SECTION 16

SECTION 16

SIGN REGULATIONS

A. Purpose.

The purpose of these Sign Regulations shall be to: eliminate potential hazards to motorists and pedestrians resulting from signs; encourage signs which, by their design, are integrated with and harmonious to the buildings and sites which they occupy; eliminate excessive and confusing sign displays; preserve and improve the appearance of Vigo County as an attractive place in which to live and work; safeguard and enhance property values; protect public and private investment in buildings and open spaces; and, to promote the public health, safety, morals and general welfare.

B. Application.

The regulations contained in this Section shall apply to the location, erection and maintenance of signs in any zoning district regulated by this ordinance except for the A-l District in which these Sign Regulations shall not-apply.

C. Exempt Signs.

The following signs shall be permitted in any zoning district and shall be exempt from the other provisions of this Section, including the obligation to obtain an Improvement Location Permit, provided that the signs comply with the provisions contained in each subsection. In no event, however, shall any sign be permitted in violation of the provisions for a clear vision area as specified in Section 17.

1. Construction Signs - One (1) construction sign shall be permitted per project construction site on each street frontage after the issuance of an Improvement Location Permit for a primary building provided such sign:

a. shall not exceed thirty-two (32) square feet in area;

b. shall not exceed twenty (20) feet in height; and,

c. shall be removed within ten (10) days after the issuance of Certificate of Use and occupancy.

2. Flag, pennants, or insignia of governmental or nonprofit organizations when not displayed in connection with a commercial promotion or as advertising.

3. Official signs of non-commercial nature erected by utilities.

4. Signs erected on behalf of or pursuant to authorization of a governmental body, including but not limited to: legal notices; identification and information signs, and, traffic, directional or regulatory signs.

5. Integral, decorative, or architectural features of buildings or works of art, so long as such features or works do not contain letters or trademarks.

6. Church bulletin boards, church identification signs and church related directional signs, provided that:

a. no more than one (1) sign shall be permitted per street frontage;

b. the sign display surface shall not .exceed sixteen (16) square feet;

c. the sign shall not be internally illuminated; and,

d. the sign shall refer only to the church or church services conducted on the lot.

7. Seasonal or holiday sign, including lighting erected in connection with the observance of holidays, provided that such signs shall, be removed not later than fifteen (15) days following the holiday.

8. Special event signs, such as grand opening, fair, carnival, circus, festival, or similar event signs shall be permitted on the lot where the special event is to occur, provided that such signs shall not be erected sooner than fourteen days (14) days prior to the first day of the special event and shall be removed not later than three (3) days after the last day of the special event.

9. Real estate signs indicating the sale, rent, or lease, together with information identifying the owner or agent, of the lot on which the sign is located, provided that:

a. Number of Real Estate Signs:

(1) on any lot will less than tour (400) hundred feet of frontage or less than five (5) acres in area, not more than one (1) real estate sign shall be permitted per street frontage; or,

(2) on lots in excess of five (5) acres in area and with street frontage in excess of four hundred (400) feet, not more than two (2) real estate signs shall be permitted per street frontage.

b. Size of Real Estate Signs:

(1) in any Residential or Open Space District, real estate signs shall not exceed six (6) square feet in sign display surface area; or,

(2) in any other zoning district, real estate signs shall not exceed thirty-two (32) square feet in sign display surface area.

c. Removal of Real Estate signs - real estate signs shall be removed immediately after sale.

10. Miscellaneous signs, including but not be limited-to:

a. Signs on mailboxes or newspaper tubes;

b. Signs giving property identification, names, or numbers of occupants;

c. Signs posted on private property relating to private property, private parking, no trespassing or danger from animals; and,

d. Signs indicating the location of public telephones and restrooms, underground public utilities, and similar location signs,

provided that such signs do not exceeding two (2) square feet in area.

11. Signs temporarily attached to the interior of a window or glass door, provided that signs shall not cover more than seventy-five (75) per cent of the surface area of the window or door to which they are attached, except in the C-8 Central Business District, where the maximum coverage shall not exceed twenty (20) percent of the surface area of the window or door to which they are attached.

12. Political campaign signs, provided that such signs:

a. shall not to exceed one (1) sign per lot;

b. shall not exceed thirty-two (32) square feet in sign display surface area; and,

c. shall not be erected sooner than ninety days (90) days prior to election day and shall be removed not later than ten (10) days after the election day.

13. Civic, philanthropic, educational, or religious campaign signs, provided that such signs:

a. shall not to exceed one (1) per lot;

b. shall not exceed thirty-two (32) square feet in sign display surface area; and,

c. shall not exceed three (3) months time duration.

14. Garage sale signs, provided that such signs:

a. shall not to exceed one (1) per street frontage of a lot;

b. shall not exceed six (6) square feet in sign . display surface area; and,

c. shall not be erected sooner than two days (2) days prior to the day of the sale and shall be removed immediately after the sale is completed.

D. Prohibited Signs.

The following signs shall be prohibited in all zoning districts.

1. Signs located on, in or above the right-of -way of any street or alley, except for signs permitted by Sections 16., C., 3. and 4., above, or projecting signs as permitted by this Section.

2. Signs which interfere with street intersections. No sign, permanent or temporary, shall be erected so that it interferes with the clear view area provided for in Section 17.

3. Signs which interfere with, obstruct the view of, or be confused with any authorized traffic sign, signal, or device.

4. outline lighting of property lines or open sales areas.

5. Portable signs, including but not limited to A- or T-frame signs, signs on trailer frames, menu and sandwich board signs, balloon signs, umbrellas used for advertising, and signs attached to or painted on a vehicle parked and visible from the public right-of-way, provided, however, a vehicle which is used in the normal day-to-day operation of the business shall not be considered a portable sign.

6. Any rotating beam, beacon, intermittent light, lights of changing degrees of intensity, or flashing illumination in connection with any sign display surface, except signs indicating the time, date or weather conditions.

7. Signs attached to trees.

8. Signs attached to utility poles, except for signs erected on behalf of or pursuant to authorization of a governmental body.

9. Pennants, banners, streamers and wind signs, except when

used in connection with a special event as provided for in Section C., 8., above.

E. On-Premise Signs: Commercial, Industrial and Hulman Regional Airport Districts.

1. Freestanding Identification Signs.

a. Type of Signs.

Freestanding identification signs shall be ground signs, pylon signs or pole signs.

b. Number of Signs.

One (1) freestanding sign shall be permitted for each street frontage of a lot.

c. Maximum Sign Display Surface of Freestanding Signs.

Maximum sign display surface area shall not exceed two-hundred and forty (240) square feet, provided that for any lot with frontage in excess of three hundred (300) feet, the maximum sign display surface area shall be increased by one (1) foot for each lineal foot of frontage in excess of three hundred (300) feet to a maximum sign display surface area of four hundred (400) square feet.

d. Minimum Front, Side and Rear Setback for Freestanding Identification Signs.

(1) Front Setback - There shall be no minimum front setback for any freestanding identification sign unless such sign is located along a required buffer yard, in which case, the minimum front setback shall be ten (10) feet.

(2) Side and Rear Setback - The minimum side or rear yard setback for a freestanding identification sign shall be the same as required for an accessory structure in the applicable zoning district.

e. Maximum Height of Freestanding Identification Signs.

(1) Pole or nylon Sign y- The maximum- height of pole or pylon freestanding identification sign, when located at the minimum setback, shall not exceed twenty five (25) feet in height above grade level, provided that for each additional one (1) foot of setback from the minimum front setback, the maximum height of the sign shall be increased by one (1) foot to a maximum height of forty (40) feet above grade level.

(2) Ground Sign - The maximum height of a freestanding ground identification sign shall not exceed four (4) feet in height above grade level.

2. Building Identification Signs.

a. Type of Signs.

Building identification signs shall be wall signs, projecting signs and roof signs.

b. Number of Building Identification Signs.

(1) Wall building identification signs. There shall be no limit to the number of wall building identification signs, provided that the total area of all wall, projecting and roof building identification signs located on a building shall not exceed the maximum sign display surface area for the building.

(2) Projecting or roof building identification signs one (1) projecting or one (1) roof building identification sign shall be permitted for each commercial or industrial building.

c. Maximum Sign Display Surface of Building Identification Signs, except in the C-8 Central Business District.

The total display surface area of all building identification signs oriented to an individual facade shall not exceed:

(1) Front Facade - twenty-five (25) percent of the total area of a front facade of a building; and,

(2) Side and Rear Facades - ten (10) percent of a side or rear facade of a building.

Provided, that for any building which has more that one street frontage, the maximum sign display surface area of twenty-five (25) percent shall apply to all building facades with such frontages.

d. Maximum Sign Display Surface of Building Identification Signs in the C-8 Central Business District.

(1) Those signs located on the first twenty-six (26) feet of building height or the actual building height, whichever is less, shall be considered lower level building identification signs.

The total display surface area of all lower level building identification signs oriented to an individual facade shall not exceed:

(a) Front Facade - twenty (20) percent of the total area of the first twenty-six (26) feet or the actual building height, whichever is lesser, of front facade of a building; and,

(b) Side and Rear Facades - ten (10) percent of the total area of the first twenty-six (26) feet or the actual building height, whichever is lesser, of a side or rear facade of a building.

Provided, that for any building which has more that one street frontage, the maximum sign display surface area of twenty (20) percent shall apply to all building facades with such frontages.

(2) Those signs located above the first twenty-six (26) feet of building height shall be considered upper level building identification signs.

The total display surface area of all upper level building identification signs oriented to an individual facade shall not exceed:

(a) Front Facade - ten (10) percent of the total area of the front facade of a building located above twenty-six (26) feet above grade level; and,

(b) Bide and Rear Facades - ten (10) percent of the total area of a side or rear facade of a building located above twenty-six (26) feet above grade level.

Provided, that for any building which has more that one street frontage, the maximum sign display surface area of ten (10) percent shall apply to all building facades with such frontages.

e. Maximum Height of Projecting and Roof Building Identification Signs.

Projecting and roof building identification signs shall not extend more than six (5) feet above the roof line.

f. Maximum Projection from Building for Projecting Building Identification Signs.

No projecting building identification sign or sign structure supporting a projecting building identification sign shall extend more than eight (8) feet from or beyond its supporting building.

g. Minimum Height Above Grade Level for a Projecting Building Identification Sign.

The bottom edge of a projecting building identification sign shall not be less than ten (10) feet above grade level over a walkway or fifteen (15) feet above grade level over a driveway, street or alley.

3. Incidental Signs.

a. Type of Signs

Incidental signs shall be ground or wall signs.

b. Number of Signs.

(1) Directional Signs:

(a) One (1) incidental directional sign shall be permitted for each entrance or exit; and,

(b) One (1) incidental directional sign shall be permitted at each critical turning point required to safely direct vehicular traffic (e.g., to direct vehicular traffic to a drive-p window).

(2) Parking and Loading Signs - One (1) sign shall be permitted for each street frontage of such parking area.

c. Maximum Sign Display Surface of Incidental Signs.

(1) Directional Signs - shall not exceed two (2) square feet in sign display surface area.

(2) Parking and Loading Signs - shall not exceed sixteen (16) square feet.

d. Minimum Front, Side and Rear Setback for Freestanding, Incidental Signs.

(1) Front Setback - There shall be no minimum front setback for any freestanding incidental sign.

(2) Side and Rear Setback - The minimum side or rear yard setback fox a freestanding incidental sign shall be the same as required for an accessory structure in the applicable zoning district.

e. Maximum Height of Incidental Signs.

The maximum height of a freestanding incidental ground sign shall not exceed tour (4) feet in height above grade level.

4. Tall Signs. Signs in excess of the maximum height of freestanding identification signs shall be permitted in any Commercial or Industrial District in compliance with the following provisions:

a. Tall signs shall be permitted only in relation to interchanges on I-70.

b. The use to which the tall sign refers shall be located within 1,320 feet of the intersection of the centerline of I-70 and the intersecting street.

c. Tall signs shall only be permitted in connection with establishments of specific interest to the traveling public, including places for camping, lodging, eating, and vehicular service stations.

d. Tall signs shall be limited to identification of that use oar activity, including brand identification or trademark.

e. only one (1) tall sign shall be permitted for any use. Such tall sign shall constitute the only freestanding identification sign permitted on the premises of the referred use.

f. Tall signs shall not exceed two hundred forty (248) square feet in sign display surface area.

g. Tall signs shall not exceed eighty (80) feet in height above grade level.

F. On-premise Signs: Residential and Open Space Districts.

1. Single Family Dwellings, Two-Family Dwellings, Residential Facilities for the Mentally Ill, Residential Facilities for the Developmentally Disabled, and Child Care Home Uses shall be permitted one (1) ground identification sign per street frontage, indicating only the name or address of occupant provided such sign:

a. shall not exceed two (2) square feet in sign display surface area; and,

b. shall consist of material which blends in with the residential character of the neighborhood, such as but not limited to, wood or stone.

2. Multifamily Uses shall be permitted one (1) ground identification sign provided that such sign:

a. shall not exceed thirty-two (32) square feet in sign display surface area; and,

b. shall indicate only the name, address of the management thereof, or associated information.

3. Recorded, Platted Residential Subdivisions and Mobile Home Parks.

One (1) ground identification sign shall be permitted at each entrance to a recorded, platted residential subdivision or mobile home park provided such sign:

a. shall be ornamental metal, stone masonry, or other permanent material;

b. shall indicate only the name of the subdivision or mobile home park; and,

c. shall not exceed thirty-two (32) square feet in sign display surface area.

4. Business and Other Uses. The following regulations shall apply to all businesses and other uses not elsewhere regulated by Section 16., F., but permitted by right or by Special Exception in the Residential or Open Space Districts.

a. Freestanding Identification Signs.

(1) Type of Signs.

Freestanding identification signs shall be ground signs, pylon signs or pole signs.

(2) Number of Signs.

One (1) freestanding identification sign shall be permitted for each street frontage of a lot.

(3) Maximum Sign Display Surface of Freestanding Identification Signs.

Maximum sign display surface area shall not exceed two-hundred and forty (240) square feet.

(4) Minimum Front, side and Rear Setback for Freestanding Identification Signs.

(a) Front Setback – There shall be no minimum front setback for any freestanding identification sign.

(b) Side and Rear Setback – The minimum side or rear yard setback for a freestanding identification sign shall be the same as required for an accessory structure in the applicable zoning district.

(5) Maximum Height of Freestanding Identification Signs.

The maximum height of a pylon or pole identification sign shall not exceed twenty five (25) feet in height.

b. Building Identification Signs.

(1) Type of Signs.

Building identification signs shall be wall signs, projecting signs and roof signs.

(2) Number of Building Identification signs.

(a) Wall building identification signs. There shall be no limit to the number of wall building identification signs, provided that the total area of all wall, projecting and roof building identification signs located on a building shall not exceed the maximum sign display surface area for the building.

(b) Projecting or roof building identification signs. One (1) projecting or one (1) roof building identification sign shall be permitted for each business or other use.

(3) Maximum Sign Display Surface of Building Identification Signs.

The total display surface area of all building identification signs oriented to an individual facade shall not exceed:

(a) Front Facade - twenty-five (25) percent of the total area of a front facade of a building; and,

(b) Side and Rear Facades - ten (10) percent of a side or rear facade of a building.

Provided, that for any building which has more that one street frontage, the maximum building identification sign display surface area of twenty-five (25) percent shall apply to all building facades with such frontages.

(4) Maximum Height of Projecting and Roof Building Identification Signs.

Projecting and roof building identification signs shall not extend more than six (6) feet above the root line-

(5) Maximum Projection from Building for Projecting Building Identification Signs.

No projecting building identification sign or sign structure supporting a projecting building identification sign shall extend more than eight (8) feet from or beyond its supporting building.

c. Incidental Signs.

(1) Type of Signs.

Incidental signs shall be ground or wall signs.

(2) Number of Signs.

(a) Directional Signs:

(i) One (1) incidental sign shall be permitted for each entrance or exit; and,

(ii) One (1) incidental" sign Shall be permitted at each critical turning point required to safely direct vehicular traffic.

(b) Parking and Loading Signs - One (1) sign shall be permitted fox each street frontage of such parking area.

(3) Maximum Sign Display Surface of Incidental Signs.

(a) Directional Signs - Incidental signs shall not exceed two (2) square feet in sign display surface area.

(b) Parking and Loading Signs - shall not exceed sixteen (16) square feet.

(4) Minimum Front, Side and Rear Setback for Freestanding, Incidental Signs.

(a) Front Setback - There shall be no minimum front setback for any freestanding incidental sign.

(b) Side and Rear Setback - The minimum side or rear yard setback for a freestanding incidental sign shall be the same as required for an, accessory structure in the applicable zoning district.

(5) Maximum Height of Incidental Signs,

The maximum height of a freestanding, incidental ground sign shall not exceed four (4) feet in height.

5. Home Occupations.

Each residentially zoned lot with a home occupation shall be allowed one (1) freestanding ground sign per street frontage with a maximum surface area of (2) two square feet per sign Said sign shall state only the name of the owner, type of business and street number. Further, said sign shall consist of materials and color scheme which is consistent with the residential character of the neighborhood.

G. Off-Premise Advertising Signs.

1. Districts Allowed

Off-premise advertising signs shall be a permitted in any Commercial, Industrial or Hulman Regional Airport District, except the C-8 Central Business District.

2. Type of Signs.

Off-premise advertising signs shall be pole, wall or ground signs.

3. Maximum Sign Display Surface Area for Off-Premise Advertising Signs.

(a) Sign Display Surface Area - an off-premise advertising sign shall not exceed sic hundred and seventy two (672) square feet in sign display surface area;

(b) Number of Displays - an off-premise advertising sign shall not contain more than two (2) advertising signs per sign display surface area;

(c) Extensions Allowed - temporary extensions integrally incorporated into the sign display surface and containing no more than fifteen (15%) percent of the total square footage of the sign display surface shall be allowed.

4. Spacing Between Off-Premise Advertising Signs.

The minimum distance between off -premise advertising signs shall be as specified below.

a. Linear Spacing - The minimum distance between off-premise advertising signs located along and oriented towards the same side of a public street shall be one thousand (1,000) linear feet subject to the following:

(1) The spacing requirement shall be applied separately to each side of a street;

(2) The spacing requirement shall be applied continuously along a street to all signs oriented towards that street in either: direction whether the signs are in the same block or are in different blocks separated by an intersecting street;

(3) For purposes of applying the spacing requirement to off-premise advertising signs, pole, wall, or ground signs shall be treated the same, whether double-faced or single-faced; and,

(4) Off-premise signs located at the same intersection are not in violation of the minimum spacing requirement specified in (2), above, because of their nearness to one another- if they are located so that their messages are directed towards traffic flowing in different directions.

b. Measurement of Linear Spacing - The method of measurement of the spacing between off-premise advertising signs oriented towards the same street shall be along the centerline of the street to which the sign is oriented from the point in the street's centerline closest to the leading edge of the sign.

c. Radial spacing. In no event shall an off-premise advertising sign be closer than two hundred fifty (250) feet from any other off-premise advertising sign regardless of location or orientation.

5. Minimum Front, Side and Rear Setback for Off-Premise Advertising Signs.

a. Front Setback - The front setback for an off-premise advertising sign shall be provided along all street rights-of-way as follows:

(1) along a minor or local street - 25'

(2) along a subcollector street - 30'

(3) along a collector - 40'

(4) along a arterial - 60'

b. Side and Rear Setback - The side and rear setback far an off-premise advertising sign shall be the same as that required for a principal building in the applicable district.

6. Maximum Height of Off-Premise Advertising Signs,

The maximum height of an off-premise advertising sign shall not exceed forth (40) feet in height above grade level,

7. Separation from Residential and Open Space Districts.

No off-premise advertising sign shall be located within one hundred (100) feet of any Residential or Open Space District.

H. Signs in the Planned Unit Development District.

Unless otherwise stated in the petition for zone map change, signs within each Planned Unit Development shall comply with the provisions of Section 16., F., applicable to Residential and Open Space Districts.

I. General Regulations.

1. Cutting of Trees or Shrubs. No person, for the purpose of increasing or enhancing the visibility of any sign, shall damage, trim, destroy, or remove any trees, shrubs or other vegetation located:

a. Within the right-of-way of any public street unless the work is done pursuant to the express written authorization of the governmental department having jurisdiction over said street;

b. On property that is not under ownership or control of the person doing oz responsible for such work unless the work is done pursuant to the express authorization of the person owning the property where such trees or shrubs are located; or,

c. In any area where such trees or shrubs are required to remain under a permit issued under this ordinance.

2. Maintenance of Signs. Nothing herein shall be construed to prevent the maintenance, repainting or posting of legally established signs.

3. Illuminated Signs.

a. No sign within one hundred (100) feet of any Residential or Open Space District shall be illuminated between the hours of midnight and 6:00 a.m. unless the sign is visibly obstructed from the Residential or open space District.

b. Lighting directed towards a sign shall be shielded so that it illuminates only the face of the sign and does not shine on, cause glare to or otherwise impair the vision of the driver of any motor vehicle traveling on a public right-of-way.

c. This subsection shall not apply to the following:

(1) Signs that constitute an integral part of a vending machine, telephone booth, device that indicates time or weather conditions, ox similar device whose principal function is not to convey an advertising message; and,

(2) Signs that do not exceed two (2) square feet in area and that convey the message that a business enterprise is open or closed or that a place of lodging does or does not have a vacancy.

4. Awning, Canopy and Marquee Signs.

In any district in which building identification wall signs are permitted, the use of an awning, canopy or marquee sign shall be allowed subject to the following provisions:

a. The total area of the awning, canopy or marquee shall not exceed the sign display surface area allocated to the facade of the building upon which the awning, canopy or marquee is attached.

b. The portion of the awning, canopy or marquee which includes a sign display shall not exceed:

(1) fifty (50) percent of the total area of an awning or canopy; or,

(2) seventy-fire (75) percent of the total area of a marquee.

c. The bottom edge of the awning, canopy or marquee shall:

(1) not be less than ten (10) feet above grade level over a walkway; or,

(2) not be less than fifteen (15) feet above grade

level over a driveway, street or alley.