Signs have been previously defined as any means of identification, description, display, illustration, or graphic element affixed onto a building, or a visible contrivance, or structure in any shape or form, inside or outside of the building, intended for public display, the purpose of which is to advertise any product, service, place, activity, institution or business. The City of Cleveland allows a variety of sign types in different zoning districts. Repeated from definitions in Article 4 are the following types of signs:

1.

Banner Sign—Any sign intended to be hung either with or without frames possessing characters, letters, illustrations or ornamentations applied to paper, plastic, or fabric of any kind. National flags, flags of political subdivisions, and symbolic flags of any institution or business shall not be considered banner signs.

2.

Blade Sign—A small sign which is suspended from an overhang, canopy, marquee, or awning, or is suspended from a mounting attached directly to the building wall and hangs perpendicular to the building wall. An 8-foot clearance is required between a blade sign and the finished grade. Blade signs are typically seen in downtown areas and historic districts.

3.

Bench Sign—A sign located on any part of the surface of a bench or seat placed adjacent to a public right-of-way.

4.

Billboard Sign—A freestanding sign structure which advertises activities that do not take place on the site.

5.

Directory Sign—Any sign on which the names and indications of occupants or the use of the building or shopping center is given. This shall include office building and church directories.

6.

Freestanding Sign Structure—Any permanent sign structure not securely attached to the outside wall, roof, or window of any building. Also known as a ground or post sign.

7.

Illuminated Sign—Any sign illuminated in any manner by an artificial light source.

8.

Nonconforming Sign—Any sign which does not conform to the regulations of this section. All nonconforming signs may be allowed to remain as long as they are kept in good repair and not altered or changed.

9.

Projecting Sign—Any sign other than a wall sign affixed to any building or wall whose leading edge extends beyond such building or wall. A projecting sign may extend a maximum of six (6) feet outward from the wall at a minimum height of twelve (12) feet from ground level.

10.

Roof Sign—Any signs erected or constructed wholly upon and over the roof of any building and supported solely on the roof structure. This type of sign is prohibited in Cleveland.

11.

Subdivision Entrance Sign—A permanent ground mounted sign that identifies the name and entrance location of the subdivision.

12.

Temporary Sign—Any sign that is not permanently attached to the ground, building, or another structure by direct attachment to a rigid wall, frame, or structure. Window signs are considered a type of temporary signage.

13.

Wall Sign—Any sign painted on or permanently attached to and erected parallel to the face of the outside wall of any building which displays only one advertising surface.

14.

Window Sign—Any graphic element painted upon or in any manner affixed to a window facing the outside and which is intended to be seen from the exterior. Window signs must be located and attached on the inside of the window and must not obstruct public view for security reasons.

Permits and Inspection: A permit shall be required for the erection, alteration, or reconstruction of any sign unless otherwise noted.

All signs may be inspected periodically by the Department of Community Development for compliance with this Article.

The Department of Community Development shall give written notice for the removal of any permanent or temporary sign erected or maintained in violation of this Article. Upon failure to comply with this notice, the Department of Community Development shall take legal action to enforce compliance with this Ordinance. The Department of Community Development may remove any sign immediately and without notice if the sign presents an immediate threat to the safety of the public when such sign is located within any public street or highway right-of-way. Any sign removal shall be at the expense of the property owner.

Sign Construction and Maintenance: Signs must comply with all building and electrical codes under current City regulations and be constructed of durable materials, maintained in good condition, and not permitted to become dilapidated. Any sign or outdoor advertising not conforming to such codes shall not be repaired and shall be removed if the cost of such repair work exceeds fifty (50) percent of the original cost of said sign or outdoor advertising display.

Obstruction to Exits: No sign shall be erected so as to obstruct any fire escape, required exit, window, or door opening intended as a means of egress.

Obstruction to Ventilation: No sign shall be erected which interferes with any opening required for ventilation.

Obstruction to Visibility: Window signs should be kept to a minimum to prevent safety and security problems.

Clearance from Electrical Power Lines and Communications Lines: Signs shall maintain all clearances from electrical conductors in accordance with local codes.

Clearance from Surface and Underground Facilities: Signs and their supporting structures shall maintain clearance and noninterference with all surface and underground facilities and conduits for water, sewage, gas, electricity, or communications equipment or lines. Furthermore, placement shall not interfere with natural or artificial drainage or surface or underground water.

Sign Illumination: Illumination devices shall be so placed and so shielded that rays therefrom or from the sign itself will not be directly cast into any residential district or in the eyes of an automobile or vehicle driver, and the intensity of light will not be objectionable to any surrounding areas, as approved by the Department of Community Development.

Dimensional Requirements:

Height Limitations: No signs shall exceed the height limit of the district in which they are located or thirty-five (35) feet, whichever is lower.

Setback Requirements: No portion of any sign shall be located closer than five (5) feet from any street right-of-way line or property line, and shall not be located within any sight distance area for vehicular traffic safety.

Determination of Sign Area: The sign area is that area enclosed by one continuous line, connecting the extreme points or edges of all images, logos, symbols, letters, etc. The area shall be determined using the largest sign area visible at any one time from any one point. This area does not include the main supporting sign structures. On a two-sided sign, only one face is counted in computing the sign area.

The following signs are exempted from all requirements of this section.

1.

Flags and insignia of any government, except when displayed in connection with commercial promotion.

2.

Legal notices, identification information, historical markers, or directional signs erected by governmental bodies.

3.

Integral decorative, memorial, or architectural features of buildings, except trademarks.

4.

Signs directing and guiding traffic and parking on private property, but bearing no advertising matter, shall not exceed six (6) square feet in area and shall maintain the setback requirements as stated herein.

The following signs are permitted without permit but are to be placed no less than five (5) feet from the street right-of-way line.

1.

Signs advertising the sale, lease, or rental of the premises upon which the sign is located, shall not exceed four (4) square feet in area for residential districts or thirty-two (32) square feet in other districts and shall not be located within any public right-of-way.

2.

Professional name plates that shall not exceed two (2) square feet in area.

3.

Signs denoting the names and addresses of the occupants on the premises; these directory signs shall not exceed six (6) square feet in area.

4.

Signs denoting the architect, engineer, or contractor placed on premises where construction, repair, or renovation is in progress, which signs shall not exceed thirty-two (32) square feet in area and shall not be located within any public right-of-way.

5.

Signs containing political messages, but bearing no advertising matter, shall not exceed eight (8) square feet in area and shall not be allowed to be displayed prior to ninety (90) days before the primary, runoff, or general election, in which the candidate who displays the sign is running, and must be removed no later than seven (7) days following said primary, runoff, or general election. Such signs shall not be located on any public property or public right-of-way.

6.

Temporary signs bearing advertising matter provided that such signs do not create any visibility obstructions and meet the setback requirements as stated herein. No temporary signs shall be installed on any utility poles or traffic signs and shall be installed on the same property as the business being advertised.

The following types of signs are permitted in R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4, R-5, and R-6 Districts.

1.

Signs which are exempt or permitted without a permit as noted above.

2.

Subdivision Signs: The actual subdivision name (letters and spaces between letters) shall be limited to twenty-five (25) square feet on one side and in no case shall the total subdivision name exceed fifty (50) total square feet. The subdivision entrance sign shall be set back a minimum of ten (10) feet from the right-of-way on a lot that is part of the subdivision. Signs shall be a maximum of six (6) feet high as measured from surrounding grade.

3.

For multiple family dwellings (R-5), group dwellings, manufactured housing (R-6) and for buildings other than dwellings, signage will be permitted following review by the Board of Appeals but in no case will more than twenty-five (25) square feet of sign area be permitted.

1.

Signs which are exempt or permitted without a permit as noted above.

2.

On any occupied lot in the B-1 District, a maximum of two (2) permanent signs of any type having a total area of not more than fifty (50) square feet of sign area shall be permitted not withstanding any further restrictions of this section.

3.

In addition to the two (2) allowable permanent signs in this district, Convenience stores with gasoline pumps are allowed one (1) additional permanent price sign per street frontage. The permanent price sign shall have a maximum total sign area of sixteen (16) square feet which is not included in the overall signage total.

4.

In addition to all other signage, a maximum of one (1) freestanding sign not exceeding thirty-two (32) square feet which is not included in the overall signage total is permitted.

5.

No projecting signs shall be permitted in the B-1 District.

6.

No billboard signs shall be permitted in the B-1 District.

1.

Signs which are exempt or permitted without a permit as noted above.

2.

On any occupied lot in the B-2, B-2H, or X-1 District, a maximum of two (2) permanent signs having a maximum total area of one hundred (100) square feet shall be permitted, notwithstanding any further restrictions of this section.

3.

In addition to the two (2) allowable signs in the B-2 and X-1 districts, Automobile repair and Convenience stores with gasoline pumps are allowed one (1) additional permanent price sign per street frontage. The permanent price sign shall have a maximum total sign area of thirty-two (32) square feet which is not included in the overall signage total.

4.

In addition to all other signage in the B-2 and X-1 zoning districts, a maximum of one (1) freestanding sign not exceeding thirty-two (32) square feet which is not included in the overall signage total is permitted.

5.

No billboard signs shall be permitted in the B-2, B-2H, or X-1 Districts.

1.

Signs which are exempt or permitted without a permit as noted above.

2.

On any occupied zoning lot in the B-3, M-1, and M-2 Districts, a maximum of three (3) permanent signs of any type shall be permitted, notwithstanding any further restrictions of this section. The total sign area permitted in these districts is limited to one and one-half (1.5) square feet of signage for every linear foot of lot frontage with a maximum of three hundred (300) square feet for all signs. Where the linear feet of building frontage allows for more than three hundred (300) square feet of sign area, the Board of Appeals may approve additional sign area up to a maximum of five hundred (500) square feet.

3.

Commercial or industrial uses in these zoning districts may include a maximum of one (1) freestanding sign, not to exceed seventy five (75) square feet and not included in the overall signage total.

4.

In addition to the three (3) allowable signs in this district, Automobile repair and Convenience stores with gasoline pumps are allowed one (1) additional sign per street frontage which may be a permanent price sign. The permanent price sign shall have a maximum total sign area of thirty-two (32) square feet which is not included in the overall signage total.

5.

On any vacant lot in these zoning districts on which no business enterprise is located, one billboard sign structure having a total sign area not exceeding two hundred fifty (250) square feet is permitted. There shall not be more than one such sign per vacant lot or one such sign every one thousand (1,000) feet per linear foot of highway, whichever is more restrictive. The setback shall conform to the requirements of the zoning district.

1.

Signs Imitating Warning Signals. No sign shall display intermittent lights resembling the flashing lights customarily used in traffic signals or in police, construction, fire, ambulance, or rescue vehicles, or shall any sign use the words "stop", "danger", or any other word, phrase, symbol, or character in a manner that might mislead or confuse an automobile or other vehicle driver.

2.

Signs within the Street or Highway Right-of-Way. Except as herein provided, no sign whatsoever, whether temporary or permanent except traffic signs and signals and information signs erected by a public agency, is permitted within any street or highway right-of-way. Any sign installed or placed on public property shall be forfeited to the public and subject to confiscation.

3.

Certain Attached and Painted Signs. Signs painted on or attached to trees, fence posts, and telephone or other utility poles or signs painted on or attached to rocks or other natural features or painted on the roofs of buildings are prohibited.

4.

Roof Signs. Any signs erected or constructed wholly upon and over the roof of any building and supported solely on the roof structure are prohibited.

5.

Adult Oriented Signs. Any sign that depicts or describes "specified sexual activities" or "specified anatomical areas" shall not be permitted in locations where the sign messages can be seen or read from any public right of way or any adjacent property.

Continuance—Except has hereinafter specified, any nonconforming sign may be continued in operation and maintained after the effective date of this Ordinance provided, however, that no such sign or device shall be changed in any manner that increased the noncompliance of such signs or devices with the provisions of this Ordinance for the zoning district in which such sign or device is located.

Termination—Nonconforming signs that are not altered or changed and are kept in good repair may be allowed to exist until such time of disrepair, alteration, or change.