1119.07 MEASUREMENTS AND COMPUTATIONS.

1119.07 MEASUREMENTS AND COMPUTATIONS.

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2025-04 (current)
Sheffield Lake Overview
Codified Ordinances of Sheffield Lake, OH
CODIFIED ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF SHEFFIELD LAKE, OHIO
CERTIFICATION
ROSTER OF OFFICIALS
ADOPTING ORDINANCE NO. 116-84
COMPARATIVE SECTION TABLE
TABLES OF SPECIAL ORDINANCES OF SHEFFIELD LAKE
CHARTER
PART ONE - ADMINISTRATIVE CODE
PART THREE - TRAFFIC CODE
PART FIVE - GENERAL OFFENSES CODE
PART SEVEN - BUSINESS REGULATION CODE
PART NINE - STREETS, UTILITIES AND PUBLIC SERVICES CODE
PART ELEVEN - PLANNING AND ZONING CODE
CHAPTER 1101 Gemeral Provisions
CHAPTER 1103 Administration and Decision-Making Bodies
CHAPTER 1105 Review Procedures
CHAPTER 1107 Zoning Districts and Principal Use Regulations
CHAPTER 1109 Planned Residential Developments (PRD)
CHAPTER 1111 Accessory and Temporary Use Regulations
CHAPTER 1113 General Development Standards
CHAPTER 1115 Landscaping and Screening Standards
CHAPTER 1117 Parking and Access Standards
CHAPTER 1119 Signs
1119.01 PURPOSE.
1119.02 SUBSTITUTION AND PROTECTION CLAUSE.
1119.03 RECLASSIFICATION OF SIGNAGE.
1119.04 APPLICABILITY.
1119.05 REVIEW AND PERMIT REQUIREMENTS.
1119.06 PROHIBITED SIGNS.
1119.07 MEASUREMENTS AND COMPUTATIONS.
1119.09 PERMANENT SIGNS.
1119.10 TEMPORARY SIGNS.
1119.11 NONCONFORMING SIGNS.
CHAPTER 1121 Subdivision Design Standards
CHAPTER 1123 Wind Energy Systems
CHAPTER 1125 Wireless Telecommunications
CHAPTER 1127 Nonconformities
CHAPTER 1129 Enforcement and Penalties
CHAPTER 1131 Definitions
PART THIRTEEN - BUILDING CODE
PART FIFTEEN - FIRE PREVENTION CODE
OH
Sheffield Lake
Codified Ordinances of Sheffield Lake, OH
1119.07 MEASUREMENTS AND COMPUTATIONS.
CHAPTER 1119 Signs
   1119.05 REVIEW AND PERMIT REQUIREMENTS.
   (a)   To ensure compliance with these regulations, a zoning permit shall be required to be issued unless specifically exempted in this chapter.
   (b)   All signs related to a use or development that requires a site plan review approval shall be required to be reviewed as part of the site plan review application prior to issuance of a zoning permit.
   (c)   Zoning Permit Exemptions for Signs. The following signs are subject to the requirements of this chapter but do not require a zoning permit. Permit-exempt signs may still be subject to building code or other applicable code requirements.
      (1)   Signs and/or notices issued by any court, officer, or other person in performance of a public duty. Any such sign shall be removed no later than seven (7) days after the last day it is required to be displayed;
      (2)   Whenever any sign, either conforming or nonconforming, is required to be removed for the purpose of repair, relettering, or repainting, the same may be done without a zoning permit or any payment of fees provided that all of the following conditions are met.
      (3)   There is no alteration or remodeling to the structure or the mounting of the sign itself;
      (4)   There is no enlargement or increase in any of the dimensions of the sign or its structure;
      (5)   Whenever there is an exchange of sign panels when a sign is designed to have replaceable sign faces;
      (6)   Signs that are an integral part of the original construction of vending or similar machines, fuel pumps, automated teller machines or similar devices that are not of a size or design as to be visible from a street or by any person other than those using the machine or device;
      (7)   Any sign that is located completely inside a building that is not visible from the exterior (see also definition of window sign);
      (8)   Signs that are located within a stadium, open-air theater, park, arena or other outdoor use that are not visible from a public right-of-way or adjacent property, and can be viewed only by persons within such stadium, open-air theater, park, arena or other outdoor use;
      (9)   Certain temporary signs as established in Section 1119.10: Temporary Signs;
      (10)   No more than four flags located on flagpoles or on wall-mounted posts provided that the following shall apply:
         A.   The maximum height of flag poles shall not exceed the maximum building height for structures in the subject zoning district, and a maximum sign area of area of forty (40) square feet for any individual flag attached to the pole.
         B.   The maximum projection for a wall-mounted flag post is six (6) feet and a maximum sign area of fifteen (15) square feet per flag.
      (11)   A single wall sign placed on the façade of an individual dwelling unit that is not illuminated and does not exceed two (2) square feet in area.
      (12)   Signs that are an integral part of the historic character of a structure that has been designated an official landmark or historic structure by any agency or body of the governments of the United States, State of Ohio, Lorain County or City of Sheffield Lake;
      (13)   Any signs located on umbrellas, seating, or similar patio furniture;
      (14)   Ground signs and markings located completely within the interior of a lot used for a cemetery where such signs are not designed to be visible from a public street;
      (15)   Any sign on a truck, bus or other vehicle that is used in the normal course of a business (e.g., deliveries or fleet vehicles for contractors) for transportation (See also Section 1119.06: Prohibited Signs.), or signage required by the State or Federal government;
      (16)   Signs installed or required by a governmental agency including the City of Sheffield Lake, Lorain County, State of Ohio, and United States, including local and regional transit agencies;
      (17)   Any warning signs or traffic safety signs required by public utility providers;
      (18)   Hand-held signs not set on or affixed to the ground;
      (19)   Any address numbers required by the City of Sheffield Lake, Lorain County, or the State of Ohio;
      (20)   Changes of copy on signs with changeable copy;
      (21)   Any signs, including illuminated signs, or related decorations erected in observance of religious, national or state holidays which are not intended to be permanent in nature and which contain no advertising material; and
      (22)   General maintenance, painting, repainting, cleaning and other normal maintenance and repair of a sign or any sign structure unless a structural change is made. See also Section 1119.08(m).
   (d)   Revocation of Permits for Noncompliance. The Zoning Inspector is hereby authorized and empowered to revoke any permit issued upon failure of the applicant or holder thereof to comply with any provision of this chapter.
(Ord. 26-22. Passed 4-26-22.)
   1119.06 PROHIBITED SIGNS.
   The following types of signs are specifically prohibited within the City of Sheffield Lake:
   (a)   Any sign that copies or imitates a sign installed by any governmental agency or purports to have been authorized by a governmental agency;
   (b)   Signs that interfere with, obstruct the view of, or are similar in appearance to any authorized traffic sign, signal, or device because of its position, shape, use of words, or color;
   (c)   Signs that constitute a hazard to safety or health by reason of inadequate or inappropriate design, construction, repair, or maintenance, as determined by the building official;
   (d)   Signs that employ any parts or elements which revolve, rotate, whirl, spin, or otherwise make use of motion to attract attention. This shall not include electronic message centers as allowed in this chapter;
   (e)   Signs with moving or flashing lights except for electronic message centers as allowed in this chapter;
   (f)   Beacons and searchlights, except for emergency purposes;
   (g)   Windblown devices, pennants, streamers, and similar signs that are designed to move by atmospheric, mechanical, electrical, or other means, whether containing words or numerals or containing no message except that feather signs may be permitted in accordance with Section 1119.10: Temporary Signs;
   (h)   Air-activated graphics;
   (i)   Balloon signs;
   (j)   Roof signs;
   (k)   Signs that are applied to trees, bus shelters, utility poles, benches, trash receptacles, newspaper vending machines or boxes, or any other unapproved supporting structure, or otherwise placed in the public right-of-way except as provided for in Section 1119.08(h);
   (l)   Signs that obstruct or substantially interfere with any window, door, fire escape, stairway, ladder, or opening intended to provide light, air, ingress, or egress to any building;
   (m)   Signs which are not securely affixed to the ground or otherwise affixed in a permanent manner to an approved supporting structure unless specifically permitted as a temporary sign;
   (n)   Portable signs;
   (o)   Vehicle signs viewed from a public road with the primary purpose of providing signage not otherwise allowed by this chapter. A vehicle sign shall be considered to be used for the primary purpose of advertising if the vehicle fails to display current license plates; if the vehicle is inoperable; or if the sign alters the standard design of such vehicle. Vehicle signs include those attached to or placed on a vehicle or trailer. Vehicles or trailers shall not be parked continuously in one location to be used primarily as additional signage. This does not apply to a vehicle parked at a driver's residence and is the primary means of transportation to and from their place of employment; and
   (p)   Any sign not specifically allowed by this chapter.
      (Ord. 26-22. Passed 4-26-22.)
   1119.07 MEASUREMENTS AND COMPUTATIONS.
   (a)   Sign Setback. All required setbacks for signs shall be measured as the distance in feet from the lot line or right-of-way, whichever is applicable, to the closest point on the sign structure.
   (b)   Sign Height.
      (1)   The height of a sign shall be computed as the distance from the base of the sign at normal grade (average grade at the base of the sign) to the top of the highest attached component of the sign. Normal grade shall be construed to be the newly established grade after construction, exclusive of any filling, berming, mounding, or excavating undertaken for the purpose of locating or increasing the height of sign.
      (2)   The filling of a pre-existing hole or depression to create an average grade at the same level as that surrounding the hole or depression is permitted, provided such filling is allowed by other ordinances.
      (3)   In cases where the normal grade is below grade at street level, 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 or private street. See Figure 1119-A.
 
Figure 1119-A: Illustration of the measurement of sign height when the grade
at the bottom of the sign is below the grade of the adjacent street
      (4)   Any material whose major function is providing structural support for a sign shall be considered part of the sign for purposes of determining sign height.
      (5)   Where a distance is established for the clearance of a sign, such measurements shall be made from the normal grade of the ground, directly under the applicable sign or structure supporting the sign, and the bottom most point of the sign or the structure supporting the sign, whichever is closest.
   (c)   Sign Area. The surface of a sign to be included when computing maximum allowable square footage of sign area shall be calculated as established in this section. For the purposes of calculating sign area, any of the following regular geometric shapes may be used: circle, ellipse, triangle, square, rectangle, trapezoid, pentagon, or hexagon.
      (1)   The calculation of sign area shall not include any supporting framework, bracing or decorative fence or wall unless such structural support is determined to constitute an integral part of the sign design by means of text or other message, as determined by the Zoning Inspector. See Figure 1119-B.
      (2)   For sign copy mounted or painted on a background panel, cabinet or surface distinctively painted, textured, lighted or constructed to serve as the background for the sign copy, the sign area shall be computed by means of the smallest permitted shape, or combination of permitted shapes, that encompasses the extreme limits of the background panel, cabinet or surface. See Figure 1119-B and Figure 1119-C.
 
Figure 1119-B: Illustration of sign area calculation for a ground sign with a copy on a distinct, rectangular cabinet. The brick structural support is not included in the sign area calculation.
 
Figure 1119-C: Illustration of computing the sign area for wall signs
with a background panel or cabinet.
      (3)   For sign copy where individual letters or elements are mounted on a building façade or window where there is no background panel, cabinet or surface distinctively painted, textured, lighted, or constructed to serve as the background for the sign copy, the sign area shall be computed by means of the smallest permitted shape, or combination of permitted shapes, that encloses all the letters or elements associated with the sign. See Figure 1119-D.
 
Figure 1119-D: Illustration of sign area calculation for wall signs with individual letters.
      (4)   In cases where there are multiple sign elements of sign copy on the same surface, any areas of sign copy that are within two feet of one another shall be calculated as a single sign area that shall be computed by means of the smallest permitted shape, or combination of permitted shapes, that encloses all sign copy within two feet of one another, otherwise the sign area shall be computed for each separate piece of sign copy. See Figure 1119-E.
 
Figure 1119-E: Illustration of sign area calculations for multiple sign areas on a window sign.
      (5)   Decorative edging or other window treatments that are not an integral part of the sign copy shall not be considered a part of the sign for the purposes of this chapter. See Figure 1119-E.
      (6)   Except for three-dimensional signs, the sign area for a sign with more than one face (multi-faced signs) shall be computed by adding together the area of all sign faces when the interior angle is greater than forty-five (45) degrees.
      (7)   When two identically sized, flat sign faces are placed back-to-back or at angles of forty-five (45) degrees or less, so that both faces cannot be viewed from any one point at the same time, the sign area shall be computed by the measurement of one of the sign faces. If the two faces are unequal, the sign area shall be calculated based on the larger of the two faces.
      (8)   In the case of a three-dimensional sign where the sign faces are not mounted back-to-back, the sign area shall be calculated by the smallest permitted shape, or combination of permitted shapes, that encompasses the profile of the sign message multiplied by two. The profile used shall be the largest area of the sign message visible from any one point.
   (d)   Façade Measurements.
      (1)   When calculating the permitted sign area based on the width of any façade, such calculation shall be based on viewing the façade from a ninety (90)-degree angle (i.e., straight on), regardless of façade insets, offsets, or angles. See Figure 1119-F.
 
   
      
Figure 1119-F: Illustration of façade width measurement on varied façade shapes.
      (2)   For multi-tenant buildings, the portion of a building that is owned or leased by a single occupant or tenant shall be considered a building unit. The façade width for a building unit shall be measured from the centerline of the party walls defining the building unit.
      (3)   The primary facade shall be the portion of a frontage that serves as the main access point to a building or building unit. A site or building will be considered to have secondary facades when any of the following site/building characteristics are present (See Figure 1119-G.):
         A.   The subject site is a corner lot;
         B.   The primary parking area is not located adjacent to a public street; or
         C.   The building or unit has walls with public or customer entrance points that do not face the public street.
 
Figure 1119-G: Common examples of the location of primary and secondary facades.
      (4)   When a site has primary and secondary facade as defined herein, the Zoning Inspector shall determine which wall shall be the primary building facade and which wall(s) shall be the secondary building facade. Only one outside wall of any business shall be considered its primary facade.
      (5)   For multi-tenant buildings where each tenant has its own exterior entrance, the portion of a building that is owned or leased by a single occupant or tenant shall be considered a building unit. The façade width for a building unit shall be measured from the centerline of the party walls defining the building unit. For uses, such as office buildings, where multiple tenants may locate within the same building and all tenants have interior access to their tenant space, such building shall be considered one building without separate building units.
      (6)   The Zoning Inspector shall have the authority to make the determination of what façades are primary facades and secondary façades for the purposes of this chapter.
         (Ord. 26-22. Passed 4-26-22.)
1119.08 GENERAL REQUIREMENTS FOR ALL SIGNS.
   Unless otherwise specifically stated, the following regulations shall apply to all signs within the City:
   (a)   Permanent signs are considered accessory uses and shall be accessory to a principal use provided for in this code. Temporary signs may be permitted on all lots, regardless of the presence of a principal use.
   (b)   All signs shall be constructed in compliance with the applicable building and electrical codes as well as any other City regulations.
   (c)   No sign shall be erected, relocated, or maintained so as to prevent free ingress or egress, or block any light or ventilation openings.
   (d)   No sign shall obstruct or interfere with fire ingress or egress from any door, window, or fire escape, nor shall it obstruct or interfere with traffic or traffic visibility.
   (e)   All signs shall be secured in such a manner as to prevent swinging or other significant noticeable movement, not including movement related to permitted electronic message centers.    
   (f)   Signs supported by or suspended from a building shall hang so as to maintain a minimum clear height of nine feet above a pedestrian path and fifteen (15) feet above a vehicular path.
   (g)   All signs shall comply with the vision clearance requirements of Section 1113.05: Intersection Visibility.
   (h)   Signs in Rights-of-Way.
      (1)   Signs shall be prohibited in the right-of-way with the exception of:
         A.   Signs installed by the City of Sheffield Lake, Lorain County, State of Ohio, or United States, including local and regional transit agencies;
         B.   Permanent monument signs if approved by the Zoning Inspector and where a homeowners' or property owners' association agreement or covenants provide for the maintenance of the sign; or
         C.   Any warning signs or traffic safety signs required by public utility providers.
      (2)   The building official may remove or cause to be removed any unlawful sign in the public right-of-way.
   (i)   Engineering Design and Materials.
      (1)   Signs shall be fabricated on and of materials which are of good quality, good durability and are complimentary to the building of which they become a part.
      (2)   All signs shall be designed and constructed to withstand wind pressures of not less than that required for buildings and other structures.
      (3)   Signs adequately designed to withstand wind pressures specified in subsection (2) hereof are considered capable of withstanding earthquake shock, except in areas subject to high-intensity shocks where all signs shall be designed in accordance with local requirements to resist earthquake shock. Wind loads and earthquake loads need not be combined to determine the maximum horizontal loads acting upon a sign. Only the larger of the two loads need be used for design.
      (4)   Nonstructural trim may be made of metal or wood or approved combustible plastics or any combination thereof. Sign faces, letters, and decorations of all types of signs may be made of metal or approved combustible plastics. Sign faces, letters, and decorations of signs other than electric signs may be made of wood.
      (5)   The owner of any sign as defined and regulated by this chapter shall be required to have properly painted all parts and supports of the sign as are necessary to maintain safety factors.
   (j)   Sign Illumination and Electronic Message Centers. All signs, unless otherwise stated in this chapter, may be illuminated by internal or external light sources, provided that such illumination complies with the following:
      (1)   Illuminated signs shall not have any flashing or blinking lights or rotating beacons, nor shall any beam of light be projected through a mechanism which periodically changes the color of the light reaching the sign.
      (2)   All illumination shall be oriented so as to prevent glare onto traffic or onto adjacent property or structures.
      (3)   Illuminated signs shall be constructed of noncombustible materials, provided, however, that facings, letters, figures, decorations, and structural trim thereof may be made of approved combustible plastics.
      (4)   Illuminated signs produced in quantity (other than signs custom built for specific locations) shall be constructed in accordance with the "Standard for Electric Signs (U.L. 48) of Underwriters' Laboratories, Inc." and bear the label of Underwriters' Laboratories, Inc.
      (5)   All electrical illumination devices shall be designed to be weather-resistant and shatterproof.
      (6)   Electronic Message Centers. All electronic message centers shall be subject to the following requirements:
         A.   The maximum brightness of the electronic message center shall be:
            i.   The electronic message center shall come equipped with an automatic dimming photocell, which automatically adjusts the display's brightness based on ambient light conditions.
            ii.   The brightness level shall not increase by more than 0.3-foot candles (or 3.23 lumens per square meter or lux) (over ambient levels) as measured using a foot candle meter at a pre-set distance.
            iii.   The procedure and distances for measurement of brightness shall be as established by the International Sign Association's Recommend Night-time Brightness Levels for On-Premise Electronic Message Centers.
         B.   The owners of such signs shall include specifications accompanying their zoning permit application, demonstrating that they will comply with the prescribed brightness limitations set by this code.
         C.   Electronic message centers shall be designed and equipped to freeze the device in one position if a malfunction occurs. The displays must also be equipped with a measure to immediately discontinue the display if it malfunctions.
         D.   Any message change shall be a static, instant message change meaning the sign shall not include animation, full motion video, flashing, scrolling, strobing, racing, blinking, changes in color, fade in or fade out in any manor imitating movement, or any other means not providing constant illumination.
         E.   Messages can only change once every ten (10) seconds.
         F.   Electronic message centers in residential zoning districts shall be set back a minimum of 200 feet from any adjacent residential dwelling.
         G.   Only Light Emitting Diodes (LED) technology or similar quality signs shall be permitted for electronic message centers.
         H.   Wherever an electronic message center is permitted, a manual changeable copy sign shall also be permitted. A zoning permit shall be required to change between each type of sign.
   (k)   Unsafe Signs.
      (1)   If the Building Inspector finds that any sign regulated herein is unsafe or insecure or has been constructed or erected or is being maintained in violation of the provisions of this chapter, they shall give written notice in person or by registered mail to the owner thereof. If the owner fails to remove or alter the structure so as to comply with the standards herein set forth within ten (10) days after such notice, such sign or other advertising structure may be removed or altered to comply by the Building Inspector at the expense of the owner of the property upon which it is located.
      (2)   The Building Inspector may cause any sign or other advertising structure which is an immediate peril to persons or property to be removed summarily and without notice.
   (l)   Removal of Signs.
      (1)   The Zoning Inspector is authorized to order the removal, repair or maintenance of any sign which constitutes a nuisance, or for which the required permit has not been obtained, or when a sign no longer advertises a bona fide business conducted or product sold, or which advertises an event which has been concluded, or which pertain to an issue or candidate to be decided upon in an election which has been concluded or which violates any provision of this chapter.
      (2)   Whenever the removal, repair or maintenance of any permanent sign has been ordered by the Zoning Inspector, the owner or person in possession of such sign shall comply with such order within ten (10) days after notice is served upon him.
      (3)   Whenever the removal, repair or maintenance of a temporary or portable sign has been ordered by the Zoning Inspector, the owner or person in possession of such sign shall comply with the order within forty-eight (48) hours after notice is served upon him. In the event of noncompliance, the Zoning Inspector may seek an order of removal from a court of competent jurisdiction, or may pursue criminal action against the owner and/or person in possession in accordance with the appropriate provisions of this code relating to violations.
      (4)   If, following an inspection, the Building Inspector determines that any sign constitutes an immediate danger to the public safety, or creates an imminent risk of substantial harm to the rights of another, the Building Inspector may order the immediate removal of said sign without regard to the time intervals for compliance cited above, at the sign owner's expense. Removal of sign shall include the sign face, enclosing frame, all sign supporting members and base, unless otherwise specified in the order to remove.
   (m)   Inspections and Maintenance.
      (1)   The Zoning Inspector or Building Inspector shall inspect annually or at such times as he deems necessary each sign regulated by this chapter for the purpose of ascertaining whether the same is secure or insecure and whether it needs removal or repair, and they shall keep a record thereof.
      (2)   It shall be the duty and obligation of every person owning or controlling the existence of a sign to see to it that such sign maintains a neat and clear physical appearance.
      (3)   Every sign shall be maintained in a safe, presentable, and good structural condition at all times, including the replacement of a defective part, painting, cleaning, and other acts required for the maintenance of the sign so as not to show evidence of deterioration, including peeling, rust, dirt, fading, damage, discoloration, or holes.
      (4)   Whenever a sign is to be removed pursuant to the requirements of this section, all parts of the sign and supporting structure (e.g., pole, foundation, cabinet structure, etc.), excluding buildings for wall, projecting, or similar signage, shall be removed in its entirety. This section shall not require the removal of a raceway if mounted to such structure on a building.
      (5)   The Building Inspector may order the removal or repair of any sign that, has become insecure, in danger of falling or otherwise unsafe, or presents a threat to the public safety.
   (n)   Revocability of Privileges. All rights and privileges acquired under the provisions of this chapter are mere licenses revocable at any time by the Law Director upon the recommendation of the Building Inspector or Zoning Inspector.
      (Ord. 26-22. Passed 4-26-22.)
   1119.09 PERMANENT SIGNS.
   The following are the types of permanent signs allowed in the City of Sheffield Lake and the applicable regulations for each type of sign.
   (a)   Permanent Signs in Residential Districts.
      (1)   Entrance Signs. Two (2) wall signs or one permanent monument sign may be permitted for any subdivision or multi-family dwelling development provided that the sign meets the following requirements:
         A.   General Standards.
            i.   Each sign may have a maximum sign area of thirty-six (36) square feet.
            ii.   No such sign or any portion of the structure shall exceed six (6) feet in height.
            iii.   The sign may only be illuminated through an external light source.
         B.   Monument Sign.
            i.   A maximum of one permanent monument sign may be permitted for each entrance to the subdivision or development on a collector or arterial street, as determined by the Zoning Inspector.
            ii.   Each sign shall be setback ten (10) feet from the public right-of-way.
            iii.   If an applicant proposes to use monument signs, no wall signs, as allowed in in this subsection, below, shall be permitted.
            iv.   Monument signs shall comply with the design standards of Section 1119.09(b)(1).
         C.   Wall Signs on Entry Fences or Walls.
            i.   A maximum of two (2) wall signs may be permitted for each entrance to the subdivision or development on a collector or arterial street, as determined by the Zoning Inspector.
            ii.   The signs shall be mounted to a decorative wall or fence adjacent to the entrance street.
            iii.   The sign shall be setback ten (10) feet from the public right-of-way.
            iv.   Wall signs shall comply with the design standards of Section 1119.09(b)(2)F.
            v.   If an applicant proposes to use wall signs, no monument sign, as allowed in this subsection, above, shall be permitted.
      (2)   Permanent Signs for Conditional Uses in Residential Districts.
         A.   One (1) permanent monument sign may be permitted on a lot containing a use that is allowed and approved as a conditional use in the applicable residential district provided the sign meets the following requirements:
            i.   The sign shall be set back ten (10) feet from the public right-of-way.
            ii.   The maximum sign area shall be thirty-six (36) square feet.
            iii.   No such sign or any portion of the structure shall exceed six (6) feet in height.
            iv.   Such signs may incorporate an electronic message center in compliance with Section 1119.08(j)(6). Such electronic message center shall not comprise more than fifty percent (50%) of the total sign area.
         B.   Buildings signs shall be permitted on a lot containing a use approved as a conditional use provided the signs meet the same requirements for building signs in the B-1 District in Section 1119.09(b)(2).
   (b)   Permanent Signs in Nonresidential Districts.
      (1)   Freestanding Signs. All freestanding signs in nonresidential district shall be monument or pole signs that meet the following requirements:
         A.   The edge of any freestanding sign shall be set back minimum of eighteen (18) inches from the curb line or right-of-way, and fifteen (15) feet from any adjacent lot lines.
         B.   All supports and foundations for any freestanding sign shall only be permitted on private property.
         C.   Only one (1) freestanding sign shall be permitted along each street frontage. One (1) additional freestanding sign may be allowed on the same street frontage provided there is a minimum lot width of 200 feet and the signs are separated by at least 100 feet.
         D.   The maximum sign area permitted, per sign, shall be forty (40) square feet.
         E.   The maximum sign height shall be sixteen (16) feet.
         F.   Only monument signs may include manual changeable copy signs or electronic message centers as regulated by this chapter. The manual changeable copy or electronic message center area shall not exceed seventy-five percent (75%) of the total sign area.
         G.   Where a freestanding sign serves a multi-tenant building, it shall be the responsibility of the property owner to determine the messaging on the sign.
         H.   Exposed sign foundations shall be constructed with a finished material such as brick, stone, or wood.
         I.   Design Requirements.
            i.   Outside the fire limits, as established in Chapter 1353, monument signs may be constructed of combustible materials. Within the fire limits, structural members of ground signs may be made of wood if the facing is made of sheet metal or other noncombustible material. The letters, figures, characters or representation in cut-out or irregular form, decorations and structural trim of ground signs may be made of approved combustible materials.
            ii.   Letters, figures, characters or representation in cut-out or irregular form, maintained in conjunction with, attached to or superimposed upon, any sign shall be safely and securely built or attached to the sign structure.
            iii.   Pole signs shall be constructed of noncombustible materials, provided, however, that facings, letters, figures, decorations, and structural trim thereof may be made of approved combustible materials.
            iv.   Pole signs shall be set in concrete footings of sufficient size and weight to prevent overturning the sign.
      (2)   Building Signs. Except for the wall sign permitted in Section 1119.05(c), building signs shall not be permitted in residential districts unless accessory to an approved conditional use. In all other districts, building signs are permitted on principal structures in accordance with the following:
         A.   The building sign area allowed in this section shall include the total amount of all wall, canopy, awning, marquee, and projecting signs on each façade wall. Standards for each individual building sign type are established in this section.
         B.   Building signs shall not extend above the top of the roofline of the building to which it is attached. For canopy signs, the signs may be attached above the canopy, which is attached permanently to the building, provided that the sign does not extend above the top of the roofline of the building.
         C.   Building signs may not be attached to mechanical equipment or roof screening.
         D.   Building signs shall not include electronic message centers.
         E.   Building Sign Allowance.
            i.   There is no maximum number of permitted building signs.
            ii.   Where there is a building sign allowance for a primary façade, such building sign area shall only be attached to the primary façade.
            iii.   Where there is a secondary façade, as determined in Section 1119.07(d), there shall only be one designated secondary façade and any building sign area allowed for the secondary façade shall be attached to the applicable secondary façade.
            iv.   There shall be a maximum of two and one-half (2.5) square feet of building sign area per lineal foot of primary façade width for each building or building unit frontage, as applicable.
            v.   There shall be a maximum of one (1.0) square feet of building sign area per lineal foot of secondary façade width for each building or building unit frontage, as applicable.
         F.   Wall Sign Standards. Any wall sign shall comply with the following standards:
            i.   Wall signs shall be mounted on or flush with a wall and shall not project more than twenty-four (24) inches from the wall or face of the building to which it is attached.
            ii.   A wall sign may be mounted on the façade wall or mounted on a raceway or wireway.
            iii.   No wall sign shall extend any closer than twelve (12) inches to either the top or side edges of the surface or wall to which it is attached.
            iv.   No wall sign shall extend above the parapet of the main building to which it is attached, nor beyond the vertical limits of such building.
            v.   Wall signs may be internally or externally illuminated except when attached to a façade that faces a residential zoning district, in which case the illumination of the wall sign is prohibited.
            vi.   The wall sign allowance may be used for signs attached to roofed structures over fueling stations or to stand-alone accessory structure such as Automated Teller Machines (ATMS) or detached accessory buildings.
            vii.   Wall signs shall be constructed of noncombustible materials, provided, however, that facings, letters, figures, decorations, and structural trim thereof may be made of approved combustible materials.
            viii.   Wall signs shall be securely fastened to a masonry wall by means of anchors, bolts, expansion screws or similar connectors. A wall sign which is attached to a wall of wood may be anchored with wood blocks used in connection with screws and nails. A wall sign shall not be entirely supported by an unbraced parapet wall.
         G.   Canopy, Awning, or Marquee Sign Standards. Any canopy, awning, or marquee sign comply with the following standards:
            i.   Signage shall not cover more than twenty-four (24) square feet of any individual awning, canopy, or marquee.
            ii.   Canopies or awnings should not extend more than thirty-six (36) inches from the façade.
            iii.   Signage may be mounted above any canopy or marquee that extends over a customer entrance provided that the maximum sign height over the canopy shall be eighteen (18) inches as measured from the top of the canopy to the top of the sign.
            iv.   Only the area of the sign may be illuminated internally on a canopy, awning, or marquee. The remainder of any canopy, awning, or marquee shall not be illuminated or may be illuminated by an external source such as gooseneck lighting.
            v.   Marquees shall be constructed of noncombustible materials and shall not project within eighteen (18) inches of the curb line.
            vi.   The roofs of all marquees shall be properly guttered and connected by downspouts to a sewer so that water will not drop or flood onto public property.
            vii.   Marquee signs shall be constructed of noncombustible materials, provided, however, that the facings, letters, figures and decorations thereof may be made of approved combustible plastics.
            viii.   Awning, canopy, and marquee signs shall be constructed of noncombustible materials, provided, however, that facings, letters, figures, decorations, and structural trim thereof may be made of approved combustible materials.
         H.   Projecting Sign Standards. Any projecting sign shall comply with the following standards:
            i.   Only one projecting sign shall be permitted for each tenant of building space.
            ii.   A projecting sign shall be perpendicular to the wall of the building to which it is attached and shall not extend more than four (4) feet from the façade wall to which it is attached.
            iii.   Projecting signs shall maintain a minimum six (6) inch clearance from the façade of any building.
            iv.   Decorative supporting structures for projecting signs are encouraged and shall not count toward the maximum square footage of signs allowed, however, in no case shall the supporting structure exceed six (6) square feet.
            v.   The maximum sign area for a projecting sign shall be twenty-four (24) square feet.
            vi.   Projecting signs shall not be internally illuminated.
            vii.   Projecting signs must be suspended from brackets approved by the building official and contain no exposed guy wires or turnbuckles.
            viii.   The edge of any projecting sign shall be set back a minimum of eighteen (18) inches from the curb or right-of-way.
            ix.   Projecting signs shall be constructed of noncombustible materials, provided, however, that facings, letters, figures, decorations, and structural trim thereof may be made of approved combustible materials.
            x.   Projecting signs may have letters, panels or ornaments of porcelain enamel, glass, approved combustible plastics or other hard materials.
            xi.   All projecting signs shall be supported by strong steel brackets attached to walls of buildings with through bolts, expansion bolts or other equally secure methods and shall be braced and held firmly in place with soft iron or steel cables or chain of adequate strength. All such supports shall be attached to walls of buildings with expansion bolts or an equivalent method. Projecting signs which are permitted to extend above parapet walls may be attached to brackets fastened to roofs by means of through bolts but shall not be attached to any part of the wall above a point of bearing of the roof joists or rafters.
      (3)   Window Signs.
         A.   Window signs shall not require a zoning permit.
         B.   Window signs are prohibited in residential zoning districts except as allowed for temporary signs.
         C.   Window signs may be temporarily or permanently attached to the window surface.
         D.   Window signs shall not occupy more than fifty percent (50%) of the window area. The sign area is based on the total window area, regardless of the presence of an awning. Window areas separated by piers, architectural elements, or similar features that are not glass or window framing, or support shall be considered separate and distinct window areas. See Figure 1119-H.
 
Figure 1119-H: The window area is illustrated within the dashed line area for the two storefronts in the above image. The dashed lines highlight two separate window areas due to the separation by an architectural feature not related to the windows.
      (4)   Drive-Through Facility Signs.
         A.   Drive-through facility signs shall only be permitted in nonresidential zoning districts.
         B.   One drive-through facility sign shall be allowed for each stacking lane in a drive-through facility provided the total aggregate sign area of all ground signs associated with each drive-through facility does not exceed seventy-two (72) square feet. In no case shall a single drive-through facility sign exceed thirty-six (36) square feet in sign area.
         C.   Such signs shall be oriented so as to only be visible to occupants of vehicles in the stacking lanes of the drive-through facility.
         D.   No drive-through facility sign under this section shall exceed six (6) feet in height measured from the grade of the adjacent driving surface to the top of the sign.
         E.   Drive-through facility signs may be internally or externally illuminated. Up to one hundred percent (100%) of each sign may be an electronic message center if they comply with the following standards:
         F.   Any message change shall be a static, instant message change.
         G.   Only Light Emitting Diodes (LED) technology or similar quality signs shall be permitted for electronic message centers.
         H.   The electronic message center shall come equipped with an automatic dimming photocell, which automatically adjusts the display's brightness based on ambient light conditions.
         I.   The electronic message center shall be turned off during the hours when the related business is closed.
         J.   Drive-through facility signs attached to a wall of building shall be calculated as part of the building signage allowance in Section 1119.09(b)(2).
         K.   The maximum sign areas of this section shall not apply where the drive-through facility sign is located in a manner that is not visible from a public right-of-way or from an adjacent residential lot, as determined by the Planning Commission during the site plan review process.
         L.   Drive-through facility signs shall meet the same design requirements as freestanding signs in Section 1119.09(b)(1)I.
      (5)   Driveway Signs.
         A.   Driveway signs shall not be permitted in residential zoning district except when accessory to an approved conditional use. In all other districts, driveway signs shall be permitted provided each sign complies with the standards of this section.
         B.   Driveway signs shall only be permitted near driveway entrances to a public street.
         C.   A maximum of two (2) driveway signs are permitted per individual driveway.
         D.   Driveway signs shall be located within thirty (30) feet of the right-of-way.
         E.   Each driveway sign shall not exceed four (4) square feet in area and thirty (30) inches in height.
         F.   Driveway signs may be internally or externally illuminated.
         G.   Driveway signs shall meet the same design requirements as freestanding signs in Section 1119.09(b)(1)I.
            (Ord. 26-22. Passed 4-26-22.)

Disclaimer: This Code of Ordinances and/or any other documents that appear on this site may not reflect the most current legislation adopted by the Municipality. American Legal Publishing provides these documents for informational purposes only. These documents should not be relied upon as the definitive authority for local legislation. Additionally, the formatting and pagination of the posted documents varies from the formatting and pagination of the official copy. The official printed copy of a Code of Ordinances should be consulted prior to any action being taken.

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Detected legislative history

• Ordinances of Sheffield Lake, OH
• ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF SHEFFIELD LAKE, OHIO
• ORDINANCE NO. 116-84
• ORDINANCES OF SHEFFIELD LAKE
• Ord. 26-22
• ords, or color;
• ords or numerals or containing no message except that feather signs may be permitted in accordance with Section 1119
• ordinances
• ordance with local requirements to resist earthquake shock
• ordance with the "Standard for Electric Signs (U
• order the removal, repair or maintenance of any sign which constitutes a nuisance, or for which the required permit has not been obtained, or when a sign no longer advertises a bona f
• ordered by the Zoning Inspector, the owner or person in possession of such sign shall comply with such order within ten (10) days after notice is served upon him
• ordered by the Zoning Inspector, the owner or person in possession of such sign shall comply with the order within forty-eight (48) hours after notice is served upon him
• order of removal from a court of competent jurisdiction, or may pursue criminal action against the owner and/or person in possession in accordance with the appropriate provisions of t
• order the immediate removal of said sign without regard to the time intervals for compliance cited above, at the sign owner's expense
• order to remove
• ord thereof
• order the removal or repair of any sign that, has become insecure, in danger of falling or otherwise unsafe, or presents a threat to the public safety
• ordance with the following:
• Ordinances and/or any other documents that appear on this site may not reflect the most current legislation adopted by the Municipality
• Ordinances should be consulted prior to any action being taken
• Ordinances or other documents posted on this site, please contact the Municipality directly or contact American Legal Publishing toll-free at 800-445-5588

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