A sign permit shall be required for any new on-premises or off-premises sign installation, including temporary signs. At the time of installation, the new sign must conform to all requirements of this subchapter at the time of installation.
(A) General provisions.
(1) All signs shall be placed or erected in conformity with all applicable side and rear yard setback requirements for structures. The minimum front yard setback requirement for signs shall be five feet from any property line.
(2) No sign, including political signs, are allowed to be located in any public right-of-way or public or private access easement. All signs issued by the city for public notice of proposed land use changes are exempt from this requirement.
(3) There shall be a 250-foot separation between a new ground/pole on-premises sign and an existing ground/pole on-premises sign.
(4) All sign structures shall be painted and maintained in muted colors as to blend into the natural surroundings. Colors shall include, but not be limited to, brown, black, or tan. Wood sign structures may remain unpainted and be allowed to have a natural patina. At no time shall bright or neon colors be used for either wood or metal sign structures.
(5) No debris, including but not necessarily limited to, wood material, posts, metal, paper, plastic, cardboard, or other materials from the construction or maintenance of a sign shall be left at the location or vicinity of a sign. Any violation of this section is hereby declared a nuisance and subject to abatement.
(6) No sign shall be constructed which resembles any official marker erected by a governmental entity or which by reason of position, shape, or color would conflict with the proper functioning of any official traffic control device, sign, or marker.
(7) No sign shall exceed two sides. Signs shall have no more than one frontal face (front) and one back face (back) as viewed from one static position.
(8) Sign and sign structure design shall be reviewed and inspected by the Building Official for compliance with the following:
(a) Building Code, as adopted; and
(b) Electric Code, as adopted.
(B) Off-premises sign requirements. All off-premises signs shall require a conditional use permit and shall meet all the provisions of §§ 155.335 through 155.341. In addition, due consideration shall be given to the relationship between the sign(s) and the natural horizon/view shed in the area of the proposed sign location. In addition to the general provisions of this chapter, the following regulations shall apply to all off-premises signs.
(1) No off-premises sign shall be erected or placed closer than 500 feet from any residential district and/or dwelling unit.
(2) Off-premises signs shall be located no closer than 1,500 feet from all other off-premises signs.
(3) No illuminated sign shall be permitted within 1,500 feet of any dwelling unit or residential district without an approved conditional use permit. All illuminated signs shall be installed and maintained in accordance with §§ 155.195 through 155.204 so as to minimize spillage of light outside of the sign face.
(4) Off-premises signs shall not exceed a height of 40 feet. Height shall be measured from grade level directly below the face of the sign to the highest part of the sign.
(5) The maximum display area of any off-premises sign located adjacent to a two or more-lane street or highway shall not exceed 250 square feet on each face. The maximum display area of any off-premises sign located on the interstate shall not exceed 400 square feet on each face.
(6) All off-premises signs shall be placed or erected in conformity with all applicable side and rear yard setback requirements for structures. The minimum front yard setback requirement for on-premises or off-premises signs shall be five feet from any property line.
(7) A vehicle or trailer of any form or type, whether licensed or not, or in working condition or not, intended to be used as or in conjunction with an on-premises or off-premises sign, shall not be located adjacent to any public right-of-way or on private or public property so as to be visible from the public right-of-way. Vehicles or trailers whose primary use is other than outdoor advertising shall be exempt from this section.
(C) On-premises sign requirements.
(1) Number of signs per premises. Notwithstanding anything else in this section, no more than two signs may be erected or maintained on any one premises at any one time, except that when a premises is located on a corner lot and has public entrances on two or more public ways, or that a building has both a front and rear public entrance, one additional sign may be erected and maintained. In calculating the total number of signs on a premises, both permanent and temporary signs shall be combined in the total. A multi-faced sign shall count as a single sign. Signs enumerated in § 155.274 shall not be counted in calculating the total.
(2) Sign area. Notwithstanding anything else in this section, the total sign area per premises, including both permanent and temporary signs, shall not exceed the following:
(a) Wall, roof, canopy, and projecting signs. The total square feet of all walls, roof, and/or projecting signs shall be a sign area of two square feet for each one linear foot of street frontage shall be allowed not to exceed 50 square feet. Every premises shall be allowed a minimum of 50 square feet of sign area. Allowable sign area is not transferable from one frontage to another. An additional 50 square feet of sign area shall be allowed for every 100 feet of street frontage over first 250 feet of street frontage. On corner lots, each frontage shall be considered unique and separate in calculation sign area. Multi-faced signs shall be computed as one sign if the signs are parallel and are part of the same sign structure.
(b) Ground/pole signs. The total square feet of all ground/pole signs shall be a sign area of one square foot for each one linear foot of street frontage shall be allowed not to exceed 250 square feet. Every premises shall be allowed a minimum of 50 square feet of sign area. Allowable sign area is not transferable from one frontage to another. On corner lots, each frontage shall be considered unique and separate in calculation sign area. Multi-faced signs shall be computed as one sign if the signs are parallel and are part of the same sign structure.
(3) Sign height. Ground/pole signs shall not exceed a height of 30 feet. Height shall be measured from grade level directly below the face of the sign to the highest part of the sign.
(4) Projecting signs. In addition to the other provisions of this chapter, the following regulations shall apply to all projecting signs.
(a) No projecting sign shall project more than seven feet beyond the property line in the direction of the street. No portion of any projecting sign shall be closer than three feet to the face of the street curb or curb line as measured by a horizontal line from the curb or curb line to a vertical line parallel to the most projected portion of the sign. In the Central Commercial District (C-1), signs may project over the state highway and in all other zoning district, no signs shall project over state highway rights-of-way unless written permission is given by the appropriate state agency.
(b) No portion of any projecting sign shall be less than 14 feet above grade level if it is projecting over public a right-of way.
(c) No single face of a projecting sign shall exceed 32 square feet in area.
(d) No projecting sign shall have a vertical dimension greater than six feet.
(e) There shall be no more than one projecting sign for any premises unless the premises is located on a corner lot and has public entrances on two or more public streets, in which case one projecting sign may be erected and maintained for and toward each public way.
(5) Wall signs. In addition to the other provisions of this chapter, the following regulations shall apply to all wall signs.
(a) No wall sign shall extend above the top of the wall upon which it is placed.
(b) No wall sign, or any part thereof, shall project more than 12 inches from the wall upon which it is mounted.
(c) No wall sign shall extend beyond the vertical extremities of the wall to which it is attached.
(d) Refer to § 155.275(C)(2) for limits on sign area.
(e) A banner sign shall be considered as wall sign. An annual permit shall be obtained for each banner sign. The banner may be changed as long it does not exceed the square footage of the approved sign permit.
(6) Roof signs. In addition to the other provisions of this subchapter, the following regulations shall apply to all roof signs.
(a) No more than one roof sign may be erected or maintained on a single premises.
(b) All roof signs must be set back a distance of at least four feet from all the outside walls of the building on or over which they are located. It is the intention of this provision to provide a clear passageway around the sign.
(7) Ground/pole signs. In addition to the other provisions of this chapter, the following regulations shall apply to all ground/pole signs. Ground/pole signs shall be limited to one per street frontage except that businesses on frontages of 250 feet or more may erect two ground/pole signs with a minimum of 250 foot spacing between signs. However, the total sign area of both signs may not exceed that allowed for the street frontage.
(D) Miscellaneous signs.
(1) In addition to the other provisions of this chapter, the following regulations shall apply to all miscellaneous signs.
(a) In any commercial or industrial district, an area identification sign may be placed and shall not apply to the limits set forth in division (C)(2) above. All other provision of this chapter shall apply to any area identification sign.
(b) In any commercial or industrial district, a parasitic sign may be on a sign structure. The use of a parasitic sign shall be limited to 30 days. A parasitic sign may not be an off-premises sign.
(c) In any commercial or industrial zoning district, portable signs may only be displayed for 15 permit days per calendar year at any one business location. A separate permit shall be required for each sign. Permits for no more than two portable signs may be issued at a particular business location if the permits are of equal duration and run concurrently. Portable signs shall be secured against overturning.
(d) Each subdivision that has been approved in accordance with the regulations of Chapter 151 shall be allowed one on-premises sign per entrance, not exceeding 75 square feet in area, advertising the name of such subdivision. The subdivision sign shall be set back at least five feet from the property line. The signs should be aesthetically pleasing and blend into the surroundings.
(e) Approved temporary signs related to a community event are only allowed to be erected 30 days prior to the event and must be removed within ten days of the conclusion of the event. Temporary signs shall be approved by the Planning Official for size and location and must substantially conform to the regulations of this chapter. All non-event temporary sign permits are issued for 30 days, renewable twice for a maximum of 90 days. The temporary sign must be removed following the expiration of the temporary sign permit.
(f) Home occupation signs shall not exceed six square feet in area, and shall be limited to one such sign per approved home occupation. A home occupation shall be allowed to have one wall sign or one freestanding sign. The freestanding sign shall be located at least five feet from the property line and have a maximum height of five feet.
(2) The following signs shall be allowed without a permit but must comply with the criteria set forth below.
(a) Real estate sale, political campaign, and other noncommercial speech signs that do not exceed nine square feet in total and, if freestanding, five feet in height. No more than one such sign per street frontage. Political campaign signs may be erected 60 days prior to the scheduled date of the primary election and must be removed not later than seven days after the candidate is unsuccessful, withdraw, or the general election, whichever comes first.
(b) Businesses working at a residentially zoned lot, such as landscapers or window treatment installers, may post an identifying sign only when they are physically at the residence, and the sign shall be removed immediately when the working party leaves the property. Such sign shall not exceed nine square feet in total area and, if freestanding, shall not exceed five feet in height. No more than one such sign per street frontage per lot is allowed.
(c) For each permitted or required parking area that has a capacity of more than four cars, one sign not exceeding four square feet in area may be allowed at each entrance to or exit from such parking area. In addition, one sign not exceeding nine square feet in area is allowed for identifying or designating the conditions of use of such parking area.
(d) Not more than one non-illuminated “for sale” or “for rent” sign is allowed for the purpose of advertising the sale, rental, or lease of the premises on which the sign is located. Such sign shall not exceed nine square feet in size, shall be no more than five feet high and shall be at least five feet from the property line.
(e) For construction on or development of lots, not more than three “under construction” signs with a combined total area of 70 square feet, stating the names of contractors, engineers, or architects, is allowed during the time that construction or development is actively under way.
(f) Residential locator or E-911 signs are required for “emergency 911” signs.
(g) Directional signs shall not exceed 20 square feet.
(Ord. passed 2-3-2011, § 2.30.060) Penalty, see § 155.999