Refer to Article
III, §
165-17, for definitions pertinent to signs and outdoor advertising.
Any nonconforming, abandoned or illegal sign
existing on or after the effective date of this chapter shall be removed
by the owner of the premises upon which such sign is located after
written notice as provided herein. Upon removal of any wall sign (including
signs painted on walls) the surface area of the facade shall, within
30 days of removal, be restored to a condition substantially equivalent
in appearance to the remaining portion of the facade. The CEO, upon
determination of the expiration of the continuance period, of any
such sign or such other time limit which may be provided for, shall
direct the owner or beneficial user of such sign, in writing, to remove
the said sign within 30 days from the date of such notice. Upon failure
to comply with such notice within the prescribed time, the CEO shall
remove or cause removal of such sign, and shall assess all costs and
expenses incurred in the said removal against the property on which
such sign is located.
Any nonconforming sign lawfully existing at
the time of the adoption of this chapter may be continued, provided
that it is maintained in good condition. If the ownership of the property
on which the sign is located changes hands, the nonconforming sign
shall be removed within 60 days of the change in possession. The replaced
sign, if any, shall comply with all of the requirements of this chapter.
The following signs shall be allowed in any
zone district of the Town of Parma without a permit, provided that
such signs comply with the general requirements of this chapter:
B. Safety signs, road signs, historical markers, service
identifications or highway directional signs erected by or as required
by municipal or public agencies.
C. Signs not exceeding four square feet in area and bearing only property
numbers, post box numbers, names of occupants of premises, or other
identification without commercial connotations for the premises. Such
sign shall be located no closer than 15 feet to a side property line
and may be placed up to the front property line.
[Amended 1-15-2013 by L.L. No. 1-2013]
D. Signs regulating the use of a property, such as no
hunting, no fishing, etc., provided that such signs do not exceed
two square feet in area.
E. Signs not exceeding two square feet, directing and
guiding traffic and parking but bearing no advertising matter. No
more than two such signs shall be permitted per driveway.
[Amended 1-15-2013 by L.L. No. 1-2013]
F. A nonilluminated sign, not exceeding two square feet
in area, may be placed flat against the building or freestanding no
closer than 15 feet to any lot line for each home business or for
each office or suite of offices contained within a building and having
a direct entrance from the outside.
[Amended 4-15-2003]
G. One nonilluminated temporary sign not to exceed six square feet in
size which advertises the sale, rental or lease of the premises upon
which it is located. Such sign shall be no more than five feet in
height above the ground, located no closer than 15 feet to a side
property line and may be placed up to the front property line. "Sold"
signs shall be removed within 10 days after the premises advertised
has been sold, rented or leased.
[Amended 1-15-2013 by L.L. No. 1-2013]
H. One nonilluminated temporary construction sign not
to exceed six square feet in size for each project or development,
except that where a project or development abuts two or more streets,
one additional sign shall be permitted, oriented to each abutting
street. Construction signs shall be removed from the premises on which
they are located within two weeks of the completion of the work that
was undertaken.
I. Noncommercial speech signs, also known as "free speech"
signs, which express an opinion or a statement unrelated to a business
venture, are allowed subject to the following conditions:
[Amended 4-15-2003]
(1)
The maximum number of noncommercial speech signs
per lot shall be two.
(2)
Such signs shall not exceed a total of 20 square
feet in area for all signs on a single lot.
(3)
Freestanding noncommercial speech signs shall
not exceed six feet in height above grade level.
(4)
Noncommercial speech signs shall not be illuminated,
except indirectly.
(5)
A political sign is defined as a sign that by its content promotes
and supports a candidate or candidates for any public office or which
advocates a position on upcoming ballot propositions. This shall be
a nonilluminated sign which shall not exceed six square feet in area
and shall not be closer than 15 feet to a side property line and may
be placed up to the front property line. Such sign shall not project
more than six feet in height above grade. In order to prevent visual
pollution concerns and to protect the desired aesthetics of the community,
all such signs may be erected for a period not to exceed 60 days prior
to the election to which they relate and shall be removed by the owner
or occupant of the property no later than seven days after the election.
[Amended 1-15-2013 by L.L. No. 1-2013]
J. One nonilluminated sign, not larger than 32 square
feet in area, associated with a roadside stand may be displayed during
the growing season to advertise the sale of locally grown edible farm
products.
K. One nonilluminated sign, not larger than 32 square feet in area,
may be displayed to advertise auctions and special events of charitable
or public service groups, excluding garage sales. Such signs may be
erected no more than 14 days prior to the event and shall be removed
within 48 hours after the conclusion of the event. Signs meeting these
requirements may be placed on additional properties by the owner of
the property. Such sign shall be located no closer than 15 feet to
a side property line and may be placed up to the front property line.
[Amended 1-15-2013 by L.L. No. 1-2013]
L. Private-owner temporary merchandise sale signs for
garage sales and auctions, not to exceed six square feet for a period
not exceeding a total of 10 days and not less than 30 days since the
previous display of a merchandise sale sign on the same parcel of
land, building or premises. Such signs shall not be attached to fences,
trees, utility poles or the like, nor shall they be placed in a position
that will obstruct or impair vision, the flow of traffic, or in any
manner create a hazard or nuisance to the health and welfare of the
general public.
The following permitted signs in the Town of Parma require approval of an application submitted to the Town of Parma Code Enforcement Officer (CEO) according to §
165-114 of this chapter:
A. Residential and multiresidential districts.
(1)
Entrance identification sign.
(a)
Two permanent entrance identification signs
for each subdivision or multiple-family dwelling development or bulletin
board for a community center, church, fire department or other nonprofit
organization, provided that:
[Amended 4-15-2003]
[1]
The structure does not exceed four feet in height
at any point above the median ground level.
[2]
The area of the structure shall not exceed 40
square feet.
[3]
The gross lettering or signage area does not
exceed 50% of the total area of the structure.
[4]
Setbacks shall be not less than 15 feet from
any right-of-way line to any part of the structure.
[5]
Appurtenances such as wing walls or planters
shall not exceed 50% of the main structure's length on either end.
(b)
Each proposal for such identification sign as specified in Subsection
A(1)(a) above shall be reviewed and approved by the Planning Board, whether proposed along with site development plans or after development is completed. In reviewing the proposals, the Planning Board shall, in addition to the criteria outlined in Subsection
A(1)(a) above, consider the following:
[1]
The proposed location does not interfere with
pedestrian or vehicular traffic visibility.
[2]
The design is of a permanent type of construction
such as masonry or pressure treated wood with adequate foundation
and horizontal support to withstand wind loads.
[3]
Illumination, if provided, is situated such
that there is no glare or undue spillover of light.
[4]
There is assurance of perpetual maintenance
by a homeowners' or tract association, the developer, or an individual
lot owner where the sign is located and that such responsibilities
are clearly spelled out in the deeds or association bylaws.
(2)
One nonilluminated temporary construction sign
not exceeding 16 square feet in area for each subdivision. Two such
signs shall be permitted on sites in single ownership fronting on
two or more streets. Such signs may be installed after approval of
the Planning Board of the final subdivision plat or the issuance of
a valid building permit. These signs shall be removed within three
years after installation.
B. Business, commercial and industrial districts.
(1)
All signs allowed in residential and multiresidential
districts.
(2)
Each business enterprise shall be permitted
one business sign placed flat against the building wall for each street
on which the business fronts; such sign shall not exceed 11/2 square
feet of sign area for each lineal foot of business frontage occupied,
or 20% of the wall surface to which it is attached or applied. In
no case, however, shall such wall sign exceed a total area of 150
square feet. A business on multibuilding levels may use the level
with greatest frontage for calculations but more than one level shall
not extend more than 12 inches from the flat surface and shall not
have a sign-height dimension greater than four feet. No sign attached
to the building shall extend above the top line of the wall to which
it is attached; such sign may be illuminated.
(3)
On those sides of a building not facing the street, signs as determined in size and location, in Subsection
B(2), placed flat against the building, shall be further limited in size not to exceed 32 square feet total sign area.
(4)
In lieu of permitted signage area for signs placed flat against the building, as provided for in Subsection
B(2) of this section, each business located on an individual lot may have one, but not both, of the following signs, provided that the total sign area does not exceed the requirements of Subsection
B(2):
[Amended 4-15-2003]
(a)
One permanent projecting sign not exceeding
16 square feet in area.
(b)
One permanent freestanding sign not exceeding
32 square feet in area.
(5)
In addition to permitted sign areas for individual
businesses, one freestanding sign, identifying the name and/or address
of a shopping center, office complex or industrial park, may be permitted.
Such freestanding sign shall not exceed 100 square feet in area and
16 feet in height above the ground. Such sign shall not contain the
names of the individual businesses within the shopping center. Said
freestanding sign may be illuminated.
[Amended 4-15-2003]
(6)
Signs shall be illuminated only at such times
as said uses are open for business.
(7)
Directional signs, not exceeding one foot square
in area, indicating rest rooms or public telephones.
(8)
Any permanent lettering or affixed window sign
shall be included as part of the total signage allowed for said business.
(9)
Temporary window signs advertising specials,
sales and special events shall not exceed more than 75% of the total
window area. Such signs may be displayed for a time period not to
exceed 30 days.
(10)
In a shopping center, office complex or industrial
park, one directory sign at a single location therein shall be permitted.
Such sign shall not exceed 12 square feet for each acre of land in
such commercial area or industrial park provided that no such sign
shall exceed 64 square feet in area. In addition, at each point of
entrance and exit for vehicular traffic into such multiple commercial
use facility or industrial park, one other directory sign shall be
permitted which does not exceed two square feet for each acre of land
in such shopping center, office complex or industrial park. Such signs
shall not exceed a total area of 12 square feet. Directory signs shall
contain identification of and direction to several business enterprises,
but shall contain no promotional advertising.
[Added 4-15-2003]
(11)
One illuminated temporary sign not to exceed
32 square feet in size which advertises the sale, rental or lease
of the premises upon which it is located. Such sign shall be no more
than five feet in height above the ground. "Sold" signs shall be removed
within 10 days after the premises advertised has been sold, rented
or leased.
[Added 4-15-2003]