19.100.120 Regulations applicable to signs in commercial and industrial zones.
(A) Number. On a premises other than a shopping center a maximum of three (3) signs shall be permitted on any one (1) street frontage and a maximum of four (4) when a building has more than one (1) street frontage. Building frontage shall be deemed to exist when the entire length of a building side faces and is adjacent to a street. There may be one (1) freestanding sign per street frontage of the total allowable number of signs, with a maximum of two (2) freestanding signs on any one (1) site. All signs shall conform in size to subsection (B) of this section.
(B) Area. A total sign area of eighty (80) square feet will be allowed for buildings with fifty-five (55) or less lineal feet of building frontage. Buildings with more than fifty-five (55) lineal feet of building frontage will be allowed one and one-half (1-1/2) square feet of sign area per lineal foot of building frontage. The total maximum sign area for any building shall be two hundred (200) square feet. No sign shall project above the top eave line of the building to which it is attached and no freestanding sign shall exceed fifteen (15) feet in height. For height regulations, see Section 19.100.070(K).
(C) Freestanding Signs. Freestanding sign area may be increased dependent on the speed limit. For a speed limit of thirty-five (35) miles per hour or less, sign area shall be a maximum of forty (40) square feet. For a speed limit of thirty-six (36) miles per hour or greater, sign area shall be a maximum of fifty (50) square feet.
Average Sign Size Related to Speed of Travel (Figure 8)
(D) Monument Signs Six (6) Feet or Less in Height.
The total monument sign area may be increased by fifteen (15) percent of the maximum allowable freestanding sign area, including base and embellishment.
Monument Sign (Figure 9)
(E) Shopping Center Signs.
(1) A shopping center’s total aggregate under-roof square footage shall be considered a minimum of five thousand (5,000) square feet. Shopping centers shall be allowed one (1) freestanding sign not exceeding eighty (80) square feet per street frontage. This sign shall identify the shopping center and/or individual shops only. Only shopping center signage may be utilized as a freestanding sign if the criteria for the definition of “shopping center” are met as defined in this section. If a freestanding sign identifies businesses in a shopping center, each identification shall be construed as one (1) of the allowable signs. Individual businesses in a shopping center shall have no more than two (2) signs for any one (1) building frontage, with a maximum of three (3) total allowable signs per any one (1) business. Street frontage shall be deemed to exist when the entire length of a building side faces and is adjacent to a street. Individual shops in a shopping center shall be allowed one and one-half (1-1/2) square feet per lineal foot of storefront. A second such freestanding shopping center sign (of the same or less size) shall be permitted for a lot whose street frontage measures greater than four hundred (400) feet. Where such second sign is permitted, it shall be at least one hundred (100) feet from the other sign. No more than two (2) shopping center signs for any one (1) building frontage, with a maximum of three (3) total shopping center signs, shall be allowed. For height regulations, see Section 19.100.070(K).
(2) Out-parcel pads of a shopping center shall adhere to the signage requirements of subsections (A) and (B) of this section with a maximum of three (3) signs as specified for one (1) street frontage.
(F) Electronic Message Displays. Electronic message displays are permitted in the DC (Downtown Commercial), C-2 (General Commercial), I-1 (Light Industrial), and I-2 (Heavy Industrial) zoning districts in accordance with the following:
(1) Displays of static messages, where the message change sequence is accomplished immediately, shall be permitted subject to the sign size limitations otherwise applicable for the site, provided each message is displayed for a minimum period of one (1) minute. Any message that is displayed less than one (1) minute shall require a conditional use permit for the sign.
(2) The intensity of the LED display shall not exceed four thousand six hundred ninety (4,690) nits (luminance equal to one (1) candle per square meter) during daylight and one thousand six hundred seventy-five (1,675) nits during the night.
(3) Prior to the issuance of a sign permit, the applicant shall provide a written certification from the sign manufacturer that the light intensity has been factory pre-set not to exceed the levels specified above, and equipped with an automatic dimmer for nighttime use, and the intensity level is protected from end-user manipulation by password-protected software or other method as deemed appropriate by the planning and zoning director.
(G) For Sale, Rent, or Lease Signs. One (1) temporary property sale, rental, or lease sign not exceeding thirty-two (32) square feet in area shall be allowed for each lot to which said sign refers. Such signs shall not exceed twelve (12) feet in height and shall be removed within twenty (20) days of the sale, rental, or lease of which they refer. For height regulations, see Section 19.100.070(K).
(H) Temporary Construction Signs. Construction signs shall be allowed, subject to the following regulations:
(1) One (1) temporary sign, not to exceed forty (40) square feet in area, shall be allowed for each lot or parcel of property to designate that the same is to be occupied at a future date by the business or concern designated thereon.
(2) One (1) nonilluminated temporary sign, not to exceed forty (40) square feet in area for each contractor and forty (40) square feet for each subcontractor, shall be allowed for each lot or parcel of property to designate that such contractor or subcontractor is engaged in the construction or repair of a building on such lot or parcel of property.
(3) Each such temporary construction sign shall be removed from the lot or parcel of property upon which the same is placed within twenty (20) days after any occupancy of the building constructed on the premises, or in the event of repairs to the building, within twenty (20) days after completion of such repairs.
(4) No sign shall exceed twelve (12) feet in height. For height regulations, see Section 19.100.070(K).
(I) Parking Lot Signs. A maximum of one (1) sign per street frontage advertising a public parking lot which shall not exceed a total area of forty (40) square feet is permitted for the purpose of advertising a public parking lot. For height regulations, see Section 19.100.070(K).
(J) Projecting Signs. Projecting signs shall be permitted in lieu of freestanding signs on any street frontage limited to one (1) sign per occupancy along any street frontage with public entrance to such occupancy, and shall maintain a clear vertical distance above any sidewalk, walkway or parking lot a minimum of seven (7) feet. Signs shall not project over property lines or extend vertically above the eave line of the building upon which it is mounted. Such sign counts as part of the total sign area allowed. Projecting signs shall comply with one (1) of the following:
(1) Vertical Projecting Signs.
(a) Such sign may project a maximum of three (3) feet at a ninety (90) degree angle.
(b) Such sign shall be limited in height to a maximum of one-third (1/3) of building height.
Projecting Sign (Figure 10)
(2) Horizontal Projecting Signs.
(a) Such sign may project a maximum of five (5) feet at a ninety (90) degree angle.
(b) Such sign shall not exceed twelve (12) square feet.
Projecting Sign (Figure 11)
(K) Window Signs. Window signs which are temporary in nature shall be allowed in addition to other sign allowances, provided such signs are placed on the inside of the window and consist of no more than twenty-five (25) percent of the window area.
(L) Temporary business signs shall be permitted in commercial and/or industrial zones for uses as outlined below:
(1) A sign permit is required for all temporary signs.
(2) Only one (1) temporary sign shall be permitted per business for any one (1) event at the business location.
(3) Temporary sign area shall not exceed thirty-two (32) square feet.
(4) Any one (1) business shall only be assigned a total of three (3) temporary sign permits within any twelve (12) month period.
(5) A temporary sign shall be erected for no more than thirty (30) days.
(6) Temporary signs must adhere to all height limitations as set forth in this Code.
(7) Temporary signs shall not be placed off-premises.
(8) Temporary signs shall not be placed within a public utility, water or sewer easement, within the right-of-way or within two (2) feet of a sidewalk.
(9) Temporary signs shall not be affixed to any light pole, street pole, electrical box, tree or other similar structure.
(M) Portable signs shall require a sign permit and an applicable fee as specified by resolution of the city council. A portable sign permit shall be issued if all criteria have been met. The portable sign permit shall be valid for one (1) calendar year. Portable signs shall be permitted provided:
(1) The sign is located on the property to which it refers and not in a public right-of-way.
(2) Signs shall be located no more than twenty (20) feet from the business to which the sign refers.
(3) Signs shall be no more than three (3) feet high and two (2) feet wide.
(4) Sign surface materials are limited to PVC, wood, Plexiglas or similar materials.
(5) Sign is securely anchored, without being permanent.
(6) The sign does not obstruct pedestrian movement and does not obstruct or pose a danger to motor vehicle traffic.
(7) Signs shall not be illuminated.
(8) All signs shall be constructed and maintained in a professional manner.
(9) Only one (1) portable sign allowed per business.
(10) Portable signs may only be displayed during the hours that the business is open or operating.
(11) Sign permit is nontransferable.
(12) Sign permit is valid for original location. A transfer fee as specified by resolution of the city council is allowed for the same business.
(13) The permit number, owner’s name and business location address shall be affixed to the portable sign (this may be accomplished by a city-issued permit sticker). (Ord. No. 429, § 2, 1-6-98; Ord. No. 2009-08, §§ 1, 2, 6-2-09; Ord. No. 2010-08, §§ 1, 2, 5-4-10; Ord. No. 2014-04, §§ 1, 2, 9-2-14; Ord. No. 2017-04, §§ 1, 2, 3-7-17. 1976 Code § 15-1-45(L))