The purpose and intent of this article is to assure that signage is aesthetically pleasing while allowing the property owner to display the business as well as preserving the small Town character of Dagsboro. Article XII Chapter 275 of the Town Code will state the requirements regarding permitted uses, off-premises signage and allowable dimensions.
A. 
Definitions. As used in this article, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
AWNING OR CANOPY SIGN
A sign that is part of or attached to an awning, canopy, or other protective cover over a door, window or entrance.
BANNER
A sign intended to be hung without frames, possessing characters, letters, illustrations or ornamentations applied to paper, plastic, or fabric of any kind. National flags, flags of political subdivision, and other such flags shall not be considered banners.
BULLETIN BOARD
A changeable copy sign, which identifies and announces schedules for churches, schools, or other noncommercial uses or activities.
FREESTANDING SIGN
A self-supporting sign resting on or supported by means of poles, standards or any other type of base on the ground (ground, monument, pole).
GROUND SIGN
A sign suspended or supported by one or more uprights or braces anchored in the ground with no more than 30 inches clearance from the bottom of the sign to the ground below.
HANGING SIGN
A sign which hangs from the underside of the roof of a porch or covered walkway.
INCIDENTAL DIRECTIONAL SIGN
A sign, located on-premises, directing traffic movement onto or within the premises, including signs marking entrances and exits, parking areas, loading zones, or circulation direction.
INCIDENTAL SIGN
A sign whose main purpose is to direct or inform the reader, but not to identify or advertise the primary business, organization, institution, product or service located on the premise. Examples include signs indicating hours of business, entrance, exit, vacancy, office, menus, carry-out window, open house, no trespassing, no dumping, garage sale, yard sale.
MONUMENT SIGN
A freestanding sign which rests directly on the ground and not on a pole.
PROJECTION SIGN
A sign, other than a wall sign, which extends more than 12 inches from a structure or building face.
ROOF SIGN
A sign located or erected on or attached to a roof. Also included is any sign which receives partial or total support from a roof by means of girders, wires, etc., attached to, located or erected on a roof.
WALL SIGN
A sign painted on or affixed to and mounted parallel to a building facade or wall in such a manner that the facade or wall becomes the supporting structure for the sign and the sign does not project more than 12 inches from the wall.
WINDOW SIGN
A sign installed on the inside or outside of a window, which is visible from the sidewalk or street.
B. 
General provisions. The intent is to assure that signage is consistent with the architectural features of the building on which it is placed allowing the merchant and property owners with a way to effectively communicate without creating sign clutter.
(1) 
Required standards.
(a) 
Only signs specifically permitted in these standards are allowed, and all signs must comply with these provisions.
(b) 
All permitted signs shall be subject to the following regulations:
[1] 
Signs shall not cover significant architectural detail.
[2] 
Signs shall be treated as an architectural element of a building or project and shall be designed to be compatible and complimentary.
[3] 
Signs shall not project above the roof, parapet, or exterior wall.
(c) 
Elements of the sign should create an overall cohesive design, reflect simplicity, avoid visual clutter and ensure legibility. Each sign should:
[1] 
Be consolidated into a minimum number of elements, whether words, symbols, or graphics;
[2] 
Have appropriate contrast;
[3] 
Be designed with a limited number of, and harmonious use of, colors;
[4] 
Be constructed with a minimum number of materials.
(d) 
The message should be easy to read from the intended vantage point (public street, public sidewalk, or public parking lot) but not be out of scale with the building, site or streetscape.
(2) 
Encouraged guidelines.
(a) 
Signs shall be of a coordinated color scheme and materials which reflect the architectural style of the buildings, commercial complex or product service.
(b) 
Signage should be on a pedestrian scale and visible by pedestrian at grade/sidewalk level.
(c) 
Projecting signs supported by ornamental brackets and oriented to pedestrians and passing vehicles are strongly encouraged.
C. 
Calculating sign area. The intent is to assure that the individual signs placed directly on buildings are designed to be compatible with and complement the appearance of the building and that the size and shape of the sign shall be in proportion to the space the sign is to occupy. Unless stated otherwise in the provisions herein, the calculation of sign area shall conform with the Code of the Town of Dagsboro.
D. 
General sign construction and materials. The intent is to ensure the signs are of quality construction and material as well as incorporate good overall design.
(1) 
Required standards.
(a) 
All signs shall be framed, constructed, and erected so as to complement the overall appearance of the building and site as well as the overall appearance of the sign.
(b) 
Sign graphics. A sign's graphic elements shall be executed in a professional manner.
(c) 
General sign construction.
[1] 
All signs shall be constructed, and erected in a professional and workmanlike manner.
[2] 
Signs shall be structurally sound, maintained and located to pose no threat to pedestrian or vehicular traffic.
(d) 
Materials.
[1] 
Signs should be fabricated on and of materials that are of permanent quality, good durability and are complimentary to the building to which they relate.
[2] 
Materials used should be those that weather well and reduce maintenance.
(e) 
Signs should have a matte finish, not a glossy or reflective finish.
(f) 
Framing and supports.
[1] 
Visible frames or supports for freestanding or projecting signs should be:
[a] 
In scale with the size and character of the building;
[b] 
Designed either as a key element of the sign or minimized so as not to detract from the sign.
[2] 
All signs attached to buildings shall be attached in a manner that preserves the historic integrity of the building.
E. 
Integration with site/building design. The intent is to ensure that exterior signage is part of the overall design approach to a project.
(1) 
Required standards.
(a) 
Signs shall be treated as an architectural element of a building or project and shall be designed to be compatible and complementary.
(b) 
The design of buildings and sites shall identify locations and maximum sizes for future signs. Multitenant buildings and those which could be multitenant buildings must submit a sign plan depicting the method of signage and area allowances.
[1] 
Revisions in the sign plan may be submitted by the management/owner of the building for Planning Commission approval.
[2] 
As part of each sign permit request, the applicant shall provide an explanation of how the sign complies with the sign plan and shall include the building management approval for the proposed sign.
[a] 
As tenants install signs, it is expected that such signs shall be in conformance with the overall sign plan that allows for advertising which fits with the architectural character, proportions, and details of the development.
(c) 
All signs shall be reviewed for their impact on the overall building facade.
(d) 
The sign and associated lighting fixtures must complement the architecture of the building on or near which it is placed and should be placed in an appropriate location as approved by the Planning Commission.
(e) 
If the building design or architecture does not clearly identify the appropriate placement for a sign panel, then individual letters are encouraged unless there is a clear location for adding sign panels, such as establishing one or more repetitive, common architectural features in order to create a repetitive sequence.
Awkward placement of sign panels
Building is better suited to sign
comprised of individual letters
(f) 
Whenever a new or renovated sign is proposed for an existing building:
[1] 
It may be determined that building alterations are needed in order for the proposed sign to be properly placed on the building facade.
[2] 
Any inappropriate and extraneous elements from past remodeling project(s) should be removed prior to the installation of the proposed sign to improve the clarity and design of the proposed sign and restore the intended character of the building.
(g) 
A sign should be confined within the facade consistent with signs on adjacent buildings and shall not extend beyond the identified signable area on the building or over the edges of the sign panel.
(h) 
In multioccupant buildings, signs for first-floor occupants should not extend above the window sill of the second.
(i) 
Colors of the sign and the sign background should be compatible with the building's colors.
F. 
Prohibitions.
(1) 
Portable signs, inflatable signs, tethered balloons, kites or other unattended flying device which are meant to advertise or identify a specific business, product, or event.
(2) 
Temporary or portable internally illuminated signs with changeable letters and numbers and portable trailer signs with changeable text panels.
(3) 
Digital electronic signs of any kind, except for time and temperature signs.
(4) 
Revolving signs.
(5) 
Steel pole-mounted signs.
(6) 
Roof signs.
G. 
Design standards for permitted signs. The intent is to ensure that exterior signage is part of the overall design approach to a project.
(1) 
Awning or canopy signs.
(a) 
Any portion of an awning containing advertising copy shall be treated as a wall or building sign and shall be included in the overall area calculations for such signs. Squared off, text only, symbols or graphics.
(b) 
Signs may be attached flat against awnings made of rigid materials, and shall not project above the awning. Awnings of nonrigid materials (e.g., canvas) shall have signs only appliqued or painted on them.
(c) 
There shall be a minimum clearance of at least eight feet between the bottom of the awning and the ground at grade.
(d) 
One awning sign, the size of which shall not exceed one square foot for every two linear feet of wall upon which the awning is located but shall not exceed 24 square feet total in size. The location of the sign shall not exceed the limits of the awning.
(e) 
When an awning or canopy sign covers multiple store fronts, each store shall be permitted one canopy area, not to exceed 80% of the individual store front.
(2) 
Directional signs (instructional). Directory signs may be provided to identify individual businesses or occupants of the same building or building complex, in accordance with the following:
(a) 
The display board shall be of an integrated and uniform design.
(b) 
No more than one sign panel not to exceed two square feet in area is permitted per directory for each tenant business.
(c) 
Directory signs shall be placed in one or more groups nearest the pedestrian entrances adjacent to the building complex only, and may be wall-mounted or freestanding signs. Such signs shall not exceed three feet in height.
(d) 
The total area of any directory sign shall not exceed 24 square feet.
(e) 
Property management companies are allowed one identification sign per building managed not to exceed two square feet. Such signs shall not count against total allowable directory signage.
(f) 
Directory signs shall not contain advertising copy.
(g) 
The directional sign must not be placed in areas that would obstruct motorists' vision of traffic.
(3) 
Freestanding signs.
(a) 
All new or replacement freestanding signs shall be monument signs, ground signs and pole-mounted as defined herein. Such signs shall be consistent with the architectural character of the site and building, incorporating at least one of the primary materials, colors, or design elements of the associated structure(s).
(b) 
The top of the freestanding sign or its supporting structure shall not be more than 16 feet in height above ground level and shall not exceed the height of the first floor.
(c) 
Berming shall not be used to exceed the maximum allowable height of signs.
(d) 
The base or support elements of freestanding signs should be integrated with the surrounding environment. Landscaping may be required to buffer such signs.
(e) 
Freestanding signs should be sited so that they integrate with the location of street trees and other site landscaping.
(f) 
Freestanding signs shall not be placed where they obscure adjacent freestanding signs and important architectural features such as entrances, display windows, or decorative elements when viewed from the public right-of-way.
(g) 
Freestanding signs must be designed to relate to and share common design elements with the building and the sign(s) attached to the building, including multioccupant buildings.
(h) 
Freestanding signs must be spaced or combined along the street frontage in a manner that ensures that one ground sign does not obscure the view of another ground sign.
(i) 
A freestanding sign that provides a directory of occupants for a multioccupant building should have simplicity of design to compensate for the additional amount of information provided.
(4) 
Monument signs.
(a) 
Monument signs should be designed with consistent design elements, such as a base material, height, and lettering style, to create a visual continuity and quality to development. Monument sign bases and/or signs shall utilize one of the following complementary materials or elements as a primary feature to create visual continuity throughout the Town:
[1] 
Sandstone or similar type of stone;
[2] 
River cobblestone;
[3] 
Brick;
[4] 
Color tinted and textured concrete masonry;
[5] 
Metal or iron detailing;
[6] 
Other materials of similar high-quality as utilized on the primary structures.
(b) 
Monument-type signs shall be attached to the ground with a base whose width and length are at least as large as the bottom edge of the sign face.
(5) 
Ground signs.
(a) 
The design and placement of ground signs and associated lighting fixtures must complement the overall visual appearance of the site.
(b) 
Approved year-round landscaping shall be used around the base of the freestanding sign to screen lighting fixtures and utility sources in compliance with the landscaping and parking lot design sections of this Part 3.
(6) 
Projection signs.
(a) 
Projecting and suspended signs shall be treated as building signs and shall be included in the overall area calculations for building signs.
(b) 
The two sides of a projecting or suspended sign must be parallel back to back, and shall not exceed six inches in thickness, and six square feet in area.
(c) 
A projecting sign shall be hung at right angles to the building and shall not extend more than three feet from a building wall.
(d) 
Projecting or suspended signs shall have a minimum clearance of eight feet above grade and shall not project into a vehicular public right-of-way.
(e) 
The top of the sign, if suspended, should be in line with whichever is the most successful application of scale, linear continuity or visibility as determined by the Planning Commission.
(f) 
The maximum height of any projecting sign may not exceed the height of the building to which it is attached or 15 feet above grade, whichever is lower.
(g) 
Buildings on corner lots may have one projecting sign facing each street.
(h) 
The size of the lettering and graphics on a projecting sign must be appropriate for viewing by pedestrians.
(7) 
Wall-mounted signs.
(a) 
For each business on a separate property, wall-mounted signage for each street frontage is permitted with a maximum area of one square foot of signage per one lineal foot of street frontage, but in no case measuring an aggregate of more than 24 square feet.
(b) 
Buildings which have multiple businesses accessed by separate entrances shall be permitted one wall sign per business.
(c) 
When two or more businesses occupy one building with a common entrance (i.e., without separate entrances) they shall be considered one business for sign computation purposes. This means that for wall or building signs, buildings of this nature are limited to one building sign per street frontage plus one directory sign per common entrance.
(d) 
Structures abutting more than one street may have wall signs, with an aggregate size as described above, for each wall facing a street.
(e) 
Hanging signs shall be considered to be wall signs for the purposes of this section and are permitted as part of the aggregate size for wall signs.
(f) 
The depth of wall signs on multitenant buildings should be consistent.
(g) 
The size and location of wall signs shall be reviewed in terms of their relationship to the building entry, height of sign fascia, or size of wall where the sign is to be installed and the relationship to the other signs on the building, as well as visibility from the street, sidewalk or parking lot.
(h) 
On multitenant buildings wall signs should be evaluated for compatibility as part of a sign program with the building fascia and neighboring signs in terms of size, color, lighting materials, sign style, and quality.
(8) 
Window signs.
(a) 
Shall not cumulatively exceed 50% of the area of the window on which they are placed with a maximum possible area of six square feet.
(b) 
Permanent window signs must be comprised of individual letters, logos, or design elements that are not encompassed by a solid opaque background so as not to obscure the view through the window.