(A) Illuminated or non-illuminated business signs are allowed in the CN, C-1, C-2, C-3, C-M, EZ-1, M-1, M-2 and M-3 Districts subject to the restrictions set forth in divisions (B) through (E).
(B) Attached Signs. An attached sign for the purpose of this section shall mean a business sign painted on or mounted on and parallel to the facade of a building. No building shall have more than four facades.
(1) There shall be not more than three attached signs on any one facade of a building, subject to the total maximum sign area requirement set forth below, except that multiple use buildings may have one sign per facade and one additional sign for each business, subject to the total maximum sign area requirement set forth below.
(2) The total area encompassed by all attached signs, including those on awnings or canopies, on any one facade of the building shall not exceed:
Area of Facade of Building | Maximum Sign Area |
Less than 500 square feet | 20% of Building Facade Area |
Greater than or equal to 500 less than 1,000 square feet | 100 square feet plus 15% of but the amount by which Building Area exceeds 500 square feet |
Greater than or equal to 1000 but less than 3,500 square feet | 175 square feet plus 5% of the amount by which Building Facade Area exceeds 1000 square feet. |
Greater than or equal to 3,500 square feet | 300 square feet |
(3) An attached sign mounted parallel to the exterior walls of a building may project up to 18 inches from the surface to which it is mounted. In the instance of a building on the property line, an attached sign constructed flat on the face of such building may extend into the right-of-way no further than 18 inches from the surface of such building. An attached sign mounted to a slanted (inclined) exterior surface may be mounted in the vertical upright position as long as the sign does not project beyond 18 inches at the point of attachment. No such sign shall extend more than five feet above the highest point of the exterior wall to which it is attached. No such sign shall be mounted on any roof. No such sign shall extend to a height greater than 25 feet above ground, except that buildings located in the C-3 District and hospitals may have an attached sign of any height.
(a) Awning signs may project up to 48 inches from the facade to which they are mounted.
(b) Canopy signs may project up to 96 inches from the facade to which they are mounted.
(c) Awnings and canopies containing signs must be mounted no more than three feet above the ceiling of the first floor of the building. The area of all awning and canopy signs shall be included as part of the total allowable signage on any one facade of a building as listed in division (B)(2) of this section.
(d) Whenever an awning or canopy contains signage and is internally illuminated (illuminated canopy and awning signs) the entire surface area of the awning or canopy is to be considered a sign when calculating the allowable area for signage.
(4) In addition to the permanent attached signs allowed herein, temporary banners (cloth, plastic or other nonrigid material with no enclosing framework) are allowed in the C-N, C-1, C2, C-3, C-M, EZ-1, M-1, M-2 and M-3 Districts upon the issuance of a permit by the authorized city official.
(a) Said permit shall be issued for a period not to exceed 30 consecutive days and for cumulative periods not to exceed 60 days in any calendar year, with a separate permit required for each period of display. In addition to any other penalty provided herein or by separate ordinance, the display of any banner without a permit shall cause the forfeiture of two days of entitlement for each day the banner is displayed without a permit.
(b) Only one such temporary banner shall be allowed on any business premises.
(c) The area of such a banner shall not exceed 50% of the sign area allowed for permanent attached business signs on the building facade to which the banner is affixed.
(d) Said banner shall be of a square or rectangular design having all four corners secured with wire, steel, or nylon cord of appropriate strength.
(e) Immediately upon expiration of the permit, said temporary banner shall be removed.
(f) Any banner being displayed for which a valid permit has nor been issued, shall be deemed an unlawful, un-permittable sign. Any person found to be in control of the premises shall be given 24 hours to remove said banner or it may be removed by the authorized city official at the owner's expense.
(C) Freestanding signs. In addition to the attached signs allowed above, illuminated or non-illuminated freestanding signs are allowed subject to the following restrictions:
(1) No freestanding sign shall be located in or project over or into the right-of-way or into any adjoining property.
(2) No sign shall be higher than 35 feet in the C-N and C-1 Districts, nor higher than 40 feet in the C-2, CM, EZ-1, M-1, M-2 and M-3 Districts unless specifically exempted elsewhere in this section.
(3) No freestanding sign shall encroach into a required yard.
(4) When a freestanding sign is allowed at the front or street side property line, such sign shall not exceed 20 feet in height. For each one and one-half feet setback from the front or street side property line, whichever is nearest to the sign, the maximum height may increase six inches. However, no portion of a sign within five feet of the front or street side property line may be closer than ten feet to the ground, except for directional signs of the dimensions allowed in these regulations. In no case shall a freestanding sign exceed 35 feet in height, except as noted in division (C)(2)above.
(5) The maximum area of one face of any freestanding sign shall not exceed in square feet the following percentage of the square of the maximum permitted sign height:
(a) 12% in the C-N Neighborhood Commercial District.
(b) 16% in the C-1, C-2 and C-M Commercial Districts.
(c) 20% in the EZ-1, M-1, M-2 and M-3 Industrial Districts.
(Example: maximum area of a sign ten feet from the front property line in a C-2 zone is 16% x 23 x 23).
*(d) An additional 25% (to a maximum of 32 square feet) of the allowable sign square footage can be added if used exclusively as a reader board.
(*Example: maximum area of a sign ten feet from the front property line in a C-2 zone is 16% x 23 x 23 = 84.64 sq. ft. plus 21.16 sq. ft. for a reader board sign).
(6) No sign shall have more than four faces.
(7) A lot fronting only on one street shall have not more than one freestanding sign except as allowed by division (C)(9) below.
(8) A lot fronting on two streets shall be allowed to have two freestanding signs. If two signs are to be used the total maximum combined area of the two signs shall not exceed the maximum sign area of the one freestanding sign allowed on lots fronting on only one street. See "Street" definition.
(9) The maximum area of each face of a freestanding sign as calculated by division (C)(5) hereof may be increased by 20% if the sign is located on a lot with more than 300 feet of frontage on a public street, by 35% if the sign is located on a lot with more than 450 feet of frontage on a public street and by 50% if the sign is located on a lot with more than 600 feet of frontage on a public street. In the alternative a lot with more than 450 feet of public street frontage shall be allowed to have one additional freestanding sign, but if such additional sign is placed on the lot the maximum area of each freestanding sign shall be calculated as provided by division (C)(5) and the maximum area of each such sign shall not be embellished by the foregoing provisions of this division (9).
(10) An outdoor advertising sign, if otherwise permitted, shall not be counted in determining compliance with divisions (C)(7), (8), and (9) above.
(11) No lot shall have a freestanding sign unless the building situated on that lot is set back at least 15 feet from the front and street side property line.
(D) Freestanding directional signs. Freestanding directional signs, i.e., signs used primarily to direct on premise vehicular or pedestrian circulation or traffic, are allowed to a maximum height of three feet, with a maximum area of five square feet. Such signs shall not be counted toward the number of freestanding signs allowed on a lot. One single faced "Menu Board" type sign is allowed for a "drive through" facility and shall not be counted toward the number of freestanding signs allowed, provided such sign is no larger than 16 square feet.
(E) Projecting signs. Buildings on lots which contain no freestanding sign (other than a freestanding directional sign) may not have more than one sign which projects perpendicularly from the facade (but not the roof) of the building providing that the sign does not exceed 32 square feet in area, does not extend below nine feet above the ground or sidewalk, or more than seven feet from the facade of the building, or closer than two feet to the abutting roadway. The area of the projecting sign shall be part of the total allowable signage allowed on any one facade of the building as listed in § 153.04(B)(2) of this subchapter.
(F) Illuminated or non-illuminated business signs are allowed in the OTF District subject to the following restrictions:
(1) One freestanding sign is allowed for each motel or hotel, which sign shall not exceed 30 square feet in area and shall not exceed a height of ten feet above ground.
(2) In addition, freestanding directional signs subject to the requirements of division (D) are allowed.
(G) Signs erected in the PRO and PEC Districts shall be subject to the following regulations:
(1) Individual business signs facing each bordering street shall be limited in total surface area to three square feet for each linear foot of street frontage of the lot, provided that such sign shall not exceed a maximum of 300 square feet. Directional signs may be erected in the required front yard but shall not exceed six square feet in area.
(2) One Industrial Park identification sign shall be allowed on each street on which the Industrial Park fronts and shall not exceed a maximum of 300 square feet in area.
(3) Advertising signs are prohibited.
(4) No sign in the PRO and PEC Districts shall have flashing or intermittent illumination.
(H) One business sign for each business site located in the W-3 District is allowed provided that such sign shall not exceed 300 square feet in area or 35 feet in height and shall be made a part of the architectural design of the building or the landscape development of the site. In addition, freestanding directional signs subject to the requirements of division (D) are allowed.
(I) Special Provisions. A single use building may have one attached sign furnishing emergency telephone numbers or other such emergency information. Such a sign shall not be counted toward the number of attached signs allowed provided it does not exceed one square foot in area. Multiple use buildings may have one such emergency sign for each independent use. A sign in a gasoline service station identifying a self service and/or full service pump island may be attached to canopy supports or light standards over a pump island at a height greater than the three feet allowed for other directional signs, provided the area of such a sign does not exceed five square feet.
(Ord. 97-01, passed 3-24-97)