11.6.2 Standards for Freestanding Signs

Freestanding signs shall be permitted in Design districts, nonresidential zoning districts, and for non-residential uses in residential zoning districts subject to the following requirements.

The distance from the ground to the highest point of the sign shall be not more than six feet.

The distance from the ground to the highest point of the sign shall not exceed 16 feet, except for nonresidential uses in residential districts or in the MTC Overlay (Sec. 4.9), where the sign height shall not exceed 12 feet.

A pylon sign up to 40 feet in height for restaurants, hotels, motels, or fuel sales establishments is allowed when:

(1) The property is within 400 feet of the right-of-way of a controlled access highway;

(2) The property is either adjacent to, or within 150 feet of, an interchange providing access to the controlled access highway; and

(3) The property is not located in a Design District or MTC Overlay.

a. One freestanding sign shall be permitted on each street on which the property fronts.

b. Except within Design districts, additional signs are allowed in a development with an approved common signage plan for a street frontage that exceeds 300 feet. If multiple signs are placed on a single street frontage, no individual sign shall exceed 80 square feet in area and there shall be a minimum of 150 feet between the signs.

Individual signs on each street frontage of a property shall not exceed 32 square feet in area when the frontage is less than 150 feet, and shall not exceed 80 square feet in area when the frontage is 150 feet or more.

(1) For lots with a frontage of less than 150 linear feet, the sign shall not exceed 12 square feet in area.

(2) For lots with a frontage of 150 linear feet or more, the sign shall not exceed 32 square feet in area.

Freestanding signs shall not exceed 32 square feet in area.

a. Freestanding signs shall not be placed within the MTC buffer area but may be placed within other landscaped areas.

b. Freestanding signs shall not be located within any sight distance triangles.

c. (County Only) Within the SRP-C district, freestanding signs shall not be allowed along the frontage of an interstate or freeway right-of-way.

a. If the sign height is six feet or less, or within a Design District, there shall be no minimum setback required from the property line.

b. If the sign height is over six feet:

(1) For sign areas of 32 square feet or less, a minimum setback of five feet from all property lines shall be required, except that a minimum setback of 12 feet from adjoining residential properties shall be required.

(2) For sign areas of more than 32 square feet, a minimum setback of 10 feet from all property lines shall be required, except that a minimum setback of 12 feet from adjoining residential properties shall be required.

a. Except for signs located within Design districts, pylon sign supports shall consist of at least 30% of the total sign width; each single support shall consist of at least 15% of the total sign width.

b. Within Design districts, freestanding signs shall incorporate the following design standards:

(1) All freestanding signs shall have three-part design as follows:

(a) Monument signs shall be composed of a decorative base, sign face, and cap.

(b) Pylon signs shall be composed of a decorative base, support, and sign face.

(2) Signs and sign support material shall be constructed of metal, painted or stained non-pressure-treated wood, masonry, fabric, glass, ceramics, or concrete.

(3) Fasteners used for securing the sign to the ground shall be obscured by covers.

Pylon signs shall be proportionally taller than they are wide.

Except within Design districts, freestanding signs shall incorporate the following landscaping requirements.

a. A defined landscaped area shall be provided at the base of the sign. The required landscaped area shall be parallel to the face of the sign. The required landscaped area shall be at least 50 square feet in area. For signs with multiple faces, the landscaped area shall be allocated so that a portion of the required landscaping is located in front of each sign face.

b. The required landscaped area shall contain materials such as, but not limited to, vegetative ground covers, perennials, shrubs, and ornamental trees covering at least 50% of the defined landscaped area at maturity. Paving and artificial plant materials shall not be included in fulfilling this requirement. A plan of the landscaped area with the name, quantity, and spacing of plant materials shall be included as a part of the sign permit application.

Additional freestanding signs for medical facilities containing 250 beds or more shall be allowed subject to the following limitations. Unless explicitly altered below, all other applicable standards shall apply.

a. The information contained on the sign shall relate to medical facility services.

b. Each sign shall not exceed 12 feet in height and 50 square feet in area;

c. The number of signs allowed shall not exceed a ratio of one sign per 150 feet of medical facility property street frontage measured on the street on which the signs are to be located; and

d. All signs associated with the medical facility shall be approved as part of a common signage plan in conformance with the requirements of Sec. 11.8, Elements of Common and Way-Finding Signage Plans.

a. Way-finding signs are allowed along a right-of-way internal to a unified development complex, as demonstrated through a development plan or approved site plan(s), even if the property is subdivided and has various owners.

b. Signs shall function solely for the purpose of providing directional information along rights-of-way from recognized sub-sections, tenants, or areas of the development to other recognized sub-sections, tenants, or areas of the development. Referenced sub-sections, tenants, or areas can be located on different parcels other than the parcel where the sign is located.

c. Unless explicitly altered below, all other applicable standards shall apply. Way-finding signs located internally within a property and not visible from right-of-way are exempt from the following standards.

(1) The information contained on the sign shall provide direction to the sub-sections, areas, or tenants within the development.

(2) Each sign, including supports, shall not exceed six feet in height.

(3) The maximum sign area per side shall be 16 square feet.

(4) Sign area shall not count towards the aggregate sign area allowed for the development, unless a specific tenant is listed on the sign.

(5) Signs shall be located along right-of-way that is interior to the unified development, and not visible from outside of the unified development.

(6) No setback is required. Signs and sign supports shall not intrude or be located within right-of-way.

(7) The number of signs allowed shall not exceed a ratio of one sign per 500 linear feet of property street frontage measured along the right-of-way on which the signs are to be located.

(8) All way-finding signs shall be approved as part of a way-finding signage plan in conformance with the requirements of paragraph 11.8.2, Elements of a Way-Finding Signage Plan.

(9) Changeable copy is prohibited.

An off-premise, freestanding non-residential sign is allowed as an entry sign for a unified development complex, as demonstrated through a development plan or approved site plan(s), even if the property is subdivided and has various owners. Unless explicitly altered below, all other applicable standards shall apply.

a. Signs shall be located on a property that is part of the development, within right-of-way that serves the development as allowed in Sec. 11.5, Signs Allowed in Right-of-Way, or on a parcel adjacent to the development tract that is zoned non-residential or multifamily.

b. A sign shall be allowed only at each entry to the development, and only along public right-of-way that serves as internal access to the development.

c. The sign shall be at least 300 feet from other freestanding signs that serve the development.

d. A sign pursuant to paragraph 11.5.1E is not permitted at the same entry.

e. Signs shall be included within the common signage plan for the development, as applicable.

f. The signs may only include the development name and tenants of the development.

g. The sign may list tenants of the development that are not on the same parcel as the sign.

h. Tenant signage shall count towards the aggregate sign area per paragraph 11.2.2A.4 and paragraph 11.2.2B, Aggregate Sign Area.

i. A tenant listed on the non-residential entry sign shall not maintain a separate, individual freestanding sign if the entry sign is located on the same parcel as the tenant, or if the individual tenant sign is located within 150 feet of the entry sign.

j. A sign easement shall be recorded for the location(s) of entry signs prior to the issuance of a sign permit.

k. Changeable copy is prohibited.

Up to two freestanding signs may be placed at each entrance to identify the subdivision. Each sign shall be limited to six feet in height and 12 square feet in area. Signs shall be incorporated into a permanent landscape feature such as a wall or masonry column.

Up to two freestanding signs may be placed at each entrance to identify the project. Each sign shall be limited to six feet in height and the total sign area shall not exceed 32 square feet in area for a single sign and 16 square feet each if two signs are used. The sign shall be incorporated into a permanent landscape feature such as a wall or masonry column.