[Ord. No. 2753 §1, 3-1-2006; Ord. No. 2873 §§1 —
2, 1-16-2008; Ord. No. 3005 §1, 1-5-2011; Ord. No. 3789 §1, 11-19-2014; Ord. No. 3201 §1, 1-7-2015]
Only signs of the following types shall be permitted for commercial
or light industrial uses in accordance with the regulations hereinafter
prescribed.
[Ord. No. 2753 §1, 3-1-2006; Ord. No. 2825 §1, 4-4-2007; Ord.
No. 2827 §1, 5-1-2007; Ord. No. 2873 §§1 —
2, 1-16-2008; Ord. No. 3005 §1, 1-5-2011; Ord. No. 3789 §1, 11-19-2014; Ord. No. 3201 §1, 1-7-2015]
A. All permanent signs permitted by Article
VI of this Code.
B. Wall Signs.
[Ord. No. 3344 § 1, 8-16-2017]
1.
Size: Total sign area may not exceed fifteen percent (15%) of
the wall surface facing the street frontage, including the window
and door area, not to exceed two hundred (200) square feet.
2.
Height: Wall signs placed above walkways or areas accessible
to pedestrians must provide a minimum clearance of ten (10) feet between
the lowest point of the sign and any walkway, paving or ground level
accessible to pedestrians which is located beneath the sign.
3.
Number: Sign facing per street frontage may consist of multiple
sign elements but may not exceed the maximum allowable sign area.
4.
Location: allowed on each building wall with street frontage.
5.
Colors: not more than five (5).
6.
Special: A wall sign shall contain the business or entity name
only. Services, slogans and other operational information shall not
be included as part of the wall sign. The Code Enforcement Officer
may approve a logo as part of wall signage.
[Ord. No. 3536, 11-16-2022]
7.
Materials: All wall signs shall be limited to the use of halo-lit
channel letters, face-lit channel letters, or non-illuminated individual
letters with a minimum of one inch individual letter depth. A sign
cabinet or capsule may be used in addition to channel letters or individual
letters, as subordinate signage. The cabinet or capsule shall be limited
to fifty percent (50%) of the overall size of the primary (channel
letter or individual letter) sign. Lettering used on the subordinate
cabinet or capsule may be less than one-inch in depth, but flat letters
or vinyl decals may not be utilized on the cabinet or capsule.
C. Window Signs.[Ord. No. 3423, 7-17-2019]
1.
Size: up to fifty percent (50%) of the window surface area.
2.
Location: Signs may be placed on the exterior or interior of
any window facing a street.
3.
Materials: professionally manufactured and professionally posted,
placed or affixed onto the window, but excluding painted windows.
4.
Special: One (1) neon open sign, measuring up to a maximum of
six (6) square feet, may be included as part of the permitted window
signage.
D. Illuminated Window Signage. Signs using neon, argon
or any similar gas to illuminate transparent or translucent tubing
or other materials or faces may be used as provided herein.
1.
Size: must be counted as part of the allowable permanent window
signage.
2.
Location: windows located on the front facade and/or windows
facing the street.
3.
Materials: must be professionally manufactured.
4.
Special.
a.
All illuminated signage (except an open sign as described under
window signage) must be approved by the Architectural Review Board
prior to permit issuance. Illuminated signs previously approved by
the Architectural Review Board may be replaced with other illuminated
signs of like size and appearance without ARB approval, but will require
a new sign permit.
b.
The use of neon, argon or any similar gas used in conjunction
with transparent or translucent tubing or other materials to advertise
or call attention to a business use by outlining property lines, roofs,
doors, windows, wall edges or other exterior architectural elements
is prohibited.
c.
The use of neon, argon or any similar gas to illuminate the
interior of any commercial building is permitted, provided that such
is not intended to advertise available products or services or to
attract the attention of persons outside of the building, in which
case the use is prohibited.
E. Monument Signs.
1.
Size: The maximum area of a double-sided monument sign, including
the masonry base, shall be thirty-five percent (35%) of the lot frontage
or one hundred fifty (150) square feet, whichever is less, except
that the maximum area need not be less than eighty (80) square feet.
The area of a single face on a double-sided sign shall not exceed
one-half (1/2) of the maximum area. The maximum area of a single-faced
monument sign, again including the masonry base, shall be one-half
(1/2) of the maximum area permitted for a double-faced monument sign
on the same lot. For corner lots, both street frontages may be used
to compute the allowable sign size.
2.
Height: Maximum of ten (10) feet as measured from grade to the
highest point on the monument sign; or if the development grade is
lower than street level, ten (10) feet from the street level.
3.
Number: One (1) per premises.
4.
Location: Sign shall be set back a minimum of five (5) feet
from the street right-of-way and at least twenty (20) feet from the
road edge.
5.
Colors: Not more than five (5).
6.
Special.
a.
Sign must have plantings within three (3) feet of the base. A monument sign shall contain the business or entity name only. Services, slogans and other operational information shall not be included as part of the sign. One (1) tenant panel per face may be used to display real estate information as per Section
410.180(A).
b.
All monument signs shall include the property address or address
range.
7.
Materials.
a.
All monument bases shall be of masonry construction to match
the building. Signage shall be limited to the use of individual letters
or signage that provides the appearance of individual letters. Additionally,
a minimum of one-inch individual letter depth must be utilized for
the center name.
b.
Tenant panels on a monument sign may provide less than a minimum
of one-inch individual letter depth. However, flat letters or vinyl
decals may not be utilized on the tenant panels. All tenant panel
backgrounds must be opaque.
c.
The Code Enforcement Officer may approve a logo as part of this
signage.
[Ord. No. 3536, 11-16-2022]
[Ord. No. 2753 §1, 3-1-2006; Ord. No. 2756 §1, 3-15-2006; Ord.
No. 2825 §§2 — 3, 4-4-2007; Ord. No.
2827 §§2 — 3, 5-2-2007; Ord. No. 2873 §§1 — 2, 1-16-2008; Ord. No. 3005 §1, 1-5-2011; Ord.
No. 3035 §7, 7-20-2011; Ord. No. 3789 §1, 11-19-2014; Ord. No. 3201 §1, 1-7-2015]
A. Wall Signs For Mini-Shops. In addition to the wall
sign for the primary tenant, a mini-shop may have a wall sign as provided
herein.
1.
Size: thirty (30) square feet.
2.
Height: must maintain a minimum clearance of ten (10) feet between
the lowest point of the sign and the walkway, paving or ground level
beneath the sign.
4.
Location: mounted on the front facade of the building wall.
5.
Special: A wall sign shall contain the business or entity name
only. Services, slogans and other operational information shall not
be included as part of the wall sign. The Code Enforcement Officer
may approve a logo as part of wall signage.
[Ord. No. 3536, 11-16-2022]
6.
Materials: All wall signs shall be limited to the use of halo-lit
channel letters, face-lit channel letters or non-illuminated individual
letters with a minimum of one (1) inch individual letter depth. The
Code Enforcement Officer may approve a logo as part of this signage.
[Ord. No. 3536, 11-16-2022]
7.
Colors: not more than five (5).
B. Large Retail Development Monument Signs. Large retail
developments containing at least five (5) contiguous acres, held under
common ownership, having common parking areas or common roof structures
and consisting of two (2) or more stores may have one (1) monument
sign that identifies the development and each business located within
that development. Monument signs shall not be erected on any parcel
or premises that has an existing monument or other freestanding sign.
1.
Size: The maximum area of a double-faced sign, including the
masonry base, shall be thirty-five percent (35%) of the lot frontage
or four hundred (400) square feet, whichever is less, except that
the maximum area need not be less than eighty (80) square feet. The
area of a single face on a double-sided sign shall not exceed one-half
(1/2) of the maximum area. The maximum area of a single-faced monument
sign, again including the masonry base, shall be one-half (1/2) of
the maximum area permitted for a double-faced monument sign on the
same lot. For corner lots, both street frontages may be used to compute
the allowable sign size.
2.
Height: Maximum height shall be fifteen (15) feet, as measured
from grade to the highest point on the monument sign; or if the development
grade is lower than street level, fifteen (15) feet from the street
level.
3.
Number: one (1) per development or premises.
4.
Location: Sign shall be set back a minimum of five (5) feet
from the street right-of-way and at least twenty (20) feet from the
road edge. Nor shall any part of said sign obstruct vision at any
intersection or vehicular access point. Lots fronting intersecting
streets shall maintain a minimum of twenty-five (25) feet of clearance
along the intersection of the rights-of-way of said streets.
5.
Colors: not more than five (5).
6.
Special.
a.
Signs must have plantings within three (3) feet of the base. A monument sign shall contain the business or entity name only. Services, slogans and other operational information shall not be included as part of the sign. One (1) tenant panel per face may be used to display real estate information as per Section
410.180(A).
b.
All monument signs shall include the property address or address
range.
7.
Materials.
a.
All monument bases shall be of masonry construction to match
the building. Signage shall be limited to the use of individual letters
or signage that provides the appearance of individual letters. Additionally,
a minimum of one-inch individual letter depth must be utilized for
the center name. Tenant panels on a monument sign may provide less
than a minimum of one-inch individual letter depth. However, flat
letters or vinyl decals may not be utilized on the tenant panels.
All tenant panel backgrounds must be opaque.
b.
The Code Enforcement Officer may approve a logo as part of this
signage.
[Ord. No. 3536, 11-16-2022]
C. Signs For Gasoline And Oil Service Stations. Any
business which dispenses, or is designed to dispense, gasoline and
oil for use in motor vehicles and boats may have, in addition to the
wall and monument signage, a gasoline price sign for each street frontage
as provided herein.
1.
Size: two (2) feet by four (4) feet per sign face; may be double-sided.
2.
Height: four (4) feet in height.
3.
Number: one (1) per street frontage.
4.
Location: attached to the building or to a monument sign serving
the subject property. The price sign must be servicing the street
frontage.
5.
Colors: not more than five (5). Logos may be in full color.
6.
Special: The sign must be of permanent type and design subject
to the approval of the Code Enforcement Officer. The prices displayed
shall be accurate and complete, with no missing numbers, and the station
shall be required to sell at the price indicated.
[Ord. No. 3536, 11-16-2022]
D. Signs For New Motor Vehicle Sales Facilities. Those motor vehicle sales facilities (as defined in the Zoning Ordinance) that sell new motor vehicles may have, in addition to wall signage but in lieu of the monument sign permitted per Section
410.140(E), one (1) monument sign for each automotive franchise doing business at any one (1) business address as provided herein.
1.
Size: Total sign area of a sign listing one (1) franchise shall
not exceed one hundred thirty (130) square feet or sixty-five (65)
square feet per side. For a sign listing two (2) or more franchises,
total sign area shall not exceed one hundred sixty (160) square feet
or eighty (80) square feet per side.
2.
Height: maximum of ten (10) feet, as measured from grade to
the highest point of the sign.
3.
Number: one (1) monument sign for each automotive franchise,
at any one (1) business address.
4.
Location: Each sign shall be located no less than seventy (70)
feet from any other such sign and no less than fifty (50) feet from
any side property line.
5.
Colors: not more than five (5). Logos may be in full color.
6.
Special: All signs shall be internally illuminated. Should any
existing franchise terminate or become inactive, the sign erected
for that franchise shall be removed within sixty (60) days of such
termination or inactivity. Upon request of the City Clerk, each such
facility shall provide proof of any active franchise agreement.
E. Adult Entertainment Businesses Or Establishments.
1.
Size: no greater than one (1) square foot of sign per one (1)
foot of wall length, not to exceed a total of fifty (50) square feet;
said sign shall not flash, blink or move by mechanical means.
2.
Height: Sign shall not extend above the roofline of the building.
Said sign shall not exceed eight (8) feet in height from ground level.
3.
Number: one (1) sign per premises.
4.
Location: wall-mounted on the front facade facing the street.
5.
Colors: not more than five (5).
6.
Special.
a.
No merchandise, symbol or pictures of products or entertainment
on the premises shall be displayed in window areas or on any sign
or any area where such merchandise or pictures can be viewed from
the exterior of the building. No flashing lights and/or lighting which
leaves the impression of motion or movement shall be permitted.
b.
No temporary signs shall be allowed.
c.
All adult entertainment business shall have conspicuously displayed
in the common area at the principal entrance to the premises a sign,
on which uppercase letters shall be at two (2) inches high and lowercase
letters at least one (1) inch high, which shall reads as follows:
|
ADULT ENTERTAINMENT BUSINESS IS REGULATED AND LICENSED
BY THE CITY OF ELLISVILLE ENTERTAINERS ARE:
|
|
*
|
Not permitted to engage in any type of sexual conduct or prostitution
on the premises or to fondle, caress or touch the breasts, pubic region,
buttocks or genitals of any employee, patron or other entertainer
or to permit any employee, patron or other entertainer to fondle,
caress or touch the breasts, pubic region, buttocks or genitals of
said entertainer.
|
|
*
|
Not permitted to be nude, unclothed or in less than opaque attire,
costume or clothing so as to expose to view any portion of the breasts
below the top of the areola, or any portion of the pubic region, buttocks
and/or genitals, unless upon a stage at least two (2) feet above the
customer floor and a sufficient distance from the customers to prevent
the customers from touching the entertainers.
|
|
*
|
Not permitted to demand or collect any payment or gratuity from
any customer for entertainment, except as follows:
|
|
|
--
|
While such entertainer is on the stage, by placing such payment
or gratuity into a box affixed to the stage, or
|
|
|
--
|
While such entertainer is not on the stage, by placing such
payment or gratuity into the entertainer's hand.
|
|
CUSTOMERS ARE:
|
|
*
|
Not permitted to be upon the stage at any time.
|
|
*
|
Not permitted to touch, caress or fondle the breasts, pubic
region, buttocks or genitals of any employee, server or entertainer
or engage in solicitation for prostitution.
|
F. Time And Weather Information Signs.
1.
Size: to be included towards maximum area allowed for wall and
monument signage.
2.
Number: one (1) per premises.
3.
Location: wall-mounted or included in monument sign.
4.
Special: The display may not flash or scroll. The display information
must remain constant after each information update.
5.
Permit: required (as part of wall or monument sign application).
G. Interior Commercial Signage.
1.
Signs located on the interior walls of any building located
in the City's commercial or light industrial districts and used for
providing direction to or as a location aid for customers shall not
require a permit, provided that the lettering of such signs shall
not exceed the dimensions necessary for such purposes as established
by uniform standards of visibility when measuring from the sign to
any interior point of the building from which the sign is visible.
Any sign exceeding the standard dimension is prohibited.
2.
Signs not otherwise permitted by this code and displayed in
the interior of any building located in the City's commercial or light
industrial districts and either used to advertise available products
or services or to attract the attention of persons outside of the
building are prohibited.
H. Directional Signs.
1.
Size: six (6) square feet per face; may be double-faced.
2.
Height: three and one-half (3 1/2) feet for ground-mounted,
but not lower to the ground than twelve (12) inches.
3.
Number: as allowed by the Code Enforcement Officer.
[Ord. No. 3536, 11-16-2022]
4.
Location: Ground- or wall-mounted and as allowed by the Code
Enforcement Officer. No sign shall be closer than three (3) feet to
sidewalk edge or fifteen (15) feet from road edge if sidewalks are
not completed or required.
[Ord. No. 3536, 11-16-2022]
5.
Special: type and content of signs subject to discretion of
the Code Enforcement Officer.
[Ord. No. 3536, 11-16-2022]
I. Changeable Characters. Changeable characters (lettering
and numbers) may be used as part of any residential subdivision, institutional
or commercial monument sign or large retail development monument sign
to provide information relevant to the entity operating on the subject
premises as permitted herein.
1.
Size: The area to be used for such purpose shall not exceed
thirty percent (30%) of the total sign area.
2.
Height: Characters may not exceed ten (10) inches in height.
3.
Special: Only fixed, non-moving, non-animated characters may
be used; must secure approval from the Architectural Review Board
for design, materials and colors.