(a) No signs are permitted unless expressly allowed by the provisions of this chapter.
(b) Any sign that can be displayed under the provisions of this chapter may contain non-commercial copy.
(c) Signs shall be constructed of durable materials which are of appropriate quality and which are compatible with the materials of the building upon which such signs are placed. Wood or metal shall have a durable finish able to withstand routine environmental wear.
(d) Signs shall not be placed on any utility poles or utility equipment (unless pertaining to its use or operation and required to be placed there by the utility), hydrants, rocks/boulders, trees or other vegetation.
(e) No sign shall have more than two faces, which must be parallel to one another and within twenty-four (24) inches, unless a specific provision of this chapter requires a lesser dimension.
(f) Off-Premise and Abandoned Signs.
(1) Off-premise signs are prohibited.
(2) Signs which are abandoned or which are accessory to an abandoned use of property are prohibited. A use shall be determined abandoned if it has voluntarily ceased for a period of at least sixty (60) days, unless the use is typically seasonal.
(g) Obstructions.
(1) No sign shall be erected, relocated or maintained so as to prevent free ingress or egress, or block any light or ventilation openings. No sign shall be located or attached so as to obstruct emergency facilities or equipment.
(2) No sign shall be erected within the area of any sight triangle unless it is no greater than three (3) feet in height and does not otherwise obstruct free and clear vision within the sight triangle.
(3) No sign shall interfere, or otherwise cause visual conflict, in whole or in part, with any authorized traffic control sign, signal or device by virtue of the placement, color, or illumination of the sign.
(4) No sign shall be designed in such a manner that it is substantially similar in appearance to any authorized traffic control sign, signal or device, as set forth in the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices, as amended, because of its shape, use of color, or other design elements when the sign has the potential to cause confusion for motorists or pedestrians with an actual authorized traffic control sign, signal or device.
(h) Sexually Oriented Copy.
(1) No sign shall display any obscene matter, as defined by Section 533.01(f) of the Codified Ordinances.
(2) No sign shall depict or describe any specified sexual activities or specified anatomical areas, as defined by Section 1127.01 of this Code.
(i) Animation and Movement.
(1) Animated signs are prohibited.
(2) No sign shall have visible moving, revolving or rotating parts or visible mechanical movement of any kind.
(3) No sign shall emit any fire, smoke, steam, odor, or sound.
(4) The full copy of an electronic message center must remain fully static for a minimum of eight (8) seconds and any changes in the copy must occur within one-tenth (0.1) of a second.
(j) Illumination and Luminance.
(1) Artificial illumination for signs shall be concentrated on the area of the copy.
(2) Signs that are internally illuminated and electronic message centers shall not exceed the following luminance level:
A. 100 candelas per square meter (cd/m2) from dusk until dawn
(3) Signs that are internally illuminated and electronic message centers shall have a manufacturer's certification that their luminance will not exceed the limits set forth in subsection (2) above. Certification is required to be made in conjunction with permit application pursuant to Section 1171.08 and is subject to field inspection once installed. Luminance limits are for the sign's maximum output (e.g., white screen in the case of electronic message centers) and shall be measured from a distance of thirty (30) feet from the sign face at not more than a ninety (90) degree angle from the sign face.
(4) No sign shall have any lights or illumination that flash, move, rotate, scintillate, blink, flicker, vary in intensity or color, or use intermittent electrical pulses.
(5) No sign shall be illuminated so as to cause objectionable brightness or glare into or onto any adjacent property or any right-of-way.
(6) Use of search lights, floodlights, and other such manner of directed light into the atmosphere is prohibited.
(k) Inflatable signs, inclusive of balloons used as signs, are prohibited.
(l) Wall Signs.
(1) A wall sign shall project no more than eighteen (18) inches from the surface or wall to which it is attached. No wall sign shall extend any closer than twelve (12) inches to either the top or side edges of the surface or wall to which it is attached. No wall sign shall cover or obscure any wall opening.
(2) No wall sign shall be erected at a height greater than thirty (30) feet above grade.
(3) No wall sign shall be nearer than three (3) feet to any other sign, nor nearer than five (5) feet to any other building or structure.
(4) Wall signs painted directly upon any wall are prohibited. Mural and pictorial images are included in this prohibition.
(5) A wall sign may only be mounted on the building unit which houses the user erecting the sign.
(m) Canopy Signs.
(1) Only one canopy sign shall be permitted per building entrance canopy or freestanding canopy structure.
(2) No canopy sign shall project more than two (2) inches from the canopy to which it is attached. No canopy sign shall extend any closer than four (4) inches to either the top or side edges of the canopy to which it is attached.
(3) No canopy sign shall be nearer than two (2) feet to any other sign, nor nearer than five (5) feet to any other building or structure.
(n) Window and Door Signs.
(1) No window sign or door sign shall (i) exceed twenty-five (25%) percent of the total area of the window or door in which it is displayed, and (ii) the cumulative area of all such signs shall not exceed the lesser of: (a) 25% of the total glass area of the building frontage, or, (b) forty (40) square feet. For purposes of this section, a window is the entire area of a window notwithstanding any sectionalized panes (where contiguous windows are separated by a mullion providing structural building support, then, those shall be deemed separate windows).
(2) The total area for window/door signs as permitted and calculated by subsection (n)(1) above may be divided between the building frontage windows/doors and windows/doors on the side building elevations.
(3) Where lighting, a border, background, or any other special treatment or combination thereof is used in conjunction with a window or door sign, the sign area shall be computed as including these areas.
(o) Flags.
(1) No freestanding flagpole shall exceed forty (40) feet in height.
(2) No flagpole shall be attached to the roof of a building.
(3) No more than one flagpole shall be permitted for each one hundred fifty (150) feet of frontage, or portion thereof.
(4) No flagpole shall be constructed closer to any lot line than the length of the flagpole or the required building setback, whichever is greater.
(5) Flags shall be proportioned to the height of the flagpole and shall not exceed the sizes indicated for the various corresponding pole heights shown below (for poles of lesser height or a height that varies from those enumerated herein, the flag shall be proportioned utilizing these figures as a guideline, however, mathematical precision is not required and proportions may be approximate):
Flagpole Height (ft.) | Maximum Flag Size (ft.) |
20 | 4 x 6 |
25 | 5 x 8 |
40 | 6 x 10 |
(6) No flag shall hang, when fully unfurled, less than (i) eight (8) feet above grade when hung over a pedestrian walkway, or, (ii) less than fifteen (15) feet above grade when hung over a vehicular driveway or parking area.
(p) Banners. Banners may be used only temporarily in accordance with and subject to the regulations contained in this chapter. No banner may be constructed of paper.
(q) Changeable Copy Area. An area for changeable copy is permitted on ground and wall signs but shall be limited to fifty percent (50%) of the permitted sign area, per sign. If the area of changeable copy will have signs placed thereon mounted on a medium not suited for extended exterior use, then, the changeable copy area shall be protected from direct exposure to the elements by use of a glass or plastic cover, properly secured to the sign structure.
(Ord. 12-O-60. Passed 9-4-12.)
(r) Ground Signs.
(1) Ground signs shall only be erected within the area of the lot frontage.
(2) The supporting structure, including but not limited to pillars, end and top caps, are all part of the allowable sign area.
(3) Ground signs shall not have gaps, cut-outs, or penetrations but instead should be a solid face or area without openings. Ground signs that require internal support members or posts shall not have them exposed or visible whatsoever from external view at a height greater than two (2) feet above grade.
(4) Ground signs shall be designed for vertical orientation. The width of a ground sign shall not exceed its height.
(6) Permanent Ground Signs. When a ground sign is required to be of permanent construction pursuant to the provisions of this chapter, then, the ground sign shall comply with the following design requirements:
A. The sign shall either (i) rest and be affixed to a solid base for its support, or, (ii) if it has support members or posts exposed or visible from external view (but in no case to exceed a height of two (2) feet above grade in accordance with subsection (r)(3) above), then, it shall have low growth vegetation planted and continuously maintained around its base of sufficient height to conceal from view the support members or posts. Except to the limited extent permitted herein, pole signs or signs principally supported by poles or posts do not constitute ground signs and are not permitted.
B. The sign shall be installed with a permanent footer in accordance with all applicable Building Code requirements.
C. The support base, pillars, and end caps, if any, shall be constructed of brick or other masonry material matching that of the principal building on the lot.
D. A metal skirt may be used to cover the base area provided that it is no higher than two (2) feet above grade.
E. If metal is used as a skirt or cover for support members or posts, it shall be at least 24 gauge if sheet metal is used and at least .063 inches if aluminum is used. The metal shall be finished in a color that either matches that of the principal color used within the background of the copy area, or, in a dark or neutral earth tone color.
F. Plywood, particle board, T-111 and other such materials shall not be used as a skirt or cover for support members or posts.
G. A post and panel ground sign, if constructed of wood, may have exposed posts provided the panel is supported by posts along both of its ends, the posts are no greater than six by six (6x6) inches in dimension, and the height of the posts is not less than twelve (12) inches below the highest point of the panel.
(Ord. 17-O-63. Passed 7-5-17.)
(s) Lighting Tubes.
(1) Except as allowed by subsection (s)(2) below the use of lighting tubes is permitted on a sign solely as a design or accent element for the copy area. It may not be used as a border.
(2) No sign in excess of four (4) square feet may be constructed solely of lighting tubes.
(t) Pennants, spinners, streamers and such other similar manner of displays are prohibited.
(u) Bench signs are prohibited.
(v) Vehicle Signs.
(1) Vehicles, trailers, and all such other mobile and semi-mobile equipment are not permitted to be used as either temporary or permanent signs either by virtue of having copy or signage placed on them or by virtue of their use, in context, as signs in their own right. This prohibition does not apply to copy or signage on any vehicle which is in transit or otherwise only temporarily present for a transient purpose.
(2) Vehicles, trailers, and all such other mobile and semi-mobile equipment used by a business in the course of its normal day-to-day operations which have any copy or signage placed on them may only be parked in a location upon the business's lot where they will not be visible from any public right-of-way or from any property lines. In the event no such location exists upon the business's lot then, at a minimum, the vehicle shall be parked behind the setback line of the lot's principal structure wherein the business is located. This parking prohibition shall not apply to transitory parking of vehicles for purposes of delivery, loading, and such other transient business activity.
(w) Roof signs are prohibited. (Ord. 12-O-60. Passed 9-4-12.)
(Ord. 17-O-63. Passed 7-5-17.)
(y) Signs projected upon any surface by means of light or shadow are prohibited.
(Ord. 12-O-60. Passed 9-4-12.)