The following types of signs are specifically prohibited within the City of North Olmsted:
A. Any sign that copies or imitates signs that are installed by the City or any other governmental agencies or falsely purports to have been authorized by the City or other governmental agency;
B. Signs that interfere with, obstruct the view of or be similar in appearance to any authorized traffic sign, signal or device because of its position, shape, use of words or color;
C. Signs that constitute a hazard to safety or health due to inadequate or inappropriate design, construction, repair or maintenance, as determined by the Building Commissioner;
D. Windblown devices and signs that flutter with the exception of flags as allowed by the City of North Olmsted;
E. Signs that employ any parts or elements which revolve, rotate, whirl, spin or otherwise make use of motion to attract attention. This shall not include changeable copy signs as allowed in this chapter;
F. Signs with moving or flashing lights except as noted in the changeable copy sign section;
G. Beacons, lasers and searchlights, except for emergency purposes;
H. Signs or other structures that advertise a business which is no longer in existence or a product which is no longer sold at the business, because such signs are misleading to the public, create undue visual clutter and pose a hazard to traffic control and safety;
I. Signs that are accessory to an abandoned use of property. A use shall be determined to be abandoned if it has voluntarily ceased operations for a period of six consecutive months unless the use is determined to be seasonal in nature;
J. Pennants and streamers;
K. Signs that are applied to trees, bus shelters, utility poles, benches, trash receptacles, newspaper vending machines or boxes or any other unapproved supporting structure, or otherwise placed in the public right-of-way except as provided for in Section 1163.10(h);
L. Signs that obstruct or substantially interfere with any window, door, fire escape, stairway, ladder or opening intended to provide light, air, ingress or egress to any building;
N. Signs which are not securely affixed to the ground or otherwise affixed in a permanent manner to an approved supporting structure unless specifically permitted as a temporary sign;
O. Signs mounted on or above the roofline of any building or structure except as permitted on canopy signs in Section 1163.12;
P. Portable signs;
Q. Vehicle signs; except as permitted as temporary signs in Table 1163.13-1:
1. Vehicle signs viewed from a public road with the primary purpose of advertising through signage not otherwise allowed by this chapter. A vehicle sign shall be considered to be used for the primary purpose of advertising if:
(a) The vehicle or trailer has signage attached to it and fails to display current license plates and registration; or
(b) The vehicle or trailer is inoperable and has signage attached to it.
2. Vehicles or trailers shall not be parked continuously in one location to be used primarily as additional signage. These regulations do not apply to:
(a) A vehicle parked at a driver's residence that is the primary means of transportation to and from his or her place of employment;
(b) Fleet and delivery vehicles that are actively used as part of a local business establishment; or
(c) Any vehicle that is painted or otherwise covered with signage that is used by any person as a personal means of transportation or is actively used as part of a local business establishment.
R. Any sign not specifically allowed or addressed by this chapter shall be prohibited.
(Ord. 2020-79. Passed 11-17-20.)