(A) Awning sign.
(1) Signs shall not exceed 75% of individual awning area or awning width.
(2) One awning sign per side of structure.
(3) The awning structure shall have a minimum eight-foot vertical clearance above sidewalk or pathway.
(B) Canopy sign.
(1) Signs shall not exceed 75% of individual canopy area or canopy width.
(2) One canopy sign per side of building.
(3) The canopy structure shall have a minimum eight-foot vertical clearance above sidewalk or pathway.
(4) The sign may be placed on the front, above, or suspended below the canopy.
(C) Electronic message centers (EMC).
(1) (a) General.
(b) Non-conforming signs shall not be eligible for conversion to an electronic message center.
(2) One electronic message center sign structure may be allowed per street frontage, not to exceed two EMC sign structures per site. Each structure may have two sign faces.
(3) Freestanding EMCs shall adhere to the height standards for freestanding signs.
(4) EMC display.
(a) EMCs shall maintain no less than an eight second dwell time for any images and messages.
(b) Any change from one static display to another must be instantaneous and shall not include any distracting effects, such as dissolving, spinning, or fading. Animation, motion, or video displays are prohibited.
(c) The images and messages displayed must be complete in themselves without continuation in content to the next image or message or to any other sign.
(d) No EMC shall have a brightness level that exceeds 0.3 foot-candles above ambient light as measured from the property line.
(e) All EMC signs shall include certification from the sign’s manufacturer that the sign has been preset to conform to the luminance levels noted above and these settings are protected from end users’ manipulation by password protected software.
(f) EMCs may use multiple colors within the display, but the use of color shall not create distraction or a hazard to the public health, safety, or welfare.
(5) EMC text size and legibility. The following minimum text sizes shall apply to all EMCs. If a sign is located on a corner with streets having differing speed limits, the minimum text size shall be based on the standard for higher speed limit to ensure legibility.
Minimum Text Sizes for EMC Signs | |
Speed Limit of Adjacent Road | Minimum Text Size |
25 to 34 MPH | 7" |
35 to 44 MPH | 9" |
45 to 54 MPH | 12" |
55 MPH or more | 15" |
(6) Operation.
(a) All EMCs shall be equipped with a means to immediately discontinue the display if it malfunctions.
(b) The owner of an EMC must immediately cease operation of their sign when notified by the city that it fails to comply with the standards of this chapter.
(D) Freestanding (includes monument, pylon, and post and arm sign types).
(1) The total area of one freestanding sign face shall not exceed one square foot of surface area for every one foot of lineal street frontage, not to exceed the maximum aggregate sign area per § 157.005
(C).
(2) One freestanding sign per street frontage.
(3) Height.
(a) Post and arm signs shall not exceed five feet above existing grade.
(b) Monument signs shall not exceed eight feet above existing grade.
(c) Pylon signs shall not exceed 25 feet above existing grade.
(d) Electronic message center signs shall not exceed eight feet above existing grade.
(E) Internal wayfinding sign.
(1) Appropriate number of signs to provide directional assistance given size of site and circulation pattern as determined by the Zoning Administrator.
(2) Signs shall not exceed eight feet in height.
(3) Internal wayfinding signs may come in the form of monument, pylon, or post and arm sign types.
(4) Signs shall be designed in a uniform manner (within individual subdivision or center) using consistent background color and typeface colors.
(F) Marquee.
(1) Signs shall not exceed 75% of the size of the marquee.
(2) Placement.
(a) Marquee structure shall have a minimum eight feet vertical clearance above sidewalk or pathway.
(b) May be placed on the front, above, or below the canopy.
(G) Projecting.
(1) One projecting sign per façade that is visible from a street, alley, or customer parking lot.
(2) Projection.
(a) Projecting signs shall not exceed 30 square feet in area.
(b) Projection shall not extend more than eight feet beyond the face of the building.
(c) Shall not be located directly over windows or in conflict with other signs or architectural features of the building.
(d) Projecting signs shall maintain a minimum vertical clearance of eight feet above sidewalk or pathway, and a minimum vertical clearance of 14 feet when within five feet of a roadway.
(H) Roof.
(1) One roof sign per building.
(2) Roof signs shall not exceed six feet above the ridge line or parapet.
(3) The separation of the sign from the roofline to the bottom of the sign shall not be greater than one foot.
(I) Wall.
(1) A minimum of 10 square feet up to a maximum of one-third of the building face.
(2) One sign per tenant per façade visible from an adjacent street, alley, or customer parking lot.
(3) Wall signs shall not stand more than 4 inches away from the wall.
(4) Wall signs shall maintain a minimum vertical clearance of 80 inches above sidewalk grade.
(J) Window. Permanent window signs are limited to one-third of the total surface area of the window to which they are affixed.
(Ord. 806, passed 7-26-2022; Am. Ord. 825, passed 12-19-2023)