The purpose of these Signage Regulations is
to provide for adequate advertising of residences, home occupations,
and business entities throughout Town, while controlling the location,
size, shape, number, manner of lighting and architectural appearance
of signs located on all buildings and premises; to maintain and enhance
the aesthetic environment and the Town's ability to attract sources
of economic development and growth; to improve pedestrian and traffic
safety; to provide for proper review and oversight of signage; and
to minimize the possible adverse effects of signs on nearby public
and private property.
The area of a sign shall be considered to be
that of the smallest circle, square, rectangle or triangle that contains
the entire sign, including all lettering, wording, design, or symbols
together with any background, material, or color different from the
balance of the wall on which it is located, if such background is
designed as an integral part of and obviously related to the sign.
The supports that affix a sign to the ground or to a building shall
not be included in the area of the sign unless such supports are obviously
designed to be part of the sign as defined in these regulations. Square
foot limitations contained in these regulations refer to each face
of multi-faced signs. Maximum number of sign faces shall not exceed
two in residential and business districts, arranged back-to-back;
signs with three sides, arranged in a triangular configuration, may
be permitted in industrial districts. The height of a sign shall be
measured from ground level to the top of the sign, or any part thereof,
including supports and lights.
A.
New freestanding or ground signs shall be subject
to site plan approval by the Commission.
B.
No permanent sign shall be erected, relocated, or
altered without a sign permit approved by the Zoning Enforcement Officer
and issued by the Building Official, except when said sign is located
in a Village District which shall also require the review and recommendation
by the Design Review Board. All signs shall meet all requirements
of the Building Code and these regulations. Application for sign permits
shall be made on forms supplied by the Building Official. Failure
to maintain signs shall be considered a violation of these regulations.
C.
Externally lit signs are permitted if illumination
is confined to the surface of the sign. Such lighting shall be shielded
to prevent direct light from being visible from the street or from
adjacent property. Exterior lighting in any nonresidential zoning
district shall comply with the maximum and minimum lumen levels specified
in the recommended practices and ANSI standards contained in Lighting
for Parking Facilities or in Lighting for Exterior Environments as
published by the Illuminating Engineering Society of North America
as amended.
D.
The light source in any lighted sign shall be shielded
to prevent glare upon traffic or adjoining properties. Lights shall
not be used where they create conflict with highway control traffic
signals.
E.
A sign shall not project more than 24 inches from
the face of a structure or more than 12 inches beyond any street line
and shall be at least eight feet above the level of any walkway it
may overhang. No sign shall be placed in such a position as to endanger
pedestrian or vehicular traffic.
F.
Off-premises directional signs, pointing to businesses
not readily visible from the main thoroughfare, are permitted on a
Town right-of-way where such placement does not cause sight line problems
or unduly detract from surrounding areas. Such signs shall be five
inches high by 24 inches long, black letters on white background and
mounted no higher than eight feet on a two inch metal post, permanently
secured in the ground. No more than three two-sided signs are allowed
on one post. Intersection quadrants shall not contain more than two
posts which shall be within 200 feet of the intersection.
G.
One off-premises directional sign indicating "House
for Sale" will be allowed at the entrance to a street on which such
house or houses for sale are located. Said sign shall not bear logos,
company names, or other identification marks and shall be used by
all real estate agencies and owners with property for sale. Signs
shall not be larger than one by two feet, shall be mounted no higher
than three feet above finished grade, and shall be placed in such
a way as to not interfere with sight lines or traffic.
H.
Signs pertaining to a removed use, business, or proprietor
shall be removed within 30 days.
A.
No sign attached to a structure shall project higher
than two feet above the exterior wall of the structure, except in
an industrial district where a sign may project up to six feet above
the exterior wall of such structure provided the sign is not within
500 feet of the boundary of a residential district and visible from
said district.
B.
No portion of any permanent freestanding sign shall
measure higher than 10 feet above finished grade.
C.
Where more than one sign is permitted on a building,
such signs shall be uniform in height, size, and location. In addition,
such signs shall be uniform in terms of color and shape in a Village
District.
A.
Animated signs.
B.
Banners or pennants, except as provided in § 315-91B for season decorations without commercial advertising sponsored by the Town and § 315-91F(3).
C.
Flashing, rotating, sequential lighting, or intermittent
illumination signs, except those indicating time and/or temperature
by means of white lighting, provided the longest dimension of such
sign does not exceed five feet, and traditional barbershop signs,
provided the longest dimension of such sign does not exceed three
feet.
D.
Internally lit signs, unless specifically approved
by the Commission.
E.
Internally lit canopy signs, i.e., gas station canopies.
G.
Inflatable signs and tethered balloons, except temporary
signs in connection with a grand opening as determined by the Zoning
Officer.
H.
Exposed festooned lights in nonresidential districts,
except during the months of January and December.
I.
Interior signs visible from the street which do not
comply with these regulations.
A.
Permanent signs in Single-Family Residential (R) and
Farmland Preservation (FP) Zoning Districts.
|
Type of Sign
|
Maximum Size
|
Maximum Number of Signs
|
Location
|
Permit Required
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Nonilluminated nameplate sign
|
1 square foot
|
1 per lot
|
Back of street line
|
No
|
|
Nonilluminated sign pertaining to a profession
or occupation permitted as an accessory use without a special permit
|
4 square feet
|
1 per lot
|
Back of street line
|
Yes
|
|
Sign pertaining to a profession or occupation
where a special permit is required (nonilluminated sign only)
|
6 square feet
|
1 per lot
|
Back of street line
|
Yes
|
|
Sign pertaining to institutional uses including,
places of worship, schools, and nursing homes by special permit
|
25 square feet
|
1 on each street frontage
|
15 ft. front setback
|
Yes
|
B.
Temporary signs in Single-Family Residential (R) Districts.
|
Type of Sign
|
Maximum Size
|
Maximum No. of Signs
|
Location
|
Permit Required
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Sign pertaining to the sale, lease or rental
of property on which it is located
|
6 square feet
|
1 on each street frontage
|
Back of street line
|
No
|
|
Sign pertaining to and during construction of
property
|
6 square feet
|
1 per lot
|
15-foot front setback
|
Yes
|
|
Sign offering lots and/or homes for sale within
an approved subdivision to be displayed for no more than 12 months,
with 1 extension permitted
|
25 square feet
|
1 on each street frontage
|
15-foot front setback
|
Yes
|
|
Sign of civic and nonprofit organizations displayed
for no more than 30 days in a 12-month period
|
25 square feet
|
1 per property
|
15-foot front setback
|
Yes
|
|
Holiday decoration without commercial advertising
|
15-foot setback
|
No
| ||
|
Seasonal decorations without commercial advertising
sponsored by the Town
|
72 inches vertical, 30 inches horizontal
|
1 per utility pole
|
Located not to impair pedestrian or vehicular
traffic sight lines
|
No
|
C.
Signs permitted in Planned Development Apartment (PDA)
District.
|
Type of Sign
|
Maximum Size
|
Maximum No. of Signs
|
Location
|
Permit Required
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Nameplate signs indicating the name of development
|
12 square feet or
|
1 for each street frontage where access exists
|
15-foot front setback
|
Yes
|
|
25 square feet
|
30-foot front setback
|
Yes
| ||
|
Signs identifying the rental or property management
agency
|
6 square feet
|
1 for each street frontage where access exists
|
Back of street line
|
No
|
|
Signs pertaining to the sale, lease or rental
of property for a period of 12 months
|
25 square feet
|
1 per property
|
15-foot front setback
|
Yes
|
D.
Permanent signs permitted in the Neighborhood Commercial
(NC), Industrial (I), and Planned Development Industrial Park (PDIP)
District Zones.
|
Type of Sign
|
Location
|
Permit Required
| |
|---|---|---|---|
|
The total combined sign area for each unit of
occupancy on the first floor and permanent freestanding signs shall
not exceed 1 square foot for each linear front foot of exterior building
wall as follows:
| |||
|
The number of permanent signs on a building
wall shall be restricted to 1 per unit of occupancy, except that units
with frontage on 2 streets may have 2 signs.
|
Building wall
|
Yes
| |
|
1 single- or double-faced permanent freestanding
or ground sign not exceeding 20 square feet in area nor 10 feet in
height may be erected on each lot containing frontage.
|
Ground, 20-foot setbacks
|
Yes
| |
|
Within 10 feet of each entrance of a building,
1 common nameplate sign may be erected which allows for not more than
1 square foot of sign area for each unit of occupancy that is served
by said entrance.
|
Back of street line
|
Yes
| |
|
Each unit of occupancy above the first floor
may only display a sign on the inside of each window serving said
unit of occupancy, provided that the combined area of such signs shall
not exceed 6 square feet. Such restriction shall not apply if units
of occupancy above the first floor have direct access to common areas
on the outside of the building where signs may be displayed.
|
Second floor
|
No
| |
E.
Permanent signs permitted in the Town Center and West
Suffield Center Village District Zones subject to review and recommendation
of the Design Review Board.
|
Type of Sign
|
Location
|
Permit Required
| |
|---|---|---|---|
|
The total combined sign area for each unit of
occupancy on the first floor and permanent freestanding signs shall
not exceed 1 square foot for each linear front foot of exterior building
wall as follows:
| |||
|
The number of permanent signs on a building
wall shall be restricted to 1 per unit of occupancy, except that units
with frontage on 2 streets may have 2 signs.
|
Building wall
|
Yes
| |
|
1 single- or double-faced permanent freestanding
or ground sign not exceeding 12 square feet in area nor 10 feet in
height may be erected on each lot containing frontage.
[Amended 7-5-2007] |
Ground, 0-foot setback
|
Yes
| |
|
Within 10 feet of each entrance of a building,
1 common nameplate sign may be erected which allows for not more than
1 square foot of sign area for each unit of occupancy that is served
by said entrance.
|
Behind street line
|
Yes
| |
|
Each unit of occupancy above the first floor
may only display a sign on the inside of each window serving said
unit of occupancy, provided that the combined area of such signs shall
not exceed 6 square feet. Such restriction shall not apply if units
of occupancy above the first floor have direct access to common areas
on the outside of the building where signs may be displayed.
|
Second floor
|
No
| |
|
The exterior color of a sign shall be selected
from the Historic Colors of America pallet (as approved by the Society
for the Preservation of New England Antiquities) by California Products
Corporation or equivalent, and/or primary colors.
| |||
|
All permanent signs permitted in the Town Center
Village District and West Suffield Village District are subject to
review by the Design Review Board.
| |||
F.
Temporary signs permitted in the Neighborhood Commercial
(NC), Industrial (I), Town Center Village, and West Suffield Center
Village District Zones.
(1)
Signs temporarily attached or painted on a door, window,
or wall announcing sales or special features are permitted, provided
they do not exceed 25% of the area of said door, window or wall. Said
signs shall be removed immediately after the termination of such sale
or special feature and shall be permitted for no more than 30 days.
(2)
Freestanding sandwich-board type signs may be allowed
in nonresidential districts for a maximum period of 60 days from the
date of the permit required below, provided:
(a)
Signs are limited to one per occupant;
(b)
Signs are secured to prevent movement by wind
or other elements;
(c)
Signs are displayed only during hours of business
operation;
(d)
Signs shall measure no more than two by three
feet;
(e)
A permit is issued by the Zoning Officer;
(f)
A $20 administrative fee is collected;
(g)
Signs shall meet all other aspects of these
regulations; and
(h)
All signs shall be located behind the street
line.
[Amended 10-9-2009]
(3)
Restaurant signs advertising lunch or dinner specials
are exempt from the sixty-day limit on display of sandwich-board signs.
(4)
Outdoor advertising devices, including but not limited
to plaques, banners, pennants, and streamers, are permitted for a
period of not more than two weeks after the opening of a new business.
Said device shall be behind the street line.
