§ 159.193. PERMITTED IN RETAIL BUSINESS DISTRICT.

The following are permitted in retail business districts:

(A) Type. Business, nameplate, sale, inside, identification, illuminated, ground, political, real estate sales, shopping center or other building where there are 3 or more businesses, temporary and wall signs.

(B) Number. Number of each type of sign allowed per lot: One nameplate sign, 1 sale sign, 1 political sign for each candidate, and 1 business or 1 shopping center sign or sign for a building where there are 3 or more businesses.

(C) Surfaces. No sign shall have more than 2 parallel surfaces.

(D) Size. In the case of a single-faced sign, no sign shall exceed 50 square feet. The maximum square footage of a multi-faced sign shall not exceed 2 times the allowable square footage of a single-faced sign. No combination of signs on the premises shall exceed 150 square feet, with 180 square feet maximum for overall shopping center signs or signs for buildings where there are 3 or more businesses. Individual business signs shall not exceed 50 square feet. Calculation of total maximum square footage shall include all exterior signs.

(E) Measurement of signs. Calculation of a sign will include the total area of the sign, including all structures framing the sign, background and embellishments or area contained within a rectangle or square drawn completely around the display surface, even if the sign consists of individual letters. On a freestanding sign, it does not include embellishments such as the monument base, pole covers, framing, or decorative roofing, provided that there is no advertising copy on or attached to such embellishments.

(F) Height. The top of all ground signs shall not be more than 12 feet above the elevation at the foundation of the adjacent primary structure, unless otherwise allowed by conditional use permit.

(Am. Ord. 7509, passed 1-8-2007)

(G) Setbacks. All freestanding signs, ground signs, and signs over 6 feet shall be set back 10 feet from the property line. In no case shall any part of the sign be closer than 2 feet to a vertical line drawn at the property line or the public right-of-way. All signs over 100 square feet shall be set back at least 50 feet from any residential/agricultural district.

(Am. Ord. 7496, passed 10- -2001)

(H) Temporary. Temporary signs are allowed by a sign permit. Temporary signs may be hung upon a primary structure or from a crossbar or poles erected for this purpose, but may not be placed on exterior fencing or accessory buildings. The setback requirements for temporary signs are:

(1) All temporary signs must be set back at least 50 feet from the edge of the paved surface of any intersection.

(2) All temporary signs shall be set back at least 20 feet from the paved edge of any street or other public right-of-way.

(I) Illumination. Illuminated signs are allowed by conditional use permit. Externally lit signs shall be lit so as not to direct rays of light into adjacent property or onto any public street or other public right-of-way. Internally lit signs shall have an opaque background which does not allow a light source to permeate the surface. Contrasting letters or logos shall be used. Also see § 159.157(C) and (D).

(J) Gasoline pump island canopies. Gasoline pump island canopies shall be excluded from calculation of total allowable sign area. Such signs shall be allowed such lettering and embellishments consistent with corporate logo and branding.

(Prior Code, Ch. 300 § 727.15) (Am. Ord. 7494, passed 5-29-2001; Am. Ord. 7497, passed 1-15-2002; Am. Ord. 7523, passed 8-17-2010; Am. Ord. 7559, passed 11-21-2017)