§ 27-724. Design and construction.

(a)

Generally.

(1)

The supports for all signs or sign structures shall be placed in or upon private property (except as provided in subsection 27-722(e)) and shall be securely built, constructed and erected in conformance with the requirements of this division.

(2)

No portion of a sign surface or sign structure shall be located on or over a public right-of-way except as provided in subsection 27-722(e).

(3)

No sign shall be erected which is connected to or obstructs any portion of a fire escape or windows or doors leading to a fire escape.

(4)

No sign shall obstruct any opening to such an extent that light or ventilation is reduced to a point below that required by the International Building Code, as adopted and amended by the unified government.

(b)

Loads.

(1)

Wind loads for signs and sign structures shall be designed and constructed to resist wind forces as specified in the Building Code.

(2)

Seismic loads for signs and sign structures shall be designed and constructed to resist seismic forces as specified in the International Building Code, as adopted and amended by the unified government.

(3)

The design of wood, concrete, steel or aluminum sign members shall conform to the requirements of the International Building Code, as adopted and amended by the unified government.

(4)

Loads exerted on the soil shall not produce stresses exceeding those specified in the International Building Code, as adopted and amended by the unified government.

(c)

Materials.

(1)

Materials of construction for signs and sign structures shall be of the quality and grade as specified for buildings in the International Building Code, as adopted and amended by the unified government. Anchors and supports, when of wood and embedded in the soil or within six inches of the soil, shall be of all heartwood of a durable species or shall be pressure treated with an approved preservative.

(2)

Sign structure and surface materials shall be noncombustible. Any material conforming to Uniform Building Code Standard No. 4-1 is considered noncombustible within this subsection.

(3)

Where plastics are proposed to be used in the construction of signs and sign surfaces, the following requirements apply:

a.

Applications for building permits to erect signs in which plastic materials are used must set out the trade name used by the manufacturer of the sign as well as the common name of the plastic used in its construction.

b.

Approved combustible plastics shall mean only those combustible plastic materials which are tested in accordance with ASTM Standard Method of Test for Flammability of Plastics over 0.050 inch in thickness and burn no faster than 2½ inches per minute in sheets of 0.060 inch thickness.

(d)

Readability.

(1)

In designing a sign, an applicant for a sign permit shall consider and explain the sign's readability and comprehension in terms of:

a.

The size of the copy, including the minimum size of the letters based on the distance that the viewer is from the sign.

b.

The relationship of the copy to the background area—often referred to as the "white space" or "negative space"—of the sign.

c.

The thickness and spacing of the letters.

d.

The number items of information that can be comprehended in the short period of time that the viewer (typically the motorist) likely has available. This is particularly relevant to wall signs that need to be seen and comprehended instantaneously.

e.

Color contrasts between the message and the background.

f.

Font or letter style.

g.

Lighting.

(2)

Each sign displayed on a premise, or by an occupant of shopping center or multiuse building, may contain up to ten items of information. For purposes of this section, an "item of information" means a word, logo, abbreviation, symbol, or geometric shape.

(Ord. No. O-35-16 , § 1, 6-30-2016)