§ 895-5. Construction of Signs.  


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  • No person shall construct an outdoor advertising sign:

    (a)

    As a roof sign.

    (b)

    Within 200 feet in any direction of any school or hospital.

    (c)

    Within 100 feet in any direction of a residential district boundary line.

    (d)

    In any park, parkway, or playground under the jurisdiction of the board of park commissioners or the recreation commission, the establishment of which has been authorized by council, or within 200 feet in any direction of the boundary of any such park, parkway or playground.

    (e)

    As a double-faced, side-by-side, stacked, or decked sign, with a combined sign face area of more than 150 square feet.

    (f)

    With a face area greater than 672 square feet inclusive of any border and trim, but excluding the base or apron, cutouts, supports and other structural members.

    (g)

    Closer to the street than the building set-back line, and no portion of any outdoor advertising sign may be placed on, or extend over the right- of-way line of any street or highway.

    (h)

    On any publicly-owned real property without permission.

    (i)

    As a ground sign more than 40 feet above the grade of the lot or location being occupied by such sign, or the average natural grade at the sign location, if higher. Provided, however, in the instance of a street or highway which is higher than the grade of the lot or location to be occupied by the sign, the height shall be measured from the center line of the pavement at such location, but in no event shall the maximum height exceed 40 feet.

    (j)

    On any property located within an Urban Design Overlay District established pursuant to Title XIV, Chapter 1437 of the Cincinnati Municipal Code, except as noted below for Preexisting Lawful Signs.

    (k)

    On any property located within a Historic District or Historic Landmark established pursuant to Title XIV, Chapter 1435 of the Cincinnati Municipal Code, except as noted below for Preexisting Lawful Signs.

    (l)

    The provisions of subsections (j) and (k) above shall not apply to signs lawfully constructed or erected prior to March 25, 1989 ("Preexisting Lawful Sign"). In the event a Preexisting Lawful Sign is removed by the City for any reason, the sign may be relocated to, or a new sign of equal or lesser sign face area and height may be constructed or erected in, an alternative location within the same Urban Design Overlay District or Historic District upon the review and approval by the applicable reviewing authority for new construction in the Urban Design Overlay District or Historic District. Any new sign constructed or erected in accordance with this subsection (l) shall comply with all of the prohibitions of this Section 895-5 except for subsections (f) and (i) above as the new sign may have an equal or lesser sign face area and height as the removed sign.

(C.M.C. 895-5; ordained by Ord. No. 65-1989, eff. Mar. 25, 1989; a. Ord. No. 384-1991, eff. Oct. 18, 1991; a. Ord. No. 186-1996, eff. June 12, 1996; a. Ord. No. 0226-2007, § 5, eff. July 6, 2007; a. Ord. No. 020-2013, § 1, eff. March 1, 2013)