§ 153.360. Permitted sign area.

A.

Signs in Residence Districts.

1.

In Class U1 and U2 Districts, one sign not exceeding two square feet in area shall be permitted per dwelling unit up to a maximum of fifteen square feet. For schools, parks, community buildings, and other nondwelling uses, one sign not exceeding thirty square feet shall be permitted. Such sign may be a freestanding sign (behind the building line) or wall sign, but no illumination of the sign shall be permitted, except when approved by the Board of Zoning Appeals on application. If a building line variance is being appealed for the sign in question, then no separate application will be necessary for illumination.

2.

In a Class UD and UHD District, a total sign area of one square foot for each lineal foot of building frontage on Each street shall be permitted.

B.

Signs in Business Districts.

1.

In Class ULB and UG Districts, one identification sign shall be permitted, not to exceed the following limitations:

a.

Wall Signs. One square foot total signage per lineal foot of building frontage, maximum twenty square feet (or a directory listing individuals and their business or profession who have offices on the premises; maximum two square feet per tenant plus building identification sign not to exceed twelve square feet; total sign area permitted for individual plus building identification not to exceed forty square feet).

b.

Freestanding Signs. Building identification sign 0.5 square feet of sign per lineal foot of building frontage, maximum twelve square feet or two square feet per each individual (including his occupation) plus eight square feet for building identification; (maximum total size forty square feet).

2.

Signs in Class U3 and U4 Districts.

a.

Wall Signs. Except as provided for business center signs, the area of a wall sign shall not exceed two square feet for each foot of building frontage.

b.

Freestanding and Projecting Signs. Except as provided for business center signs:

i.

One freestanding sign or one projecting sign with a sign area not to exceed one square foot for each lineal foot of building frontage shall be permitted.

ii.

On a Corner Lot. The permitted sign area shall be computed on the basis of the longer building frontage. One freestanding or projecting sign shall be permitted on each street, provided, the total area of these signs does not exceed one square foot for each foot of building frontage on one street. The area of all wall signs shall not exceed two square feet for each foot of building frontage on the longer street frontage.

c.

Business Center Signs.

i.

One freestanding pole sign shall be permitted on each street frontage. The area of this pole sign shall not exceed one square foot for each foot of building frontage facing the street where the sign is located.

ii.

Each business or store located in a business center shall be permitted two square feet of sign area per lineal foot of building frontage occupied by the business. This sign area may consist of wall signs, projecting signs, or signs suspended under the marquee or canopy. Signs displayed in an interior mall are not subject to this section of the code.

iii.

If a business center has a building frontage of one hundred fifty feet or more and has only one street frontage then two freestanding signs shall be permitted. The total sign area permitted on all freestanding signs shall not exceed one square foot for each lineal foot of building frontage. If two freestanding signs are installed, the minimum distance between these signs shall be one hundred feet.

d.

Minimum and Maximum Sign Area.

i.

In a Class U-3 or U-4 District the maximum total area of all permitted signs on any parcel or adjoining parcels of land in a single ownership shall not exceed three hundred square feet.

ii.

Thirty-two square feet of sign area is permitted on any parcel or adjoining parcels of land in single ownership.

C.

Signs in Class U5 and U6 Districts.

1.

In Class U5 and U6 Districts, a total sign area of three square feet for each lineal foot of building frontage on each street, up to a maximum total area of all permitted signs of any establishment of three hundred square feet, shall be permitted. If the building frontages exceed one hundred sixty-seven feet and the use has more than one thousand lineal feet of property frontage on each street, then one additional square foot of sign area for each two feet of total property frontage exceeding one thousand feet shall be permitted.

2.

Class ULB, U3, and U4 uses which are located in Class U5 and U6 Districts shall be governed by subsection B of this section.

D.

The size of signs in Downtown may be varied by the Board of Zoning Appeals consistent with Section 153.409(F).

E.

In any use district, the amount of permitted sign area for freestanding signage shall be determined as follows:

1.

The maximum sign area permitted for freestanding signage pursuant to subsections A through D of this section shall be permitted subject to the following requirements:

a.

No freestanding sign, other than a ground sign shall be installed;

b.

A minimum of thirty percent of the total freestanding sign shall be free of graphics or copy;

c.

Graphics or copy shall be limited to include only a business name, address, and logo; and

d.

The perimeter at the base of the sign shall be landscaped with shrubbery, groundcover, or other perennial plantings.

2.

Not more than seventy percent of the maximum sign area permitted for freestanding signage pursuant to subsections A through D of this section shall be permitted for any freestanding signage which does not comply with the requirements of subsection (E)(1) of this section. Penalty, see § 153.199.

(Prior code § 153.309; Ord. 859-1992; Ord. 359-1986; Ord. 511-1977; Ord. 322-1976)

(Ord. No. 221-2011, § 5, 7-11-11)