General regulations

A. Illumination standards for all signs:
- (1) The light source for all externally illuminated signs shall be effectively shielded to prevent beams or rays from being directed at any roadway or abutting residential property.
- (2) No lights or lighting effects shall be used on any sign if the Building Official deems such light or lighting effect to pose a conflict with those used in public safety or traffic control and thereby create a hazard to the operation of motor vehicles.
- (3) No sign may be placed, constructed or erected if the Building Official deems the illumination to constitute a hazard to pedestrian or vehicular traffic because of intensity or direction of illumination.
- (4) All illuminated signs shall be turned off one hour after business closing and shall not turn on again until one hour prior to business reopening.
B. Number of signs:
- (1) Freestanding sign.
  - (a) Only one freestanding pylon or monument sign per lot regardless of the number of tenants.
  - (b) Where a lot contains the required minimum frontage along more than one street, a second freestanding pylon or monument sign is permitted.
- (2) Wall sign.
  - (a) There may be one wall sign, canopy sign or projecting sign affixed to the exterior of a building for each occupancy therein.
  - (b) Where one establishment is more than 75,000 square feet in gross leasable floor area, there may be one or more wall-mounted signs for that establishment provided that the total square footage of such signs does not exceed the total amount of signage permitted.
C. Placement standards:
- (1) Signs shall not obstruct any door, window, or fire escape.
- (2) Except as otherwise provided herein, the placement of signs is not subject to yard setback regulations. No sign shall constitute a hazard to pedestrian or vehicular traffic such as by obstructing sight lines or by blocking free ingress to or egress from a required door, window, fire escape or other required exit way element.
- (3) Signs, if illuminated, shall be so arranged as to reflect light away from adjoining properties and/or streets, and shall not be located within 25 feet of any residential district boundary line.
- (4) Signs shall not overhang the public right-of-way nor interfere with adjoining properties or establishments.
D. Sign area computations:
- (1) Sign area for single-faced signs shall be computed by measuring in square feet, the entire area within a square, rectangle, circle, triangle or any other polygon enclosing the extreme limits of graphic, writing or similar representation, emblem or any fixture of similar character, together with any frame or other material or color forming an integral part of the display or used to differentiate the sign from the background against which it is placed. The area of supporting framework (for example brackets, posts, etc.) shall not be included in the area if such framework is not included in the display.
- (2) When a sign has two or more faces, each side may contain the maximum sign area permitted (as computed above), provided the sides are no further than two feet from each other.
- (3) When calculating the total square footage of wall-mounted signage in a development of two or more buildings, all wall signs, awning or canopy signs and projecting signs for each establishment in the development shall be included in the total amount of permitted signage. The calculated number shall not exceed the amount of square feet of wall signs permitted.
E. Height and setback computations:
- (1) The height of any freestanding sign shall be measured from its base at grade to the highest point of the sign. Grade shall be defined as the naturally existing topography of the ground. Any filling or mounding (such as a berm) above the naturally occurring grade to artificially increase the height of a sign shall be counted towards the height of the sign.
- (2) The setback of any sign shall be measured from the edge of the sign that is closest to the property line.
- (3) A freestanding sign shall be set back a minimum of five feet from all property lines.
F. No sign shall emit any sound.
G. No sign shall hereafter be created, erected, installed or altered except in conformance with this article and upon receipt of a building permit.
H. Continuance: Any sign that advertises businesses or activities that have not been carried on at the premises for two consecutive years shall be deemed to be abandoned. An abandoned sign shall be considered nonconforming and therefore prohibited and shall be removed by the owner of the premises. Such obsolete signs shall be removed within 30 days after the date they become obsolete.
I. Maintenance. All signs, banners, pennants, awnings, canopies and other permitted advertising devices must be kept clean, neatly painted, free from all hazards and must be properly maintained in safe condition, not faded or tattered, and shall be securely fastened at all corners and ends. If a sign is hazardous or obsolete, the Building Inspector or Zoning Enforcement Officer shall give written notice to the owner of the sign and to the owner of the land upon which the sign is erected directing that the sign be brought into conformance or removed within 30 days from the date of said notice.
J. Replacement. Any sign replacing a preexisting nonconforming sign shall conform with the provisions of this article and the preexisting nonconforming sign shall be removed.
K. Alteration. The sign faces of any preexisting nonconforming signs may be altered either to update the sign content or to reflect new information, provided that such alteration shall not result in any change in the sign's size, extent, location, or illumination.