City of Clayton, MO Chapter 425 Sign Regulations

[Former Ch. 425, Sign Regulations, was repealed 1-10-2023 by Ord. No. 6794. Prior history includes: CC 1970; Ord. No. 5029; Ord. No. 5504; Ord. No. 5854; Ord. No. 6145; Ord. No. 6230; and Ord. No. 6275.]

Section 425.010 General Intent And Purpose.

[Ord. No. 6794, 1-10-2023]

It is the intent of the City of Clayton to regulate signage in a manner which is effective for conveying messages while compatible with the image of Clayton and protecting public health, safety and welfare. The provisions of this Chapter are designed to encourage excellence in the design of signage, to promote compatibility with the immediate surrounding areas and to project Clayton as a premier business and residential environment. To accomplish the above-stated goal, the provisions of this Chapter shall apply to the display, construction, erection, alteration, use, location, size, type and maintenance of all signs within the City. A sign permit shall be secured, and all requirements of this Chapter and the Building Code shall be complied with before approval for the installation of any sign will be granted. All signs shall be constructed of materials which are weather-resistant and consistent with the manufacturing of quality signs.

Section 425.020 Definitions.

[Ord. No. 6794, 1-10-2023]

As used in this Chapter, the following words, terms and phrases shall have the meanings ascribed to them by this Section:

ACCESSORY SIGN

A sign relating to an accessory use on a premises and signs that are deemed beneficial by providing directional information to pedestrians or motorists.

ADVERTISING DEVICE

Banners affixed on poles, wires, ropes, streamers, pennants, wind-operated devices, flashing lighting, searchlights, balloons, lights aligned on wires or other supports, objects attached to buildings or placed in front yards or unusual colors applied to a building facade or similar types of devices. Sculptures, fountains or any other artwork approved by the Architectural Review Board are excluded from this definition.

BLADE SIGN

A sign attached to and projecting from the face of a building with the sign face perpendicular to the plane of the building wall.

CUSTOMARY USE

Use consistent with current City regulations or consistent with the intent of current City regulations.

FRONT WALL AREA

Front wall area is equal to the length of the building face along the street frontage multiplied by the height of the building face along the street frontage. For buildings with multiple ground floor tenants with separate entrances, the front wall area for each ground floor tenant space is equal to the length of the tenant space along the street frontage multiplied by the height of the dedicated tenant space along the street frontage.

GROUND SIGN

A detached sign with two (2) or more supports or erected on a solid base or wall and placed upon or affixed to the ground.

INTERSTATE SYSTEM

That portion of the national system of interstate highways located within the boundaries of Missouri as officially designated, or may be hereafter designated by the State Highways and Transportation Commission with the approval of the Secretary of Transportation pursuant to Title 23, United States Code, as amended.

PEDESTRIAN ACCESS ROUTE (PAR)

The PAR is an accessible corridor for pedestrian use and functions as a path that provides a continuous connection along a sidewalk and from the sidewalk to building or property entry points, parking areas, public transportation, and/or other destinations. The PAR shall be free of obstacles and protrusions. The minimum width of a PAR is five (5) feet or as established by the United States Access Board, Public Rights-of-Way Accessibility Guidelines (PROWAG), per the Director of Public Works.

PRIMARY HIGHWAY

That portion of the interstate system of this State officially designated by the State Highways and Transportation Commission as being in the primary highway system as authorized by the Constitution and laws of Missouri.

SIDEWALK SIGN

A temporary sign designed to be placed on the ground or attached to an outdoor seating area pedestrian barrier which may consist of one (1) or more sign faces in a base or frame, back-to-back or joined together to form an A shape or similar style.

SIGN

Any identification, description, illustration or device, illuminated or non-illuminated, which is visible from any public place or is located on private property and exposed to the public and which directs attention to a product, service, place, activity, person, institution, business or solicitation, including any emblem, painting, numbers exceeding twelve (12) inches in height, placard or temporary sign designed to advertise, identify or convey information, with the exception of national flags. For the purpose of removal, signs shall also include all sign structures.

SIGN AREA

The total area of the space to be used for advertising purposes, including the spaces between open-type letters and figures, including the background structure or other decoration or addition which is an integral part of the sign. Sign supports shall be excluded in determining the area of the sign. Examples of sign areas are shown below by the boxes drawn around the signs of various shapes.

TEMPORARY SIGN

A sign displayed for a maximum of thirty (30) days within a sixty (60) day period or for an extended time as approved by the Director of Planning and Development Services.

WALL SIGN

A sign attached or erected against the wall of a building with the face in a parallel plane to the plane of the building wall.

Section 425.030 General Regulations.

[Ord. No. 6794, 1-10-2023]

A. The general requirement of this Chapter is that all wall signs shall face a fronting street, be attached to front walls at or near the first floor ceiling level as determined by the Director of Planning and Development Services and project no more than eighteen (18) inches from the wall.

B. All signs shall be constructed of materials which are reasonably weather resistant and consistent with materials normally used in the manufacture of quality signs.

C. The design, shape and colors used shall be compatible with the building to which the sign is attached; compatibility shall be determined by the City Manager of the City, or his/her designee, prior to the issuance of the sign permit by the Director of Planning and Development Services of the City. At his/her option, the City Manager may refer any proposed sign to the Architectural Review Board for approval.

D. Temporary signs shall be designed, lettered and constructed in accordance with normally accepted professional standards.

E. An existing sign shall not be enlarged, altered or relocated except in conformity to the provisions for new signs, nor until a proper permit has been secured as required by the Building Code of the City.

F. Any signs not expressly permitted in this Chapter are prohibited.

G. Multiple signs will be permitted, provided that their total area is within the limits of the ordinance and are of the same dimension as described in the provisions applying to their particular building.

H. A sign district or subdistrict may develop a uniform series of coordinated signs per Section 425.120.

I. Corner buildings or tenant spaces may install signage on each street frontage.

J. A sign permit must be obtained prior to the installation of a sign.

1. One sign permit shall be obtained for each individual sign.

2. Sign permit fees shall be determined based on the approved fee schedule on file with the Department of Planning and Development Services.

3. Exception: temporary signs in residential zoning districts that comply with all size, location and design requirements contained herein shall not require a sign permit.

K. Signs may be illuminated in accordance with the following:

1. Lighting shall comply with regulations of the Section 405.360, Outdoor Lighting Standards.

2. Lighting shall be shielded or angled so that it illuminates only the face of the sign and does not shine directly onto adjacent property or right-of-way.

3. Lighting shall not create a traffic hazard or distraction to vehicle operators.

4. Signs shall not be illuminated by flashing, intermittent lights, or lights of changing degrees of intensity or color.

Section 425.040 Permanent Sign Areas.

A. Non-Residential Zoning Districts.

1. Wall Signs. Wall signs shall not exceed fifteen (15) square feet or five percent (5%) of the front wall area up to a maximum area of fifty (50) square feet.

a. A single tenant building or a ground floor tenant space with a separate street entrance, provided that space is separated from other portions of the building with permanent walls, may install one (1) wall sign on each street frontage.

b. Multi-tenant buildings without separate entrances for tenants may install one (1) wall sign per fifty (50) linear feet of building frontage on each frontage. For buildings with less than one hundred (100) linear feet of frontage, a maximum of two (2) wall signs may be installed. The total front wall area of the building shall be used to determine the maximum area of signage allowed, which may be divided between the multiple allowed wall signs.

Multi-tenant building wall sign calculations:

Front wall area = I x J

Number of wall signs = I/50 linear feet

Example with numbers:

I = 120 feet, J = 24 feet

Front wall area = 120 feet x 24 feet = 2,880 square feet

Number of wall signs = 80 feet/50 feet = 2.4 --> 2 wall signs

Maximum size of wall signs = 2,880 sq. ft. x 5% = 144 sq. ft. / 2 = 72 sq. ft. --> maximum of 50 sq. ft. per sign

2. Blade Sign. A ground floor tenant may have one (1) blade sign measuring a maximum of one (1) square foot.

a. For multi-tenant buildings without separate ground floor tenant entrances, a maximum of two (2) blade signs per street entrance shall be permitted.

3. Ground Sign. One (1) ground sign not to exceed twenty-five (25) square feet in area may be erected per property. The ground sign shall be designed as a compatible and integral part of a landscaped area or plaza and the size, location, design and construction materials shall be approved by the Architectural Review Board.

a. Electronic message boards shall be permitted in compliance with the following regulations and when located at least two hundred fifty (250) feet from residential property, unless such distance is modified by the Architectural Review Board based on topographical or similar considerations which mitigate any adverse effects on residential property.

(1) Electronic message boards are considered a ground sign.

(2) Use of video-graphic functions and animations shall be prohibited, including, but not limited to, swirl, flash, scroll, twinkle, etc.

(3) Messages or displays shall remain on the screen for a minimum of thirty (30) seconds before changing.

(4) Signs must have capabilities for regulating brightness that allows for adjustments for daytime and nighttime conditions.

4. Accessory Signs. In addition to the signs permitted herein, the Director of Planning and Development Services shall have the authority to approve accessory sign permits in order to provide necessary wayfinding or similar information to the public.

a. Wall Sign. Rear building entrance wall signs not exceeding eight (8) square feet.

b. Ground Sign. Directional traffic, parking or regulatory ground signs not exceeding six (6) square feet. A pole sign not exceeding six (6) square feet may be approved in lieu of a permitted ground sign if the pole sign is aesthetically designed.

c. Awning Sign. Advertising signs, logos or emblems may be applied to the surface of an awning, provided the total area of such advertising does not exceed fifteen percent (15%) of the area of the awning parallel to an adjacent street.

d. Window Sign. Advertising signs, logos or emblems may be applied to the face of a window or door, provided the total area of such advertising does not exceed ten percent (10%) of each display window or door facing a street.

e. Accessory signs may be approved for a specific block or district.

f. Accessory signs may be ground signs if the Director of Planning and Development Services determines that a ground sign is the most effective means to communicate the instructions to the public at that location.

g. Accessory signs are eligible for administrative architectural review by the City Manager or his/her designee or may be referred to the Architectural Review Board by the City Manager or his/her designee.

B. Residential Zoning Districts.

1. Wall Sign. One (1) nameplate not exceeding one (1) square foot in area for home occupations attached to the building entrance or adjacent to the entrance.

2. Wall or Ground Sign. Multi-family buildings shall be permitted one (1) wall sign not exceeding eight (8) square feet in area, except such buildings may be permitted an alternate ground sign not exceeding twelve (12) square feet in area if authorized by the Architectural Review Board.

3. Non-Residential uses located in residential zoning districts shall be permitted the following:

a. Wall Sign. One (1) wall sign a maximum of twelve (12) square feet.

b. Ground Sign. One (1) ground sign a maximum of twenty-five (25) square feet in area may be constructed, provided the design is approved by the Architectural Review Board.

c. Campus Signs. Multi-building campuses or institutional complexes may be permitted more than one (1) ground sign and may include additional building accessory signs if the design, size and location of all signs are approved by the Architectural Review Board as a sign district.

C. Conditional Use Permit Signs.

1. Signs permitted for conditional uses shall be specified as part of the conditional use permit.

a. Advertising signs for gasoline and oil refining stations shall conform to the following requirements in lieu of any other requirements:

(1) One (1) pole sign not exceeding thirty-six (36) square feet for each face situated on private property and not projecting beyond the property line.

(2) A wall sign twelve (12) square feet in area or five percent (5%) of the front wall area but not exceeding twenty-five (25) square feet in area and projecting no more than twelve (12) inches facing the street. Buildings on corner lots may have such a sign on each street side of the building.

(3) One (1) portable sign on private property not exceeding twelve (12) square feet on each side.

b. Live entertainment venues shall be permitted one (1) mechanical/moving letters sign advertising the entertainment venue only. Those establishments within one hundred fifty (150) feet of a residential district must turn the mechanical sign off by 11:00 P.M.

Section 425.050 Off-Premises Billboards.

[Ord. No. 6794, 1-10-2023]

A. This Section pertaining to billboard signs is adopted under the authority of the City in furtherance of the more general purposes set forth in the sign ordinance. It is adopted and hereafter amended pursuant to Section 71.288, RSMo. By enacting the sign ordinance pursuant to the Statute and 23 U.S.C. 131(d), the City establishes its own customary use determinations specific to the City.

B. Billboards shall be allowed within six hundred sixty (660) feet of the nearest edge of the right-of-way of Highway 170 in areas zoned "C-1," "C-2," "C-3," "C-4" or "S-1" subject to the following regulations.

1. Application.

a. The City shall not accept a billboard application for consideration and issuance unless it is accompanied by a valid permit issued by the State of Missouri Highway and Transportation Commission, a site plan drawn to scale, and plans sealed by an engineer licensed and registered in the State of Missouri.

b. Such plans shall include structural drawings, foundation specifications, landscape plan, wind load calculations, electrical/lighting specifications and a survey depicting the distance:

(1) From the nearest billboards in both directions along the same side of the highway;

(2) From areas zoned residential;

(3) From property lines and roofed structures;

(4) From the right-of-way, as of the date of application.

All plans must meet the specifications as depicted in Subsection (B)(3) and (7) of this Section.

c. All billboards must be approved by the Architectural Review Board.

2. Fees.

a. Every billboard applicant, before being granted a permit hereunder, shall pay to the City a fee of five hundred dollars ($500.00) for processing the application and initial inspection. No fee shall be incurred for changing the display face or performing routine maintenance.

b. Any application received for billboard sign intended to replace an existing billboard sign shall be regulated by the provisions of this Chapter and any other applicable regulations normally applied to new signs.

3. Spacing.

a. Billboards shall be oriented toward traffic on the primary highway.

b. No billboard along the primary highway shall be erected closer than four thousand (4,000) feet from another billboard on either side of the primary highway. The distance measured shall be lateral.

c. No billboard shall be erected closer than five hundred (500) feet from any residential zoned property, residential structure, church, park or school.

d. No billboard shall be erected closer than two hundred (200) feet from any on-premises sign located on a building or other non-sign structure.

e. No billboard shall be erected within five hundred (500) feet of an interchange or intersection at grade. Such five hundred (500) feet shall be measured from the beginning or ending of the pavement widening at the exit from and entrance to the main traveled way.

4. Size.

a. No billboard sign shall exceed three hundred seventy-five (375) square feet per sign face with a maximum sign face height of fifteen (15) feet and a maximum width of twenty-five (25) feet.

b. Only single-sided, back-to-back or V-type construction billboards with a single display per facing and a single pole support structure design are allowed.

c. No portion of the billboard shall exceed the height requirements for the zoning district in which it is located or the approved height for existing buildings within the district.

5. Lighting.

a. Revolving or rotating beam or beacon of light shall not be permitted as part of any billboard.

b. Flashing or intermittent or moving light or lights shall not be allowed.

c. External lighting, such as floodlights, thin line or gooseneck reflectors may be permitted, provided the light source is directed upon the face of the sign and is effectively shielded from casting light on adjacent properties.

d. Lights shall not be of such intensity or placed in such a manner so as to cause glare, impair the vision of the driver of a motor vehicle or otherwise interfere with a driver's operation of a motor vehicle.

e. No sign shall be so illuminated so as to interfere with the effectiveness of, or obscure, an official traffic sign, device or signal.

f. Applicant must obtain all necessary electrical permits before any sign may be illuminated.

6. Landscaping.

a. All billboard applications shall have landscape plans approved by the Architectural Review Board. The landscaping may include, but is not limited to, broadleaf evergreens or evergreen shrubs and ground cover and shall be designed to ensure the structure will be aesthetically compatible with its surroundings and the aesthetic standard of the community and neighboring property, insofar as may be practicable, as well as safe and secure from trespassers or vandals.

b. The determination of whether the landscaping plan is reasonably suitable shall be made based upon a consideration of the nature of the location, the impact on surrounding properties, the safety and security of the proposed billboard, as well as Clayton's aesthetic quality.

7. Disuse And Removal.

a. If any billboard lacks a commercial advertisement or public service message for a period exceeding sixty (60) days, regardless of intent to resume use of same, it shall be considered a discontinuance of use and shall be removed within thirty (30) days of notice by the Director of Planning and Development Services.

b. The Director of Planning and Development Services may, upon forty-eight (48) hours' written notice, remove any sign constructed for which an application has not been approved. The costs of such removal shall be assessed to the billboard owner.

Section 425.060 Flags and Flagpoles.

[Ord. No. 6794, 1-10-2023]

A. Non-Residential Zoning Districts.

1. Flags and flagpoles may be erected in the front yard of non-residential properties. A maximum of four (4) such flagpoles may be erected on one (1) building site and shall be uniform in height, size and arrangement.

2. Such flagpoles shall not exceed thirty (30) feet in height unless a greater height is authorized by the Architectural Review Board.

3. A maximum of eight (8) flags may be displayed at one time.

4. The number of flagpoles and the shape, size and location of such flags shall be subject to approval of the Architectural Review Board.

B. Residential Zoning Districts.

1. Flags may also be displayed on residential properties either attached to the structure, placed in the window or on a flagpole.

2. Non-residential uses located in residential zoning districts and properties in multi-family zoning districts shall be subject to the same regulations as outlined above for non-residential zoning districts.

3. In single-family zoning districts, a maximum of two (2) flagpoles may be erected on one (1) site and shall be uniform in height, size and arrangement.

4. Such flagpoles shall not exceed twenty-five (25) feet in height unless a greater height is determined by the Architectural Review Board to be consistent with the mass and scale of the primary residential structure.

5. A maximum of four (4) flags may be displayed at one time.

Section 425.070 Permitted Temporary Signs.

[Ord. No. 6794, 1-10-2023]

A. General Regulations.

1. Temporary signs may be placed for a maximum of thirty (30) days in any sixty (60) day period. Any temporary sign to be displayed in excess of thirty (30) days in any sixty (60) day period must have the permission of the Director of Planning and Development Services and the City Manager.

2. All temporary signs must be professionally lettered and meet the standards set forth in the sign regulations.

3. A sign permit shall be secured for all temporary signage prior to installation except for yard signs in single-family zoning districts conforming to the regulations.

B. Non-Residential Zoning Districts.

1. Window Sign. A temporary sign may be attached or applied to the inside of a display window for each building or store, provided the area of the sign does not exceed nine (9) square feet. If the length of a continuous display window on any one (1) building or store exceeds thirty (30) lineal feet, two (2) such signs may be installed, provided they are remote from each other.

2. Wall Or Ground Sign. The Director of Planning and Development Services may authorize one (1) temporary sign for each building provided the sign is mounted flat on the wall of the building and does not exceed twenty-five (25) square feet in area. The Director of Planning and Development Services and the City Manager may approve an alternate ground sign design in lieu of the wall sign if a wall sign is determined to be an ineffective means of communication.

3. Construction Fence Sign. A construction sign may be erected in commercial districts in conjunction with a construction fence after issuance of a building permit. Such sign shall be attached to or be located behind the construction fence and shall not exceed thirty-two (32) square feet in area unless the construction fence adjacent to a street exceeds fifty (50) feet in length, in which case said sign shall not exceed fifty (50) square feet in area. Projects on lots with a street frontage and a construction fence one hundred (100) feet or more in length shall be permitted a sign one hundred (100) square feet in area. The total sign area allowed may be divided into a maximum of two (2) signs per frontage. Upon removal of the construction fence, the sign shall be removed. Building alteration projects in which no construction fence is required may have a temporary sign conforming to the temporary sign regulations above.

4. Special Event Sign Or Display. The City Manager or his/her designee is authorized to temporarily and selectively suspend strict enforcement of and required adherence to the temporary sign regulations and permit the display of otherwise prohibited temporary signs, banners, advertising devises and other temporary attention-getting devices in association with a special event under the following conditions:

a. The proposed temporary display is reasonably likely to improve the economic vitality of the area and would be beneficial to the City as a whole.

b. The proposed temporary display will not compromise vehicle or pedestrian access or safety.

c. The materials, placement and character of the proposed temporary display will not be a detriment to the public aesthetic of the area, or be so out of keeping with the character of permitted signage as to be inimical to the purposes of the City's sign regulations.

d. The temporary permit shall be for a specified period of time and location.

e. The temporary display should be located on private property to the maximum extent feasible.

f. The temporary display shall be designed and located to maintain an unobstructed pedestrian access route as required by the Public Works Department.

g. If the temporary display extends onto public property, the permittee shall provide proof of and maintain liability insurance satisfying the requirements of Section 510.090 of the City's Code of Ordinances.

C. Residential Zoning Districts.

1. Wall Or Window Sign. Temporary signs may be displayed in windows or attached to walls provided the aggregate total sign area does not exceed six (6) square feet in one- and two-family districts or twelve (12) square feet in area in multi-family districts.

2. Ground Sign. Temporary yard signs may be erected in residential yards, provided such signs do not exceed an aggregate total area of six (6) square feet per yard. Yard signs shall be erected at least ten (10) feet back from the front property line.

3. Construction Fence Sign. A construction sign may be erected in residential districts after the erection of a construction fence on the site providing adequate warning or information to the public. Such signs shall not exceed thirty-two (32) square feet in area in multiple dwelling districts and twelve (12) square feet in area in one- and two-family dwelling districts.

4. Garage sale signs in residential districts must conform to the requirements of Section 605.330 of this Code.

Section 425.080 Sidewalk Signs.

A. Sidewalk signs may be erected in all commercial, Planned Unit Development (PUD) or Special Development District (SDD) zoning districts in accordance with the criteria set forth in this Section if a valid permit for same has been issued as provided herein.

B. Sidewalk signs may be located on a sidewalk, hung from an outdoor seating enclosure or adjacent to a sidewalk on private property.

C. Sidewalk sign permits shall be valid for one (1) year. The Director of Planning and Development Services may refuse to issue or renew permits, and may revoke previously issued permits, if the proposed sign and/or its location poses a health or safety risk or cannot meet or fails to comply with applicable requirements.

D. All sidewalk signs shall comply with the following standards and requirements at all times:

1. If located on a sidewalk, a minimum of a five (5) foot wide, or greater at the direction of the Director of Public Works, unobstructed PAR must be maintained.

2. If located on a sidewalk, a minimum of three (3) feet of separation shall be maintained between: (a) the sign and the edge of pavement; and (b) between the sign and a parking stall; and (c) the sign and another sign; and (d) the sign and other fixtures (street lights, street trees, parking meters, fire hydrants, Fire Department connections, mailboxes, benches, etc.).

3. Signs shall not be placed in the PAR.

4. Except as expressly permitted herein, signs shall not be attached to any sidewalk or public or private fixture.

5. The maximum allowable size of the sign is twenty-five (25) inches wide and thirty-eight (38) inches high (overall frame dimensions).

6. Signs shall not be internally or externally illuminated, nor shall they be equipped with moving parts, nor shall any device designed to attract attention to the sign or business be attached to a sign.

7. If a sign is located on City property, the permit holder shall provide and maintain, at his/her sole cost, liability insurance satisfying the requirements set out in Section 350.230(1) of this Code of Ordinances covering any injury or damage said to be occasioned by or in any way arising from or associated with the sign or its presence in its location. The insurance shall name the City of Clayton as an additional insured and must be maintained in full force and effect so long as the permit is outstanding.

8. The sign shall be removed every day, no later than the close of business for the enterprise referenced on the sign or 10:00 P.M., whichever is earlier.

9. No more than one (1) sign permit shall be issued for each storefront having an entrance along a sidewalk. No permits will be issued, and no sidewalk signs will be allowed, with respect to any enterprise other than those having an entrance along the sidewalk where the sign is to be located.

10. At no time shall the sign be displayed when the business enterprise referenced on the sign is closed.

11. The sign may not unduly impede normal pedestrian use of a sidewalk or block or impede a doorway, vehicular entrance, crosswalks or otherwise pose a danger to pedestrian or vehicular traffic.

12. Signage shall not be affixed to or mounted on wheels.

13. Signage must be maintained in good structural and aesthetic condition at all times, and shall not be so constructed or located as to be likely to be moved by the wind.

14. The final location of the sign shall be determined by the City and will be designated on the sign permit. Display of the sign shall only be allowed in the area specifically designated on the sign permit. The City, at its discretion, may refuse to allow a sign on a sidewalk if one (1) can reasonably be located on adjacent private property in accord with the requirements contained herein.

E. Design Criteria. All signage shall be constructed from durable materials compatible with the design and materials of the building housing the enterprise referenced on the sign and shall present a finished appearance. Wood and metal and chalkboard are acceptable materials. Plastic is not allowed. Signage shall not be reflective or fluorescent. Reader board signs with removable slide-in letters and stenciled or spray-painted signs are not allowed.

Section 425.090 Illegal Signs And Devices.

[Ord. No. 6794, 1-10-2023]

A. It shall be unlawful to erect or maintain any of the following signs or devices in the City unless specifically authorized through another Section of this Chapter:

1. Advertising devices as defined in Section 425.020.

2. Paper posters applied directly to the wall of a building or pole or other support and letters and pictures in the form of advertising, printed or applied directly to the wall or surface of a building.

3. Signs painted directly on the walls of buildings.

4. Any sign or signs which are no longer applicable to the property or building upon which such sign or signs are located shall be considered unlawful signs and shall be immediately removed.

5. Mechanical contrivances. Mechanical or moving signage is prohibited except as provided for in Section 425.040(C)(1)(c), above.

6. Conflicting signs. Signs or devices which by color, location or design resemble or conflict with traffic control signs or devices are prohibited in the City.

7. Signs displayed in windows above the grade floor.

8. Any signs which project in the right-of-way (except as expressly permitted in Section 425.080).

9. Roof signs.

10. Signs which impede access or prevent ready access to any window, door, or passageway that provides required egress to or from a building or space.

11. Signs which constitute a hazard to motor vehicles or pedestrian traffic or obscure view of vehicle operators or pedestrians or could be confused with official traffic signs or other signs erected by governmental agencies.

Section 425.100 Vacant Ground Floor.

[Ord. No. 6794, 1-10-2023]

The windows in all ground level vacant spaces must be covered in a workmanlike manner with white butcher paper or a window covering provided by the City of Clayton. A temporary sign either advertising the space or announcing a future tenant may be displayed, provided it follows the provisions governing that type of signage.

Section 425.110 Modifications.

[Ord. No. 6794, 1-10-2023]

Where practical difficulties exist in the application of these provisions in regard to the determination of the permitted sign area or locations of permitted signs due to unusual conditions, such as facades that are angled or curved to the front street or streets or land uses which involve substantial accessory uses both inside and outside of buildings and requiring identification or substantial open space or street frontage or a similar unusual condition, the Architectural Review Board shall have the authority to determine the appropriate location, size or number of signs, provided the intent of these regulations is met. No individual sign shall be approved that exceeds the area limits normally permitted a single tenant or building. The Architectural Review Board shall also have authority to allow signs to be located above the first floor ceiling level when the allowed sign location is obstructed from view or not designed to support signage and the proposed alternate location is compatible with the surrounding character and would support public health, safety and welfare.

Section 425.120 Sign Districts Or Subdistricts.

[Ord. No. 6794, 1-10-2023]

A. The purpose of a sign district shall be to support creative, cohesive and coordinated signage for a specific area, development, or property. A sign district shall be used to support the same intent or purpose of the sign regulations as outlined by Section 425.010 in situations that may be unique in character or design which would suffer from strict application of this Chapter. The intent of a sign district is not to allow more signage than necessary for visibility, readability or public safety.

B. A sign district shall supersede the requirements of this Chapter as applicable.

C. A sign district shall govern the specific property identified during approval of said plan and shall remain in effect until it is amended, replaced or voided.

D. Sign districts or subdistricts shall require approval by the Architectural Review Board.

E. Criteria for review.

1. Compatibility with the character of the subject property and surrounding area.

2. The number, location, and size of signage.

3. The design, materials, lighting, and quality of the signs.

4. Functionality of signs for identification and wayfinding.

F. Application Requirements.

1. Site diagram showing the location and type of all signs along with building placements, driveways, walkways, and access points.

2. Elevation drawings showing the location of signs, depicting the maximum size and noting the sign type for each location.

3. Breakdown of details for each sign type including maximum size, any material restrictions, any mounting type restrictions, and lighting type.

4. All permanent and temporary sign options should be identified.