Chapter 17.28
SIGNS
Sections:
17.28.020 General requirements.
17.28.030 Sign area measurement.
17.28.050 Additional/temporary signs.
17.28.060 Joint identification signs.
17.28.010 Permitted signs.
The following are signs permitted in the Planned Unit Development District subject to all of the requirements of this title:
A. Signs Not Subject to a Permit. The following signs may be erected and maintained without a permit:
1. Public signs: signs required or specifically authorized for public purpose by any law, statute or ordinance; which may be of any type, number, area, height above grade, location, illumination, or animation, authorized by the law, statute or ordinance under which the signs are erected.
2. Occupant signs: signs limited in content to name of occupant, address of premises, and signs of danger or a cautionary nature which are limited to wall and ground signs; no more than two (2) per street front; no more than four (4) square feet per sign in area; no more than ten (10) feet in height above grade; signs which may be illuminated only from a concealed light source which does not flash, blink, chase or fluctuate; and signs which are not animated.
3. Memorial signs: memorial signs or tablets, names of buildings and date of erection when cut into any masonry surface or inlaid so as to be part of the building when constructed of bronze or other noncombustible material.
4. Bulletin boards: bulletin boards not over twenty (20) square feet in area for public, charitable or religious institutions where the same are located on the premises of the institutions.
5. Signs in the display window: signs in the display window of a business use which are incorporated with a display of merchandise, a display relating to services offered, or a sign containing a noncommercial message, which do not exceed four (4) square feet in area.
6. Professional: nameplate signs not more than two (2) square feet in area which are fastened directly to the building and do not project more than six (6) inches beyond the property line.
7. Real estate: signs not extending outside the property line and not more than five (5) square feet per face in area which advertise the sale, rental or lease of the premises upon which the signs are located.
8. Noncommercial: signs not extending outside the property line and not more than five (5) square feet per face in area containing a noncommercial message.
9. Signs within buildings: any sign placed inside a building may be erected without a permit but subject to the safety regulations of the building code; provided, that any sign permanently attached to the interior of the structure and visible from the exterior thereof shall comply with the provisions of this chapter.
B. Signs Subject to a Permit. All signs not enumerated in subsection A of this section or Section 17.28.050(I) shall be erected and maintained only after application to and issuance by the Zoning Administrator of a sign permit therefor, and when in conformance with all of the requirements of this title. (Ord. 2018-2 § 1 (part): Ord. 2007-14 § 1 (part): Ord. 2003-1 (part): Ord. 1997-13 § 1 (part))
17.28.020 General requirements.
Signs may be erected, altered and maintained for and by a use by right; shall be located on the same lot as the use by right; and shall be clearly incidental, customary and commonly associated with the operation of the use by right or signs displaying a political or noncommercial message.
A. Contents. Identification by letter, numeral, symbol or design of the uses by right by name, use, hours of operation, services and products offered, events, and prices of products and services or some political or noncommercial message.
B. Sign Types. Wall, window, ground and arcade.
C. Maximum Number. Each use by right may have the greater number of the following: five (5) signs or two (2) signs for each front line of the lot on which the use by right is located.
D. Maximum Sign Area.
1. Each use by right: fifty (50) square feet; or the total permitted sign area of each use by right shall be determined by one (1) of the following provisions; provided, however, that no sign shall exceed two hundred (200) square feet in area nor shall the total sign area of any use exceed six hundred (600) square feet.
a. For a lot having but one (1) use by right: one (1) square foot of sign area for each linear foot of street frontage of the lot; provided, however, that in computing the area of such signs, the measurement of not more than two (2) front lines, one (1) continuous with the other shall be used.
b. For a lot having two (2) or more uses by right, for each use by right:
i. One and one-half (1 1/2) square feet of sign area for each linear foot of frontage of that portion of the building frontage occupied by the use for the first one hundred (100) feet of building frontage;
ii. Then one (1) square foot of sign area for each linear foot for the second one hundred (100) feet of building frontage;
iii. Then one-half (1/2) square foot of sign area for each linear foot of building frontage thereafter.
2. For a lot having less than two hundred (200) feet of frontage: in special cases some lots exist that have less than two hundred (200) feet of frontage. Those lots may apply for a variance to allow them signage up to two hundred (200) square feet. This variance will be heard and granted by the Zoning Board of Adjustments. The Board of Adjustments shall evaluate the effect upon traffic safety, and consider the total size of the lot when making the determination if two hundred (200) square feet shall be granted.
E. Maximum Height Above Grade. Ground signs: twenty-five (25) feet. Wall, window, and arcade signs shall be limited to the maximum height of the exterior walls of the buildings to which they are affixed.
F. Location.
1. Wall and window signs shall be set back from the boundary lines of the lot on which they are located, the same distance as a structure containing a use by right; provided, however, wall signs may project into the required setback space eighteen (18) inches.
2. Ground signs shall be set back ten (10) feet from the boundary lines of the lot on which they are located; provided, that a clear area be maintained to a height of six (6) feet, within fifty-five (55) feet of the intersection of two (2) streets or a driveway and a street.
G. Illumination. Permitted signs may be illuminated but shall not flash, blink, chase or fluctuate except as provided in Section 17.28.070.
H. Animation. Permitted signs shall not be animated. (Ord. 2018-2 § 1 (part): Ord. 2013-10 § 1 (part); Ord. 2007-14 § 1 (part): Ord. 2003-1 (part): Ord. 1997-13 § 1 (part))
17.28.030 Sign area measurement.
The area of a sign shall be measured in conformance with the regulations as set forth in this section; provided, that the structure or bracing of a sign shall be omitted from measurement unless such structure or bracing is made part of the message or face of the sign. Where a sign has two (2) or more display faces, the area of all faces shall be included in determining the area of the sign.
A. Sign with Backing. The area of all signs with backing or a background, material or otherwise, that is part of the overall sign display shall be measured by determining the sum of the areas of each square, rectangle, triangle, portion of a circle or any combination thereof which creates the smallest single continuous perimeter enclosing the extreme limits of the display surface or face of the sign including all frames, backing, face plates, nonstructural trim or other component parts not otherwise used for support.
B. Signs without Backing. The area of all signs without backing or a background, material or otherwise, that is part of the overall sign display shall be measured by determining the sum of the area of each square, rectangle, triangle, portion of a circle or any combination thereof which creates the smallest single continuous perimeter enclosing the extreme limits of each word, written representation (including any series of letters), emblems or figures of similar character, including all frames, face plates, nonstructural trim or other component parts not otherwise used for support.
C. Combinations. The area of any sign having parts both with and without backing shall be measured by determining the total area of all squares, rectangles, triangles, portions of a circle or any combination thereof constituting the smallest single continuous perimeter enclosing the extreme limits of any of the following combinations: the display surface or face of the sign including all frames, backing, face plates, nonstructural trim or other component parts not otherwise used for support for parts of the sign that have backing and each word, written representation (including any series of letters), frames, face plates, nonstructural trim or other component parts not otherwise used for support for parts of the sign having no backing.
D. Monument Signs. Monument-style signs with display faces that (1) join back to back, or (2) are parallel to each other and not more than forty-eight (48) inches apart, or (3) form a V-type angle of not less than ninety (90) degrees shall have only one (1) face included when determining the area of the sign. For the purpose of this subsection, a monument-style sign is a ground sign wholly supported by a wall not exceeding fifteen (15) feet in height. (Ord. 2018-2 § 1 (part): Ord. 2007-14 § 1 (part): Ord. 2003-1 (part): Ord. 1997-13 § 1 (part))
17.28.050 Additional/temporary signs.
A. Permit Required. No person shall erect, construct, display or relocate any temporary or additional sign, except as listed in subsection I of this section, without first obtaining a permit from the Zoning Administrator.
1. Persons wishing to obtain a permit to erect a temporary commercial sign shall submit an application to the Zoning Administrator.
2. Each temporary sign permit shall allow the applicant to erect, construct, repair, alter and change a temporary sign for one hundred five (105) days.
3. Temporary signs may not be relocated without the approval of a written modification to the original permit.
4. A fee of twenty-five dollars ($25.00) shall accompany each application for a temporary sign permit and/or application for renewal of such permit. A fee of five dollars ($5.00) shall be paid for each modification to the original permit.
B. Type of Signs. Temporary signs may be nonprojecting wall, window or ground signs. The use of balloons, streamers, pendants or other similar items is prohibited.
C. Area. Temporary commercial signs shall not exceed thirty-two (32) square feet in gross surface area.
D. Number. No more than one (1) temporary commercial sign shall be permitted for any one (1) use. The Zoning Administrator may grant individual variances for one (1) additional temporary sign per use; however, such variance shall not exceed seven (7) days in length and no one (1) use shall be permitted such variance more than five (5) times per calendar year.
E. Location. A temporary commercial sign must be located on the lot of the use it advertises, within one (1) foot from such use or fully attached to the permanent sign structure. Temporary signs shall not be placed on the roof of a building.
F. Height. The maximum height of temporary and additional signs shall be twenty (20) feet above grade.
G. Illumination or Animation. Temporary and additional signs shall not be illuminated or animated.
H. Maintenance. Temporary and additional signs shall be maintained in a safe manner and in a state of good repair.
I. Exceptions—Additional Signs. The following additional signs may be erected without a temporary sign permit:
1. Temporary real estate signs containing the message that the real estate on which the sign is located, including buildings, is for sale, lease or rent and identifying the owner or agent are exempt from the permit requirement. Temporary real estate signs may not exceed thirty-two (32) square feet in gross surface area; shall be located only upon the real property which is for sale, lease or rent; shall be set back from the property lines a minimum of ten (10) feet; and shall be removed within seven (7) days after the sale, lease or rental of such property. For all lots, a single sign on each street frontage may be erected.
2. Temporary construction signs identifying the project, the owner or developer, architect, engineer, contractor and subcontractors, funding sources and other information including, but not limited to, sale or leasing information, are exempt from the permit requirement. Only one (1) temporary construction sign may be erected per site, after issuance of the building permit, and such sign shall be removed within ten (10) days after issuance of the final occupancy permit. Temporary construction signs shall not exceed thirty-two (32) square feet in gross surface area.
3. Signs attached to the interior of a building window or glass door are exempt from the permit requirement; however, such signs may not, individually or collectively, cover more than fifty percent (50%) of the surface area of the transparent portion of the window or door to which they are attached.
4. None of the provisions applicable to the temporary/additional signs excepted from the permit requirement shall be construed to modify or nullify any of the provisions of this section or chapter.
5. Political Signs. Political signs relating to an election may be erected and maintained; provided, that such signs shall not be posted more than ninety (90) days prior to the election to which the sign relates; shall be removed within fifteen (15) days following the election to which the sign relates; shall be of the wall, window or ground type; and shall not exceed thirty-two (32) square feet in gross surface area.
6. Noncommercial Signs. Noncommercial signs may be erected and maintained; provided, that such signs shall not exceed thirty-two (32) square feet in gross surface area.
J. Total Number of Temporary/Additional Signs. For a lot having but one (1) use by right: two (2) temporary/additional signs per lot. For a lot having two (2) or more uses by right, for each use by right the lot may have one (1) temporary/additional sign. (Ord. 2018-2 § 1 (part): Ord. 2007-14 § 1 (part): Ord. 2003-1 (part): Ord. 1997-13 § 1 (part))
17.28.060 Joint identification signs.
Subject to the conditions set forth in this section and upon application to and issuance by the Zoning Administrator of a permit therefor, joint identification signs are permitted for two (2) or more uses by right on the same lot as the sign, excluding parking. The following joint identification signs are in addition to all other signs:
A. Sign types of joint identification signs: wall and ground.
B. Maximum number of joint identification signs: one (1) sign for each front line of the lot.
C. Area of Joint Identification Signs. The greater number of the following: (1) one hundred (100) square feet, or (2) one (1) square foot of sign area for each two (2) linear feet of street frontage of the lot; provided, however, that the total area of all signs on each front line of the lot shall not exceed two hundred (200) square feet.
D. Maximum height above grade of joint identification signs: twenty-five (25) feet.
E. Location of Joint Identification Signs.
1. Wall and window signs shall be set back from the boundary lines of the lot on which they are located, the same distance as a structure containing a use by right; provided, however, wall signs may project into the required setback space eighteen (18) inches.
2. Ground signs shall be set back ten (10) feet from the boundary lines of the lot on which they are located; provided, that a clear area be maintained to a height of six (6) feet, within fifty-five (55) feet of the intersection of two (2) streets or a driveway and a street.
F. Illumination of joint identification signs: may be illuminated but shall not flash, blink, chase or fluctuate except as provided in Section 17.28.070.
G. Animation of joint identification signs: shall not be animated.
H. Joint Identification Allowances for Significant Developments in the Regional Commercial Planned Unit Development District.
1. This section shall apply to retail, entertainment, and restaurant use developments that have the following attributes: more than four (4) uses by right share a common lot as defined in this section; the total uses of retail, entertainment, and/or restaurants occupy more than one hundred thousand (100,000) square feet, and occupy a common lot of more than five (5) acres.
2. Area of joint identification signs under this section: one (1) square foot of sign area for each two (2) linear feet of street frontage of the lot, with no maximum sign area based on the calculation.
3. Location of Signs. The sign(s) shall comply with subsection E of this section; however, the lot for purposes of this subsection H may also include any contiguous lots shared through long-term easements, leases, or other agreements where the uses jointly share in both the benefits and the burdens of the lots for parking, access, common areas, and/or other similar joint operations. If a single lot is not contiguous with the remainder of the contiguous lots as described in this section, it must be related by ownership or control through long-term agreements with the same uses associated with the contiguous lots and be located within one thousand (1,000) feet of the same contiguous lots, and be a component of the development’s original final site plan approval.
4. The signs shall otherwise comply with the requirements of subsections E, F, and G of this section.
5. The maximum height of the signs shall be as provided in Section 17.28.020(E). (Ord. 2021-3 § 1; Ord. 2018-2 § 1 (part): Ord. 2013-10 § 1 (part); Ord. 2007-14 § 1 (part): Ord. 2003-1 (part): Ord. 1997-13 § 1 (part)
17.28.070 Digital displays.
Subject to the conditions set forth in this section and upon application for an issuance by the Zoning Administrator of a permit therefor, digital signs are permitted subject to the following restrictions:
A. Sign types of digital signs: ground signs or wall signs.
B. Maximum number of digital displays: one (1) digital sign face for each front line of the lot. Sign faces may be placed back-to-back on the same sign.
C. Contents: identification by letter, numeral, symbol, or design of the uses by right by name, use, hours of operation, services, and products offered, events, and prices of products and services, or some political or noncommercial message. Therefore, digital displays or any sign may not have a message that advertises or relates to a good, product, service, event, or meeting that is offered, sold, traded, provided, or conducted at some location or premises other than that upon which the sign is posted or displayed.
D. Maximum Sign Area. Each digital sign face shall be limited to a maximum of two hundred (200) square feet and the total per lot may not exceed five hundred (500) square feet. The digital sign face(s) shall count against and therefore not exceed the maximum total sign area as calculated in Sections 17.28.020(D) and 17.28.060(C).
E. Maximum height above grade: twenty-five (25) feet. Wall signs shall be limited to the maximum height of the exterior walls of the buildings to which they are affixed.
F. Illuminance. The difference between the off- and solidly white lit digital display cannot exceed three-tenths (0.3) footcandle at a distance specified in the following formula: measurement distance equals square root of the area of the digital display times one hundred (100).
G. Dimming Capabilities. All digital displays shall be equipped with a photocell or programmable scheduled dimmer to ensure the illuminance does not exceed three-tenths (0.3) footcandle.
H. Fluctuation. The message/pattern on the digital display shall not fluctuate any more frequently than one (1) time every six (6) seconds and time to fluctuate from one message/pattern to another shall not exceed one (1) second.
I. Nonconforming Signs. Existing signs may be converted to digital signs, subject to the provisions of this section, provided they are otherwise conforming to this chapter. Legally nonconforming signs may not be converted to digital signs/displays.
J. Locations Allowed. Digital displays shall only be permitted for lots located in the Regional Commercial Planned Unit Development District. (Ord. 2021-3 § 1; Ord. 2018-2 § 1 (part): Ord. 2013-10 § 2)