Mathews County Unincorporated
City Zoning Code
City Zoning Code
ARTICLE 13
Sign Regulations
§ 175-13.1 Intent.
The following sign regulations are established to assure compatibility of exterior signs with surrounding land usage, to enhance the economy of the County, to protect the public investment in streets and highways, to promote the safety and recreational value of public travel, to protect the historic, rural and natural beauty of the County, and to promote the reasonable, orderly and effective display of outdoor advertising.
§ 175-13.2 Conformance with applicable codes and ordinances.
All signs shall be installed in conformance with the provisions of this article, and other applicable provisions of this chapter. Where there is conflict between the provisions of this article and other applicable provisions of this chapter, the most restrictive shall govern.
§ 175-13.3 Definitions.
As used in this article, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
Any display of any letters, words, numerals, figures, devices, emblems, pictures, or any parts or combinations thereof by any means whereby the same are made visible for the purpose of making anything known, whether such display be made on, attached to, or as a part of a structure, surface, or any other thing, including, but not limited to, the ground, any rock, tree, or other natural object, which display is visible beyond the boundaries of the parcel of land on which same is located. A display of less than one square foot in area is excluded from this definition.
Any sign or part of a sign that changes physical position or light intensity by any movement or rotation or that gives the visual impression of such movement or rotation.
A sign that is mounted, painted, or attached to an awning or other window or door canopy.
Any sign made of fabric or any non-rigid material with no enclosing framework.
A sign which directs attention to a product, commodity, or service available on the premises.
A sign (one end of which may be pointed, or on which an arrow may be painted, indicating the direction to which attention is called) giving the name and approximate location only of the firm or business responsible for the erection of same.
Any sign supported by an upright structural member or by braces on or in the ground and not attached to a building.
A sign which directs attention to a product, commodity, or service not necessarily conducted, sold, or offered upon the same lot where such sign is located.
A sign which is used for the introduction, promotion, or announcement of a new business, store, shopping center, office, or the announcement, introduction, or promotion of a new establishment.
A sign directing attention to a product, commodity, or service available on the premises, but which product, commodity, or service is clearly a secondary use of the dwelling.
A sign which carries only the name of the firm, the major enterprise, or the principal product offered for sale on the premises, or a combination of these.
Any sign illuminated by electricity, gas, or other artificial light, including reflecting or phosphorescent light.
A freestanding sign supported primarily by an internal structural framework or integrated into landscaping or other solid structural features other than support poles.
A sign which directs attention to a business, commodity, service or establishment conducted, sold or offered at a location other than the premises on which the sign is erected.
A freestanding or building-mounted sign bearing a message which is not appurtenant to the use of the property where the sign is located, and which does not identify the place of business where the sign is located as the purveyor of merchandise or service upon the sign. Such signs may also be referred to as billboards or poster panels.
Any sign not permanently attached to the ground or other permanent structure, or a sign designed to be transported, including signs attached to or painted on vehicles parked and visible from the public right-of-way, unless such vehicle is used in the normal day-to-day operations of the business and is currently licensed by the state with a valid inspection decal displayed.
Any sign which projects from the exterior of a building.
A sign erected wholly upon or over the roof of a structure.
A sign erected either on the edge of the roof or on top of the parapet wall, whichever forms the top line of the building silhouette and, where a building has several roof levels, this roof or parapet shall be the one belonging to that portion of the building on whose wall the sign is located.
Any sign not permanently attached to a structure nor permanently mounted in the ground which can be transported to other locations. Such signs may include, but not be limited to, paper or poster signs, portable signs, sandwich board signs, or other movable signs announcing or advertising weekly specials, real estate, or special services offered by a business establishment, seasonal, or brief activities or the like.
A sign affixed directly to or painted on or otherwise inscribed on an exterior wall or parapet and confined within the limits thereof, of any building and which projects from that surface less than 12 inches at all points.
A sign painted, stenciled, or affixed on a window, which is visible from a right-of-way.
§ 175-13.4 General regulations.
The following regulations apply generally to all signs and are in addition to the regulations contained elsewhere in this chapter.
A.
Sign permit required. No sign, unless herein exempted, shall be erected, constructed, posted, altered, painted, or relocated except as provided in this article and in these regulations, until a zoning permit has been approved and issued by the Mathews County Department of Planning and Zoning. All signs which are electrically illuminated shall require a separate electrical permit approved and issued by the building official.
(1)
Before any permit is granted for the erection of a sign, plans and specifications shall be filed with the Department of Planning and Zoning showing the dimensions, type of materials and the details of construction including anchorage, illumination, colors and wording or graphics.
B.
Signs prohibited in all districts. The following signs are prohibited in all zoning districts.
(1)
Any sign that violates any provision of any law of the state or federal government relative to outdoor advertising.
(2)
Any sign that violates any provision of the Uniform State-wide Building Code.
(3)
Any sign which advertises an activity, business, product, or service no longer conducted or sold on the premises upon which the sign is located.
(4)
Any sign that uses the word "stop" or "danger" or which a copy or imitation is of or which for any reason is likely to be confused with any sign displayed by a public authority.
(5)
Any sign of which all or any part is in motion by any means, including fluttering, rotating, or other moving signs set in motion by movement of the atmosphere. This shall not apply to the hands of a clock or a weathervane.
(6)
Any sign that contains or consists of pennants, ribbons, streamers, strings of light bulbs, spinners, or other similarly moving devices.
(7)
Any sign, except official notices and advertisements, which is nailed, tacked, posted, placed or in any other manner attached to any utility pole or structure for supporting wire, cable, or pipe, or to any tree on any street or sidewalk.
(8)
Any sign placed in any public right-of-way except publicly owned signs, such as traffic control signs and directional signs.
(9)
Any sign attached to a chimney, tower, tank, or structure of like kind which extends above the district height limits.
(10)
Any sign located above the roofline of a building.
(11)
Any sign attached to, or placed on, a vehicle or trailer parked on public or private property, except for signs displayed on vehicles that are decals, magnetic signs or painted on vehicles used in the daily function of the business to which such signs relate.
(12)
Any luminous tube (neon or xenon) sign external to a building.
C.
Exempt signs. The following signs are exempted from the provisions of these regulations and may be erected, constructed or altered without a permit.
(1)
Official traffic signs, warning signs, rezoning, conditional use, and the like, when required to be erected by a governmental agency, and temporary signs indicating danger.
(2)
Commemorative plaques and historical markers erected by a recognized historical agency or governmental body.
(3)
Address or identification sign, indicating the address and/or names of occupants of the premises, not exceeding four square feet in area.
(4)
Flags, emblems and insignia of any governmental agency or religious, charitable, public or nonprofit organization; provided, however, that no single flag shall exceed 50 square feet in area and no single zoning lot shall display more than three such flags.
(5)
Handicapped parking space signs.
(6)
Security and warning signs posted on private property warning the public against trespassing, hunting, fishing or similar messages, provided that any such sign does not exceed four square feet in area.
(7)
Political campaign signs on private property up to a maximum of 32 square feet in area.
(8)
Real estate signs advertising the sale, rental, or lease of the premises, or part of the premises on which the signs are displayed. The total aggregate sign area shall not exceed 32 square feet. No real estate sign shall exceed a height of six feet. One such sign is permitted per parcel.
(9)
Construction signs not to exceed one per road frontage. The total area of all such signs shall not exceed 12 square feet and are limited to a maximum height of six feet. Such signs shall be removed within 14 days following completion of the project.
(10)
Freestanding, ground-mounted or monument signs, not exceeding a total of 40 square feet in area for the identification of a subdivision or planned development, if located at the entrance to the subdivision or planned development. No subdivision or planned development sign shall exceed a height of six feet.
(11)
Signs which are within a ball park or other similar private recreational use.
D.
Determining sign area.
(1)
Measurement. The sign area shall be measured as the area of a sign face within the smallest area that encompasses the limits of the letters, figures, designs, devices, pictures, projected images, symbols, fixtures, logos, emblems or insignias, or any part of combination thereof, together with any materials or colors forming an integral part of the background of the sign face or used to differentiate the sign from the backdrop or structure against which it is placed. Whenever a double-faced or V-shaped sign contains lettering or other advertising information on both sides, one side only shall be used in computing the surface area of the sign.
(2)
Area not included. The sign area shall not include any supporting framework, bracing or decorative fence or wall when such feature otherwise complies with the regulations and is clearly incidental to the sign itself.
E.
Determining sign height. The sign height shall be measured as the vertical distance from the normal grade directly below the sign to the highest point of the sign or sign structure, whichever is higher, and shall include the sign base.
F.
Determining structure frontage. The structure frontage shall be measured to calculate the permitted wall/building-mounted signage as provided herein.
(1)
Measurement. The structure frontage is the horizontal length of the outside structure wall of the establishment adjacent to a right-of-way.
G.
Illumination.
(1)
The light from any illuminated sign shall not cause direct glare into or upon any building or property other than the building or property to which the sign may be related.
(2)
No sign shall display flashing or intermittent lights, or other lights of changing degrees of intensity, brightness or color, except a sign indicating time or temperature, which changes alteration on not less than a five-second cycle when such time or temperature sign does not constitute a public hazard, in the judgment of the Zoning Administrator.
(3)
No colored lights shall be used at any location or in any manner so as to be confused with, or constituted as, traffic-control devices.
(4)
Neither the direct nor reflected light from primary light sources shall create a traffic hazard to operators of motor vehicles on public thoroughfares.
H.
Projections. No projecting sign shall be erected or maintained from a building more than four feet, measured perpendicularly from the building.
I.
Setback requirements. Freestanding, ground-mounted or monument signs shall be subject to a ten-foot side yard setback and shall be set back from all rights-of-way according to the following sign height and minimum setback requirements:
Sign Height (feet) | Minimum Setback (feet) | |
|---|---|---|
Less than 6 | 5 | |
6 to 10 | 10 | |
Greater than 10 | 15 |
J.
Removal of signs. The Zoning Administrator may order the removal of any sign erected or maintained in violation of this chapter. He shall give 30 days' notice in writing to the owner of such sign or of the building, structure, or premises on which such sign is located to remove the sign or to bring it into compliance. Failure to comply shall constitute grounds for the Zoning Administrator to have the sign removed at cost to the owner.
K.
Abandoned signs. A sign shall be removed by the owner or lessee of the premises upon which the sign is located when the business which it advertises is no longer on the premises. If the owner or lessee fails to remove it, the Zoning Administrator shall give the owner 30 days' notice in writing to remove such sign. Failure to comply shall constitute grounds for the Zoning Administrator to have the sign removed at cost to the owner.
L.
Structural requirements. All signs shall meet the structural requirements for same as set forth in the Uniform State-wide Building Code.
§ 175-13.5 Signs permitted by district.
A.
Signs permitted in the Conservation (C) District, Rural (RU) District, and Residential Districts (R-1) and (R-2).
(1)
The following signs shall be permitted in the Conservation (C) District, Rural (RU) District and Residential Districts (R-1) and (R-2):
(a)
One freestanding home occupation sign limited to eight square feet in area and eight feet in height.
(b)
For permitted commercial/recreational/public/institutional/religious uses, the total sign area for building-mounted (wall or facade) signs on buildings shall not exceed in the aggregate one square foot of sign area for each linear foot of building frontage. No such sign area shall be required to be less than 20 square feet, nor shall it exceed 60 square feet.
(c)
Projecting signs, provided that such signs shall not exceed eight square feet in area and shall not project more than four feet from the building front.
(d)
In addition to building-mounted signs, freestanding (post or pedestal) signs shall be permitted for structures that are set back from a right-of-way. The area permitted for freestanding signs shall be in addition to that permitted for building-mounted signs. Freestanding (post and pedestal) signs shall not exceed 40 square feet in area and shall not extend higher than 20 feet. No more than one freestanding sign shall be permitted for each building, unless otherwise specified. No freestanding sign shall project beyond any property line.
(e)
In place of a freestanding sign, a ground-mounted or monument sign shall be permitted. The area permitted for a ground-mounted or monument sign shall not exceed 40 square feet in area and shall not extend higher than six feet.
(f)
Temporary grand opening signs shall be permitted, provided that such signs shall not be displayed more than 30 days and no such sign shall exceed 25 square feet in area. A permit is required.
(g)
Temporary signs advertising special sales shall be permitted, provided that such signs shall not be displayed more than 30 days and no such sign shall exceed 25 square feet in area. A permit is required.
(h)
Directional signs limited to two square feet in area each, no limit on number.
B.
Signs permitted in Business Districts (B-1) and (B-2) and Industrial District (I).
(1)
The following signs shall be permitted in Business Districts (B-1) and (B-2) and Industrial District (I):
(a)
One freestanding home occupation sign limited to eight square feet in area and eight feet in height.
(b)
For permitted commercial/recreational/public/institutional/religious uses, the total sign area for building-mounted (wall or facade) signs on buildings housing one tenant shall not exceed in the aggregate one square foot of sign area for each linear foot of building frontage. No such sign area shall be required to be less than 20 square feet, nor shall it exceed 80 square feet.
(c)
On lots containing buildings housing more than one tenant, sign area for building-mounted (wall or facade) signs for each tenant shall not exceed in the aggregate one square foot for each linear foot of building frontage occupied by that tenant. No such sign area shall be required to be less than 20 square feet, nor shall it exceed 80 square feet.
(d)
Projecting signs, provided that such signs shall not exceed eight square feet in area and shall not project more than four feet from the building front.
(e)
In addition to building-mounted signs, freestanding (post or pedestal) signs shall be permitted for structures that are set back from a right-of-way. The area permitted for freestanding signs shall be in addition to that permitted for building-mounted signs. Freestanding (post or pedestal) signs shall not exceed 40 square feet in area and shall not extend higher than 20 feet. No more than one freestanding sign shall be permitted for each building, unless otherwise specified. No freestanding sign shall project beyond any property line.
(f)
No more than one freestanding (post or pedestal) sign shall be permitted for a multiple tenant complex or shopping center, limited in area to 60 square feet, and shall not extend higher than 20 feet. Such sign shall indicate only the name of the multiple tenant complex/shopping center and/or a business use or a combination of business uses within the complex/shopping center. No other freestanding (post or pedestal) sign shall be permitted. No freestanding (post or pedestal) sign shall project beyond any property line.
(g)
In place of a freestanding sign, a ground-mounted or monument sign shall be permitted. The sign area permitted for a ground-mounted or monument sign shall not exceed 60 square feet and shall not extend higher than six feet.
(h)
Temporary grand opening signs shall be permitted, provided that such sings shall not be displayed more than 30 days and no such sign shall exceed 25 square feet in area. A permit is required.
(i)
Temporary signs advertising special sales shall be permitted, provided that such signs shall not be displayed more than 30 days and no such sign shall exceed 25 square feet in area. A permit is required.
(j)
Directional signs limited to two square feet in area each, no limit on number.
(k)
Window signs shall be permitted, provided that the aggregate area of all such signs shall not exceed 25% of the window area on which such signs are displayed.
(l)
Luminous tube signs (neon, xenon, etc.) shall be permitted on the interior of storefront windows, provided that the aggregate sign area of all such signs does not exceed four square feet.
(m)
Signs on awnings, provided that such signs shall be limited to the drop leaf and letters shall not exceed 10 inches in height.
(n)
Roof signs, provided that such signs shall not project above the roof line.
§ 175-13.6 Off-premises signs.
Off-premises signs for businesses other than home occupations shall be permitted by the Zoning Administrator in accordance with the following criteria:
A.
Signs are permitted only if a business is not visible from a state primary or secondary road.
B.
Signs shall be limited to the following information: business name and/or logo, business function(s), operating hours, location and route directions.
C.
No more than two non-illuminated signs will be permitted and such signs shall be constructed of wood with nonreflective painted surfaces.
D.
Signs on primary roads shall be no larger than 32 square feet in area and signs on secondary roads shall be no larger than 16 square feet in area.
E.
Businesses with access to a primary road shall not have signs located on a secondary road. Businesses with access to a secondary road shall have no more than one sign located on a primary road but may have both permitted signs on secondary roads only.
F.
Signs will be permitted only on properties zoned B-1, B-2 or I along those state routes leading to a business.
§ 175-13.7 Nonconforming signs.
No nonconforming sign shall be enlarged nor be worded so as to advertise or identify any use other than that in effect at the time it became a nonconforming sign.
A.
Signs lawfully existing on the effective date of this article or prior ordinances, which do not conform to the provisions of this article, and signs which are accessory to a nonconforming use shall be deemed to be nonconforming signs and may remain except as qualified below. Such signs shall not be enlarged, extended or structurally reconstructed or altered in any manner, except a sign face may be changed so long as the new face is equal to or reduced in height and/or sign area. The burden of establishing nonconforming status of signs and of the physical characteristics/location of such signs shall be that of the owner of the property. Such nonconforming signs shall comply with the requirements of Article 16, relating to nonconforming uses.
B.
Nothing in this section shall be deemed to prevent keeping in good repair a nonconforming sign; provided, however, that no nonconforming sign which has been declared by the Zoning Administrator to be unsafe because of its physical condition, as provided for in this chapter, shall be repaired, rebuilt or restored unless such repair or restoration will result in a sign which conforms to all applicable regulations.
C.
No nonconforming sign shall be moved for any distance on the same lot or to any other lot unless such change in location will make the sign conform to the provisions of this article.
D.
If a nonconforming sign is destroyed, demolished, or removed due to any reason, it shall not be replaced without complying with all provisions of this article.
E.
A nonconforming sign which is changed to or replaced by a conforming sign shall no longer be deemed nonconforming, and thereafter such sign shall be in accordance with the provisions of this article.