Archbold City Zoning Code

SIGNS

§ 152.100

(A) The intent of this subchapter is to regulate all signs within Archbold to ensure that they are appropriate for their respective uses and locations, in keeping with the appearance of the subject property and surrounding environment, and protective of the public health, safety, and general welfare by:

(1) Ensuring sign design that builds on the community character, image, and historic context.

(2) Prohibiting the erection of signs in such numbers, sizes, designs, illumination, and locations as may create a hazard to pedestrians and motorists; and

(3) Setting standards and providing uniform controls, based on best practices that permit reasonable use of signage for advertising.

(B) No sign shall be permitted in any district except as hereinafter provided

(Ord. 2022-25, passed 3-21-2022)

§ 152.101 SIGN DEFINITIONS.

(A) Abandoned sign. All signs and supporting structures which located on a property when the business it advertises ceases to occupy the property.

(B) Animated sign. Signs with continuous illumination that may flash, move, rotate, flicker, blink or scroll unless in accordance with other regulations in this section.

(D) Banners. A flexible substrate on which copy, or graphics may be displayed.

(E) Changeable copy signs. A sign or portion thereof on which the copy or symbols are changed manually or digitally through replacement of letters or symbols on a sign face.

(F) Electronic message centers. Signs that include changing messages and other information, such as time/temperature. Electronic message centers include but are not limited to traditional incandescent lighting, LEDs, LCDs, or a flipper matrix.

(G) Marquee sign. Any sign attached to a marquee for the purpose of identifying a use or product.

(H) Murals. An image which is restored, painted, installed, or affixed directly onto a vertical building wall, which shall not contain advertising.

(I) Monument signs. Monument signs are permanently anchored in the ground and supported by a base structure anchored in the ground, are detached from any building or structure, and whose message and design relate to an activity, business, or product on the same property where the sign is located. May also be referred to as a freestanding sign.

(J) Off-premises sign. A permanent sign erected, maintained, and used outdoors for advertising of a product, service, business, or activity which is sold, located, or conducted elsewhere than on the premises. May also be referred to as billboard.

(K) Pole signs. A sign that is erected upon or permanently supported in a fixed location by one or more poles or posts, except for temporary signs.

(L) Portable sign. A sign designed to be transported or moved and not permanently anchored to the ground, a building, or other structure.

(M) Projecting signs. Projecting signs are two- sided signs that project perpendicular to the storefront or building.

(N) Snipe signs. Any off-premises sign that is tacked, nailed, posted, pasted, glued, or otherwise attached to trees, poles, stakes, fences, or other objects, including signs not regulated elsewhere in this section or not authorized within the right-of-way.

(O) Temporary signs. A sign intended to display either commercial or noncommercial messages of a transitory or temporary nature.

(P) Tenant directory sign. Tenant directory signs are used to identify businesses in multi-tenant buildings or business parks.

(Q) Vintage sign. Uniquely designed signage that responds to the history, architectural design, and/or era of the building or site.

(R) Wall signs. Wall signs are anchored and completely supported by exterior walls.

(S) Window signs. Any sign that is applied, painted, or affixed to a window, or placed inside a window, within two feet of the glass, facing the outside of the building, and easily seen from the outside. Customary displays of merchandise or objects and material without lettering behind a store window are not considered signs.

(Ord. 2022-25, passed 3-21-2022)

§ 152.102 SIGN GENERAL REQUIREMENTS.

(A) Sign area. The area of a sign shall mean the area of all lettering, wording, and accompanying designs, logos, and symbols. The area of a sign shall not include any supporting framework, bracing or trim which is incidental to the display, if it does not contain any lettering, wording, or symbols.

(1) The area of all permanent signs in the Central Business District (CBD) shall be equivalent to one and one-quarter square feet of sign area for each lineal foot of width of the building.

(2) The area of all permanent advertising signs in all other areas may be equivalent to one and one-half square feet of sign area for each lineal foot of width of a building.

(3) For the purpose of this section, width shall be measured along the building face parallel to the primary street right-of-way. In the case of a corner lot, either building face may be used in determining maximum sign area.

(4) The aggregate of all sign area on a site shall not exceed a maximum of 500 square feet.

(5) Where the sign consists of individual letters and/or symbols attached to a building, awning, wall, or window, the area shall be that of the smallest rectangle around all letters and symbols.

(6) Signs may be double sided. Only one side of the sign shall be counted when calculating sign area.

(B) No freestanding or monument sign shall exceed ten feet as measured from the highest point of the sign structure to the ground elevation, or the surface grade beneath the sign, whichever is less or as stipulated in other sections of these regulations.

(C) No building wall shall be used for display of advertising except that pertaining to the use within such building; except for a restored mural which may depicted advertising.

(D) No part of any sign shall be located within two feet of the back of the curb.

(E) No sign shall be placed in any public right-of-way except publicly owned signs, traffic control and street signs, unless express permission is given by the Archbold Engineer.

(F) Abandoned signs shall be removed within 30 days by the owner or lessee of the premises.

(G) All signs are subject to the property maintenance § 152.091.

(H) Prohibited signs.

(1) Abandoned signs.

(2) Animated sign.

(3) Off-premises sign.

(4) Pole signs.

(5) Snipe signs on public property and right-of-way may be removed and disposed of by Archbold.

(Ord. 2022-25, passed 3-21-2022)

§ 152.103 SIGN REGULATIONS BY TYPE.

(A) Awning and canopy signs must be centered above architectural elements such as windows or doors, or if comprising the length of the building face, signage shall be centered on the awning or canopy.

(1) If the awning or canopy sign is mounted on a multi-tenant building, all awning or canopy signs shall be consistent in terms of height, projection, and style across all tenants in the building.

(B) Changeable copy signs are permitted only when integrated into a monument, marquee, wall, or portable sign. Changeable copy lettering shall be of the same color, size, and font.

(C) Electronic message centers. Message center signs are permitted in the form of monument, and wall signs in accordance with the following:

(1) No message center sign may contain text which flashes, pulsates, moves, or scrolls. Each complete message must fit on one screen.

(2) All changes in copy are accomplished in three seconds or less and must transition by changing instantly (e.g., no fade-out, fade-in, scrolling).

(3) Each message or copy remains fixed for at least 20 seconds

(4) The sign shall contain a default design which shall freeze the sign message in one position if a malfunction should occur.

(5) The maximum brightness levels for electronic message centers, other than a shall not exceed 0.02 (two tenths) foot-candles over ambient light levels measured within 150 feet of the source, consistent with the terms of this section.

(6) Only one electronic message center sign shall be permitted on the premise. A freestanding electronic message center shall not exceed 50% of the total allowable square footage for any on premises monument sign.

(7) Each sign must have a light sensing device that will automatically adjust the brightness of the display as the natural ambient light conditions change.

(D) Monument signs.

(1) Freestanding sign structure shall have its base located a minimum of ten feet off the street right-of-way line.

(2) Subdivisions, multi-family (ten units or more) and business parks shall be permitted one identification monument sign per street frontage which may include the following:

(a) Name of the development.

(b) Logo or special symbol.

(3) Monument signs shall have no more than 60 square feet on one side.

(4) There shall be no more than one monument sign per street frontage.

(5) Monument tenant directory signs are permitted in the B-2, M-1 and M-2 Zoning District. Letter height for the building or development name or logo shall not exceed ten inches; all others shall not exceed six inches.

(E) Marquee signs.

(1) Marquee signs may be attached to the top or sides of the marquee. No part of the marquee sign shall extend below the lowest vertical part of the marquee.

(2) Marquee signs attached to the top of the marquee shall not extend above the roof line shall not project more than four feet off the building face.

(F) Murals. Murals painted on a wall surface shall not be considered signage and shall be approved by the municipality.

(G) Nonconforming sign. An existing nonconforming sign shall not be enlarged or replaced with the exception of the sign face. However, any nonconforming sign that is abandoned shall be removed and replaced with a sign which conforms to this code.

(H) Portable signs. Portable signs are permitted in CBD and B-2 Districts only and may be placed within public right-of-way or on private property subject to the following conditions:

(1) If a sign is located on a public or private sidewalk, a minimum of 42 inches of unobstructed sidewalk clearance for pedestrians must be maintained provided such sign does not obstruct traffic or visibility.

(2) Only one sign is permitted per business and may not exceed seven square feet and 42 inches in height.

(3) Portable signs shall be weighted or otherwise secured to prevent movement.

(4) Portable signs are only permitted during business operating hours.

(5) No permit is required for portable signs.

(I) Projecting signs. All projecting signs shall be at least ten feet above the pavement or sidewalks and shall not project more than four feet from the face of a building

(J) Temporary signs.

(1) Construction and event signs shall not exceed 24 square feet and may be erected for a period not to exceed 90 days. Construction related signs may remain for the duration of the construction period and shall be removed 30 days after completion of construction.

(2) Announcement or professional signs for home occupations and professional activities where permitted shall not exceed four square feet in any residential "R" Districts.

(3) All other temporary signs shall not exceed 12 square feet.

(4) Temporary signs shall be removed based on the following schedule:

Sign	Removal Date
Real estate signs	14 days after closing
Open house	72 hours after event
Construction	30 days after completion
Garage sale and other personal signs	72 hours after event

(K) Vintage signs. Signs may replicate or restore an iconic sign or sign type from the past or shall seek to become a piece of art or an architectural feature. The Zoning Inspector or a citizen board or committee may waive certain requirements to replicate historically significant features.

(L) Wall signs. Wall signs shall meet the following criteria:

(1) Shall not project more than 12 inches measured from the face of the wall off the building.

(2) Shall be at least ten feet above the pavement or sidewalk.

(3) Signs shall not intrude on or block doors, windows, exhaust fans, or the like.

(4) On multi-story buildings signage for ground floor occupants shall be located below second floor windowsills.

(5) Multi-tenant buildings that have businesses without street frontage shall be permitted one tenant directory sign which shall not exceed nine square feet. If there is front and rear access to businesses, the same may be provided on the rear façade.

(M) Window signs may be painted, attached, or hanging within six inches to the inside of a windows and glass doors facing the street. This type of signage may contain text, graphic logos, and other images.

(1) Maximum area: Twenty-five percent of the total transparent glass area of windows and doors facing the street and limited to ground floor windows only.

(a) Window signage not exceeding 5% of the total glass area, such as business name or hours of operation shall be is permitted and will not be counted toward the total permissible signage square footage.

(b) Temporary window signs shall not exceed four square feet.

(Ord. 2022-25, passed 3-21-2022)

§ 152.104 SETBACK REQUIREMENTS.

(A) At the intersection of any two streets, the setback of any sign or outdoor advertising structure shall not be less than ten feet from both established rights-of-way of the streets and not obstruct traffic visibility.

(B) A sign shall not be located within the sight triangle of street access, driveway or parking lot as determined by the Archbold Engineer.

(C) Any monument sign shall have its base located off the street right-of-way line, at a minimum of ten feet provided such sign does not obstruct traffic visibility.

(D) Real estate signs, church, school, political or any other temporary sign shall be located a minimum of five feet from the right-of-way line.

(Ord. 2022-25, passed 3-21-2022)

§ 152.105 SPECIAL YARD PROVISIONS.

No sign shall be permitted which faces the front or side lot line of any lot in any "R" District within 50 feet of the lot line, or which faces any, passive park or entrances to any public park, schools, library, church, or similar institution, within 150 feet thereof.

(Ord. 2022-25, passed 3-21-2022)

§ 152.106 ILLUMINATION.

The following provisions shall be observed in the illumination of signs:

(A) All signs may be illuminated internally or externally provided the source of light is not directly visible.

(B) Illumination shall be placed to reflect away from the adjoining premises and no more than 0.2 foot candle shall be detected at any boundary to the property.

(C) Illumination shall not be so placed as to cause confusion or a hazard to traffic or conflict with traffic control signs or lights

(D) No illumination involving movement, flashing, or causing the illusion of movement due to the lighting arrangement or other devices shall be permitted. Electronic message centers are permitted in accordance with § 152.104.

(Ord. 2022-25, passed 3-21-2022)

§ 152.107 MASTER SIGN PLAN (MULTI-TENANT).

(A) A master sign plan regulates signage for multiple businesses or tenants within one building or development. Maintaining uniformity reinforces the building or developments unity while still communicating business identity. A master sign plan is mandatory for all buildings with two or more tenants.

(B) Applicability. A master sign plan shall be established at and approved with the initial site plan applications.

(1) Individual zoning permits consistent with owner approved master sign plan; permits shall be approved by the Zoning Inspector.

(2) Abandoned signs shall be replaced with signs consistent with the master sign plan.

(3) Number of nonconforming signs; number and location of signage to be allocated to each tenant under the new plan and approved sign type.

(D) The master sign plan shall establish sign uniformity in terms of height, proportion, sign type, and background materials and illumination. Individual business branding through color, fonts and icons may be permitted if approved by the property owner and established in the master sign plan.

(Ord. 2022-25, passed 3-21-2022)

§ 152.108 SIGN PERMIT REQUIRED.

(A) A sign permit is required for each sign or sign plan unless otherwise noted in this section.

(B) Each application for a sign permit shall be accompanied by the following:

(1) A drawing showing the design proposed, the size, character and color of letters, lines and symbols, method of illumination.

(2) The exact location of the sign in relation to the building and property, the details, and specifications for construction.

(3) A fee shall accompany each application for a sign permit.

(1) Temporary signs with an area of 12 square feet or less shall not require a permit.

(2) Portable signs.

(Ord. 2022-25, passed 3-21-2022)

§ 152.109 SIGN EXEMPTIONS.

(A) Public notices, traffic control signs, wayfinding and other official signs and notices are exempt from the provisions of this section.

(B) Directional signs, not containing advertising are exempt from the maximum square footage requirements and shall be approved by the municipal engineer.