(A) Unless a comprehensive sign plan is approved by special use permit, the following standards apply.
(B) Signs on properties used for non-residential purposes. Each non-residential establishment, except for planned developments, home occupations, and shopping centers, regulated separately in this section, shall be allowed the following signs, attached to a wall or building unit containing the establishment and conforming to the requirements set forth below.
(1) One wall sign, including digital display, shall be limited to not more than 10% of the area of the structure's primary wall, or 200 square feet. In addition, a wall sign up to 40 square feet shall be allowed on non-primary walls.
(2) In the case of multiple occupancy buildings which are not shopping centers, each occupant of a building shall be allowed a total of one wall sign attached to an exterior wall. Such sign shall be limited to 10% of the area of the wall to which it is attached or 200 square feet.
(3) Each establishment or, in the case of multiple occupancy buildings which are not shopping centers, each building, is allowed one projecting sign which meets the following standards:
(a) Each projecting sign shall not exceed 10% of the area of the wall fronting or facing a public street or highway, or 40 square feet in area, whichever is less.
(b) All projecting signs shall be mounted such that the bottom of the sign is at least eight feet above grade.
(4) Canopy or awning sign shall be allowed in addition to the one wall sign or one projecting sign.
(5) Mural art painted building walls are exempted from the above restrictions if they do not contain words.
(C) Freestanding identification signs on properties used for non-residential purposes.
(1) Each non-residential establishment, except for planned developments, home occupations, and shopping centers shall be allowed a total of one freestanding sign per lot or parcel not exceeding 64 square feet and 30 feet in height. In addition each business may have one informational sign for approaching traffic from each direction of the business advertised subject to Virginia Department of Transportation regulations, subject to the property owner's permission, and not to exceed 32 square feet. Additional square footage shall be permitted on an authorized on premise freestanding sign to allow for signage indicating gasoline prices and grades. This signage is limited to a maximum of 100 square feet, shall not exceed the maximum height limitation for the freestanding sign and shall not be computed in the square footage of the freestanding sign. Specific to freestanding signs with additional signage indicating gasoline prices and grades, the minimum clearance from grade to the bottom of the sign shall be seven feet.
(2) Off-site town business directory sign. The purpose of such a sign is to inform travelers on Route 13 of businesses within a town and direct them to the downtown center. These signs shall be allowed up to 40 square feet in area, not to exceed 15 feet in height, and accommodate the town name, changeable business name panels, the Eastern Shore brand logo, a directional arrow and the mileage to the downtown commercial area. A sign permit is required.
(3) Design standards for freestanding signs on properties used for non-residential purposes.
(a) Placement. Except as otherwise permitted, all freestanding signs shall be set back from any street or pedestrian walkway at least the height of the sign.
(b) All freestanding signs, except for home occupation signs, shall be monument-type signs, double-post signs, or single-post signs, and shall comply with the following standards:
(c) Signs incorporated into a freestanding wall or completely solid structure which is set upon footings shall be entitled to a 30% larger face area than otherwise provided for in this subchapter provided the following conditions are met:
1. The width of the base of the sign shall be equal to or greater than the width of the sign face.
2. The height of the base of the sign shall be less than or equal to the height of the sign face unless architectural pillars are used.
3. The total height of the sign, including the base, shall be less than the width of the base.
4. The sign shall be masonry, wood, high density urethane (HDU), composite panel or other suitable materials.
5. Shrubs, flowers, or other landscaping materials which do not obscure the sign face shall be incorporated into the sign installation area.
(d) Double-post signs.
1. Total sign structure height shall not exceed 30 feet.
2. Sign shall be wood, HDU, composite panel or other suitable materials.
(e) Single-post signs.
1. Total sign height shall not exceed 30 feet.
2. Sign structure shall be a single vertical mounting pole and shall be made of wood, HDU, composite panel or other suitable materials.
3. Sign face shall not be attached directly to the vertical mounting pole and shall utilize a mounting arm attached perpendicular to the vertical mounting pole.
(f) Components of freestanding signs, (e.g., supporting structures, backs, and the like) not bearing a message shall be constructed of materials that blend with the natural environment or shall be painted a neutral color to blend with the natural environment.
(D) Signs on properties used for residential purposes.
(1) Properties used for residential purposes are allowed one freestanding sign per parcel, limited to no more than four square feet and four feet in height.
(2) Signs on properties used for residential purposes shall not be illuminated.
(E) Shopping centers.
(1) Individual establishments within a shopping center shall each be allowed one wall sign which does not exceed 10% of the area of the wall frontage dedicated to that establishment and does not extend over more than 85% of the horizontal width of the building front.
(2) In addition to a wall sign, individual establishments within a shopping center shall each be allowed one projecting sign which does not exceed 10% of the area of the structure frontage dedicated to that establishment.
(3) Shopping centers shall be allowed one freestanding identification sign per road frontage, each limited to no more than 150 square feet in size and 30 feet in height.
(4) Out parcels platted as part of a shopping center shall be allowed one wall sign per establishment and one freestanding sign per road frontage, with no sign greater than 60 square feet.
(F) Directional signs shall not be counted as signs for the purpose of calculating the total number of signs in place.
(G) Residential uses such as residential subdivisions, multi-family developments, and mobile home parks shall be allowed one freestanding identification sign per public entrance, which shall be limited to no more than 32 square feet in size and seven feet in height.
(H) The following additional standards shall apply to all electronic message center signs, whether they display a static message or image or a message/image that changes:
(1) Electronic message center signs (changeable message or image signs) which change more frequently than once every 24 hours shall be permitted provided that:
(a) Each message or image shall remain fixed and unchanged for a minimum period of five minutes;
(b) There shall be no appearance of movement, scrolling, dissolving or fading in which images or messages "move" or in which part of one message or image appears simultaneously with any part of a second or subsequent one;
(d) The minimum separation between any two electronic message center signs located on adjoining properties shall be 100 feet.
(2) Illuminance intensity of any electronic message center sign, whether with a static or changing message display, shall be measured with an illuminance meter set to measure foot candles and accurate to at least two decimals. The maximum allowable illumination intensity for such signs shall be determined relative to ambient lighting conditions by measuring the difference between an intensity reading of the ambient light taken with the sign illumination turned off and an intensity reading of the sign face with the sign displaying a white image for a full color-capable electronic message, or a solid message for a single color electronic message. The difference between the two readings shall not exceed 0.3 foot candle. All measurements shall be taken perpendicular to the face of the sign at the distance determined by the total square footage of the electronic message center sign as set forth in the following table:
SIGN AREA VERSUS MEASUREMENT DISTANCE | |
Area of Sign (sq. ft.) | Measurement Distance (ft.) |
SIGN AREA VERSUS MEASUREMENT DISTANCE | |
Area of Sign (sq. ft.) | Measurement Distance (ft.) |
10 | 32 |
15 | 39 |
20 | 45 |
24 | 49 |
32 | 57 |
40 | 64 |
50 | 71 |
64 | 80 |
For signs with an area other than those specifically listed in the table, the measurement distance shall be calculated using the following formula:
(3) All electronic message center signs shall be equipped with a sensor or other device that automatically determines the ambient illumination and which is programmed to automatically dim the illumination intensity according to ambient light conditions so as to ensure compliance with the 0.3 foot candle standard.
(4) Prior to the county's final inspection and approval of an electronic message center sign, the applicant shall provide written certification from the sign manufacturer/installer that the sensor is working correctly to keep the sign's illumination intensity within the prescribed brightness limitations set by this subchapter.
(Ord. passed 4-12-2016; Am. Ord. 2018-02, passed 8-14-2018; Am. Ord. passed 3-12-2024)