1105.06 REGULATIONS AND STANDARDS.

   (a)   Permanent Sign Standards. The following standards apply to all permanent signs unless specifically exempted in other parts of the Sign Regulations or by a variance granted by the Board of Zoning Appeals. In many instances, the following standards are minimum requirements and the sign(s) may be subject to additional requirements elsewhere in the Sign Regulations. In all instances, signs shall be designed and constructed in accordance with the current regulations of the Ohio Building Code.

      (1)   Area. The area of a sign shall be equivalent to the total exposed surface devoted to a sign message, including ornamentation, embellishment and symbols, but excluding supporting structures. Listed below are additional area definitions and specifications:

         A.   Aggregate Area. The following rules shall apply in determining the aggregate area of all signage on a single parcel of land:

            1.   The aggregate area shall not exceed one (1) square foot of signage per linear foot of lot frontage.

            2.   Parcels with dual frontage may calculate maximum allowable aggregate area as the total of two (2) contiguous frontages.

         B.   Maximum Area. The maximum area of any one (1) sign shall be determined by the following formulas:

            1.   Wall-mounted signs shall not exceed ten percent (10%) of the façade on which it is mounted, up to a maximum of one hundred fifty (150) square feet.

            2.   Projecting signs shall not exceed one-half (0.5) square foot per linear foot of building frontage to a maximum of thirty-two (32) square feet.

            3.   Freestanding (pole or monument) signs shall not exceed one hundred twenty (120) square feet in size, and shall not exceed one (1) freestanding sign per lot.

         C.   Single-Faced Signs. The area of a sign with one (1) sign face shall be calculated as the total area of the face. In the case of cutout letters, displays, symbols, statuaries or logos, the area will be calculated as that area which can be enclosed within a rectangle, series of attached rectangles, or other geometric shapes.

         D.   Double-Faced Signs. The area of a sign with two (2) sign faces shall be calculated as one (1) sign face only as long as the sign faces are identical and parallel.

         E.   Multi-faced (3 or more) Signs. The sign area shall be computed as the sum of the area of all sign faces.

         F.   Multiple Signs. Whenever more than one (1) sign is hung continuously or placed on a freestanding or projecting structure, the combination of signs shall be considered as one sign for the purpose of computing sign area and determining the number of signs on a parcel.

      (2)   Height. The maximum height for any freestanding sign and supporting structure is not to exceed thirty (30) feet. Height is measured from the average grade at the base of the sign to the top of the highest point of the sign.

      (3)   Location. The following rules and standards shall apply in establishing the location of signs:

         A.   No sign shall be placed so as to impede the visibility of motorists or pedestrians.

         B.   Signage may be mounted on any side of a building.

         C.   No signs or sign structures shall be built or placed on the sidewalk, curb or area between sidewalk and curb, or within any public right-of-way.

         D.   Projecting signs located over sidewalks or public ways shall be placed not less than eight and one-half (8.5) feet from the travel way to the base of the sign. The projecting edge of the sign shall be at least two (2) feet back from any curb line.

         E.   Freestanding signs shall be installed a minimum of six (6) feet from the street right-of-way and five (5) feet from the side lot line. No sign may cross the plane of the adjacent lot.

         F.   On a corner lot, freestanding signs shall not be placed within a triangle formed by measuring twenty-five (25) feet along each right-of-way line and connected by a hypotenuse.

      (4)   Illumination. The following rules and standards shall apply in establishing the type of illumination that may be used for signs:

         A.   The source of a sign's illumination (bulb or direct lamp image) shall not be visible from any street, sidewalk or adjacent property. This shall not preclude the use of neon sign elements.

         B.   Internally illuminated single-sided signs larger than thirty-two (32) square feet shall have the copy in a darker color than the background. This includes changeable copy signs.

         C.   The light from any illuminated sign shall be shaded, shielded or directed so that the light intensity or brightness will not be disruptive to residential property or create a distraction to a motorist.

         D.   On premises digital signs shall adhere to the timing and brightness requirements for off premises digital signs as described in Section 1105.08(d)(1)A. through D.

         E.   Only indirect lighting may be used for signs visible from residential districts.

      (5)   Structural and Safety Considerations.

         A.   All exterior signs shall be designed to withstand wind and snow loads as specified by the current Ohio Building Code. The Building Inspector may require structural signs to be designed by an Ohio licensed engineer with plans complete with required information and professional stamps.

         B.   All electrical service for sign lighting shall be provided with underground or hidden devices. All such devices, as well as signage using electrical devices, must comply with the current edition of the National Electrical Code.

         C.   Exposed reflective type bulbs, incandescent lamps or other illuminating devices that exceed forty (40) watts shall not be used on the exterior surface of any sign so as to expose the face of the bulb, light or lamp to any public street or adjacent property.

         D.   All parts of any electric, illuminated or transparent sign shall be of metal or other materials that are not readily combustible.

         E.   Freestanding signs must be anchored in concrete unless the structure is sufficiently small to allow alternative means of anchoring.

         F.   Wall-mounted and projecting signs shall be directly secured by metal anchors, bolts, supports, stranded cable or braces, in such a manner as to assure that the sign remains securely attached.

         G.   All structural components shall be compatible with surrounding design and architectural features.

   (b)   Temporary Sign Standards.

      (1)   The area of a temporary sign shall not exceed thirty-two (32) square feet. No temporary sign shall exceed four (4) feet in vertical dimension.

      (2)   Signs permitted in conjunction with a conditional use permit and issued for a temporary use shall not exceed ten (10) square feet unless otherwise reviewed and approved by the Building Inspector or Zoning Specialist.

      (3)    The following types of temporary signs are allowed:

         A.   Plastic signs (placards) less than ten (10) square feet in area shall be allowed, however there shall be no more than one sign of this type displayed per street frontage.

         B.   All other signs that are not permanent or included in the permanent sign permitting process shall require a temporary sign permit as provided in Section 1105.10.

   (c)   Maintenance Standards.

      (1)   Maintenance Requirements.

         A.   All damage must be promptly repaired.

         B.   Sign faces must be maintained in a legible condition. Sign faces that are badly weathered, peeling, vandalized, or damaged must be considered as requiring maintenance.

      (2)   Neglected Maintenance. If maintenance is neglected, the building department shall notify the sign owner, in writing, of the type of maintenance required. If the maintenance is not provided within sixty days, the Building Inspector may revoke the permit and confiscate the sign face.

   (d)   Other Standards.

      (1)   Existing Signs. No sign or billboard erected before this code was in effect shall be repaired or altered unless it be brought into compliance with the requirements of this code. This section shall not prevent repairing, or restoring to a safe condition, any part of the structural supports of any sign.

      (2)   Sandwich Signs. Shall be permitted in commercial zones or in front of commercial uses. Such signs shall not exceed ten (10) square feet per side and shall be removed daily.

      (3)   Resemblance to Traffic Devices. No sign shall by reason of shape, color, use of lighting, or other factor be similar in both size and appearance to any traffic signal or traffic sign or railroad sign or signal in a way that may, in the judgment of the Building Inspector or the Zoning Specialist, interfere with traffic movement or safety.

      (4)   Vegetation Impairing Sign Visibility. For the purpose of enhancing sign visibility, a tree, shrub, or other vegetation may not be trimmed, removed, damaged, or destroyed if;

         A.   Its removal is prohibited or its preservation in its current state is required by any section of the Codified Ordinances of the City of Youngstown or any other requirement or condition under any City permit, or

         B.   The owner or management of the property on which the vegetation is located has not given express written permission for the work.

      (5)   Informal Signs. The total of all casually hand-lettered or hand-drawn signs on a lot or building site that were not , or do not appear to have been, designed by a sign or a graphics professional shall not exceed twelve (12) square feet of sign area.

         (Ord. 09-165. Passed 6-24-09.)