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Sign regulations, including provisions to control the type, design, size, location, motion, illumination, enforcement and maintenance thereof, are established in order to achieve, among others, the following purposes:
(a) To maintain high quality residential and public facilities districts by permitting reasonable signage; and
(b) To provide reasonable conditions for identifying establishments in office, business and industrial districts by relating the size, type and design of signs to the type and size of the office, business and industrial establishments; and
(c) To eliminate any conflict between advertising signs and traffic control signs which would be hazardous to the safety of the motoring public or pedestrians; and
(d) To control the design and size of all signs so that their appearance will be aesthetically harmonious with an overall design for the area; and
(e) To promote the most desirable developments and economic activity consistent with the objectives of the City's planning and development program; and
(f) To prevent any inadvertent and unintended favoring of a commercial message over a non-commercial message, or favoring of any particular non-commercial message over any other non-commercial message.
With these regulations, it is the City's intent not to infringe on the rights of free speech as protected by the First Amendment to the United States Constitution and Article I §11 of the Ohio Constitution. All provisions of this chapter are to be construed, whenever possible, in favor of vigorous political debate and accommodation of the rights of residents and visitors to speak freely. (Ord. 2009-155. Passed 11-16-09.)
Signs shall be designed, erected, altered, reconstructed, moved and maintained, in whole or in part, in accordance with the type, design, size, location, illumination and other provisions set forth in this chapter.
The construction, erection, safety and maintenance of all signs shall be in accordance with the applicable City codes. The provisions of this chapter shall not be construed to prohibit signage that is required by law. The provisions of this chapter shall not amend or in any way interfere with other codes, rules or regulations governing traffic signs within the City; and shall not amend or in any way interfere with other provisions of the Strongsville Codified Ordinances which impose additional rules or regulations regarding signage, or require additional signage. (Ord. 2009-155. Passed 11-16-09.)
"Sign" means any display, figure, painting, drawing, placard, poster or other device which is designed, intended or used to convey a message, advertise, inform or direct attention to a building, person, institution, organization, issue, activity, place, object or product. It may be a structure or part thereof painted on or attached directly or indirectly on a structure.
(a) Classification by Use Types.
(1) "Permanent sign" means a sign designed for use for an indefinite period of time and shall include the following:
A. "Bulletin board" means an announcement sign which directs attention to an event and information.
B. "Directional sign" means a sign indicating only the direction of pedestrian and vehicular circulation routes on the lot on which the sign is located.
C. “Drive-thru Menu Board” means a sign with a drive-thru restaurant facility that provides food choices and directions for customers.
D. "Nameplate" means a sign indicating the name, address or profession of the person or persons occupying a building or unit of a building.
E. All other signs permitted by this chapter other than temporary signs.
(2) "Temporary sign" means a sign designed for use for a limited period of time. The expiration date of a temporary sign as approved by the Building Commissioner shall appear on each temporary sign.
(b) Classification by Structural Types. (See illustration - Signs: Structural Types.)
(1) Building signs shall include the following:
A. "Canopy sign" means a sign attached to the soffit or fascia of a canopy, covered entrance or walkway, or to a permanent awning or marquee and not projecting beyond the edges of same.
B. "Projecting sign" means a sign attached to an outside building wall and which projects at a ninety degree (90°) angle therefrom.
C. "Wall or panel sign" means a sign integral with the face of an exterior building wall or mansard roof, or attached to and parallel with the wall or mansard roof.
D. "Window sign" means a sign painted, attached or affixed to the interior surface of a window and/or door of a building, which sign can be viewed from the exterior of the building.
(2) Freestanding signs shall include the following:
A. "Ground sign" means a sign in which the horizontal length of the sign exceeds its vertical height with an allowed supporting base not exceeding twelve inches above the original grade. The sign face area extends from the top of the sign to the bottom of the base.
B. "Pole sign" means a sign which is supported by or suspended from a freestanding column or columns and designed so as to permit pedestrian or vehicular movement under the sign.
C. "Pylon sign" means a sign in which the vertical height of the sign exceeds its horizontal length. The sign face area extends from the top of the sign to the bottom of the base. The base shall not exceed twelve inches from the original grade.
(Ord. 2021-006. Passed 3-15-21.)
Signs, as permitted in the various zoning districts, shall be professionally designed, constructed and installed so as to be compatible in character with regard to the architecture of the building on the lot on which they are located, and with the material, color and size of signs designed and located on the same building and on adjoining buildings in order to produce an overall unified effect in accordance with the standards set forth in this section.
(a) Wall or Panel Signs. A wall or panel sign shall not project more than twelve inches from the building wall to which it is attached and shall be set back from the end of a building or party wall line for a distance of at least three feet and shall not project above the building wall or coping of a mansard roof.
(b) Projecting Signs. Projecting signs shall not extend more than three feet from the face of a building and the lowest portion of such sign shall not be less than eight feet above the finished grade of a sidewalk, or other pedestrian way, and not less than fifteen feet above the finished grade of a vehicular way.
(c) Sign Height. Maximum height of freestanding signs shall be in accordance with the height limitations as specified in their respective zoning district's regulations.
(d) Vertical Dimension. The lowest member of all signs which are supported or suspended from a building shall not be less than eight feet above the finished grade of a sidewalk or other pedestrian way. If located over a pavement used for vehicular traffic or within eighteen inches of the vertical projection of the edges of such pavement, the lowest member of the sign shall not be less than fifteen feet above the finished pavement.
(e) Relation to Openings. Signs shall not project over or obstruct the required windows or doors of any building.
(f) Relation to Traffic Devices. Signs shall not be erected so as to obstruct sight lines along any public way, traffic control signals, street name signs, or street sight lines or signals at railroad grade crossings. Signs visible from the sight lines along any street shall not contain an arrow or words such as "stop", "go", "slow", or any terms which could cause confusion with traffic signals. The movement, content, coloring or manner of illumination of any sign shall not resemble traffic control signs or signals or cause confusion with traffic signals.
(g) Movement Restrictions. No sign shall employ any parts or elements which revolve, rotate, whirl, or spin. Banners, flags, posters, pennants, ribbons, streamers, spinners, strings of lights, air balloons, wind-driven signs or other similar devices for the purpose of advertising are prohibited. Such devices may be permitted for Public Facilities uses, as approved by the Architectural Review Board and Building Commissioner, or for other uses as otherwise specifically permitted in this chapter.
(h) Signs on Corner Lots. No sign shall be allowed within a triangle formed between points on the front and side street right-of-way lines within thirty-five feet from their intersection.
(i) Continuity. Signs seen in series on a building wall or walls, shall have a continuity of design with respect to shape, materials, color and placement.
(j) Style and Color. The style or design of signs shall be consistent throughout a particular building or group of buildings; the colors of signs shall be compatible with the color of the building facade(s) and other existing and proposed signs.
(k) Graphics. The lettering on a sign shall be clearly legible and in scale with the sign surface upon which it is placed.
(l) Materials. Signs shall be constructed of materials which are of appropriate quality and durability, and which are compatible with the materials of the building upon which such signs are placed.
(m) Structural Design. The construction, erection and maintenance of all signs shall be in compliance with this chapter and the Building Code and all other applicable municipal standards and regulations; provided, however, that in every instance the most restrictive standard shall govern.
(Ord. 2021-006. Passed 3-15-21.)
(a) This section is to provide reasonable lighting standards for signage in all districts to promote aesthetic value without compromising the health, safety and welfare of the community.
(b) An application must be submitted for each sign that the property owner requests be illuminated.
(c) The submittal of an application for the illumination of a sign in a Residential Zoning district shall be reviewed and acted upon by the Building Commissioner. The illumination of signs in Residential Zoning Districts shall meet the following standards:
(1) 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 Districts. “Excessive brightness” shall be defined as any sign that emits more than 10.00 Footcandles (equivalent to 10.00 Lumen per square foot) of light when measured at night, three feet perpendicular from the center of any sign face.
(d) The Building Commissioner may adopt rules and regulations to implement the provisions of this chapter dealing with illuminated signs in Residential Zoning Districts.
(e) The submittal of an application for the illumination of signs in all other zoning districts (other than Residential Districts), shall be reviewed and acted upon by the Architectural Review Board. The illumination of signs in all other zoning districts shall meet the following standards:
(1) 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 Districts. “Excessive brightness” shall be defined as any sign that emits more than 10.00 Footcandles (equivalent to 10.00 Lumen per square foot) of light when measured at night, three feet perpendicular from the center of any sign face.
(f) The Architectural Review Board may adopt rules and regulations to implement the provisions of this chapter dealing with illuminated signs in zoning districts other than Residential Districts.
(g) In all zoning districts, the sign lamps shall have a minimum color temperature of 3000 degrees Kelvin to 4000 degrees Kelvin, and a minimum Color Rendering Index (CRI) of 80 to 90. In all zoning districts, light sources to illuminate signs shall be shielded from all adjacent buildings and streets and shall not be of such brightness so as to cause glare, hazardous to pedestrians, or vehicle drivers, or so as to cause reasonable objection from any adjacent buildings or uses.
(Ord. 2021-006. Passed 3-15-21.)
Throughout this chapter, reference is made to the maximum permitted sign face area for single face signs. Freestanding signs may, however, have two sign faces. In such case, the maximum permitted sign face area for a single sign face shall apply to both sign faces. For example, if a sign face area of fifty square feet is permitted for a single sign face, a double-faced sign is permitted fifty square feet of sign face area for each sign face or a total of 100 square feet. No sign shall have more than two sign faces.
(Ord. 2009-155. Passed 11-16-09.)
Accessory signs in residential districts shall only be designed, erected, altered, moved and maintained, in whole or in part, in accordance with the following regulations:
(a) One wall or panel sign not exceeding two square feet in sign face area shall be permitted and located on any dwelling. Illumination, if any, shall meet the requirements of Section 1272.05.
(b) One permanent ground sign not to exceed thirty square feet in single face area and five feet in height shall be permitted at each entrance to the subdivision or residential development. Such sign shall be set back not less than ten feet from any street right-of-way line and shall comply with the provisions for signs on corner lots as set forth in Section 1272.04(h). With approval of the Building Commissioner, illumination of such signs shall be permitted if they meet the requirements of Section 1272.05.
(c) Temporary ground signs not exceeding six square feet each in single face sign area and five feet in height, shall be permitted for each lot, provided such signs shall be located not less than twenty-five feet from any lot line and ten feet from any street right-of-way line. The total square footage for all such signs on a residential lot shall not exceed thirty-six square feet. Illumination of such signs shall not be permitted.
(d) One temporary project ground sign not exceeding twenty-five square feet in single sign face area and eight feet in height may be permitted while a development is under construction. A temporary project ground sign shall be located not less than twenty-five feet from all street right of ways and lot lines and 100 feet from the nearest residence. Permits for such signs shall be for a period not exceeding two years from the date of issuance or upon issuance of the permit for the final sublot in that subdivision, whichever shall first occur. Illumination, if any, shall meet the requirements of Section 1272.05.
(Ord. 2009-155. Passed 11-16-09.)
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