17-7-15.15 Signs | Midvale Municipal Code

17-7-15.15 Signs.

Only two sign types are permitted per building unless specifically approved by the planning commission through the conditional use review process. In mixed-use developments, signage for each application must comply with an approved theme, which is uniform throughout the proposed development, and which complements the approved signage of near or adjacent pedestrian-oriented development. If a regulated sign type is not specifically designated, it is prohibited.

Table 17-7-15.15. Signs
Sign Type	Max. Area	Max. Height	General Restrictions
A-frame	6 s.f.	4'	One per ground level tenant. Must not impede pedestrian movement.
Awning/ Canopy	5% of wall surface; 80% of width	80% of vertical drip	Constructed of canvas-like materials or architectural metal. Design and color to relate to storefront. May extend 5' from facade at least 8' above sidewalk.
Campaign	32 s.f.	6'	Removed within 15 days from final voting day. 3' max. height in clear view triangle.
Construction	32 s.f.	12'	Removed prior to certificate of occupancy.
Directional	4 s.f.	3'	Located at drive entrances and on-site only.
Flat or Wall (Includes Window)	Sign 1: 15% of wall surface; Signs 2—3: combined signage 5% of wall surface	n/a	Must be attached to main building. All signs attached to facade, including awning signs, window signs and wall signs, determine sign area.
Monument	32 s.f.	6' (total)	At least 1 foot of pedestal. May be placed on berm, w/top of sign ≤ 9'; 3' max. height in clear view triangle; ≥ 3' from sidewalk.
Name Plate	3 s.f.	n/a	Must be attached to main structure.
Projecting Wall	12 s.f.	≥ 8' above sidewalk	Project ≤ 4' from facade.
Real Estate	32 s.f.	12'	3' max. height in sight distance triangle.
Suspended	60 s.f.	n/a	Sign area is one square foot per lineal foot of building.
Temporary			See text.
Window	25% of window area		See text.

1. Up to three building walls may be used for flat or wall signage. The maximum sign area shall be fifteen percent of the wall surface of the front of the building, five percent for the side, and five percent for the back or side. The following four types of wall signs are allowed; all others are prohibited:

a. An externally illuminated aluminum sign panel with cut-out and/or channel letters illuminated by a specified cut-off floodlight fixture mounted to the building.

b. An internally illuminated aluminum sign panel with cut-out and/or reverse channel letters illuminated by neon tubes or fluorescent lamps behind the sign panel and/or letters.

c. An externally illuminated individually fabricated channel letter form using a specified cut-off floodlight fixture mounted to the building.

d. An internally illuminated channel letter mounted to the building.

2. Subject to the wall sign area and type restrictions found herein, businesses that lack suitable wall area upon which to mount a flat or wall sign may instead place the sign on a gabled roof so long as the sign does not project above the roof line. For the purposes of this section, a building elevation that qualifies under this subsection is a side of a standalone structure with less than one hundred feet of wall area.

B. Awning/Canopy Signs. All awnings and canopies shall be constructed of a canvas-like material or architectural metal. The design and color shall relate to the storefront design. No awning or canopy sign may extend more than five feet over the sidewalk and shall be at least eight feet above the sidewalk. Awnings and canopies that are utilized for signage shall use contrasting letters that are painted, applied or sewn onto the vertical drip or panel of the awning or canopy. The maximum sign area of an awning/canopy sign is the greater of sixteen square feet or five percent of the area of the wall to which it is attached. Letters shall not occupy more than eighty percent of the width or the height of the vertical drip or panel. The sign area used for a canopy sign shall be included in any calculation of wall sign area.

C. Projecting Signs. One projecting sign may be attached to the building perpendicular to the facade facing the sidewalk per ground level tenant space. A projecting sign shall be made of a rigid material with the bracket and sign panel relating to the storefront design. Projecting signs may not exceed twelve square feet in size, project more than four feet from the facade, and must be at least eight feet above the sidewalk.

D. Door/Window Signs. Door and window signs are permitted as follows:

1. Lettering and logos may be applied directly onto storefront windows. This includes white gold leaf, applied vinyl, painted, etched or sandblasted.

2. Retail, service and restaurant establishments are permitted to use window-mounted signs advertising current sales or specials, subject to applicable sign area restrictions, so long as they do not disrupt the visibility from employee stations to the parking area or of law enforcement personnel into the business.

3. One neon or LED sign may be mounted in each window subject to applicable sign area restrictions. One electric changeable copy sign is permitted per business subject to applicable safety and sign area restrictions and best practices. Signs that make use of crawling or flashing copy or text, or simulate traffic signs or traffic messages, are prohibited.

4. The total area of window signs (including lettering and logos) shall not exceed twenty-five percent of the window area on which it is located.

5. Storefront windows and doors shall be limited to a maximum of two square feet of coverage with stickers, credit card decals, hours of operation, etc.

6. There may be one window sign listing the names of second-floor tenants near street-level entrances. This sign shall not exceed six square feet and is not to be included in the twenty-five percent allowance.

E. Suspended Signs. Suspended signs shall be located near the entrance to the business/tenant space and may be used in place of rather than in conjunction with a wall sign. The maximum sign area is one square foot per each linear foot of building elevation on which the sign is located, not to exceed sixty square feet. Signs shall be located so as to emphasize design elements of the buildings. No suspended sign shall be less than eight feet above the sidewalk.

F. Monument Signs. One monument sign may be allowed per street frontage for a multifamily project. A monument sign shall not exceed thirty-two square feet or six feet in height with a minimum one-foot pedestal, and shall be located in a landscaped area associated with a project entry or focal point. The sign may be located on a berm, provided the top of the sign does not exceed nine feet in height above finished grade. Monument signs shall not be constructed within the clear view area and shall be set back at least three feet from a public sidewalk and property lines. Monument signs shall be constructed with materials similar to that of the main building.

G. A-Frame Signs. One freestanding A-frame signboard per ground level tenant may be placed on private property within close proximity to a pedestrian way, or on a public or private sidewalk of at least ten feet in width, provided the sign does not interfere with pedestrian movement. The signboard copy space shall not exceed three feet in height and two feet in width with a maximum sign height of four feet.

H. Clearance and Setbacks. The following standards apply:

1. At intersecting streets all signs shall be located outside of the clear view area.

2. For signs over pedestrian ways, the clearance between the ground and the bottom of any projecting or ground sign shall not be less than eight feet.

3. For signs over driveways for vehicular traffic, the minimum clearance shall be fourteen feet.

4. All monument signs shall be a minimum of three feet from a public sidewalk or property line.

I. Temporary Signs. The following provisions regulate the use of temporary signs. If a temporary sign type is not specifically designated, it is prohibited.

1. Attachment. Temporary signs may not be permanently attached to the ground, buildings or other structures.

2. Banner Signs. One banner sign attached in a temporary manner is allowed per primary building wall or on-site fence/wall. Banners may not exceed forty-eight square feet, and must be mounted flush on the wall or fence with all corners securely fastened to the wall or fence. Banners must be kept in a good condition at all times; i.e., tattered, torn, or faded banners must be removed. A temporary sign permit is not required. A banner may not be used as primary signage for a business for more than three months from the business opening.

3. Grand Opening Events Signs. Promotional signage, such as pennants, streamers, banners, balloon signs, and inflated sign displays, may be used for grand opening events for new businesses. Such promotional signage must be initiated within the first three months of a new business receiving a certificate of occupancy, and may be used for a maximum of thirty consecutive days. Said signs shall be used in such a manner so as not to constitute a safety hazard. A temporary sign permit shall be required. Promotional signage shall not include illuminated signs or devices.

4. Feather Flags. A maximum of one feather flag is allowed per business in a multitenant building. One feather flag per fifty feet of frontage or a maximum of five are allowed for stand-alone businesses. Feather flags may be displayed on private property for a period of fourteen consecutive days per calendar quarter up to four times per calendar year, with a maximum height of twelve feet. A temporary sign permit shall be required for each display period.

J. Outdoor Advertising. The following provisions regulate the use of bus benches, shelters, ad stands and newspaper stands.

a. Construction. Benches and shelters shall be constructed of durable materials and shall be kept in good repair. Shelter materials shall be black in color. Benches and shelters which are in disrepair or are unsafe or unstable will not be permitted and may be removed by the city. A concrete pad (not to extend beyond the footprint of the bench or shelter by more than one foot) and paved access (three feet in width) to the curb will be required for all benches and shelters (see diagram below). A bench may utilize concrete already installed in the park strip. Benches and shelters must be securely fastened to the concrete pad to prevent their unauthorized removal. The existing concrete pad must be repaired, including removal of attachment bolts and repair of all holes by the bench sign company after removal. The business name and telephone number of the owner shall be printed on the bench or shelter in a conspicuous location.

b. Location. Benches and shelters may be located along dedicated public rights-of-way only at bus stops established by the Utah Transit Authority. Shelters must be located behind the sidewalk. All street improvements must be in place and the park strip must measure at least five feet in depth for a bench location. Bench signs shall be no closer than two feet from the curb in order to avoid injuries to persons waiting at the benches by the opening of doors of the bus. Benches and shelters shall not obstruct the sidewalks, roadways or other locations where the signs may pose a hazard to motorists or pedestrians. Benches and shelters installed by the Utah Transit Authority shall take priority at allowable locations. Benches and shelters to be placed on private property shall require a letter of approval from that property owner to be submitted to the city. The bench or shelter and an area within a ten-foot radius shall be maintained by the owner twice per week.

c. Area. The sign portion of a bench sign shall not exceed sixteen square feet in area (two-foot maximum height and eight-foot maximum width) and the sign portion of a shelter shall not exceed thirty square feet (six-foot maximum height and five-foot maximum width).

d. Density. No more than one bench or shelter shall be located at each Utah Transit Authority bus stop unless otherwise justified by the Utah Transit Authority because of heavy demand.

e. Insurance. Each bench or shelter company shall provide proof of liability insurance in the minimum amount of five hundred thousand dollars.

f. Permit. A temporary sign permit shall be approved and issued by the director of community and economic development or designee prior to the installation of a bench or shelter. A fee shall be paid for said permit for each bench or shelter as provided in Resolution 02/26/02C. The permit shall be valid for one year, renewing at the beginning of each fiscal year. Benches and shelters installed by the Utah Transit Authority or other public agencies shall be exempt from the payment of a fee. A change in the text of the sign for the bench or shelter or a substitution of benches or shelters shall not require the issuance of a new permit or the payment of an additional fee if the bench or shelter is placed in the same location as originally permitted.

g. Revocation and Removal. The issuance of a permit to locate a bench or shelter within the city of Midvale creates only a license, revocable upon a showing of cause by the city, and shall create no permanent rights of any kind. Each bench or shelter must be removed within fourteen days of written notification. Benches or shelters not moved within the fourteen-day period will be removed by the city at the owner’s expense. Removal expense per bench shall be calculated based on using a two-man crew and one truck for one hour.

a. Construction. Newspaper and ad stands shall be constructed of durable materials and shall be kept in good repair. Newspaper and ad stands must be securely fastened to a concrete pad either in the park strip or behind the sidewalk to prevent their unauthorized removal. The concrete pad must be repaired, including removal of attachment bolts and repair of all holes after removal. The business name and telephone number of the owner shall be printed on the stand in a conspicuous location.

b. Location and Density. Newspaper and ad stands may be located along dedicated public rights-of-way only at bus stops established by the Utah Transit Authority. All street improvements must be in place and the park strip must measure at least five feet in depth. There shall be no more than three stands per established bus stop. The stand may not be located adjacent to any mailbox, post, pole or monument and shall not impede or interfere with reasonable use of pedestrian traffic, display windows or building entrances or the reasonable use of any fire hydrant, traffic signal box or emergency call box.

c. Advertising. No advertising is allowed on the exterior except a logo or other information identifying the publication.

d. Permit. A temporary sign permit shall be approved and issued by the director of community and economic development or designee prior to the installation of a newspaper or ad stand. A fee shall be paid for said permit for each newspaper or ad stand as provided in Resolution 02/26/02C. The permit shall be valid for one calendar year. A substitution of newspaper or ad stands shall not require the issuance of a new permit or the payment of an additional fee if the newspaper or ad stand is placed in the same location as originally permitted.

e. Revocation and Removal. The issuance of a permit to locate a newspaper or ad stand within the city of Midvale creates only a license, revocable upon a showing of cause by the city, and shall create no permanent rights of any kind. Each newspaper or ad stand must be removed within fourteen days of written notification. Newspaper or ad stands not moved within the fourteen-day period will be removed by the city at the owner’s expense. Removal expense per stand shall be calculated based on using a two-man crew and one truck for one hour.

K. Flag Banners. Apartment or condominium complexes may utilize flag banners as follows:

1. No more than eight flag banners may be used per project;

2. Flag banner poles shall not exceed fifteen feet in height;

3. Flag banners shall only be permitted as part of an organized front entry feature that includes a project identification sign and landscaping;

4. Flag banners must be located a minimum of three feet from a public sidewalk or a property line and must be located outside of the clear view triangle; and

5. Flag banners shall contain no advertising copy. For the purposes of this subsection the project name is not considered to be advertising copy. (Ord. 2015-13 § 1 (Att. A (part)); Ord. 5/1/2007O-5 § 1 (part); Ord. 6/6/2006O-6 § 1 (part))