Signs are permitted in the C-1, C-2, and I-1 and the PDD districts [subject to the following regulations:]

9-12.1.

ADVERTISING SIGNS Advertising signs are permitted in C-1, C-2 and I-1 districts.

9-12.2.

TEMPORARY CAMPAIGN SIGNS: Temporary campaign signs are permitted subject to the provisions of Section 9-10.4.

9-12.3.

SIGNS PERMITTED AS IN RESIDENTIAL DISTRICTS: Sign excluded from regulation by definition, temporary signs, permanent subdivision signs, group residential use signs, and non-residential use signs shall be permitted as for residential districts, provided, however, that signs meeting the following requirements shall also be permitted, and that the least restrictive requirements for either residential or non-residential districts shall prevail in non-residential districts.

9-12.4.

DISPLAY SURFACE AREA OF SIGNS: Measurement of sign area will be conducted as follows: where a sign has two or more faces, the area of all faces shall be included in determining the area of the sign, except where two such faces are placed back to back and are at no point more than two (2) feet from one another, the area of the sign shall be taken as the area of one face if the two faces are of equal area, or as the area of the larger face if the two faces are of unequal area. Where a sign consists solely of lettering or other sign elements printed or mounted on a wall of a building without any distinguishing border, panel or background, any blank rectangular area which is more than ten (10) percent of the area of the sign as otherwise computed shall be disregarded. All of the lettering and other sign elements printed or painted upon a wall of a building without any distinguishing border, panel or background and pertaining to the same enterprise shall be treated as a single sign for purposes of area computation.

a.

For signs attached to buildings, the sum total of their area must not exceed fifteen percent (15%) of the first story wall to which they are attached. This wall must face a public street or parking lot. Each business within a shopping center for which a separate occupational license has been issued shall be permitted one wall sign not to exceed fifteen percent (15%) of the area of its own individual exterior wall facing a public street or parking lot.

b.

Freestanding signs for individual businesses on separate lots are limited to a maximum of seventy (70) square feet for the entire lot.

c.

When more than one business is located on one lot in a shopping center, the maximum permitted area of the freestanding sign is one hundred-fifty (150) square feet for the whole shopping center.

d.

On-premises, freestanding signs within five hundred (500) feet of an Interstate highway may be up to one hundred-fifty (150) square feet in area.

9-12.5.

NUMBER OF SIGNS.

a.

For signs attached to buildings, there can be any number of signs on a particular wall directly facing a public street or parking lot, but their area must not exceed the requirements of Section 9-12.4.a above.

b.

Only one (1) freestanding sign is permitted per parcel.

c.

Signs located on interiors of enclosed malls are exempt.

9-12.6.

HEIGHT LIMITATIONS.

a.

Freestanding on-premises signs in all other commercial and industrial areas of the Town: twenty (20) feet.

b.

On-premises, freestanding signs, within five hundred (500) feet of an Interstate, shall be permitted up to forty (40) feet in height outright. These signs may be a maximum of seventy-five (75) feet in height provided that an additional foot in sign setback is created for each additional three (3) feet in height over forty (40) feet.

c.

Projecting signs: No projecting sign shall project above the highest point of the roof of the structure to which it is attached. No projecting sign shall be supported by any visible guy, braces, or supports of any kind. Internal supports only shall be allowed.

d.

In the I-1 zone no freestanding sign shall exceed the height of thirty-five (35) feet except that on property adjacent to Interstate highways.

9-12.7.

LOCATION.

a.

Wall signs may be located anywhere on any wall of a building.

b.

Setbacks for freestanding signs: Setbacks for freestanding signs shall be a minimum of 10 feet from the front property line, and 3 feet from the side property lines.

c.

No sign within a commercial or industrial district shall be erected within ten (10) feet of any residential district boundary line unless such sign would meet the sign requirements for non-residential uses permitted within the residential district to which it is adjacent.

9-12.8.

PORTABLE SIGNS AND BANNERS: Portable signs and banners are prohibited in the Town of Batesburg-Leesville except in compliance with the following:

a.

If a sign permit for a specified length of time for the portable sign or banner has been issued to the business. Each parcel is permitted one portable sign or banner permit per year. The portable sign shall be removed from the parcel by the business immediately upon expiration of the sign permit.

b.

If the sign or banner with text will be in place on the parcel for no more than one period of time per year, such period not to exceed thirty (30) consecutive days annually.

c.

If the portable sign or banner is securely tied down and/or in accordance with the Standard Building Code, whichever is applicable, to ensure public safety.

d.

If the portable sign is internally lit, it must have a UL label or equivalent and it must have permanently installed electrical service from a permanent structure.

e.

Setbacks shall be as specified in Section 9-12.7. The Building Official may impose special setback requirements if a situation requires doing so.

f.

If the freestanding portable sign or banner does not exceed fifty (50) square feet. Banners with text attached to walls may not exceed fifteen percent (15%) of the first floor wall surface to which they are attached.

g.

If the portable sign or banner has not been erected in a required parking space.

h.

If the portable sign has no flashing lights.

9-12.9.

BENCH SIGNS: Bench signs are permitted, subject to the following restrictions:

a.

Only one advertisement per bench;

b.

The maximum dimensions of the bench sign shall be 8 feet in length by 2 feet in height;

c.

Only one bench sign per business.

9-12.10.

DIRECTIONAL SIGNS SHALL REQUIRE A PERMIT: One directional sign not to exceed four (4) square feet in area may be placed at each entrance and exit to a business. Directional signage which includes advertising messages, business names, or logos will be counted as a portion of the total allowable square footage for the freestanding sign on the property. Directional signs without such information are not included towards sign totals.

9-12.11.

One (1) sign used to display menus at restaurant drive-thrus limited to a size of thirty (30) square feet.

9-12.12.

Real estate signs in business and industrial zoning districts may be erected by owner or agent of property, not to exceed thirty-two (32) square feet. Signs shall conform to the remaining requirements of this Ordinance.

9-12.13.

The contractor shall be responsible for cleaning and removing all trash, rubbish and rock caused by the installation of the sign.