Sign area, sign location and building frontage, as regulated in this chapter, shall be measured according to the following standards. The graphics shown in this section are for illustration purposes only.
(a) Sign Area - Eight-Line Method. The face area of signs shall be measured using a maximum of eight straight, right-angled lines to determine the smallest geometric shape (squares or rectangles) that will enclose all extreme points of a sign. A sign's extremity includes any letters, figures, symbols, logos, trademarks, pictures and design elements, together with all framing, nonstructural trim, background material, colored or illuminated areas and attention-attracting devices forming an integral part of a sign's composition.
Illustrations submitted must be drawn to scale and the scale identified on the drawings, such as one-inch equals one foot. Number the drawings accordingly from one to eight. Use charts to convey exact dimensions and show all mathematical calculations.
(b) Wall Sign Area. Wall signs having no visible boundary, border or clearly defined background shall have the spaces between letters, words, logos or other sign elements intended to be read together and any device intended to draw attention to the sign included in the computation of overall sign area. Such uncontained or undefined sign spaces may be excluded from the calculation of sign area if the width of the building façade on which the wall sign is located is greater than three times the sign's width.
(c) Window Sign Area. Window sign area is measured using the eight-line method described in division (a) of this section for each individual sign, or by multiplying the full width of the overall sign copy (lettering, logo, graphics) by the overall height of the sign copy in a rectangular manner (A = W x L), regardless of the arrangement of the copy.
Window area shall be measured to include all windows and the glass portions of doors. Each facade or side of the building shall be considered separately. Window area can be an individual pane of glass, or a contiguous area of glass separated by nonstructural elements of dissimilar (non-glass) material or by structural materials. Windowpanes separated by muntins or mullions are not to be counted separately but included in the calculation of the cumulative window area.
(d) Multifaced Sign Area. Only one side of a double-sided sign arranged back-to-back or V-shaped sign is calculated provided the distance between the two faces is less than two feet apart. Where two sides are not of equal size, the larger of the two sides is measured. Where the sign faces are more than two feet apart all sides are calculated to determine sign area.
(e) Spherical and Three-Dimensional Sign Area. Signs that are spherical or have three-dimensional objects that project less than eight inches from the sign support structure shall be measured as a flat sign. Signs that project more than eight inches from the sign support structure shall be measured using the smallest two-dimensional geometrical shape or shapes which will best approximate the greatest actual sign area visible from any one direction.
(f) Awning and Canopy Sign Area. The sign area on awnings and canopies attached to a building shall include all sign elements (copy, striped graphics, patterns, etc.) and all areas that are translucent when illuminated. When the ends of awnings are parallel and contain a sign or are translucent, only one side is counted in addition to the front.
Signs on all sides of a free-standing canopy structure are calculated.
(g) Free-standing Sign Area. Sign area does not include sign support posts or poles that are clearly incidental and are used only to support the sign cabinets, panels or nonstructural trim or serve another permitted purpose separate from the sign, such as a retaining wall, fence or other structure.
The height of free-standing signs shall be measured from the base of the sign at its highest point of attachment to the ground to its topmost element. The first twelve inches in vertical height above grade is not included when calculating the sign area of a free-standing sign provided it does not contain sign copy; the first twelve inches is considered necessary to elevate the sign above grade or to provide a sign base for a monument type sign
Support structures or bases that exceed the allowed number, width or height, or that serve a purpose unrelated to supporting a sign, shall be considered part of the sign's background and included in the calculation of sign area.
(h) Sign Location. In determining the location of signs in relation to lot lines (including district and street right-of-way lines), distances shall be measured from the vertical projection of the lot line to the closest point on the sign. For corner lots, two lot lines shall be considered street right-of-way lines.
(i) Building Frontage. The frontage of a building shall be the width of the above ground facade of the building, excluding any roof overhang or nonbearing decorative wall, which faces the principal street or contains the main entrance. If a building is divided into units, the building unit frontage shall be the width of that unit, as measured from the party wall centerline, on the frontage of the building.
(Ord. 153-22. Passed 9-18-23.)