The purpose of these provisions is to enhance the appearance
of the Town by lessening the haphazard placement and clutter of signs,
as well as to provide a business-friendly climate that is compatible
with the surrounding environment. Signs perform important functions
for way-finding, communicating messages, and providing information
about goods and services; however, if not properly regulated, signs
may have detrimental impacts on the visual and perceptual environment.
Therefore, the Town regulates signs in order to:
A. Promote the safety, comfort, and well-being of the users of streets,
roads, and highways;
B. Reduce distractions and obstructions from signs which would adversely
affect traffic safety, and alleviate hazards caused by signs projecting
over or encroaching upon public ways;
C. Discourage excessive visual competition in signage and ensure that
signs aid orientation; and,
D. Enhance municipal character by encouraging new and replacement signage
which is creative and distinctive, compatible with the surroundings,
appropriate to the type of activity to which it pertains, and, appropriately
sized in its context so as to be easily legible.
The following definitions supplement those words defined in §
340-4 of this chapter and as used in this section have the following meanings:
ANIMATED SIGN
Any sign that uses movement, the visual impression of movement,
sound or change of lighting to depict action or create a special effect
and/or scene. Such signs include, but are not limited to, those that
give the impression of flashing, blinking, oscillating, expanding,
or contracting.
AWNING/CANOPY SIGN
Any sign that is part of or attached to an awning, canopy,
or other fabric, plastic, or structural protective covering of a door,
an entrance, a window, or an outdoor service area. The areas of an
awning sign/canopy sign will be counted as part of the area allowed
for wall signs.
BANNER
A sign made of nonrigid material hanging from or otherwise
attached to a building, structure or pole.
BILLBOARD
Any notice or advertisement, pictorial or otherwise, used
as an outdoor display not related to the use of the lot upon which
the billboard is located.
BULLETIN BOARD
A board or wall area on which bulletins, notices, or displays
are temporarily posted. Such signs shall be for public, charitable,
or religious purposes, and shall be located upon the premises of said
institutions.
CONSTRUCTION SIGN
Any sign whose purpose is to display the name of the contractor
and/or subcontractors employed on a work site, and/or the consultants
and/or financial institutions participating in the project. Such signs
shall be temporary in nature and shall be removed upon completion
of the project.
CREDIT CARD SIGN
A sign identifying, by name or symbol, one or more credit
cards which are accepted by an establishment.
DIRECTIONAL SIGN
An on-premises sign that directs vehicles and/or pedestrians
onto, around, and/or off a property, and which may contain the name
or logo of an establishment, but not advertising copy.
DIRECTORY SIGN
A sign identifying two or more persons or establishments
occupying a structure.
ELECTRONIC MESSAGE CENTER
Any sign that utilizes computer-generated messages or some
other electronic means of changing copy. These signs include displays
using incandescent lamps, LEDs, LCDs, or a flipper matrix. The images
and messages displayed must be static (not change for at least 25
seconds), and the transition from one static display to another must
be instantaneous to the human eye without having any transition effects.
Transition effects include wipes, fades, or other special effects.
FREESTANDING (PYLON) SIGN
A sign supported by one or more poles, columns, or braces
or other supporting devices placed in or on the ground and not attached
to any building.
GOVERNMENT SIGN
All signs erected by or on behalf of the federal, state or
local government; traffic controls; legal notices; or other signs
required by law, including all signs erected under the authority of
the Town of Johnston on Town owned or controlled land.
HISTORICAL LANDMARK SIGN
A sign that is made a permanent and integral part of a building,
to identify a property of historic significance by name, date of erection,
and so forth.
ILLUMINATED SIGN, INTERNAL
A sign lighted directly or indirectly by a light fixture
located within the sign structure and designed to project light against
the surface on which the sign lettering or graphics are located.
INCIDENTAL SIGN
A sign, generally informational, that has a purpose secondary
to the use of the lot on which it is located, such as "no parking,"
"private driveway," "loading zone," "no trespassing," and other similar
directives. No sign having a commercial message or a logo shall be
considered incidental.
LOGO
A distinctive emblem, symbol or insignia identifying a particular
product, service, business, activity, or entity.
MARQUEE SIGN
Any sign attached to, in any manner, or made part of a permanent
roof-like structure projecting beyond a building which is used as
a theater. Such signs shall not extend beyond or be attached to the
underside of the overhang.
MEMU BOARD
A sign mounted on a structure erected for that purpose, not
attached to any building, which is used for the listing of available
menu items at an establishment with a drive-through window.
MONUMENT SIGN
Any freestanding sign having a support structure that is
a solid-appearing base constructed of permanent materials such as
concrete block, stone, or brick and is in contact with or within one
foot of the ground.
OFF-PREMISES SIGN
Any sign, including but not limited to billboards, advertising
or calling attention to an activity, product, or service not available
within a building or upon the parcel of land where the sign is located.
Except that, for the purpose of this article, subdivision identification,
political, government, and temporary signs shall not be deemed off-premises
signs.
OPEN SPACE IDENTIFICATION SIGN
Any sign used to identify entrances to parks and open space.
Such signs may include information relating to features and facilities,
interpretive signs informing visitors about what they may see or experience,
maps, and so forth.
POLITICAL SIGN
A sign which advertises a candidate or candidates for public
elective office, a political party, or promotes a position on a ballot
question or public issue.
PORTABLE SIGN
Any sign not permanently affixed to the ground or to a building;
any sign attached to or displayed on a vehicle that is used for the
expressed purpose of advertising a business establishment, product,
service, or entertainment, when that vehicle is so parked as to attract
the attention of the motoring or pedestrian traffic; any sign originally
designed and intended to be placed and used on a temporary basis.
PROJECTING SIGN
A sign with no more than two faces attached to a building
wall which extends more than 15 inches from the face of the wall.
REAL ESTATE SIGN
Any temporary sign advertising the real estate upon which
the sign is located as being for rent, lease, or sale.
ROOF SIGN
A sign which is constructed and maintained on the roof of
a building or on the building wall in such a way that it extends beyond
the roof line.
SUBDIVISION IDENTIFICATION SIGN
A sign at the entrance of a single integrated development
consisting of two or more lots or a multifamily housing development,
which advertises or identifies, for example, the name of a residential,
commercial, or industrial subdivision or development, the address
and/or the commercial or industrial occupant of the premises, and/or
directional and parking instructions with respect to the development.
TEMPORARY SIGN
Any sign, including a portable sign, which is used for a
limited time and is not permanently installed or erected.
VEHICLE SIGN
Any sign on or affixed to an inoperative bus, car, boat,
trailer, truck or other motorized vehicle, that is not used in the
activities of the business, that is parked on public or private property
with the primary purpose of providing advertisement of products, or
that is directing people to a business or activity located on the
same or nearby premises.
WALL SIGN
Any sign attached parallel to and within 10 inches of a wall,
painted on the wall surface, or erected and confined within the limits
of an outside wall of any building. Signs installed on first-story
mansard roof or mansard facades shall be considered wall signs.
WINDOW SIGNS
Any sign which is painted on a window pane, mounted onto
a window pane, or hung directly (within 24 inches of the glass) inside
the window.
The signs described below are permitted in all zoning districts:
A. Signs identifying charitable, nonprofit, or private educational facilities
shall be permitted as follows:
(1) Wall signs not exceeding 20 square feet in area.
(2) Off-site directional signs not exceeding two square feet in area
per side of sign, nor eight feet in height.
(a)
Temporary on- or off-premises freestanding signs or wall signs
advertising public social events, not exceeding 32 square feet in
area per side of sign, nor six feet in height, and limited to one
sign per parcel. The display of said temporary signs shall be limited
to 21 days duration, shall be removed within three days after the
final day of the event, and shall not be permitted more than four
times in a calendar year.
(b)
A permit shall be obtained for each time a temporary sign is
desired and shall not be extended.
(c)
A cash bond of $50 shall be posted with the Building Inspector
for each temporary sign. This sum will be returned upon removal of
the temporary sign. If the sign is not removed when the permit expires,
the Building Inspector or Zoning Enforcement Officer shall cause the
sign to be removed and disposed of and the cash bond shall be forfeited
to the Town's general fund to help defray the cost of removal.
C. Real estate signs. On-premises, temporary, nonilluminated, freestanding
or wall signs not exceeding nine square feet in area, nor six feet
in height, and limited to two signs per parcel. Said signs shall be
maintained in sound condition and shall be removed within 10 days
of the lease, sale or rental of the property to which they are related.
E. Political signs. Political signs of a temporary nature, not located
on utility poles, public property or within any right-of-way.
F. Temporary construction signs. Not exceeding 32 square feet in area
per side of sign nor eight feet in height and limited to two signs
per project site. Said signs shall be set back a minimum of five feet
from all property lines and shall be removed immediately upon completion
of the work to which they are related. All temporary construction
signs which are located within a road right-of-way shall conform with
the Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices.
H. Clocks, thermostats and barber poles displaying no advertising.
I. Landmark signs or commemorative tablets when made a permanent and
integral part of a building.
J. Temporary holiday decorations for a period of up to 60 days per year.
The signs described below are prohibited in all zoning districts:
A. All billboards, roof signs, A-frame signs and portable signs, strobe
lights, light bulb strings, steamers, spinners and devices of a similar
nature, and all moving, flashing, rotating or blinking signs.
B. The use of fencing for advertising purposes.
C. All signs displaying any explicit figures or words concerning specified
anatomical areas or sexual activities.
The signs described below are permitted in all residential zoning
districts. Exterior signs shall not be illuminated.
A. Banners and pennant strings. Limited to a maximum of two banners
or pennant strings per establishment for a period of up to six months
in any calendar year, where the predominant, legally permitted use
of said premise is nonresidential. The occupants of any residential
portion of a property upon which a banner or pennant string is located,
and the occupants of any abutting residential property, may object
in writing to that banner. Upon receipt of said written objection,
the Zoning Officer shall order the removal of the objectionable banner
or pennant string, and the owner may appeal to the Zoning Board of
Review for relief of the removal order.
B. Freestanding signs. Indicating the name of the owners or occupants,
or identifying a permitted nonresidential use, not exceeding two square
feet in area, nor five feet in height, and limited to one sign per
parcel.
C. A freestanding subdivision identification sign. Up to 12 square feet
in area and up to eight feet in height and limited to two signs.
D. Wall signs. Identifying a permitted nonresidential use, not exceeding
nine square feet in area, and limited to one sign per establishment.
Signs may be wall-mounted, freestanding, projecting, a flag
or banner. All signs shall conform to the following:
A. Awning or canopy signs may be up to 36 square feet per establishment.
B. Banners are limited to a maximum of two banners per establishment
for a period of up to six months in any calendar year.
C. Credit card signs shall not exceed one square foot in aggregate area
per establishment and shall not be illuminated.
D. Directory signs shall not exceed six square feet in aggregate area
per building and shall only identify permitted uses.
E. Information flags shall be limited to one per establishment containing
the word "Open" and/or the business's logo, not exceeding 15 square
feet in area.
F. Pennant strings shall be limited to two per establishment.
G. Projecting signs may be up to 12 square feet in area, projecting
up to four feet from the building wall, with an unobstructed clearance
to a height of 10 feet above the ground, and limited to one sign per
establishment.
H. Wall and freestanding signs shall conform to the following standards:
(1) Building frontage is the length of the building on the side where
the main door to the establishment(s) is located.
(2) When a parcel has two or more principal buildings, the total sign
area for each building is calculated based on the building frontage
of each building.
(3) For any drive-in business that has a booth for employees only with
no public access, including a gas station, the maximum area of building
signs shall be one square foot of sign for every linear foot of street
frontage. On a corner lot, only one street frontage shall be used
to calculate the maximum sign area.
Zone
|
Freestanding Sign
|
Building Signs
|
---|
|
Total Sign Area
(square feet)
|
Sign Height
(feet)
|
Total Sign Area on a Building
(square feet)
|
---|
B1
|
36
|
12
|
1.0 for every linear foot of building frontage
|
B2: buildings up to 25,000 square feet
|
50
|
15
|
1.0 for every linear foot of building frontage
|
B2: buildings 25,001 to 50,000 square feet
|
75
|
18
|
1.5 for every linear foot of building frontage
|
B2: buildings 50,001 to 75,000 square feet
|
100
|
20
|
2.0 for every linear foot of building frontage
|
B2: buildings 75,001 square feet and up
|
150
|
25
|
2.5 for every linear foot of building frontage
|
I Zones
|
100
|
20
|
2.0 for every linear foot of building frontage
|