Carroll County Unincorporated
City Zoning Code

SIGNS

§ 158.110 APPLICABILITY.

In order to properly integrate all regulating provisions affecting signs, as defined in § 158.002, and to regulate such devices in an orderly and comprehensive manner, it is hereby provided that signs are subject to regulations as set forth herein. These provisions shall apply equally to all signs located in the unincorporated areas of the county.

(Ord. 2019-07, passed 12-12-2019)

§ 158.111 SIGNS PERMITTED WITHOUT ZONING CERTIFICATE.

The following signs are permitted without a zoning certificate in any district, provided that the following conditions are adhered to:

(A) Signs indicating the name and/or premises or accessory use of a home for a home occupation or professional purposes, not exceeding three square feet in area;

(B) Signs not exceeding 30 square feet on a farm advertising farm products primarily grown on the premises, provided that they are located off the highway right-of-way and do not interfere with traffic visibility;

(C) Directional or informational signs of a public or quasi-public nature, such as those containing the meeting date of a community or civic club or the advertising of an event of public interest;

(D) Temporary real estate signs which offer a residential property for sale or lease, subject to the following conditions and limitations:

(1) On a property having an area of less than two acres, the sign may have two sides (or faces), and the area of each sign face shall be no larger than nine square feet, and the top of the sign shall be no higher from the ground than five feet. On a property of two acres or larger, the sign may have two sides (or faces), and each sign face shall not exceed 24 square feet and the top of the sign can be no higher than ten feet from the ground.

(2) Only one sign is allowed on a property offered for sale or lease, except in situations where the property fronts on more than one street, in which case no more than two signs are allowed on the property.

(3) Signs shall not be placed on a property closer than six feet to any property line.

(4) Any sign set up or located pursuant to this section must be removed on the day of settlement of the real estate transaction. The person who placed the sign and the company whose name appears on the sign shall be responsible to remove signs as required by this section.

(5) In addition to those signs authorized in division (D)(2) above, one additional sign for each sign authorized therein is authorized on the property to advertise an open house during the time period of 12:00 noon Saturday until sunset Sunday or during the time period the house is actually open for showing without prior appointment.

(6) Signs offering a property for sale or lease and advertising an open house may be located off the premises when the property being offered has limited or no road frontage as determined by the Zoning Administrator. In those cases where there is limited or no road frontage, one sign is allowed on the property being offered, and one sign is authorized on another property. For purposes of this section, limited road frontage is less than 15 feet of frontage, unless the Zoning Administrator rules otherwise as to a specific property.

(7) No sign shall be located on a property that is not being offered for sale or lease without the express permission of the person having authority to grant such permission for the property on which the sign is located. For purposes of this section, if the permission of the property owner has not been given in writing, it shall be presumed that no permission was given.

(8) Between the hours of 12:00 noon on Saturday and sunset on Sunday, signs advertising property for sale or lease may be placed in a road right-of-way owned by the county whether the right-of-way is owned in fee or otherwise, subject to the rights of the owners of the underlying fee, if any. Signs that are placed in a county road right-of-way may have two sides (or faces), and each sign face may have an area of no larger than four square feet, and the top of the sign may be no higher from the ground than three feet. If a sign is placed in a county right-of-way, no object may be placed on the sign that extends above the top of the sign or extends the width of the sign to more than two feet.

(9) Notwithstanding any provision herein to the contrary, no sign shall be located in any place where its location constitutes a condition adverse to traffic safety. Such signs may be removed at any time, and the company and agent of the company so locating the sign shall be liable for any damage that is caused as a result of the sign’s location, and each shall be in violation of this chapter and liable to the county for the cost of removing a sign located on property in violation of this chapter. The Bureau of Roads Operations, or its successor agency, is hereby authorized to establish areas in which signs are prohibited in any county right-of-way.

(10) Notwithstanding any provision herein to the contrary, signs shall not be placed in the traveled portion of any highway or on the shoulder of any highway.

(11) Signs shall not be attached to utility poles, trees, fences, or other signs.

(E) Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, temporary real estate signs which offer for sale or lease properties comprised of five lawfully recorded lots may have a sign face area of no larger than 100 square feet per sign face;

(F) Building contractors and professional persons temporary signs on buildings under construction, limited to a total area for all such signs of 150 square feet;

(G) Directional signs, intended to move traffic, direct the flow of traffic, or manage a specific activity on the site; and signs that warn of construction activity either on site or in the immediate vicinity. These signs may not include advertising; and

(H) Political signs and signs on the inside of store windows are exempt from regulation hereunder.

(Ord. 2019-07, passed 12-12-2019)

§ 158.112 SIGNS REQUIRING ZONING CERTIFICATE.

The following signs are permitted in accordance with zoning district regulations and require a zoning certificate:

(A) Signs, business; and

(B) Signs, outdoor advertising.

(Ord. 2019-07, passed 12-12-2019)

§ 158.113 GENERAL REGULATIONS.

All signs shall be subject to the following general provisions:

(A) No sign shall be permitted which is an imitation of or which resembles an official control device, railroad sign, or signal, or which hides from view or interferes with the effectiveness of an official traffic

control device or any railroad sign, signal, or traffic sight lines. Illuminated signs shall be constructed to avoid glare or reflection on any portion of an adjacent highway or residential buildings. However, no flashing or rotating flashing illumination shall be permitted.

(B) No sign which uses the word “stop” or “danger,” or presents or implies the need or requirement of stopping or the existence of danger shall be displayed.

(C) No sign shall be permitted which contains statements, words, or pictures of an obscene indecent, or immoral character, or such as will offend public morals or decency.

(D) No sign shall be placed on rocks, trees, or poles maintained by public utilities.

(E) No sign shall be permitted which becomes unsafe or endangers the safety of a building, premises, or person, and unless maintained in a good general condition and in a reasonable state of repair, the Zoning Administrator shall order such sign to be made safe or repaired, and such order shall be complied with within five days of the receipt of such order.

(F) No sign shall be located on the right-of-way for any road.

(Ord. 2019-07, passed 12-12-2019)

§ 158.114 USE-ON-THE-PREMISES SIGNS.

Business signs pertaining to use-on-the-premises, as an accessory use in all districts, provided that the following provisions are adhered to:

(A) No such sign shall project over or into any street right-of-way or more than four feet above the parapet wall or roofline.

(B) Any sign which is attached to the ground shall be located in such a manner that traffic visibility is not impaired.

(C) The total area of all signs shall not exceed four times each linear foot of the building wall being used as a tenant front. Only one building frontage shall be used in computing the sign area allowance, except on a corner lot, in which case an additional 25% of the sign area allowed may be authorized. In no case shall the area of any one sign exceed 200 square feet on any one side. Computations of signs shall include all sides (where applicable) including the entire face of the sign and any wall work incidental to its decoration and shall include the space between letter figures and designs or the space within letter figures and designs.

(D) No exterior sign shall exceed 30 feet in total height, as measured from the adjacent public road, if freestanding. Only one freestanding sign is permitted, except if located in a PCC, Business Park, Industrial Park, or Business/Industrial Park.

(1) PCC, Business Park, or Industrial Park fronting on more than one street may erect one additional sign not exceeding 200 square feet in area containing the names of the PCC or Park, or establishments located therein, that may be placed in any location within the boundaries of the project within the required yard area along each street.

(2) or each interior business in a PCC, Business Park, Industrial Park, or Business/Industrial Park, signs may be permitted not to exceed an area four square feet for each linear foot of store frontage and located in accordance with a signage plan approved by the Planning Commission.

(E) No business sign shall obstruct the vision of motorists using entranceways, driveways, or any public road intersection.

(F) A sign must be set back from a public road right-of-way line by at least five feet. No freestanding sign shall be located closer than 20 feet to a side property line or five feet to a front property line.

(G) Temporary signs located on the premises of a business which advertise special events of the business, such as grand openings, anniversaries, holiday sales, or other unique occasions of limited duration, subject to all distance, yard, and setback requirements and subject to the following limitations:

(1) Area. The sign shall be no larger than 36 square feet per side and shall have no more than two sides. If temporary single faced signs are used, no more than two temporary single faced signs may be used.

(2) Time limit. The sign may not be located at the business for longer than 30 days prior to the special event. The Zoning Administrator shall prohibit the use of temporary signs if it appears that the use is intended to avoid the restrictions on permanent signs. Temporary signs may be used no more than twice per calendar year.

(3) Anchoring. The sign must be anchored to the ground or to a permanent structure to prevent it from being moved by force of nature.

(4) Signs on wheels. Signs on wheels are prohibited, as are signs designed to be affixed to a wheeled chassis but which have either been removed from the chassis or have never been so attached.

(5) Approval. Prior to using the sign, a person shall have been issued a zoning certificate and must obtain the approval of the Zoning Administrator, who shall review the request to determine if the sign constitutes a potential hazard to health, safety, or welfare; or whether the use of the sign is for a truly temporary purpose rather than for a purpose that would require additional regulation under other provisions of this chapter.

(6) May be allowed. The Zoning Administrator may allow the use of pennants, banners, streamers, tethered balloons, or inflatables.

(H) Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, the total area of all signs on the premises of a fuel station shall not exceed 200 square feet, except as authorized in division (C). Canopy signage at a fuel station may not exceed 36 square feet at each face.

(I) In the Employment Campus District, the following provisions shall also be adhered to:

(1) Sign locations shall be permitted as follows for each building:

(a) One freestanding sign at a point near the parking or building entrance; and

(b) A building-mounted tenant identification system for each tenant.

(2) The following are prohibited:

(a) Flashing or moving signs;

(b) Exposed neon signs; and

(Ord. 2019-07, passed 12-12-2019; Ord. 2022-20, passed 11-3-2022)

§ 158.115 USE-OFF-THE-PREMISES SIGNS.

(A) Outdoor advertising signs pertaining to use off the premises may be permitted in the Commercial and Industrial Districts, except as further restricted.

(B) Outdoor advertising signs shall be subject to the following restrictions:

(1) A maximum height of ten feet, measured from the grade of the adjacent roadway including any extensions or cutouts or the grade of the sign location, whichever is greater;

(2) A maximum sign area of 32 square feet. Side-by-side signs shall be subject to this maximum of 32 square feet, and back-to-back signs may have 32 square feet for each side;

(3) A minimum setback of ten feet;

(4) A minimum of 300 feet between outdoor advertising signs located in a Business District and 800 feet between outdoor advertising signs located in an Industrial District. In the case of existing dual-lane highways, each side of such dual-lane highway shall be considered separately in determining

such spacing requirement. In the case of single-lane highways, spacing shall be determined and measured between signs regardless of the side of the highway on which they are located or proposed;

(5) A minimum of 300 feet from an intersection on the following major highways, State Routes 26, 30, 140, and 97 from 26 and 140; and 100 feet from any other intersection; provided, however, that outdoor advertising signs may be affixed to or located directly adjacent to a building at intersections in such a manner as not to materially cause any greater obstruction of vision than caused by the building itself. The distance from an intersection shall be measured from the centerline of an intersecting street; and

(6) Prior to issuance of a zoning certificate for an outdoor advertising sign, the Zoning Administrator or the Administrator’s designee shall conduct an informal conference on the zoning certificate application to allow for public notice and comment. The Zoning Administrator or the Administrator’s designee shall allow all persons who are present at the conference an opportunity to be heard concerning the application.

(a) Prior to the informal conference, the Zoning Administrator shall cause the property to be posted with notice of the pendency of the application and cause the adjoining property owners to be notified of the application by first class mail. The notice shall contain the date, time, and place of the conference.

(b) Within 15 days of the conference, the Zoning Administrator shall decide whether to issue the zoning certificate or issue a written denial.

(c) The Zoning Administrator shall not issue the zoning certificate if to do so would violate the spirit and intent of this chapter, or cause or be likely to cause substantial injury to the public health, safety, and general welfare. The Zoning Administrator shall be guided in making this decision by the considerations set forth in § 158.133(G).

(C) Unless lawfully removed by county or state action, legal nonconforming signs may continue to be used, the copy may be changed, and such signs may be rebuilt or replaced; provided, however, that notwithstanding the provisions of § 158.033, such nonconforming signs may not be enlarged in height or area beyond that which existed on August 18, 2003. All nonconforming signs shall be registered with the Zoning Administrator by completing a registration application, including but not limited to: the location of the sign including distances from all property boundaries and roadways; the height, size and dimensions of the sign; the building materials that the sign is constructed of; an affidavit of the property owner; and an affidavit of the lessee of the property and/or developer of the sign.

(D) Conversion of existing outdoor advertising signs.

(1) Signs located in the C-1, C-2, C-3, I-1, and I-2 Zoning Districts may be changed to an electronic message or Trivision outdoor advertising sign provided that any such sign converted shall meet the following standards:

(a) Each electronic message outdoor advertising sign must have a light sensing device that will adjust brightness as the ambient light changes.

(b) Each message on the sign must be displayed for a minimum of ten seconds.

(d) All electronic message outdoor advertising signs must be equipped with automatic dimming-capability that adjusts the luminance of the displayed information based on ambient light conditions so as to not exceed 0.3 foot candles above ambient light, as measured using a foot candle meter at a pre-set distance as listed. Signs up to 300 square feet of area to be measured at a distance of 150 feet; signs greater than 300 square feet shall be measured at a distance of 250 feet. A written certification from the sign manufacturer that the light intensity of the sign display will be pre-set to conform to the brightness levels established by this code shall be required prior to approval.

(2) Prior to issuance of a zoning certificate for an outdoor advertising sign to be converted to an electronic message outdoor advertising sign in the commercial Districts, the Zoning Administrator shall conduct a Zoning Administrator’s hearing in accordance with § 158.030(G) and (H), on the zoning certificate application to allow for public notice and comment. The Zoning Administrator shall allow all persons who are present at the hearing an opportunity to be heard concerning the application.

(a) Prior to the hearing, the Zoning Administrator shall cause the property to be posted with notice of the pendency of the application and cause the adjoining property owners to be notified of the application by first-class mail. The notice shall contain the date, time, and place of the conference.

(b) Within 15 days of the hearing, the Zoning Administrator shall decide whether to issue the zoning certificate or issue a written denial.

(d) The provisions of § 158.115(D)(1)(a) through (D)(1)(d) herein shall apply.

(E) Hampstead Route 30 Bypass.

(1) Notwithstanding the restrictions set forth in divisions (B) and (C) above, no outdoor advertising sign shall be located within 1,000 feet of the public road right-of-way along either side of the Hampstead Route 30 Bypass measured from the closest part of the proposed outdoor advertising sign located to the closest area of the right-of-way.

(2) All outdoor advertising signs erected under this provision shall conform to all front, rear and side yard setbacks and lot area requirements for die zoning district in which they are constructed. Variances to the 1,000-foot distance requirement in division (E)(1) above may not be obtained.

(3) No outdoor advertising signs shall be located within 1,000 feet of another outdoor advertising sign if on the same side of the Hampstead Route 30 Bypass. The distance shall be measured along a straight line between the nearest point of the existing outdoor advertising sign and the nearest point of the proposed outdoor advertising.

(4) The restrictions set forth in this section shall not apply to use-on-premises signs.

(Ord. 2019-07, passed 12-12-2019; Ord. 2022-03, passed 12-16-2021)