(A) Commercial, industrial, and residential signs are permitted in the sizes and zones outlined in the table in division (B) below.
(B) Certain signs may contain additional regulations, which can be found in the table below.
Sign Type | Building Permit Required | Max. Height (ft.) | Max. Area (sq. ft.) | Permitted Zones | Lighting Permitted |
Sign Type | Building Permit Required | Max. Height (ft.) | Max. Area (sq. ft.) | Permitted Zones | Lighting Permitted |
Awning | Y | (See below) D | (See below) D | C-1, C-2, C-3, M-1, M-2 | N |
Banner | N | 6 | 96 | All | N |
Billboard | Y | (See below) F | 675 | (See below) F | Y |
Canopy | Y | 20 (See below) G | (See below) G | C-1, C-2, C-3, M-1, M-2 | Y |
Community | N | 8 | 32 | All | N |
Directional | N | 8 | 32 | All | N |
Flag | N | N/A | (See below) K | All | Y |
Institutional | Y | 6 | 32 | All | N |
Monument | Y | (See below) L | (See below) L | C-1, C-2, C-3, M-1, M-2 | Y |
Nameplate | N | 2 | 2 | All | N |
Notice | N | 6 | 32 | All | N |
Pole | Y | (See below) J | (See below) J | (See below) J | Y |
Political | N | 6 | 32 | All | N |
Public necessity | N | 4 | 4 | All | N |
Real estate | N | (See below) N | (See below) N | All | N |
Snipe signs | N | (See below) | 20 | All | N |
Suspended | N | 2 | 3 | All | N |
Temporary | N | (See below) P | (See below) P | All | N |
Wall | Y | Top of building wall | 15% of wall surface (max 60 sq. ft.) | C-1, C-2, C-3, M-1, M-2 | Y |
Warning | N | 4 | 16 | All | N |
Wind | N | 8 | 16 | C-1, C-2, C-3, M-1, M-2 | N |
Window | Y | (See below) R | (See below) R | All | N |
(C) Regardless of type, height, and area, all signs in the city shall comply with the following.
(1) All signs erected in the city shall comply with all building, electrical, fire, and other such relevant codes as may be in effect at the time the permit is issued.
(2) All signs are required to maintain appropriate vertical and horizontal clearances as may be required by any public utility company.
(3) No building permits will be issued for signs that involve electrical wiring or connections unless designed/built by a licensed electrical contractor, nor shall any building permit be issued for a sign unless the required drawings are prepared by, and stamped by, a licensed structural engineer.
(4) Any sign which has a foundation and/or footing requires a building permit, regardless of its designation on table in division (B) above.
(5) Any sign, regardless of type, which has lighting, shall be subject to the following standards:
(a) No lighting shall be permitted which penetrates beyond the property in a manner which constitutes a nuisance.
(b) Signs may be unlit, externally lit, internally lit or backlit. Additionally, any lighting must be directed so only the face of the sign is illuminated.
(c) Internally illuminated signs, also known as cabinet signs, shall use semi-opaque materials for sign text and logos such that the lighting is diffused. Transparent or clear materials are not allowed.
(d) Backlit signs may not have a visible light source. They shall only allow indirect illumination to emanate from the sign.
(e) Externally illuminated signs must be aimed and shielded so that the light is directed only onto the sign face.
(f) Regardless of the source or type of illumination, the aggregate output of the lighting shall not exceed 500 lumens or 13.94 foot-candles per square foot of sign area, as measured at the property line closest to the sign.
(6) No sign shall be placed, built, or located, nor shall any sign exist, in a manner which creates a nuisance, safety hazard, or other unsafe condition.
(7) When in proximity to traffic signals, street intersections, or traffic signs, no sign shall be designed similar to such traffic signs or signals, and shall not be permitted to use words which may reasonably create confusion as to the nature and purpose of the sign.
(8) Any sign placed at any intersection throughout the city shall be placed outside of the sight triangle (25 feet by 25 feet at the corner) area to not create a traffic hazard.
(9) No sign over two feet high shall be permitted in the line of sight triangle (seven feet by 50 feet) next to driveway entrances.
(10) Changeable copy and/or electronic message portions of the sign may change more than once per eight seconds.
(11) When more than one sign is proposed for a commercial or industrial project, a developer shall submit a plan for the overall placement and design of all signs throughout the development, except for those which are attached to buildings. Developers shall present a sign proposal demonstrating a consistent theme throughout the project signage. The Planning Commission shall review the sign proposal as part of the site plan review.
(12) With the exception of billboard signs, off-premise advertising is strictly prohibited.
(D) (1) Awning signs shall be limited to single-story buildings or to the first level of multi-story buildings.
(2) Awning signs shall be placed over a doorway, window, or walkway.
(3) Awning signs are not allowed on, or above, a sloping or mansard roof.
(4) Awning signs shall not:
(a) Extend more than 18 inches on either side of the door, window, archway, or walkway over which they are located;
(b) Project less than two feet, or more than eight feet, from the wall on which they are anchored; and/or
(c) Project above the highest part of the building's vertical wall.
(E) New businesses shall be permitted to use a single banner sign during construction and for no more than six months after receiving final occupancy and a city business license.
(F) (1) Billboard signs are allowed only on property adjacent to, and fronting, I-15. Any other existing billboard signs at the adoption of this subchapter, which otherwise do not create a safety concern, are hereby grandfathered in and are a legally nonconforming use.
(2) Billboard signs must be oriented for freeway viewing, and be within 100 feet of the nearest freeway lane.
(3) In any permitted area along I-15, billboards shall not exceed a height of 60 feet above the grade of the interstate perpendicular to the billboard. Billboards shall always be allowed at a minimum height of 45 feet.
(4) Billboards along the I-15 corridor are limited to 672 square feet.
(5) (a) Billboards must be a minimum of 500 lineal feet from any other billboard on the same side of a street and 75 lineal feet from any on-premises sign on or off the same property.
(b) Billboards may be located within the 75-foot buffer of an on-premises sign when set back from the front property line 20 feet or more, measured to the closest edge of the billboard. In no case shall a billboard be located within the 75-foot buffer of an on-premises sign and be closer to the front property line than the on-premises sign.
(c) Billboards shall be set back from any on-premises sign at least six feet measured from the closest edge of each sign face.
(6) No billboard shall be closer than two feet to a front property line, measured to the closest edge of the billboard.
(7) A building permit may be issued for a billboard; however, prior to scheduling the first inspection for the billboard, applicants shall be required to provide the city with a letter of approval from the State Department of Transportation stating that the billboard meets their requirements for the I-15 corridor.
(G) Canopy signs shall only be permitted in gas/fuel stations over the gas/fuel islands, subject to the following.
(1) The height to the top of the canopy may not exceed 20 feet from grade, with no more than four feet of height containing fascia.
(2) Individual letters, logos, or symbols may not exceed four feet in height or project out from the canopy's surface more than 18 inches.
(3) This does not limit the ability to have a monument or other sign wherein gas/fuel prices may be displayed.
(H) Regulations for community signs are as follows:
(1) May be located at a variety of locations throughout the city, with the written permission of the property owner;
(2) May not be attached to another temporary, traffic, or business sign;
(3) May be part of the city's annual rotating events, such as West Haven Days, cultural arts events, holidays, or changes in the seasons;
(4) May be located at gateways to the city, at major intersections, and along major streets;
(5) Shall be made of durable, weather-resistant material;
(6) Shall be appropriate in size and scale to their location; and
(7) Shall be displayed for not more than 30 days.
(I) (1) Written consent of the property owner on which a directional sign is located shall be presented to the Community Development Director, or his or her designee, prior to such a sign being erected.
(2) Directional signs shall be removed either two years from the time the first building permit in the subdivision is issued, or upon the sale of the final lot in the subdivision, whichever comes first. An extension may be granted by the Community Development Director, or his or her designee, if it can be shown that a substantial number of the lots are not ready for development or have not sold.
(J) (1) Subject to the regulations contained in this section, pole signs shall be allowed in commercial/manufacturing zones in the following areas:
(a) 4000 South, east of the canal located at approximately 3200 West;
(b) Commercial and manufacturing zoned properties located within 250 feet of the edge of the right-of-way of the following properties:
1. Wilson Lane;
2. 2100 South;
3. 1900 West;
4. Midland Drive;
5. Interstate 15.
(c) Pole signs are prohibited in areas not listed above.
(2) Pole signs shall have a minimum clearance of ten feet to the bottom of the lowest cabinet face.
(3) Pole signs shall be set back from any adjoining property line one foot for each foot of the sign's height, including any supporting structures.
(4) All support structures must be covered or concealed with pole/pylon covers which are designed to match the architectural style of the sign and the commercial buildings it advertises.
(5) Pole signs shall be incorporated into a landscaped design or planter box.
(6) No sign may be higher than 25 feet high, as measured from the crown of the road to the highest point of the sign.
(7) No pole sign shall exceed 80 square feet.
(8) No sign may extend over a pedestrian or vehicular access area.
(9) When more than one pole sign is permitted, they shall be placed a minimum of 300 feet apart.
(10) On-premises signs located within 1,000 feet of I-15 may increase their height so that the sign is visible not more than 25 feet above the nearest lane, overpass, sound wall, or other view obstruction, whichever is highest.
(11) Two or more owners of separate, contiguous parcels of real property may elect to combine the street or highway frontage of their respective contiguous properties. If such properties are so combined, only one pole sign may be constructed or erected in accordance with the provisions of this subchapter.
Property Frontage (linear feet) | Max Number of Signs |
Property Frontage (linear feet) | Max Number of Signs | |
Pole sign | 0 - 99 | 1 |
100 - 299 | 1 | |
300 - 599 | 1 | |
600+ | 2 | |
Planned commercial center | 0 - 399 | 1 |
400 - 599 | 1 | |
600 - 1,200 | 2 | |
1,200+ | 3 | |
(K) Signs and decorations commonly associated with any national, state, or local holiday, as well as any faith-based observances and social customs or causes, shall comply with the following:
(1) All such signs/decorations shall be entirely confined to the property on which they are originally erected.
(2) No sign or decoration shall be placed in a manner to cause confusion with authorized traffic lights and signals.
(L) (1) Monument signs are permitted for any non-residential lot with a minimum of 30 feet of street frontage. Maximum height includes the height of the base, which shall be a minimum of one foot, and maximum width includes any frame or support structure.
Property Frontage (linear feet) | Max. Area per Sign Face (square feet) | Max Height (feet) | Max number of Signs |
0 - 99 | 25 | 6 | 1 |
100 - 299 | 50 | 8 | 1 |
300 - 599 | 64 | 8 | 1 |
600 - 1,200 | 80 | 8 | 2 |
1,200+ | 80 | 8 | 3 |
(2) Parcels with two or more street frontages are permitted one sign per frontage; provided that such signs can be placed a minimum of 100 feet from each other, measured diagonally across the property.
(3) When more than one monument sign is permitted, they shall be placed a minimum of 300 feet apart.
(4) Monument signs may be used to advertise the entrance into a subdivision, and shall be subject to the same regulations as commercial monument signs. Regardless of use, monument signs shall be incorporated into a landscaped design or planter box.
(5) Signs shall be set back from any adjacent property line one foot for each foot of sign height, including any base or supporting structure.
(6) Monument signs shall include the numeric street address of the property upon which it is located. The numbers shall be between nine inches and 15 inches in height.
(7) Monument signs shall be setback a minimum of five feet from any right-of-way line.
(M) (1) For primary and general elections, no political sign may be placed, or erected, more than 30 days prior to a primary election, and shall be removed within 72 hours after the polls have closed. Thirty days does not include the date of the election.
(2) No political sign may be placed within 150 feet of a ballot box or polling location.
(N) For real estate signs announcing the location, availability, and/or development of a property are allowed, shall be subject to the following conditions.
(1) Signs advertising the sale of an individual lot shall be no larger than 16 square feet in area, with a maximum height of four feet.
(2) On residential lots under construction, one sign is allowed advertising the sale of the lot and one sign is allowed advertising the developer of the lot.
(3) Signs announcing the future development of commercial, industrial, or residential property shall not exceed 96 square feet in area, with a maximum height of eight feet which includes the post.
(a) One sign per public or private street frontage is permitted.
(b) No sign shall be erected prior to approval of the development plan (subdivision, site plan, and the like) for the property on which the sign shall be located.
(4) Signs announcing an open house on the property where the sign is located may not exceed 32 square feet in area, with a maximum height of eight feet. Open house signs may be placed on the subject property no more than 24 hours prior to the open house and shall be removed upon completion of the open house.
(O) (1) Suspended signs shall not extend beyond the outer edge of the awning, marquee, canopy, or facade to which they are attached.
(2) Suspended signs shall have a minimum eight-foot clearance above the sidewalk or landscaped area they are over.
(3) A minimum of five feet of horizontal distance shall separate suspended signs.
(P) Regardless of the purpose or nature of the sign, all temporary signs shall comply with the following.
(1) Temporary signs shall advertise a specific event or occasion.
(2) Temporary signs may be placed no more than 45 days prior to the event or occasion which they advertise, may remain for the duration of the event, and shall be removed within 48 hours after the event concludes.
(a) In the event a temporary sign is advertising a change of ownership, it shall be removed within 45 days after the ownership has changed.
(b) In the event a temporary sign is advertising a going out of business/bankruptcy sale, it may so advertise for a period of not longer than 90 days.
(Q) More than one wall sign may be erected on a single building; provided, that no more than seven signs are erected and the total of all such signs does not exceed the square footage listed above.
(1) When multiple wall signs are erected on a single building, the design, size, lighting, and other elements of the signs shall blend together to create a cohesive theme.
(2) Wall signs may have a sign on any side with exposure.
(3) No wall sign shall project more than 18 inches beyond the wall to which it is attached.
(4) Multi-tenant buildings may use a single wall sign to identify all business located within the building.
(R) Window signs and indoor illuminated signs within 18 inches of the window shall not occupy more than 25% of the surface area of a single window or group of windows.
(S) Snipe signs are only allowed on fences and trees located on private property. They may not exceed 20 square feet in size. Snipe signs shall not be placed within the city easement which is generally six-feet measured from the edge of the roadway or within the city's right-of-way which is typically one foot off the back of sidewalk.
(Prior Code, § 56.10) (Ord. 2-92, passed - -1992; Ord. 7-2003, passed 9-17-2003; Ord. 36-2021, passed 12-21-2021; Ord. 12-2023, passed 6-21-2023; Ord. 17-2024, passed 5-15-2024)