The purpose of this section is to promote and protect the public health, welfare and safety by regulating existing and proposed outdoor advertising, outdoor advertising signs and outdoor 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 and historical heritage of the community, and provide a more enjoyable and pleasing community. It is further intended hereby to reduce the sign or advertising distractions and obstructions that may contribute to traffic accidents, reduce hazards that may be caused by signs overhanging or projecting over public rights-of-way and curb the deterioration of the community environment.
COMMERCIAL SIGN
Any sign fabricated, constructed, attached, erected, fastened, painted or manufactured in any manner and displayed out of doors for the purpose of inducing the sale of any merchandise or service or promoting the business, opinion or policy of any person, party, firm, association, group or corporation other than that offered or conducted on the premises on which it stands.
COMMUNITY SIGNS OR BANNERS
A sign or banner, erected by the Town of Stratford, primarily identifying the Town of Stratford, individual Town-owned properties or special public events.
FREESTANDING SIGN
Any sign which is supported by or suspended from one or more uprights, braces or other means of support in or upon the ground.
OUTDOOR ADVERTISING OR IDENTIFICATION SIGN
Any sign fabricated, constructed, attached, erected, fastened, painted or manufactured in any manner and displayed either out of doors or indoors but visible from out-of-doors for recognized advertising purposes related directly to the business or service rendered by the occupant of the premises.
PROJECTING SIGN
Any sign extending perpendicular to a building or extending more than 12 inches from the building wall or parts thereof.
ROOF SIGN
Any sign, or part thereof, erected, constructed and maintained above the eaves of, or attached to, the roof of any building.
WALL SIGN
Any sign which is affixed to the exterior surface of any building or canopy, and projecting not more than 12 inches from the building wall or parts thereof.
WINDOW SIGN
Any sign affixed to a window or displayed within three feet of the interior of the window.
The area of a sign shall be considered that of the smallest rectangle or square which encompasses all lettering, wording design or symbols together with any background which is designed as an integral part of and obviously related to the sign. Any sign may be double-faced but only one face shall be counted in determining conformity with these Regulations. All faces of a multifaced sign, however, will be counted in determining conformity with these Regulations. The height of a sign shall be considered the distance from the base of the sign at normal grade to the top of the highest component of the sign including the pole.
16.4.1 
No outdoor advertising or commercial sign shall be displayed in the Town of Stratford except in accordance with these Regulations and until a permit for the same has been issued by the Building Inspector following receipt of a zoning compliance report from the office of planning and zoning, except as hereinafter provided. Window signs are exempt from the permit requirements.
16.4.2 
The fee for such permit shall be payable in full at the time of application for such permit, and shall be in accordance with the permit fee schedule as determined by the Building Inspection Department and the Zoning Commission.
16.4.3 
An application, accompanied by a scale drawing, shall be made in writing for each separate permit to the Building Inspector upon a form approved by him. Such application shall set forth the name and address of the applicant, the location by street and number where such sign is to be erected or located, the name and address of the owner of the property, the size, type and general description of such proposed sign, including the materials of which it is constructed, the zone in which it is located and such other pertinent information required or deemed necessary to determine the sign's safety and conformity to these Regulations. [Effective 5-25-1982]
16.4.4 
Maintenance of signs: All signs, together with their supports, braces, guys and anchors, shall be kept in good repair and in a safe condition. The owner of a sign, and the owner of the premises on which it stands, shall be responsible for keeping such sign and ground around it in a safe, sanitary, neat and clean condition. Failure to comply with the conditions of this section shall be a violation of these Regulations, subject to penalties prescribed in Section 17.
16.5.1 
Signs shall be a subordinate part of the streetscape rather than the dominant features. Properly designed signs can communicate names and addresses of occupants clearly and add interest in building facades without overpowering them.
16.5.2 
No legally existing sign shall be altered, rebuilt, enlarged, extended or relocated except in accordance with the provisions of these Regulations.
16.5.3 
If any nonconforming wall sign or freestanding sign is discontinued or requires replacement or alteration due to a change in use of the premises, such replacement sign must conform to these Regulations if more than 25% of the freestanding signage or 25% of the total front wall signage is replaced or altered. The repainting or repair of existing nonconforming signs is permitted only for the same use and only by the same tenant on the premises.
16.5.4 
When a business or service using an identification sign is discontinued the sign shall be removed within 10 working days.
16.6.1 
Signs in Residential Districts.
16.6.1.1 
One sign not exceeding two square feet in area and located back of the front lot line, giving only the name of the dwelling or its occupant, or one sign not exceeding two square feet in area and located back of the front lot line announcing the existence of an enterprise permitted on the premises. For residential developments of 10 units or more one sign not exceeding 16 square feet in area and located back of the front lot line is permitted. Such signs shall be either a freestanding or wall sign provided they are nonilluminated, and colonial in appearance and style. Such signs are exempt from the permit requirements.
TYPES OF SIGNS
A220 Types of Signs.tif
16.6.2 
Signs in a Resource Conservation District.
16.6.2.1 
Since the Resource Conservation District was designed to protect environmentally sensitive areas, all signs are subject to the administrative approval of the Zoning Commission. All signs shall be made of wood only, shall not be illuminated and shall be finished with nontoxic materials.
16.6.3 
Signs in LB, LBB, CNC, CF and WF Districts. Signs in Residential Districts on Main Street are approved under Section 3.19 of the Zoning Regulations.
16.6.3.1 
Wall signs.
A) 
Wall signs are permitted on the front fascia of the building and shall not exceed 0.66 square foot of sign area for each lineal foot of building frontage. Wall signs are permitted on the side fascia of the building and shall not exceed 0.33 square foot of sign area for each lineal foot of building side.
B) 
Signs may be illuminated by exterior methods only.
C) 
Where more than one sign is installed on a building they shall be uniform in design, material and shape.
D) 
There shall be a maximum of two wall signs per building face per tenant.
E) 
Signage is allowed on each building face other than on the rear but in no instance shall two building faces be combined to produce a greater amount of signage than that one face allows.
16.6.3.2 
Freestanding signs.
A) 
One freestanding sign is permitted if the property has a minimum of 100 feet of street frontage on one street and it complies with the following height and size limitations:
1. 
A sign not exceeding four feet in height and not exceeding 20 square feet of signage or,
2. 
A sign over four feet in height but not exceeding eight feet in height and not exceeding 16 square feet of signage.
B) 
The front yard setback of all freestanding signs shall be 1/2 the setback requirement of the district in which it is located.
C) 
Signs may be illuminated by exterior methods only.
D) 
Directional signs not exceeding 1.0 square foot of signage indicating the direction of vehicles on the premises.
E) 
Freestanding signs for gas stations shall not exceed 10 feet in height and 40 square feet in size.
16.6.3.3 
Window signs.
A) 
The total square footage of all window signs shall not exceed 50% of the total window display area.
16.6.4 
Signs in an Office Park District.
16.6.4.1 
Freestanding signs.
A) 
Only one ground sign visible from a public road is permitted and shall not exceed 50 square feet nor exceed five feet in height.
B) 
One additional freestanding sign not visible from a public road is permitted for each building in the office park provided each sign does not exceed 20 square feet, nor exceed five feet in height.
C) 
Directional signs indicating traffic flow not exceeding four square feet per sign.
D) 
Signs may be illuminated by exterior methods only.
16.6.4A 
Signs in a planned economic development.
16.6.4A.1 
Signs. Except as provided hereinafter, signs shall comply with the provisions of Section 16.6.4.
16.6.4A.2 
One freestanding sign not exceeding 50 square feet in area and not more than 10 feet in height, limited to the name of the development, shall be permitted at each ingress from a public street bordering the tract. In addition, a second freestanding directory sign not exceeding 30 square feet and eight feet in height may be placed at each ingress not nearer than 30 feet from the public street providing access to the development to provide directions only to occupants of buildings accessible by means of driveways located within 300 feet thereof.
16.6.4A.3 
One freestanding sign not exceeding 30 square feet in area and not more than eight feet in height, identifying the occupant or occupants of the building, shall be permitted at each ingress to a building site as well as along any street bordering the site from which no access is provided.
16.6.4A.4 
Directional signs, each not exceeding six square feet in area and not more than five feet in height, may be placed as required, giving the direction to a building or group of buildings, use or parking and loading areas.
16.6.5 
Signs in CA, CC, MA, MB and MC Districts.
16.6.5.1 
Wall signs.
A) 
Wall signs are permitted on the front fascia of the building and shall not exceed 1.0 square foot of sign area for each lineal foot of building frontage.
B) 
Wall signs are permitted on the side fascia of the building and shall not exceed 0.50 square foot of signage for each lineal foot of building side. Wall signs are permitted on the rear fascia of the building only when such signs face or are primarily intended to be visible from the Connecticut Turnpike and shall not exceed 1.0 square feet of signage for each lineal foot of the building's width along the rear. Signs on the rear fascia of a building shall not be illuminated when facing a residential area.
C) 
Where more than one sign is installed on a building they shall be uniform in design, material and shape.
D) 
There shall be a maximum of two wall signs per building face per tenant.
E) 
Signage is allowed on each building face other than on the rear but in no instance shall two building faces be combined to produce a greater amount of signage than that one face allows.
16.6.5.2 
Freestanding signs.
A) 
One freestanding sign is permitted if the property has a minimum of 50 feet of street frontage on one street and it complies with the following height and size limitations as shown in the following matrix.
16.6.5.3 
Commercial signs.
A) 
A commercial sign which preexisting the enactment of this regulation is permitted, subject to special case approval, to be relocated from its original location to another location on the same property, rebuilt or replaced to updated standards or technology, provided the display area is of the same dimension as the preexisting sign; and, as to signs adjacent to I-95, the display area is the same height above I-95, the display area is the same height above I-95 as the original sign. If the property does not abut I-95, commercial signs are not to exceed the surveyed height of the existing sign.
Maximum Square Footage of Freestanding Signs
Height of sign
Properties with a minimum of 50 feet of street frontage on one street
Properties with a minimum of 100 feet of street frontage on one street
Properties with a minimum of 200 feet or more of street frontage on one street
Properties with a minimum of 300 feet or more of street frontage on one street
Signs five feet in height (maximum)
12
32
44
56
Signs over five feet in height but not exceeding 10 feet in height
9
24
36
44
B) 
The front yard setback for all freestanding signs shall be 1/2 the setback requirement of the district in which it is located.
C) 
Directional signs not exceeding 1.0 square foot of signage indicating the direction of vehicles on the premises.
D) 
A second freestanding sign is permitted if the property has a minimum of 1,000 feet of street frontage on one street provided the second sign shall also comply with the height and signage limitations shown in Section 16.6.5.2A above.
E) 
Freestanding signs for gas station shall not exceed 10 feet in height and 40 square feet in size.
16.6.6 
Signs in RS/TH Districts.
16.6.6.1 
Wall signs.
A) 
Wall signs are permitted only on the front fascia of the building and shall not exceed 0.50 square foot of sign area for each lineal foot of building frontage. If a freestanding sign also is erected then the maximum size of a front wall sign shall not exceed 0.25 square foot of signage for each lineal foot of building frontage.
B) 
Signs may be illuminated by exterior methods only.
16.6.6.2 
Freestanding signs.
A) 
One freestanding sign is permitted if the sign complies with the following height and size limitations:
1. 
A sign not exceeding four feet in height and not exceeding eight square feet of signage.
B) 
The front yard setback of all freestanding signs shall be 1/2 the setback requirement of the district in which it is located.
C) 
Signs may be illuminated by exterior methods only.
D) 
Directional signs not exceeding 1.0 square foot of signage indicating the direction of vehicles on the premises.
16.6.6.3 
Window signs.
A) 
The total square footage of all window signs shall not exceed 20% of the total window display area. Neon signs and/or lighting fixtures are prohibited.
16.6.6.4 
Community signs or banners. A community sign or banner carrying a business sponsorship may be erected on Town property or within a public right-of-way, subject to site plan approval of the Zoning Commission and meeting the following conditions:
1. 
The sponsorship area shall be limited to 25% of the total area of the sign or banner and shall not exceed 12 inches in height.
2. 
The sponsorship shall carry only the name of the business, institution or person providing the sponsorship. Additional information, such as a logo, address, phone number, etc., is not permitted.
3. 
When sponsorships are to be included in a series of signs or banners at multiple locations in Town, sponsorships will be limited to one like sign or banner per business.
4. 
In granting its approval, the Zoning Commission must determine that the proposed sponsorship is secondary to the purpose of the community sign and could not be substantially identified as a freestanding advertisement.
16.6.7 
Signs in CA/TH, MA/TH and WF/TH Districts.
16.6.7.1 
Wall signs.
A) 
Wall signs are permitted only on the front fascia of the building and shall not exceed 0.66 square foot of sign area for each lineal foot of building frontage. If a freestanding sign also is erected then the maximum size of a front wall sign shall not exceed 0.35 square foot of signage for each lineal foot of building frontage.
B) 
Signs may be illuminated by exterior methods only.
16.6.7.2 
Freestanding signs.
A) 
One freestanding sign is permitted if it complies with the following height and size limitations.
1. 
A sign not exceeding four feet in height and not exceeding 12 square feet of signage; or
2. 
A sign over four feet in height but not exceeding eight feet in height and not exceeding 10 square feet of signage.
B) 
The front yard setback of all freestanding signs shall be 1/2 the setback requirement of the district in which it is located.
C) 
Signs may be illuminated by exterior methods only.
D) 
Directional signs not exceeding 1.0 square foot of signage indicating the direction of vehicles on the premises.
16.6.7.3 
Window signs.
A) 
The total square footage of all window signs shall not exceed 25% of the total window display area. Neon signs and/or lighting fixtures may be permitted subject to site plan approval where they are designed to be compatible with the buildings historic and/or architectural character.
16.6.8 
Signs permitted in all Districts.
16.6.8.1 
A sign erected by any fraternal, civic, religious or service organization or club, merely announcing its presence in the Town of Stratford and the time and place of its regular meeting, provided such sign shall not exceed three feet in diameter, or be more than nine square foot in area. Such signs are exempt from the permit requirements. Signs by the above nonprofit organizations for temporary events or functions are permitted to be erected on designated Town properties subject to the following restrictions.
A) 
Signs are only permitted on Paradise Green and on the West Broad Street Green.
B) 
Approval from the Planning and Zoning Office shall be obtained.
C) 
Signs may only be erected within four weeks prior to an event and shall be removed within 48 business hours after termination of the event.
D) 
There shall be a maximum of 12 such signs for any location.
E) 
Only signs advertising events or functions in the Town of Stratford are permitted.
16.6.8.2 
Any flag, badge, insignia or device of any governmental agency, or civic, charitable, religious, patriotic, fraternal or similar nonprofit organization when located on its own premises, or displayed along a line of march of any parade, or in sockets along any street during a fundraising drive. Such signs are exempt from the permit requirements.
16.6.8.3 
Any sign required by regulation or statute of the federal, state or municipal government or department, board or commission thereof. Such signs are exempt from the permit requirements.
16.7.1 
Signs erected in such a manner that it obstructs clear vision for a distance of 20 feet from any street intersection. Signs erected in such a location that any traffic control device shall be in a direct line between the sign and oncoming traffic.
16.7.2 
Signs affixed to any building wall, roof or structure extending beyond the corner of the building or building roof lines, or covering any window, doorway, or other existing architectural feature. Wall signs projecting more than 12 inches from their mounting wall.
16.7.3 
Electronic message signs excluding theater marquee signs and gasoline dealer price signs. Flashing, revolving or animated signs of intermittent or varying light intensity including such signs located inside a building but visible outside the building.
16.7.4 
Signs employing any lighting or control mechanism which causes radio or television interference.
16.7.5 
Signs placed in such a manner as to obstruct any fire escape, window, door or opening used as a means of egress or ingress or for firefighting purposes or placed so as to interfere with any opening required for legal ventilation.
16.7.6 
Signs, with the exception of canopy signs, projecting over any sidewalk.
16.7.7 
Banners, streamer type signs and any non-rigid material for signs.
16.7.8 
Portable signs, except as provided for in Section 16.8.6.
16.7.9 
Commercial signs.
16.7.10 
Signs which face or are primarily intended to be visible from the Merritt Parkway, except where another public right of way separates the premises from the Merritt Parkway.
16.7.11 
Signs greater than three feet in height placed at street intersections within the area formed by a line joining points on each front lot line 20 feet from the intersection of the street lines.
16.8.1 
Signs placed on the premises of a building being constructed, repaired, altered or demolished, provided the cost of the sign is included in the building permit, does not exceed eight square feet in size for residential property and 16 square feet in size for commercial property and is removed immediately upon completion of the work.
16.8.2 
Signs advertising the prospective sale, rental or lease of the lot or building located thereon when such sign does not exceed eight square feet in size for residential property and 16 square feet in size for commercial property. Signs advertising individual rooms for rent not exceeding two square feet in size provided that all signs be located on the property. Such signs must be removed within seven days after the closing or the signing of the rent or lease agreement and are exempt from the permit requirements.
16.8.3 
Holiday decorations (noncommercial wording) or holiday lighting.
16.8.4 
Sign or signs for a political organization may be erected as follows:
(a) 
The maximum total square footage of any sign shall not exceed eight square feet and shall be located on privately owned land or in the immediate street right-of-way as long as the sign is a minimum of five feet from the road and 15 feet from any fire hydrant and shall be set back from intersections and driveways so as to not interfere with sightlines. Such signs are exempt from the permit requirements.
(b) 
Recommendations for erection and removal of signs.
(1) 
Regular elections- signs erected not earlier than the first Tuesday after Labor Day prior to Election Day.
(2) 
Primary, special elections or referendum- signs erected not earlier than 25 days prior to balloting.
(3) 
Signs removed within five days of the balloting except in the instance of a primary, special election or referendum that occurs within the regular November election sequence, such signs to be removed within five days of the regular election.
16.8.5 
Grand opening signs for new business establishments subject to the following conditions:
a) 
The signs shall be constructed of cloth, vinyl, canvas or similar material.
b) 
The signs shall be displayed for a period not greater than 21 days.
c) 
The signs shall be mounted to the wall of the building and shall not exceed two square feet of sign area for each lineal foot of building frontage.
d) 
No sign or device held in the air by balloon or other means and no searchlights shall be permitted.
16.8.6 
One freestanding portable sign per tenant shall be permitted on site in all nonresidence districts subject to the following:
a) 
Signs cannot be permanently installed in the ground, must be self supporting/portable and cannot be attached to an immovable object such as a structure, light pole or railing.
b) 
The signs must be for that business use and must be located directly in front of that business on the same property and must be located within five feet of the building.
c) 
Freestanding portable signs shall be no larger than 24 inches wide by 40 inches high in size per side (maximum of two sides).
d) 
Signs may only be displayed during the hours that the business is open. Signs must be removed when the business is not open.
e) 
Signs may not be located in parking spaces and must not interfere with pedestrian traffic or block sight lines for drivers.
f) 
Signs may not be internally or externally illuminated or have any moving parts.
16.9.1 
Any person, firm, association or corporation who, having been notified in writing to discontinue any violation of these Regulations shall be subject to penalties prescribed in Section 17.2 if such violations are not corrected within 10 days.