Suffield City Zoning Code
ARTICLE IX
Signage
§ 315-86 Statement of purpose.
The purpose of these Signage Regulations is to provide for adequate advertising of residences, home occupations, and business entities throughout Town, while controlling the location, size, shape, number, manner of lighting and architectural appearance of signs located on all buildings and premises; to maintain and enhance the aesthetic environment and the Town's ability to attract sources of economic development and growth; to improve pedestrian and traffic safety; to provide for proper review and oversight of signage; and to minimize the possible adverse effects of signs on nearby public and private property.
§ 315-87 Measurement of sign area.
The area of a sign shall be considered to be that of the smallest circle, square, rectangle or triangle that contains the entire sign, including all lettering, wording, design, or symbols together with any background, material, or color different from the balance of the wall on which it is located, if such background is designed as an integral part of and obviously related to the sign. The supports that affix a sign to the ground or to a building shall not be included in the area of the sign unless such supports are obviously designed to be part of the sign as defined in these regulations. Square foot limitations contained in these regulations refer to each face of multi-faced signs. Maximum number of sign faces shall not exceed two in residential and business districts, arranged back-to-back; signs with three sides, arranged in a triangular configuration, may be permitted in industrial districts. The height of a sign shall be measured from ground level to the top of the sign, or any part thereof, including supports and lights.
§ 315-88 General requirements.
A.
New freestanding or ground signs shall be subject to site plan approval by the Commission.
B.
No permanent sign shall be erected, relocated, or altered without a sign permit approved by the Zoning Enforcement Officer and issued by the Building Official, except when said sign is located in a Village District which shall also require the review and recommendation by the Design Review Board. All signs shall meet all requirements of the Building Code and these regulations. Application for sign permits shall be made on forms supplied by the Building Official. Failure to maintain signs shall be considered a violation of these regulations.
C.
Externally lit signs are permitted if illumination is confined to the surface of the sign. Such lighting shall be shielded to prevent direct light from being visible from the street or from adjacent property. Exterior lighting in any nonresidential zoning district shall comply with the maximum and minimum lumen levels specified in the recommended practices and ANSI standards contained in Lighting for Parking Facilities or in Lighting for Exterior Environments as published by the Illuminating Engineering Society of North America as amended.
D.
The light source in any lighted sign shall be shielded to prevent glare upon traffic or adjoining properties. Lights shall not be used where they create conflict with highway control traffic signals.
E.
A sign shall not project more than 24 inches from the face of a structure or more than 12 inches beyond any street line and shall be at least eight feet above the level of any walkway it may overhang. No sign shall be placed in such a position as to endanger pedestrian or vehicular traffic.
F.
Off-premises directional signs, pointing to businesses not readily visible from the main thoroughfare, are permitted on a Town right-of-way where such placement does not cause sight line problems or unduly detract from surrounding areas. Such signs shall be five inches high by 24 inches long, black letters on white background and mounted no higher than eight feet on a two inch metal post, permanently secured in the ground. No more than three two-sided signs are allowed on one post. Intersection quadrants shall not contain more than two posts which shall be within 200 feet of the intersection.
G.
One off-premises directional sign indicating "House for Sale" will be allowed at the entrance to a street on which such house or houses for sale are located. Said sign shall not bear logos, company names, or other identification marks and shall be used by all real estate agencies and owners with property for sale. Signs shall not be larger than one by two feet, shall be mounted no higher than three feet above finished grade, and shall be placed in such a way as to not interfere with sight lines or traffic.
H.
Signs pertaining to a removed use, business, or proprietor shall be removed within 30 days.
§ 315-89 Height and shape of signs.
A.
No sign attached to a structure shall project higher than two feet above the exterior wall of the structure, except in an industrial district where a sign may project up to six feet above the exterior wall of such structure provided the sign is not within 500 feet of the boundary of a residential district and visible from said district.
B.
No portion of any permanent freestanding sign shall measure higher than 10 feet above finished grade.
C.
Where more than one sign is permitted on a building, such signs shall be uniform in height, size, and location. In addition, such signs shall be uniform in terms of color and shape in a Village District.
§ 315-90 Prohibited signs.
A.
Animated signs.
B.
Banners or pennants, except as provided in § 315-91B for season decorations without commercial advertising sponsored by the Town and § 315-91F(3).
C.
Flashing, rotating, sequential lighting, or intermittent illumination signs, except those indicating time and/or temperature by means of white lighting, provided the longest dimension of such sign does not exceed five feet, and traditional barbershop signs, provided the longest dimension of such sign does not exceed three feet.
D.
Internally lit signs, unless specifically approved by the Commission.
E.
Internally lit canopy signs, i.e., gas station canopies.
G.
Inflatable signs and tethered balloons, except temporary signs in connection with a grand opening as determined by the Zoning Officer.
H.
Exposed festooned lights in nonresidential districts, except during the months of January and December.
I.
Interior signs visible from the street which do not comply with these regulations.
§ 315-91 Dimensional requirements.
A.
Permanent signs in Single-Family Residential (R) and Farmland Preservation (FP) Zoning Districts.
Type of Sign | Maximum Size | Maximum Number of Signs | Location | Permit Required |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Nonilluminated nameplate sign | 1 square foot | 1 per lot | Back of street line | No |
Nonilluminated sign pertaining to a profession or occupation permitted as an accessory use without a special permit | 4 square feet | 1 per lot | Back of street line | Yes |
Sign pertaining to a profession or occupation where a special permit is required (nonilluminated sign only) | 6 square feet | 1 per lot | Back of street line | Yes |
Sign pertaining to institutional uses including, places of worship, schools, and nursing homes by special permit | 25 square feet | 1 on each street frontage | 15 ft. front setback | Yes |
B.
Temporary signs in Single-Family Residential (R) Districts.
Type of Sign | Maximum Size | Maximum No. of Signs | Location | Permit Required |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Sign pertaining to the sale, lease or rental of property on which it is located | 6 square feet | 1 on each street frontage | Back of street line | No |
Sign pertaining to and during construction of property | 6 square feet | 1 per lot | 15-foot front setback | Yes |
Sign offering lots and/or homes for sale within an approved subdivision to be displayed for no more than 12 months, with 1 extension permitted | 25 square feet | 1 on each street frontage | 15-foot front setback | Yes |
Sign of civic and nonprofit organizations displayed for no more than 30 days in a 12-month period | 25 square feet | 1 per property | 15-foot front setback | Yes |
Holiday decoration without commercial advertising | 15-foot setback | No | ||
Seasonal decorations without commercial advertising sponsored by the Town | 72 inches vertical, 30 inches horizontal | 1 per utility pole | Located not to impair pedestrian or vehicular traffic sight lines | No |
C.
Signs permitted in Planned Development Apartment (PDA) District.
Type of Sign | Maximum Size | Maximum No. of Signs | Location | Permit Required |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Nameplate signs indicating the name of development | 12 square feet or | 1 for each street frontage where access exists | 15-foot front setback | Yes |
25 square feet | 30-foot front setback | Yes | ||
Signs identifying the rental or property management agency | 6 square feet | 1 for each street frontage where access exists | Back of street line | No |
Signs pertaining to the sale, lease or rental of property for a period of 12 months | 25 square feet | 1 per property | 15-foot front setback | Yes |
D.
Permanent signs permitted in the Neighborhood Commercial (NC), Industrial (I), and Planned Development Industrial Park (PDIP) District Zones.
Type of Sign | Location | Permit Required | |
|---|---|---|---|
The total combined sign area for each unit of occupancy on the first floor and permanent freestanding signs shall not exceed 1 square foot for each linear front foot of exterior building wall as follows: | |||
The number of permanent signs on a building wall shall be restricted to 1 per unit of occupancy, except that units with frontage on 2 streets may have 2 signs. | Building wall | Yes | |
1 single- or double-faced permanent freestanding or ground sign not exceeding 20 square feet in area nor 10 feet in height may be erected on each lot containing frontage. | Ground, 20-foot setbacks | Yes | |
Within 10 feet of each entrance of a building, 1 common nameplate sign may be erected which allows for not more than 1 square foot of sign area for each unit of occupancy that is served by said entrance. | Back of street line | Yes | |
Each unit of occupancy above the first floor may only display a sign on the inside of each window serving said unit of occupancy, provided that the combined area of such signs shall not exceed 6 square feet. Such restriction shall not apply if units of occupancy above the first floor have direct access to common areas on the outside of the building where signs may be displayed. | Second floor | No | |
E.
Permanent signs permitted in the Town Center and West Suffield Center Village District Zones subject to review and recommendation of the Design Review Board.
Type of Sign | Location | Permit Required | |
|---|---|---|---|
The total combined sign area for each unit of occupancy on the first floor and permanent freestanding signs shall not exceed 1 square foot for each linear front foot of exterior building wall as follows: | |||
The number of permanent signs on a building wall shall be restricted to 1 per unit of occupancy, except that units with frontage on 2 streets may have 2 signs. | Building wall | Yes | |
1 single- or double-faced permanent freestanding or ground sign not exceeding 12 square feet in area nor 10 feet in height may be erected on each lot containing frontage. [Amended 7-5-2007] | Ground, 0-foot setback | Yes | |
Within 10 feet of each entrance of a building, 1 common nameplate sign may be erected which allows for not more than 1 square foot of sign area for each unit of occupancy that is served by said entrance. | Behind street line | Yes | |
Each unit of occupancy above the first floor may only display a sign on the inside of each window serving said unit of occupancy, provided that the combined area of such signs shall not exceed 6 square feet. Such restriction shall not apply if units of occupancy above the first floor have direct access to common areas on the outside of the building where signs may be displayed. | Second floor | No | |
The exterior color of a sign shall be selected from the Historic Colors of America pallet (as approved by the Society for the Preservation of New England Antiquities) by California Products Corporation or equivalent, and/or primary colors. | |||
All permanent signs permitted in the Town Center Village District and West Suffield Village District are subject to review by the Design Review Board. | |||
F.
Temporary signs permitted in the Neighborhood Commercial (NC), Industrial (I), Town Center Village, and West Suffield Center Village District Zones.
(1)
Signs temporarily attached or painted on a door, window, or wall announcing sales or special features are permitted, provided they do not exceed 25% of the area of said door, window or wall. Said signs shall be removed immediately after the termination of such sale or special feature and shall be permitted for no more than 30 days.
(2)
Freestanding sandwich-board type signs may be allowed in nonresidential districts for a maximum period of 60 days from the date of the permit required below, provided:
(a)
Signs are limited to one per occupant;
(b)
Signs are secured to prevent movement by wind or other elements;
(c)
Signs are displayed only during hours of business operation;
(d)
Signs shall measure no more than two by three feet;
(e)
A permit is issued by the Zoning Officer;
(f)
A $20 administrative fee is collected;
(g)
Signs shall meet all other aspects of these regulations; and
(h)
All signs shall be located behind the street line.
[Amended 10-9-2009]
(3)
Restaurant signs advertising lunch or dinner specials are exempt from the sixty-day limit on display of sandwich-board signs.
(4)
Outdoor advertising devices, including but not limited to plaques, banners, pennants, and streamers, are permitted for a period of not more than two weeks after the opening of a new business. Said device shall be behind the street line.