In addition to ensuring compliance with the numerical standards and other requirements of this Chapter, signs shall comply with the following minimum construction standards:
(a) Illuminated Signs. Illuminated signs shall be permitted only in compliance with all of the following provisions:
(1) Residential Districts and Uses.
A. No such sign shall be internally illuminated except as provided in Section 153.08(c)(2).
B. The brightness or intensity of any external illumination shall be limited to what is necessary to identify the use's location.
C. The illumination shall comply with all requirements provided in paragraph (2) below.
(2) All Other Districts and Uses. Either internal or external illumination shall be permitted, only in accordance with all of the following:
A. Light sources shall be shielded from all adjacent buildings and streets.
B. Lights shall not be of such brightness as to cause glare that is hazardous to pedestrians or motorists, or to cause reasonable objection from adjacent residential districts.
C. No exposed incandescent or fluorescent lamp shall be permitted.
D. At no time shall a sign exceed an illumination level of three tenths (0.3) footcandles above the ambient light illumination level, as measured in conformance with the following process:
i. The illumination level of a sign shall be measured with an illuminance meter set to measure footcandles accurate to at least two decimals.
ii. Light measurements shall be taken with the footcandle meter aimed directly at the sign message face, or at the area of the sign emitting the brightest light if that area is not the sign message face, at a distance from the sign being measured as specified in Appendix F.
iii. An ambient light measurement shall be taken using a footcandle meter at some point between the period of time between thirty (30) minutes past sunset and thirty (30) minutes before sunrise, with the sign turned off to a black screen.
iv. Immediately following the ambient light measurement taken in the manner required by this subsection, an operating sign light measurement shall be taken with the sign turned on to full white copy for a full color-capable sign or a solid message for a single-color sign.
v. The illumination level of a sign conforms with the illumination requirements of this subsection if the difference between the ambient light measurement and the operating sign light measurement is three tenths (0.3) footcandles or less.
E. All signs utilizing light-emitting diodes (LED) or other light-emitting technologies shall be equipped with a sensor or other device that automatically determines the ambient illumination level and shall be programmed to automatically dim according to ambient light conditions to meet the illumination requirements articulated above. The illumination level must be capable of being both remotely and manually adjusted.
F. If necessary, the City may seek assistance from a professional lighting engineer to evaluate proposed illumination levels. The applicant shall pay costs associated with such a review. In this case, compliance with illumination requirements shall be determined following a site inspection that includes field verification of illumination levels.
(3) Signs shall not be lighted to obstruct traffic control or any other public informational signs. Signs visible from sight lines along streets shall not contain symbols or words, or red and green lights that resemble highway traffic signs or devices. These regulations shall not apply to permitted holiday display lighting.
(b) Construction Standards. The construction, erection, safety and maintenance of all signs shall comply with the Ohio Building Code and all of the following:
(1) Signs shall be structurally sound and located so as to pose no reasonable threat to pedestrian or vehicular traffic.
(2) No sign shall be suspendedby non-rigid attachments that would allow the sign to move significantly because of wind.
(3) All permanent freestanding signs shall have self-supporting structures erected on, or permanently attached to, concrete foundations.
(4) Sign supports shall consist of metal or other similar fabricated, durable material. All signs shall be legible, neat, and professional in appearance. Manual application of graphics and text, including but not limited to paint, is prohibited.
(5) No signs shall be erected, constructed or maintained so as to obstruct any fire escape, required exit, window, or door opening used as a means of egress.
(6) Signs shall be located in such a way as to maintain horizontal and vertical clearance of all overhead electrical conductors in accordance with National Electrical Code specifications, depending on voltages concerned. However, in no case shall a sign be installed closer than twelve (12) inches horizontally or vertically from any conductor or public utility guy wire.
(7) All signs shall be constructed in accordance with the Ohio Building Code (OBC) and the National Electric Code (NEC).
(Ord. 3622. Passed 12-19-17.)