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SIGN
Any material, structure or part thereof, or any device attached to a building or structure or painted or represented thereon, composed of lettered or pictorial matter, or upon which lettered or pictorial matter is placed and is intended for display of an advertisement, notice, directional matter or name, and includes sign frames, billboards, sign boards, illuminated signs, pennants, fluttering devices, projecting signs or ground signs.
SIGN COPY AREA
The actual area of the background occupied by the sign. It is computed by drawing straight lines adjacent to the closest extremities of the individual letters or words and is computed in the same manner when there is no background area. Where there is no background, the size of the copy area shall be equal to what would be permitted if the background were provided.
SIGN ERECTION
The construction, alteration, repair, display, location or relocation, attachment, placement, suspension, affixage or maintenance of any sign, including the painting of exterior wall signs and the use of any vehicle or other substitute for a sign.
SIGN LIGHTING DEVICE
Any light, string or groups of lights located or arranged so as to cast illumination on or from a sign.
SIGN, BUILDING FRONT OR FACE
The outer surface of a building which is visible from any private or public street, highway or driveway, including signs inside window display areas.
SIGN, BUSINESS
A sign which directs attention to a business, profession or industry conducted upon the premises or to a commodity or service sold or offered by such business, profession or industry upon the premises where such sign is located.
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SIGN, DIRECTIONAL
A sign that directs attention to the location of a local service or place of business.
SIGN, FREESTANDING
A sign or sign support structure that is not attached to, or part of, a building or structure.
SIGN, GROUND
A sign supported by a pole, uprights or braces which are placed in or on the ground.
SIGN, ILLUMINATED
A sign lighted by electricity, gas or other artificial light, including reflective or phosphorescent light, paint or tape.
SIGN, NONCONFORMING
A sign which exists at the time of enactment or amendment of this chapter and which does not conform to the regulations and restrictions imposed herein.
SIGN, OUTDOOR ADVERTISING
A sign which directs attention to a business, profession or industry conducted or a commodity or service sold or offered on a site other than upon the premises where such sign is located.
SIGN, PORTABLE OR MOBILE
A sign that is designed and intended to be transported from place to place and is not permanently affixed to the ground or to a building or structure. Portable signs may or may not have wheels.
SIGN, PROJECTING
A sign which is attached to the exterior of a building or a structure and which extends beyond the surface of that portion of the building or structure to which the sign is attached and not parallel to the face of the building.
SIGN, ROOF
Any sign constructed on or supported by the roof of any building or structure.
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SIGN, TEMPORARY
A sign which is intended to advertise a community or civic project, real estate for sale or lease, or other special events for a limited period of time.
Provisions applicable to all districts.
 
A. Property sign numbering.
 
 (1) All principal structures located within any residential, commercial or industrial zone district shall have or display at least one set of street numbers assigned to it. Numbers must be prominently displayed on the front of each structure. All stores and businesses shall have the numbers displayed at the main entrance.

(2) In the case where the principal structure is not clearly visible from the street or more than 100 feet from the edge of the road right-of-way, a post with the property numbers displayed upon it, not to exceed five feet in height, shall be installed in close proximity to the property access, no less than five feet nor more than 25 feet from the edge of the road right-of-way. All numbers shall be visible from the street and shall not be blocked from view by shrubs, fences and trees or other obstruction.

(3) All numbers shall only be arabic in design, a minimum of five inches in height, and shall sharply contrast in color from the structure.

(4) Address numbers on mail boxes that are clear of any obstruction, including other mail or paper boxes, etc., visible from both directions of travel, at least three inches in height, and which meet all of the other regulations of this section shall be acceptable in lieu of a separate post.

(5) In the case of new construction, no temporary or final certificates of occupancy will be issued until the CEO verifies that such street numbers have been properly installed. Furthermore, no inspection for new construction will be provided until the developer installs the lot number in a prominent location on the site, prior to construction.

(6) The absence of address numbers, or the insecure fastenings or absence of any whole number thereof, or the use of any number not properly assigned by the Town, or its failure to meet the visibility requirements, shall be considered to be in violation of this chapter.

(7) Any structure having street numbers that are arabic in design, logical in sequence, within the distance required, a minimum of four inches in height and of contrasting colors as of the effective date of this chapter shall be deemed to be in compliance with this section.

(8) The Code Enforcement Officer is hereby authorized to grant exemptions from the number and size requirements of this section where public safety is not adversely impacted.

(9) Failure to comply with the property numbering regulations shall be a violation of this chapter.

B. General sign regulations.
 
(1) All signs shall be located on the same site as the use they identify or advertise, unless otherwise provided for in these regulations. No signs shall extend or project beyond the property line or into the public right-of-way.

(2) No sign shall be placed or erected on the roof of a building.

(3) No portable or temporary signs shall be placed upon any premises or on any building except as provided by this chapter.

(4) Any visual message incorporated into an awning/canopy attached to a building or one without a visual message but because of its color, shape, design or lighting, shall be considered a sign and not an environmental shield.

(5) Area of irregularly shaped signs or pane signs of individual letters shall be calculated by using the total rectangular area encompassed by the outline.

Sign maintenance.
 
A. All signs erected and maintained within the Town of Parma shall be kept clean, neatly painted and free from all hazards, such as but not limited to faulty wiring and loose fastenings, and at all times shall be maintained in a safe condition so as not to be detrimental to the public health or safety. Painting, cleaning or repair maintenance shall not be considered a sign erection or alteration, which requires a permit, unless a structural change is made.

B. The Code Enforcement Officer may remove summarily and without notice:
 
(1) Any sign which is a source of immediate peril to persons or property; or

(2) Any such sign placed in a public right-of-way so as to cause a traffic hazard to be removed summarily and without notice.

Noncompliance; penalties for offenses.
 
A. Failure to comply with any of the provisions of this article shall be deemed a violation of this chapter and subject to the penalties set forth in Article IX.

B. The Code Enforcement Officer shall have the authority to enforce the removal of any signs that are in violation of this chapter. Failure to comply with this written order within 10 days shall be considered a violation. If the violation is not corrected within 30 days from the date of such notice, the Town of Parma shall have the authority to remove such sign and to charge the owner for the cost of the removal by adding the costs to the Town tax bill on the property.

C. Prior to the Town's removal of any sign, the owner of the sign may request a hearing before the Zoning Board of Appeals. No action shall be taken by the Town until a decision has been rendered by the Zoning Board of Appeals.
See Procedures Page or § 165-90: Application for sign permit for detailed information about sign permitting.
The following signs shall be prohibited in all districts:
 
(1) Billboards.
(2) Mobile signs including signs attached to vehicles and/or trailers.
(3) Pennants and streamers.
(4) Pole signs.
(5) Roof-mounted signs.
(6) Signs attached to a tree, utility pole or otherwise affixed to anything other than an approved sign support structure.
(7) Signs containing reflective materials.
(8) Signs that obstruct the public right-of-way or obstruct the view of traffic.
(9) Signs that obstruct the view of another sign on an adjacent property.
(10) Television display signs.
Nonconforming, off-premises advertising.
 
A. All signs legally established prior to the effective date of this chapter which do not conform to the regulations contained herein shall be considered nonconforming signs.
(1) Miscellaneous. A sign established prior to the effective date of this chapter pursuant to a special permitted use, variance, exception or other sign permit, license, waiver or consent shall be considered a nonconforming sign.

(2) Off-premises advertising sign. An off-premises advertising sign not situated within a district wherein such a sign may be allowed as specified in this chapter, and such signs situated in any other zone district for which a sign permit is denied, shall be considered nonconforming.

(3) Abatement. All nonconforming signs shall be terminated or brought into compliance within the time periods set forth in the sign depreciation schedule (see § 165-84), except as otherwise provided for by a sign variance granted by the Zoning Board of Appeals.

B. Off-premises advertising signs situated in districts wherein a sign permit is authorized shall be terminated within the time periods set forth in the sign depreciation schedule, except as otherwise provided for by a valid sign permit. No sign permit waiver may be granted for an off-premises advertising sign except for an extension of the continuance period as provided in § 165-84.

Continuation of nonconforming signs.
 
A. Any nonconforming sign lawfully existing at the time of the adoption of this chapter may be continued, provided that it is maintained in good condition.

B. If the ownership of the property on which the sign is located changes hands, the nonconforming sign shall be removed within 60 days of the change in possession. The replaced sign, if any, shall comply with all of the requirements of this chapter.

Abandoned signs and removal of abandoned signs.
 
A. The Code Enforcement Officer (CEO) shall order the removal of any sign which has become abandoned. In making such determination, the CEO shall consider, but need not be limited to, the following elements:
 
(1) Period of nonuse of the activity, product, or service of the sign, provided that where a business activity has been discontinued for a period of 90 days, the sign shall be presumed to have become abandoned unless the owner, beneficial user or other party in interest files a written certification with the CEO that said sign (including its appurtenances) is to be utilized within 30 days following such 90-day period.

(2) The sign is situated upon or incidental to a site which has been scheduled for demolition and it appears that the activity, product, or service is no longer viable irrespective of the lapse of time.

(3) The applicable sign permit time period has expired.

(4) The sign is otherwise nonconforming or illegal and the owner or beneficial user cannot with reasonable diligence be located.

B. Any nonconforming, abandoned or illegal sign existing on or after the effective date of this chapter shall be removed by the owner of the premises upon which such sign is located after written notice as provided herein. Upon removal of any wall sign (including signs painted on walls) the surface area of the facade shall, within 30 days of removal, be restored to a condition substantially equivalent in appearance to the remaining portion of the facade. The CEO, upon determination of the expiration of the continuance period, of any such sign or such other time limit which may be provided for, shall direct the owner or beneficial user of such sign, in writing, to remove the said sign within 30 days from the date of such notice. Upon failure to comply with such notice within the prescribed time, the CEO shall remove or cause removal of such sign, and shall assess all costs and expenses incurred in the said removal against the property on which such sign is located.
Traffic hazard and safety.
 
(1) No permanent or temporary sign shall be erected or placed at or near the intersection of any street in such a manner as to cause a traffic hazard at the intersection; or at any location where, by reason of the placement, design or color of the sign, it may interfere with, obstruct the view of or be confused with any authorized traffic sign, signal or device, or which makes use of the words "Stop," "Look," "Drive-In," "Danger," "Go Slow," "Caution," "Warning," "Right," "Left" or any other words, phrases, symbols or characters in such a manner as to interfere with, mislead or confuse traffic.

(2) No sign shall be animated or flashing or shall include the use of banners, pennants, ribbons, streamers, spinners or similar moving, fluttering or revolving objects.

(3) No sign shall, by its light, brilliance, type, design or character, create a public or private nuisance. The use of a par-spot, beacon light or moving light shall be prohibited. Illumination where permitted must be designed and shielded so that the light sources do not constitute a possible hazard to traffic and cannot be seen from any adjacent residential district. A certificate of approval from an electrical inspection agency that is recognized by the Town Board must be submitted for every electrically illuminated sign.
Purpose.

A. The purpose of this article is to promote and protect the public health, welfare and safety by regulating existing and proposed signs of all types. It is intended to protect property values, create a more attractive economic and business climate, enhance and protect the physical appearance of the community, and preserve the scenic and natural beauty of designated areas. It is further intended to reduce sign or advertising distraction that may contribute to traffic accidents, and to reduce hazards that may be caused by signs overhanging or projecting over public rights-of-way, to prevent one sign from obstructing the view of another sign and to curb the deterioration of natural beauty.

B. No sign or outdoor advertising of any character shall be permitted in any zone district of the Town of Parma except in conformity with the regulations of this chapter.