The following principles shall control the computation of sign area and sign height:
(A) Computation of area of individual signs. The area of a sign face (which is also the sign area of a wall sign or other sign with only 1 face) shall be computed by means of the smallest square, circle, rectangle, triangle, or combination thereof that will encompass the extreme limits of the writing, representation, emblem, or other display, together with any material 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, but not including any supporting framework, bracing, or decorative fence or wall when such fence or wall otherwise meets zoning ordinance regulations and is clearly incidental to the display itself.
(B) Computation of area of multifaced signs. The sign area for a sign with more than 1 face shall be computed by adding together the area of all sign faces visible from any 1 point. When 2 identical sign faces are placed back to back, so that both faces cannot be viewed from any point at the same time, and when the sign faces are part of the same sign structure and are not more than 42 inches apart, the sign area shall be computed by the measurement of 1 of the faces.
(C) Computation of height. The height of a sign shall be computed as the distance from the base of the sign at normal grade to the top of the highest attached component of the sign. Normal grade shall be construed to be the lower of:
(1) The existing grade prior to construction.
(2) The newly established grade after construction.
(Ord. 1188, passed 6-16-2008
; Am. Ord. 1195, passed 9-15-2008)