Marietta City Zoning Code
ARTICLE VI
Signage
§ 370-601 General regulations for all signs.
A.
Signs must be constructed of durable material and maintained in good condition.
B.
No sign shall be maintained within the Borough in such a state of disrepair so as to have the appearance of complete neglect, which is rotting or falling down, which is illegible, or has loose parts separated from original fastenings.
C.
Whenever a sign becomes structurally unsafe, or endangers the safety of the building or premise, or endangers the public safety, the Zoning Officer shall give written notice to the landowner and/or developer of the land on which the sign is located that such sign be made safe or removed within five days.
D.
Advertising painted upon or displayed upon a barn or other building or structure shall be regarded as a flat wall sign, and the regulations pertaining thereto shall apply.
E.
Each sign shall be removed when the circumstances leading to its erection no longer apply.
F.
Signs may be interior lighted with nonglaring lights or may be illuminated by floodlights or spotlights that are shielded so there shall be no direct light transmitted to other lots or public rights-of-way.
G.
No sign shall be of the intermittent flashing or rotating type.
H.
No sign located within 300 feet of any traffic light shall be illuminated with red, green, or yellow lights or neon tubing.
I.
All electrically illuminated signs shall be constructed to the standards of the National Board of Fire Underwriters.
J.
Signs must be positioned so that they shall not interfere with any clear sight triangle.
K.
Determination of size.
(1)
The area of a sign shall be construed to include all lettering, wording, and accompanying designs and symbols, together with the background, whether open or enclosed, on which they are displayed, including any border framing or decorative attachments, but not including any supporting framework or bracing incidental to the display itself. Where the sign consists of individual letters or symbols attached to a building, wall or window, the area of the sign shall be considered to be that of the smallest rectangle or other regular geometric shape which encompasses all the letters and symbols.
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(2)
Where a sign has two or more faces, the area of all faces shall be included in determining the area of the sign; provided, however, that for a double-face sign if the interior angle formed by the two faces of the double-face sign is less than 45° and the two faces are at no point more than three feet from one another, the area of only the large face shall be included.
L.
No loud, vulgar, indecent, or obscene advertising matter shall be displayed in any manner nor any other graphic illustration pertaining to specified sexual activities and/or specified anatomical areas.
M.
No sign shall be erected or located so as to prevent free ingress or egress from any window, door, or fire escape.
N.
No sign shall be placed in such a position that it will obscure light or air from a building, or which would create a traffic danger.
O.
No sign located within a floodplain as identified by Borough ordinance shall exceed six square feet of area per side.
P.
In the event that a symbol, trademark, or other such figure is used as a sign post or standard which could be construed to indicate or identify a particular use or business, that symbol, trademark, or figure is to be computed as part of the total allowable sign area.
§ 370-602 Permits.
All signs requiring permits as per the tables of § 370-603, shall require the obtainment of a permit prior to the erection or installation of the sign.
A.
Application for permit shall be made in writing to the Zoning Officer and shall contain all information necessary for such Officer to determine whether the proposed sign, or the proposed alterations, conform to all the requirements of this chapter.
B.
All applications for sign permits shall be accompanied by scaled plans or diagrams showing the following:
(1)
Exact dimensions of the lot, including any right-of-way lines or building upon which the sign is proposed to be erected.
(2)
Exact size, dimensions and location of the said sign on the lot or building, together with its type, construction, materials to be used, and the manner of installation.
(3)
Any other lawful information which may be required of the applicant by the Zoning Officer.
C.
No sign permit shall be issued, except in conformity with the regulations of this chapter, except upon order of the Zoning Hearing Board, granted pursuant to the procedures established for the issuance of a variance.
D.
Permits shall be granted or refused within 15 days from date of application, or within 15 days from the date of the Zoning Hearing Board's decision (where applicable).