The purpose of this Article is to regulate the use of exterior signs so that the following goals can be achieved:

•

To protect the health, safety and welfare of the community.

•

To equitably distribute the privilege of using the public environs to communicate private information.

•

To safeguard the public use and nature of the streets and sidewalks.

•

To protect and enhance the visual environment of the city.

•

To prevent the diminishing of property values within the city.

•

To minimize visual distractions to motorists using the public streets.

(Ord. No. 1553, 5-14-07)

(1)

As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:

Sign means any structure or device or part represented on a building or structure, or included any letter, work, banner, decoration, device or representation used as, or which is in the nature of, any announcement, direction, advertisement directing service, excluding soft drink, snack and ice machines. A "sign" designed to be seen from two opposite directions shall be considered as one sign, provided that the two sign faces shall not be more than 42 inches apart, if parallel, or form an angle of more than 60° in angular sequence.

(2)

Sign categories shall be defined as follows:

Advertising sign means a sign, including a billboard, which directs attention to a business, commodity, activity, service or product not conducted, sold or offered upon the premises where it is located.

Billboard means an off-premises sign which directs attention to the approximate location or advertisement of a business.

Bulletin board means any sign erected by a charitable, educational or religious institution or a public body, which is erected upon the same property as said institution for the purpose of announcing events which are held on the premises.

Business sign means a sign which directs attention to a business, profession, commodity, service, activity or entertainment sold or offered upon the premises where such sign is located or to which it is attached. Such a sign may contain a commercial or noncommercial message.

Directional sign means a sign directing traffic on private property but bearing no advertising matter.

Freestanding sign means a sign erected which is wholly independent of any building for support. All such signs must be permanently affixed to or constructed upon the lot where they are located.

Home occupation sign means a sign permitted in association within an occupation conducted on the premises within a dwelling unit occupied by the operator of the business.

Identification sign means a permanent on-premises sign announcing the name of a subdivision, group housing project, church, school, park, shopping center, industrial park, public area or similar type use.

Location sign means an off-premise sign which directs attention to the approximate location of a church, school or other nonprofit institution. "Location signs" may be freestanding and may be located within the public right-of-way, provided that written permission is obtained from the administrator. Only one "location" sign per establishment is permitted.

Nonconforming sign means a sign existing before the effective date of the amendment of this chapter, which could not be built under the terms of this chapter.

Political signs means a political sign shall be permitted up to a total sign area of eight square feet for each premises in a residential district and 32 square feet in a commercial or industrial district (except the Central Business District). These signs shall be confined within private property and shall not encroach into the public right-of-way. These signs may be displayed 60 days prior to and seven days after the election for which intended. In cases where a final election follows a primary election, those candidates who won in the primary election may continue to display their signs during the interim period and up to seven days after the final election.

Portable sign means a sign mounted on wheels or runners that is not designed for permanent use and can be moved easily by the release of nails, bolts, clamps, etc.

Projected sign means a sign which is attached perpendicular to a building wall, roof, facade, canopy, marquee or porch by means of brackets, hooks or chains and the like, and which may extend out or down no more than 18 inches.

Public service sign means a sign advertising only the name, time and place of any bona fide fair, carnival, festival, bazaar, horse show or similar event, when conducted by or for the benefit of any civic, religious, educational or charitable cause, provided that a lot may display public service signs no more than twice per calendar year for no longer than 14 consecutive days each time.

Real estate sign means a sign displayed for the purpose of offering for sale, lease or rent the property on which any such sign is displayed.

Roof sign means any sign which is erected, constructed, placed or maintained on or above the roof of any building.

Street graphics means a form of art, such as but not limited to murals and sculptures, that shall not constitute any type of outdoor advertising of a commercial message.

Temporary sign means an attached on-premises sign applying to a seasonal or brief activity, such as but not limited to summer camps, horse shows, sales, promotions and auctions.

(Ord. No. 1553, 5-14-07; Ord. No. 1575, 10-22-07)

The following shall be deemed to be excluded from the regulations of this article:

(1)

Official governmental signs, such as but not limited to traffic or similar regulatory signs.

(2)

Identification signs, not to exceed six square feet in surface area, bearing only addresses or names of occupants of the premises and located on privately owned property.

(3)

Signs displayed for the direction or convenience of the public, including signs which identify restrooms, and the location of public telephones, public entrances, freight entrances or the like, provided that such signs do not exceed a total surface area of three square feet per sign on any lot or parcel.

(4)

Yard sale signs and the like, provided that such signs shall not be attached in any way to utility poles, meter posts or trees within any public street right-of-way. No person shall put up any notice upon any building, wall, fence or other property of another person without having first obtained the consent of the owner or lessee of such property. The maximum time limit for the display of such signs is three consecutive days.

(5)

Signs on the inside of store windows, except those signs specified in section 120.1-127(c) and (h), which shall not be so excluded.

(6)

"No trespassing." "No dumping," "No parking." "Towing" and other similar signs not exceeding two square feet.

(Ord. No. 1553, 5-14-07)

The following signs are prohibited in the city:

(1)

Portable signs.

(2)

A sign which imitates or approximates an official highway sign or carries the word STOP or DANGER, or any sign which obscures a sign displayed by public authority for the purpose of giving traffic instruction or direction or other public information.

(3)

A sign which displays flashing or intermittent lights or lights of changing degrees of intensity; however, time and weather informational signs, traffic signals, railroad crossing signals and other official warning or regulatory signs are excluded.

(4)

A sign which obstructs any window or door opening used as a means of egress or which prevents free passage from one part of a roof to any other part thereof, and a sign which interferes with an opening required for ventilation.

(5)

A sign in a public right-of-way that interferes with the use of that right-of-way. Any sign existing or allowed in a public right-of-way may be ordered removed by the administrator upon 30 days' notice if the use of that right-of-way is changed to require the sign's removal or if the public right-of-way is to be used for any public purposes inconsistent with the existence of the sign.

(6)

A sign or illumination that causes any glare into or upon any building or land other than the building and land to which the sign is necessary.

(7)

A sign that violates any provision of any federal or state law relative to outdoor advertising.

(8)

Billboards.

(9)

Signs which project more than 18 inches over any publicly maintained sidewalk.

(10)

Any nonconforming sign that advertises a business which is no longer operating at that site.

(Ord. No. 1553, 5-14-07)

(1)

No sign that was not in existence and in place on the date of amendment of this chapter shall hereafter be displayed, and no sign existing on that date shall be enlarged, relocated, changed or modified until a sign permit for the same has been obtained in accordance with this section and all applicable regulations of the administrator. The maintenance, repair or restoration of nonconforming signs must be in accordance with section 120.1-130(b) under a permit issued in accordance with this section.

(2)

Every application for such permit shall include a sketch of the property, indicating the exact area, size, structures, design, location, color, lighting and materials for the proposed signs on the property.

(3)

Fees for sign permits shall be as fixed from time to time by the governing body.

(4)

A sign permit shall become null and void if the work for which the permit was issued has not been completed within a period of 60 days.

(Ord. No. 1553, 5-14-07)

The following signs shall be permitted as set forth in the individual districts within the city and require a permit without fee:

(1)

Sales and special events signs, which shall be removed within three days after the event and adhere to the following requirements:

a.

Each sign is to be 32 square feet or less in area.

b.

Each sign is an attached on-premises sign.

c.

Such sign is displayed no more than 14 consecutive days.

d.

No person may display temporary signs more than five times per calendar year.

e.

Regardless of the status of the conformity of all other on-premises signs, one temporary sign shall be allowed.

(2)

Signs used for construction on or the development of a lot will be allowed as the basis of one sign per contractor, not more than 12 square feet in area, or one sign, not exceeding 100 square feet in area, giving the names of the contractors, engineers and architects. These signs are to be allowed only during the time such construction or development is actually in progress.

(3)

Pennants and streamers without advertising may be displayed simultaneously with temporary signs, but at no other time.

(4)

Street banners advertising a public entertainment or event, if specially approved by the city manager and only for locations designated by the city manager, during and for 14 days before and several days after such event.

(Ord. No. 1553, 5-14-07; Ord. No. 1576, 10-22-07)

(1)

Except where otherwise provided, in cases where signs existing as of the date of the amending of this chapter exceed the total allowable sign area for the subject parcel, no additional signs shall be permitted thereon.

(2)

All nonconforming signs may be maintained and repainted but shall not be maintained in such a manner as to increase the degree of nonconformity. A nonconformity sign may be repaired, provided that it had not been damaged in excess of 50 percent of its replacement value. The procedure for determining the percentage of damage will be determined by requiring the owner to obtain quotes from a sign company on the cost to replace and the cost to repair the sign. Any freestanding nonconforming sign which does not exceed current requirements for height, size or setback by more than 50 percent may be modified so long as the proposed modification brings the nonconforming sign into conformity with the provisions of this article in terms of size, height or setback. A permit shall be required for the repair or modification of any nonconforming sign.

(3)

Upon vacating all premises, the tenant or, in his absence, the owner shall remove all nonconforming signs, sign supports and attendant hardware.

(4)

Owners of nonconforming signs must register these signs with the administrator within three months of the amendment of this chapter or remove the sign.

(Ord. No. 1553, 5-14-07)

The administrator shall require the immediate repair or removal of any sign or sign structure which has been damaged or has deteriorated so as to become a public hazard. Such a sign or sign structure may be restored to its original condition within 30 days of the order to remove the hazard, and if the sign is nonconforming, such restoration shall be in accordance with section 120.1-130.

(Ord. No. 1553, 5-14-07)

Signs shall be permitted which are in accordance with:

(1)

The general provisions of this chapter.

(2)

The district sign regulations of this chapter for the district in which such signs are located.

(3)

All applicable provisions of the building code of the city, as adopted, and all amendments thereto of the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code.

(Ord. No. 1553, 5-14-07)

The following shall apply in residential districts:

(1)

Permitted signs; size.

(2)

Location. All freestanding signs shall be a minimum of ten feet from the closer right-of-way line of a street 50 feet or greater in width and a minimum of 35 feet from the center line of any street right-of-way less than 50 feet in width. Corner lots must also meet the requirements of section 120.1-145 of the Zoning Ordinance concerning visibility at intersections.

(3)

Height limitations. No freestanding sign shall exceed eight feet in height.

(4)

Lighting. Lighted signs or signs illuminated by a light shall not cast a glare on adjacent properties.

(5)

Number of signs permitted. No establishment shall be permitted more than two signs, excluding permitted directional signs.

(Ord. No. 1553, 5-14-07; Ord. No. 1575, 10-22-07)

The following shall apply in the Central Business District

(1)

Permitted signs; size.

(2)

Location. All signs, unless otherwise stated, shall be subject to the same setback and yard requirements as other structures.

(3)

Number of signs permitted. Excluding public service signs, only one sign shall be permitted, except that a corner lot occupied by a single establishment shall be allowed up to two signs as provided in section 120.1-234.

(4)

Suspended and projecting signs. Sign of these types shall be less than eight feet from the ground or larger than 20 square feet.

(5)

Review by Main Street Radford Design Committee. All sign permits for this district must be reviewed by the design committee.

(Ord. No. 1553, 5-14-07)

The following shall apply in the B-1 and B-2 districts:

(1)

Permitted signs; size.

(2)

Freestanding signs. On lots with a public street right-of-way frontage of between 75 and 150 feet and a building setback of at least 15 feet, one freestanding sign will be allowed with a maximum area of 200 square feet and a maximum height of 20 feet. On lots with a public street right-of-way frontage of more than 150 feet, one freestanding sign will be allowed with a maximum area of 300 square feet and a maximum height of 30 feet. All such freestanding signs shall be set back at least five feet from the edge of pavement or behind the sidewalk, whichever is greater. No freestanding signs shall be allowed in this district on lots with less than 75 feet of public right-of-way frontage. A shopping center freestanding sign is allowed one square foot for each two linear feet of street frontage, not to exceed 400 square feet.

(3)

Determination of available frontage. Each freestanding sign existing on or proposed for a lot shall require a separate and distinct allotment of frontage as required in subsection (2). When more than one establishment is on a lot, the double counting of frontage shall not be permitted when determining frontage available for freestanding signs.

(4)

Number of signs permitted. Excluding public service signs, a maximum of three signs shall be allowed.

(5)

Business selling gasoline. Businesses selling gasoline will be allowed an additional nine square feet of signage for the purpose of displaying gas prices only.

(6)

Required frontage. More than one business may be combined to obtain the required frontage for a freestanding sign.

(Ord. No. 1553, 5-14-07)

The following shall apply in the industrial districts:

(1)

Permitted signs; size.

(2)

Number of signs permitted. Excluding public service signs, a maximum of two business signs per establishment shall be allowed.

(3)

Special sign regulations. All signs must be attached signs. except:

a.

Freestanding business signs. A use permitted in this district with at least 200 feet of street frontage may be served with a freestanding business sign. Such freestanding sign shall not exceed 30 feet in height or 100 square feet in area.

b.

Industrial parks. An industrial park in this district shall be permitted one freestanding identification sign. Such freestanding identification sign may list the names of the tenants, as well as the name of the industrial area, its owner and developer. Such signs shall not exceed 30 feet in height or 100 square feet in area.

(Ord. No. 1553, 5-14-07)

Sign area shall be calculated as follows:

(1)

The area of an attached sign, where the sign consists of words, numbers or symbols painted on or affixed to a wall, shall be the entire area within a continuous perimeter enclosing the extreme limits of each work, symbol, numeral, groups of symbols or groups of numerals where the symbols or numbers are meant to be read as a unit. Where there is a symbol that encompasses or partly encompasses the message of the sign, the sign area shall be the entire area within a continuous perimeter enclosing the extreme limits of the symbol.

(2)

The area of a suspended, attached or projecting sign, where the letters, numerals or symbols are on a sign surface which is hung or affixed to a structure, shall be the total area of the hung or affixed surface.

(3)

The area of a freestanding sign shall be the total area of all surfaces, excluding poles, visible from the public right-of-way or other point from which the sign is intended to be viewed. Only one display face shall be measured in computing the total sign area where the sign faces are arranged to be viewed one at a time.

(Ord. No. 1553, 5-14-07)

(1)

On corner lots, the front shall be either:

(a)

The side fronting the street providing major access; or

(b)

The side which the main entrance of the structure faces.

(2)

For business or industrial uses, the front shall not be a primary residential street. In cases where the front cannot be determined, the administrator shall designate the front.

(3)

On corner lots where a building or buildings have more than one principal use, sign area shall be allowed for front linear footage as indicated in the district regulations and for one-half the side street frontage, provided that:

(a)

The side street does not front on a primary residential area.

(b)

The sign area as determined by each frontage is placed only on the frontage from which it is determined.

(c)

No freestanding sign shall be displayed on the side street frontage.

(Ord. No. 1553, 5-14-07)

All conforming signs, sign supports and attendant hardware not used by a new tenant or new owner shall be removed by the new owner within one year of the premises being vacated. If reoccupied, a new tenant or new owner has three months to use or remove all signs, sign supports or attendant hardware.

(Ord. No. 1553, 5-14-07)

It shall be unlawful for any person to erect any sign (excluding signs cited in section 120.1-126) without complying with the following requirements:

(1)

Completion of the application for a sign permit.

(2)

Review by the zoning administrator.

(3)

Issuance of a sign permit with fee.

(Ord. No. 1553, 5-14-07)

An organization sign is any sign, flag, banner or other object used to identify a Radford University recognized student clubs or organization and are only permitted under the following conditions:

Flag requirements:

a.

Flags must be located in the UD University/Business District or Business district (generally five blocks east and west of the Radford University campus).

b.

Flags shall not exceed three-foot by five-foot in size.

c.

Flag design and location must be approved by Radford University's Department of Student Activities and the zoning administrator.

d.

A maximum of one flag per organization is permitted.

Display of Radford University recognized student clubs or organizations letters, banners, signs, etc, other than flags, are permitted only during special events under the following conditions:

a.

Special events are limited to Radford University Homecoming, Rush, and Greek Week, and other events identified and agreed upon between the department of student activities and the zoning administrator.

b.

The location and type of displays must be approved by Radford University's Department of Student Activities and the zoning administrator.

c.

Letters, signs, banners, decorations, etc, may be hung on Friday before the event and must be removed by Sunday evening following the event.

(Ord. No. 1553, 5-14-07)