All signs shall be classified according to construction
types as provided herein:
A. Freestanding sign. A sign not attached or applied
to a principal building but supported by another structure, including
structures designed for the sign itself and accessory structures.
B. Wall sign. A sign attached, painted or affixed to
the wall of a principal structure or accessory structure, not projecting
over any public right-of-way and not extending more than two feet
from the building or structure.
C. Projecting sign. A sign which projects outward or
extends more than two feet from the building or structure.
The establishment, erection or reconstruction
of any sign shall be in accordance with the regulations as set forth
herein:
A. Identification sign. Such signs shall be permitted
in all zoning districts.
B. Business signs. Such signs shall be permitted in B-1,
B-2, C-1, A-1 and an I-1 Zoning Districts.
C. Real estate signs. Such signs shall be permitted in
all zoning districts.
D. Subdivision/development advertising signs. Such signs
shall be permitted in all zoning districts and any PRD Zoning District,
upon the creation of such.
E. Institutional signs. Such signs shall be permitted
in all zoning districts.
F. On-site directional and/or informational sign. Such
signs shall be permitted in all zoning districts.
G. Billboard signs. Such signs shall be permitted in
an I-1 Zoning District.
H. Subdivision/development identification signs. Such
signs shall be permitted in all zoning districts.
I. Electronic message board sign. Such signs shall be
permitted B-1 and B-2.
J. Event signs. Such signs shall be permitted in all
zoning districts.
The establishment, erection or reconstruction
of permitted signs shall be governed by the following regulations:
A. Identification sign. An identification sign shall
not exceed two square feet in area. Such a sign shall be set back
not less than 10 feet from the front lot line. The maximum height
of an identification sign, if freestanding, shall not exceed 10 feet
in height, or if attached to a building, shall not be higher than
the first story of the building to which it is attached.
B. Business sign:
(1) A business sign shall not exceed the square feet of
area for the following zoning districts:
(a)
C-1 District: 50 square feet.
(b)
A-1 District: 32 square feet.
(c)
B-1 District: 75 square feet.
(d)
B-2 District: 100 square feet.
(e)
I-1 District: 150 square feet.
(2) In a shopping center or an integrated grouping of
commercial or industrial uses which is classified as a land development,
in addition to permitting each individual business establishment to
display a business sign, one sign shall be permitted on the lot that
indicates the name of the shopping center and/or the names of the
business establishments located therein. Only one such sign shall
be permitted on the lot and such sign shall not exceed 300 square
feet in area.
(3) A business sign shall have a minimum front yard setback
of not less than 25% of the required setback for a principal structure
in the zoning district in which the sign is located. If an existing
building has a front yard setback which is less than 10 feet, the
sign shall be attached flat against the building as a wall sign.
(4) The maximum height of any business sign shall not
exceed 18 feet.
C. Real estate sign. A temporary real estate sign shall
not exceed eight square feet in area and shall be located on the same
lot on which the property is offered for sale or rental. The sign
shall be set back not less than 10 feet from the front lot line and
shall be removed from the premises within 30 days after the sale or
rental of the property.
D. Subdivision/development advertising sign. A subdivision/development
advertising sign shall be considered a temporary real estate sign
and shall not exceed 60 square feet in area. The sign shall be located
on the same property on which lots and/or homes in the subdivision
are offered for sale. Not more than one sign shall be erected in any
subdivision, and such signs shall be set back not less than 35 feet
from the front lot line. The sign shall be removed from the premises
within 30 days after the last lot and/or home is sold.
E. Institutional sign. An institutional sign for public
and semipublic facilities, such as schools, churches, hospitals, libraries,
colleges or other institutions of a similar nature, shall not exceed
30 square feet in area. The maximum height of such signs shall not
exceed the maximum height restriction established for a principal
structure in the district in which the sign is located. An institutional
sign shall be not less than 10 feet from the front lot line.
F. On-site directional and/or informational sign. An
on-site directional and/or informational sign shall not exceed six
square feet in area. A front, rear or side yard setback of not less
than five feet shall be required for such signs. The maximum height
of such signs shall not exceed six feet.
G. Billboard sign or off-premises advertising sign. The
following regulations shall apply to any billboard and/or off-premises
advertising sign. The advertising surface area of any panel shall
not exceed 300 square feet and not more than one double-faced panel
shall be permitted on the same structure or standard.
(1) Such a sign shall not be located within 200 feet of
any residential structure or residential zoning district.
(2) There shall be a minimum spacing distance of 1,000
feet between all such signs.
(3) Such signs shall be set back not less than 200 feet
from the center line of any public right-of-way for vehicular traffic.
(4) Such signs shall not be attached to a building nor
shall such signs be permitted to project above the maximum height
limitation for the zoning district in which it is located.
H. Subdivision/development identification sign. A subdivision/development
identification sign shall not exceed 10 square feet in area. Not more
than one sign shall be erected at any entrance point to the subdivision/development.
Such signs shall be set back not less than 10 feet from the front
lot line.
I. Event sign. An event sign shall not exceed six square
feet in area. Such signs shall not be attached to any tree, utility
pole or structure within a public right-of-way. Such signs shall not
be posted more than 45 days in advance of the scheduled event and
shall be removed within 30 days following the event.
J. Number of signs. Excluding on-site directional and/or
informational signs, not more than two signs shall be permitted on
any property located in any zoning district. In the case of a property
located upon a corner lot, a total of three signs may be permitted.
The minimum side yard setback and rear yard setback for any freestanding sign shall be the same as the minimum side yard or rear yard setback for a principal structure in the zoning district in which the sign is located. The minimum front yard setback, with the exception of §
95-83F, On-site directional and/or informational sign, and §
95-83G, Billboard sign or off-premises advertising sign, shall be the more restrictive of 25% of the required setback for a principal structure in the zoning district in which the sign is located, or 10 feet. If an existing building has a front yard setback that is less than 10 feet, any new proposed sign shall be attached flat against the building as a wall sign.
An existing sign related to a legally established nonconforming use shall be considered a nonconforming sign that may be continued at its present dimensions and location, but shall not be enlarged. Where a nonconforming use is lawfully changed to another nonconforming use, a new sign shall be permitted being the same type and size as the previous sign. The new sign shall be erected on the property at the same location as the previous sign. The sign may be erected at a different location provided it meets all applicable regulations within Article
V and for the zoning district in which it is located.
The area of a sign shall be construed to include
all lettering, wording and accompanying design and symbols, together
with the background including border and trim, whether open or enclosed,
on which they are displayed, but not including any supporting framework
and bracing that are incidental to the display itself. Computation
of the area for particular signs shall be in accordance with the following
regulations:
A. Wall sign. For a sign painted upon or applied to a
building, the area shall be considered to include all lettering, wording
and accompanying design or symbols together with any backing associated
with the sign.
B. Separate symbols. 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 that encompasses all of the letters and symbols.
C. Double-face sign. With the exception of a billboard,
when computing the area of a double-face sign, only one sign shall
be considered, provided both faces are identical.
D. Cylindrical sign. The area of a cylindrical sign shall
be computed by multiplying 1/2 of the circumference by the height
of the sign.
A freestanding sign and a projecting sign shall
have a vertical distance of not less than nine feet as measured from
the lowest edge or point of the sign to the highest ground elevation
located beneath the sign.
The following types of signs shall not be permitted
in any zoning district:
A. Signs that are located in such a position which endangers
vehicular and/or pedestrian traffic by obscuring the site distance.
B. Signs which by design and/or location may be confused
with traffic signs or signals.
C. Any sign located in or extending into a public right-of-way,
including sidewalk areas, except an official street sign or traffic
control sign.
D. Any freestanding or projecting sign within an area
bounded by the intersection of two public or private streets, for
a distance of 20 feet along the center line of the right-of-way of
such streets from the point of their intersection.
E. Freestanding or projecting signs over any type of
public right-of-way, including sidewalk areas.
F. Sequential, flashing or oscillating signs, excluding an electronic message board sign as provided for in §
95-82I.
G. Signs which due to their construction and/or location
would constitute a hazard or a potential danger to the community.
A zoning permit shall be required for the erection,
alteration or relocation of any sign that exceeds eight square feet
in surface area. Real estate signs and subdivision/land development
signs shall be exempt.