This example is from the draft Union Township Zoning Resolution. This example addresses signs by district category. Each district category, residential, commercial, manufacturing, agricultural has it’s own sign regulation. ARTICLE 20 ~ SIGNS
Section 20.01 Statement of Purpose
The purpose of these sign regulations is: to encourage the effective use of signs as a means of communication in the township; to maintain and enhance the aesthetic environment and the townships ability to attract sources of economic development and growth; to improve pedestrian and traffic safety; to minimize the possible adverse effect (including but not limited to the obstruction of sight distance to motorist entering and exiting a roadway) of signs on nearby public and private property; and to enable the fair and consistent enforcement of these sign regulations. This sign resolution is adopted under the zoning authority of the Township in furtherance of the more general purposes set forth in the zoning resolution.
Section 20.02 Applicability – Effect
A sign may be erected, placed, established, painted, created, or maintained in the township only in conformance with the standards, procedures, exemptions, and other requirements of this resolution.
Section 20.02.A
The effect of this resolution as more specifically set forth herein, is:
Section 20.02.A.1
To establish a permit system to allow a variety of types of signs in commercial and industrial zones, and limited variety of signs in other zones, subject to the standards and the permit procedures of this resolution;
Section 20.02.B.2
To allow certain signs that are small, unobtrusive, and incidental to the principal use of the respective lots on which they are located, subject to the substantive requirements of this resolution, but without a requirement for permits;
Section 20.02.B.3
To prohibit all signs not expressly permitted by this resolution (unless amended by the process outlined in Article 6 of this resolution); and to provide for the enforcement of the provisions of this resolution.
Section 20.03 Legal Nonconforming Signs
Any sign lawfully erected and in existence on the effective date of this resolution which does not meet the requirements of this resolution may be maintained as a matter of right as a legal nonconforming sign and may be rebuilt on the same property, in accordance to Article 4 –Non-Conformities of this resolution, provided said sign’s degree of nonconformity is not increased.
Section 20.04 Computations
Section 20.04.A
The following principles shall control the computation of sign area and sign height:
Section. 20.04.A.1 Computation of Area of Individual Signs
Section 20.04.A.1.a Computation of Area of Single Faced Signs
The area of a sign face (which is also the sign area of a wall sign or other sign with only one face) shall be computed by means of the smallest square, circle, rectangle, triangle, or combination thereof that will encompass the extreme limits of the writing, representation, emblem, or other display, together with any material or color forming and integral part of the background of the display or used to differentiate the sign from the backdrop or structure against which it is placed, but not including any supporting framework, bracing, or decorative fence or wall when such fence or wall otherwise meets zoning resolution regulations and is clearly incidental to the display itself.
Section 20.04.A.1.b Computation of Area of Multi-faced Signs
The sign area for a sign with more than one face shall be computed by adding together the area of all sign faces visible from any one point. When such sign faces are part of the same sign structure, the sign area shall be computed by the measurement of all of the faces.
Section 20.04.A.1.c Computation of Height
The height of a sign shall be computed as the distance from the base of the sign at normal grade to the top of the highest attached component of the sign. Normal grade shall be construed to be the lower of (1) existing grade prior to construction or (2) the newly established grade after construction, exclusive of any filling, berming, mounding, or excavating solely for the purpose of locating the sign. In cases in which the normal grade cannot reasonably be determined, sign height shall be computed on the assumption that the elevation of the normal grade at the base of the sign is equal to the elevation of the nearest point of the crown of a public street or the grade of the land at the principal entrance to the principal structure on the zone lot, whichever is lower.
Section 20.04.A.1.d Computation of Maximum Total Permitted Sign Area for a Zone Lot
The maximum sign area shall be the maximum area specified in sections 2000.05 to 2000.07. Lots fronting on two or more streets are allowed the permitted sign area for each street frontage. However, the total sign area that is oriented toward a particular street may not exceed the portion of the lot’s total sign area allocation that is derived from the lot, building, or wall area frontage on that street, unless otherwise specified.
Section 20.05 District Sign Regulations
Sign regulations are specified by zoning district as follows:
Section 20.05.A Business/Commercial/Manufacturing Districts
Section 20.05.A.1 Business/Commercial/Manufacturing District On-Premise Signs Permitted, NO PERMIT REQUIRED
Section 20.05.A.1.a Signs Sale, Lease or Rental of Premises
Signs advertising the sale, lease, or rental of the premises upon which the sign is located, shall not exceed twelve (12) square feet in area and shall be setback at least ten (10) feet from the road street rightof —way.
Section 20.05.A.1.b Non-Farm Signs
Nonfarm signs denoting the name and address of the occupant of the premises, not exceeding eight (8) square feet in area; and not exceeding one sign per business. Signs must be permanent and affixed to the ground and shall be setback at least ten (10) feet from the road street rightof-way.
Section 20.05.A.1.c Farm signs
Allow two farm signs, denoting the name and address of occupants, denoting advertising for produce or merchandise grown on such farms, and denoting membership or organizations, not to exceed a total of Fifty (50) square feet. Signs must be permanent and affixed to the ground and shall be setback at least ten (10) feet from the road street rightof-way.
Section 20.05.A.1.d Signs Public Institutions
Signs or bulletin boards customarily incidental to places of worship, libraries, museums, social clubs, or societies, which signs or bulletin boards shall not exceed thirty (32) square feet in area which shall be located on the premises of such institutions and shall be setback from all right-of-way at least ten (10) feet.
Section 20.05.A.1.e Temporary Signs announcing Events
Temporary signs announcing special public or institutional events, the erection of a building, or signs for similar uses. Such signs shall be removed within seven (7) days of the completion of the event or project. (See Section 2100.06 Temporary Signs)
Section 20.05.A.1.f Political Signs
Political signs provided such signs shall be removed within seven (7) days following election day for which they were posted. (See Section 2000.06 Temporary Signs)
Section 20.05.A.2 Business / Commercial / Manufacturing District On-Premise Signs Permitted, PERMIT REQUIRED
Section 20.05.A.2.a On-Premise Wall Signs
Each business shall be permitted one flat or wall onpremises sign. Projection of wall signs shall not exceed four (4) feet measured from the face of the main building, not more than ten (10) square feet on any one face of the sign.
Section 20.05.A.2.b On-Premise Ground Sign
In addition to the above, each business or industry shall be permitted one onpremises ground sign provided all parts of the sign shall be set back ten (10) feet from the street rightofway. The maximum area of such sign shall not exceed thirty-two (32) square feet on any face of the sign. The sign must be permanently affixed to the ground.
Section 20.05.A.2.c On-Premise Pole Sign
In addition to the above, each business or industry shall be permitted one on premises pole sign not exceeding thirty (30) feet in height or fifty (50) square feet in area on any face of the sign. Such signs shall not be located closer than ten (10) feet from any road rightofway line. No sign shall exceed 100 total square feet of sign face area.
Section 20.05.A.2.d Multiple Business Sign Alternatives
In lieu of the permitted pole sign as permitted in Section 2105.05.01.B.3 above, groups of establishments of four or more business shall be permitted on larger ground sign for all businesses. Such sign shall not exceed Eighty (80) square feet on any face nor exceed thirty (30) feet in height and shall be setback at least ten (10) feet from the road rightof-way.
Section 20.05.A.2.e Nameplates/Home Occupations Signs
Professional nameplates or home occupation signs not exceeding eight (8) square feet in area and not exceeding one sign per home or business. Said sign shall be setback at least (10) feet from the road right –or-way.
Section 20.05.A.2.f Entrance Exit Signs
Entrance and exit signs containing only directional signs. Such signs shall not exceed a height of two and a half (2.5) feet and shall not have a sign area of three (3) square feet on any face. Entrance and exit signs shall not be located within the road right-of-way.
Section 20.05.A.2.g Subdivision/Real Estate Signs
Subdivision signs or real estate signs larger than the 2x2 advertising the sale of the premises for which they are located. Such signs shall not exceed a height of twelve (12) feet, and shall not have an area larger than ten (10) square feet on any sign face. Signs for model homes not to exceed a total of twelve (12) square feet. Such signs shall not be located closer than ten (10) feet from any road rightofway line.
Section 20.05.B Business / Commercial / Manufacturing District OFF-Premise Signs Permitted, PERMIT REQUIRED
Section 20.05.B.1 Billboards
Section 20.05.B.1.a General
Billboards shall be classified as a business use and be permitted in all Business, Commercial and Manufacturing districts subject to the following regulations:
Section 20.05.B.1.b Setback From Right-Of-Way
Such signs or structures shall not be located within 50 feet of any street (or road) rightofway.
Section 20.05.B.1.c Spacing
Such signs or structures shall not be located within 5,000 feet of any other outdoor advertising display or billboard on the same side of the street.
Section 20.05.B.1.d Sign Setback from Structures
Such signs or structures shall not be located on or within 100 feet of any building.
Section 20.05.B.1.e Sign Face Area
Such signs shall not exceed 200 square feet on one face and/or 400 square feet for two or more faces, and in no case shall more than 200 square feet of display or sign area be visible from any road or street.
Section 20.05.B.1.f Relation to Other Laws
Advertising devices adjacent to the interstate and primary highways as regulated by the Ohio Revised Code, Section 5516.01 to 5516.13 and 5531.07, as amended shall be permitted in accordance with those state laws. The Zoning Inspector shall only issue a permit when the applicant produces a permit from the State, and the proposed meets the requirements of this Article.
Section 20.05.B.2 Temporary Signs – Off Premise
Section 20.05.B.2.a Permitted
Temporary Signs shall be permitted off site in any Business, Commercial or Manufacturing district, as specified in Section 2100.06.05.B.2 – Off Premises Temporary Real Estate Sign, Section 2100.05.01.E.6-Off-Premise Farm Stand Signs, Section 2100.05.02.E.7-Seasonal Event Signs.
Section 20.05.B.2.b Fuel Island Canopy Sign
A fuel island canopy sign means a sign attached to or part of a fuel island canopy. Such sign shall not extend beyond the façade of the canopy.
Section 20.05.C Business/Commercial/Manufacturing District Temporary Business Signs
Section 20.05.C.1 General
The following temporary signs are permitted with a temporary sign permit. Such signs shall conform to the requirements set forth below as well as other applicable requirements of this resolution.
Section 20.05.C.2 Temporary Signs Announcing Grand Opening, Sale, Promotion, etc.
One Temporary Business Sign may be installed by a retail sales or services business for purposes of announcing the opening of a new business, of identifying a sale, promotion, special event, tent sale, new line of merchandise or seasonal merchandise or of otherwise communicating information about the products and/or services offered by the business, but not repeating information already contained on the business’ permanent signs. A Temporary Business Sign may be installed no more than four (4) times in a calendar year and must be removed within thirty (30) days after each installation. A separate permit is required for each installation.
Section 20.05.C.3 Types of Temporary Signs
A Temporary Business Sign may be a free-standing sign, a wall sign, a roof sign, or a banner. A banner may be installed only on a building and only in those locations where a wall sign or a roof sign would be allowed. The maximum gross display area of a Temporary Business Sign shall be thirty-two (32) square feet. A Temporary Business Sign must be kept at least ten (10) feet away from the road right-of-way and from any lot line that does not abut a public street. No Temporary Business Sign shall be located within the right of way of a public street. No Temporary Business Sign shall be located in any parking space shown on an approved site plan.