign Area Calculations by District
Building Frontage/Wall Sign Size Ratio (the total sign area permitted per use)	2 sq. ft. of signage permitted for every 1 lin. ft. of building coverage	Ground or Monument	1.5 sq. ft. of sign area permitted per 1 lin. ft. of building frontage	2 sq. ft. of signage permitted for every 1 lin. ft. of building frontage	2 sq. ft. of signage permitted for every 1 lin. ft. of building frontage	2 sq. ft. of signage permitted for every 1 lin. ft. of building frontage	2 sq. ft. of signage permitted for every 1 lin. ft. of building frontage	2 sq. ft. of signage permitted for every 1 lin. ft. of building frontage	2 sq. ft. of signage permitted for every 1 lin. ft. of building frontage
Aggregate sign area - maximum	200	32	200	200	200	200	200	200	200
Step 2 - Identify Permitted Sign Types (P = Permitted S = Special Exception)
Wall			P	P	P	P	P	P	P
Awning			P	P	P	P	P	P	P
Projecting (limited to 1 per business use)			P	P	P		P	P	P
Ground/Monument		P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P
Freestanding/Pole	S			S	S		S	S	S
Changeable Copy	P			P	P	P	P	P	P
Time and Temperature			P	P	P	P	P	P	P
Off-Premise/Billboard				P	P			P	P
Window			P	P	P	P	P	P	P
Internal Illumination				P	P	P	P	P	P
Step 3 - Review the General Sign Standards
Maximum wall sign size			100	200	200	100	200	200	200
Maximum projecting sign size			24	24	24		24	24	24
Maximum ground/monument sign height		6	6	6	8	8	8	8	8
Maximum free-standing/pole sign area		32	32		50	50/25	50	50	50
Maximum multi-tenant joint sign area				+25%	+25%		+25
Maximum multiple-floor sign area - separate tenant 1 sq. ft. per 1 lin. ft. of frontage			50	50	50	50	NA	NA	NA
Maximum window sign area coverage			25%	25%	25%	25%	25%	25%	25%
See § 156.086(D) for Model Home Sales Facility Sign Standards

 

(Ord. 2007-1B, passed 2-5-07; Am. Ord. 2007-6A, passed 6-4-07; Am. Ord. 2011-3E, passed 5-31- 11; Am. Ord. 2015-8B, passed 8-4-15)