The following sign regulations are established for uses in the C-1 Central Business District, C Commercial District, Mixed Use District, and I-1 Industrial District.
Permits are required for all signs.
(a) Permanent Signs.
(1) Freestanding Ground Signs. Freestanding ground signs shall be allowed, provided that:
A. Ground signs shall not exceed eight (8) feet in height. The maximum size of ground signs shall not exceed forty (40) square feet per side or eighty (80) square feet total;
B. Such signs shall not be placed in the public right-of-way or within the clear sight triangle as defined in Section 1151.13(j);
C. Such signs are permitted to have up to seventy-five percent (75%) of the sign face comprised of changeable copy;
D. Both sides of a two-sided ground sign shall be identical; and
E. There shall be only one ground sign plus one additional ground sign for street frontage on a second public street. An additional third ground sign may be permitted if a multi-occupant project has street frontage on a third public street. These additional signs may be permitted provided that no two (2) ground signs shall be within three hundred (300) feet of each other and actual entrances to the site have been constructed from such streets.
(2) Wall Signs.
A. The total area of an individual wall sign on a building shall be limited to one and one-half (1½) square feet in area for each linear foot of building frontage, and the fact that signs may be permitted on more than one wall of the building shall not increase this maximum; but in no case shall the total area of an individual wall sign be permitted to exceed ten percent (10%) of the total wall area to which the sign is affixed;
B. Such signs are permitted to have up to seventy-five percent (75%) of the sign face comprised of changeable copy;
C. The total number of wall signs shall be limited to two (2) for single tenant and multi-tenant buildings that share a common principal entrance;
D. No wall sign shall project above the highest point of the building wall on the same side of the building as the sign; this shall include any other signs not affixed directly to such wall;
E. On a single occupancy building, all signage or message elements on a single elevation shall be considered parts of the same sign and shall be measured by a rectangle surrounding all of them;
F. On a multi-occupancy building, each occupant with a separate individual outside entrance serving the general public may have a separate wall sign.
G. Corner tenants with a door or window on their side walls and tenants with a separate outside entrance serving the general public where such entrance is in a different exterior wall from any other entrance shall be allowed one additional wall sign;
H. Wall signs shall be affixed flat to the wall of the building and not project more than one foot; and
(3) Marquee Signs.
A. Marquee signs shall not exceed an area equal to twenty-five percent (25%) of the face of the marquee on which the sign is affixed;
B. Marquee signs are subject to the same size regulations for wall signs;
C. Where a marquee and wall sign are used in conjunction with each other, the total square footage of both signs must be added together to determine the total square footage permitted.
(4) Pole Signs. One pole sign per building shall be allowed, provided that such sign shall not exceed sixteen (16) feet in height, and the lowest horizontal projecting feature of the sign shall not be less than eight and one-half (8½) feet above grade. The pole sign shall not exceed forty (40) square feet in area. Signs shall not be located closer than five (5) feet to a property line.
(5) Projecting Signs. Projecting signs shall be allowed, provided that:
A. The number of such signs shall not exceed one per tenant;
B. The sign area of the signboard shall not exceed six (6) square feet per side and twelve (12) square feet in total;
C. The height of the top edge of the signboard or bracket shall not exceed the height of the wall from which the sign projects;
D. No element of the sign shall hang lower than seven (7) feet above the ground or pedestrian walkway;
E. Since projecting signs may extend over the public right-of-way, they shall be mounted and attached to buildings in a secure manner;
F. The sign, brackets, and mounting devices shall be maintained in good repair for both safety and appearance;
G. Such signs shall be mounted so that the method of installation is concealed to the extent practical;
H. The signboard or bracket shall not project more than three (3) feet from the wall;
I. Projecting signs may be illuminated indirectly;
J. Internal illumination is prohibited;
K. All indirect lighting or spot lighting shall require complete shielding of all light sources so as to illuminate only the face of the sign and prevent glare from off-site;
L. All lettering and graphics shall be permanent; and
M. Changeable copy is prohibited.
(6) Awning Signs.
A. Awning signs shall be allowed, provided that:
B. On a single-occupant property, one awning sign may be allowed only in lieu of all other signage otherwise permitted on the wall to which the awning is attached;
C. On a multi-occupant property, one awning sign may be allowed over each occupant entrance, in lieu of other wall signs;
D. The maximum area of an awning sign shall not exceed twenty percent (20%) of the total awning face front and side area; and
E. Awning signs may be illuminated only with direct surface lighting and not with any form of backlighting when located in a C-1 Commercial District.
(7) Canopy Signs. Canopy signs are subject to the same size regulations for wall signs and shall not exceed an area equal to ten percent (10%) of the canopy.
(8) Suspended Signs. Suspended signs shall be permitted provided that the following requirements are met:
A. Such signs shall not exceed one per tenant in a multi-tenant building;
B. Such signs shall not exceed three (3) square feet in area; and
C. There is a minimum of eight and one-half (8½) foot clearance from the bottom of the sign to the ground.
(9) Directional Signs. Free-standing directional signs not exceeding two (2) square feet in area and located not more than four (4) feet above grade shall be permitted at each access drive to the site.
(b) Temporary Signs. Temporary Signs shall be allowed, provided that:
(1) Such signs shall be located only on private property;
(2) Sign permits shall be limited to a duration of thirty (30) days or for a reasonable period of time stated on the temporary use permit. Businesses undergoing a façade change or exterior renovation may have a temporary wall sign for a maximum of ninety (90) days. The Zoning Administrator shall have the authority to extend the duration of the temporary sign permit for new businesses or businesses undergoing exterior renovation for up to a maximum of sixty (60) days;
(3) No more than one temporary sign permit shall be issued within any twelve (12) month period for the same business in the same location;
(4) Such permits for new businesses shall be issued only upon the initial opening of a business for a period that shall end not later than sixty (60) days after issuance of the first business license for that business in that location or from the issuance of a Certificate of Occupancy for that location;
(5) Except as permitted by a temporary use permit, temporary signs shall be attached to and parallel with a wall of the building on which wall signs are permitted and shall not exceed forty (40) square feet in surface area;
(6) Such signs may be made of cloth or canvas and are not subject to the construction and installation requirements otherwise applicable;
(7) Where a temporary use permit specifically authorizes the use of a temporary ground sign, such sign shall not exceed six (6) feet in height and twenty-four (24) square feet in area per side;
(8) There shall be only one temporary ground sign, plus one additional temporary ground sign for street frontage on a second public street. This additional sign may be permitted provided that no two (2) temporary ground signs shall be within three hundred (300) feet of each other and actual entrances to the site have been constructed from such streets; and
(9) Such signs shall not be placed in the public right-of-way or within the clear sight triangle as defined in Section 1151.13(j).
(c) Window Signs.
(1) The total area of all window signs, inclusive of both permanent and temporary, shall not exceed twenty percent (20%) of the gross glass area on any one side of the building,
(2) A maximum of two (2) illuminated window signs shall be permitted for each business. Illuminated signs shall meet safety requirements by having a backing and self-contained transformer. All components shall be UL approved.
(d) Sandwich Board Signs. Sandwich board signs shall be allowed as follows:
(1) Only one sandwich board sign per street frontage per business is permitted.
(2) Such signs shall not exceed ten (10) square feet in sign area per side.
(3) Any sandwich board sign shall not exceed two (2) linear feet in width, with a maximum height of five (5) feet. Within these specified maximum dimensions, creative shapes that reflect the theme of the business are encouraged;
(4) The sign must be constructed of materials that present a finished appearance. Rough-cut plywood is not acceptable.
(5) The sign lettering should be professionally painted or applied; hand painted or paint stenciled letters are not acceptable, however, chalkboard signs shall be permitted;
(6) The sign shall be located on the same parcel and within six (6) feet of the building exterior of the business installing the sign, and its location shall not interfere with pedestrian or vehicular circulation;
(7) The sign shall be removed at the end of the business day;
(8) Such signs shall only be permitted within a C-1 Commercial or Mixed Use District;
(9) Any person erecting a sandwich board sign shall indemnify and hold harmless the municipality and its officers, agents, and employees, from any claim arising out of the presence of the sign on municipal property or within a public right-of-way.
(10) Signs located on sidewalks or pedestrian paths must provide a minimum of five (5) feet clear area for passage of pedestrians.
(11) No attachments, illumination, banners, balloons, ribbons, flags or moving parts are permitted with the sign.
(Ord. 2022-42. Passed 10-5-22.)