1145.06 BUSINESS DISTRICT SIGNS.
The following types, sizes and number of signs are permitted for each parcel in Business Districts (O-B, L-B and G-B) provided that appropriate sign permits have been issued.
(a) Residential Type Signs. Signs of the type described and as regulated in Section 1145.04 which are applicable to Business Districts.
(b) Building Wall Signs. Every such sign shall either be attached parallel to a wall of a building or be so constructed as to be an integral part of a wall of a building; shall not be attached to or project from the roof of a building; shall not extend beyond the top or end of the wall to which it is attached or of which it forms an integral part; shall not project more than eighteen inches (open space between building wall and back of sign) from a wall to which it is attached or from the wall of which it forms an integral part.
The following sign letter heights shall apply to all wall signs:
(1) For buildings with up to a seventy-five foot setback, the lettering shall not exceed twelve inches in height.
(2) For seventy-five plus feet to 150 feet setback, lettering shall not exceed twenty-four inches in height.
(3) For building setbacks in excess of 150 feet, lettering shall not exceed forty-eight inches in height.
(c) Marquee and Awning Signs. Such signs can only be attached to marquees and awnings which have been erected in conformance with the Building Code. Such signs shall exhibit only the name of the company, building or business and shall not face contiguous properties. In addition, signs shall be completely within the borderline of the marquee outer vertical surface where possible but in no instance shall the height of the lettering exceed twelve inches. Such signs shall in no instance be lower than ten feet above any automobile or pedestrian right-of-way. For this purpose, a continuous entrance roof shall be classified as a marquee and the above regulations shall apply.
(d) Window Signs. Only displays or signs pertaining directly to the business on the premises shall be allowed to be displayed in a window for exterior viewing providing such signs do not cover more than twenty-five percent (25%) of the area of the window, do not remain on display in excess of ten days and do not face contiguous properties.
(e) Projecting Signs. Buildings with a setback of at least forty feet from the street right of way on which it fronts shall be allowed to have a single projecting sign attached to the wall fronting on the public street and shall project at an angle not less than ninety degrees from the wall. Such signs shall be limited to a maximum of sixteen square feet in total area, shall not be located less than ten feet nor more than fourteen feet above grade and shall be securely attached to the building in a manner approved by the Building Commissioner. In addition, any face of a projecting sign shall not be less than five feet from a side lot line or party wall of another store unit. If a building is located on a lot which has two or more frontages on public streets and such frontages meet the approved setback distance then additional projecting signs as herein described shall be permitted for each such frontages but the sign area permitted by reason of multiple frontages shall not be aggregated so as to increase the total permitted area per parcel as listed in Section 1145.05.
(Ord. 5-1995. Passed 5-9-95.)
(f) Free-Standing Signs. One such sign advertising the name of the establishment or a product or a service shall be permitted for a single occupancy parcel. For a multi-tenant parcel where more than one business establishment is located on a single tract of land having an entrance or entrances or parking area or areas in common for the customers of such establishments, only one free-standing sign shall be authorized for the entire tract. The intent of this provision is to limit each shopping center, office building or similar joint operation to one free-standing sign to promote uniformity and to prevent visual pollution caused by a clutter of disharmonious signs. However, if a shopping center, office building or similar joint operation is contiguous to two major streets which provide a frontage for some of the establishments, then one free-standing sign for each street may be authorized.
The regulations for each specific type of free-standing sign are as follows:
(Ord. 44-2000. Passed 1-23-01.)
(1) Ground signs.
A. No person shall erect any ground sign whose total height is greater than seven feet above ground level. Such signs shall be located not less than fifteen feet from the street right of way and shall not exceed thirty-two square feet in area.’
(Ord. 22-2020. Passed 7-28-20.)
B. The base of all permanent ground signs shall be landscaped and the landscape materials and design shall be approved by the Planning and Zoning Commission.
C. All ground signs and premises surrounding the same shall be maintained by the owner thereof in a clean, sanitary and inoffensive condition, and free and clear of all obnoxious substance, rubbish and weeds.
(Ord. 44-2000. Passed 1-23-01.)
(2) The following general regulations apply to all types of free-standing signs:
A. All such signs of the free-standing type shall be considered as accessory to the main building signs and as such shall be included in the total aggregate sign area allowed per parcel or lot as so noted in Section 1145.05.
B. Any such free-standing sign shall contain not more than two display surfaces.
C. The faces of all such free-standing signs shall be at right angles to traffic on the roadway.
D. The same side yard line restrictions as those which apply to the main building structure shall apply except that no sign shall be closer than twenty-five feet to any adjacent property line within a business district and no closer than seventy-five feet to a residential zoning district line.
E. Directional signs which facilitate the flow of traffic are permitted at all ingresses and egresses to parking facilities provided on any parcel. Such signs shall be limited to three square feet in area for each sign and limited to a maximum height of four feet. The same location regulations as noted in Section 1145.04(b) shall apply. In addition, all directional signs shall be of a permanent construction and shall be approved by the Planning and Zoning Commission in terms of their location, design, style, color and materials.
(g) Multiple Frontage Buildings.
(1) If a building is located on a lot which has two or more frontages on a street of a Park-Commercial-Manufacturing or Business Zoning District and such frontages meet the approved set back distances, the attention signs as described in this section shall be permitted for each such frontage, but the sign area permitted by reason of multiple frontages shall not be aggregated so as to increase the total permitted area per parcel as listed in Section 1145.05.
(2) For the purpose of this section, "frontage" means property abutting, adjacent to, or contiguous with the street of a Park-Commercial-Manufacturing or Business District. Frontage specifically excludes property abutting, adjacent to or contiguous with a limited-access highway.
(Ord. 5-1995. Passed 5-9-95.)
(h) Multi-Tenant on Same Parcel. Where two or more adjacent stores on the same parcel have a similar or continuous marquee, canopy, permanent awning or building face, all signs shall be substantially similar in design and color. All signs shall be limited to three colors. For purposes of this section, white and black shall not be considered colors.
(Ord. 17-2001. Passed 5-8-01.)
(i) Real Estate Signs.
(1) One (1) for sale sign shall be permitted for a maximum of one (1) year or be removed within ten (10) days of completion of transaction whichever comes first.
(2) No person shall erect any sign attached to a building which has a height greater than six (6) feet above grade level and shall not exceed sixteen (16) square feet in area.
(3) No person shall erect any ground sign which has a total height that is greater than six (6) feet above grade level and shall not exceed thirty two (32) square feet in area. Such signs shall be located not less than fifteen (15) feet from a side yard. No sign shall be placed in a right of way and said sign must be a minimum of fifteen (15) feet from the street. The face of a freestanding sign shall be at a right angle to the traffic on the roadway.
(4) The Building Commissioner shall approve all for sale signs prior to the issuance of a building permit.
(5) Signs may have up to three (3) colors which black and white are not considered colors.
(j) Commercial for Lease and Rent Signs.
(1) One (1) for lease or rent signs shall be permitted for a period of six (6) months. The Building Commissioner may grant an extension for a second six (6) months, upon request and approval, on forms provided by the Building Commissioner.
(2) No person shall erect any sign attached to a building where the sign height is greater than six (6) feet from grade level and shall not exceed eight (8) square feet in area.
(3) No person shall place a sign in any existing window that exceeds twenty- five percent (25%) of the total window space.
(4) No person shall erect any ground sign whose total height is greater than six (6) feet above grade level and shall not exceed eight (8) square feet in total area. Such signs shall be located not less than fifteen (15) feet from the street right of way, and not less than twenty five (25) feet from the side setback. The face of a freestanding sign shall be at a right angle to the traffic on the roadway.
(5) The Building Commissioner shall approve all for lease or rent signs prior to the issuance of a building permit.
(6) Signs may have up to three (3) colors, black and white shall not be considered colors.
(Ord. 18-2010. Passed 10-12-10.)