The purpose of this chapter is to promote and protect the public health, welfare, and safety through a comprehensive system of reasonable, effective, consistent, content-neutral, and non-discriminatory sign standards and requirements. This Chapter is intended to:

(A)

Encourage signs as an effective channel of communication while preventing visual clutter that will detract from the aesthetic character of the County;

(B)

Balance public and private objectives by allowing adequate opportunities for signs;

(C)

Protect and improve the local economy and quality of life by preserving and enhancing the appearance of the streetscape;

(D)

Maintain and enhance the County's appearance by regulating the location, number, type, quality of materials, size, illumination, and maintenance of signs;

(E)

Restrict signs that may create a nuisance to nearby properties, violate privacy, or create hazards or unreasonable distractions for pedestrians or drivers;

(F)

Provide clear and unambiguous sign standards that enable fair and consistent enforcement; and

(G)

Ensure that the constitutionally guaranteed right of free speech is protected.

(Ord. No. 4538, § 48(Exh. A), 9-10-2024)

(A)

Compliance and Permits. All signs within the regulatory scope of this Chapter shall conform to the provisions of this Chapter.

(B)

No person shall erect, place, display, or maintain any sign in violation of this Chapter.

(C)

Property owner's consent. No sign may be placed or displayed without consent of the property owner of the property upon which the sign is located.

(D)

All signs, banners, billboards, markers, and pennants shall comply with applicable federal, state, and local laws.

(E)

The regulations of this Chapter apply to all signs, including those that display commercial and non-commercial messages.

(F)

Lighting and illumination of displays.

(1)

Signs may be illuminated unless otherwise specified, provided such signs are so constructed that no light bulb, tube, filament or similar source of illumination is visible.

(2)

Signs making use of stroboscopic lights, rotary beacons, chasing or similar types of light to convey the effect of movement shall not be permitted, nor shall flashing, intermittent or variable intensity lighting be permitted. This restriction shall not apply to signs which convey information such as time, temperature, or weather.

(G)

Movement of signs. No sign shall move or revolve, nor display any moving and/or revolving parts. Wind propellers and other noise creating devices shall not be permitted.

(H)

Setback. Signs shall meet the rear and side yard setback requirements of the applicable zoning district. In addition to applicable setbacks, signs shall be located such that:

(1)

They do not interfere with safe sight distances for vehicular, bicycle, or pedestrian traffic;

(2)

They do not conflict with overhead utility lines, overhead lights, or walkway lights; or

(3)

They do not physically block the use of pedestrian or bicycle ways.

(4)

Visibility at street corners and driveways connecting with a public street shall be maintained as an area of unrestricted visibility as required by the County Department of Transportation.

(Ord. No. 4538, § 48(Exh. A), 9-10-2024)

The following standards shall apply to off-site, permanent signs:

(A)

Permitted Locations. Off-site signs may be placed on any property zoned Limited Industrial, General Industrial or General Commercial, except as prohibited below:

(1)

Within three hundred (300) feet of any residential zone having frontage on the same street;

(2)

Upon or over the right-of-way of any county, state, or federal road or highway.

(B)

Setbacks. All off-site signs shall conform to all setback requirements of the zone in which it is located.

(C)

Area. Off-site signs may be single-faced or double-faced with a maximum area of three hundred (300) square feet.

(D)

Height. No portion of an off-site freestanding sign or its supporting structures shall exceed thirty-five (35) feet in height. Building-mounted off-site signs shall conform with the standards for on-site roof signs and/or wall signs, as applicable.

(E)

Number. Only one (1) off-site sign shall be permitted per lot. No limit on the number of off-site signs per use is imposed by this Section.

(F)

Construction. Double-faced signs shall be so constructed that the area and perimeter of both faces coincide and are back-to-back in parallel planes at a distance not to exceed three (3) feet apart.

(G)

Off-site signs shall not count toward the maximum sign area for the parcel upon which they are located.

(H)

Permission of Owner. The owner of an off-site sign must obtain the written permission of the property owner upon which the sign is to be located.

(Ord. No. 4538, § 48(Exh. A), 9-10-2024)

In areas where street identification or house numbering systems do not exist or are inadequate to a degree as to make finding particular residences unduly difficult, signs intended solely to provide directional information to a particular residence are permitted.

Not more than three (3) single-faced or double-faced signs having an area not greater than two (2) square feet on each face may be permitted pertaining to any one (1) property or residence. Such signs shall be limited to the name of the owner or resident and directional information to the property or residence thereof.

(Ord. No. 4538, § 48(Exh. A), 9-10-2024)

Temporary (visible for less than ninety (90) days) signs may be constructed, placed and maintained in any location upon the granting of an Administrative Permit in accordance with Chapter 20.192 (Administrative Permits). Such temporary signs shall be subject to the following conditions:

(A)

Area. No sign shall exceed a total of thirty-two (32) square feet in area.

(B)

Number. The number of temporary signs per use or event shall be established by the Administrative Permit.

(C)

Height. No sign shall exceed the height limitation for the district in which it is located.

(D)

Time Limit. As specified by the Administrative Permit.

(E)

Permission of Owner. The owner of any on- or off-site temporary sign shall obtain the written permission of the property owner upon which the sign is to be located.

(F)

Location of Sign(s). As specified by the Administrative Permit.

(G)

Design and Materials. Off-site temporary signs shall not be illuminated. Signs shall be made of durable, weatherproof materials capable of lasting for the time the sign is displayed. Off-site temporary signs shall be designed to ensure that the sign faces are securely fastened to the supporting structure, and the supporting structure is securely fastened to the ground.

(Ord. No. 4538, § 48(Exh. A), 9-10-2024)

(A)

Permitted Locations. Except for signs specified in Section 20.184.035, 20.184.040, 20.156.015(C), 20.160.020(D) and 20.160.025(D) on-premise signs may be erected, constructed, placed, created by painting, structurally altered, relocated and maintained only in the locations specified:

(1)

All commercial and industrial zones.

(2)

On any lot upon which a commercial or industrial use type is a permitted use type.

(3)

On any lot in any zone where a legal nonconforming commercial or industrial use type exist.

(B)

Sign Types.

(1)

Wall Signs. Signs attached or painted onto a building or approved structure. Wall signs shall meet the following standards:

(a)

Not extend more than eighteen (18) inches from the wall thereof:

(b)

Extend no higher than the building roof line;

(c)

Not exceed one (1) square foot of sign area for each foot of street frontage, but in no case to exceed one hundred sixty (160) square feet. All sites shall be permitted twenty-five (25) square feet minimum wall signs.

(2)

Freestanding Signs. A sign detached from the main or accessory buildings, advertising uses on site. Freestanding signs shall meet the following standards:

(a)

Not project into a private or public right-of-way;

(b)

Extend no higher than twenty-five (25) feet;

(c)

Not exceed sixty-four (64) square feet;

(d)

The square footage of portable on-premise signs shall count towards the total square footage allowed for free-standing signs.

(3)

Roof Signs. Signs attached to a main building or accessory structure that project above the roof line. Roof signs shall meet the following standards:

(a)

Extend no higher than five (5) feet above the highest point of the roof on which located, or beyond the height limitations for the district in which it is located, whichever is the lesser;

(b)

Shall not extend beyond the exterior wall of the structure on which it is located;

(c)

Shall not exceed sixty-four (64) square feet in area.

(C)

Setbacks. All on-site signs shall conform to all setback requirements of the zone in which it is located.

(D)

Sign Area—Maximum. Except as permitted in Section 20.184.065, the total square-footage of all signs on a lot may not exceed one hundred twenty-eight (128) square feet; provided, however, in the absence of both freestanding signs and roof signs the maximum total sign area allowed may be increased to one hundred sixty (160) square feet.

(Ord. No. 4538, § 48(Exh. A), 9-10-2024)

The following signs are exempt from the regulations in this Chapter:

(A)

Directional, warning or informational signs required or authorized by law which are erected by Federal, State, County or Municipal officials;

(B)

Official notices issued by a court or public body or office and posted in the performance of a public duty;

(C)

Danger signs, railroad crossing signs and signs of public utility companies indicating danger and aids to service or safety;

(D)

House or building numbers;

(E)

Flags, emblems and insignia of a nation or political subdivision;

(F)

Commemorative signs or plaques of recognized historical organizations;

(G)

Signs on public transportation vehicles regulated by a political subdivision, including but not limited to buses and taxicabs;

(H)

Signs on licensed vehicles, provided such vehicles are not used or intended for use as portable signs;

(I)

Signs which are not intended to be viewed from public streets and are not legible therefrom nor from adjacent properties, such as signs in interior areas of shopping centers, commercial buildings and structures, ball parks, stadiums, race tracks and similar uses of a recreational or entertainment nature;

(J)

Changing the sign copy of a sign, or other maintenance which does not involve physical changes to a sign. Physical changes to the sign may require a building permit;

(K)

Murals, paintings, and works of art that are not intended to advertise or identify a business or product;

(L)

Signs required by State or Federal law, including state-required fuel price information at gas stations. In the case of gas station signs, the area devoted to price information shall not be counted toward the sign's overall area.

(Ord. No. 4538, § 48(Exh. A), 9-10-2024)

The following sign types are permitted subject to the regulations provided below for each specific sign type. Exceptions to the regulations provided in this Section may be granted with an Administrative Permit, as provided for in section 20.184.065. Said Administrative Permit shall be processed in accordance with Chapter 20.192.

(A)

"No Trespassing," and "No Parking" and similar warning signs shall not exceed four (4) square feet each;

(B)

Incidental signs showing trading stamps offered, credit cards accepted, notices of services required by law, trade affiliations, and the like, attached to a freestanding sign, structure or building; provided that all of the following conditions hold:

(1)

No more than four (4) such signs may be placed on any single property.

(2)

No such sign may project beyond any property line.

(3)

No such sign shall exceed an area per face of two (2) square feet.

(C)

Signs on awnings or removable canopies not permanently attached to or built as part of a building shall not exceed an area of four (4) square feet on any side of such awning or canopy.

(D)

Identification plaques, provided no more than two (2) such signs of not more than two (2) square feet each may be placed on a single building.

(E)

Temporary window signs shall not exceed twenty-five (25) percent of the window area.

(F)

Signage identifying agricultural products produced on the premises is permitted, subject to the following:

(1)

One (1) sign per lot or parcel.

(2)

Maximum of eight (8) square feet in area.

(3)

Maximum height of eight (8) feet.

(G)

Signage identifying multiple dwellings, clubs, or similar uses are permitted, subject to the following:

(1)

One (1) freestanding and one (1) building-mounted sign per parcel

(2)

Maximum of eight (8) square feet in area.

(H)

Signage identifying civic use types such as hospitals and institutions of an educational philanthropic or charitable nature are permitted, subject to the following:

(1)

One (1) sign per use.

(2)

Sign may be freestanding or building-mounted.

(3)

Maximum of forty (40) square feet in area.

(4)

Maximum height of eight (8) feet.

(I)

Signs offering premises for sale or lease and temporary construction site signs are permitted subject to the following:

(1)

Signs may be freestanding or building-mounted.

(2)

Signs shall be located on the site of the sale or lease.

(3)

Maximum of two (2) signs along any one (1) frontage.

(4)

The total area of all signs on a frontage shall not exceed thirty-two (32) square feet. Sites with two (2) frontages are allowed thirty-two (32) square feet of signs per frontage.

(5)

Maximum height of eight (8) feet with freestanding signs.

(6)

Construction site signs shall be in place only for the duration of the construction with which they are associated.

(7)

Signs shall be removed no later than ten (10) days after the end of an event, project completion, sale or lease of a building, lot, or residential development.

(J)

Community Identification Signs. Signs solely to identify a community, its civic, fraternal, and religious organizations, and its community slogan or motto, provided:

(1)

Number and Location. Not more than one (1) sign may be located along any principal approach route to a community.

(2)

Area and Height. Each sign may be single-faced or double-faced with no face to exceed an area of fifty (50) square feet. No sign shall exceed a height of twenty (20) feet above the average elevation of the ground directly below the sign.

(Ord. No. 4538, § 48(Exh. A), 9-10-2024)

(A)

Allowable sign area which is determined by the amount of street frontage shall be based on the total of all street frontages for the lot or parcel, as shown in Figure 20.184-A below.

Figure 20.[184]-A—Sign Area Frontage

(B)

The area of a sign is computed by multiplying the height by the length of the sign, not including any framework which is not part of the sign. For signs whose shape is a regular geometric figure (square, rectangle, circle, etc.), the area shall be calculated using standard formulas (Height x Width for a rectangle, etc.).

(C)

Where a sign contains a frame, background, or other material used to differentiate the sign from the background on which it is placed, the sign area shall be measured to include the entire frame, background, or other material.

(D)

For signs whose shape is irregular, such as individual letters placed on a wall or a monument sign, the area shall be measured by enclosing the sign elements within up to eight (8) straight, intersecting lines, as shown in Figure 20.184-B below.

Figure 20.[184]-B—Irregular Sign

(E)

The base or supporting structure of a sign is not considered part of the sign unless it is part of the message presentation.

(F)

The area of a two-sided back-to-back sign shall be computed by determining the area of only one (1) side if the two (2) sides are within forty-five (45) degrees of parallel and not more than three (3) feet apart. Where the sign faces are at an angle of forty-five (45) degrees or more, or more than three (3) feet apart, area shall be computed by multiplying the height by the length of each sign face and adding the results (area of Face A + area of Face B).

(G)

Time and temperature displays are considered part of the allowable sign display area and are subject to the same size and height rules as other aspects of a sign.

(H)

For establishments providing services to customers while in their vehicles, signs related to such services are allowed, but are counted in the aggregate allowed signage for the use. Drive-through establishment menu boards shall not be included in this calculation.

(I)

Measuring Sign Height. The height of a sign is the vertical distance from the uppermost point used to measure sign area to the average finished grade of the ground below the sign and/or support structure, as shown in Figure 20.184-C below.

Figure 20.[184]-C—Measuring Sign Height

Sign height measurement for freestanding signs.

(Ord. No. 4538, § 48(Exh. A), 9-10-2024)

A nonconforming sign is a sign lawfully erected, established and maintained prior to the effective date of this Division but does not conform to the use regulations and/or standards of height, setback, sign area, or number, etc., for the zone in which it is located or to the regulations of this Chapter.

(Ord. No. 4538, § 48(Exh. A), 9-10-2024)

All nonconforming signs shall be allowed to continue provided, however, that if the sign shall be destroyed or deteriorated as a result of vandalism, fire, wind flood, age or other cause to the extent where repairs exceed fifty (50) percent of the replacement value of the sign, said sign shall be brought into conformance with this Chapter.

(Ord. No. 4538, § 48(Exh. A), 9-10-2024)

Any sign not legally erected or placed pursuant to the regulations in existence at the time of its erection or placement is an illegal sign and shall be removed immediately; and shall not be re-erected or replaced until the illegal sign or its replacement sign conforms to the provisions of this Chapter. If the illegal sign is not remedied to conform with the provisions of this Chapter, the illegal sign shall be deemed unlawful and is subject to enforcement as provided in Chapter 20.216.

(Ord. No. 4538, § 48(Exh. A), 9-10-2024)

In order to reduce practical difficulties and unnecessary hardships inconsistent with the objectives of this Chapter, the Planning Commission may grant variances pursuant to Chapter 20.200 of the Zoning Code with respect to the regulations prescribed herein relating to the height, area, location, or number of signs.

Exceptions from the Regulations for Specific Sign Types provided in section 20.184.040 may be granted by the Zoning Administrator upon approval of an Administrative Permit.

(Ord. No. 4538, § 48(Exh. A), 9-10-2024)