(a) Classification by Use Types. Signs shall be classified by use type as follows:
(1) "Permanent sign" means a sign designed for use for an indefinite period of time.
A. Permanent signs shall not be constructed with any material deemed "Temporary" such as poster board, card board, hardboard (Masonite), particle board, plywood or plastic material and mounted to wood, metal or wire frames or supports.
B. Permanent signs shall be constructed from quality materials that will withstand the variable weather of Northeast Ohio including but not limited to non-corroding metals, masonry, carved wood or solid-core PVC sign board, exterior rated acrylic, paint, and vinyl.
C. Permanent signs shall include the following:
(i) "Bulletin board" means an announcement sign which directs attention to and is located on the lot of a public or semipublic institution.
(ii) "Directional sign" means a sign indicating only the direction of pedestrian and vehicular circulation routes on the lot on which the sign is located. No advertising shall be permitted on directional signs.
(iii) "Free-standing sign" means a ground sign, pole sign or pylon sign typically located within a front yard setback.
(iv) "Identification sign" means a sign indicating the name and address of a building, development, public or semipublic facility, business, office or industrial establishment. For business uses, such sign may also include the principal type of goods sold or services rendered. However, the listing of numerous goods or services, prices, and sale items shall not be permitted.
(2) "Temporary sign" means a sign designed for use for a limited period of time to announce special events or sales and the sale, lease or rental of property. Temporary signs need not meet the structural criteria of a "Permanent Sign", shall be no larger than thirty-two square feet and shall not be more than six feet high. The time limits for expiration of the approval and the criteria for extension of that time period, if any, shall be part of the approval by the Building Commissioner. Temporary signs shall include the following:
A. "Portable sign" means a sign which is designed to be moved and is not permanently attached to any part of a building or to the ground.
B. "Project sign" means a sign which directs attention to the promotion, development and construction of the property on which it is located and which identifies the owner, architect, engineer, contractor and other individual or firm involved with the construction. A temporary project sign shall be removed immediately upon commencement of the intended use, sale of the property, substantial completion or the issuance of a certificate of occupancy, but not later than the period covered by permit.
C. "Real estate sign" means a sign advertising the sale, rental or lease of the premises or part of the premises on which the sign is displayed. A temporary real estate sign shall be removed immediately upon the sale of the property.
D. "Other temporary signs" including but not limited to temporary banners announcing sales, new products or special business events may be permitted in addition to the maximum gross area of a permanent business sign, and such signs may be placed on the inside of windows and doors and on the exterior of the building, provided that the gross area of all the temporary signs does not exceed twenty percent of the maximum area of permanent signs permitted for each establishment and provided that such temporary signs are not displayed more than 90 consecutive days.
(b) Classification by Structural Types. Signs shall be classified by structural type as follows (see also Illustration G):
(1) "Building sign" means the following:
A. "Canopy sign" means a sign attached to the soffit or fascia of a canopy, covered entrance or walkway, or to a permanent awning or marquee, and not projecting beyond the edges of the same.
B. "Projecting sign" means a sign attached to an outside building wall and which projects at a ninety-degree angle therefrom.
C. "Roof sign", no longer permitted, and considered to be nonconforming, means a sign which is mounted on the rooftop deck of a building or which is wholly dependent upon a building for support and which projects above the point of a building with a flat roof.
D. "Wall or panel sign" means a sign integral with the face of an exterior building wall or mansard roof (when used as an architectural feature, canopy or covered walkway) or attached to and parallel with the wall or roof.
E. "Window sign" means a sign painted, attached or affixed to the interior surface of windows or doors of a building.
(2) "Free-standing sign" means the following:
A. "Ground sign" means a sign not exceeding seven feet in height, which may have a supporting base as an integral part of the sign, resting totally on the ground or on two or more short poles or columns not exceeding twenty-five percent of the total sign height.
B. "Pole sign", no longer permitted, and considered to be nonconforming, is a sign which is supported by or suspended from a free-standing column or columns and more than seven feet high.
C. "Pylon sign" means a sign exceeding seven feet, but not more than ten feet, in height, whose sign face area extends from the top of the sign to within one foot of the ground. The support structure must present one solid face per side and be at least three fourths the width of the sign face.
(c) Additional Definitions:
(1) "Building Commissioner" for the purposes of this Chapter, when reference is made to the Building Commissioner, that shall mean and include his or her designee.
(2) "Changeable copy sign" means a sign, or any portion thereof, where the message or graphics are not permanently affixed to the structure, framing or background and may be periodically replaced or covered over, manually or by mechanical devices.
(3) "Electronic moving message/digital display sign" means a sign, or portion thereof, that displays electronic text information, or still images, graphics or pictures, with or without information. The message shall be defined by a small number of matrix elements using different combinations of light emitting diodes (led's), fiber optics or other illumination devices within the display area, and the message change sequence shall be accomplished immediately or by means of face, repixalization, or dissolve modes. Electronic graphic display signs include computer programmable, microprocessor controlled electronic or digital displays.
(4) "Informational sign" means a sign which presents miscellaneous information to the public and does not promote a business, office, industry, product or issue. Typical informational signs present scheduled events, travel information, vehicle service, weather, time and historic and scenic data.
(5) "Nameplate" means a sign indicating the name, address or profession of the person or persons occupying a building or unit of a building.
(6) "Organizational sign" means a sign devoted exclusively to the identification of national, State and local service clubs and the location and meeting dates of such clubs. The number, location and design of organizational signs shall be approved by the Building Commissioner.
(7) "Sign" as used in this chapter, means any object, device, display or structure, or part thereof, situated outdoors or indoors, which is used to advertise, identify, display, direct or attract attention to an object, person, institution, organization, business, product, service, event or location by any means, including words, letters, figures, designs, symbols, fixtures, colors, illumination or projected images.
(Ord. 07-103. Passed 4-1-08; Ord. 16-145. Passed 10-4-16.)
ILLUSTRATION G:
Types of signs
Types of signs
