Anna City Zoning Code

SIGN REGULATIONS

§ 153.135 STATEMENT OF INTENT.

It is the intent of this subchapter to promote and protect the public health, welfare, and safety by regulating outdoor signs of all types. It is intended to protect property values, create a more attractive economic and business climate, and enhance and protect the physical appearance of the community. It is further intended to reduce sign or advertising distractions and obstructions that may contribute to traffic accidents, reduce hazards that may be caused by signs overhanging or projecting over public rights-of-way.

(Ord. 1227-98, passed 1-12-1999)

§ 153.136 GENERAL REGULATIONS.

(A) Required signage. Signs erected and maintained pursuant to and as required by law, any governmental function, ordinance, or governmental regulation shall be excluded from the requirements of this subchapter.

(B) Number of signs. There shall be no more than one permanent free-standing plus one permanent wall sign per lot, excluding directional signs.

(D) Sign identification and maintenance. All free-standing and wall mounted signs, except for directional signs, shall be plainly marked with the name of the person, firm, or corporation responsible for maintaining the sign. Should any sign be or become unsafe or in danger of falling, the owner thereof or the person maintaining the same shall put the sign in a safe and secure condition or remove the sign.

(E) Signs in public rights-of-way. No sign shall be placed in any public right-of-way except publicly owned signs, such as traffic control and directional signs. Regulation of signs along interstate and primary highways shall conform to the requirements of R.C. Chapter 5516 and the regulations adopted pursuant thereto.

(F) Measurement of sign area. The surface area of a sign shall be computed including the entire area within a regular, geometric form or combinations or regular, geometric forms comprising all of the display area of the sign and including all of the elements of the matter displayed.

(G) Sign illumination. Any illuminated sign or lighting device shall employ only light emitting constant intensity, and no sign shall be illuminated by or contain flashing, intermittent, rotating or moving light or lights. In no event shall an illuminated sign or lighting device be placed or directed so as to permit the beams and illumination to be direct or beamed so as to cause glare or reflection that may constitute a nuisance or a traffic hazard. Temporary signs shall not be illuminated.

(H) Nonconforming signs. The continuance of an existing sign that does not meet the regulations and requirements of this subchapter shall be deemed a nonconforming sign, which may not be replaced or substantially repaired unless conforming with the requirements of this subchapter.

(I) Abandoned signs. Abandoned signs shall be promptly removed by the owner or the person responsible to maintain the sign. A sign shall be considered abandoned when the sign is associated with an abandoned use, and/or the sign remains after a business has been closed to the public for at least 90 consecutive days (seasonal businesses are exempt from this determination).

(Ord. 1227-98, passed 1-12-1999) Penalty, see § 153.999

§ 153.137 DEFINITIONS.

For the purposes of this subchapter, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.

DIRECTIONAL SIGNS. Signs to guide traffic to visitor parking areas, loading areas, entrance and exit drives, and the like.

EXTERIOR SIGNS. Signs mounted to the exterior of any wall, building, or structure and free-standing signs mounted on open property.

FLUSH-MOUNTED SIGNS. Signs mounted flat against a building, structure, or wall and not projecting beyond the surface of the building, structure, or wall.

FREE-STANDING SIGNS. Signs mounted on posts or similar supports.

OFF PREMISE SIGNS or BILLBOARDS. Signs advertising goods or services not offered on the same lot on which the signs are located.

PERMANENT SIGNS. Signs which remain in place for more than 60 days.

PROJECTED SIGNS. Signs mounted at an angle from the building, structure, or wall to which it is attached or mounted to extend beyond the face of the building, structure, or wall to which it is attached.

ROOF SIGNS. Signs painted on or mounted to the roof of a building.

TEMPORARY SIGNS. Signs which remain in place for less than 60 days.

WALL SIGNS. Signs painted on or mounted flat against a building, structure, or wall.

WINDOW SIGNS. Signs mounted on the interior of a building to a window so that it may be seen from the exterior.

(Ord. 1227-98, passed 1-12-1999)

§ 153.138 PERMITTED SIGN FOR WHICH NO PERMIT IS REQUIRED.

The following signs shall be permitted in the Village of Anna subject to the following regulations. No zoning permit shall be required for any sign constructed or erected under the terms of this section.

(A) Temporary signs (real estate). Temporary signs advertising the sale, rental or lease of property shall be located upon the premises they advertise and shall not exceed 40 square feet in area except in residential districts, where they shall not exceed two square feet in area.

(B) Temporary signs (general). Temporary signs such as mobile signs, portable signs, banners, and advertising balloons to a limit of four signs.

(C) Address signs. Signs denoting the address and/or name of the occupants of the premises shall not exceed two square feet in area.

(D) Home occupation signs. Signs designating home occupations shall not exceed two square feet and shall be flush-mounted on the wall of the residence.

(E) Professional name plates. Professional name plates shall be wall-mounted and shall not exceed four square feet in total area.

(F) Campaign signs. Political signs or posters concerning candidates or issues for election shall be posted no more than 60 days before an election and shall be removed within seven days following election day. These signs shall not exceed two feet by three feet in area.

(G) Commemorative signs. Commemorative signs such as cornerstones, markers, tables and historical signs shall be limited in size to nine square feet.

(H) Directional signs. Directional signs shall be smaller than three square feet each and there shall be no more than four directional signs per lot.

(I) Window signs. Window signs are permitted in the ground or first-floor windows of all commercial and industrial districts. No window sign shall occupy more than 20% of the total window surface on a given side of the building.

(Ord. 1227-98, passed 1-12-1999) Penalty, see § 153.999

§ 153.139 PERMITTED SIGNS FOR WHICH A PERMIT IS REQUIRED.

All exterior signs not specifically excluded shall require a permit.

(A) Wall signs.

(1) Wall signs may extend outward (perpendicular from the wall) a maximum of two feet.

(2) Wall signs shall not exceed a maximum area of four square feet in residential districts and 100 square feet in non-residential districts.

(B) Projected signs.

(1) Projected signs are permitted only in the Central Commercial District (C-1).

(2) One projected sign is permitted per building per street frontage.

(3) Projected signs shall project not more than four feet outward from the wall of the structure, shall not exceed 20 square feet in size and shall be perpendicular to the wall to which they are attached. The bottom of all projected signs shall be not less than nine feet above the sidewalk or ground level.

(4) Projected signs shall be of sturdy construction and erected in a manner as to protect persons who pass underneath from possible injury. Sign users who place projected signs over the public right-of-way shall assume sole liability for the sign.

(C) Free-standing signs. Free-standing signs are permitted in all zoning districts provided the requirements below are met.

(1) Residential districts.

(a) Free-standing signs in residential districts are permitted only for permitted and conditional uses in residential districts, such as places of worship, libraries, museums and schools.

(b) Free-standing signs in residential districts shall not exceed ten feet in height, 15 square feet in area and shall be located on the premises of the establishment they serve.

(2) Commercial and industrial districts. Free-standing signs located on the premises they serve in commercial and industrial districts shall not exceed 35 feet in height and shall not exceed 200 square feet in area.

(3) Off-premise signs.

(a) Off premise signs, or billboards, are permitted in the General Commercial (C-2), Industrial, and Agricultural Districts.

(b) No off-premise sign shall exceed 1,200 square feet in area and shall not exceed the height regulations for the zoning district in which it is located.

(D) Roof signs. Roof signs are prohibited in all zoning districts.

(Ord. 1227-98, passed 1-12-1999) Penalty, see § 153.999

§ 153.140 PROHIBITED SIGNS.

(A) Animated signs that employ flashing lights, blinking lights or other elements that revolve, rotate, whirl, spin or otherwise make use of motion to attract attention are prohibited.

(B) The above division does not apply to any sign that has at least 90% of the sign face devoted to performing a public service function of indicating time, temperature or some other similar service.

(Ord. 1227-98, passed 1-12-1999) Penalty, see § 153.999

§ 153.141 SIGN SETBACK REQUIREMENTS.

(A) Required setback.

(1) Except as modified below, ground-mounted signs shall be set back from the property line a minimum of ten feet.

(2) No sign may be mounted within the required sight distance triangle.

(B) Increased setback. For every square foot by which any on-premise sign exceeds 50 square feet, the setback shall be increased by 1/2 foot but need not exceed 100 feet.

(C) Setbacks for off-premise signs. No off-premise sign shall be erected in any required yard for the zoning district in which the sign is located nor closer than 20 feet to the front lot line if no front setback has been established.