1. Wall Signs.
a. No wall sign shall contain information other than the name of the occupant or business, a maximum of three words containing a generic description of the types of products or services, and the occupant's logo or trademark.
b. No wall sign shall exceed seventy (70) square feet in area.
c. Wall signs shall be placed substantially parallel to the surface of the wall.
d. Commercial wall signs shall be displayed only upon street exposures; except that one wall sign not exceeding twenty (20) square feet in area may be displayed by each occupant on each nonstreet exposure of the premises occupied by such occupant; provided that, such signs shall not be located above the second floor window sill level and shall not be higher than fourteen (14) feet above grade if there is no second floor window sill. The total area of all such nonstreet exposure wall signs displayed on a building shall be limited to forty (40) square feet and the area of such signs shall count toward the maximum sign area allowed for the street exposure of such occupant as provided in this section. This provision shall not prohibit window signs or the painting of signs on doors.
e. In addition to other signs displayed on or attached to a building, a building occupied by three or more commercial occupants may display a directory type wall sign (subject to the fifteen (15) percent limitations contained within subsections (B)(1)(e) and (B)(1)(f) of this section) which lists only the names of such commercial occupants and the name of the building. The total area of such a directory-type sign shall not exceed thirty-five (35) square feet in area and no one individual listing shall exceed three square feet in area. (amended MC-3-2003, 03/04/03)
f. For a building that contains more than one type of sign (e.g. wall, window, awning, etc.) on a street exposure, a sign must also comply within subsection 15.60.120.B.9.
2. Window Signs.
a. A window sign that meets all of the following requirements may be administratively approved by the Director of Community Development or their designee. A sign that does not meet all the following requirements must be reviewed and approved by the Design Review Board.
i. Window signs may be displayed on the street exposure or nonstreet exposure windows of an occupant; provided that, the total area of window signs in any single window pane or any single section of window shall not exceed 10 percent of the area of the single window pane or single section of window on which it is located, except window signs in a door window or transom window shall not exceed 50 percent of the window pane.
ii. Letters and logos that are part of a window sign shall be no taller than eight inches, except: (i) one logo and the first letter of each word may be up to and no taller than 24 inches; and (ii) lettering that lists store hours and contact information shall be limited to 2 inches in height.
iii. Overall height of a window sign shall be limited to one-third of the height of the glass area, and the width of a window sign shall be limited to 90 percent of the glass width.
iv. Decal window signs shall be die-cut and limited to individual letters and logos (e.g., they do not have a background panel).
v. Decal window signs shall be limited to two colors.
vi. Floating window signs shall be limited to letters and logos of no more than two colors on a solid background of another color, for a total of three colors.
vii. Highly reflective materials are not permitted as part of a window sign.
viii. No window sign shall be illuminated.
ix. A window sign shall be only located in the lower two-thirds of the window opening. This regulation does not apply to a window sign in a door window or transom window.
x. No window sign shall extend over or through architectural features, including but not limited to window muntins.
xi. A decal window sign shall only be applied to the interior of the window.
xii. Street exposures with more than one type of sign must also comply with subsection 150.120.B.9.
b. A window sign that does not meet all of the requirements for administrative approval listed in subsection 15.60.120.B.2.a. shall require a certificate of appropriateness issued pursuant to Section 15.60.150 of this code. In addition, such signs shall meet the following requirements. Any variation from the following requirements, when permitted by this code, shall require approval of a variation pursuant to Section 15.60.250 of this code.
i. Window signs may be displayed on the street exposure or nonstreet exposure windows of an occupant; provided that, the total area of window signs in any single window pane or any single section of window shall not exceed 10 percent of the area of the single window pane or single section of window on which it is located, except window signs in a door window or transom window shall not exceed 50 percent of the any single window pane.
ii. Decal window signs shall be die-cut and limited to individual letters and logos (i.e. do not have a background panel).
iii. Window signs shall only be externally illuminated, and may not be illuminated in any other manner.
iv. Street exposures with more than one type of sign must also comply with subsection 15.60.120.B.9.
3. Projecting Signs.
a. One projecting sign may be placed perpendicular to the surface of a wall on a court yard for each business located on a court yard; provided that, the area of the sign does not exceed three square feet.
b. Blade signs may extend over a public way or a public sidewalk, provided that the blade sign extends no more than 2 feet from the wall of the building and is no more than 3 feet high, and provided that the clearance between the bottom of the sign and the sidewalk is at least 8 feet.
c. No projecting sign shall contain information other than the name of the occupant or business, a maximum of three words containing a generic description of the types of products or services, and the occupant's logo or trademark. (Amended MC-3-2003, 03/04/03)
4. Freestanding Signs.
a. No freestanding sign shall contain information other than the name of the occupant or business, a maximum of three words containing a generic description of the types of products or services, and the occupant's logo or trademark.
b. One directory type freestanding sign may be displayed on the premises of a building occupied by three or more commercial occupants; provided, the sign lists only the names of such commercial occupants and the name of the building; provided that, the building in which the occupants are located is set back from the street line at least fifteen (15) feet. The total area of any such sign shall not exceed forty (40) square feet in area, and the area of any one side of the sign shall not exceed twenty (20) square feet, and no one individual listing shall exceed three square feet in area. The total height of such a sign shall not exceed eight feet above grade.
c. If a building is occupied by fewer than three occupants, one freestanding sign may be displayed on the premises on which the building is located; provided that, no commercial signs are displayed other than exempt signs, window signs and a nameplate sign not exceeding three square feet in area, that the building is setback from the street line at least fifteen (15) feet, that the total area of such sign does not exceed forty (40) square feet, that the total area of any one side of the sign shall not exceed twenty (20) square feet, and that the total height of the sign does not exceed twelve (12) feet above grade.
5. Awning Signs.
a. No awning sign shall contain information other than the name of the occupant or business, the street address numbers of the premises and the occupant's logo or trademark.
b. The total area of all signs on an awning shall not exceed fifteen (15) percent of the total exterior surface area of the awning. The area of such awning sign shall be included in the fifteen (15) percent overall limitation established by this section.
c. The size of letters, logos or trademarks on awnings shall not exceed six inches in height and shall be placed on the descending vertical front skirt only.
6. Directional and Incidental Signs. Directional or incidental signs accessory to parking and driveway areas are permitted in addition to signs permitted under Section 15.60.080, subject to the following regulations:
a. One directional sign may be erected to designate each entrance to or exit from a parking or driveway area; provided that, the area of each such sign shall not exceed three square feet;
b. One wall sign or freestanding sign designating the conditions of use shall be permitted for each parking or driveway area; provided that, the area of any such sign shall not exceed ten (10) square feet.
7. Signs on or Accessory to Automobile Service Stations and Car Washes. Signs on or accessory to automobile service stations and car washes shall conform to all regulations contained in this chapter and shall be limited to four signs per establishment. In computing the number of signs displayed, however, the following shall not be deemed to constitute signs on such premises:
a. Information appearing on gasoline pumps as purchased or installed;
b. Signs containing information required by state or federal law regarding the operation of automobile service stations or pump islands; provided that, the size of each such required sign shall be related to the state mandated letter size and shall be approved by the Board.
a. Only one display case sign is allowed per commercial establishment;
b. The changeable copy in the display case shall be used to advertise or provide information about products and services offered by the commercial establishment;
c. Display case signs must be fully enclosed with a transparent front face;
d. The signs shall (a) project no more than four inches beyond the face of the wall to which it is mounted, (b) be no larger than three square feet measured from outer edge of the case to outer edge of the case, and (c) shall be mounted or hung no more than six feet above grade;
e. Display case signs are prohibited from using any type of backlit illuminations, and may use external illumination subject to the permitting requirements of Section 15.08.070 of this Code;
f. Display case signs may not cover or interfere with exterior architectural details or windows of the building to which it is attached; and
g. Display case signs must either match the primary exterior storefront frame color or be compatible with the overall materials and colors of the building façade design as determined by the Director.
9. Street Exposures. Street exposures with more than one type of sign must comply with the following additional requirements:
a. The total area of all window signs, wall signs, and awning signs shall not exceed 15 percent of the total area of street exposure. This provision shall not apply to exempt signs, permitted directional signs, display case signs, and incidental signs.
b. In buildings with more than one commercial premises, the total area of all commercial wall signs, window signs, and awning signs on each premises shall not exceed 15 percent of the area of street exposure of each premises.
c. In cases where an occupant of a building occupied by two or fewer commercial premises does not have any street exposure, such occupants shall be permitted to display on or attach to the building, including on the doors and windows, one commercial sign provided that the area of the sign does not exceed five square feet. The area of the sign shall be included in the 15 percent limitation in subsection 15.60.120.B.2.9.a.
(MC-01-2023 § 3, Amended, 01/03/2023; MC-3-2020 § 4, Amended, 8/18/2020; Ord. MC-209-98 § 2 (part), 1998: prior code § 27.12)