Sign Permits

Maximum Size

Attached signs must comply with the following provisions for the total maximum surface area of all attached wall signs per façade in aggregate (all wall calculations are exclusive of areas of the wall surface that are comprised of features such as doors, windows, or breezeways):

• For single-tenant buildings: Front (main entry) facade only: The maximum square footage of an attached sign on the front of a single-tenant building may not exceed two times the lineal width of the wall upon which the sign is mounted, and in no case may any f the sign's dimensions exceed seventy-five percent of the corresponding width or the height of the wall. Side and rear facades: The maximum square footage of an attached sign on a side or rear facade of a single-tenant building may not exceed the lineal width of the wall upon which the sign is mounted, and in no case may any of the sign's dimensions exceed fifty percent of the corresponding width or the height of the wall.
• For "end-cap" tenants in multi-tenant buildings: Front (main entry) facade only: The maximum square footage of an attached sign on the front for "end-cap" tenants in a multi-tenant building may not exceed two times the lineal width of the wall upon which the sign is mounted, and in no case may any of the sign's dimensions exceed seventy-five percent of the corresponding width or the height of the wall. Side facade: The maximum square footage of an attached sign on a side facade for "end-cap" tenants in a multi-tenant building may not exceed the lineal width of the wall upon which the sign is mounted, and in no case may any of the sign's dimensions exceed twenty-five percent of the corresponding width or the height of the wall.
• For "interior" tenants in multi-tenant buildings: Front (main entry) facade only: The maximum square footage of an attached sign on the front for "interior" tenants in a multi-tenant building may not exceed two times the lineal width of the wall upon which the sign is mounted, and in no case may any of the sign's dimensions exceed seventy-five percent of the corresponding width or the height of the wall. Side and rear facades: Not applicable.
• Placement/setbacks: On the vertical face only of a building; attached signs must be comprised of individual letters or characters attached directly to the building face or to a raceway (not panels or boxes) and must be professionally designed, constructed, and applied by a City-registered sign contractor.

A programmable sign is a sign capable of displaying changing content through still, animated, scrolling or moving messages or images by remote or automatic means without the need to physically touch the sign face. The term includes signs that display messages or images by means of electronic or “digital” illumination such as:

• Cathode ray tubes
• Fiber optics
• Lasers
• Light emitting diodes
• Liquid crystal displays
• Plasma screens
• Similar technology

Electronic Sign Provisions

Electronic programmable signs must comply with the following provisions:

• Maximum height: The maximum height for an electronic programmable sign is the same standard as the type of sign on which it is attached (such as a monument sign, pole, or pylon sign).
• Maximum size/area: The maximum surface area of an electronic sign is the same standard as the type of sign on which it is attached (such as a monument sign, pole or pylon sign).
• Location: Electronic programmable signs are allowed as on-premise, freestanding signs in all non-residential and mixed-use districts. An electronic programmable sign is also permitted in a residential district on a site that contains and operates as a lawful nonresidential use, and that has at least one frontage on a Type D (four-lane, divided) or larger thoroughfare, as shown on the City’s adopted Major Thoroughfare Plan, in which case the electronic programmable sign can only be placed on such Type D or larger street frontage. Additionally, where located within a residential district, electronic programmable signs are prohibited from displaying illuminated messages between 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. to further minimize potential negative impacts on surrounding residential properties.
• Attached programmable signs are prohibited in any district (as discussed, this refers to attached signage on the building).
• Placement/setbacks: The placement and setback standard for an electronic programmable sign is the same as the type of sign on which it is attached (such as a monument sign, or pole/pylon sign).
• Maximum number: One per site. Except on a site in a nonresidential zoning district with frontage on two or more streets, or more than three hundred feet of frontage on a single street, a maximum of two electronic programmable signs may be allowed, both of which must be monument signs.
• Electronic programmable signs are prohibited from:
  • Displaying animated, full-motion or other moving images, or displaying or flashing or blinking image, an image that incorporates intermittent or bursts of illumination, or an image that scrolls, fades, rolls, shades, dissolves, or otherwise gives the appearance of movement that is not solely a transition between displays as provided by Subsection 4.78(P)(7)(c)
  • Projecting an image on the ground or another object
  • Displaying an image for a period of less than eight (8) seconds, or exceeding a period of two (2) seconds during a transition between a complete change of message (other than a black screen)
  • Transitioning from one display to the next in a manner that requires the viewer to read subsequent displays in order to determine the message being conveyed
  • Including any audio message
• A programmable sign must be equipped with a property functioning automatic dimmer to adjust the luminance of the sign relative to ambient light so that at no time the sign will exceed the luminance limitations of Subsections 4.70(I) and 4.70(J). A programmable sign must be equipped with a properly functioning default mechanism that will cause the sign to revert immediately to a single, fixed, non-transitory image or to a black screen if the sign malfunctions. The owner of the programmable sign must provide the Building Official with current, valid contact information for a person who is authorized and able to turn off the programmable sign within 4 hours of notification in the event of a malfunction.

The sign face(s) of a freestanding sign may be converted to a programmable sign only in a manner that fully conforms to the provisions of this GDC. A lawfully existing, nonconforming sign must be made conforming in all respects including, without limitation, setbacks, sign area, and number in order to convert the sign faces of the sign to a programmable sign.

No person shall cause to be erected or maintained any sign using any combination of forms, words, colors or lights which imitate standard public traffic regulatory, emergency signs or signals.

The leasing company or the property owner may have a leasing sign on the property where vacant space or land is available for lease or sale as long as the signs advertising the sale or lease of a business property shall not exceed 16 square feet in area or 8 feet in height.

Vehicular signs are allowed provided that they are a minimum 20 feet from a street right-of-way on the site which the business is located; unless the use of the vehicle to which the signage is attached is used to transport goods for the business and is in the process of being loaded.

If the vehicle that the signage is attached to is not used for transportation of goods for the business it is advertising it shall be deemed a freestanding sign and subject to all provisions of the code.

If the vehicle displaying a vehicular sign is stopped, parked, or allowed to remain in the same location within the site for any period exceeding 24 hours or contains arrows or any directional information relating to the business, it is deemed a freestanding sign.