§ 39-9 — Permanent signs permitted

39-9. - Permanent signs permitted.

39-9.1 Single-family residential. A. Individual single family lots. 1. A single-family residence is allowed one (1) sign only, not to exceed five (5) feet in height or two (2) square feet in area, if it is freestanding. Said sign shall not be illuminated, except by indirect lighting. No permit shall be required. 2. A single family lot which has been granted a Use Permit by City Council as provided in Section 35-305 of the Chandler City Code to operate a nonresidential land use may display signage in compliance with the Residential Conversion Policy as approved by the City Council. A sign permit shall be required to ensure conformance with Use Permit approval. B. Single family subdivisions. Subdivisions may display signs subject to the following standards: 1. Signs shall be attached to a perimeter wall or a decorative masonry wall in a landscaped setting not to exceed six (6) feet in height. 2. The location of said signs shall be limited to the entrances of single family subdivisions. 3. Signs shall not be illuminated, except by indirect lighting or halo lighting. 4. Each sign shall not exceed fifty (50) square feet in area. 5. A sign permit shall be required. C. Flags are permitted as provided for in Section 39-9.12. 39-9.2 Multiple-family development. A. The total permanent sign area allowed, including wall signs and freestanding signs, is one (1) square foot for each dwelling unit. However, in no instance shall this total sign area exceed sixty (60) square feet, with no more than thirty-two (32) square feet fronting on any one (1) street. B. For other permitted buildings, the sign area permitted shall not exceed thirty-two (32) square feet. C. Signs shall not be illuminated, except by indirect lighting or halo lighting. D. A sign permit shall be required. E. Flags are permitted as provided for in Section 39-9.12. 39-9.3 Mobile home parks. Signs in mobile home parks are the same as provided for multiple-family development. 39-9.4 Quasi-public uses, institutional uses, churches, fraternal organizations, and civic organizations. A. The total amount of permanent sign area allowed, including wall signs and freestanding signs, is thirty-six (36) square feet. B. One-half (½) of the freestanding sign area may be a change panel or digital sign. C. Permanent signs shall require a sign permit. D. Flags are permitted as provided for in Section 39-9.12. 39-9.5 PCO Planned Commercial Office District. A. Buildings developed in the PCO District shall be permitted one (1) wall sign or one (1) freestanding sign per lot or parcel. Said sign shall require a sign permit and shall comply with the following standards: 1. Wall signs shall not exceed ten (10) feet above first floor elevation and shall not exceed one (1) square foot in area for each one (1) linear foot of business frontage. Said signs shall be wall- or window-mounted, on or under an architectural projection, and shall not project more than two (2) feet from the building or structure to which it is attached. 2. Freestanding Monument Signs. a) A single panel sign shall not exceed sixteen (16) square feet. Multipanel signs shall be limited to four (4) square feet per panel with a combined maximum of thirty-two (32) square feet. b) Freestanding signs shall not exceed six (6) feet in height above ground level. B. Flags are permitted as provided for in Section 39-9.12. C. Blade signs are permitted as provided for in Section 39-9.13. 39-9.6 C-1 Neighborhood Commercial District. A. Wall signs shall not exceed one (1) square foot in area for each one (1) linear foot of business frontage. Said signs shall be wall- or window-mounted, on or under an architectural projection, and shall not project more than two (2) feet from the building or structure to which it is attached. B. Freestanding Monument Signs. 1. One (1) freestanding sign not to exceed one hundred (100) square feet in total area is allowed per single-user site. 2. Freestanding signs for shopping centers and other multi-user sites shall conform to the standards set forth in Subsection 39-9.16 of this section. C. Wall signs and freestanding monument signs shall require a sign permit. D. Window signs are permitted as provided for in Subsection 39-9.14. E. Flags are permitted as provided for in Section 39-9.12. F. Blade signs are permitted as provided for in Section 39-9.13. 39-9.7 C-2 Community Commercial District. A. Wall signs shall not exceed two (2) square feet in area for each linear foot of business frontage. Said signs shall be wall- or window-mounted, on or under an architectural projection. The sign shall not project more than two (2) feet from the building or structure to which it is attached. No wall sign shall exceed two hundred (200) square feet in area. B. Freestanding Monument Signs: 1. One (1) freestanding sign for each single-user site not to exceed one (1) square foot of sign area for each linear foot of business frontage. Where the developed parcel has an excess of three hundred (300) feet of street frontage, one (1) additional freestanding sign may be erected for each additional three hundred (300) feet of street frontage, not to exceed two (2) freestanding signs per block. The Zoning Administrator may allow a minor deviation from the three hundred (300) feet separation, upon finding that such a reduction is necessary to accommodate a special circumstance that is not self-imposed by the property owner or applicant. For example, said minimum separation would not be possible due to the location of an existing utility pedestal, street scupper, or driveway and the length of the property does not provide opportunity to exceed said separation. Said reduction shall not exceed thirty (30) feet. In no instance, shall a freestanding monument sign be located closer than fifty (50) feet from the property line of a residential development. 2. Freestanding signs for shopping centers and other multi-user sites shall conform to the standards set forth in Subsection 39-9.16. 3. In no event shall the total combined area of all freestanding signs exceed four hundred (400) square feet for each developed parcel. C. Wall signs and freestanding monument signs shall require a sign permit. D. Window signs are permitted as provided for in Subsection 39-9.14. E. Flags are permitted as provided for in Section 39-9.12. F. Blade signs are permitted as provided for in Section 39-9.13. 39-9.8 C-3 Regional Commercial District. A. Wall signs shall not exceed two (2) square feet in any area for each linear foot of business frontage. Said signs shall be wall- or window-mounted, on or under an architectural projection. The sign shall not project more than two (2) feet from the building, or structure to which it is attached. No wall sign shall exceed two hundred fifty (250) square feet in area. B. Freestanding Monument Signs: 1. One (1) freestanding sign for each developed area or parcel not to exceed one and one-half (1½) square feet of sign area for each linear foot of business frontage. Where the developed parcel under single ownership has an excess of three hundred (300) feet of street frontage, one (1) additional detached bonus sign may be erected for each additional three hundred (300) feet of street frontage, not to exceed two (2) detached signs per block. The Zoning Administrator may allow a minor deviation from the three hundred (300) feet separation upon finding that such a reduction is necessary to accommodate a special circumstance that is not self-imposed by the property owner or applicant. For example, said minimum separation would not be possible due to the location of an existing utility pedestal, street scupper, or driveway and the length of the property does not provide opportunity to exceed said separation. Said reduction shall not exceed thirty (30) feet. In no instance, shall a freestanding monument sign be located closer than fifty (50) feet from the property line of a residential development. 2. Freestanding signs for shopping centers and other multi-user sites shall conform to the standards set forth in Subsection 39-9.16. 3. In no event shall the total combined area of all freestanding signs exceed four hundred fifty (450) square feet. C. Wall signs and freestanding monument signs shall require a sign permit. D. Window signs are permitted as provided for in Subsection 39-9.14. E. Flags are permitted as provided for in Section 39-9.12. F. Blade signs are permitted as provided for in Section 39-9.13. 39-9.9 Industrial zones. In all industrial zones, permitted signs shall be in accordance with provisions in the C-3 District. 39-9.10 AG-1 Agricultural District. A. One (1) freestanding monument sign is permitted. It shall not exceed twenty-four (24) square feet in area. 39-9.11 Planned Area Development. For such properties zoned with a planned area development (PAD) designation, all signing shall be subject to the standards specified for the C-3 zoning district unless otherwise governed by sign criteria specified either as part of a Preliminary Development Plan approval by the Planning and Zoning Commission and City Council, or other previous sign package approval by the City. 39-9.12 Flags. Flag poles and flags shall comply with the following standards: A. No more than three (3) flag poles shall be installed on each single family residential lot, multifamily development, model home cluster, shopping center, or other multiuser site. Said flag poles may be wall-mounted or permanently installed in the ground. B. Permanently installed in-ground flag poles shall require permit approval to ensure they are structurally sound and comply with the standards provided herein. A permit shall not be required for wall-mounted flag poles. A separate permit shall not be required to display flags. C. The minimum setback for permanently installed in-ground flag poles shall equal one-half (½) the setback required for a principal building as set forth by the zoning district in which it is located. D. Flag pole height. 1. Permanently installed in-ground flag poles and wall-mounted flag poles in single family residential districts shall not exceed twenty-five (25) feet in height, or shall not be higher than the highest point of the principal building's roof, whichever is lower. 2. Permanently installed in-ground flag poles and wall-mounted flag poles in multiple family districts and model home clusters shall not exceed fifty (50) feet in height or shall not be higher than the highest point of the nearest principal building's roof on the premises, whichever is lower. 3. Permanently installed in-ground flag poles and wall-mounted flag poles in nonresidential districts shall not exceed one hundred (100) feet in height or shall not be higher than the highest point of the nearest principal building's roof on the premises, whichever is lower. E. In any district, the length of each flag, which is the longer side of a flag that is perpendicular to the flag pole, shall not exceed one-third (⅓) of the maximum height allowed for in-ground flag poles. 39-9.13 Blade signs. Blade signs may be used by businesses whose front entrance is under a roof overhang which extends over a public right-of-way. These signs are included as part of the total allowed sign area. A. Only one (1) sign shall be allowed for each business, and a sign permit is required for such sign. B. The sign may be a projecting blade sign attached to the front wall of the building or a hanging blade sign hanging from the roof overhang or colonnade, which is located next to the business entrance. C. The sign must be perpendicular to the building front and shall not exceed four (4) square feet in area. D. The minimum clearance of the sign shall be seven (7) feet above the sidewalk in accordance with Subsection 30-7.9(B)3. E. No part of the sign shall project beyond the overhang of the roof or any corner of the building. 39-9.14 Window signs. Window signs may be painted on or otherwise displayed from the surface of any window, showcase or other similar facility. The area of such signs shall not exceed twenty-five (25) percent of the total window area on any one side of a building as illustrated in Figure 9.14-A. The area of said sign shall not be included in the total allowed sign area. Figure 9.14-A [image omitted; see the official code] 39-9.15 Digital signs. Digital signs shall comply with the following criteria: A. Automatic dimming capability: All digital signs shall be equipped with a fully operational light sensor or other device that automatically adjusts the intensity of the sign according to ambient light conditions. B. Measurement criteria: Ambient light conditions shall be measured with the digital sign off. The illuminance of a digital sign shall be measured while it is displaying a white image for a full color-capable digital sign, or a solid color for a single-color digital sign. All measurements shall be taken as close as practical to be perpendicular to the sign at a distance determined by the Zoning Administrator. C. Illumination limit: The difference between the foregoing off (ambient light) and the full digital sign display measurements shall not exceed 0.3 footcandles at night. D. Manual control. Digital signs shall be designed with the capability of freezing the display in one static position, displaying a full black screen, or turning the sign off in the event of a malfunction. E. Required permits: All digital signs shall require a sign permit. 39-9.16 Signs for shopping centers and other multiuser sites. A. Sign criteria shall be established as part of a Preliminary Development Plan (PDP) or building/sign plan review process. A sign permit shall be required for any of the signs provided for herein. B. Wall signs for shopping centers and other commercial and industrial sites shall be subject to the development standards as specified in this chapter for the particular district in which the property is zoned. Cabinet signs shall not exceed twenty-five (25) percent of the installed sign area. Signs shall be integrated with building façades and shall be proportional to the scale of the façades so that they are not the dominant architectural features. C. Freestanding monument signs for shopping centers and other multitenant commercial centers (individually, collectively, "centers") and for industrial sites shall be subject to the following standards: 1. One (1) freestanding sign per arterial street, not to exceed one (1) square foot of sign face area for each linear foot of business frontage. One (1) additional sign may be erected for each additional three hundred (300) feet of frontage along an arterial street. Said signs shall not be less than three hundred (300) feet apart, except that the Zoning Administrator may allow a minor deviation from said separation upon finding that such a reduction is necessary to accommodate a special circumstance that is not self-imposed by the property owner or applicant. For example, said minimum separation would not be possible due to the location of an existing utility pedestal, street scupper, or driveway and the length of the property does not provide opportunity to exceed said separation. Said reduction shall not exceed thirty (30) feet. In no instance, shall a freestanding monument sign be located closer than fifty (50) feet from the property line of a residential development. 2. Maximum sign height shall not exceed six (6) feet, except as provided below: a) A center, but not an industrial site, located at the corner of two (2) major arterials may have no more than one (1) sign with a maximum height of fourteen (14) feet. b) A center, but not an industrial site, at all other locations except the corner of two (2) major arterials may have no more than one (1) sign with a maximum height of ten (10) feet. c) All other signs at a center, but not an industrial site, may be increased to a maximum height of eight (8) feet provided that they are enhanced with a higher level of design as provided for in Subsection 39-9.16(C)3 below. d) Notwithstanding Subsections (a), (b) and (c) above, in no instance shall any sign located at the street corner of a center, or located less than one hundred fifty (150) feet from the street corner along either frontage, exceed a maximum height of eight (8) feet. e) Notwithstanding Subsections (a), (b), (c) and (d) above, signs located within one hundred (100) feet from the property line of a residential development shall not exceed six (6) feet in height. 3. Each freestanding sign as permitted herein shall feature no more than three (3) panels. Notwithstanding the foregoing, signs enhanced with a higher level of design may be eligible for an additional two (2) panels for a total of no more than five (5) panels per freestanding sign. Higher levels of design may include but not be limited to: a) Increasing architectural integration with buildings in the center. b) Utilizing individual three-dimensional letters or other three-dimensional sign components. c) Enhancing landscaped setting around the sign. d) Upgrading quality materials. e) Eliminating cabinet panels. 4. Notwithstanding Subsection 39-9.16(C)1, a center may erect one additional freestanding monument sign at the street corner, and/or main entrance(s) of the site subject to the following standards: a) One (1) freestanding sign shall be allowed for each property unless it is a corner lot, in which case one (1) sign shall be allowed per street front. b) Said sign(s) shall be excluded from the total number of freestanding signs allowed in Subsection 39-9.16(C)1. c) Said freestanding sign(s) shall be in the form of a decorative wall placed in a landscaped setting. d) The height of said sign shall not exceed six (6) feet from ground level. e) Said sign(s) shall not contain any panels as provided for in Subsection 39-9.16(C)3. f) The maximum sign area for each additional freestanding sign shall not exceed thirty-two (32) square feet. 5. Notwithstanding Subsection 39-9.16(C)3, a center may add one (1) additional sign to each freestanding monument sign permitted therein. Said sign shall not be a panel, shall be proportional to the size of the freestanding monument sign on which it is located, and shall be excluded from the total allowable sign area therein. D. Additional quality standards. The intent of the following standards is to encourage creative and innovative design techniques, quality and merit. A minimum of three (3) of the following items shall be achieved for shopping centers, office and commercial complexes: 1. Incorporate site signage on low planter walls in lieu of freestanding monument signs to create a shared identity for the site. 2. Utilize letters and other sign components that are halo or indirectly illuminated throughout the entire site. 3. Utilize individual reverse pan channel letters throughout the entire site. 4. Letter size shall be limited to fifteen (15) percent of the building height for all wall-mounted signs. 5. Incorporate landscape planter feature at base of all freestanding monument signs. 6. Cabinet signs shall be limited to ten (10) percent of the total allowable sign area. 7. Any other design amenity, which is otherwise not required but which meets the general intent for design innovation, may be substituted for any of the above additional quality standards. 39-9.17 Reserved. 39-9.18 CCD—City Center District. A. General requirements. 1. For those installations involving paint applied to a sign board, all copy and borders shall be applied with a high quality acrylic latex and primer, in accordance with manufacturer's recommendations. 2. Only signage which is surface-mounted may be permitted on the side or rear elevation of a building, provided however, that such elevation is improved in an architectural manner similar to the front elevation of the building. The design of such signage shall comply with the standards and requirements for surface-mounted signs above the colonnade as set forth herein. 3. All signage materials, including sign boards and letter styles, shall to the extent possible, replicate the historic look of signage consistent with the Early Twentieth Century commercial architecture of buildings within the City Center District (CCD), as described in Chapter 35, Section 3204(h) of this Code, or enhance said historic qualities in a manner that further improves the quality of the downtown environment. 4. All surface-mounted signage, whether above or below the colonnade, shall be manufactured as individual letters, or be manufactured as a sign board which may then be mounted onto the building wall surface. No signage shall be painted directly onto the exterior wall surface of any building above or below the colonnade, except for window graphics. 5. Surface-mounted signage above the colonnade shall be the only type of signage permitted for internal illumination by the business owner or building owner. Indirect lighting for surface-mounted signage above or below the colonnade, wherein such lighting is not provided by the City, shall be prohibited. 6. Raceways may be used for the purpose of electrifying individual letters constituting a surface-mounted sign above the colonnade. If used, such raceway shall be mounted behind the letters only, and painted to match the building. 7. Sign copy and borders may be any color; background colors shall either match, or otherwise complement, the building color. If used, sign borders shall be a maximum four (4) inch width. 8. As provided herein, sign boards shall either be: two (2) inch thick solid redwood sandblasted to a depth of three-eighths (⅜) inch to one-half (½) inch, or a manufactured facsimile thereof; or other fabrication of metal or other materials that achieve a two (2) inch thickness and provides exterior durability. 9. As provided herein, the use of neon as a means of illumination, whether internal or external to a sign face, shall be permitted at the rate not to exceed one (1) such sign above the colonnade per business occupant. 10. Any sign installation for which a City of Chandler building permit was issued prior to the effective date of these regulations, which subsequently becomes non-conforming to these regulations as defined in this chapter, may continue in existence in the manner provided for in Section 39-5 of this Code. 11. For any sign proposed to overhang any portion of the public right-of-way, a separate building permit shall be required in accordance with the standards and requirements of the Building Code as adopted by the City of Chandler, and an encroachment permit shall be required in accordance with Chapter 46 of the Chandler City Code. 12. All signs shall be maintained in a "like new" condition. B. Design requirements. All or any combination of the following sign types may be permitted for each business use, in conformance with the standards and requirements set forth herein. 1. Surface-mounted signage above the colonnade. a) For signs comprising one (1) line of copy, no letter or logo shall exceed twenty-four (24) inches in height; for signs comprising the maximum allowable two (2) lines of copy, the combined height of both lines of copy together with the space between lines, shall not exceed thirty-six (36) inches of height. Length of said signs shall not exceed eighty (80) percent of the storefront width. b) Signs may be mounted flush, angled, bowed, or perpendicular to the wall surface, and where possible, be centered horizontally over the storefront. Irrespective of the method used for mounting, no sign shall extend above the top of the wall parapet, nor be mounted on any roof or roof fascia. No sign shall extend more than four (4) feet from the exterior face of the building wall, and no sign shall overlap any window, door, or architectural feature. Maximum sign face area for any sign mounted perpendicular to the exterior face of the building wall shall be twenty-four (24) square feet. c) Signs may be illuminated by internal sources, including reverse pan channel techniques. Any use of neon lighting, mounted to the exterior surface of letters or logo, shall be single tube only. In no event shall any flashing, blinking, rotating, or light motion implying movement be permitted. d) No more than one (1) sign per business occupant shall be permitted. e) A sign permit shall be required. 2. Surface-mounted signs below the colonnade. a) Signs may be mounted flush, angled, bowed, or perpendicular to the wall surface, and where possible, be centered horizontally within the storefront. No sign shall extend more than four (4) feet from the exterior face of the building wall, with not less than seven (7) feet vertical clearance measured from the bottom of the sign face to the finished sidewalk grade. b) Maximum sign face area for a flush mounted sign shall be determined by the extent of continuous flat wall surface while maintaining a minimum two (2) inch distance from any door trim, window trim, wall pop-out, or other architectural feature that constitutes a change in exterior wall plane. Maximum sign face area for any sign mounted perpendicular from the exterior face of the building wall shall be seven (7) square feet. c) No sign shall overlap any door, window, or architectural feature, nor shall any signage be placed above any window(s). d) The maximum number of signs permitted shall not exceed the ratio of one (1) sign per twenty (20) feet of storefront or portion thereof. e) A sign permit shall be required. 3. Colonnade hanging blade signs. a) If used, a colonnade hanging blade sign shall be a sign board centered between, and in the same plane as, the columns of the colonnade, with a minimum of two (2) feet six (6) inches horizontal clearance from any column, and a minimum seven (7) feet vertical clearance from the finished sidewalk grade. b) Maximum sign face area shall not exceed sixteen (16) square feet. c) Not more than one (1) colonnade hanging blade sign per business occupant shall be permitted. d) Colonnade hanging blade signs shall not be illuminated by any means beyond that which is provided by the City. e) Except for temporary signs as otherwise permitted in accordance with chapter 39, Section 39-10 of this Code, no sign other than a colonnade hanging blade sign installed in the manner specified in this subsection, shall be hung or attached to the colonnade. f) A sign permit shall be required. 4. Window and door signs on the ground floor. a) Maximum sign face area, as measured by an enclosed rectangular perimeter around the sign, shall not exceed twenty-five (25) percent of the window or door surface, excluding transoms. b) Signs may be painted on, adhered to, or suspended behind the glass door or window surface. No sign(s) shall be placed on, or mounted in front of, any transom window(s). c) Signs may be illuminated by the tenant inside the glass door or window, including the use of neon; provided, however, that neon shall not be used to outline any window. d) Window or door sign shall not require a sign permit. e) Permitted only on the ground floor. 5. Banners placed above the colonnade, for any purpose, shall require a temporary sign permit and shall be allowed for a maximum period of thirty (30) cumulative days within each six (6) month period in a calendar.

(Ord. No. 4729, § I, 5-25-17; Ord. No. 4931, § 2(Exh.), 8-13-20)