Centerburg City Zoning Code
CHAPTER 1117
Signs
1117.01 PURPOSE.
It is the purpose of this chapter to establish reasonable regulations which preserve the public health, safety, convenience, comfort, prosperity and general welfare of the public, while protecting each person's constitutional right to freedom of speech, as indicated by the following objectives:
(a) To prohibit signs which pose an unreasonable risk to the public safety;
(b) To limit the visual dominance of signs without unconstitutionally restricting the information conveyed;
(c) To preserve the noncommercial character of residential neighborhoods and to provide reasonable, yet appropriate conditions, for identifying businesses and services rendered in nonresidential districts;
(d) To control the design of signs so that their appearance shall be aesthetically harmonious with an overall urban design for the area;
(e) To promote traffic safety by preventing obstructions within public rights-of-way, minimizing visual distractions to motorists, ensuring that sign size and height are appropriate to their location and preventing conflicts with public safety signs and police and fire protection; and
(f) To allow for more desirable developments and economic activity in accordance with the objectives of adopted village plans.
The Village does not intend to infringe on the rights of free speech as protected by the First Amendment to the United States Constitution and Article I, §11 of the Ohio Constitution. All regulations in this chapter are to be construed, whenever necessary to preserve the purpose and intent, in a manner consistent with the First Amendment guarantee of free speech.
(Ord. 2023-16. Passed 6-5-23.)
1117.02 APPLICABILITY.
(a) It shall hereafter be unlawful for any person to erect, place, relocate, expand, modify, maintain or otherwise alter a sign in the Village except in accordance with the provisions of this chapter.
(b) Unless otherwise provided, this chapter shall apply to any sign over which the Village has authority to regulate. Additionally, this chapter shall apply to any sign, in any zoning district, that is visible from the public right-of-way or from property other than the property on which the sign is located.
(c) Any sign already established on the effective date of this chapter or future amendment thereto, and which sign is rendered nonconforming by the provisions herein, shall be subject to the nonconforming sign regulations of Section 1117.10.
(d) All signs shall require the issuance of a zoning certificate unless otherwise noted below or as specifically stated in other sections of this chapter.
(e) Zoning Certificate Exemptions. The following signs are subject to the requirements of this chapter and are allowed in all districts but do not require a zoning certificate.
(1) Signs and/or notices issued by any court, officer or other person in performance of a public duty. Any such sign shall be removed no later than seven days after the last day it is required to be displayed;
(2) Signs that are an integral part of the original construction of vending or similar machines, fuel pumps, automated teller machines, or similar devices that are not of a size or design as to be visible from a street or by any person other than those using the machine or device;
(3) Any sign that is located completely inside a building and that is not visible from the exterior (See also the definition of "window sign".);
(4) Signs that are located within a stadium, open-air theater, park, arena or other outdoor use that are not intended to be visible from a public right-of-way or adjacent property, and can be viewed only by persons within such stadium, open-air theater, park, arena or other outdoor use;
(6) Sign face changes where the sign structure is designed with interchangeable panels and where such sign panel change does not alter the sign structure;
(7) Changes of sign copy on signs with changeable copy (e.g., reader boards and electronic message centers);
(8) A single wall sign, mounted flush on the facade of an individual dwelling unit, that is not illuminated and does not exceed two (2) square feet in area;
(9) Any sign on a truck, bus or other vehicle that is used in the normal course of a business (e.g., deliveries or fleet vehicles for contractors), for transportation (See also Section 1117.03 for prohibitions on signs on vehicles.), or signage required by the State or Federal government;
(10) Signs installed or required by a governmental agency including the Village of Centerburg, Knox County, the State of Ohio, and the United States, including local and regional transit agencies;
(11) Any warning signs or traffic safety signs required by public entities;
(12) Hand-held signs not set on or affixed to the ground;
(13) Address numbers required by the Village of Centerburg, the Central Ohio Joint Fire District, or the U.S. Post Office with the following standards:
A. The numerical address of the building shall be provided in Arabic numbers not less than four inches in height.
B. The color of the numbers shall contrast to the color of the surface on which they are mounted and the numbers shall be clearly visible from the street on which the building is numbered.
C. The numbers shall be placed on the front of the building facing the street on which the building is numbered.
D. For buildings not having entrance doors facing the street on which the buildings are numbered, numbers of all units within such building shall be placed either on the wall of the building facing the street on which the building is numbered or on a sign in compliance with this chapter.
E. The owner of any building may post additional sets of address numbers provided that one set complies with the provision of this section.
(14) Any signs, including illuminated signs, or related decorations erected in observance of religious, national or state holidays which are not intended to be permanent in nature and which contain no advertising material and which are not erected for more than ninety (90) days in any calendar year; and
(15) General maintenance, painting, repainting, cleaning and other normal maintenance and repair of a sign or any sign structure unless a structural change is made.
(Ord. 2023-16. Passed 6-5-23.)
1117.03 PROHIBITED SIGN TYPES.
The following types of signs are specifically prohibited within the Village:
(a) Unless otherwise specifically allowed, signs that are applied to trees, utility poles, benches, trash receptacles, fences or walls, newspaper vending machines or boxes, or any other unapproved supporting structure, or that are otherwise placed in the public right-of-way;
(b) Any sign or sign structure which, in the opinion of the Zoning Administrator is structurally unsafe, or constitutes a hazard to safety or health by reason of inadequate maintenance, dilapidation, or abandonment;
(c) No sign shall be installed, erected, or attached in any shape, manner, or form to block any fire escape or any door or window that is required ingress and egress for fire safety;
(d) Pennants, streamers and other similar type devices;
(e) Signs that employ any parts or elements which revolve, rotate, whirl, spin or otherwise make use of motion or flashing lights to attract attention, except for electronic message centers permitted in accordance with this chapter;
(f) Balloon signs or gaseous-activated devices or graphics unless erected in observance of religious, national or state holidays as allowed in Section 1117.02(e)(14), above;
(g) Laser lights, beacons and searchlights, except for emergency purposes;
(h) Motor vehicles, tractor trailers, or similar vehicles with signs painted on, attached to, supported by, or otherwise affixed to the vehicle shall not be parked or stored for a time period exceed forty-eight (48) hours;
(i) Any signs that utilize illumination by means of bare bulbs, flames, or both;
(j) Any signs which imitate or resemble official traffic or governmental signs that are designed or used in a manner as to interfere with, mislead, or confuse drivers along streets;
(l) Any sign located in a public right-of-way, except as specifically provided for in the chapter;
(m) Roof signs;
(n) Any other sign type that is not specifically allowed by this chapter.
(Ord. 2023-16. Passed 6-5-23.)
1117.04 CALCULATION AND MEASUREMENTS.
(a) Sign Setback. All required setbacks for signs shall be measured as the distance in feet from the applicable lot line, or other stated point of measurement, to the closest point on the sign structure.
(b) Sign Height.
(1) The height of a sign shall be computed as the distance from the base of the sign at the finished grade to the top of the highest attached component of the sign.
(3) In cases where the finished grade at the required setback is below grade at street level, sign height shall be computed on the assumption that the elevation of the finished grade at the base of the sign is equal to the elevation of the nearest point of the crown of a public or private street. See Figure 1117-A.
Figure 1117-A: Illustration of the measurement of sign height when the grade at the bottom of the sign is below the grade of the adjacent street.
(c) Sign Area. The surface of a sign to be included when computing maximum allowable square footage of sign area shall be calculated as established in this section.
(1) The calculation of sign area shall not include any supporting framework, bracing or decorative fence or landscaping wall unless such structural support is determined to constitute an integral part of the sign design by means of text or other message, as determined by the Zoning Administrator. See Figure 1117-B.
(2) For sign copy mounted or painted on a background panel, cabinet or surface that is distinctively painted, textured, lighted or constructed to serve as the background for the sign copy, the sign area shall be computed by enclosing such sign area with the smallest, single continuous perimeter around the background for the sign copy and determining its area. See Figure 1117-B and Figure 1117-C.
Figure 1117-B: Illustration of sign area calculation for a freestanding sign with a copy on a distinct, rectangular cabinet. The brick structural support is not included in the sign area calculation.
Figure 1117-C: Illustration of computing the sign area for wall signs with a background panel or cabinet.
(3) For sign copy where individual letters or elements are mounted on a building facade or window where there is no background panel, cabinet or surface that is distinctively painted, textured, lighted or constructed to serve as the background for the sign copy, the sign area shall be computed by enclosing such sign area with the smallest, single continuous perimeter that encloses all of the letters or elements associated with the sign. See Figure 1117-D.
Figure 1117-D: Illustration of sign area calculation for wall signs with individual letters and no definable sign background.
(4) In cases where there are multiple elements of sign copy on the same surface, any areas of sign copy that are within two (2) feet of one another shall be calculated as a single sign area that shall be computed by means of the smallest permitted shape that encloses all sign copy within two (2) feet of one another, otherwise the sign area shall be computed for each separate piece of sign copy. See Figure 1117-E.
Figure 1117-E: Illustration of sign area calculations for multiple sign areas on a window sign.
(5) When two identically sized, flat sign faces are placed back-to-back or in a V-angle (less than forty-five (45) degrees between sign faces) and with no more than twenty-four (24) inches in separation, the sign area shall be computed by the measurement of one of the sign faces.
(6) For three-dimensional signs that have more than two (2) faces or have two (2) faces that are separated by more than twenty-four (24) inches, the sign shall be measured as the total sign area of the two (2) largest sign faces.
(7) For structures and uses having no direct frontage on public roads, or lot widths that are wider than the street frontage (e.g., shopping centers with outlots), where street frontage is used in a calculation, the frontage shall be measured along a straight line that runs parallel with the street frontage at the widest point of the lot. This measurement shall be regardless of the presence of driveway entrances to the lot or the presence of smaller outlots in front of the applicable lot. See Figure 1117-F.
(8) Where a building is located across multiple lots under the same ownership, the lot width shall be measured as an aggregate of the lot widths of all lots and only one freestanding sign shall be permitted on each street frontage, regardless of the number of lots. See Figure 1117-F.
Figure 1117-F: The above image illustrates different methods of measuring lot width when calculating the amount of freestanding sign area permitted on a lot.
(d) Facade Measurements.
(1) When calculating the permitted sign area based on the width of any facade, such calculation shall be based on viewing the facade from a ninety (90)-degree angle (i.e., straight on) from the adjacent street, regardless of facade insets, offsets or angles. See Figure 1117-G.
Figure 1117-G: Illustration of facade width measurement on varied facade shapes.
(2) For multi-tenant buildings, the portion of a building that is owned or leased, and approved by the Central Ohio Joint Fire District for occupancy by a single occupant or tenant shall be considered a building unit for the purposes of this chapter. See Figure 1117-H.
Figure 1117-H: The above image shows independent buildings (1 and 4) as well as a multi-tenant building in between. The multi-tenant building has two building units as identified as 2 and 3 in the image.
(3) The primary facade shall include any facade that has frontage along a street and any facade that serves as the main access point to a building or building unit. All other facades shall be considered to be secondary facades for the purposes of this chapter provided such facades do not face a residential zoning district. See Figure 1117-I.
Figure 1117-I: Examples of the location of primary and secondary facades.
(4) When a site has primary and secondary facades as defined herein, the Zoning Administrator shall determine which facades shall be the primary building facades and which facades shall be the secondary building facades, as may be applicable.
(Ord. 2023-16. Passed 6-5-23.)
1117.05 GENERAL REGULATIONS.
Unless otherwise specifically stated, the following regulations shall apply to all signs within the Village:
(a) All signs shall be professionally manufactured, or of equivalent quality. Permanent signs shall be fabricated with rigid materials that are of good quality and good durability.
(b) No sign or sign structure shall be placed on private or public property without the consent of the owner or agent thereof.
(c) The lowest component of all signs that project (or are supported on posts that project) shall not be less than eight feet above the finished grade of a sidewalk or any other pedestrian way. If located over a pavement used for vehicular traffic, the lowest component of the sign shall not be less than eighteen (18) feet above the finished pavement.
(d) Signs shall be anchored to prevent any lateral movement that would cause wear on supporting members or connections.
(e) All signs shall be subject to the intersection visibility standards established in Section 1111.04.
(f) The back side of all permanent signs that do not contain a second sign face or structural supports shall be completely enclosed.
(g) Maintenance. All signs shall be maintained in accordance with the following:
(1) The property owner, occupant, or other person responsible for the sign shall maintain the sign in a condition fit for the intended use and they shall have a continuing obligation to
(2) The Zoning Administrator may order any sign to be painted or refurbished whenever needed to keep the sign in a neat and safe condition. All supporters, guys, braces and anchors for such signs shall be maintained in a safe condition.
(3) Failure to maintain a sign in good working condition shall be a violation of this code.
(h) Signs in Rights-of-Way.
(1) Signs shall be prohibited in the right-of-way with the exception of:
A. Signs installed by the Village of Centerburg, Knox County, the State of Ohio, federal government, or public transit agencies;
B. Any warning signs or traffic safety signs required by public entities; or
(2) The Zoning Administrator may remove or cause to be removed any unlawful sign in the public right-of-way. The Zoning Administrator shall maintain said sign for five (5) days. If the owner fails to contact the Zoning Administrator or claim the same sign within five days, said sign may be destroyed.
(i) Manual changeable copy signs shall be permitted on freestanding signs only. Manual changeable copy signs shall comprise no more than one-third (33.3%) of the total area of the sign per side or ten (10) square feet per side, whichever is more, and shall be an integral part of the sign. In residential districts, manual changeable copy signs shall not be internally illuminated. Where permitted to be illuminated, such signs shall be illuminated only between 6:00 a.m. and 11:00 p.m.
(j) Illumination.
(1) Unless otherwise specifically stated, signs may be illuminated through internal or external lighting sources.
(2) Light sources shall be shielded from all adjacent buildings and streets and shall be focused exclusively on the sign.
(3) Lights shall not be of such brightness so as to cause glare that is hazardous to pedestrians or motorists, or will cause unreasonable reasonable light trespass upon adjacent residential districts.
(4) Where an illuminated sign is allowed and such illumination is provided by solar power, any solar panels that are a part of the sign structure shall have a maximum size of two (2) square feet.
(5) An illuminated sign or lighting device shall employ only light of constant intensity.
(6) Where electronic message centers are allowed, such signs shall be in compliance with the following standards:
A. General.
i. Not more than one electronic message center shall be permitted on a lot, provided such lot must have a minimum of 250 feet of frontage located on a state route within the Village that is designated as a forty-five (45) miles per hour speed limit zone or greater speed limit.
ii. An electronic message center shall only be allowed on monument signs.
iii. The electronic message center portion of the sign shall not be larger than ninety percent (90%) of the total sign area allowed for the monument sign on the applicable lot based on the standards of this chapter.
B. Copy (Lettering).
i. Copy (lettering) shall be limited to red letters on a black background.
ii. Letters shall not be smaller than four (4) inches nor greater than eight (8) inches in height. Letters shall be of an appropriate width proportionate to height to be clearly legible.
iii. Each electronic message center will not display more than four (4) rows of text at any time.
C. Brightness.
i. The maximum luminance shall not exceed 5,000 nits between sunrise and sunset.
ii. Except when prohibited to operate as set forth in Paragraph 1117.05(j)(6)C.iii, the electronic message center shall automatically adjust luminance to a maximum of 250 nits from sunset to sunrise.
iii. Where a residential dwelling is located within thirty (30) meters (98.42 feet) of the electronic message center face, and for all electronic message centers on lots zoned P-I, the electronic message center must be turned off between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 5:30 a.m. Where a business located on the lot is open to the public past 10:00 p.m., the electronic message center may remain functional until the close of business hours. An application should provide evidence to demonstrate no conflict will occur with any adjacent residential development.
D. Message Timing.
i. Each message shall appear static for a minimum of ten (10) seconds ("dwell time").
ii. Transition Time
a) If a fade or dissolve effect is used, the effect will take no more than three seconds to complete transition.
b) If a fade or dissolve effect is not used, the electronic message center will not display a blank screen between messages for more than one second before the next message appears.
E. Permitted Effects. The electronic message center may use the following effects:
i. Dissolve: an effect accomplished by varying the light intensity and pattern an effect in which one message gradually appears to dissipate and lose the legibility with the gradual appearance and legibility of the second message.
ii. Fade: an effect accomplished by varying the light intensity, where a message is gradually reduced in intensity to the point of not being legible followed by a subsequent message which gradually increases intensity to the point of legibility.
F. Prohibited Effects. The electronic message center shall not use the following effects:
i. Flashing: exhibiting changing light or color effect by any means to provide intermittent illumination that changes light intensity in sudden transitory bursts and creates the illusion of intermittent flashing light by streaming, graphic bursts showing movement, or any mode of lighting which resembles zooming, twinkling or sparkling (except dissolve or fade).
ii. Spinning or rotating;
iii. Interactive display;
iv. Sequencing: An effect where a message is not completed in one display, and is continued on a subsequent display.
v. Scroll: an effect in which a message appears to move vertically across the display surface.
vi. Travel: an effect in which a message appears to move horizontally across the display surface.
vii. Video: the display of photographic image in sequence.
G. Operating Regulations.
i. The owner of the electronic message center shall regularly perform maintenance on the electronic message center to ensure each component and part operates as designed. If more than ten percent (10%) of the components are not functional, the owner will cease operating the electronic message center until it is repaired and fully functioning.
ii. The owner of the electronic message center shall use reasonable means to control and secure access to the electronic message center programming and message capabilities to ensure that those messages approved to appropriate owner personnel are displayed.
iii. At no time will the owner of the electronic message center permit the electronic message center to constitute a nuisance which would include but not be limited to being inoperable, malfunctioning, abandoned, etc., to neighboring property owners or the community, or to be a hazard to traffic safety. While operating the electronic message center outside these guidelines will be a nuisance and/or hazard, it is not yet known whether a nuisance or hazard may result from the operation within these guidelines. Once the electronic message center is operational, if the Village determines that their operation constitutes a nuisance or hazard, the owner will coordinate with the Village to mitigate and resolve the nuisance or hazard.
iv. In the case of malfunction, the electronic message center shall contain a default design to freeze the sign message in one position.
(Ord. 2023-16. Passed 6-5-23.)
1117.06 SIGNS PERMITTED IN PD DISTRICTS.
(a) All development in a PD District shall be subject to the standards of this chapter unless otherwise modified through the PD review and approval process. In general:
(1) Single-family residential uses and public and institutional uses in a PD shall comply with the sign requirements of the R-1 District.
(2) Multi-family residential uses in a PD shall comply with the sign requirements of the R-3 District.
(3) Commercial and office uses in a PD shall comply with the sign requirements of the CC District.
(4) Industrial uses in a PD shall comply with the sign requirements of the ID District.
(b) This section shall apply to both permanent and temporary signs.
(Ord. 2023-16. Passed 6-5-23.)
1117.07 PERMANENT SIGNS IN RESIDENTIAL DISTRICTS.
The following are permanent signs allowed in the ER, R-1, R-2, and R-3 Districts:
(a) Entrance Signs. Two (2) wall signs or one permanent monument sign may be permitted for any subdivision or multi- family dwelling development with a minimum of twenty (20) lots or dwelling units provided that the sign meets the following requirements:
(1) General Standards.
A. Each sign may have a maximum sign area of twenty (20) square feet.
B. No such sign or any portion of the structure shall exceed six feet in height.
C. The sign may only be illuminated through an external light source.
(2) Monument Sign.
A. A maximum of one permanent monument sign may be permitted for each entrance to the subdivision or development on a collector or arterial street, as determined by the Zoning Administrator.
B. The sign shall be setback ten (10) feet from the public right-of-way.
C. If an applicant proposes to use monument signs, no wall signs, as allowed in Subsection 1117.07(a)(3), below shall be permitted.
(3) Wall Signs on Entry Fences, Landscaping Walls, or Features.
A. A maximum of two wall signs may be permitted for each entrance to the subdivision or development on a collector or arterial street, as determined by the Zoning Administrator.
B. The signs shall be mounted to a decorative landscaping wall, fence, or architectural feature adjacent to the entrance street.
C. The placement of wall signs on architectural features shall only be permitted if such architectural feature is approved as part of a PD or a subdivision plat. See Figure 1117-J. As part of such approval, the Planning Commission may authorize the wall sign to be mounted above six (6) feet in height but in no case shall the wall sign be mounted to exceed the height of the architectural feature.
Figure 1117-J: Example of an architectural feature at the entrance of a subdivision.
D. Each sign shall be setback ten (10) feet from the public right-of-way.
E. If an applicant proposes to use wall signs, no monument sign, as allowed in Subsection 1117.07(a)(2), above, shall be permitted.
(b) Flags. No more than two flags located on flagpoles or on wall-mounted posts are permitted on any lot provided that the following shall apply:
(1) No more than one flag pole is permitted on any lot.
(2) The maximum height of flag poles shall not exceed the maximum building height for structures in the subject zoning district, and a maximum area of forty (40) square feet for any individual flag attached to the pole.
(3) For flags affixed to a building, the maximum projection of the post shall be six feet and a maximum area of fifteen (15) square feet per flag. Such flags may project into the right-of-way provided they maintain a clearance of eight (8) feet from the bottom of the flag to the sidewalk surface and they do not encroach into the area of the right-of-way paved for streets.
(4) No zoning certificate shall be required for the use of flags.
(c) Signs for Certain Nonresidential Uses in Residential Districts. The following signs shall be permitted on a lot that contains a principal use under the public, institutional, and recreational use classification in Table 1105-2 or for a skilled nursing or personal care facility in a residential district:
(1) One permanent monument sign may be permitted on a lot containing a use approved as a conditional use provided the sign meets the following requirements:
A. The sign shall be set back ten (10) feet from the public right-of-way.
B. The maximum sign area shall be twenty-four (24) square feet.
C. No such sign or any portion of the structure shall exceed six feet in height.
(2) Buildings signs shall be permitted on a lot containing a use approved as a conditional use provided the signs meet the same requirements for building signs in the P-I District in Section 1117.08(b).
(Ord. 2023-16. Passed 6-5-23.)
1117.08 SIGNS IN NONRESIDENTIAL DISTRICTS.
The following are permanent signs allowed in the CC, VC, RO, ID, and P-I Districts:
(a) Freestanding Signs. All freestanding signs in nonresidential district shall be monument signs that meet the following requirements:
(1) A freestanding sign may be either a monument sign or pole sign unless otherwise specifically stated.
(2) Where a pole sign is proposed, the pole supporting the sign shall not exceed two feet in height and shall be surrounded by landscaping to screen the view of the pole.
(3) Only one freestanding sign shall be permitted along each street frontage.
(4) The monument sign shall be set back minimum of ten (10) feet from the right-of-way and fifteen (15) feet from any adjacent lot lines.
(5) No freestanding signs are permitted in the VC District.
(6) The maximum sign height and sign area shall be as established in Table 1117-1.
TABLE 1117-1: FREESTANDING SIGN ALLOWANCES | ||
District | Maximum Sign Height | Maximum Sign Area |
CC | 8 feet | One square foot per lineal foot of street frontage or 40 square feet, whichever is less. |
RO | 6 feet | One square foot per four lineal feet of street frontage or 12 square feet, whichever is less. |
ID | 8 feet | One square foot per four lineal feet of street frontage or 30 square feet, whichever is less. |
P-I | 6 feet | 24 square feet |
(7) Freestanding signs may include manual changeable copy signs or electronic message centers as regulated by this chapter.
(8) Where a freestanding sign serves a multi-tenant building, it shall be the responsibility of the property owner to determine the messaging on the sign.
(9) Exposed sign foundations shall be constructed with a finished material such as brick, stone or wood.
(b) Building Signs. Except for the wall sign permitted in Section 1117.02(e), building signs shall not be permitted in residential districts unless accessory to an approved conditional use. In all other districts, building signs are permitted on principal structures in accordance with the following:
(1) The building sign area allowed in this section shall include the total amount of all wall, canopy, awning, projecting, and permanent window signs on each facade wall. Standards for each individual building sign type are established in this section.
(2) For the purposes of this code, wall, canopy, awning, projecting, and permanent window signs are all considered sub-types of building signs.
(3) Building signs shall not extend above the top of the roofline of the building to which it is attached. For canopy signs, the signs may be attached above the canopy, which is attached permanently to the building, provided that the sign does not extend above the top of the roofline of the building.
(4) Building signs may not be attached to mechanical equipment or roof screening.
(5) Building signs shall not include electronic message centers or manual changeable copy signs except on a canopy sign.
(6) Building Sign Allowance.
A. There is no maximum number of permitted building signs.
B. Where there is a building sign allowance for a primary facade, such building sign area shall only be attached to the primary facade.
C. Where there is a secondary facade, as determined in Section 1117.04(d), any building sign area allowed for the secondary facade shall be attached to the applicable secondary facade.
D. The building sign allowance shall be calculated for each building unit separately, as follows:
i. 1.0 square feet of sign area per lineal foot of primary facade width of each building unit. The total cumulative sign area of all primary facade building signs shall not exceed the amount established in Table 1117-2.
ii. 0.5 square feet of sign area per lineal foot of secondary facade width of each building unit. The total cumulative sign area of all secondary facade building signs shall not exceed the amount established in Table 1117-2.
iii. The maximum amount of primary facade and secondary facade building sign area allowances shall be as established in Table 1117-2.
TABLE 1117-2: MAXIMUM BUILDING SIGN AREA | ||
District | Maximum Primary Facade Building Sign Area per Building Unit | Maximum Secondary Facade Building Sign Area per Building Unit |
CC | 150 square feet | 75 square feet |
VC | 15 square feet on the first floor and five square feet on the second floor | 15 square feet on the first floor and five square feet on the second floor |
RO | 15 square feet | 15 square feet |
ID | 100 square feet | 50 square feet |
P-I | 50 square feet | 25 square feet |
(7) Wall Sign Standards. Any wall sign shall comply with the following standards:
A. Wall signs shall be mounted on or flush with a facade wall and shall not project more than eighteen (18) inches from the facade wall or face of the building to which it is attached.
B. A wall sign may be mounted on the facade wall or mounted on a raceway or wireway.
C. No wall sign shall extend any closer than twelve (12) inches to either the top or side edges of the surface or facade wall to which it is attached. No wall sign shall cover or obscure any facade wall opening.
D. No wall sign shall extend above the parapet of the main building to which it is attached, nor beyond the vertical limits of such building.
E. Wall signs may be internally or externally illuminated except when attached to a facade that faces a residential zoning district, in which case the illumination of the wall sign is prohibited.
F. The wall sign allowance may be used for signs attached to roofed structures over fueling stations or to stand-alone accessory structure such as Automated Teller Machines (ATMS) or detached accessory buildings.
(8) Canopy or Awning Sign Standards. Any canopy or awning sign shall comply with the following standards:
A. Signage shall not cover more than twenty-four (24) square feet of any individual awning or canopy.
B. Canopies or awnings should not extend more than thirty-six (36) inches from the facade.
C. Signage may be mounted above any canopy that extends over a customer entrance provided that the maximum sign height over the canopy shall be eighteen (18) inches as measured from the top of the canopy to the top of the sign.
D. Only the area of the sign may be illuminated internally on a canopy or awning. The remainder of any canopy or awning shall not be illuminated or may be illuminated by an external source such as gooseneck lighting.
(9) Projecting Sign Standards. Any projecting sign shall comply with the following standards:
A. Only one projecting sign shall be permitted for each tenant of building space.
B. A projecting sign shall be perpendicular to the facade wall of the building to which it is attached and shall not extend more than four (4) feet from the facade wall to which it is attached.
C. Projecting signs shall maintain a minimum six-inch clearance from the facade of any building.
D. Decorative supporting structures for projecting signs are encouraged and shall not count toward the maximum square footage of signs allowed, however, in no case shall the supporting structure exceed six (6) square feet.
E. The maximum sign area for a projecting sign shall be twenty-four (24) square feet.
F. Projecting signs must be suspended from brackets or other supports approved by the building official and contain no exposed guy wires or turnbuckles.
G . Projecting signs shall not encroach into any right-of-way.
(10) Permanent Window Signs. Permanent window signs are permitted without a zoning certificate provided they comply with the following standards:
A. Window signs are prohibited in residential zoning districts with the exception that temporary signs may be placed in windows in accordance with Section 1117.09.
B. Window signs shall not contain flashing or blinking lights, or any type of actual perceived motion.
C. Window signs shall not occupy more than twenty-five percent (25%) of the window area in the VC and RO Districts and fifty percent (50%) in the window area of all other nonresidential districts. The sign area is based on the total window area, regardless of the presence of an awning, canopy, or other overhanging feature. Window areas separated by piers, architectural elements, or similar features that are not glass or window framing or support shall be considered separate and distinct window areas. See Figure 1117-K.
Figure 1117-K: The window area is illustrated within the dashed line area for the two storefronts in the above image. The dashed lines highlight two separate window areas due to the separation by an architectural feature not related to the windows.
(c) Drive-Through Facility Signs.
(1) Drive-through facility signs shall only be permitted in nonresidential zoning districts. Drive- through signs are prohibited in the VC District.
(2) One drive-through facility sign shall be allowed for each stacking lane in a drive-through facility provided the total aggregate sign area of all ground signs associated with each drive-through facility does not exceed seventy-two (72) square feet. In no case shall a single drive- through facility sign exceed thirty-six (36) square feet in sign area.
(3) Such signs shall be oriented so as to only be visible to occupants of vehicles in the stacking lanes of the drive-through facility.
(4) No drive-through facility sign under this section shall exceed six (6) feet in height measured from the grade of the adjacent driving surface to the top of the sign.
(5) Drive-through facility signs may be internally or externally illuminated. Up to one hundred percent (100%) of each sign may be an electronic message center if it complies with the following standards:
A. Any message change shall be a static, instant message change.
B. Only Light Emitting Diodes (LED) technology or similar quality signs shall be permitted for electronic message centers.
C. The electronic message center shall come equipped with an automatic dimming photocell, which automatically adjusts the display's brightness based on ambient light conditions.
D. The electronic message center shall be turned off during the hours when the related business is closed.
(6) Drive-through facility signs attached to a facade wall of building shall be calculated as part of the building signage allowance in Section 1117.08(b).
(7) The maximum sign areas of this section shall not apply where the drive-through facility sign is located in a manner that is not visible from a public right-of-way or from an adjacent residential lot, as determined by the Planning Commission during the site plan review process.
(d) Driveway Signs.
(1) Driveway signs shall only be permitted where the lot contains multiple uses.
(2) Driveway signs shall only be permitted near driveway entrances to a public street.
(3) A maximum of two (2) driveway signs are permitted per individual driveway.
(4) Driveway signs shall be located within thirty (30) feet of the right-of-way.
(5) Each driveway sign shall not exceed four square feet in area and thirty-six (36) inches in height.
(6) Driveway signs may be internally or externally illuminated.
(e) Flags. No more than two (2) flags located on flagpoles or on wall-mounted posts provided that the following shall apply:
(1) No more than one flag pole is permitted on any lot.
(2) The maximum height of flag poles shall not exceed the maximum building height for structures in the subject zoning district, and a maximum area of forty (40) square feet for any individual flag attached to the pole.
(3) For flags affixed to a building, the maximum projection of the post shall be six feet and a maximum area of fifteen (15) square feet per flag. Such flags may project into the right-of-way provided they maintain a clearance of eight (8) feet from the bottom of the flag to the sidewalk surface and they do not encroach into the area of the right-of-way paved for streets.
(4) No zoning certificate shall be required for the use of flags.
(Ord. 2023-16. Passed 6-5-23.)
1117.09 TEMPORARY SIGNS.
The following are the types of temporary signs allowed in the Village of Centerburg, including any applicable regulations for each type of sign.
(a) Standards Applicable to All Temporary Signs.
(1) Temporary signs shall not be mounted, attached, affixed, installed or otherwise secured in a manner that will make the sign a permanent sign.
(2) No temporary sign shall be mounted, attached, affixed, installed or otherwise secured so as to protrude above the roofline of a structure.
(3) All temporary signs shall be secured in such a manner as to prevent swinging or other significantly noticeable movement that could pose a danger to people, vehicles or structures.
(4) Unless otherwise specifically stated, temporary signs shall not be illuminated.
(5) No temporary sign shall require a foundation, or similar permanent support.
(6) Temporary signs shall not be affixed to any permanent sign or permanent structure except when a banner sign is permitted to cover a permanent sign in accordance with this section or when such sign is attached to the principal building as permitted in this chapter.
(7) No streamers, spinning, flashing, windblown devices or similarly moving devices shall be allowed as part of, or attachments to, temporary signs.
(8) Where a temporary sign is designed to have two sign faces (sidewalk signs or temporary yard signs), such sign faces shall be of the same size and mounted back-to-back. In the cases of an A-frame sidewalk sign, the sign faces shall be mounted back-to-back but may have an angular separation between faces to form the A-frame shape.
(9) For zoning certificate applications related to the establishment of a new use or change of use within an existing building, where there is existing permanent sign, a banner sign may be approved for up to sixty (60) consecutive days to cover the existing permanent signs. Such banner sign shall not exceed the sign area of the permanent sign and shall require a zoning certificate.
(10) Temporary signs shall be constructed of a material that is substantial enough to withstand typical winds and weather for the duration of the placement.
(11) Because of the nature of materials typically used to construct temporary signs and to avoid the unsightliness of deteriorating signs and all safety concerns which accompany such a condition, temporary signs shall be removed or replaced when such a sign is deteriorated.
(b) Temporary Sign Allowances. Table 1117-3 establishes the allowances for temporary signs in all zoning districts. All sign types are subject to the general provisions above and the sign-type standards that follow the table.
TABLE 1117-3: TEMPORARY SIGN ALLOWANCES | |||
Zoning Districts | Residential | Nonresidential | |
Time Limit | Unrestricted | Unrestricted | 30 Days per Quarter [1] |
Maximum Number or Area per Lot [2] | 3 Signs | 32 Square Feet | 20% of Permanent Building Signage Allowed or 50 Square Feet, Whichever is Less |
Maximum Sign Area per Sign [2] [3] | 16 Square Feet | 16 Square Feet | |
Maximum Height [3] | 4 Feet | 6 Feet | 6 Feet |
Permitted Sign Types | Banner, Window, or Yard | Banner, Sidewalk, or Yard | Feather, Banner, or Yard |
Zoning Certificate Required | No | No | Yes |
NOTES: [1]A quarter shall be defined as evenly timed quarter of the calendar year (January to March, April to June, July to September, and October to December). [2] The provisions of this requirement are as stated in the table unless otherwise allowed for in the applicable sign type standards below. [3] Maximum sign area and height are as established in the table unless otherwise modified in the sign type standards. | |||
(c) Sign Type Standards.
(1) Banner Signs.
A. Banner signs shall not be subject to the maximum height requirements of this section provided they are not attached above any roofline.
B. Banner signs can be affixed to a building but not to a fence.
C. Banner signs must be attached to the structure at each corner, point and/or end so as to prevent movement.
(2) Feather Signs.
A. Only one feather sign shall be permitted for any lot in a nonresidential district. If a lot has more than 100 feet of lot frontage along a public street, one additional feather sign shall be permitted at the same time as the initial feather sign.
B. The maximum height of a feather sign may exceed the maximum height in the temporary sign allowance table but in no case shall exceed ten (10) feet in height.
(3) Sidewalk Signs.
A. Only one sidewalk sign is allowed for each building unit.
B. The sidewalk sign shall be limited to an A-frame sidewalk sign or a T-frame sidewalk sign.
C. There shall be no time limitation for sidewalk signs with the exception that the sign shall only be placed outside during the hours of the establishment's operation.
D. Sidewalk signs shall not exceed six (6) square feet in area with a maximum height of four feet.
E. The sign shall not be placed on pavement used for vehicles (e.g., driveways and parking lots) unless being used for temporary traffic management.
F. When placed on a public or private sidewalk, the width and placement of the sign shall be such so that there shall be a minimum width of four (4) feet of clear and passable sidewalk or walkway for pedestrians.
G. The sign must be freestanding and shall not be affixed, anchored, or otherwise permanently secured to the ground or to any pole, parking meter, tree, tree grate, fire hydrant, or other structure.
H. The sign must not obstruct access to parking meters, bicycle racks and other features lawfully in the right-of-way.
I. The sign must not interfere with the opening of car doors in legal spaces, or with the operation of wheelchair lifts and ramps, cab stands, loading zones or bus stops.
J. The sign shall be internally weighted so that it is stable and windproof.
K. The Village of Centerburg shall be held harmless from any liability resulting from accident or injury caused by the placement and/or maintenance of such sign.
(4) Window Signs. Temporary window signs shall not be affixed permanently to the window unless allowed as permanent sign in Section 1117.08(b)(10).
(5) Yard Signs. Temporary yard signs are prohibited in the right-of-way and shall be set back a minimum of ten (10) feet from adjoining lot lines.
(Ord. 2023-16. Passed 6-5-23.)
1117.10 NONCONFORMING, ILLEGAL, AND UNSAFE SIGNS.
(a) Nonconforming Signs.
(1) Any sign that was lawfully in existence at the time of the effective date of this code, or amendment thereto, that does not conform to the provisions herein, shall be deemed a legal nonconforming sign and may remain on a lot of record except as qualified in this subsection. No legal nonconforming sign shall be enlarged, extended, structurally altered, or reconstructed in any manner, except as allowed for in this section, and the nonconforming structure regulations in Chapter 1121: Nonconformities, shall not apply.
(2) Legal nonconforming signs shall be maintained in good condition pursuant to Section 1117.05(g) and may continue until such sign is required to be removed as set forth in this chapter.
(3) A nonconforming sign shall immediately lose its nonconforming designation and must be brought into compliance with these regulations or be removed if:
A. The sign is structurally altered or replaced except when a sign is specifically designed and approved for changeable sign faces and such a sign face is changed, or when a message is changed on a changeable copy sign or electronic message center;
B. The sign is relocated, except signs that are required to be moved because of public right-of-way improvements;
C. The sign is a legally nonconforming temporary sign that is still in place more than one calendar year from the effective date of this code;
D. The sign is damaged to an extent of greater than fifty percent (50%) of the estimated replacement value;
E. The sign is not repaired within sixty (60) days after it is damaged or such sooner period as may be required if the damage presents an immediate hazard; or
F. The sign creates a hazard to vehicular or pedestrian traffic, or to adjoining properties.
(4) Nothing in this section shall relieve the owner or user of a nonconforming sign or owner of the property on which the nonconforming sign is located from compliance with the provisions of these regulations regarding safety, maintenance, and repair of signs, provided however, that any repainting, cleaning and other normal maintenance or repair of the sign or sign structure shall not modify the sign structure in any way.
(b) Illegal Signs.
(1) If any sign is installed, erected, constructed or maintained in violation of any provision of this chapter, except for nonconforming signs in compliance with Section 1117.10(a), above, the Zoning Administrator shall notify the owner of user thereof to comply with the provisions of this chapter in the same manner as Section 1123.06.
(2) If the owner or user fails to comply with such notice, and the owner has not requested an opinion as to the existence of the violation from the Planning Commission, or, after a reasonable search, cannot be found, the Zoning Administrator shall cause such graphic or such portion thereof as is constructed or maintained in violation of this chapter to be taken down; the expense of which shall be paid by the owner or user in accordance with Section 1117.10(d).
(3) Unless clearly specified otherwise, the property owner will be considered to be the presumptive owner of said sign. However, nothing herein contained shall prevent the Zoning Administrator, or his designee from adopting such precautionary measures as may seem to him necessary or advisable in case of imminent danger to place the graphic in safe condition, the expense of which shall be paid by the owner of the premises or recovered against him in the manner as further described in this section.
(4) Unattended signs on public property, including but not limited to parks and rights of way, that have not been placed by the Village, shall be considered abandoned, and shall therefore be illegal signs. These signs may be disposed of or destroyed without notice or compensation. Such disposal or destruction is not subject to appeal.
(c) Unsafe Signs.
(1) When the Zoning Administrator finds, upon investigation, that a sign is unsafe or unsound structurally, they shall notify the owner of said sign, together with the owner of the land on which the sign is located, by certified mail of their findings.
(2) Such notice shall advise the owner that the sign has been declared unsafe and/or structurally unsound and must be removed with ten (10) days for an unsafe or structurally unsound sign.
(3) The owner may request an opinion as to the existence of a violation from the Planning Commission as provided for in Section 1123.07. If an unsafe or structurally unsound sign is not removed as ordered and the owner has not requested an opinion as to the existence of the violation from the Planning Commission, the same may be removed at the expense of the lessee or owner after ten (10) days of notice for an unsafe or structurally unsound sign.
(4) If the Village is not immediately reimbursed for such costs, the amount thereof shall be certified to the County Auditor for collection as a special assessment against the property on which the sign is located.
(d) Fees for Sign Removal.
(1) Fees for removal shall be immediately due and payable to the Village of Centerburg. Notice of such assessment shall be given to the owner in the same manner as notice of violations in Section 1123.06.
(2) All assessments not paid within ten (10) days after such mailing and posting, after approval by Council, shall be certified by the Finance Director to the County Auditor to be placed on the tax duplicate and collected as other taxes are collected.
(3) The Village may also collect such costs together with interest through a civil action in the appropriate court of law having jurisdiction thereof and seek such additional orders from a court of competent jurisdiction as may be necessary from time to time in order to enforce the provisions of this section.
(4) Every owner or occupant of real estate in the Village impliedly grants a license to the Zoning Administrator, his designee or Village employees to enter upon real property in the Village without the consent of the owner or user for the purposes of fulfilling the provisions of this section.
(Ord. 2023-16. Passed 6-5-23.)