Covington

Where nonconforming status applies to a use and/or structure, removal or destruction of the structure shall eliminate the nonconforming status of the land. Destruction is defined as damage to an extent of more than 50 percent of the replacement cost.

If any such nonconforming use of land and/or structure ceases for any reason for a period of more than two years, any subsequent use shall conform to the regulations.

On any nonconforming structure or portion of a structure containing a nonconforming use, work may be done in any period of 12 consecutive months on ordinary repairs, or on repair or replacement of nonbearing walls, fixtures, wiring or plumbing, to an extent not exceeding ten percent of the current replacement cost.

If a nonconforming structure or portion thereof containing a nonconforming use becomes physically unsafe or unlawful due to lack of repairs and maintenance, it shall not thereafter be restored, repaired, rebuilt or used except in conformity with the regulations.

No adult use may be established within 750 feet of a residentially zoned district (R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4), nor within 750 feet of any property occupied by a church or other place of worship...

The following signs, displays and devices shall be exempted from the regulations contained in this article: 1. Signs not exceeding one square foot in area and bearing only property numbers...

All signs shall conform to applicable provisions of the Uniform Statewide Building Code... No sign shall be located, arranged or designed so that it interferes with traffic... Animated signs as defined in article I of this chapter shall not be permitted in any district.

Prohibited signs are as follows: 1. Any sign that, due to its size, location, color, or illumination, obscures a sign displayed by a public agency. 2. Any sign, except an official public notice, which is nailed, tacked, posted, or in any other manner attached to any utility pole... 3. Any sign located within a public right-of-way... 4. Flashing or revolving lights... 5. Any sign that simulates an official traffic sign or signal. 6. Any sign or portion thereof that rotates... 7. Billboard signs.

Signs may be illuminated either through the use of backlighting or direct lighting provided the following standards are met: 1. Information on any illumination proposed as part of a sign must be provided by the applicant on the sign permit application. 2. No light from any illuminated sign shall cause direct glare into or upon any building other than the building to which the sign is related. 3. No light from any illuminated sign shall cause direct glare on to any adjoining piece of property, or any adjoining right-of-way. 4. Arrows or other directional indicators on a sign may not be illuminated.

Portable signs as defined in article I of this chapter shall be permitted in designated districts subject to the following limitations: 1. Purpose. A portable sign shall be used only for the purpose of identifying or directing attention to the business, product, commodity or service conducted, sold or offered on the same lot where it is located. 2. Size, location and lighting. Portable signs shall not exceed 32 square feet in area. No portable sign shall be located within five feet of any street right-of-way, other property line or any driveway. No portable sign shall be illuminated. 3. Number of signs. Not more than one portable sign shall be permitted on a lot, except additional portable signs shall be permitted within a shopping center when spaced not less than 200 feet apart and when not more than one such sign is erected for a particular business. 4. Permits required. A permit shall be required for each portable sign.

Banner signs as defined in article I of this chapter shall be permitted as temporary signs in designated districts subject to the following limitations: 1. Purpose. A banner sign shall be used only for the purpose of identifying or directing attention to the business, product, commodity or service conducted, sold or offered on the same lot where such sign is located. 2. Area and number. ... 3. Duration and frequency. No banner sign shall be displayed for a period exceeding 120 days, nor shall banner signs be displayed on a lot more frequently than two times in a calendar year. 4. Attachment. Banner signs shall be securely fastened... Banner signs shall be erected a minimum of seven feet above grade, except where mounted flush against the face of a building. 5. Permits required. A permit shall be required for each banner sign.

Any use which is permissible as a special exception in a district under the terms of this ordinance shall not be deemed a nonconforming use in such district.

The following signs shall be permitted in all districts, and the area of such signs shall not be included in calculating the maximum permitted area of signs on any lot. 1. Temporary signs. One or more temporary signs not exceeding an aggregate area of six square feet shall be permitted in the residential zoning districts, provided such signs shall not be illuminated. One or more temporary signs not exceeding an aggregate area of 18 square feet shall be permitted in commercial or industrial zoning districts. Any such sign shall not be located within ten feet of any developed public right-of-way. Permits for such signs shall not be required. 2. On-site directional signs. Signs directing and guiding traffic on private property when such signs do not exceed eight square feet in area. If freestanding, such signs shall not exceed four feet in height or be located within three feet of a street line or other property line.

In addition to the regulations generally applicable to signs in all districts, the signs shall be permitted and the following regulations shall apply in the R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4 and UR residential districts. 1. Identification sign. One identification sign not exceeding two square feet in area. 2. Residential neighborhood signs. A maximum of 32 square feet in area shall be permitted at each principal entrance to the neighborhood. No residential neighborhood shall be allowed more than two signs. Residential neighborhood signs may include freestanding signs. 3. Freestanding signs. The following restrictions shall apply to all freestanding signs permitted by the provisions of this section: a. No freestanding sign shall exceed a height of eight feet. b. No freestanding sign shall be located within five feet of any developed public right-of-way.

In addition to the regulations generally applicable to signs in all districts, the following signs shall be permitted and the following regulations shall apply in the R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4 and UR residential districts.

In addition to the regulations generally applicable to signs in all districts, the following signs shall be permitted and the following regulations shall apply in commercial and manufacturing districts. 1. Maximum permitted sign area. For lots with a combined width of 33 feet or less along their principal street frontage, the combined surface area of all signs for the lot shall not exceed 50 square feet. For all other lots the aggregate area of all permanent signs located on a lot shall not exceed 1½ square feet for each linear foot of lot frontage along the street, nor in any case exceeding 300 square feet... 2. Maximum number of signs. Not more than five permanent signs shall be provided on a lot except a shopping center... 3. Wall signs. Signs may be attached flat against a wall... 4. Projecting signs. Signs attached to and projecting from the face of a wall... 5. Awning and canopy signs. ... 6. Freestanding signs. One freestanding sign shall be permitted along each street frontage of 100 feet or more in length... 7. Portable signs and banner signs. ... 8. Electronic message board signs. One electronic message board sign shall be permitted per premises... 9. The height and area requirements for commercial, M-1, and M-2 signs may be increased by special exception permit...

In addition to the regulations generally applicable to signs in all districts, the following signs shall be permitted and the following regulations shall apply in commercial and manufacturing districts.

In addition to the regulations generally applicable to signs in all districts, the following signs shall be permitted and the following regulations shall apply in the conservation district. (1) Identification signs. Not more than two identification signs with a total area of not more than 32 square feet shall be permitted. (2) Temporary signs. Not more than two temporary signs or banner signs with a total area of not more than 32 square feet shall be permitted in connection with special events, provided that such signs shall be displayed no longer than the duration of the event plus one week before it begins. (3) Location of signs. No sign shall be erected within ten feet of any residential property line or within 5 feet of any developed public right-of-way. (4) Height. No sign shall exceed a height of eight feet.

In addition to the regulations generally applicable to signs in all districts, the following signs shall be permitted and the following regulations shall apply in the conservation district.

Any sign which was lawfully existing on the effective date of the ordinance from which this article is derived, or which was lawfully existing on the date of any subsequent amendment to this article, and which does not conform to the provisions of this article, shall be deemed to be a nonconforming sign. (b) Any nonconforming sign may be continued, maintained, and repaired, but shall not be: (1) Expanded, enlarged, or extended; (2) Altered, changed, or modified in any manner that increases the degree of nonconformity; (3) Reconstructed, replaced, or relocated; (4) Reestablished after a discontinuance of more than 12 months; (5) Restored after damage or destruction of more than 50 percent of its value; or (6) Converted to a different sign type or a different sign use.