Business signs and name signs shall be permitted on the premises of the business in districts in which the principal use is permitted subject to the following limitations:
(A) One permanent free-standing sign one-half square foot to each linear foot of lot frontage, not to exceed a maximum of 64 square feet on a lot with single street frontage. Two permanent free-standing signs one-half square foot to each linear foot of lot frontage, not to exceed a maximum of 64 square feet on a lot with double street frontage. Freestanding signs shall not exceed eight feet in height above the centerline elevation of the adjacent street right-of-way. It shall be the responsibility of the person applying for the sign permit to determine and verify sign, ground and street right-of-way centerline elevations. Such free-standing sign, for churches only, may be located on a lot within 300 feet of the main entrance of the church and on a lot owned, used and occupied solely by the church.
(B) Individual uses shall be allowed canopy, wall, window, pedestrian, and awning signs, in the total aggregate area per building front of one square foot per linear foot of building frontage, not to exceed a maximum combined sign area of 32 square feet per each individual use. This shall be in addition to sign area allowed for a free-standing signs(s).
(C) Wall signs attached to walls of solid masonry, concrete, or stone, shall be safely and securely attached by means of hot dipped galvanized or stainless steel metal anchors, bolts, or expansion screws of not less than 3/8 inch in diameter and shall be embedded at least five inches. No wooden blocks shall be used for anchorage, except in the case of wall signs attached to buildings with walls of wood. No wall sign shall be supported by anchorages secured to an unbraced parapet wall.
(D) All projecting signs, whether they project from any building wall, canopy, or similar structure shall be positioned so that the farthest extended part of a sign shall be at least three feet from the existing curb line measured from the building side of the curb line. All projecting signs shall be constructed entirely of metal or other noncombustible material and securely attached to a building, canopy or similar structure by hot dipped galvanized or stainless steel metal supports such as bolts, anchors, supports, chains, guys, or steel rods.
(E) If suspended the sign shall be placed no higher than one building story and shall hang at least eight feet above the sidewalk levels. Marquees, canopies and other similar type structures shall be placed no higher than one building story nor shall they hang closer than ten feet to any sidewalk level. Marquee signs shall be constructed entirely of metal or noncombustible material and may be attached to, or hung from a marquee, and the signs when hung from a marquee shall be at least eight feet at its lowest level above the sidewalk or ground level, and further, no sign shall extend outside the line of the marquee. Marquee signs may be attached to the sides and front of a marquee, and the sign may extend the entire length and width of the marquee; provided, that the sign does not have a vertical dimension greater than two feet, on a marquee up to 40 feet in length, nor a vertical dimension greater than three feet on a marquee 40 feet or more in length.
(F) Display lighting shall be shielded so as to prevent a direct view of the light source from a residence in a residential district. No intermittent lighting effects may be utilized. A lighted wall sign shall not be located closer than 50 feet to residentially zoned property. No sign within 150 feet of residentially zoned property shall be illuminated between 1:00 a.m. and 6:00 a.m. Eastern Standard Time.
(G) Free-standing signs shall not be located less than ten feet from the street lot line. No freestanding sign shall be located in a required side yard or within ten feet of the side property line (refer to State Building Code for construction standards which apply).
(H) Temporary signs, banners, placards, decorations, and the like, constructed of light materials for promotion of civic, political, or charitable enterprises or events may be displayed in any business district for periods not exceeding ten days continuously and totaling not more than 30 days in any one year, except for public holiday decorations. However, no signs may be erected on or affixed to public property.
(I) Where a lot contains more than one principal use or establishment, the provisions of this section shall apply to the lot as a whole, and the owner of the lot shall be responsible for allocating permitted signs and display surface areas among the individual uses or establishments. A sign plan shall be submitted to the UDO Administrator for such lot to show all signs located or proposed thereon and shall be designed so that all signs are in harmony and consistent with each other.
(J) In the C-1 Zoning District, only wall, marquee, window, awning, and canopy signs shall be allowed.
(K) Service stations or any business selling gasoline are allowed additional signs listed below:
(1) Gasoline price and/or self-service signs located at and secured to each pump island and not exceeding nine square feet per sign side.
(2) Each gasoline pump shall be allowed to display only the brand name or emblem of the gasoline and shall not exceed the limits on the face of the pump.
(3) A North Carolina inspections sign shall be permitted on the business site provided said sign does not exceed four square feet per side.
(L) Additional provisions for signs in shopping centers.
(1) All free-standing signs in shopping centers shall have a landscaped area located at the base of the sign. The landscaped area shall equal at least twice the area of the sign. The landscaped material shall be a planting of shrubs and flowers not over three feet in height and covering 50% of the landscaped area. All landscaped areas shall be continually maintained.
(2) Window signs in shopping centers may not exceed 30% of the window or door on which the signs are located and may not be internally lighted.
(Ord. 1695, passed 11-8-12; Am. Ord. 1715, passed 8-8-13; Am. Ord. 1838, passed 3-10-22)