Unless otherwise specifically stated, signs that comply with the provisions contained in this section shall be exempt from all other provisions of this chapter, except that the clear sight area provisions specified in § 152.020 shall apply.
(A) Building lighting. Highlighting of structural/architectural elements of buildings, such as roof lines, doors, window or wall edges, by illumination shall not be considered a sign; provided, however, if the highlighting or outlining contains text or logos, the items shall be considered signs and regulated by this chapter according to the sign type and district in which it is located. In no case shall the building lighting be flashing or animated.
(B) Flags. Reserved for future use.
(C) Non-logo features. Integral, decorative, or architectural features of buildings, so long as the features or works do not contain logos, letters, or trademarks, except as noted in division (E)(4) below.
(D) Interior signs. Signs located:
(1) Within the interior of any building, or within an enclosed lobby or court of any building; or
(2) Located within the inner or outer lobby, court, or entrance of any theater, that are not viewable or intended to be viewable from the public right-of-way and do not qualify as window signs.
(E) Miscellaneous signs. Including but not limited to:
(1) Signs only giving property identification, names, or numbers of occupants, and containing 2 square feet or less in sign surface area;
(2) Signs posted on private property only to identify or warn about “Private Property,” “Private Parking,” “No Trespassing,” or “Danger” from animals and containing 2 square feet or less in sign surface area;
(3) Signs only indicating the location of public telephones and restrooms, underground public utilities, or similar location signs and containing 4 square feet or less in sign surface area; and
(4) Signs which are integral to the building and only indicating the name of the building, date of erection, monumental citations, commemorative tablets and the like, when carved into stone, concrete or similar material or made of bronze, aluminum or other permanent type construction and made an integral part of the building.
(F) Official signs.
(1) Signs authorized by a government or governmental unit which give traffic, directional, or warning information;
(2) Signs of public service companies indicating danger; and
(3) Signs erected by or on the order of a public officer in the performance of his or her public duty which aids service or safety.
(G) Public signs and public notices. Signs required or specifically authorized for a public purpose by any law, statute or ordinance, which may be any type, number, area, height above grade, location or illumination required by the law, statute or ordinance under which the signs are erected.
(H) Holiday displays. Holiday displays which contain no commercial message, are primarily decorative in nature, and are clearly incidental and commonly associated with any national or religious holiday, and which are erected not more than 30 days prior to the start of the holiday and removed no more than 15 days after the holiday.
(I) Tombstones.
(J) Works of art. Three-dimensional works of art (statuary, sculptures), and 2-dimensional works of art (i.e., murals) that clearly are artistic in nature and which do not promote on-site activities or commercial interests; provided, however:
(1) Two-dimensional works of art which exceed 5% of the side or rear façade of a building on which they are placed shall receive approval as a wall sign; and
(2) Two-dimensional works of art, regardless of size, shall not be permitted on the front façade of any building.
(K) Window signs. Window signs, provided that the signs shall not exceed the lesser of:
(1) Twenty-five percent of the area of the window; provided, in the case of multi-pane windows, the surface area of the window shall be the combined surface area of the individual panes; or in the case of a glass curtain wall, the surface area of the window shall be the combined surface area of the individual glass panels; or
(2) Twelve square feet in sign surface area.
(L) Temporary signs. In addition to the type, number, sign surface area, setback, and height regulations for signs specified for each district, temporary signs (i.e., signs typically related to sale or lease, construction, grand openings, political campaigns, and the like) shall be allowed subject to the following regulations:
(1) General regulations applicable to all temporary signs.
(a) Time. Temporary signs may be erected for 1 of the following time periods:
1. Special events. Temporary signs may be erected, placed, or located in connection with a special event not more than 30 days prior to the start of a special event and shall be removed not more than 15 days after the end of the special event. A special event related sign shall not be erected, placed or located more than 2 times during a calendar year; or
2. Non-special event. Temporary signs not in connection with a special event may be erected, placed, or located not more than 2 times during a calendar year and shall not exceed 45 days in duration.
(b) Place. Temporary signs shall comply with the following location requirements:
1. A temporary sign shall comply with the clear sight area regulations of § 152.020;
2. A temporary sign shall not be located within any public right-of-way;
3. A temporary sign, if a freestanding sign, shall be located in compliance with all setback regulations for a permanent sign; and
4. A temporary sign, if a wall sign, shall be located in compliance with the regulations for a permanent wall sign.
(c) Manner. Temporary signs shall be placed in the following manner.
1. A temporary sign shall be permitted on a lot only upon prior authorization by the owner of the lot.
2. Any sign which meets the chapter definition of an on-premises business sign or an outdoor advertising sign shall not be considered or allowed as a temporary sign.
3. A temporary sign shall not be illuminated.
(2) Temporary freestanding sign, R1 or R2 District. Temporary freestanding sign for any individual lot in any R1 District or R2 District:
(a) Number. One temporary freestanding sign shall be permitted for each street or limited access highway which abuts the lot; and
(b) Manner. Temporary signs:
1. Shall not exceed 6 square feet in sign surface area; and
2. Shall not exceed 4 feet in height above grade.
(3) Temporary freestanding sign, MF, Commercial/Town Center, or Industrial Districts. Temporary freestanding sign for any MF District, Commercial/Town Center District or Industrial District or for any single or 2 family subdivision development in the R1 District or R2 District:
(a) Number.
1. One additional freestanding sign shall be permitted for each street or limited access highway which abuts the lot or integrated center; and
2. Exception: more than 500 feet. When a lot or integrated center abuts the same street or limited access highway for more than 500 feet, 1 additional freestanding temporary sign shall be permitted on that street or limited access highway, provided that:
a. Minimum separation between freestanding temporary signs along the same street or limited access highway shall be 300 feet;
b. The additional freestanding temporary sign shall be oriented to the street or limited access highway which abuts the lot or integrated center for more than 500 feet;
c. The minimum separation between freestanding temporary signs, regardless of orientation of the freestanding temporary signs, shall be 100 feet; and
d. The total sign surface area of all freestanding temporary signs shall not exceed 200 square feet.
(b) Manner. Temporary signs:
1. Shall not exceed 8 feet in height above grade; and
2. Shall not exceed 32 square feet in sign surface area.
(4) Temporary window sign. Temporary window sign, in all districts shall not exceed the lesser of:
(a) Twenty-four square feet in surface area; or
(b) Five percent of the window on which it is placed or through which it is viewed; provided, in the case of multi-pane windows, the surface area of the window shall be the combined surface area the individual panes; or in the case of a glass curtain wall, the surface area of the window shall be the combined surface area of the individual glass panels.
(5) Special time and manner regulations for A-frame, T-frame, menu board, or sandwich board signs. Notwithstanding anything above to the contrary, temporary signs which are A-frame, T-frame, menu board, or sandwich board signs shall be subject to the following time and manner regulations:
(a) Time: may be erected, placed or located outside of a business establishment on a daily basis;
(b) Time: shall only be displayed during business hours;
(c) Manner: shall be within 10 feet of the main customer entrance to the business establishment and shall not be located in any public right-of-way;
(d) Manner: shall not exceed 6 square feet in sign surface area; and
(e) Manner: shall not exceed a maximum height of 4 feet above grade.
(Ord. 1221, § 8.03(a), passed 1-26-2010)