A.
No sign shall be erected, hung, placed or painted
in any district except as hereinafter provided.
B.
Tacking, painting, posting or otherwise affixing of
signs or posters of a miscellaneous character on the walls of buildings,
barns, sheds, trees, posts, poles, fences, walls or other structures
except as provided for in this chapter is prohibited.
C.
No sign erected before the enactment of these regulations
shall be altered in any respect or moved, except in compliance with
the provisions of this chapter.
D.
The flag, emblem or insignia of a nation, other governmental
unit, nonprofit educational, charitable or religious group shall be
exempt from the terms of this article.
For the purpose of this article and any other
sections in this chapter relating to signs, the following words are
intended to include any tense or the prefix "re": affix, alter, attach,
display, erect, hang, move, paint, paper, paste, place, post, repair.
A.
The area of a sign shall be construed to include all
lettering, wording, and accompanying designs and symbols, together
with the background, whether open or enclosed, on which they are displayed,
but not to include any supporting framework and bracing which are
incidental to the display itself.
B.
The area of a sign painted upon or applied to a building
shall be construed to include all lettering, wording, and accompanying
designs or symbols together with any backing or bordering associated
with the sign.
C.
Where the sign consists of individual letters or symbols
attached to or painted on a surface, building, wall or window, the
area shall be considered to be that of the smallest rectangle or other
shape which encompasses all of the letters and symbols.
D.
In computing square foot area of a double-face sign,
only one side shall be considered, provided both faces are identical.
No on-premises sign over six square feet in
area and no off-premises sign (except governmental sign) of any size
shall be erected, affixed, painted, hung or otherwise displayed, altered
or repaired, unless a permit therefor has been issued. No permit shall
be required for the repainting or repapering of a sign which conforms
to the provisions of this chapter. Signs on theaters advertising changes
in program shall not require permits except for the initial installation
thereof. All signs of any size must comply with all the regulations
contained herein, irrespective of whether a permit is required.
A.
No sign shall project more than three feet above the
roof of a building. No such sign shall be larger than 15 square feet
in area. No sign shall be hung from a building if it shall extend
more than four feet from the face of the building, and there shall
be a minimum of eight feet clearance from the bottom of the sign to
the ground. No sign protruding out over any sidewalk may exceed 10
square feet in area. Such signs are to be properly anchored and maintained,
with the maximum thickness of eight inches.
B.
No signs shall be located within any street rights-of-way except signs permitted in § 300-50A(1).
C.
Signs shall not exceed the height limit permitted
in any district in which they are located.
D.
Signs shall not obstruct any window, door, fire escape,
stairway or other opening intended to provide light, air, ingress
or egress for any building or structure.
E.
No sign shall constitute a public safety and traffic
hazard, such as by obstructing traffic signs, road warning signs,
street name signs, or the full view of the traffic in all directions.
Lighting devices shall be shielded so they do not shine directly into
a public street or highway or into a residential district.
F.
All signs except temporary signs shall be constructed
of durable material and kept in good condition and repair. Whenever,
in the opinion of the Zoning Administrator, a sign becomes structurally
unsafe or endangers the safety of a building or premises or the public
safety, the Zoning Administrator shall order that such sign be made
safe or be removed. Such order shall be complied with within five
days of receipt thereof by the person, firm or corporation owning
or using the sign or the owners of the building or premises on which
such unsafe sign is affixed or erected.
G.
Nonconforming signs, once removed, shall be replaced
only with conforming signs; however, nonconforming signs if not removed
may be repaired or repainted, provided that such repainted or repaired
sign does not exceed the dimensions of the existing sign, and provided
no change is made in the general wording or content of the sign.
H.
No sign advertising a business or commercial enterprise
shall remain on any property, building, or structure, within the Town
of Oakland, after the commercial enterprise or business has ceased
to exist. The owner of such property upon which such sign remains
shall remove said sign within 30 days of the closing of such business.
In the event that such sign is not removed, the Town of Oakland shall
have the right to remove such sign and assess the cost thereof against
the owner of the property upon which such sign is located.
I.
Special provisions for light emitting diode (LED), liquid crystal display (LCD) and scrolling message signs shall be as follows, and also in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 300, Attachment 1, Table of Use Regulations, amended Subsection (63), and adding Subsection (64)[1] as noted below:
[Added 3-3-2008 by Ord. No. O2008-01; amended 2-1-2021 by Ord. No. O2021-01]
(1)
LED, LCD and scrolling message signs shall be permitted for accessory on-premises uses pursuant to the provisions of Chapter 300, Attachment 1. On-premises LED, LCD and scrolling message signs shall be subject to the following additional standards and limitations:
(a)
The illuminated portion of any LED, LCD and scrolling message
sign shall not exceed 25% of the total area at any given time.
(b)
No flashing illuminations of the sign shall be permitted; single-line
message signs shall not change messages more frequently than one-second
intervals and multiple-line message signs shall not change messages
more frequently than four-second intervals.
(2)
LED, LCD and scrolling message signs may be permitted for off-premises uses by special exception only in the TC and C zoning districts and shall not be permitted in any other zoning district. Off-premises LED, LCD and scrolling message signs shall be subject to the provisions of § 300-49I(1)(a) through (b) above and messages on such off-premises signs shall not change more frequently than one-hour intervals.
[1]
Editor's Note: Said subsections appear in
the Table of Use Regulations included at the end of this chapter.
A.
On-premises signs.
(1)
Official traffic signs and other official federal,
state, county or town government signs.
(2)
A sign indicating the name or number of the building
or premises or the accessory use of a dwelling for a home occupation,
provided that such sign shall not exceed two square feet in area;
that not more than one such sign shall be erected on a property, unless
such property fronts on more than one street, in which case one such
sign may be erected on each street frontage. A sign, if illuminated,
shall be of any enclosed lamp design and nonflashing.
(3)
A sign advertising the sale of farm products grown
or produced on the premises, provided that the area of any such sign
shall not exceed 20 square feet, and not more than one such sign shall
be placed on a property unless such property fronts on more than one
street, in which case one such sign may be erected on each street
frontage.
(4)
Bulletin or announcement board or identification signs
for schools, churches, hospitals and other principal uses and buildings
other than dwellings, provided that the area of any such sign shall
not exceed 12 square feet and not more than one such sign shall be
placed on a property unless such property fronts on more than one
street, in which case one such sign may be erected on each street
frontage.
(5)
Signs advertising exclusively the prospective sale
or lease of the land or building upon which such signs are displayed,
provided that the area of any such signs shall not exceed six square
feet and not more than one such sign shall be placed on a property,
unless such property fronts on more than one street, in which case
one such sign may be erected on each street frontage. Such signs shall
be removed immediately upon final settlement or renting of a property.
(6)
A temporary sign advertising the development of the
property upon which it stands or the opening of a new subdivision,
provided that the area of any such sign shall not exceed 100 square
feet, that not more than one such sign may be placed on a property,
unless such property fronts on more than one street, in which case
one such sign may be erected on each street frontage. Such signs shall
be removed immediately upon completion of the development.
(7)
Temporary contractors', architects', or building signs,
provided that the area of any such sign shall not exceed 12 square
feet. Such signs shall be removed immediately upon completion of the
work or 18 months after erection of the signs, whichever shall occur
first.
(8)
Traffic control and directional signs not exceeding
two square feet in area. Such signs shall not be illuminated, but
may be of the beaded reflector type. No advertising matter whatsoever
shall be contained on signs of this type.
(9)
Temporary signs announcing a campaign, drive, or event
of a civic, philanthropic, education, or religious organization. Such
signs shall not exceed 12 square feet in area and shall be removed
not more than five days after the event.
(10)
Temporary signs announcing yard or garage sales, auctions
or the like shall not be put up more than five days before the event
and must be removed within 24 hours after the conclusion of the sale.
(11)
No trespassing signs, signs indicating the private
nature of a road, driveway, or premises, provided that the area of
any such sign shall not exceed two square feet.
B.
Off-premises signs.
(1)
Signs directing patrons, members or audiences to temporary
exhibits, shows, or events, subject to the following requirements:
(a)
No such sign shall exceed 12 square feet in
area.
(b)
Signs shall be removed within five days after
the date of the exhibit, show or event.
(c)
No permit shall be issued for the erection of
such signs until a deposit shall be made with the Zoning Administrator
in accordance with a fee schedule adopted by the Town Council to guarantee
removal within the time prescribed. Failure to remove such signs within
the time prescribed shall result in forfeiture of the deposit, and
the Mayor and Town Council shall have the authority to enter upon
the premises and remove the sign.
(d)
No such sign shall be posted earlier than two
weeks before the occurrence of the event to which it relates.
(2)
Official traffic signs and other federal, state, county
or Town governmental signs.
(3)
Along a state highway, directional signs used for directing persons to service clubs, churches, nursing homes, health services or educational and governmental uses shall be permitted, provided that permission is granted by the property owner or right-of-way owner, provided that the signs are less than two square feet in size and provided that the sign shall only indicate the direction and name of the facility. Such signs must be a maximum of 10 feet in height and must comply with other zoning regulations in § 300-49.
[Added 2-2-2015 by Ord. No. O2015-01]
A.
On-premises signs.
(1)
All signs permitted in § 300-50 at the standards prescribed therein except as otherwise provided in this section.
(2)
Signs for permitted nonresidential uses, provided:
[Amended 10-1-2007 by Ord. No. O2007-05]
(a)
The aggregate area of all signs attached to or printed on a building shall not exceed 10% of the area of the building face to which they are attached or painted, or 200 square feet, whichever is less, unless as noted in Subsection A(2)(b) below.
(b)
For large retail "big box" uses as defined in
this chapter, no sign attached to or printed on a building may exceed
400 square feet.
(c)
Freestanding signs identifying a single building
or its business or a shopping center in accordance with the following
schedule:
|
Total Street Frontage
(feet)
|
Number of Signs Permitted
| |
|---|---|---|
|
1 to 1,000
|
1
| |
|
Each additional 1,000 feet
|
1
|
(d)
The area of any freestanding sign shall not
exceed one square foot for each linear foot of street frontage occupied
by the use on which or in connection with which the sign is to be
erected, but in no case shall the area of a sign exceed 200 square
feet.
(3)
Temporary signs announcing a special commercial promotion or commercial
event shall be permitted as follows:
[Added 2-2-2015 by Ord. No. O2015-01]
(a)
A maximum of two temporary signs shall be permitted at any given
time;
(b)
Temporary signs shall be limited to four square feet in size,
regardless of the size of the property;
(c)
A special permit must be obtained from Oakland City Hall for
temporary signs, and there shall be a fee assessed for each permit;
(d)
The temporary signs shall only be permitted to be up for seven
days, and shall be removed within 24 hours after the permitted time/event;
and
(e)
Temporary sign permits shall only be issued once every four
months.
B.
Off-premises signs.
(2)
Signs used for directing patrons, members, or audience
to service clubs, churches, or other nonprofit organizations, provided
signs shall indicate only the name, emblem, meeting hours, address
and the direction of the facility, and shall not exceed four square
feet in area.
