(a) 
General standards.
(1) 
All signs and sign structures shall be designed and constructed to resist wind forces as specified in this article. All bracing systems shall be designed and constructed to transfer lateral forces to the foundations. For signs on buildings, the dead and lateral loads shall be transmitted through the structural frame of the building to the ground in such manner as not to overstress any of the elements thereof.
(2) 
The overturning moment produced from lateral forces shall in no case exceed two-thirds (2/3) of the dead-load resisting moment for all signs. Uplift due to overturning shall be adequately resisted by proper anchorage to the ground or to the structural frame of the building for all signs. The weight of earth superimposed over footings may be used in determining the dead-load resisting moment. Such earth shall be carefully placed and thoroughly compacted.
(3) 
The allowable stresses in wire ropes and steel guy rods and their fastenings shall not exceed one-fourth (1/4) of their rated tensile strength.
(b) 
Wind loads.
All signs and sign structures shall be designed to resist wind loads as follows:
Wind Load Pressures in Pounds per Square Foot for All Signs
Height Above Ground* (ft.)
Pressure (lbs./ft.)
0 - 30
20
31 - 50
25
51 - 99
35
100 - 199
45
200 - 299
50
300 - 399
55
400 - 500
60
501 - 800
70
Over 800
77
*Measured above the average level of the ground adjacent to the structure.
(1999 Code, sec. 4.609(a))
(a) 
Supports.
The supports for all signs or sign structures shall be erected in conformance with the requirements of the city building code.
(b) 
Materials.
Materials for construction of all signs and sign structures shall be of the quality and grade as specified for buildings in the city code.
(1999 Code, sec. 4.609(b))
All electrical fixtures, equipment and appurtenances installed in conjunction with a sign shall be designed and installed in accordance with the city code.
(1999 Code, sec. 4.609(c))
(a) 
For the purposes of this section, the following definitions shall apply:
(1) 
Display surface
shall mean the entire surface of a sign, on one side, devoted to exhibiting or contrasting exhibits of advertising. The display surface shall generally include the entire sign surface except for the sign frame and incidental supports thereto.
(2) 
Sign facing or facing
shall mean a separate and distinguishable portion of the overall display surface.
(b) 
Notwithstanding any other provisions of this article, plastic materials which burn at a maximum rate of two and one-half inches (2-1/2") per minute in sheets of 0.060 thickness when tested in accordance with "Test for Flammability of Rigid Plastics Over 0.050 Inches in Thickness," ASTM D635-1974, shall be deemed "approved plastics" for the purposes of this article, and may be used as the display surface material and for the letters, decorations and facings on signs, provided that the structure of the sign in which the plastic is mounted or installed is noncombustible.
(c) 
Individual plastic facings of electrical signs shall not exceed two hundred (200) square feet in area. If the area of a display surface exceeds two hundred (200) square feet, the area occupied or covered by approved plastics shall be limited to two hundred (200) square feet plus fifty percent (50%) of the difference between two hundred (200) square feet and the total square footage area of the sign.
(d) 
The area of plastic on a display surface shall not in any case exceed five hundred fifty (550) square feet.
(e) 
Letters and decorations mounted upon an approved plastic facing or display surface shall be made of approved plastics.
(1999 Code, sec. 4.609(d))
Except as stated herein, no ground sign shall be established, constructed or erected which exceeds an overall height of forty-two and one-half feet (42-1/2’), including cutouts extending above the rectangular border, measured from the highest point on the sign to the grade level of the ground surface in which the sign supports are placed. A roof sign having a tight or solid surface shall not at any point exceed twenty-four feet (24’) above the roof level. Open roof signs in which the uniform open area is not less than forty percent (40%) of total gross area may be erected to a height of forty feet (40’) above the roof level. Projecting signs shall be a minimum of fourteen feet (14’) in height above grade. These height limitations shall not apply to on-premises signs lawfully permitted or lawfully erected prior to the date of passage of this article.
(1999 Code, sec. 4.609(e))
Except as stated herein, no on-premises sign other than an on-premises wall sign shall be established, constructed, or erected which has a face area exceeding three hundred (300) square feet, including cutouts, but excluding uprights, or which has face dimensions that exceed fifteen feet (15’) in height or thirty feet (30’) in width. No off-premises sign shall be established, constructed, or erected which has a face area exceeding six hundred seventy-two (672) square feet, including cutouts, but excluding uprights. No double-faced off-premises sign shall be established, constructed, or erected unless each face is seventy-five (75) square feet or less and the faces are abutting on one edge. These size limitations shall not apply to on-premises signs lawfully permitted or lawfully erected prior to the date of passage of this article.
(1999 Code, sec. 4.609(f))
In determining the area of any sign, the dimensions of the rectangle enclosing the signboard, excluding the supporting structure, shall be used. If the sign includes cutouts or facings extending beyond the dimensions of the rectangular signboard, the measurement of sign area shall include the actual area of the cutout or extended facings. For signs of a double-faced, back-to-back, or V-type nature, each face shall be considered a separate sign in computing the face area.
(1999 Code, sec. 4.609(g))
(a) 
Clearance from high voltage power lines.
Signs shall be located a minimum distance of six feet (6’) measured horizontally and twelve feet (12’) measured vertically from overhead electric conductors which are energized in excess of seven hundred fifty (750) volts. The term "overhead conductors" as used in this section means any electrical conductor, either bare or insulated, installed above the ground.
(b) 
Signs projecting into alley.
No portion of a sign or sign structure shall project into any public alley unless said portion is a minimum of fourteen feet (14’) in height above grade.
(1999 Code, sec. 4.609(h))
(a) 
For the purpose of this article, the following definitions shall apply:
(1) 
Noncombustible material
shall mean material no less flammable than steel, iron, or other similar metal, or as the term shall be otherwise defined by the fire prevention or building codes of the city, or by the sign administrator; noncombustible material shall include incombustible material.
(2) 
Combustible material
shall mean material more flammable than metal, but no more flammable than wood or approved plastic, as that term is defined in section 3.06.044(b) herein; no material more flammable than wood or approved plastic shall be used in any sign.
(b) 
When signs are required herein to be constructed of noncombustible material, all parts of such signs, including the sign structure, shall be of noncombustible material, except that the following parts made out of combustible material shall be permitted:
(1) 
Small ornamental moldings, battens, cappings, and nailing strips;
(2) 
Individual letters, symbols, figures, and insignia supported by or within a noncombustible frame or a permitted combustible facing as permitted in section 3.06.044.
(3) 
Portions of each face of a sign, up to but not exceeding one hundred (100) square feet of facing, as long as the total area of facing for such sign does not exceed two hundred (200) square feet;
(4) 
Wood posts and braces for signs whose surface is no more than ten feet, six inches (10’6") in height when such signs are determined to be nonhazardous by the sign administrator based on health and safety considerations, including but not limited to their location, their proximity to other flammable materials, their proximity to occupied structures, and their proximity to necessary firefighting equipment.
(c) 
Subject to the specific exceptions stated in subsection (b) of this section, or as otherwise stated in this article, all roof signs, projecting signs, and marquee signs shall be constructed of noncombustible materials.
(d) 
Subject to the specific exceptions stated in subsection (b) of this section, or as otherwise stated in this article, all ground signs and wall signs in Fire Zones 1 and 2, as said fire zones are now or hereafter established by city ordinance, shall be constructed of noncombustible materials. Ground signs and wall signs in other fire zones may be constructed of combustible materials.
(1999 Code, sec. 4.609(i))
(a) 
Lighting reflectors on ground signs may project beyond the face of the sign.
(b) 
Every ground sign shall provide rigid construction to withstand wind action in all directions.
(c) 
Any person, including the owner, lessee, or other person, using any vacant lot or premises for the location of a ground sign shall keep such premises clean, sanitary, inoffensive, and free and clear of all obnoxious substances and unsightly conditions on the ground in the vicinity of such ground sign.
(1999 Code, sec. 4.609(j))
(a) 
Wall signs attached to exterior walls of solid masonry, concrete or stone shall be safely and securely attached to the same by means of metal anchors, bolts, or expansion screws of not less than three-eighths inch (3/8") in diameter and shall be embedded at least five inches (5"). Wood blocks shall not be used for anchorage, except in the case of wall signs attached to buildings with walls of wood. A wall sign shall not be supported by anchorages secured to an unbraced parapet wall.
(b) 
The surface face of all signs must be of sheetmetal, but in areas other than Fire Zones 1 and 2 the ornamental molding surrounding same may be of wood construction.
(1999 Code, sec. 4.609(k))
(a) 
All roof signs shall be so constructed as to leave a clear space of not less than six feet (6’) between the roof level and the lowest part of the sign and shall have at least five feet (5’) clearance between the vertical supports thereof; provided, however, no portion of any roof sign structure shall project beyond an exterior wall.
(b) 
Every roof sign shall be constructed entirely of steel, including the upright supports and braces, except that in areas other than Fire Zones 1 and 2 the ornamental molding and battens behind the steel facing and the decorative lattice work may be of wood construction.
(c) 
The bearing plates of all roof signs shall distribute the load directly to or upon masonry walls, steel roof girders, columns or beams. The building shall be designed to avoid overstress of these members.
(d) 
All roof signs shall be thoroughly secured to the building upon which they are installed, erected or constructed by iron, metal anchors, bolts, supports, chains, stranded cables, steel rods, or braces, and they shall be maintained in good condition as set forth in section 3.06.007(a).
(1999 Code, sec. 4.609(l))
(a) 
All projecting signs shall be constructed entirely of metal or other noncombustible material and securely attached to a building or structure by metal supports such as bolts, anchors, supports, chains, guys or steel rods. Staples or nails shall not be used to secure any projecting sign to any building or structure.
(b) 
The dead load of projecting signs, not parallel to the building or structure, and the load due to wind pressure, shall be supported with chains, guys, or steel rods having a net cross-sectional dimension of not less than three-eighths inch (3/8") in diameter. Such supports shall be erected or maintained at an angle of at least forty-five (45) degrees with the horizontal to resist the dead load and at an angle of forty-five (45) degrees or more with the face of the sign to resist the specified wind pressure. If such projecting sign exceeds thirty (30) square feet in one facial area, there shall be provided at least two (2) such supports on each side of the sign not more than eight feet (8’) apart to resist the wind pressure.
(c) 
All supports shall be secured by an expansion shield to a bolt or expansion screw of such size that will develop the strength of the supporting chain, guys, or steel rod, with a minimum five-eighths inch (5/8") bolt or lag screw. Turnbuckles shall be placed in all chains, guys, or steel rods supporting projecting signs.
(d) 
Chains, cables, guys, or steel rods used to support the live or dead load of projecting signs may be fastened to solid masonry walls with expansion bolts or by machine screws in iron supports, but such supports shall not be attached to an unbraced parapet wall. Where the supports must be fastened to walls made of wood, the supporting anchor bolts must go through the wall and be plated and fastened on the wall in a secure manner.
(e) 
A projecting sign shall not be erected on the wall of any building so as to project above the roof or cornice wall or above the roof level where there is no cornice wall; except that a sign erected at a right angle to the building, the horizontal width of which sign perpendicular to such wall does not exceed eighteen inches (18"), may be erected to a height not exceeding two feet (2’) above the roof or cornice wall or above the roof level where there is no cornice wall. A sign attached to a corner of a building and parallel to the vertical line of such corner shall be deemed to be erected at a right angle to the building wall.
(1999 Code, sec. 4.609(m))
Marquee signs shall be constructed entirely of metal or noncombustible material and may be attached to or hung from a marquee. The lowest point of a sign hung from a marquee shall be at least eight feet (8’) above the sidewalk or ground level, and, further, such signs shall not extend or project beyond the corners of the marquee. Marquee signs may be attached to the sides and front of a marquee, and a sign may extend the entire length and width of said marquee, provided that no sign shall extend more than six feet (6’) above nor one foot (1’) below such marquee, nor have a vertical dimension greater than eight feet (8’).
(1999 Code, sec. 4.609(n))
(a) 
Every portable sign shall be equipped with a trailer hitch and locking device approved by the sign administrator to hold the trailer in a securely locked position during transport. All such hitching equipment shall also comply with all applicable federal, state and local laws regulating same.
(b) 
Every portable sign not in transit shall be securely anchored to the ground by cables, ground supports, or other means acceptable to the sign administrator to prevent overturning in high winds.
(c) 
Portable signs shall, for the purposes of this article, be considered non-mobile, nonportable ground signs and thereby subject to all provisions of this article, including the structural requirements, spacing requirements, permitting and fee requirements, on-premises and off-premises provisions, and all other provisions of this article applicable to ground signs, unless a provision which applies by its terms to portable signs is in conflict with a provision applying to ground signs, in which case the provision applying specifically to portable signs would control.
(d) 
No on-premises portable sign may be illuminated unless it meets the city electrical code and is located near (within two feet (2’)) of an accessory outdoor outlet. No illuminated portable sign shall be operated off of an extension cord of any type.
(e) 
All portable signs shall have wheels removed and shall be skirted around the base with wood or metal decorative material. This material shall extend from the base of the sign to the ground, covering the legs of the sign and all open space in between. The skirting shall be painted and maintained in good condition.
(f) 
All signs for which a valid permit has been obtained existing on the effective date of this amendment, December 12, 1985, shall be brought into compliance with subsections (d) and (e) above no later than six (6) months following the effective date of this amendment.
(1999 Code, sec. 4.609(o))
(a) 
The angle between the faces of V-type signs shall be no greater than forty-five degrees (45°) measured back-to-back, and if the area of each face is three hundred (300) square feet or less, the maximum distance at the nearest point between the two (2) backs, as measured at the apex, shall not exceed one and one-half feet (1-1/2’); if the area of either face exceeds three hundred (300) square feet, then the maximum distance between the two (2) backs, as measured at the apex, shall not exceed three and one-half feet (3-1/2’).
(b) 
Back-to-back signs must be on common supports, and if the area of each is three hundred (300) square feet or less, then the nearest point between the two (2) backs shall not exceed five feet (5’) plus the diameter of the intervening upright or support.
(1999 Code, sec. 4.609(p))