§ I. SIGN REGULATIONS.

8.i.1.

Purpose: The purpose of sign regulations is to encourage the effective use of signs as a means of communication in Sumter County. Sign regulations also serve to maintain and enhance the aesthetics of the community. Also sign regulations should minimize the possible adverse effects of signs on nearby properties, and to enable the fair and consistent enforcement of these regulations. A sign may be erected, placed, created, or maintained in Sumter County only in conformance with the standards, procedures, and requirements of these regulations. These regulations are applicable to any sign visible from any point from a street right-of-way.

8.i.2.

Signs Not Requiring a Permit: A permit shall be required for the erection, alteration, or reconstruction of any sign, except for the following:

a.

Political Signs conforming with Section 8.i.7.l.

b.

Signs erected by or on behalf of a governmental entity or public utility.

c.

Signs or Banners erected by non-profit groups in the public interest advertising specific events. Such signs shall be allowed for a maximum of 14 days and shall be removed within 48 hours after the event has ended.

d.

Banners conforming with Section 8.i.7.a.

e.

Residential and Commercial Real Estate Signs conforming with Section 8.i.7.c.

f.

On-site directional signs conforming to Section 8.i.7.g.

g.

Window Signs placed on the interior wall or window of a business.

8.i.3.

Determination of the Size and Height of Signs:

a.

The entire area within a continuous perimeter, enclosing the extreme limits of a sign display, including any frame or border, shall constitute the area of a sign. Curved, spherical, or any other shaped sign face shall be computed on the basis of actual surface area. The copy of signs composed of individual letters, numerals, or other devices shall be the sum of the area of the smallest rectangle or other geometric figure encompassing each of said letters or devices;

b.

The area of multi-faced signs shall be computed by adding together the area of all sign faces visible from one point. When two (2) identical sign faces are placed back to back so that both faces cannot be viewed from any point at the same time, and when such sign faces are part of the same structure, and not more than twenty-four (24") inches apart, the sign area shall be computed by the measurement of one of the faces;

c.

The height of a sign shall be computed as the distance from the ground at the base support of the sign to the top of the highest attached component of the sign.

8.i.4.

Prohibited Signs and Exceptions: The following signs are prohibited in any zoning district:

a.

Off-site signs. No sign identifying or advertising a business or use shall be permitted other than on the premises of such building or use except for non-residential uses in the AC Zoning District where they may be placed on private property not to exceed one (1) 32 square feet sign or two 16 square foot signs per business. A maximum of one off-premise sign per parcel is permitted in this case. Billboards are treated separately in Section 8.i.9.

b.

Mobile or Portable Signs. Temporary signs and structures which are not attached to a permanent foundation shall not be permitted except for those banners permitted in Section 8.i.7.a. and sandwich board signs permitted in Section 8.i.7.b.

c.

Fluttering Devices. Floats, inflatable characters or objects, ribbons, pennants, spinners, streamers or other similar fluttering devices shall not be permitted except during special events defined in Section 8.i.7.m.

d.

Attached Signs. Signs painted on or attached to trees or other natural objects, utility or telephone poles, fences or fence posts, or roofs, shall not be permitted.

e.

Roof Signs. Signs erected, placed, or painted on the roof of any establishment are not permitted.

f.

Signs within street or highway right-of-way. No sign shall be permitted within any public street right-of-way except:

i.

Highway and Street signs.

ii.

Historical markers, memorials, or monuments as approved by County Council.

iii.

Temporary banners for public events and projects as set forth in Section 8.i.2.c.

iv.

Subdivision entrance signs, subject to review and approval by the County and SCDOT.

g.

Poster Advertising Signs. Signs made of plastic, vinyl, or other similar material and designed to be temporary and attached to a building, wall, ground, or other object are not permitted except for political signs as defined in 8.i.2.a. and 8.i.7.l.

h.

Vehicle Signs. Signs placed on a motor vehicle, trailer or other object parked with the primary purpose of providing a sign not otherwise allowed by the Ordinance, shall not be permitted.

i.

Flashing Signs. Any sign displaying intermittent, flashing or changing lights shall not be permitted. Digital or electronic message boards may be permitted provided that the message not change more than every two (2) seconds and conforms to other sections of this ordinance.

j.

Abandoned/Blighted Signs. Signs which have been abandoned, not properly maintained, are structurally unsound, or no longer advertise or identify a bona fide business, use, owner, lessor, product or activity shall not be permitted.

8.i.5.

Wall Signs. Signs on the walls of a building (including signs attached flat against the wall, painted wall signs, and/or projecting signs), shall meet the following requirements and are subject to Exhibits 19 and 20:

a.

Total Area. The total area of signs on the exterior wall of a building shall not exceed 20% of the front wall area surface. There is no limit on the total number of signs or where they may be placed on the wall surface. Buildings with two frontages shall not exceed 20% of each wall area. However, they may not be combined or accumulated.

b.

Depth. Wall signs may not extend more than 18 inches from the wall.

8.i.6.

Free Standing Signs. A freestanding sign is a sign not attached to a building. They are subject to Exhibits 19 and 20 and the following:

a.

Number of Signs. One freestanding sign is permitted per lot/parcel, except where the lot fronts on two (2) streets and maintains 200 linear feet of frontage on each street, in which case one (1) additional freestanding sign is permitted with no more than one (1) such sign located along each street.

b.

Monument Signs. The structure supporting a ground level, freestanding monument sign shall not be included in calculating the sign area. The area of the supporting structure however may not exceed 50% of the total combined area of the sign and supporting structure.

c.

Reader Boards. Up to 40% of the area of a free-standing sign may be reader board, with permitted changeable copy.

d.

Shopping Center Signs. One free-standing sign is permitted for a shopping center. Individual stores or tenants (including where more than one business occupies one parcel) shall be consolidated on one free-standing or monument sign. Where the shopping center fronts on two (2) streets and maintains 200 linear feet of frontage on each street, one (1) additional freestanding sign is permitted with no more than one (1) such sign located along each street.

8.i.7

Miscellaneous and Temporary Signs

a.

Commercial Banners. Each non-residential use may have one on premise banner on a permanent basis subject to the following conditions:

i.

Location. The banner may be installed only on the building or canopy of the primary business and must advertise the business, its relevant promotion or products. The banner cannot extend above the roofline or be freestanding. For multi-tenant or multi-store locations, the banner must be placed on the building or canopy in front of the tenant space it is designed to serve.

ii.

Size. The banner may not exceed 32 sq. ft.

iii.

Duration. The banner may remain indefinitely as long as it is in good condition and is securely fastened, as determined by the Zoning Administrator. Banners may be interchanged at will as long as only one banner per business is maintained.

b.

Sandwich board signs. Signs are permitted for non-residential property in accordance with the following guidelines:

i.

Location. One sandwich board per parcel, per street front.

ii.

Size. The sign may not exceed 6 square ft. per side, except where the principal structure exceeds 30,000 sq. ft. a sandwich board sign may be permitted no greater than 20 sq. ft. and be permitted at one sign per frontage. For shopping centers and commercial multi-tenant property, one sandwich board sign is permitted per street frontage and shall be no greater than 20 sq. ft. Individual stores or tenants are not permitted separate or individual sandwich board signs.

iii.

Duration. The sandwich board may remain indefinitely as long as it is in good condition, as determined by the Zoning Administrator.

c.

Real Estate Signs. Real Estate signs are permitted in accordance with the following guidelines:

i.

Location. One sign per parcel, per street frontage.

ii.

Size. In residential districts (R-15, R-9, R-6, GR, AC, and CP), signs shall not exceed 6 sq. ft, In the AC or CP district, parcels over 5 acres in size are permitted one sign per street frontage, not to exceed 16 sq. ft. In commercial districts (GC, NC, LC, PO, LI-W, HI) signs shall not exceed 16 sq. ft.

iii.

Maximum height. All real estate signs are limited to a maximum height of 10 feet.

iv.

Real Estate signs shall not be illuminated.

v.

Signs advertising individual available tenant space in multi-tenant buildings shall not be freestanding. For multi-tenant or shopping center locations, a banner not exceeding 10 square feet is permitted.

vi.

Duration. Real estate signs may remain indefinitely as long as they are in good condition and pose no threat to public safety, as determined by the Zoning Administrator.

vii.

Model Homes Signs. Signs designed to indicate demonstration homes for marketing purposes in a subdivision are permitted in lieu of real estate signs, and subject to the above (i—vi).

viii.

All real estate signs shall be wood or metal with permanent, professional copy placed on the signs. The sign structure shall be painted one color. Stabilizing legs may be used but may not project outside (beyond) the plane of the sign face.

d.

Contractor Signs/New Project Construction Signs. One (1) non-illuminated sign not exceeding 16 sq. ft. in non-residential areas and 6 sq. ft. in residential areas announcing a new construction project and all contractors, vendors, developers, architects, etc., is permitted on premises for any project under construction, alteration or renovation. Individual contractor signs are permitted at a rate of one per contractor. Such sign shall be removed within 30 days after a certificate of occupancy is issued for the project.

e.

Projecting Signs. A projecting sign perpendicular to the wall may be substituted for a wall sign. A projecting sign shall be placed a minimum of eight (8) feet above any sidewalk and may project a maximum of six (6) feet way from the wall. Total area of the projecting sign shall not exceed 5% of the front surface area of building.

f.

Canopy or Awning Signs. Canopy or awning signs may be permitted in addition to wall or projecting signs. One business identification sign is permitted not to exceed 20% of the surface area covered by the canopy or awning.

g.

Directional Signs. Directional signs are permitted for non-residential uses at a rate of two signs per entrance, not to exceed 2 sq. ft. per sign.

h.

Gasoline pumps. Gasoline pump signs showing only price are permitted and shall not count against the total signage allowed on a zoned lot. Maximum size of each sign is 3 sq. ft.

i.

Oil Racks. Oil rack signs are permitted and shall not count against the total signage allowed on a zoned lot. Maximum size of each sign is 3 sq. ft.

j.

Automobile Dealer Franchise Signs. Automobile dealers shall be permitted separate free-standing signs for each brand or franchise of new cars sold by the dealership in addition to all other signs normally earned on the zoned lot. Separate franchise signs shall not include an attached reader board.

k.

Subdivision identification signs. For each residential or non-residential subdivision, multi-family complex, attached housing complex, or mobile home park, two free-standing monument signs are permitted per entrance to said subdivision. The signs shall not exceed 40 square feet in size, nor exceed 8 feet in height. Such signs shall be lit only through indirect lighting.

l.

Political Signs: Signs in this category are specifically designed to allow non-commercial speech that promotes the purposes of a democratic society. Signs in this category may be erected that support candidates for elected office at the local, state, or federal levels of government. Also, signs in this category may promote non-commercial speech covering issues or causes that the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution may protect. Some examples of signs that promote non-commercial speech are signs announcing ballot initiatives, voter registration campaign signs, or signs that seek to advance special interest causes. (Note: this list is not intended to be all-inclusive). In no case should these regulations be used to sanction slander or language that deprives the community of its standards of moral decency. The following items are designed to implement the stated purpose herein; while insuring that the City and County of Sumter are protected against inordinate sign clutter, and deteriorated or abandoned signs that detract from the appearance of the community.

1.

No sign allowed in this section may be erected or allowed within the public rights-of-way or on other public properties.

2.

Political signs must not exceed 32 sq. ft. in size.

3.

Political signs erected for a specific election or referendum may be erected no more than 90 days prior to that polling date and must be removed not later than 15 days after that date by the candidates.

4.

No signs(s) allowed in this section shall become deteriorated or fall into disrepair. If a sign(s) becomes deteriorated or otherwise falls into disrepair the signs(s) shall be subject to removal; provided that adequate documentation shall be placed on file. The affected property owner shall be notified of the offense by certified mail, or by hand, and shall be give 15 days to repair the said signs(s), after which time the property owner shall be subject to fine and the removal of the signs(s).

m.

Special Event Signs. Automobile Dealerships shall be permitted to hold special sales events a maximum of 3 times per year. Each special event requires a temporary use permit and may not exceed 30 days in length. Each special event must be separated by a period of 30 days. At this time, fluttering devices as described in Section 8.i.4.c. shall be permitted on a temporary basis. Two additional banners are also permitted in excess of all other regulations for the special event.

8.i.8.

Reserved.

8.i.9.

Off-Premise Advertising (Billboard): Is defined as a sign that communicates the availability of goods, services and ideas not necessarily available on the premises on which the sign is located.

a.

Off-premise advertising signs is a permitted use out right only in the Light-Industrial Wholesale (LI-W) and Heavy Industry (HI) districts in the City of Sumter. The City of Sumter may also allow off-premise advertising signs as a conditional use within the Highway Corridor Protection District (HCP) irrespective of zoning districts including Light-Industrial Wholesale (LI-W) and Heavy Industry (HI). When a conditional use request for an off-premise advertising sign materializes in a HCP overlay zone, the Zoning Administrator shall review and approve such requests in the manner specified in Article Three, Section R, and Article 5, Section B of this Ordinance and the Sumter City-County Comprehensive Plan. The County of Sumter shall permit billboards in the same districts as the City of Sumter, and the General Commercial (GC) districts in the County. The County of Sumter has elected to implement HCP review in the manner of the City of Sumter.

b.

Outdoor advertising structure design:

1.

No stacked (double deck) sign faces or side by side sign faces shall be allowed;

2.

Structures permitted after the effective date of this ordinance shall be designed and constructed with single steel pole structural support designed to meet the wind load requirements of the latest adopted building codes;

3.

Within five (5) years after the adoption of this Ordinance, all existing billboards not constructed with monopole structures shall be replaced with such structures unless permitted to remain as originally constructed by action of the Board of Appeals. This provision does not supercede Exhibit 12, Discontinuance Schedule for Certain Non-Conforming Uses found elsewhere in Article Six of this Ordinance.

4.

Signs along the I-95 corridor, specifically not within 600 ft. of commercial uses, are exempt from the requirements to upgrade to the steel monopole structure.

c.

Spacing Requirements:

1.

One (1,000 ft.) thousand feet on the same side of the street, and seven (700 ft.) hundred feet on the opposite side of the street measured from the spot directly opposite from an existing off-premise advertising sign.

2.

The distance between advertising signs shall be measured along the centerline of the street or highway on which the signs have common frontage, and between perpendiculars to such centerline drawn from the sign to the centerline of each street. Back-to-back signs and V-signs (consistent to 8.i.3.) shall be considered as one sign for the purpose of spacing requirements.

3.

Square footage allowed for outdoor advertising faces:

a.

Maximum square footage shall be set forth within the following zoning districts:

1.

General Commercial (GC) - three (300 ft.) hundred feet;

2.

Light Industrial-Warehouse (LI-W) - three hundred (300) ft;

3.

Heavy Industry (HI) - three (300 ft.) hundred feet;

4.

Highway Corridor Protection - three (300 ft.) hundred feet.

b.

The maximum square footage permitted for signs designed to advertise to motorists on Interstate Highway 95 shall not be greater than six hundred seventy-two feet (672 ft.). An additional twenty (20%) percent of sign face area will be allowed for embellishments. All signs must be located no more than 600 (600 ft.) feet from the Interstate Highway 95 right-of-way.

c.

The Sumter Board of Appeals may grant a Special Exception to the sizes given in subparagraph a. above when the sign will be adjacent to a U.S. Highway. (Reference Sections 5.b.2.1 and 5.b.3.k).

4.

All new billboards in GC, LI-W, and HI in the City shall not be closer than 1,000 feet measured in a direct line to any entrance or access to a residential subdivision, historic district, design review district, historic building, or the Central Business District (CBD).

d.

Setback Requirements:

1.

Front property line: ten (10 ft.) feet.

2.

Side property line: ten (10 ft.) feet.

e.

Height Requirements:

1.

Maximum height shall not exceed thirty-five (35 ft.) feet above the average roadway grade level with the following exceptions:

a.

The maximum height shall not exceed one (100 ft.) hundred feet above the average roadway grade if within six (600 ft.) hundred feet of Interstate Highway 95 (I-95).

f.

Lighting Requirements: Lighting for outdoor advertising signs shall be indirect, non-flashing:

g.

Landscaping Requirements:

1.

Landscaping requirements shall be applied to outdoor advertising signs in the General Commercial (GC), Light Industrial-Wholesale (LI-W), and Heavy Industry (HI) Districts and the Highway Corridor Protection District (HCP);

2.

A landscape strip shall be located immediately adjoining the support structure of the billboard and extend the length of the billboard;

3.

A hedge or other durable planting of a least two (2 ft.) feet in height, attaining within four (4 yrs.) years after planting a minimum height of six (6 ft.) feet;

4.

Single-faced billboard with rear viewable from the public right-of-way or other public property shall have three (3) equally spaced eight (8 ft.) foot tall evergreen trees planted in the rear of the billboard and the reverse side of the sign shall be of one neutral color or natural dark tone.

8.i.10.

General Sign Development Standards:

a.

The visual clearance at intersections shall be governed by the requirements as set forth in 4.h.1. of this Ordinance;

b.

The vehicle area clearance of a sign where vehicles travel or are parked, shall have the bottom of a sign at least fourteen (14) feet above the ground. Vehicle areas include driveways, alleys, parking lots, loading and maneuvering areas;

c.

The pedestrian area clearance of a sign where it extends over a sidewalk, walkway or other space accessible to pedestrians, shall be not less than nine (8 ft.) feet above the ground;

d.

Permanent signs shall be made of metal, rigid plastic, vinyl, or wood treated to be long lasting and other durable materials approved by the Zoning Administrator. Canvas and non-treated wood shall not be used for permanent signs;

e.

Florescent colors may not be used. All normal colors used in a skillfully designed sign are permitted;

f.

Sign illumination shall be achieved by direct lighting only when such lighting is shielded so as to not shine directly on abutting property, or in the line of vision of the public using the streets or sidewalks, and meet UL Standards and shall be inspected by the City-County Inspection Department.

EXHIBIT 19

MAXIMUM TOTAL SIGN AREA BY USE, NUMBER, DIMENSIONS, AND LOCATION OF INDIVIDUAL SIGNS

Note: The maximum total square footage of sign area shall be as follows:

	Maximum Area of Free-Standing Sign (sq. ft.) 1, 2, 3	Height (feet)	Setbacks from All Property lines (feet)	Percentage of Front Wall Area Maximum
All Residential Districts	Project or Subdivision ID sign only (2 per entrance) 40	5	5	N/A
Professional Office	50 (1 sq. ft. per linear front foot Maximum of 50 sq. ft.)	15	5	10%
Neighborhood Commercial	100 (1 sq. ft. per linear front foot Maximum of 100 sq. ft.)	15	5	10%
Limited Commercial	150 (1 sq. ft. per linear front foot Maximum of 150 sq. ft.)	20	5	15%

 

	Maximum Area of Free-Standing Sign (sq. ft.) 1, 2, 3	Height (feet)	Front/Side Setbacks (feet)	Percentage of Wall Area Maximum
General Commercial	200 (1 sq. ft. per linear front foot Maximum of 200 sq. ft.)	30	5	20%
CBD	50 (1 sq. ft. per linear front foot Maximum of 50 sq. ft.)	15	5	25%
Light Industrial	150 (1 sq. ft. per linear front foot Maximum of 150 sq. ft.)	15	5	20%
Heavy Industrial	150 (1 sq. ft. per linear front foot Maximum of 150 sq. ft.)	15	10/20	20%
Agricultural Conservation	100 (1 sq. ft. per linear front foot Maximum of 100 sq. ft.)	10	10/20	32 sq. ft. maximum
Conservation/ Preservation	36	10	10/20	N/A

 

EXHIBIT 20

PERMITTED SIGN BY TYPE AND ZONING CLASSIFICATION

	Free Standing	Building Canopy	Building Marquee	Building Wall	Banner/ Pennant	Flag	V-Shaped Sandwich Board
All Residential Zones	N	N	N	A	N	A	N
Multi-Family	N	N	N	A	N	A	P
Mobile Home Parks	N	N	N	A	N	A	N
Professional Office	P	P	P	P	A	A	P
Neighborhood Commercial	P	P	P	P	A	A	P
Limited Commercial	P	P	P	P	A	A	P
General Commercial	P	P	P	P	A	A	P
CBD	P	P	P	P	A	A	P
Light Industrial	P	P	N	P	A	A	P
Heavy Industrial	P	P	N	P	A	A	P
Agricultural Conservation	P	N	N	P	A	A	P
Conservation Preservation	N	N	N	N	N	A	N

 

A = Allowed without a Sign Permit

P = Allowed with a Sign Permit

N = Not Allowed

(Ord. No. 0A-07-07, § III, 12-11-2007; Ord. No. 08-677, § III, 2-24-2009)

Editor's note

Ordinance No. 08-677, so numbered when adopted, should have been numbered as Ord. No. OA-08-07, and may be redesignated as such within county records.