Unless otherwise specifically stated, the following regulations shall apply to all signs within the City:
(a) Permanent signs are considered accessory uses and shall be accessory to a principal use provided for by the Springboro Zoning Code. Temporary signs may be permitted on all lots, regardless of the presence of a principal use, provided the temporary signs are in compliance with this chapter.
(b) All signs shall be constructed in compliance with the applicable building and electrical codes as well as any other City regulations.
(c) All signs shall be secured in such a manner as to prevent swinging or other significant noticeable movement, not including movement related to permitted electronic message signs.
(d) Signs supported by or suspended from a building shall hang so as to maintain a minimum clear height of eight feet above a sidewalk or other pedestrian-only path and fourteen feet above a vehicular path.
(e) Signs in Rights-of-Way.
(1) Signs shall be prohibited in the right-of-way with the exception of:
A. Signs installed by the City of Springboro, Warren or Montgomery Counties, the State of Ohio, and the United States, including local and regional transit agencies;
B. Any warning signs or traffic safety signs required by public utility providers; or
C. Where specific signs are authorized to be located in a right-of-way as stated in this chapter.
(2) The City Manager, or their designee, may remove or cause to be removed any unlawful sign in the public right-of-way.
(f) Removal of Unlawful Signs.
(1) Any sign which violates the provisions of this chapter shall be declared a public and private nuisance, and the City shall give seven days' notice by personal service or by registered or certified mail, to the owner or lessee of the land on which such sign is located, to remove such sign. However, in the case of an unlawful sign which is not permanently attached to the ground or to a building or structure, the City need give only 24 hours' notice to remove the sign. The owner or lessee shall have the right of appeal to the Board of Zoning Appeals.
(2) If any such sign has not been removed on or before the expiration of the applicable notice period prescribed in subsection (1) hereof, or within seven days after the adverse decision of the Board of Zoning Appeals, the City or any of its duly authorized agents may enter upon the premises and cover, remove, or otherwise abate the sign. The cost of such covering, removal, or abatement shall be paid out of any money in the City Treasury not otherwise appropriated. City Council shall make a written return to the County Auditor with a statement of the charges for services in covering, removing, or abating the sign, together with a legal description of the parcel. Such amounts shall be certified to the County Auditor for entry upon the tax duplicate, shall constitute a lien upon such lands from the date of the entry and shall be collected as other taxes and returned to the City's General Fund.
(3) Notice to the owner or lessee shall not be required prior to the removal of a hazardous sign which, in the joint opinion of the City Manager, or their designee, and City Engineer, creates an immediate danger to persons or property due to structural design deficiencies, inadequate maintenance or improper location. Notice to the owner or lessee shall not be required prior to the removal of any sign unlawfully placed on public property.
(g) Sign Illumination. All signs, unless otherwise stated in this chapter, may be illuminated by internal or external light sources, provided that such illumination complies with the following:
(1) Lights shall not be of such brightness so as to cause glare that is hazardous to pedestrians or motorists, or cause reasonable objection from adjacent residential zoning districts.
(2) Light sources to illuminate permanent signs located inside or outside of buildings shall not be of excessive brightness or cause glare hazardous to pedestrians or drivers of automobiles, or be objectionable to adjacent residential zoning districts.
(3) No illumination of signs shall flash.
(h) Maintenance.
(1) Every sign shall be maintained in a safe, presentable and good structural condition at all times, including the replacement of a defective part, painting, cleaning and other acts required for the maintenance of the sign so as not to show evidence of deterioration, including peeling, rust, dirt, fading, damage, discoloration or holes.
(2) Whenever a sign is to be removed pursuant to the requirements of this section, all parts of the sign and supporting structure (e.g., pole, foundation, cabinet structure, etc.), excluding buildings for wall, projecting or similar signage, shall be removed in its entirety. This section shall not require the removal of a raceway if mounted to such structure on a building.
(3) The City Manager, or their designee, may order the removal or repair of any sign that, has become insecure, in danger of falling or otherwise unsafe, or presents a threat to the public safety.
(Ord. O-21-6. Passed 6-17-21.)