Sign Measurements.
A. Sign Area.
1. The sign area is the entire face of a sign, including the advertising surface and any framing, trim, or molding but not including the supporting structure.
2. Signs Enclosed In Frames Or Cabinets.
a. The area of a sign enclosed in frames or cabinets is determined based on the outer dimensions of the frame or cabinet surrounding the sign face.
3. Individual Letters Or Elements.
a. The area of a sign comprised of individual letters or elements attached to a building wall is determined by calculating the area of the smallest square or rectangle that can be drawn around the letters and/or elements. Signs consisting of individual letters and/or elements will be measured as one (1) sign when the distance between the letters and/or elements is less than two (2) times the dimension of each letter and/or element.
4. Back-To-Back Signs.
a. Projecting, suspended, and freestanding signs may be back-to-back with two (2) sign faces, and each face may have an area not to exceed the maximum stated for each respective sign type.
B. Building Facade Area.
1. The building facade area is the entire surface area of the facade where a sign is located or is proposed to be located, including building walls, doors, windows, recessed and projecting areas, and all other features.
2. The calculation shall be based on viewing the facade from a ninety-degree angle (i.e., straight on), regardless of facade insets, offsets, or angles.
3. For single-tenant buildings and multi-tenant buildings with a shared entrance, the facade length is measured between two (2) side facades.
4. For multi-tenant buildings with separate entrances for each tenant, the facade length is measured from the individual tenant's party wall to the opposite party wall or the side facade, if applicable.
5. The facade height is measured from the ground to the top edge or roofline of a building with a flat roof, the eave line of a building with a gambrel, gable or hip roof, or the deckline of a building with a mansard roof.
C. Sign Height.
1. Sign height shall be determined by calculating the vertical distance between the lowest elevation of the ground abutting the sign and the level of the highest point of the sign.
D. Sign Clearance.
1. Clearance is measured from the highest point of the ground directly below the sign to the lowest point on the sign structure enclosing the sign face.
General Regulations For All Permanent And Temporary Sign Types.
A. Safety.
1. No sign permitted by this Article shall be placed or erected so as to prevent ready access to any window, door, passageway or fire escape, nor shall any sign be placed on private property in such a manner as specified in this Code so as to constitute a hazard to motor vehicles and pedestrian traffic or obscure the view of motor vehicle operators or pedestrians.
2. No sign may be erected so that by its location, color, size, shape, nature or message it would tend to obstruct the view of or to be confused with official traffic signs or other signs erected by governmental agencies.
3. No sign may be located so that it substantially interferes with the view necessary for motorists to proceed safely through intersections or to enter onto or exit from public or private streets, roads or parking lots.
B. Clearance.
1. The lowest point of a sign that extends over an area intended for pedestrian use shall be at least eight (8) feet above the finished grade below it. The lowest point of a sign that extends over an area intended for vehicular use shall be at least fourteen (14) feet above the finished grade below it.
C. Materials.
1. Permanent signs shall be constructed of durable materials and installed to comply with applicable City Codes. Permanent signs shall not be made of paper, cloth, canvas (except for awning and canopy signs), cardboard, wallboard, or other similar nondurable materials.
2. Permanent signs shall be securely fastened to the ground or to some other substantial supportive structure so that there is virtually no danger that either the sign or the supportive structure may be moved by the wind or other forces of nature and cause injury to persons or property.
3. Signs containing unpainted metal or reflective material of any type shall be prohibited.
4. All visible structural components of signs (excluding the sign face) shall be constructed of natural materials that blend with the natural environment or are compatible (however, not necessarily identical) in color and texture with the adjoining buildings or shall be painted a neutral or compatible color that is compatible with adjoining buildings and/or the natural environment.
D. Illumination.
1. Unless otherwise prohibited by this Article, signs may be illuminated in accordance with the following:
a. Lighting directed toward a sign shall be shielded so that it illuminates only the face of the sign and does not shine directly onto surrounding areas.
b. Illumination on the surface of an illuminated sign, measured at the brightest point ten (10) feet from the surface of the sign, shall not exceed five (5) foot-candles.
c. No illumination source shall create a traffic hazard or distraction to operators of motor vehicles.
d. No sign may contain or be illuminated by flashing or intermittent lights or lights of changing degrees of intensity.
e. Illumination of electronic message signs shall comply with
§ 425.550(C)(4), Electronic Message Center.
E. Sign Setbacks.
1. Freestanding signs shall be set back from the property lines in accordance with Table
§ 425.540(A), Summary of Permanent Sign Standards, and Table
§ 425.540(B), Summary of Temporary Sign Standards.
2. Attached signs are not subject to setback requirements.
3. Any signs located at intersections of streets and driveways shall comply with
Section 425.080: Visibility At Intersections.
F. Sign Projections.
1. No sign attached to a building may project more than twelve (12) inches from the building wall, unless specifically outlined in this Article.
Sign Installation And Maintenance.
A. Maintenance.
1. All signs and all components thereof, including without limitations, supports, braces and anchors, shall be kept in a state of good repair.
2. All signs and all components thereof shall be maintained so that faded and chipped paint is removed and replaced, so that sign faces containing unintended holes, breaks or missing parts are repaired and/or replaced.
B. Abandonment.
1. If a sign advertises a business, service, community, accommodations, attraction or other enterprise or activity that is no longer operating or being offered or conducted, that sign shall be considered abandoned and shall, within sixty (60) days after such abandonment, be removed by the sign owner, owner of the property on which the sign is located, or other party having control over such sign.
C. Sign Shells.
1. If the message portion of a sign is removed, leaving only the supporting shell of a sign or the supporting structural components, the owner of the sign or the owners of the property where the sign is located or other person having control over such sign shall, within sixty (60) days of the removal of the message portion of the sign, either replace the entire message portion of the sign or remove the remaining sign components.
2. This Subsection shall not be construed to alter the effect of
Section 425.590: Nonconforming Signs, which prohibits the replacement of a nonconforming sign. Nor shall this Subsection be construed to prevent the changing of the message of a legal, conforming sign.
D. Removal Of Signs.
1. Signs may be removed by authorized officials of the City if:
a. Proper approval and permit from the City were not obtained prior to display;
b. Proper approval or permit has expired;
c. A temporary sign becomes unsightly;
d. The sign violates any provision of this Article; or
e. The sign constitutes a hazard to the public safety and welfare of the residents of the City of Lake Saint Louis or persons traveling on the public streets and roadways of the City.
2. Confiscated signs will be destroyed or otherwise properly disposed of fourteen (14) days from the date of confiscation.
