(A) Permitted signs. Within the Business A District, as designated on the building zone map, only the following signs shall be permitted subject to the provisions of this chapter and in conformance with requirements of the State Basic Building Code.
(1) Signs as permitted and as regulated in residential districts as specified in § 151.126, except as otherwise provided herein;
(2) Each business occupant directly abutting a street or off-street parking lot in Business A District shall be permitted only one “identification sign”, with the following exceptions:
(a) In the case of premises abutting more than one street, or an off-street parking area, the occupant may install one “identification sign” facing each street and off-street parking area;
(b) In the case of a “truncated building” the occupant may install one identification sign parallel to the diagonal wall of the building and one identification sign facing one street;
(c) In premises containing multiple occupants, there may be one “development” or building name identification sign;
(d) In premises containing multiple occupants who do not have direct access onto a street or off-street parking, and use common corridors to exit, there may be one “directory sign” which lists the occupants therein. This sign may be a “freestanding” or “wall” sign. Such sign shall be limited in area to one square foot per corporate or individual tenant; and provided further, that such total area shall not exceed 20 square feet in area. If “freestanding”, the highest point of sign, including support structure, may be no higher than eight feet above grade. All such signs must be non- illuminated or “front-lit”; or
(e) In premises containing multiple occupants whose business directly abuts or faces a
street or off-street parking, there may be one identification sign for each business facing each abutting street or off-street parking lot.
(3) Permitted identification signs shall be as follows:
(a) Signs lettered on the glass surface of windows or doors of the premises not exceeding in area more than 25% of the total available window and door area; provided, that the maximum letter size shall be six inches high and six inches wide, that there shall be no background, and that the glass shall remain untinted and undisturbed. A sign lettered on the glass surface of a window or door may be either an identification sign or an incidental sign;
(b) “Pier, pilaster, or column identification” signs horizontally centered on a pier, pilaster, or column. Such signs shall not exceed 12 square feet in area, with a maximum height of four feet and a maximum width of three feet; provided, that a visible border of the wall of not less than six inches shall be maintained at all edges of the sign-encompassing rectangle;
(c) “Entablature identification signs” on the frieze of an entablature, with a maximum height of 12 inches; provided, that a visible border of not less than three inches between letters and top and bottom edges of sign-encompassing rectangle, that a visible border of the frieze of not less than six inches shall be maintained at each of the side edges of the sign encompassing rectangle, and that no decorative elements of the entablature shall be covered by the sign;
(d) “Upper wall sign” not exceeding 25 square feet in area, with a maximum height of three feet; provided, that a visible border of the wall of not less than 12 inches shall be maintained at each of the top and bottom edges of the sign-encompassing rectangle, that a visible border of the wall of not less than 16 inches shall be maintained at each of the side edges of the sign encompassing rectangle. Exception: when the building is setback more than 25 feet from the front property line, in order to allow equivalent visibility, the sign may increase its area to a maximum of 40 square feet if installed at a height of at least 20 feet above grade and with proportional increases in edging and border dimensions as indicated above and including the lettering, which may increase in size by one inch for every 30 feet beyond the first 25 feet;
(e) “Awning identification signs” on a front valance (skirt) of a permitted awning with lettering and/or a logo not exceeding eight inches in height adhering to the letter requirements set forth in § 151.130(C); provided, that a visible border of the front valance (skirt) of not less than three inches shall be maintained at all edges of the sign-encompassing rectangle. Exception: an awning sign may increase letter, graphics, or logo size by one inch for every 30 feet beyond the first 25 feet from the property line;
(f) “Canopy identification signs” on either, but not both, a front or the sides of a permitted canopy with lettering and/or a logo not exceeding eight inches in height adhering to the letter requirements set forth in § 151.130(C); provided, that a visible border of not less than three inches shall be maintained at all edges of the sign;
(g) A theater marquee with the following provisions:
1. A marquee sign shall not exceed one-half square foot for each foot of the horizontal dimension of the wall to which the marquee is attached; provided, that such total not exceed 100 square feet;
2. A marquee sign shall not extend beyond the horizontal or vertical limits of the marquee; or
3. The sign may be an “identification sign” and/or a “business sign” announcing the events conducted upon the premises. Note: in addition to a marquee, a theater may have one identification sign.
(4) Permitted incidental signs shall be as follows:
(a) One “incidental sign”, not exceeding two square feet in area, containing credit card and security information, hours of operation, and other like information on a window, entrance, door, or door recess area of the premises of a business or occupation;
(b) One “logo” as an accompaniment for, or in addition to, the principal identification sign. Such logo shall not exceed three square feet in size, nor shall it exceed 25% of the total size, nor of the total height of the accompanying identification sign;
(c) One menu board incidental sign, not exceeding three square feet in area, on or adjacent to an entrance door to a restaurant;
(d) “Interior display sign” or “window sign”, “illuminated or non-illuminated signs”, including “front-lit”, “back-lit letter”, exclusive of merchandise displays, installed behind a window and visible to vehicular and pedestrian traffic; provided, that the maximum letter size on such sign shall be six inches high and six inches wide; or
(e) “Incidental signs” not exceeding two square feet in area reasonably necessary to designate a parking lot or an entrance other than the principal entrance of a business or occupation conducted on the premises. Such signs may be wall signs or freestanding.
(5) Permitted temporary signs shall be as follows:
(a) Construction signs as specified in § 151.131(A)(3);
(b) Real estate signs as specified in § 151.131(A)(4); or
(c) Temporary product signs and signs announcing special sales or promotions, installed only on the inside of windows or doors, not exceeding more than 25% of the total available window area. Such signs must be removed no later than 60 days after erection.
(B) Prohibited signs. All signs, announcements, declarations, demonstrations, displays, or insignia, other than those specified in division (A) above, shall be prohibited, including the following signs which shall be expressly prohibited in any Residential or Business A:
(1) Roof signs (see also § 151.130(F)(4));
(2) Billboards including signs attached to a building or supported independently in the form of a board, panel, or table used for the display of posters, printed or painted advertising matter;
(3) Signs painted on the walls of buildings;
(4) Exposed neon signs, symbols, and logos installed on the exterior of building or behind a window or door on the interior and visible to pedestrian traffic;
(5) Full back-lit signs, except as theater identification sign or marquee;
(6) Projecting yard and street signs suspended from a stem or building overhang and extending perpendicular to a face of a building;
(7) Freestanding signs, except as permitted in § 151.126(A)(3) and (A)(6), and division (A)(2)(d) above, with the exception that pylon signs, pole signs, and ground signs are expressly forbidden;
(8) Flashing signs and signs incorporating movement or the illusion of movement, including lighted electronic information displays such as, but not limited to, electronic message centers and time and temperature units which periodically change information;
(9) Advertising signs, political signs, or handbills, posters, or notices of any kind, political or otherwise, in or upon any curbstone, lamp post, telephone pole, electric light or power pole, hydrant, public drinking fountain, public trash container, courtesy bench, tree, or any portion of any public sidewalk, street, or sign;
(10) Flags, banners or streamers used for celebrations, are permitted if approved by the Mayor. National, state, and municipal flags are permitted unless excessive size and/or height is utilized for advertising or business promotion, in which case they are strictly forbidden;
(11) Mobile signs;
(12) Signs, including support structures, which interfere with fire force. No sign shall be constructed, maintained, or erected in any way that will interfere with the proper and convenient protection of property by the Fire Department or with public safety or convenience;
(13) Signs, including support structures, obstructing traffic visibility or which may interfere with vehicular or pedestrian safety. No sign of any kind shall be erected in such a manner as to obstruct the line of sight of traffic or traffic lights at intersections;
(14) Radios, phonographs, tape recorders, whistles, bells, gongs, sirens, or other sound or noise- making devices in connection with signs or used separately for advertising purposes;
(15) Off-premises signs;
(16) Abandoned signs which no longer identify a bona fide business, lessor, service, owner, product, or activity, or for which no legal owner can be found;
(17) Searchlights used for advertising purposes;
(18) Balloon signs;
(19) Signs determined by the Building Commissioner to be unsafe or insecure;
(20) Signs containing words, phrases, symbols, or characters, such as “stop” or “danger”, which might mislead, interfere with, or confuse traffic; or
(21) Signs or advertising containing obscene material when considered by the standards of the community.
(2000 Code, § 151.127) (Ord. O-4-96, passed 3-25-1996; Ord. O-9-98, passed 1-12-1998)