(Except for the VBD, Village Business District)
(A) Maximum number of signs permitted. No individual business shall be permitted more than four identification signs (i.e., any combination of freestanding, building, suspended, projecting or window signs). In order to qualify as an individual business entitled to signs, there shall be a separate exterior entrance to the business operation or tenant space. Sign panels identifying a business on freestanding identification signs for integrated centers shall count toward the total number of signs permitted for an individual business.
(B) Freestanding identification signs for single use sites.
(1) Type of signs. Freestanding identification signs shall be permitted as follows: ground signs -all business and industrial districts.
(2) Number of signs.
(a) One freestanding identification sign shall be permitted for each street frontage of a lot.
(b) When a lot has more than one street frontage and qualifies for an additional freestanding identification sign, the minimum separation between freestanding identification signs on the lot, regardless of the orientation of the freestanding identification signs, shall be 100 feet.
(c) Exception: when a lot has frontage in excess of 500 feet on the same street, one additional freestanding identification sign shall be permitted on that street for each additional 500 feet of frontage; provided that:
1. The minimum separation between freestanding identification signs along the same street shall be 300 feet;
2. The additional freestanding identification sign is oriented to the street with frontage in excess of 500 feet; and
3. The total sign surface area of all freestanding identification signs does not exceed the maximum sign surface area permitted below.
(3) Maximum sign surface area of freestanding signs.
(a) Maximum sign surface area shall apply individually to each street frontage.
(b) The maximum sign surface area for single use sites shall not exceed:
Street Frontage | Maximum Sign Surface Area |
Less than 300 feet | 24 square feet |
For each additional linear foot of street frontage | 0.25 square foot of additional sign surface area |
NOTES TO TABLE: Provided, however, that, no freestanding sign shall exceed 72 square feet for single use sites. | |
(4) Minimum front, side and rear setback for freestanding identification signs.
(a) Front yard setback.
1. The minimum front yard setback for any freestanding identification sign shall be:
a. Required front yard: ten feet from the proposed right-of-way; and
b. Required front bufferyard: 20 feet from the proposed right-of-way.
2. In a case where a proposed right-of-way line does not exist, as determined by the transportation plan, or where the existing right-of-way is greater, the existing right-of-way line shall be used for the setback measurement.
(b) Side and rear yard setback or side and rear bufferyard setback. The minimum side or rear yard setback for a freestanding identification sign shall be the greater of five feet or that required for any building or structure in the applicable zoning district.
(5) Maximum height of freestanding identification signs. Ground sign: the maximum height of a freestanding ground identification sign shall not exceed six feet in height above grade.
(6) Landscaping. Freestanding identification signs for single use sites shall be surrounded by a landscaped area at least equal to the sign area of the sign erected. Landscaping shall consist of living vegetation (annuals, perennials, ornamental grasses, hedge plants or trees) and natural ground cover materials. Loose stone, rock or gravel may be used as a landscaping accent, but shall not exceed 20% of the landscaped area. Plant materials used to satisfy this provision shall not be used to satisfy the calculations of landscaping required by any other provisions of this chapter.
(C) Freestanding identification signs for integrated centers.
(1) Type of signs. Freestanding identification signs shall be permitted as follows:
(a) Ground signs: all business and industrial districts; and
(b) Pylon signs: B-1, B-2, B-3, all industrial districts.
(2) Number of signs.
(a) One freestanding identification sign, which shall include the name of the integrated center, shall be permitted for each street frontage of an integrated center.
(b) When an integrated center has more than one street frontage and qualifies for an additional freestanding identification sign, the minimum separation between freestanding identification signs on the integrated center, regardless of the orientation of the freestanding identification signs, shall be 100 feet.
(c) Exception: when an integrated center has frontage in excess of 300 feet on the same street, one additional freestanding identification sign shall be permitted on that street; provided that:
1. The minimum separation between freestanding identification signs along the same street is 300 feet;
2. The additional freestanding identification sign is oriented to the street with frontage in excess of 300 feet; and
3. The total sign surface area of all freestanding identification signs does not exceed the maximum sign surface area permitted below.
(3) Maximum sign surface area of freestanding signs for an integrated center.
(a) Maximum sign surface area shall apply individually to each street frontage. The maximum sign surface area shall not exceed:
Street Frontage Maximum | Sign Surface Area |
Less than 300 feet | 64 square feet foot |
For each additional linear foot of street frontage | 0.50 square foot of additional sign surface area |
(b) Provided, however, that, no freestanding sign shall exceed 200 square feet for integrated centers.
(4) Minimum front, side and rear setback for freestanding identification signs.
(a) Front setback.
1. The minimum front setback for any freestanding identification sign shall be:
a. Required front yard: ten feet from the proposed right-of-way; and
b. Required front bufferyard: 20 feet from the proposed right-of-way.
2. In a case where a proposed right-of-way line does not exist, as determined by the transportation plan, or where the existing right-of-way is greater, the existing right-of-way line shall be used for the setback measurement.
(b) Side and rear setback or side and rear bufferyard setback. The minimum side or rear yard setback for a freestanding identification sign shall be the greater of ten feet or that required for any building or structure in the applicable zoning district.
(5) Maximum height of freestanding identification signs. The maximum height of a freestanding identification sign shall be determined by the location of the freestanding identification sign in relation to the required front, side and rear yards for the site.
(a) Front yard height to setback formula. Freestanding identification signs may have a maximum height of up to six feet above grade level when located at the minimum required front yard or minimum required front bufferyard setback. The maximum height may be increased by one foot in height for each additional one foot of setback from the minimum required front yard or minimum required front bufferyard setback until the maximum height allowed for the applicable type of sign structure is reached.
(b) Side and rear yard height to setback formula. Freestanding identification signs may have a maximum height of up to six feet above grade level when located at the minimum required side or rear yard or minimum required side or rear bufferyard setback. The maximum height may be increased by one foot in height for each additional one foot of setback from the minimum required side or rear yard or minimum required side or rear bufferyard setback until the maximum height allowed for the applicable type of sign structure is reached.
(c) Maximum height by type of sign structure.
1. Ground sign: the maximum height of a freestanding ground identification sign shall not exceed six feet in height above grade; and
2. Pylon sign: the maximum height of a freestanding pylon.
(6) Landscaping.
(a) Freestanding identification signs for integrated centers shall be surrounded by a landscaped area at least equal to the sign area of the sign erected.
(b) Identification sign shall not exceed 15 feet in height above grade.
(c) Landscaping shall consist of living vegetation (annuals, perennials, ornamental grasses, hedge plants or trees) and natural ground cover materials. Loose stone, rock or gravel may be used as a landscaping accent, but shall not exceed 20% of the landscaped area. Plant materials used to satisfy this provision shall not be used to satisfy the calculation of landscaping required by any other provisions of this chapter.
(D) Building identification signs.
(1) Type of signs. Building identification signs shall be limited to wall and projecting signs.
(2) Number of building identification signs. Except as restricted by the provisions of division (A) above, there shall be no limit to the number of wall building identification signs per facade; provided that, the total sign surface area of all wall signs located on each building facade shall not exceed the maximum sign surface area for the building facade upon which such signs are located.
(3) Maximum sign surface area of building identification signs.
(a) The total sign surface area of all building identification signs oriented to an individual facade shall not exceed:
1. Front facade: 5% of the total area of the front facade of the structure or tenant space;
2. Side and rear facades: 3% of the side or rear facade of the structure or tenant space; and
3. The linear measurement of a business identification wall sign shall not exceed 80% of the linear width of the facade of the structure or tenant space on which the sign is located.
(b) Provided that, for any building which has more than one street frontage, the maximum sign surface area of 5% shall apply to all building facades with street frontages. A building facade shall be determining to have street frontage when it is parallel to the street or is at no greater than a 45-degree angle to the street.
(4) Additional requirements for projecting signs.
(a) Maximum height of projecting signs. Projecting signs shall not extend above the roof line.
(b) Maximum projection from building for projecting signs. No projecting sign or sign structure supporting a projecting sign shall extend more than six feet from or beyond its supporting building.
(c) Public right-of-way clearance. No projecting sign or sign structure shall extend any closer than two feet to an imaginary perpendicular vertical plane located at the street pavement line, curb or outside edge of sidewalk.
1. Exception. A projecting sign may encroach into the above described clearance area and/or air rights of a public right-of-way if approval for such encroachment is obtained from the governmental authority having jurisdiction over said right-of-way prior to the placement of the projecting sign.
(d) Maximum height above grade for a projecting sign. The bottom edge of a projecting sign shall not be less than nine feet above grade over a sidewalk or walkway or 15 feet above grade over any type of street, alley, drive or driveway.
(e) Maximum sign area. Maximum sign area permitted for a projecting sign shall be 38 square feet.
(E) Incidental signs.
(1) Type of signs. Incidental signs shall be ground or wall signs.
(2) Number of signs.
(a) If a lot or integrated center has one driveway, zero incidental directional signs shall be permitted at the driveway entrance or exit.
(b) If a lot or integrated center has more than one driveway, one incidental directional sign shall be permitted for each driveway.
(c) One incidental directional sign or one incidental parking and loading sign shall be permitted at each critical turning point along an interior access drive when required to safely direct vehicular traffic (e.g., to direct vehicular traffic to: a drive-up window; a customer or employee parking area; or a delivery or loading area).
(3) Maximum sign surface area of incidental signs in the business districts. Incidental signs shall not exceed six square feet in sign surface area per sign.
(4) Maximum sign surface area of incidental signs in the I-ORT, I-2 and I-3 Districts.
(a) Incidental directional signs shall not exceed six square feet in sign surface area per sign.
(b) Incidental parking and loading signs shall not exceed 32 square feet in sign surface area per sign.
(5) Minimum front, side and rear yard setback for freestanding incidental signs.
(a) Front yard setback or front bufferyard setback: three feet from proposed right-of-way. In a case where a proposed right-of-way line does not exist, as determined by the transportation plan, or where the existing right-of-way is greater, the existing right-of-way line shall be used for the setback measurement.
(b) Side and rear yard setback or side and rear bufferyard setback: the same as required for any building or structure in the applicable zoning district.
(6) Maximum height of incidental signs. The maximum height of a freestanding incidental ground sign shall not exceed:
(a) Incidental directional signs shall not exceed two and one-half feet in height above grade; and
(b) Incidental parking and loading signs shall not exceed four feet in height above grade.
(F) Suspended signs in integrated centers. Suspended signs shall be permitted on any building containing two or more individual, non-related and separately operated uses subject to the following regulations.
(1) There shall be no more than one suspended sign per grade-level tenant.
(2) The maximum sign surface area of a suspended sign shall not exceed five square feet.
(3) All portions of the suspended sign or sign structure shall be not less than eight feet above the sidewalk or finished grade.
(G) Window signs.
(1) The sign copy area shall not exceed 5% of the window surface area on which it is placed or through which it is viewed.
(2) The sign surface area of window signs shall be calculated separately from the calculation of other building identification signs and shall not be included in the total area of other building identification signs permitted.
(H) Development plan approval required.
(2) Development plan approval petitions for signs in the business and industrial districts shall be submitted as a part of the application for an improvement location permit for signs.
(3) The Building Commissioner shall grant development plan approval upon written finding that the proposed freestanding or building identification sign:
(a) Is consistent with and harmonious to the buildings and sites which they occupy;
(b) Represents a use of design features which will enhance the use or value of area properties;
(c) Utilizes materials and is of a style which is compatible with the Zionsville theme; and
(d) Is consistent with the intent and purpose of this chapter.
(Ord. 2000-16, passed 8-28-2000, § 6.5; Ord. 2020-01, passed 1-6-2020)