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The degree of protection required by this subchapter is considered reasonable for regulatory purposes and is based on available information derived from engineering and scientific methods of study. Larger floods may occur or flood heights may be increased by human-made or natural causes. This subchapter does not imply that development either inside or outside of the floodplain will be free from flooding or damage. This subchapter does not create liability on the part of the county or any officer or employee thereof for any flood damage that results from proper reliance on this subchapter or any administrative decision made lawfully thereunder.
(Ord. passed 5-16-2023)
SIGNS
This subchapter is hereby enacted by the county to assure compatibility of signs with surrounding land usage, to conserve property value in all districts, to protect the public investment in streets and highways, to promote the safety and recreational value of public travel, and to strengthen the economy of the county. All signs hereinafter erected or maintained, except official traffic and street signs, shall conform to the provisions of this subchapter.
(Ord. passed 5-16-2023)
For the purpose of this subchapter, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates, or requires, a different meaning.
ATTACHED SIGNS. A sign which is bolted, nailed, painted, or in any way affixed to an outside building wall.
ATTACHED PROJECTING SIGN. Any sign which is attached to a building or other structure and extends beyond the surface of that portion of building or structure to which it is attached.
ATTACHED WALL SIGN. All flat signs of solid face construction which are placed against a building or other structure and attached to the exterior front, rear, or side wall of any building or other structure.
ERECT. To build, construct, attach, hang, place, suspend, or affix signs.
FACIA SIGN. A single-faced, attached sign which is attached flat against and parallel to its supporting wall.
FACING. The surface of the sign upon, against, or through which the message is displayed or illustrated on the sign.
FLASHING SIGN. A sign, the illumination of which is not kept constant in intensity at all times when in use. Illuminated signs which indicate the time, temperature, weather, or similar public service information shall not be considered FLASHING SIGNS.
FREESTANDING ELEVATED SIGN. Any sign supported by a metal pole or poles, placed into the ground with the base line of the sign not less than ten feet above the ground over which it is erected.
FREESTANDING GROUND SIGN. Any sign supported by uprights or braces placed into or upon the ground with the base line of that sign not more than ten feet above the ground over which it is erected, and not attached to any building.
FREESTANDING SIGN. As regulated by this subchapter, any sign supported by uprights or braces placed into the ground and not attached to any building or structure other than said braces or uprights.
ILLUMINATED SIGN. Any sign which has characters, letters, figures, designs, or outline illuminated by electric lights or luminous tubes as part of the sign proper.
INCOMBUSTIBLE MATERIAL. Any material which will not ignite at or below a temperature of 1,200F and will not continue to burn or glow at that temperature.
INDIRECTLY ILLUMINATED SIGN. Any illuminated, non-flashing sign whose illumination is derived from an external, artificial lighting source.
MARQUEE SIGN.
(1) Any sign attached to, or an integral part of a hood or canopy of permanent construction projecting from the wall or a building over the entrance to that building.
(2) For the purpose of this subchapter,
MARQUEE SIGNS shall be considered as attached signs when determining the allowable square foot area and total square foot area of all permitted signs, and shall be of the facia type. No MARQUEE SIGN shall extend more than two feet above the marquee structure.
OBSOLETE SIGN. Any on-premises sign or facing which no longer advertises a bona fide business conducted or product sold on the premises.
ON-PREMISES SIGN. Any sign identifying the occupant of the property upon which it is located and/or advertising goods or services available thereon.
OUTDOOR ADVERTISING SIGN (BILLBOARD or POSTER PANEL). A sign which directs attention to a business, product, service, or activity not necessarily conducted, sold, or offered upon the premises where such sign is located.
PERSON. Any human being, firm, legal entity, partnership, association, corporation, company, or organization of any kind.
PORTABLE SIGN. Any sign which is of a movable nature, which advertises products, places, services, or things not commonly advertised on permanent structures.
ROOF SIGN. As regulated by this subchapter, any sign erected, constructed, and maintained wholly upon or over the roof of any building with the principle means of support on the roof structure.
SIGN. A name, identification, description, display, or illumination which is affixed to, painted, or represented directly or indirectly, upon a building structure or piece of land which advertises or directs attention to an object, product, place, activity, person, institution, organization, or a business.
SIGN AREA. The extreme points or edges of the sign, excluding molding and the supporting structure which does not form a part of the sign proper. The area of a sign composed of characters or words attached directly to a building or wall surface shall be the smallest triangles or parallelograms which enclose a related group of words, symbols, characters, or figures. All faces of a multiple-faced sign shall be included in computing SIGN AREA, except back-to-back outdoor advertising and double-face on premises signs, the area of which shall be taken as the area of one face if the two faces are of equal area, or as the area of the larger face if the two faces are of unequal area (see Appendix).
(Ord. passed 5-16-2023)
(A) Exemptions. The provisions and regulations of this subchapter shall not apply to the following signs:
(1) Hours and business numbers identifying the address of a parcel of land;
(2) Announcement or professional signs and name plates in residential zoning districts identifying the occupant of a parcel of land and not exceeding one square foot in area;
(3) Memorial signs or tablets, names of buildings, and date of erection when cut into any masonry surface or when constructed of metal;
(4) Flags bearing the official design of a nation, state, municipality, educational institution, or non-profit organization;
(5) Traffic or other municipal signs, such as legal notices, railroad crossings, danger, and other emergency signs as may be approved by the County Board;
(6) Community special event signs approved by the County Board;
(7) Bulletin boards not over 12 square feet in area for public, charitable, or religious institutions when the same are located on the premises of said institutions set back ten feet from all property lines;
(8) Signs used exclusively for traffic direction, on private streets, or in parking areas, not exceeding ten square feet in area and not illuminated. Such signs shall be placed so as not to cause traffic or pedestrian hazards;
(9) Non-electric or electric signs which do not require approval of the Economic Development Office, inside buildings which are visible from the outside, and all other signs inside buildings which are not visible from the outside;
(10) Community information signs advertising events or promotions not conducted on the premises which are sponsored by religious, charitable, business, or other associations and organizations; and
(11) Credit card signs or stickers affixed to windows.
(B) Permits required. It shall be unlawful for any person to erect, structurally alter, or relocate within the county any sign as defined in this subchapter, except temporary signs, without first obtaining an erection permit from the Economic Development Office and making payment of the fee as required by this section. All signs that have electrical provisions shall, in addition, be subject to the provisions of the electrical code and the permit fees required thereunder.
(1) Every applicant, before being granted an erection permit hereunder, shall pay a permit fee for each such sign and sign structure regulated by this subchapter. Unless otherwise specified in this subchapter, each sign shall be considered a separate structure requiring its own permit.
(a) Permit fees shall be based on the market value of the sign at the time when said permit is applied for.
(b) The permit fee shall be $5 for the first $200 of valuation and $2 for each additional $200 of valuation or part thereof up to $1,000 of valuation. Each additional $1,000 of valuation or part thereof shall be assessed a permit fee of $5.
(2) (a) The owner of any building to which a sign is to be attached, said sign to encroach or hang over public right-of-way shall, before any permit be granted for construction or installation of said sign, furnish the county satisfactory evidence of liability insurance coverage in an amount of not less than $100,000 liability coverage on account of any one accident, from an insurance company authorized to do business in the state, with an endorsement thereon holding the county harmless from any claims or causes of action arising out of the installation or maintenance of said sign.
(b) The owner of any building to which a sign has been attached prior to the passage of this subchapter, which said sign encroaches or hangs over the public right-of-way, shall comply with the insurance requirements of this section within 30 days after enactment of this subchapter.
(3) It shall be the duty of the Economic Development Office, upon filing of an application for an erection permit, to examine such plans, specifications, and other data relating to the proposed sign and sign structure. If it appears that the proposed sign and sign structure is in compliance with all the requirements of the building code, this subchapter, and all other laws and ordinances of the county, the Economic Development Office shall then issue an erection permit. If the work authorized under an erection permit has not been completed within six months after date of issuance, said permit shall become null and void, except that if good cause is shown, the Economic Development Office may extend the permit for not more than one consecutive six-month period.
(4) (a) The application for an erection permit of a sign in which electrical wiring and connections are to be used shall be submitted to the Economic Development Office.
(b) The Economic Development Office shall examine the plans and specifications respecting all wiring and connections to determine if the same complies with the electrical code of the county and then shall issue an electrical permit if the said plans and specifications comply with said code.
(C) Application for erection permit. An application for erection permits shall be made upon applications provided by the Economic Development Office and shall contain or have attached thereto the following information:
(1) Name, address, and telephone number of the person erecting the sign;
(2) Location of building, structure, or lot to which or upon which the sign is to be attached or erected;
(3) Name, address, and telephone number of the applicant;
(4) Written consent of the owner or authorized representative of the building, structure, or land to which or on which the sign is to be erected;
(5) When requested by the Economic Development Office, blueprints or drawings of the plans and/or specifications, and method of construction, attachment to the building or in the ground, and the position of the sign in relation to nearby buildings, structures, or other signs;
(6) When requested by the Economic Development Office, a copy of stress sheets and calculations showing that the sign and sign structure are designed for dead load and wind pressure in any direction in the amount required by this and other laws and ordinances of the county;
(7) Location and size of the proposed sign;
(8) Proof of insurance policy of bond; and
(9) Such other information as the Economic Development Office may require to show full compliance with this and all other ordinances of the county.
(D) Revocation of permit. The Economic Development Office is hereby authorized and empowered to revoke any permit issued by him or her upon failure of the holder thereof to comply with any provisions of this subchapter.
(E) Structural and fabrication regulations. All signs shall be built, constructed, and erected in accordance with the building code, other ordinances of the county, and the Maintenance and Improvement Manual published by the Outdoor Advertising Association of America, Inc.
(1) Design of signs. Every freestanding elevated sign, including the frames and poles or supports and footings, and every attached projecting sign, including frames, braces, and supports thereof, shall be designed by a structural or manufacturer’s engineer in conformance with wind pressure and dead load requirements established in this subchapter and in accordance with the building code and other ordinances of the county.
(2) Erection of signs. Every elevated freestanding sign shall be erected under the supervision of an experienced construction superintendent or manufacturer’s representative capable of interpreting the construction and erection drawings required in order to assure conformance with all provisions of this subchapter.
(3) Markings on signs. In addition to sign markings as required in the electrical code, every sign hereafter erected shall have permanently affixed on the exterior of the sign the date of erection and the permit number, which shall not be covered in any future reconditioning or painting of said sign.
(4) Treating required. The owner of any sign (existing or proposed) shall be required to have it properly painted, galvanized, or otherwise treated to prevent rust and deterioration of all parts and supports of the said sign.
(5) Wind pressure and dead load requirements. All signs shall be designed and constructed to withstand wind pressure and to receive dead loads as required in the building code or any other ordinance of the county.
(6) No glass permitted. No glass shall be permitted except in the lighting mechanism.
(7) Lights. Lights shall be permitted on signs, providing they are made of corrosion-resistant materials. The lights shall be provided with proper lenses concentrating the illumination upon the area of the sign and preventing glare upon the street or adjacent property. All lighted signs in residential zoning districts, or on property which adjoins or abuts a residentially used property along the front or side lot lines shall be of the illuminated type.
(8) Electrical connections. All electrical connections shall be weather-tight.
(9) Movable parts to be secure. Any movable part of any sign, such as the cover of a service opening, shall be securely fastened.
(10) Face of sign shall be smooth. All signs or other advertising structures which are constructed at the property line, or within five feet thereof, and are less than ten feet above the ground over which they are located, shall not have a surface with nails, tacks, or wires that protrude therefrom, except electrical reflectors and devices which may extend over the top and in front of the advertising structures.
(11) Letters to be secure. All letters, figures, characters, or representatives in cutout or irregular form maintained in conjunction with, attached to, or superimposed upon any sign shall be safely and securely built or attached to the sign structure and shall comply with the building code requirements.
(12) Materials required.
(a) The support structures of all freestanding elevated and roof signs for which a permit is required under this subchapter shall be constructed of incombustible material, excluding trim.
(b) The facings of freestanding elevated and roof signs and facings, and supports of freestanding ground, attached projecting, attached wall, and outdoor advertising signs are allowed to be constructed of combustible materials if it is determined that they do not increase the fire hazard of the structure.
(13) Supplementary signs. No supplementary sign or other appendage may be hung from or supported by an approved sign or its support if it will adversely affect the structure of the approved sign or make the approved sign non-conforming.
(F) Signs not to constitute a traffic hazard. No sign as regulated by this subchapter shall be erected at the intersection of any street, alley, or driveway in such a manner as to obstruct free and clear vision; or at any location where, by reason of the position, shape, or color, it may interfere with, obstruct the view of, or be confused with any authorized traffic sign, signal, or device; or which makes use of the words “STOP,” “LOOK,” “DANGER,” or any other word, phrase, or symbol or character in such manner as to interfere with, mislead, or confuse traffic.
(Ord. passed 5-16-2023) Penalty, see § 154.999
(A) Attached signs are permitted in all B-1 Neighborhood Commercial, B-2 Central Commercial, B-3 Community Commercial, B-4 Highway Business District, I-1 Light Industrial, and I-2 General Industrial Zoning Districts. At no time shall any sign project more than eight and one-half feet from the building surface, nor more than 18 inches into the public right-of-way, whichever is more restrictive. Every attached sign, excluding fascia signs, shall be placed at least ten feet above the ground over which it is erected. These limits include the space necessary to allow for installation hardware. Signs located on canopies and/or awnings will be considered attached signs for the purpose of calculating the area. Requirements in the uniform building code will be used to determine the distance of allowable projection into the public right-of-way.
(B) (1) Attached on-premises signs may have an aggregate area of two square feet for each linear foot of building frontage facing a street, but the maximum total area of all permitted on-premises attached signs shall not exceed 500 square feet per establishment per street facing.
(2) Permitted signs may be placed on any facade of the building. The printed copy of graphics portion of a fascia sign shall not exceed 80% of any linear frontage of the building.
(C) (1) Outdoor advertising signs shall not exceed 300 square feet per face. On streets and highways within the jurisdiction of this subchapter, no outdoor advertising sign may be established within 1,500 feet of any other outdoor advertising sign facing the same direction measured on either side of the street.
(2) Such spacing between structures does not apply to structures separated by buildings or other structures in such a manner that only one sign located within the above mentioned spacing distance is visible from the highway at any one time.
(D) No attached sign shall extend more than four feet above the facade of the building to which it is attached. A sign which is attached parallel to any building or structure shall not project beyond the ends of the wall to which it is attached.
(E) In the case of a lot or building facade with frontage on more than one street, attached signs may be permitted on each street in accordance with the regulations of this subchapter. In no case shall allowable sign area be transferred from one street-facing facade to another street-facing facade.
(F) Attached signs identifying churches, fraternities, or other similar uses in residential zoning districts shall be of the fascia type, shall not exceed 30 square feet in area, and shall be limited to one sign (attached or freestanding) on the premises of said use.
(G) Attached signs for special use permits granted by the County Board shall be allowed only when authorized by said Board, and shall conform to the requirements of 36.6.d.
(H) If the projecting attached sign is illuminated, the reflectors shall be provided with the proper glass lenses concentrating the illumination upon the area of the sign and preventing glare upon the street or adjacent property.
(I) The distance measured between the principle faces of any attached projecting sign shall not exceed 18 inches.
(J) No attached projecting sign shall be secured with wire, strips of wood or nails, nor shall any projecting sign be hung or secured to any other sign.
(K) All attached wall signs shall be safely and securely attached to the building wall by means of metal anchors, bolts, or expansion screws of not less than three-eighths inch in diameter, embedded in said wall at least five inches; provided, however, that such signs may rest in, or be bolted to strong, heavy metal brackets, or saddles set not over six feet apart, each of which shall be securely fixed to the wall as herein before provided. In no case shall any attached wall sign be secured with wire, strips of wood, or nails.
(L) Attached signs identifying uses affiliated with a college, university, or seminary, subject to the use meeting the 30-foot separation requirement from any residentially zoned or one- or two-family used lot (as specified in the U-1 University/College district) shall be of a fascia type and shall not exceed 30 square feet in area.
(Ord. passed 5-16-2023)
(A) Freestanding signs are permitted in B-1 Neighborhood Business District, B-2 Central Business District, and B-3 Community Business District.
(B) Freestanding signs shall conform to the height regulations of this chapter with a maximum height of 25 feet. However, within 660 feet of the interstate highway, exit ramps excluded, one sign on a standard per premises may be erected to exceed the 40-foot limitation providing it does not exceed a height of five feet above the centerline of the nearest pavement, ramps excluded, of the interstate road and can be seen from said point.
(C) Freestanding on-premises signs and their supporting structures are permitted within one foot of the front property line when the area of such sign is not greater than 100 square feet. For each additional ten square feet in area, such sign shall be set back an additional one foot.
(D) No freestanding sign shall be nearer than two feet to any other sign, building, or structure, providing, however, that a sign of continuous panels shall be considered as one sign for this provision.
(E) In the B-1, B-2, and B-3 Districts all freestanding signs must be on-premises, with a total area of signage not exceeding one square foot per linear foot of lot frontage, with total signage not exceeding 500 square feet total per lot and shall not exceed 12 feet in height from grade to the top of the sign and supporting structure (250 square feet per side total). Freestanding on-premises signs in the B-4, I-1, and I-2 Districts may have two square feet of area per linear foot of lot frontage, and total signage not exceeding 900 square feet per lot (450 square feet per side total).
(F) Outdoor advertising signs shall not exceed 300 square feet per face. On streets and highways within the jurisdiction of this subchapter, no outdoor advertising sign may be established within 1,500 feet of another outdoor advertising sign facing the same direction measured on either side of the same street. Such spacing between signs does not apply to signs separated by buildings or other structures in such a manner that only one sign located within the above mentioned spacing distance is visible from the highway at any one time.
(1) Outdoor advertising signs shall be no nearer the street than the building line established by this subchapter.
(2) Outdoor advertising signs shall not be located within 50 feet of any R-1 Residential Dwelling or SE Suburban Estates Zoning District.
(3) Outdoor advertising signs shall not exceed 25 feet in height.
(G) In the case of a lot with frontage on more than one street, freestanding signs in accordance with divisions (D), (E), and (F) above may be permitted on each street. In no case shall allowable sign area be transferred from one street frontage to another street frontage.
(H) Freestanding signs identifying churches, fraternities, or other similar uses in residential zoning districts shall not exceed 30 square feet in area nor six feet in height from the top of the sign to the ground, shall be limited to one sign (attached or freestanding) on the premises of said use, and shall be set back at least ten feet from all lot lines.
(I) Freestanding signs for special use permits granted by the County Board shall be allowed only when authorized by said Board, and shall conform to the requirements of § 154.642(D).
(J) Freestanding signs shall have an open space not less than two feet between the base line of said sign and the ground level. This open space may be filled in with a platform or decorative lattice work which does not close off more than one-half of any square foot of such open space.
(K) No part of a freestanding sign shall be located over the public right-of-way.
(L) The area around pole, or between poles or similar supports of freestanding elevated signs shall be kept open for maximum visibility to conform in all respects to provisions in this subchapter.
(M) Freestanding signs identifying uses affiliated with a college, university, or seminary, subject to use meeting the 30-foot separation requirement from any residentially zoned or one- or two-family used lot (as specified in the U-1 University/College district) shall not exceed 30 square feet in area, nor six feet in height from the top of the sign to the ground and shall be setback at least ten feet from all lot lines.
(Ord. passed 5-16-2023)
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