Permitted signs. Subject to the provisions of subsection B. hereof the following on premises signs are permitted provided they meet all of the requirements of this sign ordinance:
1.
Ground signs.
2.
Building signs.
3.
Flags.
4.
Reference Appendix B, Article V, Sec. 3, (2), (h) for specific codes regarding signs in the Eau Gallie Art Overlay Zone.
B.
On premises signs in non-residential zoning districts (R-P, C-1A, C-1, C-2, C-3, C-P, M-1, M-2, I-1) excluding residential uses in R-P, C-1A, C-1, C-3, and C-P are permitted subject to the following limitations:
1.
Ground signs.
a.
Number of ground signs:
i.
Properties with street frontage of less than fifty (50) linear feet are not allowed a ground sign.
ii.
Properties with street frontage of fifty (50) to ninety-nine (99) linear feet are allowed one (1) ground sign for a total area not exceeding fifty (50) square feet of sign face area.
iii.
Properties with street frontage greater than one hundred (100) linear feet are allowed one (1) ground sign not exceeding seventy-two (72) square feet.
iv.
Properties with street frontage greater than six hundred (600) linear feet are allowed two (2) ground signs which in the aggregate will not exceed a total of one hundred forty-four (144) square feet with at least one hundred fifty (150) feet of separation between ground signs. The separation distance between ground signs shall be measured as a straight line between the closest portion of each sign in relation to the other sign.
v.
Properties with street frontage greater than one thousand five hundred (1,500) linear feet are allowed three (3) ground signs which in the aggregate will not exceed a total area of two hundred sixteen (216) square feet and at least one hundred fifty (150) feet of separation between ground signs with no single sign exceeding one hundred sixty (160) square feet. The separation distance between ground signs shall be measured as a straight line between the closest portion of each sign in relation to the other sign.
vi.
The sign face area of any nonconforming ground sign located on the premises shall be included for purposes of determining the maximum allowable ground sign face area.
vii.
Any premises with multiple street frontages may allocate its total allowable ground sign face area among its permitted ground signs on any frontage. However, no more than one (1) ground sign is permitted on any single street frontage with less than six hundred (600) linear feet.
b.
Setbacks for ground signs:
i.
Setback shall be a minimum of ten (10) feet from any property line abutting a public right-of-way.
ii.
Setback shall be a minimum of five (5) feet from any other property line.
c.
Height of signs: The maximum height for all ground signs is twelve (12) feet, measured per the definitions of this chapter.
d.
Changeable copy ground signs are permitted only along property frontages that are adjacent to arterial roadways as the term is defined in the City of Melbourne Comprehensive Plan, and subject to the following restrictions:
i.
Operational limitations. Such displays shall contain static messages only and shall not have movement, or the appearance of optical illusion of movement of any part of the sign structure, design, or pictorial segment of the sign, including the movement or appearance of movement of any illumination or the flashing, scintillating or the varying of light intensity.
ii.
Minimum display time. Each message on the sign must be displayed for a minimum of eight (8) seconds. Transitions on such signs shall be instantaneous without the appearance of animation or flashing.
iii.
Reserved.
iv.
All electronic message center signs shall come equipped with automatic dimming technology which automatically adjusts the sign’s brightness based on ambient light conditions.
v.
The technology currently being deployed for electronic message center signs is LED (light emitting diode), but there may be alternate, preferred and superior technology available in the future. Any other technology that operates lawfully shall not require an ordinance change for approval.
2.
Building signs.
a.
Building sign area:
i.
Each single occupancy premises shall be entitled to building signs, not exceeding ten (10) signs, with a total sign face area which, in the aggregate, shall not exceed the lesser of ten (10) per cent of the building exterior area upon which the building signs are to be located or three hundred (300) square feet.
ii.
Each occupant of a multiple-occupancy complex may display building signs, not exceeding ten (10) signs, on any unit exterior of the complex that is part of the occupant’s unit (not including common or jointly owned area). The total allowable sign area, in the aggregate, shall not exceed the lesser of ten (10) per cent of the unit exterior building area upon which the building signs are to be located or three hundred (300) square feet.
b.
Building sign standards:
i.
Changeable copy building signs are permitted only on buildings with property frontages that are adjacent to arterial roadways as the term is defined in the City of Melbourne Comprehensive Plan, subject to the performance restrictions in section 11.20B.1.d. of this section.
ii.
Temporary window signs/service bay opening signs. Each premise shall be permitted to have temporary window signs/service bay opening signs in one (1) window or service bay; temporary window signs/service bay opening signs shall not exceed ten (10) per cent of the glass surface area of the window or service bay opening in which they are located.
iii.
No building sign shall be permitted above the roofline, cornice line, parapet, or the highest point of a facade of any structure, whichever is higher.
3.
Directional signs. One (1) directional sign shall be permitted at each point of vehicular ingress and egress to a premise and shall not be counted as part of maximum allowable signage provided the sign area of each such sign does not exceed four (4) square feet and the sign height of each such sign does not exceed four (4) feet.
4.
Subdivision signs.
a.
Generally. A sign may be displayed at the entrance to non-residential subdivisions along an arterial or collector road.
b.
Non-residential subdivision sign options. Non-residential platted subdivisions may choose one (1) of the following options for subdivision signs:
i.
One (1) sign of up to seventy-two (72) square feet in area and twelve (12) feet in height located at the entrance to the platted subdivision on a tract of land jointly owned and maintained by all platted lots within the subdivision. No additional ground sign shall be permitted or constructed within the subdivision on any platted lot within the subdivision; or
ii.
One (1) sign at each entrance into the subdivision from each abutting street on a tract of land jointly owned and maintained by all platted lots within the subdivision. The sign may be a single sign with two (2) faces of equal size or may be two (2) single-faced structures of equal size located on each side of the entrance. The aggregate sign area of all faces shall not exceed forty (40) square feet in size, and may be illuminated in a steady light only. No such sign shall exceed eight (8) feet in height.
