1179.03 SIGN AREA MEASUREMENT AND BASIC REGULATIONS.
The following regulations shall control the computation and measurement of sign area, sign height, window area, and building frontage:
(a) Determining Sign Area or Dimension.
(1) Sign area shall include the entire face of the sign. Sign area shall not include the frame and structural support unless such structural support is determined to constitute an integral part of the sign design;
(2) For a sign that is framed, outlined, painted, or otherwise prepared and intended to provide a background for a sign display, the area of the sign shall be the area of one (1) rectangular shape that encompasses the entire background or frame; and
(3) For a sign comprised of individual letters, figures or elements on a wall or similar surface of a building or structure, or an irregular shaped freestanding sign, the area of the sign shall encompass a regular, or a combination of regular geometric shapes which form, or approximate, the perimeter of all the elements in the display. When separate elements are organized to form a single sign but the elements are separated by open space, the area shall be calculated by determining the geometric form or combination of forms which comprise all the display area including the space between the elements. Incidental letters or symbols (e.g., the "y" in Payless shoes) that fall outside the geometric shape used to calculate area shall not be used.
(4) For freestanding signs and projecting signs:
A. The sign area shall be computed by the measurement of one (1) of the faces when two (2) identical display faces are joined, are parallel, or within thirty (30) degrees of being parallel to each other and are at no point separated by a distance that exceeds two feet apart; and
B. No more than two (2) display faces shall be permitted.
(b) Determining Sign Height. The height of a sign shall be measured from the average natural grade at the base of the sign or support structure to the tallest element of the calculated sign area. A freestanding sign on a man-made base, including a graded earth mound, shall be measured from the average site grade prior to the addition of the sign.
(c) Determining Building Frontage and Building Unit. For the purposes of these sign regulations, the length of the building wall that faces a public street, that faces a public parking lot, or that contains a public entrance to the uses therein shall be considered the building frontage. See subsection 1179.03(c)(5) and (6) below.
(1) Each building frontage shall be entitled to the sign area permitted in this Chapter. However, there shall be no more than one (1) sign on each building frontage, excluding window signage;
(2) The building frontage shall be measured along such building wall between the exterior faces of the exterior side walls;
(3) In the case of an irregular wall surface, a single straight line extended along such wall surface shall be used to measure the length;
(4) For multi-occupant buildings, the portion of a building that is owned or leased by a single occupant shall be considered a building unit. The building frontage for a building unit shall be measured from the centerline of the party walls defining the building unit;
(5) The primary frontage shall be the portion of a frontage that serves as the main access point to a building or building unit. A site/building will be considered to have secondary frontage when any of the following site/building characteristics are present:
A. The subject site is a corner lot;
B. The primary parking area is not located adjacent to a public street; and,
C. The building or unit has walls with ingress and egress that do not face the public street.
(6) When a site has primary and secondary frontage as defined in subsection 1179.03(c)(5), the property owner shall determine which wall shall be the primary building frontage and which wall(s) shall be the secondary building frontage; and
(7) Only one outside wall of any business shall be considered its primary frontage.
(d) Determining Window Area. The window area of a building shall be the total glass area of windows on the building frontage. For the purposes of determining window area for ground floor occupants, the ground floor shall be considered to be no more than fifteen (15) feet in height above grade.
(f) Maximum Area Regulations.
(1) Signs in the respective zoning districts shall conform to the maximum area requirements specified in this Code; and
(2) The maximum permitted area for identification signs is two square feet for each lineal foot of building frontage. This maximum area applies to the total of all types of identification signs (wall, projecting or freestanding) nameplates, instructional signs, directional signs subject to the following exemptions:
A. Directional signs clearly intended to direct traffic and which have an area less than four (4) square feet per sign face;
B. Instructional signs;
C. Nameplates, when they are separate from identification signs, are located near the main entrance, are wall (including window) signs, only contain the street number and name of the establishment and shall not exceed two (2) square feet;
D. Required public safety signs. Such signs shall comply with the regulations set forth in the Manual for Uniform Traffic Control Devices; and
E. Temporary signs.
(3) Except for signs in windows or on doors there shall be no more than one identification sign on each building face entitled to have identification.
(4) For multiple-family or institutional uses, the Zoning Administrator or Planning Commission, as authorized, may approve greater areas for identification signs if they determine, because of the large size of the facility and its site, that the proposed larger sign will be consistent with the objectives, intent and criteria of this chapter.
(Ord. 96-2019. Passed 1-9-20.)