The following signs are exempt from regulation
under this chapter.
A. Signs not exceeding four square feet in area that
are customarily associated with residential use and that are not of
a commercial nature, such as:
(1)
Signs giving property identification names or
numbers or names of occupants;
(2)
Signs on mailboxes or newspaper tubes; and
(3)
Signs posted on private property relating to
private parking or warning the public against trespassing or danger
from animals.
B. Official signs of a noncommercial nature erected by
public utilities.
C. Signs directing and guiding traffic on private property
that do not exceed four square feet each and that bear no advertising
matter.
D. Works of art which do not contain moving parts or
lights, including decorative or architectural features of buildings,
that do not include a commercial message. Commercial messages shall
include logos, prototypes, letters, trademarks and other decorative
images used to advertise a vendor's merchandise or services.
E. Signs erected by or on behalf of or pursuant to the
authorization of a governmental body, including legal notices, identification
and informational signs, and traffic, directional, or regulatory signs.
F. Flags, pennants, or insignia of any nonprofit organization
when not displayed in connection with a commercial promotion or as
an advertising device.
G. Signs painted on or otherwise permanently attached
to currently licensed motor vehicles that are not primarily used as
freestanding signs.
H. Any sign inside a building, not attached to a window
or door, that is not legible from a distance of more than three feet
beyond the lot line of the parcel on which such sign is located.
I. Church bulletin boards, church identification signs,
and church directional signs that:
(1)
Do not exceed one per abutting street;
(2)
Do not exceed 16 square feet in area; and
(3)
Are not internally illuminated.
Any sign erected, placed, attached, or substantially
altered, or reconstructed shall conform to the following regulations:
A. Signs that revolve, flash, are animated or that utilize
movement or apparent movement to attract the attention of the public
are prohibited.
B. Every sign shall have good scale and proportion in
its design and in its visual relationship to buildings and surroundings.
C. The number of graphic elements on a sign shall be
held to the minimum needed to convey the sign's major message and
shall be composed in proportion to the sign face.
D. Each sign shall be compatible with the signs on adjacent
and nearby surrounding premises.
E. Advertisement.
(1)
No off-premises signs may be located in any
district except outdoor advertising structures and such temporary
signs as may otherwise be provided for in this Part 9.
(2)
On-premises signs shall advertise only the name
of the business(es) or the type of business(es) conducted on the premises.
F. No sign shall interfere with traffic or conflict with
other government signs.
(1)
No sign may be located so that it substantially
interferes with the view necessary for motorists to proceed safely
through intersections or to enter onto or exit from public streets
or private roads.
(2)
No sign may be erected so that by its location,
color, size, shape, nature, or message it would tend to obstruct the
view of or be confused with official traffic signs or other signs
erected by governmental agencies.
G. Freestanding signs shall be secured so that they may
not be moved by wind or other forces of nature.
H. Additional regulations for all on-site banners, pennants
and flags.
(1)
Banners and pennants may be indirectly illuminated
during hours of operation only.
(2)
All banners, pennants and flags should be securely
attached to the support structure to prevent sagging or dropping of
the pennants, banners or flags.
(3)
Banners, pennants and flags shall not be used
in the calculation of permitted sign area for each use.
The following principles shall control the computation
of sign area and sign height.
A. Computation of area of individual signs.
(1)
The area of a sign face (which is also the sign
area of a wall sign or other sign with only one face) shall be computed
as the greater of:
(a)
The smallest square or rectangle, or combination
thereof that will encompass the extreme limits of the writing, representation,
emblem, or other display; or
(b)
Any material or color forming an integral part
of the background of the display or used to differentiate the sign
from the backdrop or structure against which it is placed; or
(c)
A combination area of the integral background
of the display and the smallest shape that will encompass the extreme
limits of the writing, representation, emblem or other display which
extends beyond the area of the background.
(2)
Computation shall not include any structural
elements outside the limits of such sign which is not an integral
part of the display. An integral part of the display can include support
structure if such support is necessary for the overall appearance
of the sign.
B. Computation of area of multifaced signs.
(1)
The sign area for a sign with more than one
face shall be computed by adding together the area of all sign faces
visible at the point where the greatest sign area is visible.
(2)
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 and are
not more than 42 inches apart, the sign area shall be computed by
the measurement of one of the faces.
C. Computation of height. The height of a sign shall
be computed as the distance from the base of the sign at site grade
to the top of the highest attached component of the sign.
The following temporary signs are permitted
without a special exception or sign permit. However, such signs shall
meet the standards set forth below.
A. Construction site identification signs.
(1)
Construction site identification signs may identify
the project, the owner or developer, architect, engineer, contractor
and subcontractors, funding sources, and may contain related information
including, but not limited to, sale or leasing information.
(2)
Not more than one such sign may be erected per
site, and it may not exceed 32 square feet in area.
(3)
Such signs shall not be erected prior to the
issuance of a building permit and shall be removed within 10 days
after the issuance of the final occupancy permit.
B. Grand opening signs.
(1)
A grand opening is permitted to use banners,
pennants or flags on-site, provided:
(a)
They are not displayed more than 10 days prior
to the event.
(b)
They are removed within 10 days after the event.
(2)
A grand opening or grand re-opening is permitted
to display two off-premises signs, provided:
(a)
Written permission is obtained from the owner
of the property where the sign is to be located.
(b)
Signs may only indicate grand opening or re-opening,
name of business, merchandise available, date of event, location of
business and owner's name. These signs shall not include prices.
(c)
Signs are not displayed more than two weeks
prior to the event and must be removed no more than one week after
the event.
(d)
Signs shall not exceed 32 square feet in area.
C. Help wanted signs. Signs may be used to advertise
help wanted, provided:
(1)
Size shall not exceed:
(a)
C-2 General Commercial and C-3 Regional Commercial
District: 32 square feet in area; and
(b)
C-1 Select Commercial: 24 square feet in area.
D. Holiday signs. Displays, including lighting, erected
in connection with the observance of holidays.
E. Portable advertisements. A temporary portable sign
used to advertise a permitted commercial, agricultural or nonprofit
use:
(1)
Shall be located on the same lot as the use.
(2)
Shall not exceed 32 square feet.
(3)
Shall not be displayed for more than four months
in any one calendar year.
F. Signs erected in connection with elections or political
campaigns shall be permitted, provided:
(1)
The signs are unlighted or indirectly lighted.
(2)
The sign area shall not exceed 32 square feet.
(3)
The signs meet all applicable state and federal
regulations.
G. Real estate signs.
(1)
Signs containing the message that the real estate
on which the sign is located (including buildings) is for sale, lease,
or rent, together with information identifying the owner or agent
may not exceed size specifications for each district as listed below
and shall be unlighted.
(2)
All real estate signs advertising property for
sale, lease, or rental shall be removed within 10 days following the
final sale, lease or rental of the property.
(3)
One such sign per street frontage shall be permitted.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, lots of five acres or more in area
may erect a second sign on every street frontage which is in excess
of 400 feet.
(4)
Real estate signs shall not exceed the following
area requirements in the respective districts:
(a)
A-1 Agriculture-Rural, V-C Village Conservation,
TT Town Transition, and all residential districts: four square feet
in area.
(b)
C-1 Select Commercial, C-2 General Commercial,
C-3 Regional Commercial, IS-1 Institutional and Select Industrial,
LB-1 Light Business and Institutional and LB-2 Light Business and
Residential Districts: 32 square feet in area.
(c)
I-1 Light Industrial and I-2 Heavy Industrial
Districts: 40 square feet in area.
H. Temporary signs advertising a merchandise sale. Merchandise
sale signs which are temporary in nature are permitted in nonresidential
districts without obtaining a permit if the business does not exceed
the overall maximum sign area allowed for the property under this
chapter.
(1)
Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the property
owner seeks to exceed the maximum allowable signage, then the Zoning
Administrator may grant a temporary permit for such use.
(2)
Temporary sale signs must be removed within
15 days after they are erected.
(3)
Banners may be used to advertise a sale, provided:
(a)
Not more than two banners may be displayed on
any lot at any one time.
(b)
No banner shall exceed 24 square feet in size.
(c)
Banners are displayed no more than two weeks
at a time and six times in any one-year period.
I. Signs attached temporarily to the interior of a building
window or glass door.
(1)
Such signs, individually or collectively, may
not cover more than 75% of the surface area of the door or the transparent
portion of the window to which they are attached.
(2)
Such signs shall be removed within 15 days after
they are erected.
J. Garage or yard sale signs.
(1)
Garage or yard sale signs shall not exceed four
square feet in area.
(2)
One such sign per street frontage shall be permitted.
(3)
Signs shall not be displayed more than five
days prior to the event and shall be removed within five days after
the event.
The following signs on the premises of the business
advertised may not be erected without a permit from the Wicomico County
Building Inspector and shall conform to the following location, area
and other requirements:
A. In all residential districts and all resource conservation
districts, no sign exceeding four square feet in surface area or located
within a line two feet from the curbline, or the property line, whichever
distance is greater, will be permitted.
(1)
The uses for which such sign may be located
shall be:
(a)
Bed-and-breakfasts and country inns.
(c)
Child- and elderly-care homes.
(e)
Places of religious assembly.
(f)
Schools of special instruction.
(g)
Similar uses permitted in a residential district
or resource conservation district, either as a permitted use or a
special exception use.
(2)
A sign greater than four square feet in surface
area for the above-listed uses shall require a special exception by
the Board of Appeals.
B. Freestanding signs. One freestanding sign is permitted
in the commercial, institutional, business and industrial districts
and CID and PIP subject to such limitations as specified herein:
(1)
Pedestal signs. Pedestal signs, which are those
supported by not more than two posts or poles, are permitted as a
freestanding sign, provided:
(a)
Said post or poles shall be not larger than
18 inches square or in diameter.
(b)
Said sign may be located within the building
setback area, but shall be located no closer than two feet from the
curbline, if existing,, or property line as measured along a line
extended vertically from that point on the ground surface.
(c)
Such signs shall not be higher than 30 feet
or lower than 10 feet above the ground.
(2)
Ground signs. Ground signs, are permitted as
freestanding signs, provided:
(a)
Such signs are self-supporting.
(b)
Such sign may be located not closer than the
greater distance from the street of:
[1]
Fifteen feet to the front property line; or
[2]
Ten feet to an existing sidewalk or sidewalk
reservation area.
(c)
Such signs shall be limited in height to a maximum
of 30 feet; and
(d)
Any sign other than a pedestal sign, or other
sign specifically defined herein, which extends from the ground independent
of any other structure shall be considered a ground sign.
(3)
C-1 Select Commercial and LB-2 Light Business
and Residential Districts. One freestanding sign is permitted.
(a)
Sign area.
[1]
Such sign shall not exceed 24 square feet in
area;
[2]
Notwithstanding the foregoing, corner lots having
a minimum of 100 feet of street frontage may install one indirectly
illuminated freestanding sign not exceeding 48 square feet in area
in lieu of preceding signage; and
[3]
In an LB-2 Light Business and Residential District:
[a] The total sign area permitted for
all on-site signage shall not exceed 50 square feet.
[b] The freestanding sign area shall
not exceed 25 square feet, with no dimension greater than six feet
in length or width, set back five feet from the property line, and
no higher than nine feet.
(b)
Freestanding signs must be set back 15 feet
from the property line or 10 feet from the existing sidewalk or sidewalk
reservation.
(4)
LB-1 Light Business and Institutional, C-3 Regional
Commercial, I-1 Light Industrial and I-2 Heavy Industrial Districts:
one on-site, freestanding sign is permitted, provided:
(a)
Such sign shall not exceed 16 square feet in
area for each 20 linear feet of street frontage; and
(b)
Such signs shall not exceed 100 square feet
in total surface area.
(5)
C-2 General Commercial: one on-site, freestanding
sign is permitted, provided:
(a)
Area:
[1]
Such sign shall not exceed one square foot of
area for each one linear foot of street frontage.
[2]
Such sign shall not exceed 60 square feet in
total surface area.
(b)
The maximum height of such sign shall be 30
feet.
(6)
C-2 General Commercial, LB-1 Light Business
and Institutional Districts: Each development proposed to be on property
abutting the right-of-way of a major highway (Major highways include
U.S. Route 50, the Salisbury Bypass and U.S. Route 13) shall be limited
to one freestanding, on-site commercial sign, provided:
(a)
Such sign shall not exceed an area of 100 square
feet;
(b)
Such sign shall not exceed a height to 30 feet
along that highway; and
(c)
Said signs may be situated within the building
setback requirements, but no part of the signs shall be closer than
20 feet from the property line.
(d)
Additional on-site commercial signs may be permitted
by special exception by the Board of Appeals and shall meet the requirements
of freestanding signs for a C-2 District.
(e)
The location of each proposed, freestanding,
on-site commercial sign shall be designated on a site plan and a sketch
showing the approximate dimensions and general appearance of the signs.
(7)
CID Corporate Industrial District.
(a)
One freestanding sign, no larger than 100 square
feet in total size of advertisement, may be located within the front
setback requirement with approval of the Planning Commission.
(b)
Signs shall:
[1]
Not project above the principal roof of a building,
except that a sign may be attached flat against a wall not exceeding
three feet above such rooflines; and
[2]
Not exceed, in aggregate, 100 square feet.
(8)
PIP Planned Industrial Park.
(a)
One freestanding sign, 100 square feet in total
size, or advertisement, may be located within the front yard, with
approval of the Planning Commission.
(b)
Signs shall:
[1]
Not project above the principal roof of a building,
except that a sign may be attached flat against a wall, not exceeding
three feet above such rooflines.
[2]
Not exceed in aggregate 100 square feet.
(9)
Lighting. Indirect lighting of freestanding
signs shall be designed in such a manner as to shine directly on the
face of the sign and as:
(a)
To prevent glare or hazard to motorists; and
(b)
Not to disturb occupants of neighboring properties.
C. Wall signs. Wall signs, placed against the exterior
of buildings, are permitted in the C-1 Select Commercial, C-2 General
Commercial, C-3 Regional Commercial, LB-1 Light Business and Institutional,
LB-2 Light Business and Residential, I-1 Light Industrial and I-2
Heavy Industrial Districts as well as the CID and PIP, provided:
(1)
Such signs shall not be located beyond the top
of the wall on which they are located; and
(2)
Such signs shall meet the following regulations
within each district.
(a)
C-1 Select Commercial, LB-2 Light Business and
Residential: one wall sign is permitted, provided:
[1]
Such sign shall not project more than nine inches
from the side of a building; and
[2]
C-1 Select Commercial: The sign area shall not
to exceed one foot of area per linear foot of street frontage or 60
square feet, whichever is less.
[3]
In an LB-2 Light Business and Residential District:
[a] One wall sign shall be permitted
not more than four square feet in size.
[b] The total sign area permitted for
all on-site signage shall not exceed 50 square feet.
(b)
C-2 General Commercial, C-3 Regional Commercial
and LB-1 Light Business and Institutional: one wall sign is permitted,
provided:
[1]
Such sign shall not project more than nine inches
from the side of a building; and
[2]
The sign area shall not to exceed one foot of
area per linear foot of street frontage or 60 square feet, whichever
is less.
(c)
I-1 Light Industry and I-2 Heavy Industry Districts:
one wall sign is permitted, provided:
[1]
Such sign does not to exceed 16 square feet
in area for each 20 linear feet of street frontage;
[2]
Notwithstanding the foregoing, such sign shall
not exceed a maximum of 100 square feet or 20% of the wall on which
it is located, whichever is less.
(d)
CID Corporate Industrial District and PIP Planned
Industrial Park: one wall sign is permitted, provided:
[1]
Such signs shall not project above the principal
roof of a building, except that a sign may be attached flat against
a wall, not exceeding three feet above such rooflines.
[2]
CID Corporate Industrial District: Such signs
shall not exceed 60 square feet.
[3]
PIP Planned Industrial Park: Such signs shall
not exceed in aggregate 100 square feet.
D. Projecting signs. Projecting signs are permitted in
the C-1 Select Commercial, C-2 General Commercial, and LB-2 Light
Business and Residential Districts, provided:
(1)
One projecting sign is permitted.
(2)
Said sign shall not extend more than 72 inches
from the front of the building.
(3)
Such sign shall not exceed 24 square feet in
area.
(4)
Projecting signs must be at least eight feet
from the ground.
(5)
If a projecting sign is suspended or projects
above a public right-of-way, the issuance and continuation of a sign
permit shall be conditioned on the sign owner obtaining and maintaining
in force liability insurance for such a sign in such form and such
amount as the county may reasonably from time to time determine.
(6)
In an LB-2 Light Business and Residential District
the total sign area permitted for all on-site signage shall not exceed
50 square feet.
E. Awning signs. One awning sign may be permitted in
a C-1 Select Commercial and LB-2 Light Business and Residential District
under the following conditions:
(1)
No sign shall project from an awning. Awning
graphics may be painted or affixed flat to the surface of the front
or sides.
(2)
Awning graphics shall be a single line not exceeding
six inches in height.
(3)
No awning sign shall be internally illuminated.
(4)
In an LB-2 Light Business and Residential District,
the total sign area permitted for all on-site signage shall not exceed
50 square feet.
F. Directory signs. Directory signs shall be permitted
in business centers, corporate industrial districts, and planned industrial
parks, provided:
(1)
Such signs shall be limited in surface area
to a maximum of 20 square feet; and
(2)
Such signs shall not exceed a height of five
feet.
(3)
Such signs shall be set back 15 feet from the
back of the curb.
Special limitations and regulations are applicable
to the following uses, regardless of the district in which they are
located.
A. Agriculture equipment sales. The following signs may
be permitted by special exception for agriculture equipment sales:
(1)
Freestanding signs. One freestanding sign is
permitted only if the lot does not contain one directly illuminated
projecting sign.
(a)
Such sign shall not exceed 24 square feet in
area.
(b)
Notwithstanding the foregoing, corner lots having
a minimum of 100 feet of street frontage may install one indirectly
illuminated freestanding sign not exceeding 48 square feet in area
in lieu of preceding signage.
(2)
Wall signs. One wall sign is permitted, provided:
(a)
Such sign shall not project more than nine inches
from the side of a building.
(b)
The sign area is not to exceed the lesser of:
[1]
One square foot of area per linear foot of street
frontage; or
(3)
Projecting signs. One projecting sign is permitted
only if the lot does not have one freestanding sign.
(a)
Such sign shall not extend more than 72 inches
from the front of the building.
(b)
Such sign shall not exceed 24 square feet in
area.
(c)
Projecting signs must be at least eight feet
from the ground.
(4)
Awning signs. One awning sign may be permitted
under the following conditions:
(a)
No sign shall project from an awning.
(b)
Awning graphics may be painted or affixed flat
to the surface of the front or sides.
(c)
Awning graphics shall be a single line or lettering
not exceeding six inches in height, but if over three inches in height,
shall be debited against the permitted wall sign surface area.
(d)
No awning sign shall be internally illuminated.
B. Apartments. One on-site, indirectly illuminated sign
is permitted, per lot, identifying an apartment structure, provided:
(1)
The lot shall have a minimum of 100 feet of
street frontage;
(2)
The maximum height of the sign shall be six
feet; and
(3)
The sign area shall not exceed 16 square feet.
C. Building of public or semipublic nature. One on-site
indirectly illuminated sign shall be permitted in conjunction with
a building of a public or semipublic nature, provided:
(1)
The maximum height of the sign shall be six
feet; and
(2)
The sign area shall not exceed 32 square feet.
D. Farm-related business. One sign is permitted for a
farm-related business, provided:
(1)
The sign area shall not exceed 32 square feet;
and
(2)
The sign height shall not exceed 20 feet.
E. Home-based business. One sign is permitted for a home-based
business Types I and II and III, provided:
(1)
Such sign shall not exceed four square feet
in area; and
(2)
Such sign is mounted flush with and on the front
facade of the dwelling unit.
F. Multifamily buildings. Signs located on multifamily
buildings are subject to the following standards:
(1)
One ground sign may be permitted, provided:
(a)
Such sign is no larger than 25 square feet;
(b)
No dimension is greater than six feet in length
or width;
(c)
Such sign is set back five feet from the property
line; and
(d)
The maximum height shall not exceed nine feet.
(2)
One wall sign shall be permitted not more than
four square feet in size.
G. Outdoor community events.
(1)
An outdoor community event, as determined by
the Zoning Administrator, may locate banners, flags and pennants,
provided:
(a)
A permit is obtained containing the date of
the event.
(b)
These signs may be displayed:
[1]
For nonprofit organizations: no more than four
weeks prior to the event.
[2]
For all other organizations: no more than one
week prior to the event.
(c)
All signs must be removed no more than 10 days
after the event.
(d)
These signs must be located on-site.
(e)
The event occurs no more than once a year.
(2)
An outdoor community event, as determined by
the Zoning Administrator, may display off-pio,, provided:
(a)
Written permission is obtained from the property
where the sign is to be located and is provided.
(b)
A permit is obtained stating location, wording
and date of event. Sign information must be limited to event name,
date, location and sponsor.
(c)
No more than four signs per event may be erected.
(d)
Signs may not exceed 32 square feet in area
per sign.
(e)
They may be erected no more than four weeks
prior to the event and must be removed no more than 10 days after
the event.
H. Shopping centers. Signs permitted in a shopping center
shall be limited as follows:
(1)
Each shopping center shall be permitted no more
than two freestanding signs:
(b)
Maximum surface area: 100 square feet.
(c)
Setback: 20 feet to any property line.
(2)
No lighted sign shall shine directly into adjacent
residential properties.
(3)
All signs within the center shall be controlled
by written agreement between the owners and tenants of the center
so as to avoid excessive advertising and to ensure an attractive and
harmonious appearance throughout the center.
(4)
Only one flat wall identity sign shall be permitted
for each operating business establishment, whether lighted or unlighted.
(a)
Maximum surface area: 30% of the front building
surface of the establishment.
(b)
Such sign shall be mounted flush with the building.
(c)
All individual signs shall be located within
the same horizontal plane on the building facade.
(5)
Shopping centers in the C-3 Regional Commercial
District may use banners to advertise a sale, provided:
(a)
Not more than four banners may be displayed
on any lot at any one time.
(b)
No banner shall exceed 24 square feet in size.
(c)
They are displayed no more than two weeks at
a time and six times in any one-year period.
I. Wayside stands. One sign relating to a wayside stand
is permitted, provided:
(1)
Such sign shall not exceed a height of 20 feet.
(2)
Area.
(a)
Such sign shall not exceed 32 square feet in
area.
(b)
Notwithstanding the foregoing, if such sign
is mounted on the wall of the stand, only one wall sign shall be permitted,
which shall have an area of the lesser of:
[1]
Maximum 32 square feet; or
[2]
Ten percent of the wall area of the side of
the building closest to the public right-of-way.
(3)
Location:
(a)
Such sign shall be set back a minimum distance
of 15 feet from the right-of-way.
(b)
Such sign shall be erected within 100 feet of
building, vehicle or area of general display; and
(c)
No sign shall be erected within 35 feet of a
corner in order to provide clear view to motorists at intersections.
(4)
All nonconforming signs relating to legal nonconforming
wayside stands, as herein defined, shall be made to conform within
three years of the effective date of this chapter.
J. Subdivision signs. One sign identifying a residential
subdivision is permitted.
(1)
Height. Such signs shall not exceed a height
of five feet.
(2)
Area. Such sign shall not exceed 20 square feet
in area.
(3)
Setback. Such sign shall be set back 15 feet
from the back of the curb or the property line of the public roadway.
(4)
Any sign located within the public right-of-way
shall require the approval of the Wicomico County Department of Public
Works.