31.420 Monument Signs.

(1) A monument sign must comply with all applicable building regulations, along with any additional construction standards in this chapter.

(2) Lighting for a monument sign must comply with the National Electrical Code (NEC).

(3) Balloons, ribbons, or any other attention-getting devices shall not be attached to a monument sign, including the support structure.

(4) Landscaping must be provided and maintained around the base of the sign for a minimum distance of five feet. Such landscaping may consist of turf, small shrubs, ground cover, or a combination thereof so as to not block or interfere with the sign message. Upon petition, and with good cause, the Community Development Department may allow an exception to this requirement.

(5) The base of a monument sign must be covered with brick, stone, split-face masonry block, wood, stucco, or other material that complements the exterior building materials on the principal building.

(6) The width of the base of a monument sign must be at least 80 percent of the width of the sign face.

(7) A monument sign must be located at least five feet from a public street right-of-way.

(8) A monument sign must be located at least 15 feet from an access drive.

(9) A monument sign must be self-supporting (i.e., no guy wires or the like).

(10) A monument sign must be attached to a permanent foundation set in the ground that complies with the requirements of the International Building Code (IBC) adopted at the time of the permit application.

(11) A monument sign shall not unreasonably obstruct the view of a conforming sign on another property.

(12) Electric service to a monument sign must be concealed (e.g., placed underground).

(13) A monument sign shall not be placed within the vision clearance area except as may be allowed by the Municipal Code.

(14) If internally illuminated, the sign face of a monument sign must be constructed with an opaque surface to allow internal light to project only through the cut-out lettering and/or logos.

(15) The height of monument sign is measured from the surrounding grade to the top of sign. If the monument sign is located within 50 feet of the edge of the street and the surrounding grade is below the grade of the abutting street, then the sign height is measure from the street grade to the top of the sign as indicated below.

Measuring the height of a monument sign

(16) The area of a monument sign is the actual area of the sign face. If a monument sign is three-dimensional, the sign area is the area of the object projected on a flat surface. The horizontal base, the vertical pillars, brackets, and other supports are not included in the area calculation.

Measuring the area of a monument sign

[Ord. 22-661 § 3, 2022; Ord. 21-601 § 1, 2021]