The following signs shall be permitted in O-1, B-1, B-2 and B-3 zoning districts subject to the conditions and standards set forth within.
(A) Signs for residential uses in business districts. Signs for nonconforming residential uses in business districts shall be governed by the sign regulations for residential district uses set forth in this subchapter.
(B) Wall-mounted signs. Wall-mounted signs shall be permitted in business districts subject to the
following controls:
(1) Number. One wall-mounted sign shall be permitted per street frontage on each parcel. However, where more than one tenant share a building, one wall sign shall be permitted per tenant, and total permitted sign area shall be allocated on an equal basis to all tenants.
(2) Area. Total wall sign area shall not exceed 1½ square feet per lineal foot of building frontage.
(3) Location. Wall-mounted signs shall be located on the fronts of buildings, except that buildings located on a corner lot shall be permitted to have one wall-mounted sign on the side facing a street.
(4) Vertical dimensions. The maximum vertical dimension of any wall-mounted sign shall not exceed of the height of the building.
(5) Horizontal dimensions. The maximum horizontal dimension of any wall-mounted sign shall not exceed ¾ of the width of the building.
(6) Height. The top of a wall-mounted sign shall not be higher than whichever is lowest:
(a) 25 feet above grade.
(b) The top of the sills at the first level of windows above the first story.
(c) The height of the building facing the street on which the sign is located.
(7) Projection. Wall-mounted signs shall not project farther than 12 inches from the face of the wall.
(C) Ground or freestanding signs. Ground or freestanding signs shall be permitted in O-1, B-1, B-2 and B-3 districts subject to the following controls:
(1) Number. One ground or freestanding sign shall be permitted per street frontage on each parcel. If more than one tenant shares a building or shopping center, only one ground or freestanding sign shall be permitted, but the total sign area should be allocated on an equal basis to all tenants.
(2) Area. Where total parcel frontage is 64 feet or less, the total sign area shall not exceed 48 square feet. Where the total parcel frontage exceeds 64 feet, the total sign area shall not exceed ¾ of one square foot per lineal foot of parcel frontage, up to a maximum of 200 square feet, except that the maximum area of monolith signs shall be 125 square feet.
(3) Setback. A ground or freestanding sign shall be located on private property and no part of the sign or its structure shall extend beyond the established building line. No such sign shall project over public right-of-way.
(4) Distance from other signs. Ground or freestanding signs shall be located at least 35 feet from any other existing ground or freestanding sign. Where compliance with this standard would not be possible due to the close proximity of existing signs on adjacent parcels, installation of a ground or freestanding sign on an intervening parcel shall be permitted provided said sign is located midway between signs on adjacent parcels.
(5) Height. The top of a ground or freestanding sign shall not be higher than 25 feet.
(D) Marquees. Marquees shall be permitted in business districts subject to the following controls:
(1) Construction. Marquee signs shall consist of hard incombustible materials. The written message must be affixed flat to the vertical face of any marquee.
(2) Vertical clearance. A minimum vertical clearance of ten feet shall be provided beneath any marquee sign.
(3) Projection. Limitations imposed by this chapter on the projection of signs from the face of the wall of a building or structure shall not apply to marquee signs.
(4) Number. One marquee shall be permitted per street frontage.
(5) Area. Total marquee sign area shall not exceed 1½ square feet per lineal foot of building frontage.
(E) Signs on awnings and canopies. Signs shall be permitted on awnings and canopies in business districts subject to the following controls:
(1) Lettering and logo area. The total area of the lettering and logo shall not exceed 25% of the total area of the awning or canopy that is visible from the street.
(2) Vertical clearance. A minimum vertical clearance of eight feet shall be provided beneath any awning or canopy.
(3) Construction. The written message must be affixed flat to the face of any awning or canopy.
(4) Projection. Limitations imposed by this chapter on the projection of signs from the face of a wall of a building or structure shall not apply to awnings or canopies.
(5) Height. The top of a wall-mounted sign shall not be higher than whichever is lowest:
(a) 25 feet above grade.
(b) The height of the building facing the street on which the sign is located.
(6) An awning or canopy sign shall only be permitted in lieu of a wall-mounted sign, a ground or freestanding sign, a marquee, a gasoline price sign, a time/temperature/stock market sign or roof sign otherwise permitted on the subject property.
(F) Cloth and banner signs (temporary). Temporary cloth and banner signs shall be permitted in business districts subject to the following controls:
(1) Duration. Temporary cloth and banner signs shall be erected for no longer than 30 days. Damaged signs shall be removed or repaired immediately.
(2) Area. Such signs shall not exceed 48 square feet in area.
(3) Number. One temporary cloth or banner sign shall be permitted per street frontage.
(4) Location. No such sign shall extend beyond the building line or into a public right-of-way or obstruct points of escape from buildings or structures.
(5) Illumination. Cloth or banner signs shall not be purposely illuminated.
(6) Bond. Permits for temporary cloth or banner signs may be obtained from the Building Official or other official responsible for code enforcement. A cash bond, as established by resolution of City Council and may be amended from time to time, shall be posted with the Building Official or other official responsible for code enforcement with each temporary sign application. The cash bond shall be released to the applicant upon removal of the temporary sign in compliance with the time stated on the application.
(G) Window signs. Temporary and permanent window signs shall be permitted on the inside in commercial or office districts provided that the total combined area of such signs does not exceed of the total window area. The area of permanent window signs shall be counted in determining compliance with standards for total area of wall-mounted signs on the parcel. Temporary window signs that are faded, yellowed, ripped or otherwise damaged shall be removed immediately.
(H) Roof signs. Roof signs shall be permitted in business districts after Planning Commission recommendation and City Council review and approval. The City Council shall grant approval of a roof sign only if the Council determines that either of the following conditions exists.
(1) A permitted wall or freestanding sign could not be easily seen by passing motorists due to the configuration of existing buildings, trees, or other obstructions.
(2) A permitted wall or freestanding sign could not be erected in a location that is visible to passing motorists because of the unavailability of land or wall area.
(3) If conditions (A) and (B) above are met as determined by the City Council, the following requirements shall be complied with:
(a) Area. Total sign area of roof signs shall not exceed 40 square feet.
(b) Height. The top of a roof sign shall not be higher than six feet above the top of the roof or parapet.
(c) Number. One roof sign shall be permitted per street frontage. Where more than one tenant share a building total permitted sign area shall be allocated on an equal basis to all tenants.
(d) Location. Roof signs shall be located on the fronts of buildings, except that buildings located on a corner lot shall be permitted to have one roof sign on the side facing the street.
(e) Vertical dimensions. The maximum vertical dimension of any roof sign shall not exceed of the height of the building.
(f) Horizontal dimensions. The maximum horizontal dimension of any roof sign shall not exceed ¾ of the width of the building.
(g) Distance from utilities. Roof signs shall be located at least four feet from any utility poles, at least five feet from any 600 volt utility conductor, and at least eight feet from any 13,200 volt utility conductor.
(I) Required street address. For the purposes of public safety, the street number of every building shall be prominently displayed on a side of the building facing the street, using numbers that are at least five inches in height.
(Ord. 792, passed 12-3-01; Am. Ord. passed 2-20-17)
Cross-reference:
Tables and figures, see § 155.253. Table 12-3