(A) General prohibitions. Any graphic or sign not expressly permitted by this chapter is prohibited in the city.
(1) Signs in the C-1 Neighborhood Commercial zoning district are not governed by this chapter. See § 154.020(H) Neighborhood Commercial - C-1 Zoning District of the Troy Zoning Code.
(B) Calculation of graphic area. The area of every graphic or sign shall be calculated as follows:
(1) If the graphic is enclosed by a box or outline, the total area contained within that outline, including the background, shall be deemed the graphic area.
(2) If the graphic consists of individual letters, parts or symbols, only the area of an imaginary square or rectangle which would completely enclose all the letters, symbols and parts shall be deemed the graphic area.
(3) Only one side of any double-facing graphics shall be considered in calculating area.
(4) The area of graphics of three-dimensional shapes such as boxes, globes, cylinders, or pyramids shall be computed as one-half of the total of the exposed surfaces.
(C) Graphic area allowances. Within the limitations and restrictions as further provided in this chapter, the total of the areas of all graphics that a particular establishment is permitted to display shall be computed as follows:
(1) Two square feet of graphics area per one foot of lineal store frontage in the C-2 General Commercial, C-3 Highway Commercial, C-5 Town Center Mixed-use; I-1 Light Industry and I-2 General Industry zoning districts with a minimum of eight square feet of graphics permitted in these zoning districts.
(2) The total permitted graphics area shall not exceed 300 square feet per street frontage.
(3) If any establishment has frontage on two or more streets, each side having frontage shall be considered separately for purposes of determining compliance with the provisions of this chapter. The sign area allowances shall not be aggregated on any one side so as to allow any such establishment to display on any one frontage a greater area of graphics than 300 square feet.
(4) The side of an establishment adjacent to an off-street parking area shall not be deemed frontage unless the establishment has no other frontage.
(5) Any signage that is part of the building shall not exceed 10% of the total square footage of the respective building face upon which it is placed.
(D) Illumination. Illumination of graphics is permitted, subject to the following requirements:
(1) No red, yellow, orange, green, or other colored light shall be used within 200 feet of a traffic sign or device.
(2) No graphic shall have blinking, flashing, or fluttering lights, which have a changing light intensity, brightness, or color. Beacon lights are prohibited.
(3) The illumination area shall be included in graphic area allowances.
(4) The light from any illuminated graphic shall be shaded, shielded, or directed to avoid a nuisance to persons on adjacent property or create a traffic hazard.
(5) No exposed reflective-type bulb and no strobe light or incandescent lamp that exceeds 15 watts or equivalent shall be used on the exterior surface of any graphic in such a manner as to expose the face of the bulb, light, or lamp to any public street or adjacent property.
(E) Movement prohibited. No graphic which revolves, rotates, or mechanically moves in any manner shall be permitted in the city.
(F) Obstructions and traffic hazards.
(1) No graphic shall be erected, relocated, or maintained to prevent free access to any door, window, fire escape, or driveway.
(2) No graphic shall be erected or maintained in such a manner that it interferes with, obstructs the view of, or can be confused with any authorized traffic sign, signal, or device. In addition, no graphic shall contain the words "stop", "go", "caution", "danger", "warning" or similar words unless these specific words are part of the name of the particular business.
(G) Structural and maintenance requirements.
(1) Every graphic shall be designed and constructed in a manner that is safe and shall conform to the applicable provisions of the building and electrical codes.
(2) The Building & Zoning Official shall have the right under the Administrative and Enforcement section of this chapter to order the repair and removal of any sign which is defective, damaged, or substantially deteriorated as defined in the International Building Code most recently adopted by the city.
(Ord. 2014-02, passed 1-21-2014; Ord. 2016-05, passed 3-21-2016; Ord. 2024-56, passed 9-16-2024)