All signs not already specifically excluded shall require a zoning certificate. Signs are classified into six types, namely wall, projected, ground, roof, interior window signs and temporary signs; and three uses, namely on-premises, off-premises and co-op signs.
(a) Types of Signs.
(1) Wall signs. A wall sign may be erected on a building wall that faces a street, parking lot or service drive, and such signs may not extend beyond any building setback lines. Letters, graphics and/or numerals mounted on a building wall shall be considered as wall signs. A wall sign shall be attached parallel to the building face and shall extend outward perpendicular from the building face a maximum of fourteen inches, except that a sign may be attached to a canopy, marquee or roof that projects beyond the building, provided that no part of such sign extends beyond such roof, canopy or marquee.
(2) Projected signs.
A. A projected sign, including the necessary mounting structure, shall project not more than four feet outward from the wall of the structure, shall not exceed ten square feet in size, shall not use a guy-wire or angle-iron type of support structure, unless such structure is erected in the plane of the sign, and shall not extend beyond any dimension of the wall to which it is attached. Projected signs shall be perpendicular to the wall to which they are attached, except at street corners where the sign may project at forty-five degree angle, and may be noninternally lighted. Internal lighting of any type shall not be used.
B. No projected sign shall be located less than nine feet above the sidewalk or ground level. No part of a projected sign shall be closer than six feet from the edge of the pavement or curb, whichever is appropriate. Such signs shall be of sturdy construction and shall be erected in such a manner as to protect persons who may pass underneath from possible injury. Sign users who place projected signs over the public right-of-way shall indemnify, protect and hold harmless the City from any claim, loss or damage arising in connection with the occupation of the public right-of-way with the sign. One projected sign is permitted per building, per street frontage. "Credit card" type small projected signs are regulated by this section. Except as permitted in paragraph (a)(2)C. hereof, projected signs are permitted only in the C-2 Central Business/Mixed Use District. Projected signs shall not be co-op signs.
C. One projected sign that displays the name and/or address of the building occupant, meets all of the criteria set forth above and does not exceed one and one-half square feet in size, may be displayed by any use in any zoning district.
(3) Ground signs. One ground sign per building per street frontage may be erected where permitted, provided the location, size, height and other characteristics of the sign meet the requirements of this chapter. "Ground sign" includes all on-premises, free-standing signs, regardless of type or nomenclature.
A. Ground signs shall have a brick or stone base with columns extending a minimum seventy-five percent up each side of the sign.
B. Ground signs shall be limited to two colors that advertise more than one tenant (background and lettering shall have different colors) and have a matte finish. For purposes of this section, black or white may be used for lettering and shall not count toward the two permissible colors.
C. Non-permanent lettering (changeable copy) shall be limited to thirty percent of the sign area.
(4) Window signs.
A. Window signs shall include temporary and permanent signs, posters, symbols and numerals and/or letters painted directly on, attached directly to and/or located in, near or around windows and oriented to the outside such that they are readable from a public right-of-way or designated driveway of a commercial center. For purposes of this section a window is defined as the glass area enclosed within a frame.
B. No flashing lights or raceways of any kind or type shall be permitted. Permanent window signs shall be limited to one such sign per window and shall not exceed twenty-five percent of the window area, and in no case shall such a sign exceed nine square feet. All window signs shall be limited to ground or first floor windows only. An exception is allowed in the C2 District for a business that does not occupy first-floor space. All other sections of this chapter shall apply to the sign.
C. Businesses shall arrange all window signs so as to permit a clear, unrestricted line of sight from the street to the inside of the business.
D. No flashing or animated signs shall be permitted and neon signs shall be limited to identify if a business is open or closed (no advertising).
(5) Roof signs. Roof signs are prohibited in all districts, except as permitted previously and now existing as nonconforming users. A roof sign is any sign erected upon the roof of a building or any portion of a sign that is above the roof of the building. The roof line shall be defined as the uppermost line of the roof of the building or, in the case of an extended building facade, the uppermost height of the facade.
(6) Temporary signs.
A. Community activity signage. Such activity that is open to the general public and sponsored by a public, private nonprofit or religious organization [that is educational, cultural, or recreational in function] is permitted signage upon compliance of the following requirements: The signage shall be limited to fourteen days per event, thirty-two square feet and two signs per site. The signage shall not have changeable copy (letters). The subject community activity shall own property in the City or Violet Township to advertise. Such signage may be located off premises within a public right-of-way or on public property with the express written consent of the City Manager or designee. The denial of a zoning certificate for community activity signage may be appealed to the Planning and Zoning Commission.
B. Special promotions/grand openings/temporary signs. Signs (banners and pennants) identifying, promoting or advertising grand openings, special sales and/or special occasions shall be erected for a maximum of fifteen calendar days. Such signs are permitted in all Commercial, Office and Industrial Districts and in the C2 Central Business/Mixed Use District. The size of the signs shall be limited to thirty-two square feet. The total time period in which such signs shall be utilized on any lot or site or by any one user is ninety days in one calendar year (the ninety day time period can be divided into six fifteen day increments with an approved zoning certificate). All signs shall be located on a building. At no time are banners or pennants permitted over the right-of-way.
C. Development signs. Signs indicating and promoting the development of land are permitted, at the discretion of the Development Services Director. The signs shall be limited to thirty-two square feet, located on the subject property (one sign per lot) outside the site triangle and five feet from property line/right-of-way. An approved zoning certificate is effective for a maximum period of twelve months and may be renewed by the Development Services Director if subject development is not completed. Such signs may be located in the public right-of-way, or on public property, upon the express written consent of the City Manager or designee.
(b) Sign Uses.
(1) Permanent residential subdivision identification signage. "Permanent residential subdivision identification signage" means those signage features specifically relating to the denotation of a major entrance or entrances to a residential subdivision. Such identification shall be limited to wall-mounted signs or graphics only. For example, placement of a brick wall, railroad ties or entrance columns on each side of a street, or on a similar architectural or landscaping entrance feature, may be used. Pole-type signage is hereby prohibited. Entrance signs and features shall be in compliance with Section 1258.27 (Perimeter Mounding and Fencing; Trees).
(2) Joint identification signs. "Joint identification signs," subject to the following conditions, shall be permitted for two or more combined, permitted uses on the same lot, to include the identification of shopping centers or other building group complexes. A joint identification shall be limited to one wall or ground sign and shall be allowed in addition to other permitted signs and total aggregate sign area. One square foot of sign area is permitted for each two linear feet of street frontage, provided that the total sign area shall not exceed fifty square feet. A second joint identification sign may be permitted if the site fronts two streets, provided the frontage is not less than 250 feet on either street. However, there shall not be more than one ground sign per street frontage, under any circumstances.
(3) Off-premises signs. In addition to those off-premises signs that legally existed and that are considered to be a nonconforming use, the Planning and Zoning Commission may permit off-premises signs to be located in the C4 Highway Commercial and the M General Industrial Zoning Districts. The Commission is hereby authorized to establish additional rules for the installation, location and placement of off-premises signs. The following are the minimum criteria for the regulation of off-premises signs and are effective without additional action by the Commission:
A. No off-premises sign shall be closer than 1,200 feet to any other off-premises sign in any direction and along either side of any road, street or highway.
B. Each off-premises sign permitted for installation shall be matched with the removal of another off-premises sign of approximately the same size located within the Municipality and removed for the specific purpose of complying.
C. No off-premises sign shall be repaired if the repair cost exceeds fifty percent of the current depreciated value of the sign, without the sign being brought into total compliance with the rules and regulations set by this Code and by the Planning and Zoning Commission. No off-premises sign structure shall be replaced without the sign being brought into compliance.
D. No off-premises sign shall exceed twenty-five feet in height to the top of the structure or sign face, whichever is higher. No sign face shall exceed 250 square feet. All structures shall be made of metal and shall be of the single-pole variety. Structures made of ferrous metals shall be totally maintained and painted at least once every three years.
E. No off-premises sign shall be used in lieu of an on-premises sign. Advertising messages shall advertise or promote products or inform of services which are available principally at locations other than at the site of the sign.
F. Sign faces shall be kept in good repair, and if poster panels are used, the face of the structure shall be scraped to metal at least once every twelve months. If painted, the paint shall be renewed at least once every twenty-four months. The area around the base of the sign shall be kept free from debris and rank growth.
G. Off-premises signs located along Federal and State highways shall not be sited so as to necessitate the cutting or removal of any existing trees in order to obtain visibility from the highway. In conformity with this provision, the Planning and Zoning Department shall consider the cutting or removal of trees prior to a permit application to disqualify an off-premises site. Subsequent cutting or removal of trees is a violation of this Code.
(4) Co-op signs. Co-op signs are permitted in the C1 Neighborhood Commercial District, subject to the schedule of sign regulations, the number and size of signs permitted and the following ratio. Messages regarding products or services that are available principally at other sites shall not exceed twenty-five percent of the total face area of the sign.
(Ord. 2014-27. Passed 8-5-14; Ord. 2023-06. Passed 10-17-23.)