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ON-PREMISES SIGNS IN RESIDENTIAL DISTRICTS*

Columbus City Codes tit. 33, ch. 3376
in effect

Columbus City Codes § 3376.01 General provisions for on-premises signs in residential districts.

3376.01 - General provisions for on-premises signs in residential districts. On-premises signs are permitted in residentially zoned districts established in Chapter 3309, C.C. Development in the AR-0, apartment office district, is treated by this Graphics Code as an office/institutional use subject to the provisions of Chapter 3377, C.C. The following general provisions shall apply to on-premises signs in residential districts: A. A permanent on-premises sign may be displayed on a lot in a residentially zoned district and shall be consistent with the development standards contained in the Zoning Code. A permanent on-premises sign shall be displayed only by a residentially zoned use specified in this chapter. B. A temporary on-premises sign may be displayed on a lot in a residentially zoned district when displayed in accordance with the temporary, nonilluminated, on-premise sign requirements. C. A certificate of zoning clearance and installation permit shall be required for the installation or refacing of any nonilluminated permanent sign over ten square feet in graphic area and for any illuminated permanent sign, regardless of size. A temporary sign shall be displayed in accordance with the temporary, nonilluminated, on-premise sign requirements. D. No person shall install any sign allowed by this chapter within any public right-of-way. E. A sign required by law shall be no larger than the minimum requirement or, when the size of said sign is not regulated, shall be no larger than necessary to perform the intended function. F. A ground sign installed in a residentially zoned district shall comply with the vision clearance requirements of the general site development standards chapter of this zoning code. G. A ground sign installed perpendicular to the street to which it is directed may be double-faced. In lieu of two or more allowed ground signs, one double-faced or multi-faced ground sign may be installed at the intersection of two streets abutting a use in a residentially zoned district and arranged so as to be directed to both streets. The allowable graphic area shall not exceed the size permitted for each street. H. Street Address Requirements. Chapter 907, C.C., requires that the street address of each use or activity shall be displayed so as to be readable from the street fronting the use. Where that requirement is to be met by displaying the house number on a wall sign or ground sign serving a residential use, the following size standards shall be utilized: 1. Where the speed limit of the fronting street is greater than 35 miles per hour, the numeral size shall be no less than six inches. 2. Where the speed limit of the fronting street is 35 miles per hour or less, the numeral size shall be no less than four inches. (Ord. 2837-96 § 4 (part); Ord. No. 1537-2009, § 20, 5-3-2010; Ord. No. 1200-2017, § 19, 6-12-2017)

Columbus City Codes § 3376.02 Illumination in residential districts.

3376.02 - Illumination in residential districts. Where illumination of a permanent on-premises sign is allowed by this chapter, the following limitations shall apply: A. Said sign, along with any external artificial source of illumination, shall be located at least 50 feet from any residentially or institutionally zoned district. B. External illumination for such sign shall be limited to white light. Internal illumination of the copy shall be transmitted through material utilizing no more than two colors. C. The background of any internally illuminated sign shall be opaque. D. The light source, including fixture, of any sign utilizing external illumination shall be shielded from view from within any public right-of-way and from any residential dwelling. (Ord. 2837-96 § 4 (part).)

Columbus City Codes § 3376.03 Special areas in residential districts.

3376.03 - Special areas in residential districts. Provisions of this chapter may be modified by graphics standards and/or guidelines adopted by city council for: A. An area of special graphics control; B. An architectural review commission area; C. In a special zoning district, such as but not limited to a planned district or limited district, special graphics standards may be adopted by city council. Such standards shall be included within the specific rezoning ordinance; D. On a lot for which the graphics commission has approved a graphics plan, allowable graphics, including signs, shall be determined by the provisions of the approved plan. (Ord. 2837-96 § 4 (part).)

Columbus City Codes § 3376.04 Residential complex signs.

3376.04 - Residential complex signs. A residential complex shall display no more than one permanent sign directed to any street abutting the complex, subject to the following provisions: A. A ground sign shall be set back no less than 15 feet from any abutting street right-of-way line, except where the established building line applicable to the subject site is less than 15 feet from the right-of-way line of the street to which the sign is directed. Where the established building line is less than 15 feet, a ground sign may be installed at a reduced setback, subject to height and graphic area limitations. The required sign setback line shall be no less than two feet from the right-of-way line of the street to which the sign is directed and no less than two feet from any public sidewalk or shared-use path. B. A ground sign shall be set back no less than ten feet from any adjacent interior lot line; an illuminated sign shall be set back at least 50 feet from a residentially or institutionally zoned district. C. No residential complex sign shall exceed the following area and height limits, based on the size of the residential complex and distance such sign is set back from the abutting street right-of-way line: Complex Size | Setback | Graphic Area | Height 15-50 dwelling units | 2-15 ft. | 24 sq. ft. | 6 ft. 15-50 dwelling units | over 15 ft. | 32 sq. ft. | 8 ft. 51 or more dwelling units | 2-15 ft. | 32 sq. ft. | 8 ft. 51 or more dwelling units | over 15 ft. | 64 sq. ft. | 12 ft. D. In lieu of a permanent identification sign, a residential complex comprised of 15 to 50 dwelling units may utilize no more than one entrance feature sign, in compliance with the provisions of C.C. 3376.05. (Ord. 2837-96 § 4 (part); Ord. 1987-2008 Attach. 1 (part); Ord. No. 1200-2017, § 20, 6-12-2017)

Columbus City Codes § 3376.05 Ground signs at entrances to residential complexes.

3376.05 - Ground signs at entrances to residential complexes. In addition to any allowed permanent identification sign, a residential complex comprised of 51 or more dwelling units may utilize one or more permanent ground signs directed to any abutting street, subject to the following provisions: A. Said complex shall utilize no more than one ground sign at each public entrance to the complex. An entrance feature sign may be a single-face sign, a double-face sign, or consist of one sign face installed on each side of the street or driveway entering the complex and directed to vehicular traffic in only one direction. B. Written consent of the property owner of each proposed sign location shall be submitted with each permit application. C. An entrance feature sign shall be set back no less than 15 feet from any abutting street right-of-way line, except where the established building line applicable to the subject site is less than 15 feet from the street right-of-way line to which the sign is directed. Where the established building line is less than 15 feet, a ground sign may be installed at a reduced setback, subject to height and graphic area limitations. An entrance feature sign shall be set back no less than two feet from the right-of-way line of the street to which the sign is directed and no less than two feet from any public sidewalk or shared-use path. D. No entrance feature sign shall exceed the following area and height limits, based on the distance said sign is set back from the abutting street right-of-way line: Setback | Graphic Area | Height 2—15 ft. | 24 sq. ft. | 4 ft. over 15 ft. | 32 sq. ft. | 6 ft. (Ord. 2837-96 § 4 (part); Ord. 1987-2008 Attach. 1 (part); Ord. No. 1200-2017, § 21, 6-12-2017)

Columbus City Codes § 3376.06 Residential complex instructional signs.

3376.06 - Residential complex instructional signs. A residential complex may utilize one or more permanent nonilluminated signs subject to the following provisions: A. No more than two such signs shall be directed to any street that abuts the complex. B. The maximum graphic area of each such sign shall be four square feet; the maximum height for a ground-mounted sign directed to a street shall be three feet, measured from the adjacent curb or edge of pavement of said street. C. A ground-mounted sign allowed by this section shall be set back at least two feet from the right-of-way line of any abutting street and at least two feet from any public sidewalk or shared-use path. (Ord. 2837-96 § 4 (part); Ord. 1987-2008 Attach. 1 (part); Ord. No. 1200-2017, § 22, 6-12-2017)

Columbus City Codes § 3376.07 Ground signs at entrances to subdivisions.

3376.07 - Ground signs at entrances to subdivisions. A platted residential subdivision of one- and/or two-family dwellings may display one or more permanent ground signs in compliance with C.C. 3376.05. (Ord. 2837-96 § 4 (part); Ord. No. 1200-2017, § 23, 6-12-2017)

Columbus City Codes § 3376.08 Nameplates and home occupation signs.

3376.08 - Nameplates and home occupation signs. A. Nameplates. A dwelling unit in a one- or two-family dwelling, a townhouse or rowhouse shall display no more than one nonilluminated nameplate on each dwelling, subject to the following provisions: 1. The graphic area of each such sign shall not exceed two square feet. 2. A nameplate shall be wall-mounted, or ground-mounted, adjacent to the entrance to said dwelling unit. B. Home Occupation Signs. A dwelling unit containing a home occupation shall, in lieu of a nameplate, display no more than one permanent nonilluminated home occupation sign directed to the fronting street, subject to the following provisions: 1. The graphic area of each such sign shall not exceed four square feet. 2. Installations shall be limited to either a wall or window sign at the ground floor level, a ground sign with an overall height of three feet, or mounted on a post lamp designed to support the sign. 3. A ground-mounted or post lamp-mounted home occupation sign shall be set back at least two feet from the right-of-way line of the fronting street and at least two feet from any public sidewalk or shared-use path. 4. Such sign shall not be directed to a freeway. 5. Said sign shall be removed from the lot when the underlying home occupation ceases. (Ord. 2837-96 § 4 (part); Ord. 1987-2008 Attach. 1 (part); Ord. No. 1200-2017, § 24, 6-12-2017)

Columbus City Codes § 3376.09 Permanent signs for other uses in residential districts.

3376.09 - Permanent signs for other uses in residential districts. An institutional use, or a nonresidential, nonconforming use situated in a residentially zoned district may display one or more permanent on-premises signs, subject to the following provisions: A. Permanent Identification Sign. Such use shall display no more than one permanent identification sign directed to any street abutting the lot. 1. Up to 50 percent of the graphic area of one such sign may be a manual changeable copy sign. 2. A ground sign shall be set back no less than 15 feet from any abutting street right-of-way line, except where the established building line applicable to the subject site is less than 15 feet from the right-of-way line of the street to which the sign is directed. Where the established building line is less than 15 feet a ground sign may be installed at a reduced setback, subject to height and graphic area limitations. The required sign setback line shall be set back no less than two feet from the right-of-way line of any abutting street and no less than two feet from any public sidewalk or shared-use path. 3. A ground sign shall be set back no less than ten feet from any adjacent interior property line; however, an illuminated sign shall be set back at least 50 feet from any residentially or institutionally zoned district. 4. No institutional use, or nonconforming use identification sign shall exceed the following area and height limits, based on the size of the lot frontage and distance such sign is set back from the abutting street right-of-way line: Lot frontage | Setback | Graphic area | Height 300 feet, or less | 2—15 ft. | 24 sq. ft. | 6 ft. 300 feet, or less | over 15 ft. | 32 sq. ft. | 8 ft. over 300 feet | 2—15 ft. | 32 sq. ft. | 8 ft. over 300 feet | over 15 ft. | 64 sq. ft. | 12 ft. 5. In lieu of a permanent identification sign, an institutional use situated on a lot with a lot frontage, along any one street, of 300 feet or less shall utilize no more than one entrance feature sign, in compliance with C.C. 3376.05. B. Permanent Signs for a Large Institutional Use. An institutional use, with over 300 continuous lineal feet of lot frontage along any one street, shall display no more than the following permanent on-premises signs directed to that street: 1. One sign in compliance with the provisions of C.C. 3376.09(A)(1)—(4). 2. One or more signs in compliance with the provisions of C.C. 3376.05. 3. One or more signs in compliance with the provisions of C.C. 3376.06. (Ord. 2837-96 § 4 (part); Ord. 1987-2008 Attach. 1 (part); Ord. No. 1200-2017, § 25, 6-12-2017)

Columbus City Codes § 3376.10 Temporary on-premises signs—General provisions.

3376.10 - Temporary on-premises signs—General provisions. A single, temporary on-premises sign may be displayed on a lot in a residentially zoned district subject to the following general provisions: A. A temporary permit shall be required to authorize the installation of any temporary sign with a graphic area larger than 10 square feet. B. Proof of approval, in a format determined by the director, shall be displayed on each sign allowed by said temporary permit. Where no permit is required, the date (month, year) said temporary sign is installed, shall be legibly displayed on the sign. C. A temporary sign shall be displayed for no more than 365 consecutive days, renewable for one, consecutive, 365 day period regardless of size or permit status without a fee . Such sign shall be removed from the lot at the end of the allowable display period. The maximum size shall be 32 square feet with a maximum height of 8 feet. D. No temporary sign shall be illuminated. E. A temporary sign shall be a rigid ground sign only, except in a situation where no conforming location for a ground sign exists. No temporary projecting sign or roof sign shall be permitted. No banner shall be used as a temporary sign. F. A temporary ground sign shall be set back at least two feet from the right-of-way line of any abutting street, or the setback required by this chapter, whichever is greater, and no less than two feet from any public sidewalk or shared-use path. Vision clearance shall be maintained. Where wall-mounted, allowable setback shall be that of the wall to which said sign is attached. (Ord. 2837-96 § 4 (part); Ord. 1987-2008 Attach. 1 (part); Ord. No. 1200-2017, § 26, 6-12-2017)
Source: City of Columbus, City Codes and City Charter (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/oh/columbus/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=TIT33ZOCO_CH3376EMSIREDIFetched: 10/27/2026

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