(a) Area of Single-Faced Signs. The area of a single-faced sign (which also is the area of a wall sign or other sign with only one face) shall be computed by means of the smallest square, circle, rectangle, triangle, or combination thereof that will encompass the extreme limits of the copy, representation, emblem, or other display.
(1) The area of a sign, or any portion thereof, shall include the area of any distinctive or ornamental background, apart from striping, which sets the background apart from a larger surface so that the background forms an integral part or element of the sign, including any frame that forms an integral part of the display or is used to differentiate the sign from the backdrop or structure against which it is placed. The area of a sign for an awning is the copy area only.
(2) If any portion of the words, symbols or pictorial elements of a sign extends beyond a border or background, then the area of that portion of the sign shall be the area of a rectangle inscribed around it;
(b) Area of Multi-Faced Signs. With respect to signs with two or more faces, the area shall be computed by including the total of all sides designed to attract attention or communicate information. Without otherwise limiting the generality of the foregoing, the following regulations shall apply:
(1) Double-faced, back-to-back sign. The area of a double-faced, back-to-back sign where both faces cannot be viewed from any point at the same time and where such sign faces are part of the same sign structure and are not more than twelve inches (12") apart shall be calculated by using the area of only one face of such sign (the largest face if there is a size difference).
(2) Double-faced sign constructed in the form of a "V." The area of a double-faced sign constructed in the form of a "V" shall be calculated by using the area of only one side of such sign (i.e., the larger side if there is a size difference), so long as the sign faces are part of the same sign structure and the interior angle of the "V" does not exceed thirty (30) degrees and at no point does the distance between the backs of such sides exceed five (5) feet.
(3) Signs with three or more faces. The area of a sign with three (3) or more sides where such sign faces are part of the same sign structure shall be computed by adding the areas of each of the faces, less the area of the smallest face;
(4) Non-planar signs. The area of a spherical, free-form, sculptural, or other non-planar sign shall be seventy-five (75) percent of the sum of the areas of the four (4) vertical sides of the smallest cube that will encompass the sign.
(c) Computation of Height for Freestanding Signs. The height of a sign shall be computed as the distance from the base of the sign at a normal grade to the top of the highest attached component of the sign.
(1) Normal grade shall be construed to be the lower of the existing grade before construction or the grade after construction, exclusive of any fill, berm, mound, or excavating solely for the purpose of locating the sign.
(2) If the normal grade cannot reasonably be determined, then sign height shall be computed on the assumption that the elevation of the normal grade at the base of the sign is equal to the elevation of the nearest point of the crown of the adjacent public street or the grade of the land at the principal entrance to the principal structure on the development site, whichever is lower.
(d) Determining Number of Signs. For the purpose of computing the number of signs, a sign shall be considered to be a single display surface or display device containing elements organized, related, and composed to form a unit. Where copy is displayed without an organized relationship of elements, each element shall be considered a single sign.
(e) Street Frontage.
(1) Lots fronting on two (2) or more streets are allowed the permitted wall sign area for each street frontage. However, the total wall sign area that is oriented toward a particular street shall not exceed the maximum sign area allocation for that street.
(2) For a lot situated such that it has no street frontage on any lot boundary, the total sign surface area permitted on that lot shall be the sign area allocation for the lot, building, or wall area closest to the street toward which such sign is to be oriented.