1) Accessory sign. A small sign, less than 6 square feet in sign area, permanently affixed either to a building for support, or freestanding, and which is accessory and subordinate to other signs on the lot.
2) Awning. A structure made of cloth, metal, or other material affixed to a building in such a manner that the structure may be raised or retracted to a flat position against the building, but not including a canopy or marquee.
3) Canopy. A structure other than an awning made of cloth, metal or other material that may be totally or partially attached to a building for the purpose of providing shelter to patrons or automobiles, or as a decorative feature on a building wall. A canopy is not a completely enclosed structure and does not rise, nor is it capable of retraction.
4) Changeable Copy Sign. A sign designed so that the characters, letters or illustrations can be changed or rearranged without altering the face or the surface of the sign; also known as a reader board, if the copy is manually changed, or electronic message board, if remotely changed by computer.
5) Clear Sight Triangle. The triangular area formed by a diagonal line connecting two points located on intersecting lines of a right-of-way, easement of access, or pavement edge of an access drive, each point being twenty (20) feet from the intersecting lines.
6) Clearance (of a Sign). The smallest average vertical distance between the grade of where the sign is attached and the lowest point of any sign, including framework and embellishments, extending over that grade. (Compare “Height”)
7) Electronic message board (EMB). A form of changeable copy sign that is electrically activated and whose variable message and/or graphic presentation capability can be electronically programmed by computer from a remote location. EMBs typically use light emitting diodes (LEDs) as a lighting source.
8) Façade. That portion of an enclosed building facing the principal dedicated street or that wall of a building through which there is primary access for customers. Where more than one business occupies the same building, the facade for each business shall be that portion of the building occupied by the business which faces the street or which provides the primary access. 9) Face Change. The removal or replacement of an existing surface display panel where the
remaining structural frame is not changed. The changing of as message on a changeable copy sign is not considered a face change.
10) Flashing Sign. A sign that uses an intermittent, moving or flashing light source to attract attention.
11) Frontage, Building. Total lineal feet of enclosed building length along the facade that fronts the principal dedicated street, or the facade that contains the main entrance to the building. 12) Frontage, Secondary. The street which the developer selects to be the secondary access to the
development.
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13) Frontage, Street or Lot. Total lineal feet of right-of-way or easement of access along the front yard of a lot.
14) Height (of a Sign). The vertical distance measured from the highest point of the sign, including decorative embellishments, to the average surface grade where the sign is attached. (Compare: “Clearance”)
15) Illuminated Sign. A sign either internally or externally illuminated.
16) Maintenance. The cleaning, painting, repair, or replacement of defective parts of a sign in a manner that does not alter the basic copy, design or structure of the sign.
17) Marquee. Any fixed hood (other than a canopy or awning), which is supported solely by the building to which it is attached, consisting of metal or other incombustible material and which included a sign or advertising announcement. The location of marquees shall be restricted to the main entrance to a building.
18) Nonconforming Sign. Any sign which was lawfully erected in compliance with applicable regulations in force at the time and maintained prior to the effective date of this Zoning Resolution, and which fails to conform to all applicable standards and restrictions of this Resolution.
19) Oversized sign. A ground sign which exceeds 30 feet in sign height and/or 300 square feet of sign surface area.
20) Portable Sign. A sign not permanently anchored or secured to either a building or the ground, but designed to be anchored or secured to a trailer, vehicle (where the primary purpose is to advertise) or frame capable of being moved from place to place.
21) Reader board. Form of changeable copy sign designed so that the characters, letters or illustrations can be manually changed or rearranged without altering the face or the surface of the sign
22) Roof Sign. A sign that is mounted or painted on the roof of a building, or that is wholly dependent upon a building for support and that project above the highest point of a building with a flat roof, the eave line of a building with gambrel, gable, mansard, or hip roof.
23) Sign. Any object, device, or structure, or part thereof, situated outdoors or indoors and
intended to be visible from a public street right-of-way or public or private common area which is used to advertise, identify, display, direct, or attract attention to an object, person, institution, organization, business, product, service, event or location by any means, including words, letters, figures, designs, symbols, fixtures, colors, illumination, or projected images. Signs do not include the flag or emblem of any nation, organization or nations, state, City, or any fraternal, religious or civic organizations; or works of art.
24) Sign animation. The use of movement or some element thereof, to depict action or create a special effect or scene.
25) Sign Structure or Support. Any structure that supports or is capable of supporting a sign, including decorative cover.
26) Snipe Sign. A sign for which a permit has not been obtained which is attached to a public utility pole, light pole, service pole or supports for another sign.
27) Surface Display Area. All solid surface areas of a sign, including air space surrounded by a solid surface of a sign. Structural members bearing no sign copy shall not be included.
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28) Vehicle Sign. Signs on vehicles or trailers visible from the public right-of-way where the primary purpose of the vehicle or boat is to display a sign.
29) Visible. Capable of being seen, whether or not legible, without visual aid by a person of normal acuity from a public right-of-way, or public or private common open space.
30) Zoning District Use Category: A categorization of zoning districts by the land uses allowed in each for the purposes of this Sign Article. The categories are as follows:
a. Single-Family Residential – R-100, R-75, R-65, including developments built under the provisions of the CSO overlay.
b. Multi-Family Residential – RM, RMD, RM-6, RM-8, RM10 c. Office – O-I
d. Commercial – C1, C2, C3 e. Industrial – M1, M2, ODW
f. Mixed-Use – DCD, or mixed used developments built under the provisions of the RAOD or PIB-HBR overlays
Sec. 115-186 –Signs requiring a permit.
A. Unless expressly exempted in Section 115-187, no sign shall be erected, enlarged, expanded, altered, relocated or reconstructed on private or public property unless a Sign Permit, showing compliance of the sign with the provisions of this Article, shall have first been issued by the Community Development Director.
B. Existing signs which conform to the provisions of this Article that would be required to obtain a permit under the regulations of this UDO must register with the city within 90 days of the effective date of this UDO. The information provided for registration will be the same information required in a permit application under Section 115-189. No permit fee will be required for the registration of existing signs.
C. Each nonconforming sign shall be registered within 90 days of the enactment date of this UDO from by the owner, and if it is determined that such registered nonconforming sign was legally erected under the prior requirements, then a sign permit shall be issued to the sign owner. If the owner of a nonconforming sign fails to register such sign within 90 days from the enactment of this UDO, it shall be deemed a violation of this article, subject to citation in the recorder's court of the city.
[Replaces Norcross Ordinance Sec 115-184]
Sec. 115-187 - Sign exempt from having a permit.
The following signs and sign-related activities shall be exempt from the provisions of this Article and shall not require a sign permit. All signs in this section, unless otherwise stated below, shall be setback a minimum of 10 feet from the right-of-way, easement of access, or edge of pavement, whichever is the greater setback, and five feet from all other property lines.
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1) Routine Maintenance. Routine sign maintenance includes cleaning, re-painting, replacing lighting elements, ballasts, and electrical components, and changing of lettering or parts of signs designed to be regularly changed.
2) Face Changes. Signs shall be allowed sign face changes that are non-structural only. Further modifications may be subject to the provisions of Sec. 115-193, Nonconforming or
Noncomplying Signs.
3) Copy Changes. The change of a message on any changeable copy sign or any variable message sign may occur without a permit.
4) Small non-illuminated temporary freestanding signs (excluding banners, which are regulated under Section 115-194). For each residential or nonresidential lot, the quantity of these signs shall be limited to either one sign that is 16 square feet in area or any number of signs whose total combined area totals 16 square feet, such as four signs of four-square feet in area each. These signs shall not be located within the public street right-of-way and shall be no closer than ten feet to the back of the curb of a public roadway.
5) Traffic or government signs. Any signs installed by the City, County, State, Federal government or an authorized transit agency.
6) ADA required signs. Any signs installed to meet the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities (ADA) Act.
[Replaces Norcross Ordinance Sec 115-185]
Sec. 115-188 - Signs Specifically Prohibited
The following signs, in addition to all other signs not expressly permitted by this Article, are prohibited in all zoning districts and shall not be erected, or maintained:
1) Signs that are structurally unsound, unsafe, or hazardous to traffic or pedestrians. 2) Roof sign.
3) Signs that move or give the appearance of moving, including sky dancers, pennants, streamers, or banners in excess of 32 square feet.
4) Streamers, inflatable objects, and gas filled devices, other than permitted temporary signs. 5) Flashing Signs and signs containing any flashing or running lights or lights creating an illusion of
movement.
6) Signs which imitate or may be easily confused with official traffic and government signs. 7) Portable signs, except as permitted in Section 115-199, Vehicle Signage.
8) Multi-faced "V"-shaped signs with angles exceeding 60 degrees in diameter. 9) Snipe signs.
10) Signs mechanically rotating at greater than six revolutions per minute.
11) Any sign placed or erected on property without the permission of the property owner. 12) Signs which are obscene as defined by O.C.G.A § 16-12-80.
13) Signs which emit or utilize in any manner any sound capable of being detected on any traveled road or highway by a person with normal hearing abilities.
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14) Signs which interfere with road or highway visibility or obstruct or otherwise interfere with the safe and orderly movement of traffic or which otherwise pose a hazard to traffic due to structural deficiencies in the structure of such signs.
15) Signs which obstruct any fire escape, any means of egress or ventilation or shall prevent free passage from one part of a roof to any other part, as well as signs attached to any fire escape. 16) Signs which do not conform to applicable building or electrical codes.
17) Exterior exposed electrical signs including neon or LED used to attract attention such as outlining a building or building feature.
18) Dilapidated or neglected signs [Replaces Norcross Ordinance Sec 115-186]
Sec. 115-189 – Application Information.
Applications for sign permits required by this article shall be filed by the sign owner or the owner's agent upon official forms with the Community Development Department.
A. The application shall describe and provide the information requested on the sign permit application and as stipulated by this article including, but not limited to, the following information:
1) The street address of the property upon which the sign is to be located and a plat map of the property which bears an indication of the proposed location of the sign. In the absence of a street address, a method of location acceptable to the Community Development Department shall be used.
2) The width of the face of the building or length of road frontage at the proposed location, as applicable.
3) The name and address of the owner of the real property upon which the subject sign is to be located.
4) An Owner Affidavit demonstrating owner consent, or the owner's agent consent, granting permission for the placement or maintenance of the sign.
5) Name, address, email address, phone number, and business license number of the sign contractor.
6) The type of sign to be erected, the area of the sign, the height of the sign, the shape of the sign, and an explanation of how the sign is to be mounted or erected.
7) Identification of any existing signage on the property, and dimensioned size.
8) In the case of an oversized sign application, the distances as set forth in Section 115-197, Oversized Signs, must be provided.
9) The size of the parcel on which the sign is to be placed.
10) A dimensioned drawing of the proposed signage, including: height, width, construction
materials, source of illumination, colors, and placement on the structure or position on the lot. Such drawing shall be of sufficient detail and accuracy to permit an informed review.
B. A separate building permit is required for monument signs over four feet in height and oversized signs.
[Replaces Norcross Ordinance Sec 115-195]
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Sec. 115-190 - Sign permit application—Time for consideration.
A. The city shall process all sign permit applications within 30 business days of the city's actual receipt of a completed sign permit application and a sign permit fee.
B. The sign permit fee shall be established by the Mayor and Council.
C. The Community Development Director or designee shall give notice to the applicant of a decision of the city by electronic means, by hand delivery, or by mailing a notice by certified mail with return receipt requested. Delivery will be mailed to the email address and/or mail address on the sign permit application on or before the 30th business day after the city's receipt of the completed application. 1) If mailed, the notice shall be deemed to have been given upon the date of mailing in conformity
with this section.
2) If the city fails to act within the 30-day prescribed period, the permit shall be deemed to have been granted.
[Replaces Norcross Ordinance Sec 115-196]
Sec. 115-191. - Application—Denial and revocation.
A. Procedure. The city shall deny sign permits to applicants that submit applications for signs that do