All signs shall be classified according to type and use as provided
herein:
A.
Identification sign. A sign which communicates the name and/or address
of an occupant or a permitted home occupation upon the zoning lot
on which the sign is located.
B.
Business sign. A sign which communicates information concerning a
business, profession, commodity, service, entertainment or development
which is sold, offered, prepared, manufactured or conducted upon the
zoning lot where the sign is located.
C.
Billboard or off-premises advertising sign. A sign which communicates
information concerning a subject, business, profession, activity,
commodity, service, entertainment or development not related to, sold,
offered, prepared or manufactured on the zoning lot where the sign
is located.
D.
Real estate sign. A temporary sign, having an area not greater than
eight square feet in area which advertises the sale, rental or development
of the premises upon which the sign is located.
E.
Subdivision/development advertising sign. A temporary real estate
sign, not greater than 60 square feet in area, which advertises the
sale of property within an approved subdivision or planned residential
development.
F.
Institutional sign. A sign which identifies a use pertaining to a
school, church, hospital or other institution of a similar public
or semipublic nature.
G.
On-site directional and/or informational sign. A sign commonly associated
with, and limited to, information and directions necessary for visitors
entering or exiting a property, including signs marking entrance and
exits, parking areas, circulation direction, rest rooms and pickup
and delivery areas. Such signs shall contain no advertising material.
H.
Subdivision/development identification sign. A sign that displays
the name of a subdivision and/or development at an entrance to the
site upon which the subdivision or development is located.
I.
Electronic message board sign. A sign whose alphabetic, pictographic
or symbolic informational content may be changed or altered on a fixed
display screen composed of electrically illuminated segments.
J.
Event signs. A temporary sign advertising private not-for-profit
events and fund-raisers such as picnics, bazaars, gaming events, arts
and crafts shows, and similar types of fund-raising activities.
All signs shall be classified according to construction types
as provided herein:
A.
Freestanding sign. A sign not attached or applied to a principal
building but supported by another structure, including structures
designed for the sign itself and accessory structures.
B.
Wall sign. A sign attached, painted or affixed to the wall of a principal
structure or accessory structure, not projecting over any public right-of-way
and not extending more than two feet from the building or structure.
C.
Projecting sign. A sign which projects outward or extends more than
two feet from the building or structure.
The establishment, erection or reconstruction of any sign shall
be in accordance with the regulations as set forth herein:
A.
Identification sign. Such signs shall be permitted in all zoning
districts.
B.
Business signs. Such signs shall be permitted in B-1, B-2, C-1, A-1
and I-1 Zoning Districts.
C.
Real estate signs. Such signs shall be permitted in all zoning districts.
D.
Subdivision/development advertising signs. Such signs shall be permitted
in all zoning districts and any PRD zoning district upon the creation
of such.
E.
Institutional signs. Such signs shall be permitted in all zoning
districts.
F.
On-site directional and/or informational sign. Such signs shall be
permitted in all zoning districts.
G.
Billboard signs. Such signs shall be permitted in an I-1 Zoning District.
H.
Subdivision/development identification signs. Such signs shall be
permitted in all zoning districts.
I.
Electronic message board sign. Such signs shall be permitted in B-1
and B-2 Zoning Districts.
J.
Event signs. Such signs shall be permitted in all zoning districts.
The establishment, erection or reconstruction of permitted signs
shall be governed by the following regulations:
A.
Identification sign. An identification sign shall not exceed two
square feet in area. Such a sign shall be set back not less than 10
feet from the front lot line. The maximum height of an identification
sign, if freestanding, shall not exceed 10 feet in height, or if attached
to a building shall not be higher than the first story of the building
to which it is attached.
B.
Business sign.
(2)
In a shopping center or an integrated grouping of commercial or industrial
uses which is classified as a "land development," in addition to permitting
each individual business establishment to display a business sign,
one sign shall be permitted on the lot that indicates the name of
the shopping center and/or the names of the business establishments
located therein. Only one such sign shall be permitted on the lot
and such sign shall not exceed 300 square feet in area.
(3)
A business sign shall have a minimum front yard setback of not less
than 25% of the required setback for a principal structure in the
zoning district in which the sign is located. If an existing building
has a front yard setback which is less than 10 feet, the sign shall
be attached flat against the building as a wall sign.
(4)
The maximum height of any business sign shall not exceed 18 feet.
C.
Real estate sign. A temporary real estate sign shall not exceed eight
square feet in area and shall be located on the same lot on which
the property is offered for sale or rental. The sign shall be set
back not less than 10 feet from the front lot line and shall be removed
from the premises within 30 days after the sale or rental of the property.
D.
Subdivision/development advertising sign. A subdivision/development
advertising sign shall be considered a temporary real estate sign
and shall not exceed 60 square feet in area. The sign shall be located
on the same property on which lots and/or homes in the subdivision
are offered for sale. Not more than one sign shall be erected in any
subdivision, and such signs shall be set back not less than 35 feet
from the front lot line. The sign shall be removed from the premises
within 30 days after the last lot and/or home is sold.
E.
Institutional sign. An institutional sign for public and semipublic
facilities, such as schools, churches, hospitals, libraries, colleges
or other institutions of a similar nature, shall not exceed 30 square
feet in area. The maximum height of such signs shall not exceed the
maximum height restriction established for a principal structure in
the district in which the sign is located. An institutional sign shall
be not less than 10 feet from the front lot line.
F.
On-site directional and/or informational sign. An on-site directional
and/or informational sign shall not exceed six square feet in area.
A front, rear or side yard setback of not less than five feet shall
be required for such signs. The maximum height of such signs shall
not exceed six feet.
G.
Billboard sign or off-premises advertising sign. The following regulations
shall apply to any billboard and/or off-premises advertising sign.
The advertising surface area of any panel shall not exceed 300 square
feet and not more than one double-faced panel shall be permitted on
the same structure or standard:
(1)
Such a sign shall not be located within 200 feet of any residential
structure or residential zoning district.
(2)
There shall be a minimum spacing distance of 1,000 feet between all
such signs.
(3)
Such signs shall be set back not less than 200 feet from the center
line of any public right-of-way for vehicular traffic.
(4)
Such signs shall not be attached to a building, nor shall such signs
be permitted to project above the maximum height limitation for the
zoning district in which it is located.
H.
Subdivision/development identification sign. A subdivision/development
identification sign shall not exceed 10 square feet in area. Not more
than one sign shall be erected at any entrance point to the subdivision/development.
Such signs shall be set back not less than 10 feet from the front
lot line.
I.
Event sign. An event sign shall not exceed six square feet in area.
Such signs shall not be attached to any tree, utility pole or structure
within a public right-of-way. Such signs shall not be posted more
than 45 days in advance of the scheduled event and shall be removed
within 30 days following the event.
J.
Number of signs. Excluding on-site directional and/or informational
signs, not more than two signs shall be permitted on any property
located in any zoning district. In the case of a property located
upon a corner lot, a total of three signs may be permitted.
The minimum side yard setback and rear yard setback for any freestanding sign shall be the same as the minimum side yard or rear yard setback for a principal structure in the zoning district in which the sign is located. The minimum front yard setback, with the exception of § 127-84, Subsection F, On-site directional and/or informational sign, and Subsection G, Billboard sign or off-premises advertising sign, shall be the more restrictive of 25% of the required setback for a principal structure in the zoning district in which the sign is located, or 10 feet. If an existing building has a front yard setback that is less than 10 feet, any new proposed sign shall be attached flat against the building as a wall sign.
An existing sign related to a legally established nonconforming use shall be considered a nonconforming sign that may be continued at its present dimensions and location, but shall not be enlarged. Where a nonconforming use is lawfully changed to another nonconforming use, a new sign shall be permitted being the same type and size as the previous sign. The new sign shall be erected on the property at the same location as the previous sign. The sign may be erected at a different location, provided it meets all applicable regulations within Article V and for the zoning district in which it is located.
The area of a sign shall be construed to include all lettering,
wording and accompanying design and symbols, together with the background
including border and trim, whether open or enclosed, on which they
are displayed, but not including any supporting framework and bracing
that are incidental to the display itself. Computation of the area
for particular signs shall be in accordance with the following regulations:
A.
Wall sign. For a sign painted upon or applied to a building, the
area shall be considered to include all lettering, wording and accompanying
design or symbols, together with any backing associated with the sign.
B.
Separate symbols. Where the sign consists of individual letters or
symbols attached to or painted on a surface; building, wall or window,
the area shall be considered to be that of the smallest rectangle
or other shape that encompasses all of the letters and symbols.
C.
Double-face sign. With the exception of a billboard, when computing
the area of a double-face sign, only one sign shall be considered,
provided both faces are identical.
D.
Cylindrical sign. The area of a cylindrical sign shall be computed
by multiplying 1/2 of the circumference by the height of the sign.
A freestanding sign and a projecting sign shall have a vertical
distance of not less than nine feet as measured from the lowest edge
or point of the sign to the highest ground elevation located beneath
the sign.
The following types of signs shall not be permitted in any zoning
district:
A.
Signs that are located in such a position which endangers vehicular
and/or pedestrian traffic by obscuring the site distance.
B.
Signs which by design and/or location may be confused with traffic
signs or signals.
C.
Any sign located in or extending into a public right-of-way, including
sidewalk areas, except an official street sign or traffic control
sign.
D.
Any freestanding or projecting sign within an area bounded by the
intersection of two public or private streets, for a distance of 20
feet along the center line of the right-of-way of such streets from
the point of their intersection.
E.
Freestanding or projecting signs over any type of public right-of-way,
including sidewalk areas.
F.
Sequential, flashing or oscillating signs, excluding an electronic message board sign as provided for in § 127-83I.
G.
Signs which due to their construction and/or location would constitute
a hazard or a potential danger to the community.
A zoning permit shall be required for the erection, alteration
or relocation of any sign that exceeds eight square feet in surface
area. Real estate signs and subdivision/land development signs shall
be exempt.
