Poolers Revised

Sign Regulations
June 1, 2015

Mayor & City Council

Public Hearing

Agenda
Types of Signs
o
o
o
o
o

Principal Signs
Miscellaneous Signs
Incidental Signs
Project Entrance Signs
Temporary Signs

Whats the Same?

Whats New or Different?
Sign Permits
Variances

Types of Signs Principal Signs

Principal Freestanding Signs (main sign or 50 sf +)

Principal Building Signs

Types of Signs
Miscellaneous Signs (more than 1 sf in area)

Incidental Signs (1 sf or less)

Types of Signs
Project Entrance Signs

Temporary Signs

Whats the Same?

Principal Freestanding Signs
o The same number allowed, same maximum area and
height.

Building Signs, Principal & Miscellaneous

o Same maximum total area, and wall and window coverage.

Interstate Signs (billboards)

o Still allowed along I-16 and I-95.
o Same maximum size, number and spacing.

Exempt and Prohibited Signs

o All currently exempt and prohibited signs are still exempt
or prohibited as before.

Restrictions on frequency and duration of grand opening and

special sales events remain the same.
Permits for permanent or temporary signs still required.

Whats New or Different?

Content-Neutral Language
o All content-based regulations eliminated or
reworded.

Use of Photos and Drawings

o Photos are used extensively as examples.
o Drawings added to explain requirements.

Whats New or Different?

Use of Tables to ease access to regulations
Project Entrance SignsBy Land Use

Residential Use
Single-Family
Multi-Family
Subdivision
Development

Nonresidential Use
Office or Industrial
Park (subdivision)

Project Entrance
Signs

Max. number of
Project Entrance
Signs per
development

1 single or dual sign

installation at each
entrance into the
subdivision
1 sign per corner lot
at an entrance into
the subdivision
(2 signs per
entrance)

1 single or a dual
sign installation at
each entrance into
the development

150 sq. ft. each

150 sq. ft. each

150 sq. ft. each

10 ft.

10 ft.

10 ft.

Not allowed

Not allowed

Not allowed

Not allowed

Not allowed

Not allowed

Not allowed

Not allowed

Allowed

Allowed

Allowed

Allowed

Not allowed

Not allowed

Allowed

Not allowed

Not allowed

Not allowed

Max. number per

project entrance
Max.
sign
face
area
Max. sign height
Sign Characteristics

Animated
Changeable
copy
-Manual
Changeable copyElectronic
Illumination,
external
Illumination,
internal
Illumination by
exposed bulbs or
neon tubes

2 signs at each
entrance fronting
on a separate
street

1 single or a dual
sign installation at
each entrance into
the subdivision
1 sign per corner lot
at an entrance into
the subdivision
(2 signs per
entrance)

Whats New or Different?

Many Definitions Added or Clarified.
For instance, commercial and personal speech

o Commercial speech.
The expression of an idea, opinion or message that
directs or attracts attention to a place of business, to
a particular business organization, to a product,
commodity or service for sale, trade, barter, swap or
lease, or to any other business interest or activity; or
The solicitation for contributions or financial support
for any nonprofit organization, institution, committee,
club or association of a social, political, religious or
charitable nature, or for any nonprofit organization
representing the opinions, viewpoint or interests of a
particular group.

Whats New or Different?

o Personal (noncommercial) speech.
The expression of an idea, opinion or message that
does not direct or attract attention to a place of
business, to a particular business organization, to a
product, commodity or service for sale, trade, barter,
swap or lease; or to any other business interest or
activity; or,
The encouragement, offering or announcement for
the public to participate in the activities of, or to
benefit from assistance provided by, any nonprofit
organization, institution, committee, club or
association of a social, political, religious or charitable
nature, or of any nonprofit organization representing
the opinions, viewpoint or interests of a particular
group, not involving the solicitation for contributions
or financial support for any such organization.

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Whats New or Different?

Principal Freestanding Signs
o Principal freestanding signs must be monument or
column signs. Pole signs are prohibited. Examples

o Principal freestanding sign structures must be

architecturally treated with real or artificial brick,
stone, painted or treated wood, or stucco.
o Changeable copy signs, such as LED signs, may cover
up to 60% of the sign face (currently max. 15 sf).
o Landscaping required around base.

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Whats New or Different?

Principal Building Signs
o Roof Signs, currently allowed but not to rise above
the peak of the roof or 4 feet above the eave or
parapet, are now prohibited.
o Changeable copy signs, such as LED signs, are
allowed as miscellaneous building signs (not
principal signs).

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Whats New or Different? Temporary Signs

Type of Temporary
Event

Sale or Lease of a
Building or
Premises
Building
Construction or
Remodeling

Duration
Event Starts

Event Ends

When put on the

market

Within 7 days of
closing of sale or
execution of lease,
or 12 months

Issuance of building
permit

Subdivision or
Condominium
Project Under
Development

Preliminary plat or
Site Plan approval

Pre-Permanent
Signage

Issuance of
Certificate of
Occupancy

Grand Opening

Special Business
Promotion
Yard Sale
Election or Political
Campaigns
Public
Announcement
Other Temporary
Events

Placement of grand
opening event signs
(within 6 months of
issuance of
Certificate of
Occupancy)
Announcement of
special sale or sale
event
2 days prior to
announced date of
sale
Opening day of
qualification of
candidates
Upon placement of
the sign
As determined by
the Zoning
Administrator

Within 7 days of
issuance of
Certificate of
Occupancy
Sale of 95% of lots
or buildings, or 12
months of no
building permits
When permanent
signage installed or
6 months,
whichever occurs
first
End of sale or 10
days, whichever
occurs first

Number Allowed on
the Property

1 freestanding per
300 of frontage, 1
building sign per
tenant space, 1 per
subdivision entrance
A maximum of 3 on
the construction site
A maximum of 3 per
entrance into the
subdivision or
development
Same as number of
permanent signs

1 of those allowed
under Sec. 66-9(e)

End of sale or 10
days, whichever
occurs first

1 of those allowed
under Sec. 66-9(e)

At the end of the

sale

1 on yard sale site

Within 10 days after

election complete

No limit

Sign removed
within 10 days of
placement
As determined by
the Zoning
Administrator

Min. 90 days
between
sales.

1
1

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Whats New or Different?

Exempt Signs
o All incidental signs (i.e., 1 sf or less) on multifamily and nonresidential use properties and not
illuminated.
o Holiday or seasonal event signs if personal
speech.
Holiday or seasonal event. A day established as a
legal holiday by federal, state or local law; a
nationally recognized holiday such as Halloween or
Mothers Day; a religious day or term of days such as
Easter, Yom Kippur or Christmas, or Lent, Ramadan or
Hanukah.

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Whats New or Different?

Prohibited Signs
o Unprofessionally hand-lettered signs are prohibited.
o Vehicular signs are prohibited when positioned to
be viewed from a street and not being used in the
course of business.

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Whats New or Different?

Prohibited Signs
o Temporary signs attached to, held by or displayed
upon a person are prohibited.
o Banners, portable signs, and festoons are
prohibited unless used as part of a grand opening
or special business promotional event (max. 1
allowed).
o inflatable signs are prohibited unless exempt as
personal speech for a holiday or seasonal event, or
maximum 1 used as part of a grand opening or
special business promotional event.
o Signs located on courtesy benches, waste
containers and dumpster enclosures, trashcans and
similar devices (unless otherwise exempt).

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Sign Permits Required

Any Permanent Sign except:
o Miscellaneous freestanding and building signs that
do not require issuance of a building permit or
electrical permit.
o Flags (although a flag pole requires a building
permit).
o Any sign otherwise exempt.

Any Temporary Event Sign except those allowed during

the following events and do not need a building or
electrical permit:
o
o
o
o
o

While a residential property is for sale or rent.

During construction of a building or project.
During remodeling or renovation of a building.
During a yard sale.
During an election or political campaign.

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Sign Permits Process

oApplication to the Building
Official, along with any required
building or electrical permit
applications.
oIncomplete applications will not
be processed and will be returned
to the applicant within 7days.
oMaximum review times for
complete applications:
Temporary sign permit 14 days.
Permanent sign permit 42 days.

oOnly applications meeting the

requirements of the Sign
Regulations and the Building or
Electrical Codes will be approved.

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Sign Variances Process

Process is the same as for a Zoning Variance:
o Public hearing by Planning Commission, and
o Public hearing by the City Council.

Findings of Fact to be approved:

o That there are unique physical circumstances or conditions peculiar
to the particular property, such as but not limited to irregularity,
narrowness or shallowness of the lot size or shape, or an unusual
degree or type of development proposed on the property, or
exceptional topographical or other physical conditions; and,
o That because of such physical circumstances or conditions, signage
cannot be erected in strict conformity with the provisions of this
chapter without undue hardship to the property owner; and,
o That granting the variance will not result in authorization of a type
of sign not otherwise allowed on the property; and,
o That granting the variance will not cause substantial detriment to
the public good.

Sign permit must be requested within 12 months.

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