Signs in commercial districts shall be accessory to and on the same lot as a permitted building or use, except directional signs, and shall conform with the regulations set forth in this Section.
(a) Contents and Uses Permitted. Bulletin boards, as regulated in residential districts, nameplates, business signs, real estate and development signs and directional signs.
(b) Designs Permitted. Flat or wall signs, projecting signs, ground signs, pole signs, marquee signs, window signs and temporary signs.
(c) Area of Signs.
(1) The total area of all permanent signs for each office, store or service building, or other use, shall not exceed the number of square feet indicated in the following table, except as indicated in subparagraph 2. hereof.
MAXIMUM AREA - ALL SIGNS FOR COMMERCIAL DISTRICTS
Frontage of Building (in feet) | Maximum Sq. Ft. Total Sign Area Permitted |
Under 15 | 45 |
15 to 19 | 65 |
20 to 24 | 75 |
25 to 29 | 85 |
30 to 34 | 95 |
35 to 39 | 105 |
40 to 44 | 110 |
45 to 49 | 115 |
50 to 54 | 120 |
55 to 59 | 125 |
60 to 64 | 130 |
65 to 69 | 135 |
70 to 74 | 140 |
Each additional 5 feet of frontage or fraction thereof | 5 |
(2) Sign areas in addition to those stated in the above table, shall be permitted as follows:
A. Secondary entrances. Buildings having secondary entrances and a facade facing a second street with at least 300 feet of lot frontage, may have additional signs thereon not exceeding thirty (30) percent of the area of signs permitted on the main facade.
B. Nameplates. Professional or service offices and organizations above the ground floor of a building may have additional signs provided the total area of the signs does not exceed two (2) percent of the floor area occupied by the establishment or fifty (50) square feet, whichever is the smaller. No window sign shall be permitted.
C. Temporary development signs. Temporary development signs announcing a proposed building, a building under construction or advertising the sale, rental or lease of a building, or part thereof, shall be located on the zoning lot occupied by the building or use advertised and shall not exceed forty (40) square feet in total area for each street frontage to which it is related. Permits for such signs shall be for a period not exceeding one year.
D. Travel information signs. Travel information signs of permanent construction shall be permitted as approved by the Zoning Administrator.
E. Signs for gasoline service stations. Signs for service stations and other permitted uses where the building frontage is less than forty percent of lot width, may be permitted at one and one-half times the above standards.
F. Temporary signs. Temporary signs announcing sales, new products and special business events shall be permitted on the outside of buildings and in the yards where other signs are permitted, in addition to the permanent business signs, provided such signs do not exceed forty percent (40%) of the maximum area permitted for each establishment and are not displayed more than thirty (30) consecutive days. Such signs, both temporary and permanent, may not move nor have moving parts or streamers. They shall be subject to all other restrictions applicable to permanent signs.
Temporary signs shall be permitted on the inside of any structure but the area of any such sign within ten (10) feet of any window pane shall not exceed ten percent (10%) of such window pane area and no temporary signs shall be painted directly on the window.
(d) Location of Signs. Signs may be located on the surface of, or project from, the building wall adjacent to a street, a pedestrian way or a parking area, or erected on poles or other ground supports in yards as herein regulated. The maximum dimensions set forth shall include the structural members unless otherwise indicated. No sign shall extend into the public right-of-way.
(1) Flat or wall signs shall not project more than eighteen (18) inches in front of the building wall and shall not extend above the top of the front wall.
(2) Projecting signs shall be limited to one sign for each establishment or store unit. Such sign shall not extend above the top of the front wall. Any face of a projecting sign shall not be less than five (5) feet from a side lot line or party wall of another store unit.
(3) Marquee signs may extend above the face or topside, but the vertical dimension of such sign, including the exposed portion of the face, shall not exceed four (4) feet.
(4) Ground and pole signs shall not be located less than five (5) feet from a public right-of-way, nor less than five (5) feet from another business lot, nor less than twenty-five (25) feet from a residential district line. Generally not more than one pole or ground sign shall be placed on each lot, regardless of the number of tenants or stores. However, for buildings having entrances from more than one street, one additional pole or ground sign shall be allowed on each additional frontage of at least 300 feet.
(e) Height of Signs. The height of the lowest member of any sign other than a ground sign and which is not integral with a wall surface, shall be not less than eight and one-half (8 1/2) feet above a sidewalk or other pedestrian way nor less than fourteen (14) feet if over or within eighteen (18) inches of the vertical projection of a pavement used for vehicular traffic. The maximum height of such sign shall not exceed twenty-five (25) feet. Ground signs shall not exceed ten (10) feet in height.