Unless otherwise stated, the following regulations shall apply to all signs within the City:
A. Permanent signs are considered accessory uses and shall be accessory to a principal use provided for by the North Olmsted Zoning Code. Temporary signs may be permitted on all lots, regardless of the presence of a principal use, provided the temporary signs are in compliance with this chapter.
B. All signs shall be constructed in compliance with the applicable building and electrical codes as well as any other City regulations.
C. No sign shall be erected, relocated or maintained so as to prevent free ingress or egress, or block any light or ventilation openings.
D. No sign shall obstruct or interfere with fire ingress or egress from any door, window or fire escape, nor shall it obstruct or interfere with traffic or traffic visibility, or resemble or imitate signs or signals erected by the City or other governmental agency for the regulation of traffic or parking.
E. All signs shall be secured in such a manner as to prevent swinging or other significant noticeable movement, not including movement related to permitted electronic message centers.
F. Signs supported by or suspended from a building shall hang so as to maintain a minimum clear height of eight feet above a pedestrian path and 15 feet above a vehicular path.
G. Vision Clearance Requirements
1. A traffic safety visibility triangle area, which may include private property and/or public right-of-way, is a triangle area defined by measuring 35 feet from the intersection of the extension of the front and side street curb lines (or the right-of-way lines where there is no curb) and connecting the lines across the property. See Figure G.
2. No sign shall exceed 30 inches in height, measured from the top of the curb, within the traffic safety visibility area.
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Figure G: Traffic safety visibility triangle for intersecting streets.
H. Signs in Rights-of-Way
1. Signs shall be prohibited in the right-of-way with the exception of:
(a) Signs installed by the City of North Olmsted, Cuyahoga County, State of Ohio or United States, including local and regional transit agencies; or
(b) Any warning signs or traffic safety signs required by public utility providers.
2. The Building Commissioner may remove or cause to be removed any unlawful sign in the public right-of-way.
I. Maintenance
1. Every sign shall be maintained in a safe, presentable and good structural condition at all times, including the replacement of a defective part, painting, cleaning and other acts required for the maintenance of the sign so as not to show evidence of deterioration, including peeling, rust, dirt, fading, damage, discoloration or holes.
2. Whenever a sign is to be removed pursuant to the requirements of this section, all parts of the sign and supporting structure (e.g., pole, foundation, cabinet structure, etc.), excluding buildings for wall, projecting or similar signage, shall be removed in its entirety. This section shall not require the removal of a raceway if mounted to such structure on a building.
J. Removal of Signs
1. The Building Commissioner is authorized to order the removal, repair or maintenance of any sign in violation of any code, or for which the required permit has not been obtained or which is in violation of any provision of this chapter. Every such order shall be served upon the owner or person in possession of the sign by personal service or by regular first class U.S. mail addressed to the occupant of such property and to the owner of the property.
2. Whenever the removal, repair or maintenance of any permanent sign has been ordered by the Building Commissioner, the owner or person in possession of such sign shall comply with such order within 14 days after notice is served upon him. Whenever the removal, repair or maintenance of a temporary or portable sign has been ordered by the Building Commissioner, the owner or person in possession of such sign shall comply with the order immediately after notice is served upon him.
3. In the event of noncompliance, the Building Commissioner may seek an order of removal from a court of competent jurisdiction, or may pursue criminal action against the owner and/or person in possession of the sign in accordance with the appropriate provisions of this Zoning Code relating to the violations.
4. If, following an inspection, the Building Commissioner determines that any sign constitutes an immediate danger to the public safety, the Building Commissioner may affect the immediate removal of said sign without regard to the time intervals for compliance cited above, at the sign owner's expense. Removal of a sign shall include the sign face, enclosing frame, all sign supporting members and base, unless otherwise specified in the order to remove. (Ord. 2020-79. Passed 11-17-20.)