§ 158.330 PURPOSE AND INTENT.

   The purpose of this subchapter is to prevent the uncontrolled use of off-premises signs so as to promote the health, safety and general welfare of those persons using the public rights-of-way. These regulations are intended to preserve the overall landscape quality of the county while allowing the reasonable use of signs to inform the traveling public. This is accomplished through the application of standards for size, illumination and separation.

(1992 Code, App. F, § 17A.01) (Ord. 10-06, passed 1-23-2006)

§ 158.331 GENERAL REGULATIONS.

   (a)   In the A-1 and RC districts, off-premises signs shall be limited to those which provide direction to a business or use and shall be constructed in accordance with the following:

      (1)   A maximum sign area of nine square feet;

      (2)   The sign shall contain the business name and directional information only;

      (3)   There shall be no more than one sign face per direction of facing;

      (4)   A sign shall not be within a 600-foot radius of any other off-premises sign intended to be read from the same right-of-way. The sign shall not be within a 600-foot radius of any other off-premises sign intended to be read from a different right-of-way. All spacing measurements in this division (a)(4) shall refer to a measurement made along the edge of the right-of-way and shall apply only to structures located on the same side of the highway. These spacing provisions do not apply to signs separated by buildings or other obstructions in a manner that only one sign facing located within the above spacing distance is visible from the road right-of-way at any one time;

      (5)   A sign shall not be illuminated nor shall blinking or flashing lights be used; and

      (6)   A maximum height of 16 feet.

   (b)   The following regulations shall apply to off- premises signs in the C, I-1 and I-2 districts except as permitted in § 158.332:

      (1)   A maximum sign area of 288 square feet;

      (2)   There shall be no more than one sign face per direction of facing;

      (3)   The maximum height shall be 40 feet;

      (4)   No part of the sign face or structure shall be located in or overlap into the required side or rear yard setbacks or public right-of-way;

      (5)   A sign shall not be within a 600-foot radius of any other off-premises sign intended to be read from the same right-of-way. The sign shall not be within a 600-foot radius of any other off-premises sign intended to be read from a different right-of-way. All spacing measurements in this division (b)(5) shall refer to a measurement made along the right-of-way and shall apply only to structures located on the same side of the highway. These spacing provisions do not apply to signs separated by buildings or other obstructions in a manner that only one sign facing located within the above spacing distance is visible from the road right-of-way at any one time; and

      (6)   The light from any illuminated sign shall be so shielded, shaded or directed so that the light intensity shall not adversely affect surrounding or facing premises or the safe vision of operators of vehicles on public roads.

(1992 Code, App. F, § 17A.02) (Ord. 10-06, passed 1-23-2006)

§ 158.332 CONDITIONAL USES.

   A conditional use permit in conformance with §§ 158.370 through 158.382 shall be obtained for the following off-premises signs:

   (a)   Off-premises signs over 288 square feet to a maximum of 672 square feet and signs with more than one sign face per direction of facing in the C and I districts; and

   (b)   A conditional use permit shall be required for off-premises signs within 600 feet of a park, school, church, viaduct, designated historic site or river greenway or cemetery, or within any areas designated on the Image Conservation Areas and Gateways map.

(1992 Code, App. F, § 17A.03) (Ord. 10-06, passed 1-23-2006)

§ 158.333 EXCEPTIONS.

   (a)   Directional signs for nonprofit organizations not to exceed four square feet per sign face;

   (b)   Political campaign signs provided the signs are removed within five days after the election; and

   (c)   Directional signs, street name signs or other signs which have been authorized and directed by a governmental unit.

(1992 Code, App. F, § 17A.04) (Ord. 10-06, passed 1-23-2006)

§ 158.334 PROHIBITED SIGNS.

   The following signs are prohibited.

   (a)   Parking of advertising vehicles prohibited. No person shall park any vehicle or trailer on a public right-of-way or public property, or on private property so as to be visible from a public right-of-way, which has attached thereto or located thereon, any sign or advertising device for the basic purpose of providing advertisement of products or directing people to a business or activity located on the same premises or any other premises. This is not intended to prohibit any form of vehicular signage such as a sign attached to a bus or lettering on a motor vehicle.

   (b)   Nuisance signs. Signs which imitate an official traffic sign or signal or which are of a size, location, movement, content, coloring or manner of illumination which may be confused with or construed as a traffic control device or which hide from view any traffic, street sign or signal shall be removed upon notice.

(1992 Code, App. F, § 17A.05) (Ord. 10-06, passed 1-23-2006) Penalty, see § 10.999

§ 158.335 MAINTENANCE AND REMOVAL.

   Every off-premises sign shall be maintained in good structural and aesthetic condition at all times. Any abandoned, unsafe or unsightly sign shall be removed or renovated within 60 days upon written notice. If the owner fails to remove or renovate the sign within the required time period, the county may remove that sign at the owner’s expense.

(1992 Code, App. F, § 17A.06) (Ord. 10-06, passed 1-23-2006)

NONCONFORMING AND NONSTANDARD USES