(A) Signs erected and maintained pursuant to and required by law, any governmental regulation shall be excluded from the regulations of the zoning code.
(B) No sign of any type shall be installed, erected or attached in any form, shape or manner to a fire escape or any door or window giving access to any fire escape.
(C) All signs hung and erected shall be plainly marked with the name of the person, firm or corporation responsible for maintaining the sign.
(D) Should any sign be or become unsafe or be in danger of falling, the owner thereof or the person maintaining the same, shall upon receipt of written notice from the Zoning Administrator proceed at once to put such sign in a safe and secure condition or remove the sign.
(E) No sign shall be placed in the public right-of-way except publicly-owned signs, such as traffic control and directional signs. Signs directing and guiding traffic and parking on private property but bearing no advertising matter shall be permitted on any property. Such directional signs shall be no higher that three feet from the ground and no larger that six square feet per face and be limited to two per entrance and two per exit.
(F) Regulation of signs along primary highways shall conform to the requirements of R.C. Chapter 5516 and the regulations adopted pursuant thereto.
(G) Measurement of sign area. The surface of a sign shall be computed including the entire area within a regular, geometric form or combinations or regular geometric forms comprising all of the display area of the sign and including all of the elements of the matter displayed. Exposed frames and structural members, excluding support poles, shall be included in computation of surface area.
(H) Sign illumination.
(1) Any illuminated sign or lighting device shall employ only light emitting constant intensity, and no sign shall be illuminated by or contain flashing, intermittent, rotating or moving light or lights. In no event shall an illuminated sign or lighting device be placed or directed so as to permit the beams and illumination to be directed or beamed so as to cause glare or reflection that may constitute a traffic hazard or nuisance.
(2) Any sign using an external source of illumination or fixture that is not an integral part of the sign shall be installed to ensure that the illumination is directed upon the sign surface only. The light source shall be shielded so that it is not visible from the adjacent property line. Indirect light shall not exceed 1/2 foot-candle at a distance of 25 feet beyond the property line. These fixtures shall only be ground-mounted and screened with landscaping material such as shrubs and bushes.
(I) Nonconforming signs.
(1) The continuance of an existing sign that does not meet the regulations and requirements of this chapter shall be deemed a nonconforming sign, which shall terminate by abandonment. A sign shall be considered abandoned when:
(a) The sign is associated with an abandoned use.
(b) The sign remains after business has been closed to the public for at least 90 days. Seasonal businesses are exempt from this determination.
(c) The sign is not maintained and together with all supports, braces, guys and anchors is in a state of disrepair.
(2) Based upon these definitions, abandonment shall be determined by the Zoning Administrator. Upon finding that the signage is abandoned, the right to maintain and use such sign shall terminate immediately.
(Ord. 2005-4-11, passed 5-10-05) Penalty, see § 152.99