(A) Permit required. It shall be unlawful for any person to erect, alter, relocate, or replace the face of any sign within the village without first obtaining a building permit from the Enforcement Officer, in accordance with the Village Building Code. This provision shall not apply to signs listed under § 154.094(B).
(B) Determination of sign area.
(1) The surface area of a sign shall be computed by including the entire area within a 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, framing, 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.
(2) The posts or other supporting structures associated with a pole sign shall not be included in computing the sign area. In computing the sign area for a monument sign, the entire area of the sign shall be considered, exclusive of its elevated landscape planter box or base structure.
(3) For 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.
(a) Except for projecting signs, 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 sign, so long as the distance between the backs of such signs does not exceed three feet. Both sides of a projecting sign shall be counted in determining size of such signs.
(b) The sign surface area of a double-faced sign constructed in the form of a “V” shall be calculated by using the area of 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.
(4) For open letter signs, only two-thirds of the area, computed in accordance with divisions (B)(1) above, shall be counted as the area of the sign.
(5) Signs area on walls of circular buildings and other buildings with curved or irregular wall surfaces: the horizontal length of any single wall of a building that is characterized by multiple curved walls or irregular walls shall be measured as a straight line extending between both visible ends of the wall comprising of the multiple curves or irregular wall alignments.
(C) Miscellaneous regulations.
(1) Building Code requirements. All signs shall comply in every respect with the Building Code of the village, including, but not limited to:
(a) No sign shall be erected, displayed, or maintained so as to obstruct any fire escape, any required exit way, window, or door opening used as a means of egress, or to obstruct any other means of egress required by the Building Code of the village; and
(b) No sign shall be erected, displayed, or maintained in a manner that interferes with any opening required for ventilation under the Building Code of the village.
(2) Projection into right-of-way. No sign shall project beyond a right-of-way line, except for the following:
(a) Wall signs, provided that such signs extend over a public sidewalk and has a bottom clearance of not less than eight feet;
(b) Projecting signs provided that such signs extend over a public sidewalk; not extend more than three feet into the right-of-way; and has a bottom clearance of not less than eight feet;
(c) Signs mounted on or under a canopy, awning, or marque which is permitted to project into a right-of-way, in accordance with § 154.055(A)(2)(c), and where the bottom edge of the sign is not less than eight feet above the sidewalk or pedestrian way; and
(d) Banner signs, provided that such signs shall not project into the right-of-way by more than two feet and have a bottom clearance of not less than 14 feet. The structure to which the banner signs are attached (such as, light standard) shall be able to withstand the additional wind load caused by such sign per the village’s Building Code.
(3) Sign illumination. Internal and external illumination of signs shall concentrate the illumination upon the area of the sign so as to prevent glare upon the street or adjacent property.
(4) Miscellaneous advertising objects prohibited. No goods, wares, merchandise, or other attention-getting object, other than a sign as defined herein shall be used as an advertising object. This provision shall not be construed so as to prohibit the display of motor vehicles for sale or other outdoor storage and display of merchandise permitted by this chapter.
(5) Signs not to constitute traffic hazard.
(a) No sign shall be erected at the intersection of any streets 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”, “go”, “look”, “danger”, “one-way”, “yield”, or any other word, phrase, symbol, or character in such a manner as to interfere with, mislead, or confuse traffic.
(b) Sign placement shall be in accordance with the requirements contained in § 154.061.
(6) Electrical hazards. No freestanding sign shall be erected within eight feet of any line conductors, service drops, or power lines.
(Ord. 834, passed 2-1-2001)