§ 17.5.128. Signs and advertising structures.
The purpose of this section is to provide standards and requirements relating to the location and design of accessory signs and similar structures.
A.
Permitted signs in all zone districts. the following accessory signs shall be permitted in all zones; provided, that no sign shall be positioned in such a manner as to result in the creation of an unsafe visual clearance at any intersection or driveway location.
1.
Signs not requiring a permit. The following signs shall be permitted without the necessity of requiring a permit:
a.
Real estate sales signs. One sign per street frontage advertising the sale, rental, or lease of the premises, provided that such signs shall not exceed six square feet in residential zones or eight square feet in other zones.
b.
Political signs. Signs for the purpose of promoting the candidacy of any person or persons seeking public office or measures on election ballots, provided that such signs shall be removed within seven days following the election.
c.
Produce signs. One accessory sign announcing the sale of locally produced agricultural products, provided that such signs shall be removed at the end of the local season for said produce.
d.
Unlighted identification nameplates. Accessory name plates for professional persons or home occupations, which shall not exceed two square feet.
e.
Governmental Signs. Signs erected by a governmental unit for regulatory or informational purposes, such as traffic signs, street signs, and public notices.
f.
Public signs. Signs of a non-advertising nature intended to identify a condition or provide information to the public, such as public utility information signs, safety and danger signs, "no trespass" signs, and entrance and exit signs, provided no sign shall exceed two square feet in area.
2.
Signs requiring a permit. The following temporary and permanent accessory signs shall be permitted in all zones upon the acquisition of a permit:
a.
Building project identification signs. One sign per street frontage of a building which is under construction or structural alteration or repair, announcing the character of the building enterprise or the purpose for which the building is intended, including names of architects, engineers, contractors, developers, financiers, and others, provided the area of such sign shall not exceed sixteen square feet in residential zones or thirty-two square feet in other zones, and provided the sign shall be removed upon completion of construction.
b.
Subdivision project identification. One sign per street entrance to the subdivision located on the property to be subdivided, provided such sign shall not exceed thirty-two square feet in area. Such a sign may not be erected until the subdivision has received final approval by the appropriate city officials and may be displayed for a period of one year from the date of such approval, or until all lots are sold, whichever is less.
c.
Development project identification signs. A sign denoting the name of any apartment structure containing five or more units, or the name of any residential, commercial or industrial complex, provided such sign shall not exceed twelve square feet in area.
d.
Directional and public services sign. Signs which identify or provide direction to scenic or historic areas or points of interest, public buildings, sports facilities, etc., or which convey community service information; provided, that no such sign shall have a sign face exceeding twenty-four square feet, except when approved by the city council.
e.
Institutional identification signs. One sign, with or without a changeable text bulletin board, or electronic display sign, located on the premises and denoting the name of the public building, school, or charitable or religious institution; provided, that such sign shall contain a sign face area of not more than twenty-four square feet. Any electronic display sign at an institutional location within any residential zone shall be operated solely between the hours of 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. after which the sign shall automatically shut off.
f.
Community entrance signs. Monument signs erected adjacent to an arterial or collector class street, at or near the municipal boundary of the City, for the purpose of providing notice of entrance to or exit from American Fork City. Each sign shall include the name of the city and may include a message of welcome. The design and placement of each sign shall conform with the city standards for monument signs.
B.
Establishment of sign overlay zones—Zone boundaries established. To more adequately facilitate the placement and regulation of accessory signs, there is hereby established the following sign location overlay zones.
1.
I-15 corridor sign location zone. The boundaries of the I-15 corridor sign location overlay zone shall be as set forth in Maps 17.5.128-1 and 17.5.128-2.
2.
General commercial and industrial sign location zones. The boundaries of the general commercial and industrial sign location overlay zones shall be coterminous with the boundaries of any CC-1 and CC-2 central commercial zone, GC-1 and GC-2 general commercial zone, SC-1 shopping center zone, or I-1 industrial zone, except for those portions of such zones as are within the boundaries of the I-15 corridor sign location overlay zone.
3.
Downtown a-frame overlay zone. The boundaries of the downtown a-frame overlay zone shall be as set forth on Map 17.5.128-3.
C.
Requirements regarding accessory signs within the I-15 corridor sign location zone. In addition to the signs permitted under paragraph A of this section, the following accessory signs shall be permitted in the commercial and industrial zones located within the boundaries of the I-15 Corridor Sign Location Zone, subject to the conditions specified herein and upon the acquisition of a sign permit.
1.
Facia and canopy signs. Accessory facia and canopy signs identifying and advertising the names of the business, the products sold, trade names and/or the business or activity conducted, subject to the following:
a.
There shall be not more than two signs per building street frontage. Where a building fronts on more than one street, each street shall be considered a separate frontage.
b.
Where a building contains more than one owner or tenant (e.g. a strip mall), the portion applicable to each owner/tenant shall be considered as a separate building street frontage.
c.
The maximum sign face area of all facia and canopy sign(s) shall be determined by the size of the building face, or that portion of the building face occupied by an owner/tenant (in the instance of a multi-tenant building), in accordance with the provisions of Chart 17.5.128-A.
d.
Each sign shall be painted upon or attached to the wall of the building most nearly parallel to the applicable fronting street. No portion of the sign shall project more than fifteen inches from the vertical face of the building to which it is attached.
e.
The entire sign face area shall be located entirely within limits of the building wall face area, except that up to twenty percent of the sign face area may project above the roof line of the building, but not greater than fifteen feet above the roof line of the building to which it is attached.
2.
Free-standing monument signs. Permanent accessory, free-standing monument signs identifying and advertising the name of the business, the products sold, trade names and/or the business activity conducted, subject to the following:
a.
There shall be not more than one sign per street frontage for each building.
b.
The sign shall have a maximum of two sign faces, a sign face area of not more than sixty square feet, and be designed and constructed in accordance with the sign design standards as adopted by the city (Chart 17.5.128-D).
c.
No free-standing monument sign shall be placed or constructed in such a manner as to produce an unsafe visual clearance at any intersection or driveway location.
3.
Incidental directional signs. Permanent signs providing instruction (entrance, exit, etc.) when approved by the city as part of a site plan, or upon the acquisition of a sign permit if proposed for addition after initial site plan approval.
4.
Project identification signs. In addition to the above permitted signs, a planned commercial or industrial project shall be entitled to not more than two free-standing project identification signs, subject to the following:
a.
The commercial or industrial project to which the project identification sign applies shall contain three or more separate users or tenants and shall qualify and be approved as a planned commercial or industrial development project in accordance with the applicable provisions of Section 17.7.601 or 17.7.701.
b.
The project area shall contain not less than twenty-five contiguous acres and shall have not less than five hundred continuous feet abutting upon the right-of-way of I-15 Interstate Highway.
c.
The sign shall have a maximum of two sign faces, each with a maximum sign face area of not more than one thousand four hundred square feet per side.
d.
The sign shall include a notation identifying the name of the project. The sign may include an electronic display sign subject to the provisions as found in Section 17.12.219.6.e of the Development Code, but any such electronic display shall not exceed seventy percent of each allowable sign face area.
e.
The sign shall be located within the project area and not further than 45 feet from the closest adjacent right-of-way line of I-15 ("reference right-of-way"). The sign shall have a maximum height of eighty-five feet as measured from the top of the closest travel lane within the reference right-of-way.
f.
Any proposed project identification sign shall be approved by the planning commission.
g.
The sign shall not be located closer than seven hundred fifty feet along the same side of the right-of-way from any other existing or approved project identification sign or any non-accessory sign located within the boundaries of the same project that has been approved in accordance with the provisions of Section 17.6.115.
h.
The documentation for the planned commercial or industrial project shall provide that the sign constitutes a common amenity for the entire project area and that any tenant or occupant of a premises within the project area shall be eligible to advertise their business on the project identification sign under the terms and conditions as established by the project developer or owner.
5.
Free-standing pylon signs. Permanent, accessory, free-standing pylon signs identifying and advertising the name of the business, the products sold, trade names and/or the business activity conducted may be erected upon the premises occupied by the business, subject to the following:
a.
The premises upon which the sign is to be erected shall contain not less than five and one-half contiguous acres and shall have not less than five hundred continuous feet abutting upon the right-of-way of the I-15 Interstate Highway.
b.
The premises upon which the sign is to be erected shall not be included in any project for which a project identification sign has been approved.
c.
The maximum height of any pylon sign shall be thirty-five feet as measured from the elevation of the closest freeway travel lane or the top of any intervening opaque freeway center barrier which obstructs the line-of-sight between the sign and occupants of vehicles as measured at a point adjacent to and at a right angle to the sign, whichever is greater.
d.
Each sign shall have a maximum of two sign faces. The maximum area of each sign face shall be determined by the length of the freeway frontage along which the sign is to be placed and the number of separate establishments located within the project area entitled to be identified on the sign face, in accordance with the provisions of Chart 17.5.128-C. The sign may include an electronic display, but any such electronic display shall not exceed fifty percent of each allowable sign face area and shall be subject to the provisions as found in Section 17.12.219.6.e of the development code.
e.
No free-standing monument or pylon sign shall be placed or constructed in such a manner as to produce an unsafe visual clearance at any intersection or driveway location.
f.
No portion of any sign shall project into the air space above a public right-of-way.
g.
In the event that the project area contains more than one commercial establishment, the request for sign approval shall include provisions identifying which establishments within the project area are entitled to be identified on the sign face (whether only one or all establishments) and how such provisions are to be enforced. The request shall also include a detailed sign design.
D.
Requirements within the general commercial and industrial sign location overlay zone. In addition to the signs permitted under Subsection A. of this section, the following accessory signs shall be permitted in the general commercial and industrial sign location overlay zone, subject to the conditions specified and the prior acquisition of a permit.
1.
Facia and canopy signs. Accessory facia and canopy signs identifying and advertising the names of the business, the products sold, trade names and/or the business or activity conducted, subject to the following:
a.
There shall be not more than two signs per building street frontage. Where a building fronts on more than one street, each street shall be considered a separate frontage.
b.
Where a building contains more than one owner or tenant (e.g. strip mall), the portion applicable to each owner/tenant shall be considered as a separate building street frontage.
c.
The maximum sign face area of all facia and canopy sign(s) shall be determined by the size of the building face, or that portion of the building face occupied by an owner/tenant (in the instance of a multi-tenant building), in accordance with the provisions of Chart 17.5.128-A.
d.
Each sign shall be painted upon or attached to the wall of the building most nearly parallel to the applicable fronting street. No portion of the sign shall project more than fifteen inches from the vertical face of the building to which it is attached.
e.
The sign shall not extend above the roof line of the structure to which it is attached.
2.
Projecting signs. Accessory projecting signs identifying and advertising the name of the business, the products sold, trade names and/or the business or activity conducted subject to the following:
a.
There shall be not more than one projecting sign for each owner/tenant. Each sign shall be attached to the building face adjacent to the portion of the building face occupied by the owner/tenant to which it applies.
b.
The sign shall not extend above the wall to which it is attached.
c.
No projecting sign shall exceed thirty square feet in area. Also, where the owner/tenant utilizes a facia or canopy sign, the combined total of the projecting sign and facia or canopy sign shall be not greater than the maximum area allowed for facia or canopy signs in accordance with the provisions of Chart 17.5.128-A.
d.
No such sign shall be placed above or project into the air space above a public right-of-way.
e.
The sign shall have a minimum clearance of twelve feet above the ground and fourteen feet above a driveway, alley or other vehicular access.
3.
Accessory free-standing pylon sign. A permanent, accessory, free-standing pylon sign identifying and advertising the name of the business, the products sold, trade names and/or the business activity conducted may be erected upon the premises occupied by the business, subject to the following:
a.
The sign shall be located upon the same parcel as the structure containing the business. The parcel shall abut upon a public street adjacent to the proposed location of the sign. The length of the abutting side parcel to which the sign is appurtenant shall be not less than one hundred fifty lineal feet; except that, the placement of a pylon sign on a parcel having an abutting side less than one hundred fifty lineal feet may occur upon the following findings: the substandard abutting side has not been created for the primary purpose of establishing an entitlement to an additional pylon sign, the parcel includes adequate width for vehicular access to the business activity and the sign can be located without establishing a safety hazard.
b.
Each separate parcel shall include not more than one free-standing pylon sign.
c.
The maximum height of any pylon sign shall be thirty-five feet above the level of the closest public street.
d.
Each pylon sign shall have a maximum of two sign faces. The maximum area of each sign face shall be determined by the length of the abutting lot boundary adjacent to the street closest to the proposed location of the sign, in accordance with the provisions of Chart 17.5.128-B.
e.
No portion of any sign shall project into the air space above a public right-of-way.
f.
No free-standing pylon sign shall be placed or constructed in such a manner as to produce an unsafe visual clearance at any intersection or driveway location.
4.
Accessory free-standing monument sign(s). Permanent, accessory, free-standing monument sign(s) identifying and advertising the name of the business, the products sold, trade names and/or the business activity conducted may be erected upon the premises occupied by the business, subject to the following:
a.
Each free-standing monument sign shall be separated not less than one hundred feet from any other free-standing monument sign or any approved pylon sign, common project sign or project identification sign on the same or an adjacent parcel, as measured along the boundary of the parcel.
b.
Each free-standing monument sign shall have a maximum of two sign faces. Each face shall have a maximum sign face area of not more than sixty square feet and shall be designed and constructed in accordance with Chart 17.5.128-D.
c.
No free-standing monument sign shall be placed or constructed in such a manner as to produce an unsafe visual clearance at any intersection or driveway location.
d.
A free-standing monument sign may be substituted for the free-standing pylon sign Authorized pursuant to subsection 3. above.
5.
Accessory common project signs for multi-tenant projects authorized. Where a project area contains more than four acres and includes five or more separate business establishments, whether located on individual lots or a common lot, the city, at the request of the developer, may allow the use of a common project sign(s) in lieu of independent pylon and/or monument signs (as authorized under subsections 3. and 4. above). Where a developer proposes the use of the common project sign option, such sign shall conform with the following:
a.
The project area for which a common project sign is proposed shall meet the criteria for qualification, set forth above, and shall be approved as a planned shopping center or planned commercial development project in accordance with the applicable provisions of Section 17.7.602 or Section 17.6.601.
b.
A project area shall be permitted to contain one free-standing common project sign. Said sign shall be located adjacent to the project area boundary which abuts a collector or arterial class street (as shown on the city's major street plan), in the vicinity of the project entrance and in the location shown on the approved project site plan.
c.
Where the project area abuts upon two or more collector or arterial class roads (as shown on the city's major street plan), for a distance of not less than three hundred feet along each road, the city may approve an additional free-standing common project sign for each such additional frontage. Said additional sign(s) shall be located adjacent to the project area boundary which abuts the additional collector or arterial street, but not less than five hundred lineal feet from any other common project sign.
d.
The maximum height of any common project sign shall be thirty-five feet above the level of the adjacent street.
e.
Each common project sign shall have a maximum of two sign faces. The maximum area of each sign face shall be determined by the length of the abutting lot boundary adjacent to the street closest to the proposed location of each sign, in accordance with the provisions of Chart 17.5.128-B. The sign may include an electronic display, but any such electronic display shall not exceed fifty percent of each allowable sign face area and shall be subject to the provisions as found in Section 17.12.219.6.e of the development code.
f.
The sign face shall include a notation identifying the name of the project and may include a registry identifying the owners/tenants of businesses within the project. Independent free-standing pylon or monument signs identifying a specific owner/tenant within the project shall be prohibited.
g.
No portion of any common project sign shall project into the air space above a public right-of-way.
h.
No common project sign shall be placed or constructed in such a manner as to produce an unsafe visual clearance at any intersection or driveway location.
6.
Project identification signs for major commercial projects authorized. The provisions of this paragraph shall be applicable to major commercial projects as defined in this code. In addition to other signs, a commercial development project which qualifies as a major commercial project shall be entitled to one or more project identification signs, subject to the following:
a.
Each project identification sign shall be located at the perimeter of the project area, unless approval is granted for interior project identification signage, subject to subsection e. below, located adjacent to the outer boundary of the project area abutting a collector or arterial class street (as shown on the city's major street plan), in the vicinity of the project entrance and at the location shown on the approved project site plan.
b.
Where the outer boundary of the project area abuts upon a collector or arterial class street for a continuous distance of more than one thousand lineal feet, an additional project identification sign shall be permitted for each additional one thousand lineal feet. For purposes of compliance with this paragraph, a project area boundary intersected by public or private streets shall be considered as a continuous boundary. For purposes of determining length of the continuous boundary, any portion of the segment occupied by intersecting public and private streets shall be included.
c.
Each project identification sign shall be separated a distance of not less than four hundred seventy-five feet from any other project identification sign or pylon sign located on the same side of the street within the project.
d.
The sign shall have a maximum of two sign faces, each with a maximum sign face area of not more than three hundred fifty square feet per side. The maximum height of the sign shall be thirty-five feet above the adjacent ground level. The sign may include an electronic display, but any such electronic display shall not exceed fifty percent of each allowable sign face area and shall be subject to the provisions as found in Section 17.12.219.e of the development code.
e.
Where a project plan proposes the use of a project identification signs, all sign age for individual establishments or multi-tenant buildings within the project area, whether located on separately described parcels or common property, shall consist only of monument signs conforming to the provisions of subsection 4. above. No other individual pylon signs or common project signs shall be permitted within the boundaries of the project area; unless approval is granted by the planning commission, after review of a site plan illustrating where placement is proposed.
f.
Each sign face shall include a notation identifying the name of the major commercial project, which shall occupy not less than fifteen percent of the total sign face area, and may include a registry identifying the name of any commercial establishment located within the project area.
g.
No project identification sign shall project into the air space above a public right-of-way.
h.
No project identification sign shall be placed or constructed in such a manner as to produce an unsafe visual clearance at any intersection or driveway or to project into the air space above a public right-of-way.
i.
The documentation for the major commercial project shall provide that the project identification sign constitutes a common amenity of the project. The documentation shall include provisions establishing ownership of the project identification sign as a common amenity and, in the instance where the sign is situated on property owned by a party other than the owner of the sign, the right to construct and maintain the sign.
j.
For purposes of compliance with the provisions of this code, any project identification sign shall, when approved pursuant to the provisions of this paragraph, be considered an approved non-accessory sign.
E.
Regulations for A-frame signs within the downtown A-frame overlay zone. In addition to the signs permitted under subsections A. and D. of this section, A-frame signs shall be permitted within the downtown A-frame overlay zone, subject to the conditions as specified below.
1.
A-Frame signs shall be placed solely within that portion of the sidewalk designated as the "furnishing zone" (see Exhibit 17.5.128-F).
2.
A-Frame signs shall have a sign face measuring no larger than twenty-four inches × thirty-six inches, with a maximum sign height of three feet six inches.
3.
A-Frame signs shall consist of durable, weather resistant material such as wood, steel, aluminum and PVC. Cardboard, paper, fabric and other non-rigid materials are prohibited.
4.
A-Frame signs shall only be placed outside during regular business hours and shall be brought inside upon close of business. A-frame signs shall not be left out overnight.
5.
Each business fronting Main Street within the downtown A-frame overlay zone is entitled to one A-frame sign.
6.
A-Frame signs shall be secured so they do not move from the location where they were placed during the day.
F.
Signage plan required. Any commercial or industrial development project which requires approval of a site plan by the planning commission, pursuant to the terms of the city's Development Code, shall include a signage plan, showing the intended location of all signs and the general design and maximum size of each proposed sign, as part of the materials required to be submitted for review by the planning commission; notwithstanding, however, any subsequent request for signage, after initial site plan approval, shall require the acquisition of a sign permit pursuant to an administrative review by staff.
G.
Prohibited signs. Except as specified herein, the following signs shall be prohibited within the city.
1.
Non-accessory signs—Billboards. Non-accessory signs shall not be permitted within the city except when located and approved in accordance with the applicable provisions of Section 17.6.115, 17.5.128.D.6., or other provision of this code which specifically authorizes non-accessory signs.
2.
Temporary signs. Except as may be specifically authorized by other provisions of the development code, temporary signs shall not be permitted.
3.
Hazardous signs. Sign which purports to be or resembles an official traffic sign or signal or which is constructed or maintained in such a manner as to conflict or be confused with an official traffic sign or signal.
4.
Banner signs. Permanent banner signs shall be prohibited, except that banner signs may be permitted on a temporary basis in the instance of a new or relocated business establishment until such time as the permanent signs have been installed, but not to exceed ninety days.
5.
Portable Signs. Portable signs shall be prohibited, except that portable signs may be permitted on a temporary basis in the instance of a new or relocated business establishment until such time as the permanent signs have been installed, but not to exceed ninety (90) days.
6.
Garage sale/hand-bill signs.
a.
No person shall paint, mark, write on, post or otherwise affix any handbill or sign to or upon any public utility pole, street lamp pole, street sign, traffic sign, tree, fence, hydrant, or stake.
b.
Any hand-bill or sign found posted upon any public property contrary to the provisions of this paragraph may be removed by the police department, zoning administrator or other person designated by the city for that purpose. The person responsible for such posting shall be liable for the cost incurred in the removal, storage and/or disposal thereof and the city is authorized to effect the collection of said cost.
7.
Electronic display signs. Except as otherwise permitted in this Section 17.5.128, all electronic display signs are prohibited.
8.
A-frame signs. Except as otherwise permitted in this Section 17.5.128, all A-Frame signs are prohibited.
CHART 17.5.128-E
Sign Area Versus Measurement Distance
Area of Sign (sq. ft.) Measurement Distance (ft.) 10 32 15 39 20 45 25 50 30 55 35 59 40 63 45 67 50 71 55 74 60 77 65 81 70 84 75 87 80 89 85 92 90 95 95 97 100 100 110 105 120 110 130 114 140 118 150 122 160 126 170 130 180 134 190 138 200 141 220 148 240 155 260 161 280 167 300 173 *For signs with an area in square feet other than those specifically listed in the table, the measurement distance may be calculated with the following formula:
Measurement Distance=√Area of Sign Sq. Ft. × 100
(Ord. No. 03-08-29; Ord. No. 03-10-36; Ord. No. 04-04-13; Ord. No. 09-11-37; Ord. No. 2010-08-18, §§ 1, 2, 8-10-2010; Ord. No. 2013-03-10, pt. I, 3-26-2013; Ord. No. 2013-05-16, §§ 1—5, 5-14-2013; Ord. No. 2013-09-34, §§ 1, 2, 9-24-2013; Ord. No. 2014-06-21 , §§ 1—6, 6-10-2014; Ord. No. 2015-08-49 , pt. I, § 1, 8-11-2015; Ord. No. 2016-11-56 , Pt. I, § 1, 11-22-2016; Ord. No. 2017-07-35 , Pt. I, § 1, 7-11-2017)