This sign standards section applies to the following zoning districts: EP; I1; I2; and HI. The following standards apply.
(A) Project applicability.
(1) Single-tenant building.
(a) Permanent signs. Wall, ground, awning and directional device signs shall be permitted for single-tenant buildings provided the conditions specified for single-tenant buildings are met, and the cumulative square footage of all permanent signs does not exceed four square feet of sign area per lineal foot of facade facing an interstate, highway, arterial or public street to which the facility gains access.
(b) Temporary signs. Standard temporary and special temporary signs shall be permitted for single-tenant buildings provided the conditions specified for single-tenant buildings are met.
(2) Multiple-tenant building.
(a) Permanent signs. Wall, gateway, awning and directional signs shall be permitted for multiple-tenant buildings provided the conditions specified for multiple-tenant buildings are met, and the cumulative square footage of all permanent signs does not exceed two square feet of sign area per lineal foot of front facade, but no single tenant shall have more than 250 square feet of sign area.
(b) Temporary signs. Standard temporary and special temporary signs shall be permitted for multiple-tenant buildings provided the conditions specified for multiple-tenant buildings are met.
(B) Permanent signs. Permanent signs shall be permitted as follows.
(1) Wall signs. Wall signs shall be permitted on single-tenant buildings and multiple-tenant buildings provided the following conditions are met. All wall signs shall count toward the maximum cumulative square footage for permanent signs.
Wall Signs | Single-Tenant Building | Multiple-Tenant Building |
Changeable copy ratio | Not permitted | Not permitted |
Maximum projection from building | 12 inches | 12 inches |
Maximum quantity | 1 per side of building; not to exceed 3 | 1 per tenant space |
Maximum sign area | 3 sq. ft. per lineal ft. of front facade; maximum of 400 sq. ft. | 2.5 sq. ft. per lineal ft. of front facade; maximum of 300 sq. ft. |
(a) Illumination. Wall signs on single-tenant buildings and multiple-tenant buildings may be illuminated internally or by externally-mounted lights.
(b) Multiple-tenant building consistency. The sign envelope that tenants may use and the regulations to maintain consistent sign appearance shall be identified during the permitting process. The sign envelope shall not exceed 150% of the allowable wall sign area for each tenant space.
(c) Exception. Single-tenant buildings with a facade greater than 140 feet in length may have two wall signs on those facades. However, the cumulative square footage of all permanent signs shall still apply.
(2) Ground signs. Ground signs shall be permitted on single-tenant buildings provided the following conditions are met. (See division (B)(3) (Gateway Signs) below for multiple-tenant buildings.) All ground signs shall be counted toward the maximum cumulative square footage for permanent signs.
Ground Sign | Single-Tenant Building | Multiple-Tenant Building |
Changeable copy ratio | 80% or 24 sq. ft. of the sign area may be changeable copy, whichever is more restrictive | Not permitted |
Height above ground | 8 ft. maximum | Not permitted |
Maximum quantity | 1 | Not permitted |
Maximum sign area | 2 sq. ft. per lineal ft. of front facade; maximum 180 sq. ft. | Not permitted |
(a) Double-sided. If a ground sign has two identical sides, back-to-back, only one side’s area counts toward the maximum cumulative square footage.
(b) Location. A ground sign shall be located a minimum of five feet from any existing or proposed right-of-way, edge of pavement and curb associated with a street or driveway; and a ground sign shall be setback ten feet from all property lines.
(c) Landscaping. Landscaping shall be installed around the base of a ground sign as follows.
1. Quantity. At least one shrub per two lineal feet of ground sign base shall be installed.
2. Location. All required plants shall be located within five feet of the ground sign base.
3. Double-sided ground signs. Any double-sided ground sign shall have landscaping on both sides.
(d) Changeable copy. If changeable copy is used, it shall be integrated into the permanent ground sign and shall only include cyclical or static messages, regardless if the sign is capable of flashing messages.
(e) Illumination. A ground sign may be illuminated internally or by externally-mounted ground lighting.
(3) Gateway signs. Gateway signs shall be permitted for multiple-tenant buildings that have a minimum of six tenants, a minimum of 12,000 square feet of main floor area, and provided the following conditions are met. (See division (B)(2) (Ground Signs) above for single-tenant buildings.) All gateway signs shall be counted toward the maximum cumulative square footage for permanent signs.
Gateway Sign | Single-Tenant Building | Multiple-Tenant Building |
Changeable copy ratio | Not permitted | 50% of sign area may be changeable copy |
Height above ground | Not permitted | 8 ft. maximum |
Maximum overall sign area | Not permitted | 1 sq. ft. per lineal ft. front facade; maximum of 160 sq. ft. |
Maximum quantity | Not permitted | 1 |
Maximum tenant sign area | Not permitted | 50 sq. ft. |
(a) Double-sided. If a gateway sign has two identical sides, back-to-back, only one side’s area counts toward the maximum cumulative square footage.
(b) Location. A gateway sign shall be located a minimum of five feet from any existing or proposed right-of-way, edge of pavement and curb associated with a street or driveway; and a gateway sign shall be setback ten feet from all property lines.
(c) Landscaping. Landscaping shall be installed around the base of a gateway sign as follows.
1. Quantity. At least one shrub per two lineal feet of gateway sign base shall be installed.
2. Location. All required plants shall be located within five feet of the gateway sign base.
3. Double-sided gateway signs. Any double-sided gateway sign shall have landscaping on both sides.
(d) Changeable copy. If changeable copy is used, it shall be integrated into the permanent gateway sign and shall only include cyclical or static messages, regardless if the sign is capable of flashing messages.
(e) Illumination. A gateway sign may be illuminated internally or by externally-mounted ground lighting.
(4) Awning signs.
(a) Awning signs. Awning signs shall be permitted on single-tenant buildings and multiple-tenant buildings provided the following conditions are met. All awning signs shall be counted toward the maximum cumulative square footage for permanent signs.
Awning Sign | Single-Tenant Building | Multiple-Tenant Building |
Maximum projection from building | 6 ft. | 6 ft. |
Maximum quantity | 2 | 1 per tenant |
Maximum sign area | 40 sq. ft. total | 30 sq. ft. per tenant |
(b) Illumination. Awning signs on single-tenant buildings and multiple-tenant buildings may be illuminated.
(5) Directional device signs. Directional device signs shall be permitted for single-tenant buildings and multiple-tenant buildings provided the following conditions are met. Directional device signs shall not count toward the maximum cumulative square footage for permanent signs.
(a) Directional device signs may only be used to indicate vehicular points of entry or exit.
(b) Directional device signs shall not exceed three square feet in area per side per entrance. Up to 40% of the sign area may be a corporate logo.
(c) Directional device signs shall not exceed 36 inches in height.
(d) Directional device signs may be illuminated.
(e) Directional device signs shall not interfere with safe vehicular or pedestrian traffic circulation, obstruct the view of drivers entering or exiting, or be placed within a right-of-way.
(f) No more than two directional device signs shall be used per street frontage, and no more than four directional device signs shall be used per lot.
(C) Temporary signs. Any combination of standard temporary and special temporary signs shall be permitted for single-tenant buildings and multiple-tenant buildings provided the following conditions are met.
(1) Permits. Temporary signs shall be exempt from obtaining an improvement location permit, but shall comply with applicable standards.
(2) Location. Temporary signs shall be located a minimum of five feet from any right-of-way, edge of pavement and curb associated with a street or driveway.
(3) Illumination. Temporary signs shall not be illuminated.
(4) Standard temporary signs. Standard temporary signs shall be permitted provided the following conditions are met. The following conditions apply to single-tenant buildings and multiple-tenant buildings unless otherwise specified.
(a) Type. A standard temporary sign shall be a sandwich board, self-standing sign, yard sign or a window panel. (Examples of standard temporary signs include sale of property, special sale and special offer signs.)
(b) Quantity.
1. Single-tenant buildings. One standard temporary sign shall be permitted for each lot, except for corner lots. Two standard temporary signs shall be permitted for corner lots that have 200 feet or more of combined street frontage. However, standard temporary signs shall be located at least 80 feet from one another.
2. Multiple-tenant buildings. One standard temporary sign shall be permitted for each tenant.
(c) Sign area. The sign area for a standard temporary sign shall not exceed 30 square feet per side.
(d) Height above ground. No part of a standard temporary sign shall be more than five feet above the ground unless the standard temporary sign is in a first floor window.
(e) Duration. A standard temporary sign may stay in place for the duration of the temporary event. The standard temporary sign may be put in place up to five days prior to the temporary event. All standard temporary signs shall be taken down within seven days after the standard temporary sign’s purpose no longer exists.
(f) Quality. A standard temporary sign shall be constructed of durable, weather resistance and ridged in construction. Sign faces shall not be paper, cardboard or unprotected wood. Sign frames or structures shall not be wire, plastic or thin gauge metal; materials that are easily damaged or bent. Sign faces shall be securely attached to a frame or structure.
(5) Special temporary signs. Special temporary signs shall be permitted provided the following conditions are met. The following conditions apply to single-tenant buildings and multiple-tenant buildings unless otherwise specified.
(a) Disqualification. Any lot with a permanent electronic message sign or other permanent sign with electronic changeable copy shall not qualify for a special temporary sign.
(b) Type. Special temporary signs shall include inflatables, banners, streamers, posters, pennants, yard signs, window panels, sandwich boards, self-standing signs and the like. (Examples of special temporary signs include “now hiring” banners and “welcome home” signs.)
(c) Quantity.
1. Single-tenant buildings. Two special temporary signs shall be permitted at any one time for a lot.
2. Multiple-tenant buildings. One special temporary sign shall be permitted for each tenant.
(d) Height above ground. A special temporary sign shall not exceed 15 feet above the ground.
(e) Duration. A special temporary sign may stay in place for 50 total days in any calendar year.
(Ord. 10-2010, passed - -2010, § 5.81)