West Unity City Zoning Code
CHAPTER 1149
Signs and Outdoor Advertising Structures
1149.01 DEFINITIONS.
(a) “Area” means the area encompassed by the smallest circle, ellipse, triangle, rectangle, trapezoid, pentagon, hexagon, octagon that completely contains the display area of the sign and including all of the elements of the matter displayed, but excluding all supports or uprights on which the sign may be placed. Frames and structural members not being advertising matter shall not be included in computation of area.
(b) “Awning, canopy sign” means a non-electric sign that is printed on, painted on, attached to an awning or canopy and is only permitted on the vertical surface of said awning or canopy. Such signs require a permit and must not exceed the maximum total square footage requirement referenced under Section 1149.05(a).
(c) “Building frontage” means the length of any exterior wall of a building facing a public right of way. In a building that is subdivided by a party wall or walls into spaces with separate exterior entrances, “Building Frontage” means the length of the exterior wall or walls of the building facing the public right-of-way measured to the center of the party wall or walls. In the event a building or building unit fronts more than one public right-of-way, the “Building Frontage” shall be separately calculated for each facade.
(d) “Erect” means to construct, assemble, install, alter or relocate a sign and includes the acts of attaching, affixing, hanging, suspending, painting and placement of signs, but does not include repair or replacement of changeable copy, repainting, cleaning or other maintenance that does not involve the repair or replacement of foundation elements, structural members or electrical components.
(e) “Free-standing sign” means a sign suspended or supported by one or more uprights or braces in or upon the ground surface.
(f) “Front of building” means the address side of the property/location.
(g) “Political sign” means a temporary sign directly associated with a local state, or national political election or issue.
(h) “Projected double-faced sign” means any double-faced sign that is attached to the face of a building and projects outward perpendicularly from the building.
(i) “Sign” means any representation by words or graphics which is intended to provide information to produce thought, or action, and is located so as to be open to the outdoor public view. Words or pictures produced by painting, engraving, vacuum forming, stenciling, or any other means shall constitute a sign under this chapter.
(j) “Temporary sign” means any sign that is approved to be displayed for a limited time period as set forth in the Ordinance. Also include a temporary commercial sign posted to promote the sale of new products, new management, new hours and services, or to promote a special sale. These signs do not require a permit.
(k) “Wall sign” means a sign which is attached, painted, or affixed to the wall of a building or other structure, and has its face parallel to the wall on which it is attached, painted or affixed.
(l) “Window sign” means a non-illuminated sign pained on, applied to or installed inside a window for viewing from outside the premises but does not include window displays of merchandise.
(Ord. 2005-05. Passed 3-10-05.)
1149.02 GENERAL REQUIREMENTS FOR ALL SIGNS AND DISTRICTS.
The regulations contained in this section shall apply to all signs and all use districts.
(a) In no event shall an illuminated sign or lighting device be placed or directed so as to permit the beams and illumination there from to be directed or beamed upon a public thoroughfare, highway, sidewalk, or adjacent premises so as to cause glare or reflection that may constitute a traffic hazard or nuisance.
(b) All wiring, fittings, and materials used in the construction, connection, and operation of electrically illuminated signs shall be in accordance with the provisions of the local electric code in effect, if any.
(c) No sign shall be erected or maintained from the front or face of a building a distance of more than two (2) feet, except in Section 1149.05(d).
(d) No sign shall be placed on the roof of any building, except those signs whose supporting structure is screened so the sign appears to be a continuation of the face of the building.
(e) No portable or temporary sign shall be placed on the front or face of a building or on any premises, except as provided in subsection (c) hereof.
(f) No sign erected or maintained in the window of a building, visible from any public or private street or highway, shall occupy more than seventy-five percent (75%) of the window.
(g) No sign of any classification shall be installed, erected, or attached in any form, shape, or manner to a fire escape or any door or window giving access to any fire escapes.
(h) Should any sign be or become unsafe or be in danger of falling, the owner thereof or the person maintaining the same, shall upon receipt of written notice from the Zoning Inspector proceed at once to put such sign in a safe and secure condition or remove the sign.
(i) No sign shall be placed in any public right-of-way except publicly-owned signs, such as traffic control signs and direction signs. Signs directing and guiding traffic and parking on private property but bearing no advertising matter shall be permitted on any property.
(Ord. 2005-05. Passed 3-10-05.)
1149.03 SIGNS PERMITTED IN ALL DISTRICTS NOT REQUIRING A PERMIT.
(a) Signs advertising the sale, lease, or rental of the premises upon which the sign is located, shall not exceed twelve square feet in area, except in all residential districts where the area of the sign shall not be more than six square feet;
(b) Professional name plates not to exceed four square feet in area;
(c) Signs denoting the name and address of the occupants of the premises, not to exceed two square feet in area.
(Ord. 411. Passed 12-4-75.)
1149.04 SIGNS PERMITTED IN ANY DISTRICT REQUIRING A PERMIT.
(a) Signs or bulletin boards customarily incidental to places of worship, libraries, museums, social clubs, or societies, not to include C-1 downtown area, which signs or bulletin boards, shall not exceed forty square feet in area and which shall be located on the premises of such institution and shall be subject to required set back.
(b) Any sign advertising a commercial enterprise, including real estate developers or subdividers, in a district zoned residential shall not exceed twelve square feet in area and shall advertise only the names of the owners, trade names, products sold and/or the business or activity conducted on the premises where such sign is located.
(Ord. 2005-05. Passed 3-10-05.)
1149.05 SIGNS PERMITTED IN COMMERCIAL AND MANUFACTURING DISTRICTS REQUIRING A PERMIT.
The regulations set forth in this section shall apply to signs in all commercial and manufacturing districts and such signs shall require a permit.
(a) In a commercial or manufacturing district, each business shall be permitted one flat or wall on-premises sign on front or address side of building. Projection of wall signs shall not exceed two feet measured from the face of the main building. The area of all permanent on-premises signs for any single business enterprise may have an area equivalent to three square feet of sign area for each lineal foot of building width, or part of a building, occupied by such enterprises but shall not exceed a maximum area of one hundred square feet. Exceptions would be only in a “C-1" Downtown Business District, where a flat or wall on-premises sign on front or address side of building shall be permitted a sign not to exceed one hundred fifty square feet.
(b) In a commercial or manufacturing district, two off-premises signs with a total area not exceeding six hundred (600) square feet may be permitted at a single location. No single off-premises sign shall exceed six hundred (600) square feet nor shall off-premises signs visible to approaching traffic have a minimum spacing of less than two hundred (200) feet. Off-premises signs shall conform to all applicable yard and height regulations for the appropriate zoning district. Off-premises wall signs shall have all structural and supporting members concealed from view.
(c) In a “C-1" Downtown Business District only, each business shall be permitted one wall on-premises rear entrance sign, not to exceed twenty-four square feet in size and sign must have its face parallel to the wall on which it is attached, painted or affixed. These signs will require a permit.
(d) In a “C-1" Downtown Business District only, each building shall be permitted maximum of one projecting double-faced sign from the face of the building. The maximum area of a projecting double-faced sign can not exceed nine square feet and may not project more than forty (40) inches from the building. The bottom of the projecting double-faced sign must be a minimum of nine (9) feet from ground level. The total of projecting and wall signs can not exceed the combined area set forth in subsection (a) of this section. All projecting signs require a permit.
(Ord. 2005-05. Passed 3-10-05.)
1149.06 TEMPORARY SIGNS.
Temporary signs not exceeding fifty square feet in area, announcing special public, business or institutional events, the erection of a building, the architect, the builders, or contractors may be erected for a period of sixty days plus the construction period. Such temporary signs shall conform to the general requirements listed in Section 1149.01 and the set back requirements in Section 1149.13; temporary signs located in the “C-1" Downtown Business District shall not exceed two and one-half (2 ½) feet wide by four (4) feet high and shall not be subject to Sections 1149.01(i) or 1149.13. Temporary signs shall be displayed in a safe manner only during business hours and shall not require a permit.
(Ord. 2005-05. Passed 3-10-05.)
1149.07 FREE STANDING SIGNS.
Free-standing on-premises signs not over thirty feet in height, having a maximum total sign area of one hundred sq. ft. per display area and located not closer than ten feet to any street right- of-way line and not closer than thirty feet to any adjoining lot line may be erected to serve a group of business establishments. There shall be only one free-standing sign for each building, regardless of the number of businesses conducted in said building. These signs shall require an improvement location permit.
(Ord. 411. Passed 12-4-75.)
1149.08 WALL SIGNS PERTAINING TO NONCONFORMING USES.
On-premises wall signs pertaining to a non-conforming use shall be permitted on the same premises of such use, provided the area of such sign does not exceed twelve square feet. These signs require an improvement location permit.
(Ord. 411. Passed 12-4-75.)
1149.09 POLITICAL SIGNS.
No political sign shall be posted in any place or in any manner that is destructive to public property upon posting or removal. No political sign shall be posted in a public right-of-way nor shall any such sign be posted on a utility pole. No political sign shall be posted more than sixty days before an election. All candidates for public office, their campaign committees, or other persons responsible for the posting on public property of campaign material shall remove such material within two weeks following election day. These signs shall not require an improvement location permit.
(Ord. 2003-08. Passed 5-8-03.)
1149.10 SIGN SETBACK REQUIREMENTS.
(Ord. 411. Passed 12-4-75.)
1149.11 INCREASED SETBACK.
For every square foot by which any on-premises sign exceeds fifty square feet, the setback shall be increased by one-half foot but not exceed one hundred feet.
(Ord. 411. Passed 12-4-75.)
1149.12 SETBACKS FOR OFF-PREMISES SIGNS.
If a setback line is not established for the appropriate zoning district, off-premises signs shall be set back a minimum of twenty feet from the right-of-way line.
(Ord. 411. Passed 12-4-75.)
1149.13 SETBACKS FOR PUBLIC AND QUASIPUBLIC SIGNS.
Real estate signs and bulletin boards for a church, school or any other public, religious or educational institution may be erected not less than ten feet from the established right-of-way line of any street or highway provided such sign or bulletin board does not obstruct traffic visibility at street or highway intersections.
(Ord. 411. Passed 12-4-75.)
1149.14 SPECIAL YARD PROVISIONS.
On-premises signs where permitted shall be erected or placed in conformity with the side and rear yard requirements of the district in which located, except that in any residential district, on-premises signs shall not be erected or placed within twelve feet of a side or rear lot line. If the requirements for a single side yard in the appropriate zoning district is more than twelve feet, the latter shall apply.
(Ord. 411. Passed 12-4-75.)
1149.15 LIMITATION.
Regulation of off-premises signs along interstate and primary highways shall conform to the requirements of Ohio R.C. Chapter 5516 and the regulations adopted pursuant thereto.
(Ord. 411. Passed 12-4-75.)
1149.16 VIOLATIONS.
In case any sign shall be installed, erected, constructed, or maintained in violation of any of the terms of the Zoning Ordinance, the Zoning Inspector shall notify in writing the owner or lessee thereof to alter such sign so as to comply with this Zoning Ordinance. Failure to comply with any of the provisions of this chapter shall be deemed a violation and shall be punishable under Section 1161.03. Political signs posted in violation of Section 1149.09 are subject to removal by the Zoning Inspector five days after written notice of violation of Section 1149.09 has been given.
(Ord. 2005-05. Passed 3-10-05.)