The following regulations shall apply to signs in all districts.
(A) Computation of area of individual signs. The area of a sign face (which is also the sign area of a wall sign or other sign with only one face) shall be computed by means of the smallest square, rectangle or combination thereof that will encompass the extreme limits of the writing, representation, emblem or other display, together with any material or color forming an integral part of the background of the display or used to differentiate the sign from the backdrop or structure against which it is placed, but not including any supporting framework, bracing or decorative fence or wall when such fence of wall otherwise meets ordinance regulations and is clearly incidental to the display itself. (See Figure 5, Diagram 1, for illustrative guides to computation methods.)
(B) Computation of area of multi-faced signs. The sign area for a sign with more than one face shall be computed by adding together the sign area of all sign faces viewable from any one point. When two sign faces are placed back to back, or at no greater than 15 degrees from one another, so that both faces cannot be viewed from any point at the same time, and when such sign faces are part of the same sign structure and are not more than 42 inches apart, the sign area shall be computed by the measurement of one of the faces. (See Figure 7 for illustrative guides to computation methods.)
(C) Computation of sign height. The height of a sign shall be computed as the distance from the base of the sign or sign structure at grade (exclusive of any filling, berming, mounding or excavating solely for the purpose of locating the sign), to the top of the highest attached component of the sign.
(D) Grade mounding. Earth mounding, inconsistent with the ground level of the land surrounding the sign structure, shall be included in the measurement of the sign height. (See also division (C) above.)
(E) Maintenance and restoration of legally established non-conforming signs and sign structures. Any legally established non-conforming sign shall be permitted without alteration in size or location. Maintenance of such signs shall not include any changes made to the size, height or bulk of the sign or the temporary or permanent removal of the sign. If such sign is damaged exceeding two-thirds u of its replacement value, it shall not be rebuilt except in conformance with the provisions of this chapter; provided, however, that, nothing herein shall prevent maintenance, repainting or posting of legally established non-conforming signs.
(F) Number of faces permitted on a freestanding identification sign. Unless specifically restricted by this chapter, a sign may contain more than one sign face, and may be two-sided; provided, all other provisions of this chapter shall be met.
(G) Use of neon in sign illumination. Exposed neon or similar tubing (to include, but not be limited to, high intensity fluorescent (HIF) tubing, incandescent tubing, halogen high intensity discharge systems (HID) and light-emitting diode (LED) tubing), shall not be utilized as an external illumination component of any sign. Neon or similar tubing noted above may be utilized to internally illuminate a sign.
(H) Illuminated signs.
(1) No sign within 600 feet of any R district or within an R district shall be illuminated between the hours of 11:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m.
(a) Exceptions:
1. Legally established ground identification signs, as referenced in § 194.166 of this chapter, service recorded, platted residential subdivisions located within the R-SF-1, R-SF-2, R-SF-3 or R-SF-4 Districts.
2. Signs which are visibly obstructed from any adjacent R Districts.
(2) Lighting directed towards a sign shall be shielded so that it illuminates only the sign surface and does not shine on, cause glare to or otherwise impair the vision of the driver of any motor vehicle traveling on a public right-of-way.
(3) Signs that are illuminated shall not create glare or light spillage across the lot lines. The illumination level of a sign shall not exceed one footcandle when measured at the lot line.
(4) This division (H) shall not apply to the following:
(a) Signs that constitute an integral part of a vending machine, telephone booth, device that indicates time or weather conditions or similar device whose principal function is not to convey an advertising message; or
(b) Signs that do not exceed two square feet in area and that convey the message that a business enterprise is open or closed or that a place of lodging does or does not have a vacancy.
(I) Cutting of trees or shrubs. No person, for the purpose of increasing or enhancing the visibility of any sign, shall damage, trim, destroy or remove any trees, shrubs or other vegetation located:
(1) Within any public street right-of-way unless the work is done pursuant to the express written authorization of the governmental department having jurisdiction over said public street;
(2) On property that is not under ownership or control of the person doing or responsible for such work unless the work is done pursuant to the express authorization of the person owning the property where such trees or shrubs are located; or
(3) In any area where such trees or shrubs are required to remain under a permit issued under this chapter.
(J) Maintenance of signs. Nothing contained in this chapter shall be construed to prevent the maintenance, repainting or posting of legally established signs. Maintenance shall include the replacement of sign surfaces within a sign structure; provided that, the sign structure is not removed or changed in any dimension.
(K) Awning, canopy and marquee signs. In any district in which building identification wall signs are permitted, except for those in the VBD District, which shall be regulated by § 194.165(B)(3) of this chapter, the use of an awning, canopy or marquee sign shall be allowed and considered wall signs subject to the following provisions:
(1) The total area of the awning, canopy or marquee (i.e., the combined two dimensional surface area of all sides of the awning, canopy or marquee) shall not exceed the sign surface area for wall signs allocated to the facade of the building upon which the awning, canopy or marquee is attached;
(2) The portion of the awning, canopy or marquee which includes a sign surface shall not exceed:
(a) Forty percent of the total area of an awning or canopy; or
(b) Seventy-five percent of the total area of a marquee.
(3) The bottom edge of the awning, canopy or marquee shall:
(a) Not be less than ten feet above grade over a walkway; or
(b) Not be less than 15 feet above grade over a driveway or interior access drive.
(4) The maximum projection of an awning, canopy or marquee shall not extend more than eight feet from or beyond its supporting building; and, not extend any closer to an imaginary perpendicular vertical plane located at the street pavement line, curb or outside edge of sidewalk than three feet. An awning, canopy or marquee is in compliance with the above regulations and may project into the air rights of a public right-of-way if approval for such encroachment into the air rights of a public right-of- way is obtained from the governmental authority having jurisdiction prior to the placement of the awning, canopy or marquee.
(5) Awnings and canopies shall not be illuminated from the inside or backside.
(L) Freestanding on-premises signs as accessory structures. Freestanding on-premises signs and sign structures are hereby declared to be accessory structures. As accessory structures, freestanding on-premises signs and sign structures may not occupy a lot without a primary use or building also being legally located on the lot.
(M) Removal of freestanding on-premises signs. Notwithstanding anything contained in § 194.019 of this chapter to the contrary, freestanding on-premises signs, including business identification signs and incidental signs, and sign structures, shall be subject to the following removal provisions.
(1) When the building, or any business, product, activity or service offered on the premise not located in a building, is removed, any on-premises sign and sign structure located on the lot to identify such building, business, product, activity or service shall also be removed coincidently with the removal of such building, business, product, activity or service. Any new on-premises sign or sign structure located after such coincident removal shall be located in compliance with the provisions of this chapter.
(2) When a legally established non-conforming building, or any business, product, activity or service not located in a building, suffers a partial destruction in excess of two-thirds of the gross floor area and such building, business, product, activity or service must be removed and brought into compliance with the terms of this chapter, any on-premises sign or sign structure located on the lot shall also be brought into compliance with the terms of this chapter.
(3) Within 30 days after any lawful non-conforming sign or sign structure meet the ordinance definition of an abandoned sign, the sign or sign structure shall be removed.
(N) Gasoline service station signs. Gasoline service stations shall be subject to the following exceptions.
(1) If a freestanding business identification sign is permitted, such business identification sign may contain pricing information.
(2) Business identification signs may be located on a gasoline island canopy, spandrels or pump islands, provided that such signs do not exceed 5% of the surface area of the facade of the canopy, spandrel or pump island upon which the sign is located.
(3) Business identification signs may be located on either a spandrel or a pump island, but not both.
(O) Changeable copy signs. Changeable copy signs shall be permitted as part of an otherwise permitted identification sign; provided that:
(1) If a single use site, a maximum of one changeable copy sign shall be permitted which may be part of either a freestanding identification sign or a wall sign;
(2) If an integrated center, either one changeable copy sign shall be permitted as part of a freestanding identification sign, or each individual use with an integrated center shall be permitted one changeable copy sign as part of a wall sign.
(3) A changeable copy sign may be used as part of either a freestanding identification sign or as part of a wall sign, but not both.
(4) The changeable copy sign shall not exceed 40% of the sign surface area of the permitted identification sign.
(a) Area of copy. The entire area within a single, continuous perimeter composed of squares or rectangles, which enclose the extreme limits of the advertising message, announcement or decoration of a fascia or wall sign.
(b) Area of sign. The area of the largest single face of the sign within a perimeter which forms the outside shape including any frame, forms an integral part of the display, but excluding the necessary supports or uprights on which the sign may be placed. If the sign consists of more than one section or module, all areas shall be calculated.
(Ord. 2000-16, passed 8-28-2000, § 6.4; Ord. 2015-01, passed - -2015; Ord. 2020-01, passed 1-6-2020)