§ 175-13.4, § 175-13.7

Signage

• Abandoned sign removal

  A sign shall be removed by the owner or lessee of the premises upon which the sign is located when the business which it advertises is no longer on the premises. If not removed, the Zoning Administrator shall give 30 days' notice.

• Construction sign removal period14 days

  Such signs shall be removed within 14 days following completion of the project.

• Exempt signs (no permit required)

  Official traffic signs, commemorative plaques, address signs ≤4 sqft, flags ≤50 sqft each and max 3 per lot, handicapped parking signs, security/warning signs ≤4 sqft, political signs ≤32 sqft, real estate signs ≤32 sqft and height ≤6ft and one per parcel, construction signs ≤12 sqft and height ≤6ft and one per road frontage and removed within 14 days, subdivision signs ≤40 sqft and height ≤6ft, signs within ball parks.

• Flashing light restriction

  No sign shall display flashing or intermittent lights, or other lights of changing degrees of intensity, brightness or color, except a sign indicating time or temperature, which changes alteration on not less than a five-second cycle.

• External luminous tube sign prohibitedProhibitedNot allowed in the district at all, short of rezoning or a variance.

  Any luminous tube (neon or xenon) sign external to a building is prohibited.

• Maximum address/identification sign area4 sqftsq ftSquare feet. An acre is 43,560 sq ft; a typical suburban lot is 7,000–10,000.

  Address or identification sign, indicating the address and/or names of occupants of the premises, not exceeding four square feet in area.

• Maximum construction sign area12 sqftsq ftSquare feet. An acre is 43,560 sq ft; a typical suburban lot is 7,000–10,000.

  The total area of all such signs shall not exceed 12 square feet.

• Maximum construction sign heightMaximum heightThe tallest a building may be, given in feet, in storeys, or both — whichever binds first.6 ft

  Construction signs... limited to a maximum height of six feet.

• Maximum flag area50 sqftsq ftSquare feet. An acre is 43,560 sq ft; a typical suburban lot is 7,000–10,000.

  No single flag shall exceed 50 square feet in area and no single zoning lot shall display more than three such flags.

• Maximum number of flags per lot3 count

  No single zoning lot shall display more than three such flags.

• Maximum political campaign sign area32 sqftsq ftSquare feet. An acre is 43,560 sq ft; a typical suburban lot is 7,000–10,000.

  Political campaign signs on private property up to a maximum of 32 square feet in area.

• Maximum projecting sign projection4 ft

  No projecting sign shall be erected or maintained from a building more than four feet, measured perpendicularly from the building.

• Maximum real estate sign area32 sqftsq ftSquare feet. An acre is 43,560 sq ft; a typical suburban lot is 7,000–10,000.

  The total aggregate sign area shall not exceed 32 square feet.

• Maximum real estate sign heightMaximum heightThe tallest a building may be, given in feet, in storeys, or both — whichever binds first.6 ft

  No real estate sign shall exceed a height of six feet.

• Maximum security/warning sign area4 sqftsq ftSquare feet. An acre is 43,560 sq ft; a typical suburban lot is 7,000–10,000.

  Security and warning signs posted on private property warning the public against trespassing, hunting, fishing or similar messages, provided that any such sign does not exceed four square feet in area.

• Maximum subdivision/planned development sign area40 sqftsq ftSquare feet. An acre is 43,560 sq ft; a typical suburban lot is 7,000–10,000.

  Freestanding, ground-mounted or monument signs, not exceeding a total of 40 square feet in area for the identification of a subdivision or planned development.

• Maximum subdivision sign heightMaximum heightThe tallest a building may be, given in feet, in storeys, or both — whichever binds first.6 ft

  No subdivision or planned development sign shall exceed a height of six feet.

• NonconformingNonconformingLawful when built, but not compliant with the rules now in force; usually allowed to continue but not to expand. sign restrictions

  No nonconforming sign shall be enlarged nor be worded so as to advertise or identify any use other than that in effect at the time it became nonconforming. Such signs shall not be enlarged, extended or structurally reconstructed or altered, except a sign face may be changed if equal or reduced in size. If destroyed, must comply with all provisions.

• ProhibitedProhibitedNot allowed in the district at all, short of rezoning or a variance. signs in all districts

  Any sign that violates any law, any sign using 'stop' or 'danger', any moving sign, any sign with pennants/ribbons/streamers, any sign attached to utility pole/tree, any sign in public right-of-way, any sign above roofline, any sign on vehicle except decals/magnetic/painted, any luminous tube external to building.

• Sign above roofline prohibitedProhibitedNot allowed in the district at all, short of rezoning or a variance.

  Any sign located above the roofline of a building is prohibited.

• Sign area measurement method

  The sign area shall be measured as the area of a sign face within the smallest area that encompasses the limits of the letters, figures, designs, devices, pictures, projected images, symbols, fixtures, logos, emblems or insignias, together with any materials or colors forming an integral part of the background. For double-faced signs, one side only is counted.

• Sign heightMaximum heightThe tallest a building may be, given in feet, in storeys, or both — whichever binds first. measurement method

  The sign height shall be measured as the vertical distance from the normal grade directly below the sign to the highest point of the sign or sign structure, whichever is higher, and shall include the sign base.

• Sign in public right-of-way prohibitedProhibitedNot allowed in the district at all, short of rezoning or a variance.

  Any sign placed in any public right-of-way except publicly owned signs, such as traffic control signs and directional signs.

• Sign on utility pole/tree prohibitedProhibitedNot allowed in the district at all, short of rezoning or a variance.

  Any sign, except official notices and advertisements, which is nailed, tacked, posted, placed or in any other manner attached to any utility pole or structure for supporting wire, cable, or pipe, or to any tree on any street or sidewalk.

• Sign on vehicle restriction

  Any sign attached to, or placed on, a vehicle or trailer parked on public or private property, except for signs displayed on vehicles that are decals, magnetic signs or painted on vehicles used in the daily function of the business to which such signs relate.

• Sign permit required

  No sign, unless herein exempted, shall be erected, constructed, posted, altered, painted, or relocated except as provided in this article and in these regulations, until a zoning permit has been approved and issued by the Mathews County Department of Planning and Zoning.

• Sign removal notice period30 days

  The Zoning Administrator may order the removal of any sign erected or maintained in violation of this chapter. He shall give 30 days' notice in writing to the owner.

• Sign side yardYardThe open space left between a building and its lot line — the space a setback creates. setbackSetbackThe distance a building must be held back from a lot line.10 ft

  Freestanding, ground-mounted or monument signs shall be subject to a ten-foot side yard setback.

• Structural requirements

  All signs shall meet the structural requirements for same as set forth in the Uniform State-wide Building Code.

• Structure frontageFrontageThe length of a lot line that touches a public street. measurement

  The structure frontage is the horizontal length of the outside structure wall of the establishment adjacent to a right-of-way.