The following are permanent signs permitted in the C-2, C-3, C-4, I-1, and P-I Districts:
(a) Window Signs. Window signs do not require zoning compliance review provided they comply with the following standards:
(1) Window signs shall not occupy more than fifty percent (50%) of the window area.
(2) Window signs shall be attached to the interior of the window or door.
(3) Window signs may be temporarily or permanently attached to the window surface.
(4) The sign area of window signs shall not be counted as part of any other sign allowance in this chapter.
(5) Window signs are not permitted in any window of a space used for residential uses or purposes unless allowed as a temporary sign in accordance with Section 1121.11.
(6) Window signs shall not be illuminated except when illuminated by an external lighting source.
(7) Decorative edging or other window treatments that are not an integral part of the sign copy shall not be considered a part of the sign for the purposes of this chapter. See Figure 1121-E.
(8) The sign area is based on the total window area, regardless of the presence of an awning. Window areas separated by piers, architectural elements, or similar features that are not glass or window framing or support, and that are more than four (4) inches in width, shall be considered separate and distinct window areas. See Figure 1121-I.
Figure 1121-I: The window area is illustrated within the dashed line area
for the two storefronts in the above image.
(b) Building Signs. Building signs are permitted on all principal buildings or canopy structures in accordance with the following:
(1) The maximum area of all building signs located on the primary facade shall be equal to one and five tenths (1.5) square feet of sign area per lineal foot of building frontage. For buildings where the primary facade is located a minimum of 150 feet back from the right-of-way, the maximum area of building signs located on the primary facade may be increased to two (2.0) square feet of sign area per lineal foot of building frontage.
(2) An applicant may provide additional building signage for all the secondary facades as follows:
A. The maximum total amount of building signs permitted on all of the secondary facades shall be equal to fifty percent (50%) of the amount of signage allowed on the primary facade.
B. The building signage allowed on the secondary facades may not be placed as additional building signs on the primary facade.
C. Buildings signs on secondary facades shall not be illuminated if they are visible from an adjacent lot that is zoned residential or is occupied by a residential use.
(4) The building sign area shall include the total amount of all awning, canopy, projecting, or wall signs on the building.
(5) There is no maximum number of building signs, but the total square footage of building signs located on a single façade shall comply with the requirements of this section.
(6) Building signs shall also be subject to any applicable standards for building sign types in Section 1121.08(b)(10).
(7) Building signs shall not extend above the top of the roofline of the building to which it is attached.
(8) Building signs may not be attached to mechanical equipment or roof screening but may be attached to accessory canopy structures (e.g., over fuel pumps).
(9) Building signs shall not include electronic message centers.
(10) Building Sign Standards.
A. Wall Sign Standards. Any wall sign shall comply with the following standards:
i. Wall signs shall be mounted on or flush with a wall and shall not project more than eighteen (18) inches from the wall or face of the building to which it is attached.
ii. A wall sign may be mounted on the facade wall or mounted on a raceway or wireway.
iii. No wall sign shall cover or obscure any wall opening.
B. Awning or Canopy Sign Standards. Any canopy sign shall comply with the following standards:
i. Signage shall not cover more than twenty-four (24) square feet of any individual awning or canopy.
ii. Signage may be mounted above any canopy that extends over a customer entrance, provided that the maximum sign height over the canopy shall be eighteen (18) inches, as measured from the top of the canopy to the top of the sign. Signage may also be mounted below the canopy provided the maximum height of the sign copy shall not exceed twelve (12) inches and the clearance requirements of Section 1121.05 are maintained to the bottom of the sign copy.
iii. Only the area of the sign may be illuminated internally on an awning or canopy. The remainder of any awning canopy shall not be illuminated or may be illuminated by an external source such as gooseneck lighting.
C. Projecting Sign Standards. Any projecting sign shall comply with the following standards:
i. Only one projecting sign shall be permitted for each tenant.
ii. A projecting sign shall be perpendicular to the wall of the building to which it is attached and shall not extend more than four (4) feet from the facade wall to which it is attached.
iii. Projecting signs shall be set back a minimum of three (3) feet from the end of the building or party wall.
iv. Decorative supporting structures for projecting signs are encouraged and shall not count toward the maximum square footage of sign area allowed; however, in no case shall the supporting structure exceed six (6) square feet in area.
v. The maximum sign area for a projecting sign shall be twenty-four (24) square feet.
vi. Projecting signs shall not be internally illuminated.
vii. Projecting signs shall not encroach into the right-of-way.
(c) Freestanding Signs.
(1) Freestanding signs include pole, ground, and monument signs.
(2) Only one freestanding sign is permitted per street frontage.
(3) The maximum height of a freestanding sign shall be eight feet.
(4) The maximum sign area of any freestanding sign shall be fifty (50) square feet.
(5) All freestanding signs shall be set back a minimum of eight (8) feet from all rights-of-way.
(6) For lots that have a street frontage longer than 300 feet, the total sign area may be increased by one square foot for every three (3) lineal feet of the street frontage that exceeds 300 feet with a maximum sign area of 150 feet. The maximum height and setbacks shall be adjusted in accordance with Table 1121-2 based on the final sign area.
TABLE 1121-2: FREESTANDING SIGNS ON LARGE LOTS | ||
Sign Area (Square Feet) | Maximum Height (Feet) | Minimum Setback from Rights-of-Way (Feet) |
50 to 75 | 8 | 8 |
76 to 100 | 10 | 8 |
101 to 125 | 12 | 10 |
126 to 150 | 16 | 10 |
(7) All freestanding signs shall be located in a landscaped area equal to or larger than the total sign area of the applicable sign. Such landscaped area may be an area that fulfills any landscaping requirements of this code. The landscaped area shall include all points where sign structural supports attach to the ground.
(8) Exposed sign foundations shall be constructed with a finished material such as brick, stone, veneer, or wood.
(9) The sign may include a manual changeable copy sign as part of the allowed sign area.
(d) Drive-Through Facility Signs.
(1) Drive-through facility signs are only permitted as an accessory to a permitted drive-through facility.
(2) One drive-through facility sign shall be allowed for each waiting lane in a drive-through facility, provided the total aggregate sign area of all freestanding signs associated with each drive-through facility does not exceed seventy-two (72) square feet. In no case shall a single drive-through facility sign exceed thirty-six (36) square feet in sign area.
(3) Such signs shall be oriented so as to only be visible to occupants of vehicles in the waiting lanes of the drive-through facility.
(4) No drive-through facility sign under this section shall exceed six feet in height measured from the grade of the adjacent driving surface to the top of the sign.
(5) Drive-through facility signs may be internally or externally illuminated. Up to one hundred percent (100%) of each sign may be an electronic message center if they comply with the following standards:
A. Any message change shall be a static, instant message change.
B. Only Light Emitting Diodes (LED) technology or similar quality signs shall be permitted for electronic message centers.
C. The electronic message center shall come equipped with an automatic dimming photocell, which automatically adjusts the display's brightness based on ambient light conditions.
D. The electronic message center shall be turned off during the hours when the related business is closed.
(6) There shall be no maximum drive-through facility sign area in instances where the signs are fully screened from view of any public street or adjacent residential use.
(7) The sign area of drive-through facility signs shall not be counted as part of any other sign allowance in this chapter.
(8) Drive-through facility signs attached to a wall of a building shall be calculated as part of the building signage allowance in Section 1121.08(b).
(e) Driveway Signs.
(1) A maximum of two (2) signs shall be permitted for any individual driveway.
(2) Driveway signs shall be set back at least five (5) feet from all lot lines, but in no case shall the sign be set back more than twenty-five (25) feet from the edge of the driveway where it intersects with the public street.
(3) Each driveway sign shall not exceed four (4) square feet in area and three (3) feet in height.
(4) Driveway signs may be internally or externally illuminated.
(5) The sign area of driveway signs shall not be counted as part of any other sign allowance in this chapter.
(Ord. 2879. Passed 10-23-23.)