The following sign regulations are established to assure compatibility
of signs with surrounding land usage, to enhance the economy of the
County, to protect the public investment in streets and highways,
to promote the safety and recreational value of public travel, to
preserve natural beauty and to protect tax revenues by promoting the
reasonable, orderly and effective display of outdoor advertising.
For definitions and word usage, see § 148-3A.
No person, except a public officer or employee in performance
of a public duty, shall paste, post, paint, print, nail, tack, erect,
place, maintain or fasten any sign, pennant, outdoor advertising sign,
billboard or notice of any kind, or cause the same to be done, facing
or visible from any public street or public open space, except as
provided herein.
The following shall not be deemed to be included within the
definition of "sign":
A.
Signs of a duly constituted governmental body, including traffic
or similar regulatory devices, street names, legal devices or information
notices.
B.
Memorial or historical tablets or signs.
C.
Signs required to be maintained by law or governmental order, rule
or regulation, with a total surface area not exceeding 10 square feet,
on any lot or parcel.
D.
Signs which are within a ballpark or recreational use area and which
cannot be seen from a public street or adjacent properties.
E.
Flags or emblems of a civic, philanthropic, educational or religious
organization, temporary in nature.
F.
Signs displayed for the direction or convenience of the public, including
signs which identify rest rooms, location of public telephones, freight
entrances, no-trespassing and posted signs, or the like.
G.
Signs directing traffic on private property but bearing no advertising
matter, with a total surface area not exceeding eight square feet
per sign on any lot or parcel, and provided that no parts of such
signs shall be located more than four feet above grade.
H.
Signs placed by a public utility company showing the location of
underground facilities.
I.
Temporary political signs and posters.
J.
Temporary real estate signs advertising property for sale or rent,
less than six square feet in area.
K.
Signs identifying a single-family dwelling, its occupant(s), its
location, or farm identification less than 10 square feet.
L.
Business hours signage on the wall less than six square feet in area.
M.
Signage on windows.
N.
Holiday flags/decorations.
O.
Temporary signs shall not exceed 32 square feet in area and shall
not be internally or externally illuminated.
Sign area shall include the entire face of the sign (one side
only), including frame, if any, but shall not include the supporting
structure unless they include advertising. Where the sign consists
of individual letters or a sign face of irregular shape, the sign
area shall include the smallest rectangle that can encompass the letters
or the sign face. Space for changeable copy (including fuel prices
or similar displays) shall be included in the area of the sign. Where
a sign has two or more faces, or panels, the area of all faces or
panels shall be included in determining the area of the sign, except
where two such faces are placed back-to-back or at a forty-five-degree
interior angle, or less.
Signs will be permitted in various districts as follows:
A.
Conservation District C-1.
(1)
Freestanding signs. Each parcel shall be permitted one freestanding
sign per parcel, provided all other standards are met.
(2)
On-structure signs.
(a)
Wall signs.
[1]
For wall signs mounted flat on the building: a maximum of 100
square feet.
[2]
On-structure signs shall not project above the eave line for
buildings with pitched roofs. Wall signs may extend above a roofline
only when attached to a parapet wall or similar structure that is
an approved architectural component of the structure.
[3]
Wall signs shall not extend beyond the sides of the building,
nor should the depth of the sign exceed one foot from the wall face.
(b)
Projecting signs.
(c)
Canopy or awning signs. For canopy or awning signs: a maximum
of 50 square feet.
B.
Agricultural District A-1.
(1)
Freestanding signs. Each parcel shall be permitted one freestanding
sign per parcel, provided all other standards are met.
(2)
On-structure signs.
(a)
Wall signs.
[1]
For wall signs mounted flat on the building: a maximum of 100
square feet.
[2]
On-structure signs shall not project above the eave line for
buildings with pitched roofs. Wall signs may extend above a roofline
only when attached to a parapet wall or similar structure that is
an approved architectural component of the structure.
[3]
Wall signs shall not extend beyond the sides of the building,
nor should the depth of the sign exceed one foot from the wall face.
(b)
Projecting signs.
(c)
Canopy or awning signs. For canopy or awning signs: a maximum
of 50 square feet.
C.
Residential R-1, Residential Waterfront R-2, and Residential Recreational
R-4 Districts.
(1)
Freestanding signs. Each parcel shall be permitted one freestanding
sign per parcel, provided all other standards are met.
(2)
On-structure signs.
(a)
Wall signs.
[1]
For wall signs mounted flat on the building: a maximum of 100
square feet.
[2]
On-structure signs shall not project above the eave line for
buildings with pitched roofs. Wall signs may extend above a roofline
only when attached to a parapet wall or similar structure that is
an approved architectural component of the structure
[3]
Wall signs shall not extend beyond the sides of the building,
nor should the depth of the sign exceed one foot from the wall face.
(b)
Projecting signs.
(c)
Canopy or awning signs. For canopy or awning signs: a maximum
of 50 square feet.
D.
Business B-1 and Industrial M-1 Districts.
(1)
Freestanding signs. Each parcel shall be permitted one freestanding
sign per parcel, provided all other standards are met.
(2)
On-structure signs.
(a)
Wall signs.
[1]
For wall signs mounted flat on the building: a maximum of 100
square feet.
[2]
On-structure signs shall not project above the eave line for
buildings with pitched roofs. Wall signs may extend above a roofline
only when attached to a parapet wall or similar structure that is
an approved architectural component of the structure.
[3]
Wall signs shall not extend beyond the sides of the building,
nor should the depth of the sign exceed one foot from the wall face.
(b)
Projecting signs.
(c)
Canopy or awning signs. For canopy or awning signs: a maximum
of 50 square feet.
Residential subdivisions, multidwelling complexes, and planned
unit developments are allowed one freestanding monument sign per entrance
that does not exceed 10 feet in height and 60 square feet in area.
A.
Signs shall be located five feet or more from any street right-of-way,
and this shall be known as the "setback line." There shall be excepted
from this setback business signs advertising the sale or rent of the
premises or construction contractor signs, which may be erected up
to the property line.
B.
Signs shall not obstruct required highway sight distances and shall
not extend into or over any street right-of-way.
A.
Signs shall not have reflective backgrounds but may use reflective
lettering.
B.
Digital or electronically controlled message signs shall only be
allowed on monument freestanding signs. Digital or electronically
controlled message components shall comprise no more than 50% or 50
square feet, whichever is less, of the sign area. No flashing or scrolling
text and/or graphics shall be permitted, and, with the exception of
the date, time and temperature, no text message or graphic shall be
displayed for an interval of less than four seconds.
C.
Pole and monument signs may be illuminated internally. When illuminated
externally, the light source(s) must be shielded from any roads and
adjacent property and directed solely at the sign.
Reconstruction or relocation of signs shall be required under
the following circumstances. Required improvements shall bring on-site
signage into compliance.
No sign shall be erected, maintained, located, or operated:
A.
Except for authorized traffic signs, no sign shall be erected at
the intersection of any street in such a manner as to create a traffic
hazard by obstructing vision between heights of 2 1/2 and eight
feet, or at any location where it may interfere with, obstruct the
view of or be confused with any authorized traffic sign.
B.
Which imitates or resembles any official traffic sign, signal or
device or uses the word "Stop" or "Danger" prominently displayed or
presents or implies the need or requirement of stopping or the existence
of danger on any highway.
C.
Which contains lighting which is not effectively aimed or shielded
so as to prevent beams or rays of light from being directed at any
portion of the traveled ways of a street or highway and which is of
such intensity or brilliance as to cause glare or to impair the vision
of the driver of any vehicle.
D.
Which advertises any activities which are illegal under state or
federal law or regulations in effect at the location of such sign
or at the location of such activities.
E.
Which is obsolete or inconsistent with state law or the provisions
of this chapter.
