(A) Intent. The purpose of this section is to permit such signs that will not endanger the public safety of individuals; confuse or obstruct vision necessary for traffic safety; constitute a public nuisance; constitute sign blight which adversely impacts the aesthetics, vitality and value of the city’s commercial areas; constitute an unattractive, garish or unproductive sign which detracts from the appearance of the city; or which detract from the maintenance of high quality residential zones in the city.
(B) Regulations established and application.
(1) Signs shall be erected, altered, reconstructed, moved and maintained, in whole or in part, in accordance with the type, size, location, illumination and other provisions set forth in this chapter.
(2) The construction, erection, safety and maintenance of all signs shall be in accordance with the applicable city ordinances
(3) The provisions of this chapter shall not amend or in any way interfere with other ordinances, rules or regulations governing traffic signs within the municipality.
(4) The display of official public notices and the flag, emblem or insignia of all U.S. governmental bodies shall not be governed by the provisions of this section.
(C) Public right-of-way. Except as specifically authorized herein, no sign of any type shall be placed within the right-of-way line of any public street or roadway except as provided by revocable license. (See R.C. § 723.121.)
(D) Definitions. For the purpose of this section, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
CLASS B SIGNS. Off-premises signs advertising any product, service, performance or event at a location other than where the sign is located.
NON-CONFORMING SIGNS. Signs which are lawfully in existence on the effective date of the ordinance but does not conform to the regulations.
PORTABLE SIGNS. A sign not permanently affixed to a building, structure or the ground and can be moved from one location to another. These signs may be displayed for a maximum of 30 days at one time up to four times per year.
PRIMARY CLASS A SIGNS.
(a) On-premises ground signs or signs attached to a building which advertise any product, service or identify the business by name. These signs are the principal advertising for the parcel or lot where one or more business entities are located, and include, but are not limited to, any display, figure, painting, drawing, placard, poster or other exterior device visible from a public right-of-way, which is designed, intended or used to convey a message, advertise, inform or direct attention to a building, person, institution, organization, activity, place, object or product.
(b) In single-family residential neighborhoods, rental or home occupation signs shall be permitted provided they are in keeping with the character of the neighborhood and do not create a nuisance for neighbors. Signs which are not well maintained or are not of acceptable appearance may be required to be removed.
SECONDARY CLASS A SIGNS. The same as above except they provide advertising for an individual business on a lot where several businesses are located.
TEMPORARY ADVERTISING DEVICES (TADS). Banners, pennants, streamers, pinwheels, flags (other than national, state, religious or fraternal), windsocks, balloons or other gas-filled figures which are used to promote a special event, sale or product. The signs can be displayed no more than four times per calendar year for a maximum of 30 days each time.
(E) Size.
(1) Primary Class A signs shall be allowed two and one-half square feet per linear foot of total street frontage of the lot or parcel but shall not exceed a total of 350 square feet.
(2) Secondary Class A signs. Each separate business establishment shall be allowed one square foot of surface area of sign for each linear foot of building frontage of the business up to a maximum of 100 square feet.
(3) Class B signs shall not exceed 400 square feet in surface area.
(F) Permits. Prior to the erection, construction, installation or alteration of any sign, a permit shall be obtained from the Zoning Officer. This does not include normal maintenance of any sign. Signs must be erected within one year of the permit issuance.
(G) Non-conforming signs. Non-conforming signs shall be required to comply with this chapter if:
(1) The sign is removed, dismantled or relocated;
(2) The sign has been determined to be a hazard to the life, safety, property or welfare of the public;
(3) The sign has deteriorated or been damaged to an extent that its value is less than 50% of its replacement value; or
(4) The sign advertises a business, product, service or event no longer open or available to the public.
(H) Exempt signs. Exempt signs include the following:
(1) Professional nameplates or occupational signs not exceeding two square feet in area listing the names, location or business of an occupant within a building;
(2) Legal notices;
(3) Street addresses not exceeding ten square feet in area;
(4) Bulletin boards or directories for public, charitable or religious institution located on the premises and not exceeding 40 square feet in area;
(5) Signs denoting the architect, engineer, contractor and the like where construction is occurring. These signs must be removed within ten days after the project’s completion;
(6) Signs advertising future construction or lease of a parcel providing the sign does not exceed 40 square feet in a residential area or 200 square feet in a commercial area. The signs shall be allowed for six months or until the building is occupied, whichever comes first;
(7) Signs advertising property for sale or rent. This is limited to one sign on a single-family residential lot not to exceed the standard signs used by area realtors. Signs must be removed within ten days of the sale or lease of the property;
(8) Dedicatory tablets or memorial plaques setting forth the name or erection date of a building, commemorating a person or persons and like uses. Such signs shall be cast in metal or engraved in stone or concrete or otherwise suitably inscribed in or on a monumental material;
(9) Non-structural signs consisting of letters, numerals or ornamentation painted or applied to awnings and canopies. No business shall have more than ten square feet of area of said signs without a permit;
(10) Identification signs at the entrance to residences, farms, ranches, estates and the like which do not exceed 12 square feet in area;
(11) Vehicle signs located on a truck, bus, trailer or taxi, being operated or parked on premises in the course of business provided the primary purpose of the said vehicle is not an advertisement;
(12) Directional signs or symbols such as “exit”, “no trespassing” and the like;
(13) Traffic or other signs erected by municipal, county, state or federal authorities;
(14) Street identification signs and entrance signs giving the name of a subdivision provided that the total number of signs is two or less, they are located at the main entrance only, shall not exceed a combined total of more than 100 square feet in area and do not contain any other advertising;
(15) Temporary signs advertising activities of educational, religious, charitable or other nonprofit institutions. Signs advertising a yard sale or special event at a residence; however, these signs must be removed after the event or sale has concluded;
(16) Political signs;
(17) Flags indicating weather conditions or national or state flags or insignias of any governmental agency or civic, charitable, religious or fraternal organization;
(18) Athletic scoreboards; and
(19) Holiday decorations.
(I) Permit application and fees.
(1) All applications for sign permits shall be made to the Zoning Officer and shall include a drawing to scale showing the description of the sign including size, type, materials and approximate location on the property.
(2) If the Zoning Officer determines the sign is within these guidelines, a permit shall be issued and the sign shall be erected within one year of the permit issuance.
(3) A fee established by separate ordinance will be charged per application for signs which do not meet the classification of a temporary advertising device.
(J) Prohibited signs. Prohibited signs include the following:
(1) Any sign creating a traffic hazard;
(2) Signs which prevent free ingress or egress from any entrance, window, fire escape or attached to a standpipe;
(3) Signs deemed by community standards to be obscene or which constitute a public nuisance;
(4) Signs which contain lights that exceed ten candle power per square foot of sign;
(5) Signs affixed to a tree or utility pole; and
(6) Roof signs.
(K) Restrictions. Restrictions include the following.
(1) Signs over walkways or driveways which are not at least eight feet above the surface of the walkway or driveway. Any sign located within the designated parking area of any property shall have a planter around the base not less than 18 inches high and a minimum of 18 inches from any extremity of said sign.
(2) No ground sign shall have a total height greater than 30 feet in commercial areas or 15 feet in the downtown commercial district.
(3) No signs shall be maintained in such location or position as to present any unsightly or objectionable unfinished side towards an adjacent property.
(4) (a) Signs in single-family neighborhoods shall be constructed of wood and shall be affixed to the residence or attached to a post, less than four feet in height. The sign shall include only the name of the business, proprietor and hours, telephone number and the like. If both sides of the sign are visible, each side must have a finished surface.
(b) The sign cannot exceed 20 square feet of surface area.
(5) Sandwich boards or easels used in the normal course of daily business may be displayed without obtaining a permit. However, these signs cannot be placed in a location that would hinder parking or pedestrian traffic and may be displayed outdoors only during business hours.
(6) A portable sign in a residential neighborhood may be used without a permit for up to seven days to announce a birthday or other special event without the home owner applying for a permit. The sign may be lighted between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m. only. After seven days, the sign must be removed or a permit application must be filed.
(Prior Code, § 27.05.16) Penalty, see § 153.999