(A) Prohibited signs. Signs that are of the following nature are prohibited:
(1) Confusing or distracting motorists;
(2) Impairing the driver’s ability to see pedestrians, obstacles, or other vehicles;
(3) Impairing the driver’s ability to see and interpret any official traffic sign, signal, or device;
(4) Creates a nuisance to persons using a public right-of-way;
(5) Constitutes a nuisance to occupancy of adjacent and contiguous property by its brightness, size, height, or movement; and/or
(6) Other than utility fixtures or holiday decorations, no signs, awnings, or display shall be suspended, hanged, or placed so that the same shall hang over any part of a street or sidewalk used for vehicular or pedestrian travel unless a written application for a permit is made to the Administrative Official and said Official grants a permit therefor.
(B) General requirements. Signs shall be permitted in zoning districts per this chapter, subject to the following provisions:
(1) Wall signs may be located anywhere on the wall of a building;
(2) Signs shall not project over public property;
(3) Signs shall not be erected adjacent to a corner of two intersecting streets unless such signs are constructed to not obstruct the view of said intersection. See § 154.385(A);
(4) Each sign (size, lighting, and location) in the city shall at least meet the standards established by the State Department of Transportation;
(5) Other than notices for municipal events, utility fixtures, or holiday decorations; and
(6) The Administrative Official shall take into consideration factors that would make the proposed structure likely to endanger the property or personal safety of passerby traveling the streets or sidewalks in question, and whether or not such structure complies with codes relating to outdoor advertising.
(C) Signs in the residential zoning districts.
(1) Permanent freestanding signs and wall signs are prohibited for permitted uses in residential zoning districts.
(2) Temporary signs for permitted and conditional uses in residential zoning districts shall comply with the requirements of Table 17.25.03.3 below.
(3) Freestanding and wall signs erected accessory to any conditional use in the any residential zoning districts shall be constructed in accordance with the building permit issued for the sign and, unless specified elsewhere in this chapter, conform to Table 17.25.03.3 below.
(a) The sign structure or sign shall have a maximum height of ten feet. Height of sign is the vertical distance from the top of the sign or sign structure, whichever is greater, to the ground in a straight line directly below, measured from a point equidistant from the sides or edges of the sign.
(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of § 154.387(B), Each sign shall be constructed in accordance with minimum setback requirements of the applicable district except that a sign may be constructed in any location in the front yard, provided it shall not be closer than one foot from any street right-of-way and shall comply with all other requirements of this chapter.
Table 17.25.03.3 | ||||
Sign Type | Adjacent to Municipal Right-of- Way (in square feet) | Adjacent to State or Federal Right-of- Way (in square feet) | Adjacent to Municipal Right-of- Way | Adjacent to State or Federal Right-of- Way |
Freestanding | 50 | 1 | ||
Temporary | 32 | 1 | ||
Wall | 50 | 1 | ||
(D) Signs in business and industrial zoning districts. Freestanding and wall signs erected in the commercial and industrial districts shall be constructed in accordance with the building permit issued for the sign and, unless specified elsewhere in this chapter, conform to Table 17.25.04 below.
(1) (a) The sign structure or sign shall have a maximum height of 32 feet or six feet above the height of the peak of the tallest building on site, whichever is greater.
(b) Height of sign is the vertical distance from the top of the sign or sign structure, whichever is greater, to the ground in a straight line directly below, measured from a point equidistant from the sides or edges of the sign.
(2) Notwithstanding the provisions of § 154.387(B), each sign shall not be closer than one foot from any street right-of-way and shall not overhang above any right-of-way.
Table 17.25.04 | ||||
Area | Number | |||
Sign Type | Setback from residentially zoned property | Adjacent to all streets | Adjacent to municipal right-of-way | Adjacent to county, state, or federal highway right-of-way |
Freestanding | 100 feet | • 2 square feet per lineal foot of frontage not to exceed 120 square feet per sign on a single frontage lot; • 2 square feet per lineal foot of frontage not to exceed 75 square feet per sign on a multiple frontage lot (see (a) below) | 1 per 100 lineal feet of frontage (b) | 1 per 100 lineal feet of frontage (b) |
Temporary | Applicable side or rear setback for primary structures | 32 square feet | 1 | |
Wall | Applicable setback for primary structures | 7% of wall area facing right-of-way | n/a | |
Notes: a: In the case of lots with multiple frontages, maximum sign area for each sign is based upon the lineal feet of the narrowest frontage on the lot b: For lots with less than 100 feet of frontage on any given street, 1 sign is allowed per frontage | ||||
(E) Portable signs. Temporary use of portable or moveable signs shall be allowed in business and industrial districts in excess of and in addition to the sign limitations of this section. The following provisions shall apply:
(1) Portable signs shall be permitted only four times per 12-month period for a maximum of 14 consecutive days per period;
(2) The maximum permitted size of a portable sign is six feet in height and ten feet in length;
(3) A portable sign shall not be located closer than 20 feet to any intersection and shall not be located closer than three feet from any sidewalk; and
(4) Only one portable sign shall be allowed per 150 feet of lot frontage.
(F) Electronic message signs. Electronic message sign displays shall be limited to displays, which are gradual movements, including, but not limited to, dissolve, fade, scrolling, or traveling. However, sudden movement is prohibited, including, but not limited to, blinking and flashing. Any permitted signs may be or may include as an individual component of the total sign area, electronic message signs. Electronic messages or graphic displays may be changed at periodic intervals by gradual entry and exit display modes provided that messages and animation shall be displayed at periodic intervals by various modes, such as fade, dissolve, scrolling, or traveling.
(G) Signs on otherwise vacant lots (as conditional use). In those districts identified in this chapter the Board of Adjustment may, by conditional use permit, allow freestanding signs on a lot with no other principle permitted use provided the following conditions are met:
(1) The requirements of § 154.385(A) and division (A) above are met;
(2) Not more than one sign per 150 feet of frontage;
(3) No sign shall exceed 120 square feet in area;
(4) No sign shall be constructed less than 100 feet from a residentially zoned property; and
(5) The Board of Adjustment shall consider the following factors when determining whether a sign on an otherwise vacant lot would adversely affect the public interest:
(a) Width of the right-of-way;
(b) Speed limit of adjacent right-of-way; and
(c) Distance the sign is placed from the right-of-way.
(Ord. 842, passed 3-14-2022) Penalty, see § 154.999