Establish a consistent process for those seeking to install signs;

Protect property values and create a more attractive economic and business climate;

Reduce the adverse effects of signage on the desired Town character and foster a visually pleasing community environment;

Provide structures and uses with effective means of identification while reducing visual clutter through the prevention of excessive and confusing sign displays;

Reduce visual distractions and obstructions that may impact traffic safety, and reduce hazards that may be caused by signs overhanging or projecting above public rights-of-way; and

Enforce and encourage the objectives and goals of the Town of Pittsford Comprehensive Plan and other supporting plans and studies.

Signs erected and maintained pursuant to the following requirements and/or in discharge of any governmental function, including safety signs, road signs, historical markers, highway directional signs, or signs otherwise required by any local, state, or federal law, ordinance, or regulation.

Signs not applicable to § 185-134.2A are exempt from all regulations in this section.

Building permit applications shall be submitted to the CEO on the appropriate forms provided by the Town of Pittsford.

Incomplete applications will not be processed. The CEO shall provide written or electronic notice of application deficiencies to applicants. If such deficiencies are not corrected within 30 days of notice, the application will be considered withdrawn.

Name, address, contact information, and signature of the applicant.

Name, address, and signature of the building and/or property owner (if not the applicant), and a statement of consent for the applicant to seek such building permit.

The interior square footage of the business or organization.

Dimensions and drawings indicating the size, shape, construction, materials, and layout of the proposed sign(s).

Indicate on drawings the size measurement required by § 185-134.6 herein.

Site plan and elevations indicating the proposed location and size of the sign(s) drawn to scale.

Color illustrations and/or photographs of the proposed sign and sign area.

Proposed illumination system, if any, and the type of and intensity of the lighting to be used. Underwriters Laboratories (UL) certification of the electrical components shall be provided to the CEO.

Any additional site and/or sign information deemed necessary by the CEO for the proper review of such application.

All applicable permit fee(s).

The sign follows the design guidelines outlined in § 185-134.10 to the greatest extent practicable.

The sign is otherwise compliant with this article and all other applicable local, state, and federal laws and regulations.

The CEO shall refer all sign applications to the Design Review and Historic Preservation Board for review and approval. Signage replaced in kind shall not require Design Review and Historic Preservation Board review and approval, unless otherwise determined by the CEO. Such review will occur at a regularly scheduled Design Review and Historic Preservation Board meeting. Upon referral, the Design Review and Historic Preservation Board shall assume final decision authority within Zoning limitations.

One-sided sign. The area of a sign shall be computed by means of the smallest three rectangles or less, that will encompass the extreme limits of the writing, representation, emblem, graphic, and/or other display, together with any backdrop, material, or structure on which it is placed. Letters and graphics affixed directly on a building facade shall be considered to have no backdrop. See figures below.

Two-sided sign. In the case of a two-sided sign only one side of the sign is considered in determining sign area if the sides of the sign are back-to-back or diverge at an angle of 45 degrees or less. No sign shall be permitted to have more than two sides.

Freestanding sign. The height of a freestanding sign shall be calculated by measuring the vertical distance between the top part of such sign or its structure, whichever is highest, to the elevation of the ground directly beneath the center of the sign. See figure below.

Other signs. The height of all other signs shall be determined by measuring the vertical distance between the top part of the sign face or structure, whichever is highest, to the bottom most edge of the sign face or structure.

Signs should be constructed of high-quality materials compatible with the building form and desired character of the area in which they are located.

Signs should be appropriately scaled for the building or site upon which they are located, so as not to dominate the facade or streetscape.

Signs on buildings that have a monolithic or plain facade should be used to create visual interest through appropriate sign design features, scale, and proportions.

Signs should be designed to include relief in the lettering or sign face to create shadows and provide depth and visual interest.

Use of color and color combinations utilized for signs should be limited. Generally, a sign should not utilize more than three colors, including accent colors.

Day-glo or florescent colors are prohibited.

Buildings or their architectural treatment shall not be so garish in line, color, or effect so as to constitute a sign in themselves. Painting, striping, lighting, or other graphic or attention getting device, is considered a sign and is regulated by town zoning and these guidelines. Therefore, no structure shall be so striped or painted, so as to make the structure or building a sign.

Signs shall be limited to one one-sided sign or structure on each side of each entrance.

Signs shall require approval of the location and structural design details from the Commissioner of Public Works.

The sign shall be located on the private subdivision, apartment house or other residential property, unless the proponent requests and the Commissioner of Public Works determines that it may appropriately be located in the highway right-of-way. In determining whether to permit a sign in the right-of-way, the Commissioner shall consider highway safety, sight distance, snow removal and storage, proximity to properties not in the subdivision and the need to have the sign located in said right-of-way.

If the sign is on a post or pole, the sign shall not exceed six square feet, and the post or pole shall not extend more than six feet above the ground on which it is located.

If the sign is part of a stone, brick or other permanent wall or structure, the sign shall not exceed six square feet in size, and the structure on which it is located shall not exceed four feet in height.

Such signs and structures located in a highway right-of-way may be removed by the Town if they become damaged or are in an unsightly condition.

Any lighting of such sign is permitted by direct illumination (no backlit or internally illuminated signs permitted), provided that the lighting source is dark sky compliant and entirely screened from view. Such illumination may not be of the flashing, intermittent or interrupted type.

Signs can be placed at each entrance, as a one-sided sign on each side of the entrance; or one two-sided sign visible from the street; or one sign mounted to the building.

Signs are not to exceed 20 square feet in size per side. If such sign is freestanding, or is part of a stone, brick or other permanent wall or structure, the structure on which it is located shall not exceed five feet in height above grade.

The sign shall be located on the private property unless the proponent requests and the Commissioner of Public Works determines that it may appropriately be located in the highway right-of-way. In determining whether to permit a sign in the right-of-way, the Commissioner shall consider highway safety, sight distance, snow removal and storage, proximity to properties and the need to have the sign located in said right-of-way.

Such signs and structures located in a highway right-of-way may be removed by the Town if they become damaged or are in an unsightly condition.

Any lighting of such sign is permitted by direct illumination (no backlit or internally illuminated signs permitted), provided that the lighting source is dark sky compliant and entirely screened from view. Such illumination may not be of the flashing, intermittent or interrupted type.

One two-sided freestanding sign per property is permitted stating the street address number and/or the building name or, in the case of a single occupant, the business name. Sign may be externally lit with shielded lighting to prevent glare.

The sign shall be located adjacent to the main vehicular entrance and not closer to the edge of road pavement than 20 feet.

Signage shall be limited to eight square feet per side and a maximum height of 40 inches measured from average grade.

For properties with multiple tenants, a single one-sided freestanding directory sign identifying the businesses on-site is permitted. The directory sign shall be situated in an unobtrusive, interior location.

Dimensional requirements regarding the directory sign shall conform to the following:

Signs identifying the business operated on the premises shall be allowed as provided herein.

All business identification signs shall be affixed to the building and shall not project above the facade.

Dimensional and lighting requirements regarding signage shall conform to the following:

No sign shall be erected in any Mixed Use - Commercial (MU-C) District unless such sign so erected is attached to a building. No such sign shall extend above the roof line.

A minimum of 15 square feet is permitted, plus an additional 5 square feet per 1,000 square feet of lease area for businesses larger than 1,000 square feet.

Such signs shall not exceed 36 inches in width by 18 inches in height and shall not exceed 40 inches' total height above grade nor obstruct the sight distance of drivers of motor vehicles.

Such signs shall not be placed within the road right-of-way without the written consent of the governmental unit having jurisdiction of the location.

Such signs shall be limited to "ENTER" and "EXIT" signs bearing no advertising and to signs related to public safety as deemed necessary by the Commissioner of Public Works or state Department of Transportation.

Such signs are encouraged to include street numbers.

Directional signs may be lit internally and are subject to Department of Public Works review and approval.

All such signs shall be a standard size of 12 inches in width by 18 inches in height and shall not exceed 72 inches total height above grade nor obstruct the sight distance of drivers of motor vehicles.

Such signs shall face the parking places they are designed to restrict only.

All such signs shall contain black, block lettering on a white background only and shall not contain any logo or other advertising.

All such signs shall be mounted or affixed in a secure manner so that they are maintained in an upright position at all times.

The within conditions shall not apply to handicap, fire lane or emergency-only parking signs.

No premises in any commercial district and no exterior signs located in any Mixed Use. Commercial (MU-C) District shall have floodlighting or any other type of illumination unless a permit or site plan approval to that effect has been issued by the Code Enforcement Officer or Planning Board based on the following factors:

All illuminated signs, with the exception of "ENTER" and "EXIT" signs as described in § 185-134.14A, shall be placed on automatic timing devices which will allow illumination to commence each day not sooner than 1/2 hour before the business is open to the public and which will terminate illumination each day not later than 11:00 p.m. local time, unless the business is actively operating and open to the public. Any business actively operating and open to the public after 11:00 p.m. local time shall terminate illumination 1/2 hour after closing.

Illuminated awnings and/or canopies shall be considered to be signs.

All fabrics used in illuminated awnings and/or canopies shall comply with the New York State Building and Fire Codes with respect to flammability standards.