Loading...
For the purpose of this subchapter, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
BILLBOARD. An off-premise sign owned by a person, corporation, or other entity that is engaged in the business of selling the advertising space on that sign.
EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS SUBCHAPTER. The effective date of this subchapter as originally
adopted, or the effective date of an amendment to it if the amendment makes a sign nonconforming.
FREESTANDING SIGN. A sign that is attached to, erected on, or supported by a structure (such as a pole, mast, frame, or other structure) that is not itself an integral part of or attached to a building or other structure whose principal function is something other than the support of a sign. A sign that stands without supporting elements, such as “sandwich sign,” is a also a FREESTANDING SIGN. If the message is removed from a structure that was originally designed and used as a FREESTANDING SIGN, this structure shall still be considered a sign.
INTERNALLY ILLUMINATED SIGNS. Signs where the source of the illumination is inside the sign and light emanates through the message of the sign rather than being reflected off the surface of the sign from an external source. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, signs that consist of or contain tubes that are:
(1) Filled with neon or some other gas that glows when an electric current passes through it; and
(2) Intended to form or constitute all or part of the message of the sign, rather than merely providing illumination to other parts of the sign that contain the message, shall also be considered internally illuminated signs.
OFF-PREMISES SIGNS. A sign that draws attention to or communicates information about a business, service, commodity, accommodation, attraction, or other enterprise or activity that exists or is conducted, sold, offered, maintained, or provided at a location other than the premises on which the sign is located. A sign that draws attention to a cause or advocates or proclaims a political, religious, or other noncommercial message shall also be an OFF-PREMISES SIGN unless such sign is excluded from regulation under § 152.432, or is subject to regulation under § 152.433(A)(5).
ON-PREMISES SIGN. A sign that draws attention to or communicates information about a business, service, commodity, accommodation, attraction, or other enterprise or activity that exists or is conducted, sold, offered, maintained, or provided on the premises where the sign is located.
SIGN. Any device that is:
(1) Sufficiently visible to persons not located on the lot where such device is located to accomplish either of the objectives set forth in subdivision ii of this definition; and
(2) Designed to attract the attention of such persons or to communicate information to them.
TEMPORARY SIGN. A sign that is:
(1) Used in connection with a circumstance, situation, or event that is designed, intended, or expected to take place or to be completed within a reasonably short or definite period after the erection of such sign; or
(2) Intended to remain on the location where it is erected or placed for a period of not more than 15 days. If a sign display area is permanent but the message displayed is subject to periodic changes, then that sign shall not be regarded as TEMPORARY.
(Ord. passed 12-20-2001) Penalty, see § 152.999
(A) Except as otherwise provided in §§ 152.432 and 152.433, no sign may be constructed, erected, moved, enlarged, illuminated or substantially altered except in accordance with the provisions of this section. Mere repainting or changing the message of a sign shall not be considered, in and of itself, a substantial alteration.
(B) If plans submitted for a zoning permit, special use permit, or conditional use permit include sign plans in sufficient detail so that the permit-issuing authority (Land Use Administrator, Board of Adjustment, or Board of Commissioners) can determine whether the proposed sign or signs comply with the provisions of this subchapter, then issuance of the requested zoning, special use, or conditional use permit shall constitute approval of the proposed sign or signs.
(C) Signs not approved as provided in division (B) above or exempted under the provisions referenced in division (A) above may be constructed, erected, moved, enlarged, illuminated, or substantially altered only in accordance with a sign permit issued by the Land Use Administrator.
(1) Sign permit applications and sign permits shall be governed by the same provisions of this chapter applicable to zoning permits.
(2) In the case of a lot occupied or intended to be occupied by multiple business enterprises (e.g., a shopping center), sign permits shall be issued in the name of the lot owner, or his, her, or their agent, rather than in the name of the individual business enterprise requesting a particular sign. The town may assist the owner by suggesting a formula whereby the maximum square footage of sign area allowed on the lot may be allocated equitably among all tenants, but the town shall be responsible for enforcing only the provisions of this subchapter and not the provisions of any allocation formula, lease, or other private restriction.
(Ord. passed 12-20-2001) Penalty, see § 152.999
The following signs are exempt from regulation under this chapter except for those signs described in § 152.442(B) through (E):
(A) Signs not exceeding four square feet in area that are customarily associated with residential use and that are not of a commercial nature, such as:
(1) Signs giving property identification names or numbers or names of occupants;
(2) Signs on mailboxes or newspaper tubes; and
(3) Signs posted on private property relating to private parking or warning the public against trespassing or danger from animals.
(B) Signs erected by or on behalf of or pursuant to the authorization of a governmental body, including legal notices, identification and informational signs, and traffic, directional, or regulatory signs;
(C) Official signs of a noncommercial nature erected by public utilities;
(D) Flags, pennants, or insignia of any governmental or nonprofit organization when not displayed in connection with a commercial promotion, or as an advertising device;
(E) Integral decorative or architectural features of buildings or works of art, so long as such features or works do not contain letters, trademarks, moving parts or lights;
(F) Signs directing and guiding traffic on private property that do not exceed four square feet each, and that bear no advertising matter;
(G) Church bulletin boards, church identification signs, and church directional signs that do not exceed one per abutting street, do not exceed 16 square feet in area, and are not internally illuminated;
(H) Signs that are painted on or otherwise permanently attached to currently licensed motor vehicles, and that are not primarily used as signs; and
(I) Signs proclaiming religious, political, or other noncommercial messages (other than those regulated by § 152.433(A)(5) that do not exceed one per abutting street, do not exceed 16 square feet in area, and are not internally illuminated.
(Ord. passed 12-20-2001)
(1) Signs containing the message that the real estate on which the sign is located (including buildings) is for sale, lease, or rent, together with information identifying the owner or agent. Such signs may not exceed four square feet in area, and shall be removed immediately after sale, lease or rental. For lots of less than five acres, a single sign on each street frontage may be erected. For lots of five acres or more in an area having a street frontage in excess of 400 feet, a second sign not exceeding four square feet in area may be erected;
(2) Construction site identification signs. Such signs may identify the project, the owner or developer, architect, engineer, contractor and subcontractors, funding sources, and may contain related information including but not limited to sale or leasing information. Not more than one such sign may be erected per site, and it may not exceed 32 square feet in area. Such signs shall not be erected prior to the issuance of a building permit, and shall be removed within ten days after the issuance of the final occupancy permit;
(3) Signs attached temporarily to the interior of a building window or glass door. Such signs, individually or collectively, may not cover more than 75% of the surface area of the transparent portion of the window or door to which they are attached. Such signs shall be removed within 30 days after placement;
(4) Displays, including lighting, erected in connection with the observance of holidays. Such signs shall be removed within ten days following the holidays;
(5) Signs erected in connection with elections or political campaigns. No such sign shall be erected earlier than 30 days prior to the election, and shall be removed within three days following the election (or conclusion of the campaign). No such sign may exceed 16 square feet in surface area;
(6) Signs indicating that a special event such as a grand opening, fair, carnival, circus, festival, or similar event is to take place on the lot where the sign is located. Such signs may be erected not sooner than two weeks before the event, and must be removed not later than three days after the event; and
(7) Temporary signs that not covered in the foregoing categories as long as such signs meet the following restrictions:
(a) Not more than one such sign may be located on any lot;
(b) No such sign may exceed four square feet in surface area; and
(c) Such sign may not be displayed for longer than three consecutive days nor more than ten days out of any 365-day period.
(B) Other temporary signs not listed in division (A) above shall be regarded and treated in all respects as permanent signs, except that (as provided in § 152.436) temporary signs shall not be included in calculating the total amount of permitted sign area.
(Ord. passed 12-20-2001) Penalty, see § 152.999
(A) For the purpose of determining the number of signs, a sign shall be considered to be a single display surface or display device containing elements organized, related, and composed to form a unit. Where matter is displayed in a random manner without organized relationship of elements, each element shall be considered a single sign.
(B) A two-sided or multi-sided sign shall be regarded as one sign so long as:
(1) With respect to a V-type sign, the two sides are at no point separated by a distance that exceeds five feet; and
(2) With respect to double-faced (back-to-back) signs, the distance between the backs of each face of the sign does not exceed three feet.
(Ord. passed 12-20-2001)
(A) The surface area of a sign shall be computed by including the entire area within a single, continuous, rectilinear perimeter of not more than eight straight lines, or a circle or an ellipse, enclosing the extreme limits of the writing, representation, emblem, or other display, together with any material or color forming an integral part of the background of the display or used to differentiate the sign from the backdrop or structure against which it is placed, but not including any supporting framework or bracing that is clearly incidental to the display itself.
(B) If the sign consists of more than one section or module, all of the area, including that between sections or modules, shall be included in the computation of the sign area.
(C) With respect to two-sided, multi-sided, or three dimensional signs, the sign surface area shall be computed by including the total of all sides designed to attract attention or communicate information that can be seen at any one time by a person from one vantage point. Without otherwise limiting the generality of the foregoing.
(1) The sign surface area of a double faced, back to back sign shall be calculated by using the area of only one side of such side so long as the distance between the backs of such signs does not exceed three feet.
(2) The sign surface area of a double faced sign constructed in the form of a “V” shall be calculated by using the area on only one side of such sign (the larger side if there is a size difference), so long as the angle of the “V” does not exceed 30 degrees and at no point does the distance between the backs of such sides exceed five feet.
(Ord. passed 12-20-2001) Penalty, see § 152.999
Loading...