The following temporary signs shall be permitted anywhere within the City provided they meet the established standards.
(a) Standards that Apply to all Temporary Signs.
(1) Temporary signs shall not be mounted, attached, affixed, installed, or otherwise secured in a manner that will make the sign a permanent sign.
(2) No temporary sign shall be mounted, attached, affixed, installed, or otherwise secured so as to protrude above the roofline of a structure.
(3) Unless otherwise specifically stated, temporary signs shall not be illuminated.
(4) No temporary sign shall require a foundation, support, wiring, fittings, or elements that would traditionally require a building permit or electrical permit.
(5) All temporary signs shall be secured in such a manner as to prevent swinging or other significantly noticeable movement resulting from the wind that could pose a danger to people, vehicles, or structures.
(6) Mobile signs on wheels, runners, casters, parked trailers, parked vehicles, or other temporary or movable signs shall not be permitted unless otherwise specifically stated in this chapter.
(7) Because of the nature of materials typically used to construct temporary signs and to avoid the unsightliness of deteriorating signs and all safety concerns which accompany such a condition, temporary signs shall be removed or replaced when such sign is deteriorated.
(8) Unless otherwise stated, a sign permit for temporary signs shall be required for temporary signs that exceed 12 square feet.
(b) Temporary Signs without a Commercial Message. Temporary signs without a commercial message do not require a sign permit provided they comply with the following standards:
(1) Temporary signs that do not contain a commercial message shall not be posted in any place or in any manner that is destructive to public property including, but not limited to, rights-of-way, utility poles, public trees, etc.
(2) Temporary signs that do not contain a commercial message shall still be required to comply with the intersection visibility requirements. See Section 1115.02(d).
(3) The maximum height of temporary signs without commercial speech shall be six feet unless it is a banner sign mounted to a structure, in which case, the banner sign shall not be mounted above the roofline or the top of the structure.
(4) Such signs shall be limited to yard signs or banner signs.
(c) Temporary Signs in Agricultural and Residential Zoning Districts. The following are the temporary signs with a commercial message allowed in AG, R-1, R-2, R-T, R-3, R-4, and R-5 zoning districts, as well as on lots used for residential-only purposes in PD Districts:
(1) Up to two temporary signs with a commercial message are permitted on each lot in a residential zoning district, including any lot used for residential-only purposes in a PD District.
(2) The signs are limited to yard signs, banner signs, or signs posted in a window subject to the sign-specific standards in Section 1127.11(e).
(3) The maximum sign area for each sign shall be six square feet with a maximum height of four feet.
(4) A temporary yard sign shall be set back a minimum of three feet from all lots lines and rights-of-way.
(5) For properties that are five acres or larger, one of the temporary yard signs permitted by this section may have a maximum sign area of 24 square feet with a maximum height of eight feet. Such sign shall be set back 10 feet from all lot lines.
(6) In lieu of the above regulations, any nonresidential use located in a residential zoning district shall be permitted to have temporary signs with a commercial message in the same size, height, and manner as temporary signs allowed in the C-1 District, pursuant to this section.
(d) Temporary Signs in Nonresidential Zoning Districts. The following are the temporary signs with a commercial message allowed in CF, C-1, C-2, C-3, C-4, I-1, I-2, and I-3 zoning districts, as well as nonresidential uses in PD Districts:
(1) Up to 12 square feet of temporary signs is permitted year-round, without time restrictions, provided the signs are of the following type, subject to the standards for each specific type of sign:
A. A-Frame or T-Frame sidewalk signs;
B. Banner signs; and
C. Temporary yard signs.
(2) Limited Temporary Sign Allowance.
A. In addition to the temporary signage allowed year-round, each lot in shall be permitted the use of additional temporary signage on a limited time basis.
B. Each lot is permitted to have an additional 24 square feet of temporary signs for a period of 30 consecutive days, up to four times per calendar year.
C. The limited temporary sign allowance may include any of the following sign types subject to any applicable standards established for each sign type in this chapter.
i. Banner signs;
ii. Temporary window signs; and
iii. Temporary yard signs.
(3) There shall be no maximum number of signs provided the aggregate total square footage of sign does not exceed the amount allowed in this section unless limited by the sign type standard in Section 1127.11(e).
(e) Standards for Temporary Sign Types.
(1) A-Frame or T-Frame Sidewalk Signs.
A. There shall be no time limit for sidewalk signs with the exception that the sign shall only be placed outside during the hours of the establishment's operation.
B. Only one sidewalk sign is allowed for any one business establishment at one time and shall be located within five feet of such business.
C. Such signs shall not exceed three feet in height or two feet in width.
D. The sign may be located on a public or private sidewalk or walkway provided it is placed on pavement and not in any landscaped areas or on pavement used for vehicles (e.g., driveways and parking lots).
E. If the sign is placed on a sidewalk or walkway, the sign can only be placed where the paved sidewalk or walkway width, not including curb top, is at least seven feet wide. The width and placement of the sign shall be such so that there shall be a minimum width of four feet of clear and passable sidewalk or walkway for pedestrians.
F. The sign must be free-standing and shall not be affixed, chained, anchored, or otherwise secured to the ground or to any pole, parking meter, tree, tree grate, fire hydrant, railing, or other structure.
G. The sign must not obstruct access to parking meters, bicycle racks and other features legally in the right-of-way.
H. The sign must not interfere with the opening of car doors in legal spaces, or with the operation of wheelchair lifts and ramps, cab stands, loading zones or bus stops.
I. The sign shall be internally weighted so that it is stable and windproof.
J. The City of Wooster shall be held harmless from any liability resulting from accident or injury caused by the placement and/or maintenance of such sign.
(2) Banner Signs.
A. Banner signs may be attached to a building, fence, or other similar structure. Banner signs attached to posts and mounted in a yard or landscaped area shall be regulated as a temporary yard sign.
B. The maximum height standard for temporary signs shall not apply to a banner sign but such signs shall not be mounted in a manner that extends above the roofline of a building or the top of the structure on which it is mounted.
C. For zoning permit applications related to the establishment of a new use within an existing building where there is existing permanent sign, a banner sign may be approved for up to 60 consecutive days to cover the existing permanent signs. Such banner sign shall not exceed the sign area of the permanent sign and shall require a sign permit.
(3) Yard Signs.
A. There shall be no maximum number of yard signs provided the aggregate total square footage of all yard signs does not exceed the maximum sign area allowed in this section.
B. There shall be a maximum of two faces to the sign, mounted back-to-back.
C. The maximum height shall be six feet.
(Ord. 2018-009. Passed 5-7-18.)