Union City › Zoning Ordinance
Article 11 — Sign Ordinance
§ 11-1
Preamble.
In order to protect the public safety, to assure compatibility of signs with surrounding land uses, to enhance the business and economy of Union City (the “City”), to protect the public investment in streets and highways, to maintain the tranquil environment of residential areas, to promote industry and commerce, and to provide for the orderly and reasonable display of advertising for the benefit of all its citizens, the Mayor and Council of Union City hereby determines that the public health, safety and welfare require the adoption of this Ordinance.
§ 11-2
Name.
This Ordinance shall be known and cited as “The Sign Ordinance of Union City, Georgia” and is hereafter referred to as “The Sign Ordinance”.
§ 11-3
Purpose.
The City Council of Union City understands that signs are an integral part of the ability of every person to exercise their right to freedom of speech. It is however important to understand that here is a fundamental need to protect Union City as a whole from the unchecked proliferation of unregulated signage. It is with this understanding in mind that the City Council of Union City provides the following purposes for the regulation of signage:
A.To encourage the effective use of signs as a means of communication in the City;
B.To maintain and enhance the aesthetic environment and the City’s ability to attract sources of economic development and growth;
C.To improve pedestrian and traffic safety;
D.To minimize the possible adverse effects of signs on nearby public and private property; and
E.To enable the fair and consistent enforcement of these sign restrictions.
§ 11-4
Violations; Penalties.
A.No person shall erect on any premises owned or controlled by him/her any sign which does not comply with the provisions of the Sign Ordinance.
B.No person shall maintain or permit to be maintained on any premises owned or controlled by him/her any sign which is in a dangerous or defective condition. Any such sign shall be removed or repaired by the owner of the sign or the owner of the premises, or as otherwise provided in the Sign Ordinance.
C.Each sign installed, created, erected or maintained in violation of the Sign Ordinance shall be considered a separate violation when applying the penalty portions herein.
D.Any violation of the Sign Ordinance is hereby declared to be a public nuisance.
E.In case any sign or other device covered by the Sign Ordinance is, or is proposed to be erected, constructed, altered, converted or used in violation of any provision of the Sign Ordinance, a citation will be issued. Additionally, the City may seek an injunction for a continuing violation or take other appropriate action to prevent such unlawful erection, construction, alteration, conversion or to use to correct or abate such violation. Any violation of the Sign Ordinance shall subject the violator to a fine of up to $1,000.00.
§ 11-5
Prohibited Signs and Devices.
The following signs shall be prohibited:
A.Roof signs;
B.Signs or other advertising structures that contain obscene or indecent material.
1.Material is obscene if all of the following apply:
a.To the average person, applying contemporary community standards, taken as a whole, it predominately appeals to the prurient interest, that is, a shameful or morbid interest in nudity, sex or excretion; and
b.The material depicts or describes, in a patently offensive way, sexual conduct specifically defined in subparagraphs 1 through 5 of this paragraph: (1) acts of sexual intercourse, heterosexual or homosexual, normal or perverted, actual or simulated; (2) acts of masturbation; (3) acts involving excretory functions or lewd exhibition of the genitals; (4) acts of bestiality or the fondling of sex organs of animals; or (5) sexual acts of flagellation, torture or other violence indicating a sadomasochistic sexual relationship.
2.Material is indecent if the sign depicts the following portions of human anatomy:
(1)Any portion of the female breast below the top of the areola; (2) Any portion of the male or female pubic hair, anus, cleft of the buttocks, vulva or genitals.
C.All signs attached to light poles, power poles or trees when such are located within or partially within the road right-of-way;
D.Any privately owned sign located within or partially within a road right-of-way.
E.The Sign Ordinance is intended to complement O.C.G.A. § 16-7-58 which provides for the regulation of posters, signs and advertisements in the State of Georgia.
O.C.G.A. § 16-7-58 is set out in its entirety in Exhibit “A” which is attached hereto and is made a part of the Sign Ordinance by this reference. The Sign Ordinance shall be enforced giving full effect to O.C.G.A. § 16-7-58.
§ 11-6
Signs which Require No Permit; Exemptions.
A.Signs erected by a public officer in the performance of his/her duties shall not require a permit.
B.The following types of signs shall be exempt from the permit requirements of Section
11-8 (B) and shall not count toward the maximum aggregate sign area limits provided
in Sections 11-10 (D) and 11-10 (E):
1.Numeral displayed for the purpose of identifying property location not to exceed 8” in height.
2.Seasonal displays located outside the public right-of-way.
3.Flags (see Sections 11-10 (D) (5) and11-10 (E) (7));
4.Window signs (see Sections 11-10 (D) (3) and11-10 (E) (3));
5.Signs at the rear entrance of a business (see Section11-10 (E) (2) (a) (iii)); and
6.Out of store marketing devices (see Section11-10 (E) (5)).
§ 11-7
Removalof Unlawful or Dangerous Signs.
A.Removal. The City may order the removal of any sign in violation of the Sign Ordinance by written notice to the permit holder, then to the owner of the sign; or if the sign owner cannot be found or cannot be determined, to the sign erector and any party that procured the erection of the sign. If a permit has been issued, such notice shall operate to revoke the permit.
B.Procedure Following Removal Order. If the sign is not removed within 14 days after the order of removal (or 14 days after the date any appeal becomes final), the City shall remove, or cause to be removed, the sign and to collect the costs thereof as provided below.
C.Removal without Notice. The City shall remove any sign in violation of the Sign Ordinance, without giving notice to any party, if:
1.Said sign is upon the public right-of-way or upon other public property; or
2.Said sign poses an immediate safety threat to the life or health of any members of the public.
D.Reclamation/fees. Following such removal or repair, the City may collect the costs as set by the Mayor and Council for any reclaimed signs. Signs not claimed will be destroyed after 14 days.
§ 11-8
Administration and Enforcement.
A.Powers and Duties of Personnel.
1.Generally. The Zoning Administrator is hereby authorized and directed to administer the Sign Ordinance. Unless otherwise specifically provided by resolution of the Mayor and Council, the enforcement of the Sign Ordinance shall be within the jurisdiction of the Union City Code Enforcement Officer.
2.Specific powers and duties.
a.Issuance or denial of permits. It shall be the duty of the Zoning Administrator, upon receipt of a completed application for a sign permit, to examine the plans and specifications and other data. If the proposed structure is in compliance with the requirements of all applicable provisions of the Sign Ordinance, a written permit shall be issued to the applicant by the Zoning Administrator. If said structure is not in compliance with the requirements of all applicable provisions of the Sign Ordinance, a written denial of permit shall be issued to the applicant by the Zoning Administrator. In no case shall any process of application review extend for a period of time exceeding thirty days from the date of the Zoning Administrator’s receipt of application to the date upon which a denial is mailed. Should the process exceed thirty days, it shall be deemed that the application is approved and a permit shall be issued to the applicant by the Zoning Administrator. Issuance of a permit shall in no way prevent the City from later declaring the sign to be illegal if the structure fails to substantially comply with the specifications submitted in the application or some new information of illegality is discovered (amended September 16, 2003, Ordinance 2003-11).
b.Revocation of permits. The Zoning Administrator may revoke a sign permit in those cases where an administrative determination has been duly made that false statements or misrepresentations existed as to material facts in the application or plans upon which the permit of approval was based.
c.Suspension of permits. The Zoning Administrator may suspend a sign permit where an administrative determination has been duly made that an error or omission on the part of either the permit applicant or a government agency existed in the issuance of the permit. A new permit shall be issued in place of the incorrect permit after correction of the error or omission.
B.Permits; Inspection.
1.Issuance of permits. No sign, except for those signs in Section 11-6 herein, shall be erected, hung, placed or structurally altered without a permit. Failure to obtain a permit prior to placing or erecting a sign shall, assuming the sign is permittable, result in a double fee. The fees for all permits shall be set by the Mayor and Council and a fee schedule shall be kept for public inspection by the Zoning Administrator.
2.Filing procedure. Application for permits to erect, hang or place a sign shall be submitted on forms provided by the Zoning Administrator. Each application shall be accompanied by plans and sign elevations showing the area, size, character and method of illumination of the sign, if any; the exact location proposed for the sign; in the case of a projecting sign, the proposed method of fastening said sign to the building structure; the vertical and horizontal distance between such sign and the finished grade; the horizontal distance between such sign and the street right-of-way; and a written list describing all other signs located on the lot indicating the sign type, size and placement.
3.Time period. Once authorized to erect the sign, the applicant has six (6) months to compete the work following the date the permit is issued.
4.Inspection. A representative of the City shall inspect each sign or other advertising structure regulated by the Sign Ordinance from time to time for the purpose of ascertaining whether such structure is safe and lawful. If a sign is deemed to be in need of repair, the owner shall have 14 days from the date of written notice from the City, in which to repair or remove such sign. Missing letters from a raised letter or changeable copy sign, missing panels, peeling paint from a painted sign, etc., shall constitute a need for repair.
5.Lapse of sign permit. A continuing sign permit shall lapse automatically if the occupational tax certificate for the premises lapses, is revoked or is not renewed.
A sign permit shall also lapse if the business activity on the premises is discontinued for a period of six (6) months or more and is not renewed within 60 days of notice from the City to the last permittee, sent to the premises, that the sign permit will lapse if such activity is not renewed.
6.Billboard Construction. All applications for new billboard construction shall be treated as an application for a principal structure.
C.Nonconforming Signs.
1.Nonconforming existing signs. A ground or wall sign for which a sign permit was issued which was in existence on or before May 17, 2016, or which was constructed in accordance with the ordinances and other applicable laws in effect on the date of its construction, but which by reason of its size, height, location, design or construction is not in conformance with the requirements of the Sign Ordinance, shall be considered a nonconforming sign. Such a sign shall be allowed to remain in place and be maintained (provided that no action is taken which increases the degree or extent of the nonconformity) until there is a change of business name (single business), a change of complex name (multi-business), or the sign and/or supporting structure is totally destroyed as a result of any cause not within the control of the owner. In the case of a change of ownership where the business name and existing signage (face and structure) remain the same, said sign shall be allowed to remain in place.
2.Lapse of nonconforming sign permit. A nonconforming sign permit shall lapse and become void under the same circumstances as those under which any other sign permit may lapse and become void.
§ 11-9
Measurement; Construction and Maintenance Standards.
A.Measurement of Sign Area. The area of a sign face (which is also the area of a wall sign or other sign with only one face) shall be computed by means of the smallest geographic measurement that will encompass the extreme limits of the writing, representation, emblem or other display, together with any material or color forming an integral part of the background of the display or used to differentiate the sign from the backdrop or structure against which it is placed.
B.Measurement of Sign Height. The height of a sign shall be computed as to the distance from the base of the sign at normal grade to the top of the highest attached component of the sign. The decorative façade, including posts and/or columns, shall not exceed 25 feet in height. Normal grade shall be construed to be the lower of: (1) existing grade prior to construction, or (2) the newly established grade after construction, exclusive of any filling, berming, mounding or excavating solely for the purpose of locating the sign. In cases in which the normal grade cannot reasonably be determined, 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 street or the grade of the land at the principal entrance to the principal structure on the zone lot, whichever is greater. Where the normal grade is below the normal grade of a public street, the sign base can be raised to the elevation of the normal grade of the street before the height limitations are applied (surveyor’s certificate required).
C.Sign Location.
1.Obstructions to doors, windows or fire escapes. No sign shall be erected, relocated or maintained so as to prevent free ingress or egress from any door, window or fire escape.
2.Signs not to constitute traffic hazard. No sign or part thereof, except authorized traffic signs, shall be located in any state, county or city right-of-way. No sign may be located any closer than 15 feet from an intersection as measured from the intersection of the two (2) rights-of-way.
D.Construction Standards.
1.Face of sign shall be smooth. No sign shall be constructed so as to have nails, tacks or tacks or wires protruding therefrom.
2.Illumination of signs. Signs, when illumination is permitted, may be illuminated internally or externally.
E.Maintenance and Appearance.
1.All signs shall be maintained in good condition in order to present a neat appearance. The City may remove, after due notice, any sign which shows neglect or becomes dilapidated.
2.Ground signs shall have base landscaping. Landscaping, weeds and grass shall be kept cut in front of, behind, underneath and around the base of groundsigns. No weeds, trees, vines, or other growing vegetation shall be permitted on signage for a period of more than thirty (30) successive days.
3.Internally illuminated signs shall be allowed to stand with only partial illumination for a period of no more than thirty (30) successive days. For purposes of the Sign Ordinance, “partial illumination” means more than 50% of the lighting components of the sign are not functioning.
§ 11-10
Restrictions Based on Location.
A.Sign standards apply to all zoning districts in the City. The zoning districts are defined by the Union City Zoning Ordinance and official zoning map.
B.Residential zoning districts allow for both residential and non-residential uses and as such will be governed by the respective sections of the Sign Ordinance based on the approved use. For all unimproved residential property the residential sign regulations shall apply. For all nonresidential uses permitted in residential zoning districts, the signage allowances for those uses shall be determined to under §11-10 (E) of the Sign Ordinance.
C.Nonresidential zoning districts allow for both nonresidential and residential uses and as such will be governed by the respective sections of the Sign Ordinance based on the approved use. For all unimproved nonresidential property the single business sign regulations shall apply (see §11-10 (E) (1) (a)). For all residential uses permitted in the nonresidential zoning district, the signage allowances for those uses shall be determined to be under §11-10 (D) of the Sign Ordinance.
D.Signs Allowed within Residential Zoning Districts and for all allowed residential uses in all other Zoning Districts.
1.Ground Signs.
a.Lots located in a residential zoning district shall be allowed no more than three (3) ground signs not to exceed six (6) square feet each. Signs shall not exceed four (4) feet in height as measured from the grade level of any adjacent street. Sign structures shall not exceed five (5) feet in height. No permit shall be required. Banners shall be exempt from this section. (Amended 3/20/12, Ordinance 2012-04)
b.Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the sign area of signs at the entrance of a subdivision shall be limited to thirty-five (35) square feet and five (5) feet in height. If used in conjunction with a wall, the wall shall not exceed four (4) feet in height. The decorative façade, including post and/or columns, shall not exceed six (6) feet in height. No more than two (2) signs shall be allowed to be placed at each entrance of a subdivision. Such signs shall be placed on common property under the ownership of the Home Owners Association (HOA) and shall not be allowed to be on private property. Such signs shall not be internally illuminated. A permit shall berequired.
c.A banner shall not be more than twenty-four (24) square feet in size and cannot be displayed more than 30 days in a calendar year. No banner shall be mounted as to extend above the horizontal plane of the roof where the building wall and roof meet and shall not extend more than four (4) feet above grade when mounted on the ground. A permit shall be required.
d.For any multi-family residential property, the number of allowable ground signs shall not exceed six (6) signs not more than six (6) square feet in area each. Such developments shall also be entitled to two (2) permanent entrance signs at the entrance to the development as regulated in Section 11-10 (D) (1) (b). The property owner shall be responsible for all signage posted on the property.
2.Wall Signs. Wall signs in residential districts shall be prohibited.
3.Window Signs. Window signs shall be allowed in all residential districts and shall not cover more than twenty-five (25) percent of the area of each window in which a sign is placed.
4.Temporary signage during construction.
a.One (1) temporary sign shall be allowed on construction sites. Such sign shall not be internally illuminated. A permit will be required.
i.Duration. Such sign shall be allowed beginning with the issuance of a Land Disturbance Permit and ending with the issuance of a Certificate of Occupancy or installation of a permanent sign, whichever occurs first.
ii.Size. Such sign shall not exceed twelve (12) square feet in area nor five
(5)feet in height.
This is in addition to those signs allowed in Section 11-10 (C) (1).
5.Flags. Every parcel may display no more than three (3) flags and/or flagpoles.
Flagpoles shall not exceed thirty-five (35) feet in height. Flag dimensions shall be proportional to the pole such that the hoist side of the flag is not more than fifty
(50)percent of the vertical height of the flagpole.
6.Conditional Uses within Residential Zoning Districts. One (1) ground-mounted sign shall be allowed per parcel for conditional uses (excluding single-family residences and home occupations) in all residential zoning districts. Such sign shall not exceed five (5) feet in height as measured from grade. The total surface area shall not exceed 16 square feet. Such sign shall not be internally illuminated. A permit shall be required.
E.Signs Allowed within Nonresidential Zoning Districts and all for all allowed nonresidential uses in all other Zoning Districts.
1.Ground signs.
a.Each parcel is allowed one (1) permanent ground sign not to exceed 150 square feet in area and 25 feet in height.
b.Each parcel containing multi-businesses shall be entitled to display one (1)
permanent ground sign not to exceed 150 square feet in area and shall not exceed 25 feet in height. Individual business names are included in the total square footage.
c.Ground signs may be internally or externally illuminated. A permit shall be required.
d.Temporary signage. Each parcel containing a single business shall be allowed not more than eight (8) aggregate square feet of temporary signage. Each parcel containing multiple businesses shall be allowed not more than twelve
(12)aggregate square feet of temporary signage. A permit shall be required.
(Amended 3/20/12, Ordinance 2012-04)
e.Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the area of signs at the entrance of a subdivision shall be limited to thirty-five (35) square feet and five (5) feet in height. If used in conjunction with a wall, the wall shall not exceed four (4) feet in height. The decorative façade, including posts and/or columns, shall not exceed six (6) feet in height. No more than two (2) signs shall be allowed to be placed at the entrance of a subdivision. Signs shall be placed on common property under the ownership of a Property Owner’s Association (POA) and shall not be allowed to be on private property. Such signs shall not be internally illuminated. A permit shall be required.
f.Freestanding signage in the TCMU, TCMF and UDO Zoning Districts.
i.Shall be permitted when located within eighty (80) feet of the intersection of two (2) or more streets.
ii.Shall not be permitted within any clear zone or supplemental zone.
iii.Shall have a maximum height of twenty-five (25) feet.
iv.Shall have a maxim area of fifty (50) square feet.
v.Only externally illuminated signage shall be permitted. Internally illuminated signage shall be prohibited.
g.Each parcel containing a business that has drive-thru for the motoring public shall be allowed five (5) accessory signs provided they are not legible from publicthoroughfares. Such signs shall not exceed 35 square feet in area or five
(5)feet in height. A permit shall be required.
2.Wall signs.
a.Wall signs shall be located on the exterior of the building (including windows and doors) and may be internally illuminated. A permit shall be required.
(Amended 3/20/12, Ordinance 2012-04)
i.Size. Signage equivalent to 1 square feet per linear foot of the front entrance façade including doors and windows shall be permitted per building. The façade for each business shall be used to calculate the size of wall signs for buildings that contain multi-businesses. (Amended 3/20/12, Ordinance 2012-04)
ii.Location. Permitted signage may be located on any side of the building. No wall sign shall be placed on any roof or on top of any structure. In addition, no part of a wall sign shall be at an elevation higher than 25 feet above the average ground level elevation along the side of the building on which the wall is installed.
iii.Rear Entrance Signs. Businesses with rear entrances for delivery purposes may have one (1) sign not to exceed one (1) square foot mounted on or next to the rear entrance door. The sign may not be illuminated. No permit shall be required.
iv.Erection. All wall signs shall be safely and securely attached to the building wall, subject to the approval of the Building Official.
v.Size/calculation. No wall sign shall project more than six (6) inches from a surface area. On a building with multiple street-facing walls (any change in direction or degree), wall signs will be measured per the wall surface area only on which the sign is mounted. If the sign is a panel or box, the total area including the background is included. If a sign consists of individual letters, each attached directly to a building or structure, the area of the sign shall be measured by the area of the smallest rectangle or series of contiguous rectangles which enclose all the letters.
b.Murals. Mural graphics shall be permitted. Such signs may not be internally illuminated. Murals are allowed in lieu of wall signage but cannot cover more area than would be allowed in Section 11-10 (E) (2) (a) (i). A permit shall be required.
c.Awning signs. Awning signs shall be securely fastened by metal supports to the building surface and meet all applicable building codes. Awning signs shall be not less than eight (8) feet above the ground when erected over pedestrian walkways and 14 feet above areas of vehicle service access at the lowest extremity of the sign. Permissible sign area shall be calculated the same as wall signage and shall be considered inclusive of the total wall sign area allowance for the building.
3.Window signs. Any visible sign inside a building within ten (10) feet of a window is considered a window sign. No more than 20 percent or 35 square feet, whichever is less, of the total available advertising space (glass area) shall be used to display window signs. Such signs may be illuminated. No window signs are allowed above the first floor unless the building is a multi-tenant office or commercial structure wherein tenants have primary access from the space to the outside. This access must include outside walkways and stairways properly designed for public use. In no caseshall any window signs be installed above the level of the second floor windows. No permit shall be required. (Amended 3/20/12, Ordinance 2012-4)
4.Projecting signs. Projecting signs shall be located on the principal structure only. Such signs may be internally illuminated. A permit shall be required.
a.Number. One (1) projecting sign shall be permitted per primary entrance.
b.Location. No projecting sign shall be placed on any roof or on top of any structure. In addition, no part of a projecting sign shall be at an elevation higher than 25 feet above the average ground level elevation along the side of the building on which the projecting sign is installed.
c.Erection. All projecting signs shall be safely and securely attached to the building marquee, subject to the approval of the Building Official.
d.Size/calculation. No projecting sign shall project more than 12 inches from a surface area nor shall it have area exceeding 75 square feet. On a building with multiple street-facing walls (any change in direction or degree), projecting signs will be measured per the wall surface area only on which the sign is mounted. If the sign is a panel or box, the total area including the background is included. If a sign consists of individual letters, each attached directly to a building or structure, the area of the sign shall be measured by the area of the smallest rectangle or series of contiguous rectangles which enclose all the letters.
5.Out-of-Store Marketing Devices. One (1) sign shall be allowed on an out-of-store marketing device. Such sign shall not exceed two (2) square feet. The height of the sign shall not be more than two (2) feet above the device. Such signs shall not be illuminated except for illumination intrinsic to the device. No permit shall be required.
6.Suspended Signs. In a multi-tenant commercial or office building, in addition to all other permitted signs, one (1) suspended non-illuminated sign per entrance used shall beallowed to identify the location of each tenant’s premises, provided such sign:
a.Does not exceed three (3) square feet in area.
b.Is uniform in size, material, color and shape and is placed in an equivalent location to other such signs located in the same building.
c.Is suspended from the eave or soffit of the building.
d.Maintains a minimum of seven (7) foot clearance between the bottom of the sign and the walkway below.
e.A permit shall be required.
7.Flags. Every parcel may display no more than three (3) flags without obtaining a permit. Flagpoles shall not exceed seventy (70) feet in height. Flag dimensions shall be proportional to the pole such that the hoist side of the flag is not more than fifty (50) percent of the vertical height of the flagpole.
F.Master Sign Plan.
1.Master Sign Plan Required – The Master Sign Plan is intended to promote consistency among signs within a development and enhance the compatibility of signs with architectural and design features within the development. A Master Sign Plan will be required for all commercial and Mixed Use projects which are required to file a Land Disturbance Permit or site plan.
2.Contents of Master Sign Plan shall provide:
a.General location and type of signs;
b.Materials – listing of materials proposed for all signs, structures and surfaces;
c.Size and number of signs – indicate the maximum number and size of proposed signs;
d.Style, color and illumination; and
e.Ornamental structures and landscaping.
G.Temporary Signage.
1.Banners.
a.Banners shall not be allowed for a period not exceeding sixteen (16) days not more than once per quarter.
b.Banners shall be not more than twenty-five (25) square feet. A permit shall be required.
c.No banner shall be mounted so as to extend above the horizontal plane of the roof where the building wall and roof meet or and shall not extend more than five (5) feet above grade when on the ground.
d.Light Pole Banners. Banners shall be permitted to be placed on light poles not located within or partially within a public right-of-way. Such signs may not be internally illuminated. A permit shall be required.
i.Number. Banners are permitted on 50% of lighting poles with no more than two banners located on any one pole.
ii.Size. Such signs shall not exceed 18 inches by 36 inches in area.
2.Attention getting devices, such as inflatable air signs that are inflated with helium or other gaseous elements, portable or trailer signs, rotating, animated signs, or any sign which produces movement achieved by wind currents or give the appearance of movement, and search lights, beacons or similar devices.
a.Attention getting devices shall be allowed for a period not exceeding sixteen
(16)days with not more than once per quarter.
b.A permit shall be required.
3.Pennant, streamer. Pennants and streamers shall be allowed. A permit shall be required.
4.Each new development shall be allowed one (1) temporary sign and shall not exceed thirty-two (32) square feet in size, or ten (10) feet in height and shall be at least thirty (30) feet from the edge of any street, public or private. The sign shall be removed when 85% of the lots are built upon not later than five (5) years unless an extension is granted by the Planning Commission.
H.Billboards Allowed within Interstate 85 Corridor.
1.Billboards are permitted on properties that are located within the Interstate 85 corridor in NC, GC, M-1 and M-2 zoning districts. No billboard shall be located in any property zoned RSC.
2.Electronic Billboards – are permitted on properties that are located within the Interstate 85 corridor in the NC, GC, M-1 and M-2 zoning districts.
a.No more than six (6) displays per minute shall be allowed and each display shall not change more frequently than once every ten (10) seconds.
b.Displays shall contain static messages only, changed instantaneously, through dissolve or fade transitions or other subtle transition that does not have the appearance or illusion of movement (flashing or varying light intensity).
c.Code Enforcement and the Fire Marshal shall be provided with an on-call contact person (with the authority to make immediate modifications to the display) and phone number in case of emergency or if the sign poses a threat to public safety.
3.Location and Spacing.
a.No billboard shall be placed within 300 feet of a residence, church, school, park or cemetery.
b.Billboards located in the Interstate 85 corridor shall be no closer than 1,500 feet from another billboard.
c.Billboards may be erected 50 feet from the right-of-way line.
4.No billboard shall exceed 700 square feet or 14 feet in height or 52 feet in length inclusive of any border and trim, but excluding the base, apron, supports and other structural members. However, additional size and dimensional allowance for extensions or protrusions from the basic geometric shape of the sign may be permitted up to a maximum of 50% of the basic sign area.
5.No billboard shall contain more than two faces not to exceed 700 square feet per face, exclusive of the allowance permitted for extensions and protrusions, visible from the same direction on the main traveled street or road. Double faced and back-to-back construction signs shall, for the purpose of determining compliance with size and spacing limitations, be considered one sign.
6.The height of all billboard signs at their highest point above the level of ground shall not exceed seventy (70) feet. (Amended 2/21/06, Ordinance 06-2)
§ 11-11
Severability.
Should any article, clause or provision of this ordinance be declared by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, such action shall not affect the validity of the ordinance as a whole or any part hereof other than the part so declared to be invalid, it being the intent of the Mayor and Council of Union City that each article, clause and provision hereof be severable. (Amended 12/20/05, Ordinance 05-19)
ARTICLE XII
ADMINISTRATION, ENFORCEMENT & PENALTIES