Willoughby Hills City Zoning Code
TITLE NINE
Signs
1151.01 PURPOSE.
The purpose of this Chapter is to promote the public health, safety, and welfare through the provision of standards for existing and proposed advertising signs of all types. More specifically, this Chapter is intended to:
(a) Enhance and protect the physical appearance of the community.
(b) Promote and maintain visually attractive, residential, commercial, industrial, and research and office districts.
(c) Ensure that signs are located and designed to reduce distraction and confusion that may be contributing factors in traffic congestion and accidents, and maintain a safe and orderly pedestrian and vehicular environment.
(d) Prevent the erection of structures that will obstruct sight distance at the intersection of streets, alleys, or driveways.
(e) Provide review procedures that enable the City to comprehensively evaluate the appropriateness of a sign to the site, building, and surroundings.
(f) Prohibit all signs not expressly permitted by this Chapter.
(Ord. 2006-35. Passed 5-25-06.)
1151.02 APPLICATION OF SIGN REGULATIONS.
(a) The regulations contained in this Chapter shall apply to signs outside of the public right-of-way, except when specifically stated otherwise.
(b) A sign may only be erected, established, painted, created, or maintained in conformance with the standards, procedures, exemptions and other requirements of this Chapter.
(c) The following signs and displays are exempt from the regulations of this Chapter:
(1) Any sign displaying a public notice or warning required by a valid and applicable federal, state, or local law, ordinance, or regulation;
(2) Building Marker not exceeding four (4) square feet in area;
(3) Flags of the United States, the state, foreign nations having diplomatic relations with the United States, and any other flag adopted or sanctioned by an elected legislative body of competent jurisdiction. These flags must be flown in accordance with protocol established by the Congress of the United States for the Stars and Stripes. Any flag not meeting these conditions shall be considered a sign and shall be subject to regulations as such.
(4) Works of art that do not include a commercial message.
(5) A decorative display of religious and/or other holiday lights and decorations containing no commercial message when displayed during the appropriate time of the year.
(6) Any traffic control sign, such as “STOP” or “YIELD,” located on private property that meets applicable governmental standards pertaining to such signs and does not display a commercial message.
(7) Instructional Signs. Instructional signs provided such signs comply with the following:
A. Instructional signs shall be clearly intended, designed and located for instructional purposes, as determined by the Zoning Administrator; and,
B. Each sign shall not be larger than necessary to serve the intended instructional purpose; and,
C. The sign is not in a location and does not possess design characteristics that constitute or serve the purposes of an identification sign.
D. If the Zoning Administrator determines that the proposed sign(s) does not serve instructional purposes, it shall be considered a freestanding or wall sign, as applicable, and subject to the pertinent regulations in this Chapter.
(Ord. 2006-35. Passed 5-25-06.)
1151.03 COMPUTATIONS.
The following regulations shall control the computation of sign area, sign height, window area, and building frontage:
(a) Determining Sign Area or Dimension. Sign area shall include the face of all the display area of the sign, including the frame and structural support. Architectural features are not considered signs and are exempt from these regulations. For a sign that is framed, outlined, painted or otherwise prepared and intended to provide a background for a sign display, the area or dimensions shall include the entire portion within the outside dimensions of such background or frame.
(1) For a sign comprised of individual letters, figures, emblems, logos or elements on a wall or similar surface of the building or structure, or an irregularly shaped freestanding sign, the area of the sign shall encompass a regular, or a combination of not more than three (3) regular, geometric shape(s) which form or approximate the perimeter of all the elements in the display. When separate elements are organized to form a single sign, but the elements are separated by open space, the area shall be calculated by determining the geometric form, or combination of forms, which comprise the entire display area, including the space between the elements. Up to five (5) percent of the permitted sign area may be considered minor protrusions and extend outside of the maximum limitation of three (3) regular geometric shapes, and are, therefore, exempted from being included as part of the sign area.
(2) For freestanding and projecting signs, the area for a sign with more than one face shall be computed by adding together the area of all sign faces visible from any one point, as follows:
A. When two identical sign faces are placed back to back so that both faces cannot be viewed from any point at the same time, and when such sign faces are part of the same sign structure, are joined, are parallel or are within thirty (30) degrees of being parallel to each other and are at no point separated by a distance that exceeds three (3) feet, the sign area shall be computed by the measurement of one of the faces.
B. For any sign that has two (2) display faces that do not comply with the provision in above subsection (a)(2)A., or has more than two (2) display surfaces, then each surface shall be included when determining the area of the sign.
C. For spherical signs, the sign face shall be considered the plane created by bisecting the sphere with an imaginary line through the center of the sphere.
(3) In determining the area of freestanding signs, the following shall be exempted from being considered as part of the maximum permitted area:
A. The portion of a solid sign base, up to a maximum height of three (3) feet that is at least seventy (70) percent screened by landscaping at the time of installation;
B. Additional base area, when such areas are determined to be:
1. Constructed and designed with materials which are similar to, or compatible with, the architecture of the building or other site features; and,
2. Not intended or designed to include messages and excludes colors, trademarks, or any other decorative design features that are primarily intended to attract attention, but rather are unobtrusive and compatible with the architecture of the building or other site features.
(b) Determining Sign Height. The height of a sign shall be measured from the base of the sign or supportive structure at its point of attachment to the ground to the top most element of the sign. A freestanding sign on a man-made base, including a graded earth mound, shall be measured from the grade of the nearest street, drive or parking area, whichever is the highest grade reference.
(c) Determining Building Frontage and Building Unit. The length of the building wall that faces the principal street or the length of the wall that contains the main entrance to the uses therein shall be considered the building frontage, except as further regulated in subsection (c)(3) below.
(1) The building frontage shall be measured along the length of the front wall between the exterior faces of the exterior side walls.
(2) In the case of an irregular wall surface, a straight line extended along such wall surface shall be used to measure the length.
(3) The primary frontage shall be the portion of a frontage that serves as the main access point to a building or building unit. A site/building will be considered to have secondary frontage when any of the following site/building characteristics are present:
A. The subject site is a corner lot;
B. The primary parking area is not located adjacent to a public street; and,
C. The building or unit has walls with ingress and egress that do not face the public street.
(4) When a site has primary and secondary frontage as defined in subsection 1151.03 (c) (3), the property owner shall determine which wall shall be the primary building frontage and which wall(s) shall be the secondary building frontage. Only one outside wall of any business shall be considered its primary frontage. In no case shall a building elevation abutting an R-1 or an R-2 District be considered primary or secondary frontage, and signage shall not be permitted on any building elevation that faces or is within forty-five degrees of facing an R-1 or an R-2 zoning district boundary.
(5) For multi-tenant buildings, the portion of a building that is owned or leased by a single tenant shall be considered a building unit. The building frontage for a building unit shall be measured from the centerline of the party walls defining the building unit.
(d) Determining Window Area. The window area of a building shall be the total glass area of windows on the ground floor of the building frontage, provided that for the purpose of these regulations, the height of windows on the ground floor shall be that portion of window (s) within fifteen (15) feet of grade.
(e) Determining Sign Setbacks. The required setbacks for any freestanding sign shall apply to all elements of the sign, including its frame and base.
(Ord. 2006-35. Passed 5-25-06.)
1151.04 SIGNS IN RESIDENTIAL DISTRICTS.
Signs for all residential uses and for nonresidential uses in residential districts shall comply with the regulations set forth in this Section.
(a) Sign Standards. Permanent signs for all residential uses and for nonresidential uses in residential districts shall be limited in number, area, height and setback based on the type of use, as set forth in Schedule 1151.04.
Schedule 1151.04
Permanent Signs in Residential Districts
Type | Maximum Number Permitted | Maximum Area Per Sign | Regulations for Freestanding Signs | ||
Maximum Height | Minimum Setback from Right of Way | Minimum setback from abutting property line | |||
(a) Signs for Single-Family Detached, Single-Family Attached, and Two-Family | |||||
(1) Freestanding sign | 1/building | 2 sq. ft. | 6 ft. | 0 (1) | -- |
(2) Freestanding sign for residential development identification | 30 sq. ft. | 8 ft. | -- | -- | |
(3) Nameplate or window sign | 1 per DU | 2 sq. ft. | -- | -- | -- |
(b) Multi-Family Buildings: | |||||
(1) Entrance and exit signs | 2 per driveway (1 in, 1 out) | 3 sq. ft. | 3 ft. | Not less than 2 ft. nor more than 10 ft. | -- |
(2) Freestanding sign | 1/development entrance | 30 sq. ft. | 8 ft. | Equal to sign height | 15 ft. (2) |
(3) Nameplate or window sign | 1 per each public entrance | 2 sq. ft. | -- | -- | -- |
(4) Wall sign | 1/building | .75 sq. ft. per lineal ft. of bldg. frontage | -- | -- | -- |
(c) Nonresidential Uses/Conditional Uses | |||||
(1) Entrance and exit signs | 2 per driveway (1 in, 1 out) | 3 sq. ft. | 3 ft. | Not less than 2 ft. nor more than 10 ft. | -- |
(2) Freestanding sign | 1 | 30 sq. ft. | 8 ft. | 30 ft. | 30 ft. |
(3) Nameplate sign | 1/address | 2 sq. ft. | -- | -- | -- |
(4) Wall Sign | 1/building | 1 sq. ft. per lineal ft. of bldg. frontage | -- | -- | -- |
(d) Instructional Sign: | |||||
Note for Schedule 1151.04: (1) But no closer than ten (10) feet from the edge of pavement of the travel lane of the public or private street. (2) Setback from property line shall be 25 ft. when abutting an R-1 District. DU = Dwelling Unit | |||||
(c) Supplemental Regulations for Permanent Freestanding Signs.
(1) Freestanding signs shall be erected in a landscaped setting and not on sidewalks, drives, or in parking lots. Neither the landscaping nor the freestanding sign shall obstruct the view of vehicles entering or exiting the property.
(2) No part of a freestanding sign, the wall or entry feature on which a sign is mounted, or the landscaping shall obstruct the view of vehicles entering or exiting the property.
(3) For residential developments, the freestanding sign shall have a maximum of two sign faces per entrance and be either a double-faced freestanding sign or two (2) single-sided sign faces attached to walls or entry features located one on each side of the street entrance.
(4) For nonresidential uses, a maximum of thirty (30) percent of the permitted freestanding sign area may be devoted to changeable copy. Changeable copy may be either computer driven or manually changed.
(d) Supplemental Regulations for Temporary Signs. Temporary signs are permitted in Residential Districts subject to the following provisions:
(1) Temporary Signs for lots in R-1, and R-2, Districts:
A. Each residential unit shall be permitted to erect two (2) temporary signs either in a window or as a freestanding sign in the front yard. The sign face area of such temporary signs shall not exceed twelve (12) square feet. Such temporary signs shall be displayed for no longer than thirty (30) days, after which time such signs shall either be removed or replaced.
B. Temporary freestanding signs shall not be located in the public right of way and shall be at least fifteen (15) feet from a side lot line.
C. Temporary signs for commercial uses shall not be permitted in residential districts except that temporary signs promoting a contractor working on-site shall be permitted for the duration of the contractor’s work.
D. Garage Sale Signs. Only one “Garage Sale” sign, not exceeding four (4) square feet in area shall be permitted and only in conjunction with the casual sale of tangible personal property.
E. The height of temporary freestanding signs shall not exceed four (4) feet.
(2) Temporary Signs in the M and M-1 Residential Districts. Two (2) temporary freestanding signs, that do not exceed eight (8) square feet each, may be erected for up to fifteen (15) days per calendar month.
(3) Temporary Signs for Non-residential Uses. Such signs shall comply with the following:
A. One temporary freestanding sign or one banner attached to the front of the building shall be permitted for a period not to exceed seven (7) days, four times per calendar year. Such signs may be permitted for a period longer than seven (7) days only when the Architectural Board of Review approves an extended time frame. The maximum area shall be twelve (12) square feet.
B. A temporary freestanding sign shall be located no closer than 15 feet from the street right-of-way line or a side lot line.
(4) Project Real Estate/Construction Signs. A project real estate or construction sign for a development project shall comply with the following:
A. One project real estate or construction sign shall be permitted for each street on which the lot has frontage.
B. Such signs shall be located a minimum of fifteen (15) feet from any street right-of-way.
C. A project real estate or construction sign shall be erected and maintained on a lot only during the period of time that the parcel is up for sale, rent, or lease or the building project is under construction. In the R-1 and R-2 Districts, when seventy-five percent (75%) of all lots/units have been sold, the project real estate or construction sign shall be removed. After such removal, individual signs may be erected on the remaining lots/units in conformance with Section 1151.04 (d)(1).
D. The maximum area shall be thirty-two (32) square feet, and the maximum height shall be eight (8) feet.
(Ord. 2006-35. Passed 5-25-06.)
1151.05 SIGNS IN NONRESIDENTIAL DISTRICTS.
Signs in nonresidential districts shall conform to the standards set forth in this Section, except for residential uses, which shall comply with the standards set forth in Section 1151.04.
(a) Maximum Number and Area of Permanent Signs Attached to Buildings. Permanent signs attached to buildings shall conform to the maximum number and area limitations set forth in Schedule 1151.05
(b).
Permanent Signs Attached to Buildings
Type | Maximum Number Permitted | Maximum Area | |
B-1 District | B-2 and B-3 Districts | ||
(a) Instructional sign | |||
(b) Nameplate sign | 1/address | 2 sq. ft. | 2 sq. ft. |
(c) Projecting sign (1) | 1/ground floor occupant frontage | 8 sq. ft. | 8 sq. ft. |
(d) Building signs, (3) excluding projecting signs | In compliance with maximum area | 1 square ft. per linear ft. of building frontage | 1 square ft. per linear ft. of building frontage |
(e) Window sign | In compliance with maximum area | (2) | (2) |
(c) Supplemental Regulations for Permanent Signs Attached to Buildings.
(1) Window Signs shall comply with the following:
A. Ground Floor Occupants. A window sign shall not exceed twenty percent (20%) of the total glass area of the ground floor windows.
B. Upper Story Occupants. For a multi-story building, each occupant above the ground floor shall be permitted one permanent sign to be placed in a window of the occupant's space, not to exceed six (6) square feet or fifteen (15) percent of the area of the window in which the sign is placed, whichever is smaller. These signs shall be in addition to the maximum allowable area for building signs pursuant to Schedule 1151.05(b).
(2) Projecting Signs shall comply with the following:
A. Projecting signs shall be limited to occupants that have a minimum of twenty (20) feet of building frontage.
B. All projecting signs shall have a maximum height of fourteen (14) feet and a minimum clearance of eight (8) feet from the ground to the bottom of the sign, except when the projecting sign is located above a landscaped area or other area that does not permit pedestrian traffic beneath the sign.
(3) Sign Bonuses for Buildings with Large Building Setbacks. In the B-2 and B-3 Districts, the maximum allowable area for a building sign, excluding projecting signs, may be increased by 25% for each fifty (50) feet or fraction thereof of building setback when the principal building is located more than 100 feet from the principal street on which the building is located and the building is visible from the street, not to exceed 200% of the maximum allowable area.
(4) Sign bonuses for Corner Lots and Side and Rear Entrances. The maximum allowable area for building signs shall be increased beyond the allowable area set forth in Schedule 1151.05 (b) in compliance with the following:
A. Additional area shall be permitted when a building has a secondary frontage as determined in Section 1151.03 (c), Determining Building Frontage and Building Unit.
B. The increased sign area for each secondary building frontage shall be fifty percent (50%) of the sign area permitted for the primary frontage, provided that the additional sign area is utilized only on the secondary building frontage.
C. Provided that on any eligible frontage the sign area shall not exceed two square feet of signage per lineal foot of building frontage.
D. Notwithstanding the above, signs shall only be installed on a maximum of three (3) building elevations.
(d) Permanent Freestanding Signs. Permanent freestanding signs shall comply with the maximum number, area, and height limitations and minimum setbacks set forth in Schedule 1151.05
(e).
Permanent Freestanding Signs
Maximum Number | Maximum Area | Maximum Height | Minimum Setback | ||
from ROW | from Side Lot Line | ||||
(a) Freestanding Sign | |||||
B-1, B-2 and B-3 Districts | I/zoning lot (1) | 30 sq. ft. per first 100 feet of street frontage plus fifteen-hundredths (.15) sq. ft. for each additional foot of frontage, with a maximum area of 100 sq. ft. per face. | 8 ft. | 5 ft. | 15 ft.(2) |
B-3 District | One per 150 ft. of frontage | 30 sq. ft. per first 100 feet of street frontage plus fifteen-hundredths (.15) sq. ft. for each additional foot of frontage, with a maximum area of 100 sq. ft. per face. | 8 ft. | 5 ft. | 15 ft.(2) |
(b) Entrance/Exit Signs | 2 per driveway (1 in, 1 out) | 3 sq. ft. | 3 ft. | Not less than 2 ft. nor more than 10 ft. | -- |
(c) Instructional Signs | |||||
(d) Raised Signs, in lieu of Freestanding Signs | |||||
B-2 District | 1/zoning lot (1) | 30 sq. ft. per first 100 feet of street frontage plus fifteen-hundredths (.15) sq. ft. for each additional foot of frontage, with a maximum area of 75 sq. ft. per face. | 16 ft. | 5 ft. | 15 ft.(2) |
B-3 District | One per 150 ft. of frontage | 30 sq. ft. per first 100 feet of street frontage plus fifteen-hundredths (.15) sq. ft. for each additional foot of frontage, with a maximum area of 150 sq. ft. per face. | 32 ft. | 5 ft. | 15 ft.(2) |
(e) Tenant Signs | |||||
B-2 District | 1/zoning lot (1) | 50 sq. ft. | 16 ft. | 5 ft. | 15 ft.(2) |
B-3 District | One per 150 ft. of frontage | 200 sq. ft. | 32 ft. | 5 ft. | 15 ft.(2) |
(2) Minimum setback from a property zoned R-1 and/or R-2 shall be 25 feet. | |||||
(f) Supplemental Regulations for Permanent Freestanding and/or Raised Signs.
(1) Additional Freestanding and/or Raised Signs for Large/Corner Lots. The number of freestanding signs on large or corner lots may be increased according to the following:
A. One (1) additional sign for each two-hundred (200) ft. of frontage above four hundred (400) lineal feet of frontage shall be permitted;
B. The area of each additional freestanding and/or raised sign shall comply with Schedule 1151.05(e);
C. Two permitted, freestanding and/or raised signs may be aggregated into a single sign, at the intersection of two streets, provided that the area of any freestanding sign face shall not exceed 150 percent of the maximum area permitted for a single sign.
(2) Minimum Separation of Freestanding and/or Raised Signs. Freestanding signs on the same lot shall be separated by a minimum of 150 feet, as measured along the street right-of-way line. For corner lots, both sides of the intersection shall be used in measuring spacing.
(4) Landscaping. Freestanding signs shall be erected in a landscaped setting and not on sidewalks, drives or in parking spaces. Neither the landscaping nor the freestanding sign shall obstruct the view of vehicles entering or exiting the property.
(5) Multi-Occupant Facilities. When a freestanding sign is permitted on a site that has more than one occupant, it is the property owner's responsibility to determine if the sign area shall be devoted to identification of the building(s), the anchor occupant, all occupants, or some combination thereof.
(g) Raised Signs for properties in the B-2 and B-3 District located on Bishop Road between I-90 and Chardon and on Chardon Road west of Bishop Road. The following are the acceptable criteria:
(1) Landscaping. Freestanding signs shall be erected in a landscaped setting and not on sidewalks, drives or in parking spaces. Neither the landscaping nor the freestanding sign shall obstruct the view of vehicles entering or exiting the property.
(2) Illumination. Raised signs should be illuminated from the interior, not lighted by spotlights or other external devices.
(3) Appendages. There shall be no appendages attached, dangling or projecting to the sides, base or top of the raised signs.
(4) Height. The height of a raised sign shall be determined by measuring the vertical distance between the top part of the sign to the elevation of the ground beneath the sign prior to construction, excluding additional elevation added by the creation of berms or mounds. If the grade prior to construction cannot be determined, the elevation of the base of the sign shall be computed using the elevation of the nearest point of crown of a public street or the grade of the land at the principal entrance of the principal structure on the premises, whichever is lower.
(h) Temporary Signs In Nonresidential Districts. The following regulations for temporary signs in non-residential districts are in addition to the maximum sign area and height regulations set forth in Section 1151.05
.
(1) Project Real Estate/Construction Signs. A project real estate or construction sign for a development project shall be permitted only in compliance with the following:
A. One project real estate or construction sign shall be permitted for each street on which the lot has frontage.
B. Such sign shall be located a minimum of fifteen (15) feet from any street right-of-way.
C. A project real estate or construction sign shall be erected and maintained only during the period of time that the parcel is up for sale, rent, or lease or the building project is under construction. If applicable, such temporary sign shall be removed within two (2) business days of installation of the permanent identification sign.
D. The maximum sign area shall be thirty-two (32) square feet.
(2) Temporary Window Signs. Temporary window signs shall be attached to the interior of the building and shall comply with the following:
A. The area of temporary window signs, either affixed thereto or visible from the outside, shall not exceed the percentage of the window area as set forth in Section 1151.05
(c)(1). This area is in addition to the allowable sign area for identification signs that are permanently attached to windows.
B. All temporary window signs shall be displayed no longer than 30 days after placement, after which time such sign shall be removed. Temporary window signs shall only be displayed a maximum of four (4) times in a calendar year.
(3) Other Temporary Signs. A temporary sign, whether a freestanding sign or a banner attached to the front of the building, shall be permitted for a period not to exceed fourteen (14) days not more than four (4) times per calendar year. Such signs may be permitted for a period longer than fourteen (14) days only when the Architectural Board of Review approves an extended time frame. The maximum area for freestanding or banner signs shall be sixteen (16) square feet. The maximum height for temporary, free standing sings shall be six (6) feet.
(4) Setbacks. All temporary freestanding signs shall be located no closer than fifteen (15) feet from the street right-of-way line and fifteen (15) feet from a side lot line, unless specifically regulated otherwise.
(Ord. 2010-8. Passed 3-25-10.)
1151.06 PROHIBITED SIGNS.
All signs not expressly permitted in this Chapter shall be prohibited in the City. Such signs include but are not limited to the following:
(a) Animated, flashing, moving, blinker, racer type, intermittent, rotating, moving, animated, or revolving signs, whirligig devices, inflatable signs and tethered balloons, pennants, ribbons, streamers, spinners, exposed light bulbs, and strings of lights not permanently mounted to a rigid background, and other similar types of attention-getting devices, except those exempt under Section 1151.02
(c);
(b) Billboards;
(c) Flags intended for advertising or commercial purposes;
(d) Ghost signs;
(e) Merchandise, equipment, products, vehicles or other items not themselves for sale or rent and placed for attention getting, identification or advertising purposes;
(f) Permanent signs erected or attached to accessory structures, including outdoor furniture, benches, tables, chairs;
(g) Raised signs, except on properties zoned B-2 or B-3 located on Bishop Road between I-90 and Chardon Road, and on Chardon Road West of Bishop Road, where raised signs are permitted;
(h) Signs or advertising devices which attempt, or appear to attempt, to direct the movement of traffic, or which interfere with, imitate or resemble an official sign, signal or device;
(i) Signs containing information or advertising for any product not sold or produced on the premises or for any use that does not occur on the premises;
(j) Roof sign; and
(k) Streamer signs. (Ord. 2010-8. Passed 3-25-10.)
1151.07 DESIGN CRITERIA.
In addition to ensuring compliance with the numerical standards of these regulations, the Architectural Board of Review shall consider the proposed general design arrangement and placement of the sign according to the following criteria:
(a) All Signs.
(1) The lettering shall be large enough to be easily read but not overly large or out of scale with the building or site.
(2) The sign should be consolidated into a minimum number of elements.
(3) The ratio between the message and the background shall permit easy recognition of the message.
(4) The size, style and location of the sign shall be appropriate to the activity of the site.
(5) The sign shall complement the building and adjacent buildings by being designed and placed to enhance the architecture of the building.
(6) Signs shall be designed with a limited number, and harmonious use of colors.
(7) Signs, if seen in a series, shall have a continuity of design with the style of sign generally consistent throughout the building or block.
(8) Instructional signs shall contain the minimum information, and the minimum area, necessary to convey the message and instruct the viewer in the safe and efficient use of the facility.
(b) Construction Standards.
(1) The construction, erection, safety and maintenance shall comply with all applicable building codes.
(2) All signs shall be constructed in a professional manner in conformance with the appropriate building code and other applicable requirements of the City and shall be structurally sound.
(3) All signs shall be located and secured so as to pose no threat to pedestrian or vehicular traffic.
(4) Permanent signs shall be fabricated on and of materials that are of good quality and good durability.
(5) Any glass forming any part of any sign shall be safety glass. Where a single piece of glass has an area exceeding three (3) square feet, it shall be wire glass.
(6) Electric signs and all permanent signs involving structural requirements of the applicable building code shall be installed, repaired, altered and serviced only be a contractor licensed to perform such tasks. Wiring supplying electricity to signs shall be installed underground.
(7) No sign shall be erected to as to project over or obstruct any window, door, fire escape, balcony, platform, stairway, ladder, vent or other means of ingress of any building.
(8) No sign shall be attached to a utility pole, tree, trash receptacle, bench or other structure not intended or approved as a sign support.
(9) Temporary signs shall be durable and weather-resistant, and fastened or anchored sufficiently, whether attached to the building or positioned in the ground.
(10) No sign regulated by any of the provisions of this section shall be erected in the right-of-way or at the intersection of any streets in such a manner as to obstruct free and clear vision, or at any location where, by reason of the position, shape or color, it may interfere with, obstruct the view of, or be confused with any authorized traffic sign, signal or device, or which makes use of the words “STOP”, “LOOK”, “DANGER” or any other word, phrase, symbol or character in such a manner as to interfere with, mislead or confuse traffic.
(11) In the event there is a conflict between the provisions of this section and the provisions of any applicable building codes, the provisions of the applicable building code shall govern.
(c) Maintenance. All signs shall be maintained in accordance with the following:
(1) The property owner, occupant or other person responsible for the sign shall maintain the sign in a condition fit for the intended use and he/she shall have a continuing obligation to comply with all applicable building code requirements.
(2) If the Zoning Administrator or Building Inspector finds that any sign is unsafe, insecure, a menace to the public, or constructed, erected, or maintained in violation of the provisions of this Code, notice shall be given in writing by the Zoning Administrator to the owner. The owner of the sign shall, within seventy-two (72) hours of such notification, correct such unsafe condition or remove the sign. If the correction has not been made within the allotted seventy-two hours, the sign may be removed or altered by the City to comply with these regulations at the expense of the owner or occupant of the property upon which the sign is located. The Zoning Administrator or designated agent may cause any sign, which, in the City’s opinion, creates a danger to persons or property to be removed immediately and without notice.
(3) Whenever any sign, either conforming or non-conforming to these regulations, is required to be removed for the purpose of repairing, refurbishing or repainting, the same may be done without a permit or any payment of fees provided that all of the following conditions are met:
A. There shall be no alteration or remodeling to the sign base or sign support(s) of the mounting of the sign itself.
B. There shall be no enlargement or increase in any of the dimensions of the sign or its structure.
C. The sign shall be accessory to a legally permitted, conditional or non-conforming use.
(4) The Zoning Administrator may order any sign to be painted or refurbished whenever needed to keep the sign in a neat and safe condition. All supporters, guys, braces and anchors for such signs shall be maintained in a safe condition.
(5) The face of any permanent sign which advertises a business that has not been conducted on the premises for 180 consecutive days, or fails to serve the purposes for which it was intended, or evidences a lack of maintenance, shall be removed by the owner, agent or person having the beneficial use of the building, structure or land upon which such sign is located, within ten (10) business days after written notice by the Zoning Administrator, and the sign area shall be replaced by a neutral, single background color panel or similar cover. If the sign is comprised of individually raised letters, the letters shall be removed so as to be in compliance with Section 1151.06
(d). Upon failure to comply with such notice within the time specified in such order, the Zoning Administrator or designated agent is hereby authorized to cause removal of such sign, and any expense incident thereto shall be paid by the owner of the property on which the sign is located.
(d) Illumination. Signs shall be permitted to be illuminated in compliance with the following:
(1) Light sources shall be shielded from all adjacent buildings and streets.
(2) Lights shall not be of such brightness so as to cause glare that is hazardous to pedestrians or motorists, or cause reasonable objection from adjacent residential districts.
(3) Signs shall not include flashing, moving, or intermittent lighting in which any part of the message changes at a rate of more than once every 10 seconds.
(4) The illumination of signs shall not obstruct traffic control or any other public informational signs. Signs visible from sight lines along streets shall not contain symbols or words, or red and green lights that resemble highway traffic signs or devices.
(5) In Single-family Residential Districts, temporary signs shall not be illuminated. (Ord. 2006-35. Passed 5-25-06.)
1151.08 REGULATIONS FOR NONCONFORMING SIGNS.
(a) Maintenance of Nonconforming Signs. Nonconforming signs shall be maintained in good condition in accordance with the requirements of this Section.
(b) Alteration, Relocation or Replacement of Nonconforming Signs. A nonconforming sign shall not be structurally altered, relocated, or replaced unless it is brought into compliance with the provisions of this Chapter, except as otherwise permitted in this Chapter.
(c) Reconstruction of Damaged Sign. If a sign face and/or its support is damaged to the extent where the repair cost exceeds 50% of the replacement cost of the sign, the sign shall be removed or brought into compliance with this Chapter. If the repair costs do not exceed 50% of the replacement cost of the sign, the sign may be repaired, subject to approval by the Architectural Board of Review.
(d) Termination. A legal nonconforming sign shall immediately lose it legal nonconforming status, and therefore shall be brought into conformance with this Chapter or removed, when any of the following occur:
(1) The size or shape of the sign is changed; or
(2) The building to which the sign is accessory is renovated or remodeled to the extent that more than 50% of the gross floor area is removed or replaced, or otherwise affected by renovation or remodeling; or
(3) The building is expanded and the total sign area permitted for the expanded building is more than 50% greater than the existing sign area; or
(4) When seven (7) years have elapsed from the effective date of this provision, which effective date is May 25, 2006.
(Ord. 2006-35. Passed 5-25-06.)
1151.09 ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES.
No person shall erect, locate, move, alter, or replace any sign or cause a sign to be located or maintained, unless all provisions of this Chapter have been met.
(a) Signs Requiring a Permit. The following signs shall require a permit prior to the erection or alteration of the sign.
(1) The Architectural Board of Review shall review and act on sign applications for the following signs according to the design and construction criteria set forth in Section 1151.07
. If the Architectural Board of Review approves the sign application, the Zoning Administrator shall issue the sign permit.
A. Permanent, building signs;
B. Entrance and Exit signs;
C. Permanent, freestanding signs; and,
D. Building markers exceeding four (4) square feet
(2) The Zoning Administrator shall review and act on applications for the following signs according to the design and construction criteria set forth in Section 1151.07
.
A. Building markers less than four (4) square feet;
B. Temporary signs for uses other than those listed in subsection (b) below; and,
C. Instructional signs.
(b) Signs Not Requiring Permit. The erection of the following signs shall not require a permit provided that all applicable regulations of this Chapter are complied with:
(1) Nameplates;
(2) Temporary signs for single-family detached, single-family attached, and two-family dwellings; and,
(c) Application Requirements. An application for a sign shall be made to the Zoning Administrator. The application shall include two (2) copies; one (1) copy depicting the actual colors of the building and sign, either drawing or photo, with the second copy at eight and one half by eleven (8 ½ x 11”) size and suitable for reproduction. The application shall present the sign in a manner which best illustrates how the sign shall be experienced by the public after it is erected on the site. Specifically, the application shall include:
(1) A photograph and site plan showing the location of the sign and its relationship to the building, the building setbacks and lot width, the locations and square footage areas of all existing signs on site, the adjacent parcels and parking lots, drives and sidewalks;
(2) Detailed drawings showing the design of the sign, including size, content, style of lettering, logo and other graphic features, colors of the applied lettering and background, materials of the sign and the frame or structure, and approximate weight of the sign; and
(3) Construction, erection or fastening details, including wattage of electric lamps or illuminating tubes, if applicable.
(4) A permit fee for each sign application, as established by City Council.
When any person other than the owner of the property submits a sign application, the owner of the property or a designated agent for the owner shall also sign such application.
(d) Permit Issuance. The Zoning Administrator shall be responsible for the issuance of a sign permit when it is determined that all applicable provisions of this chapter have been met by the applicant.
(e) Term of Permit. The sign permit issued pursuant hereto shall be valid so long as the owner complies with the terms and conditions of this Planning and Zoning Code or any amendment thereto.
(f) Permit Fee. Council shall by ordinance establish a schedule of fees related to sign permit administration. The schedule of fees shall be available at the office of the Zoning Administrator. No sign permit will be approved until all appropriate fees have been submitted.
(g) Inspection. Prior to installation, all signs are subject to inspection, whether a permit is required or not.
(1) The Zoning Administrator or any other official of the City is hereby authorized to enter upon any property or premise to determine if the provisions of this Chapter are being complied with. Such inspection may be made at any reasonable time.
(2) The Zoning Administrator may order removal of any sign that is not maintained in accordance with the provisions of this chapter.
(h) Removal. When a sign is removed for any reason, a new permit for future installation of the sign shall be obtained, and all mast arms, guys of any nature, clips, brackets, and all structures of the old sign shall be removed with the sign.
(Ord. 2006-35. Passed 5-25-06.)
1151.10 COMPREHENSIVE SIGNAGE PLAN.
Comprehensive Signage Plan: A comprehensive signage plan or set of graphic design criteria shall control all future signage at all new or substantially renovated or remodeled existing multi-tenant buildings and development projects such as shopping centers and business complexes. For the purposes of this subsection, substantially renovated shall mean more than 50% of the gross floor area is removed or replaced, or otherwise affected by the renovation or remodeling.
(a) Submission Requirements. A comprehensive signage plan shall be required for all said centers or complexes, and an agreement shall be made to incorporate design criteria requirements in all future relationships, contractual or otherwise, with tenants and other parties desiring signage at the subject center or complex.
(1) A comprehensive signage plan shall be required for all said centers or complexes, and an agreement shall be made to incorporate design criteria requirements in all future relationships, contractual or otherwise, with tenants and other parties desiring signage at the subject center or complex.
(2) Existing signage will be permitted to remain as long as the same tenant is in the same location. If the existing tenant wishes to change said sign in any way, or a new tenant occupies the location, then the sign shall conform to the on-site comprehensive signage plan.
(3) When more than one use or business is located on a parcel or within a complex that functions as a shopping center or business complex, the overall signage plan for the lot or center, or complex shall provide for consistency among signs on the premises with regard to the following: material, location of each sign on the building(s); sign proportions; color schemes; lettering or graphic style; lighting; area allocated to each tenant.
(4) When a comprehensive signage plan is submitted, such plan shall indicate nonconforming signs to the required plan. If the total existing signage exceeds the total permitted signage under the new regulations, a new or replacement tenant would be allowed its share of signage based on the approved common signage plan.
(b) Approval. The Architectural Board of Review shall review and act on a comprehensive signage plan according to the design and construction criteria set forth in Section 1151.07
and the review procedures for development plan review set forth in Chapter 1111, prior to the issuance of any sign permits.
(Ord. 2006-35. Passed 5-25-06.)