Address: one (1) sign displaying the street
number or name of the occupant of the premises, or both.
Awning: a sign painted on or attached to the
cover of a movable metallic frame of the hinged, roll or folding type
of awning.
A.
Such sign must be painted on or attached flat against
the surface of the awning but may not extend beyond the valance or
be attached to the underside.
B.
Letters shall not exceed ten (10) inches in height.
C.
A minimum of eight (8) feet above sidewalk level must
be allowed for pedestrian clearance.
D.
The awning sign area shall be calculated in the total
allowable sign area for wall signs.
Construction: an on-premises sign identifying
the contractor, architect, landscape architect and/or engineer's name,
address and other pertinent information.
A.
Such signs shall not exceed twelve (12) square feet
and shall be set back behind the property line.
B.
Such a sign may be maintained on the building or property
for the interim of construction and not more than thirty (30) days
following the issuance of a use and occupancy certificate or completion
of said construction.
[Amended STM 4-6-1993, Art. 4, approved 7-16-1993; STM 4-6-1993, Art. 5, approved 7-16-1993; AFTM 11-30-2007, Art. 37,
approved 2-11-2008]
For sale, rent, lease or construction: an on-premises
sign advertising the property being sold, leased, rented or constructed,
including new construction or renovation.
A.
Such sign shall not exceed six (6) square feet.
B.
Such signs shall advertise only the property on which the sign is located, except as provided for in § 184-32D.
C.
A maximum of two (2) such signs may be maintained
on any property being sold, leased, rented, built or renovated, and
they shall be removed by the owner or agent within three (3) days
of sale, lease, rent or completion of work.
Freestanding: a self-supporting sign not attached
to any building, wall or fence but in a fixed location. This does
not include movable, portable or mobile type signs.
A.
Dimensional standards for freestanding signs in different
zoning districts, according to use, are specified in the table below:
[Amended AFTM 11-13-2007, Art. 38, approved 2-11-2008]
|
Business, Industrial, Public
Use and Marine Districts
|
All Other Districts
| |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Dimension
|
All Permitted Uses
|
Shopping Center
|
Shopping Mall
|
Residential Uses
|
Community Service Uses
| |
|
Height, maximum feet
|
18
|
18
|
18
|
8
|
12
| |
|
Area, including all outward side of
signs, maximum (square feet)
|
16
|
40
|
100
|
2
|
16
| |
|
Ground clearance, minimum (feet)2
|
7
|
7
|
7
|
4
|
7
| |
|
Notes:
| |||
|
1.
|
In all other districts, each premises on which there exists or is permitted any business activity, including agriculture, horticulture and floriculture (other than home occupation), duly authorized by special permit, variance or exception under Chapter 240, Zoning, shall be allowed to use the business and industrial use column of this table; however:
| ||
|
a.
|
Commercial accommodations with sleeping
accommodations for five (5) to twenty (20) guests may have a maximum
sign area of eight (8) square feet.
| ||
|
b.
|
Commercial accommodations with sleeping
accommodations for less than five (5) guests shall may have a maximum
sign area of four (4) square feet.
| ||
|
2.
|
Exception: The sign may be constructed
with less than the minimum ground clearance if there is adequate visibility
for vehicles and adequate protection for pedestrian safety.
| ||
|
3.
|
For permitted uses, a multitenant building
with two (2) commercial tenants can have eight square feet for each
tenant for a sixteen-square-foot sign. A multitenant building with
three (3) commercial tenants can have eight square feet for each tenant
for a twenty-four square foot sign. A multitenant building with four
(4) commercial tenants can have eight square feet for each tenant
for a thirty-two-square-foot sign.
[Added STM 4-6-1993, Art. 6, approved 7-16-1993; amended AFTM 11-15-1999, Art. 73,
approved 3-22-2002] | ||
|
4.
|
Residential development signs under
"All Other Districts" shall be no larger than 12 square feet for developments
of 10 lots or more.
[Added AFTM 11-17-1998, Art. 64, approved 2-25-1999] | ||
B.
Attachments, number of sides, more than one (1) sign,
directory and gas-price signs.
(1)
Freestanding signs and/or their supports shall not have any attachments of additional signs or banners (i.e., credit card, auto clubs, open, rates, pool, air conditioned, television, menus, live entertainment, special events, temporary promotions, etc.). Such information shall be incorporated within the main sign itself. However, this shall not prohibit multiple or ladder signs as permitted in § 184-31. Exception: Commercial accommodations may have one (1) "(no) vacancy" sign attached (to the freestanding sign), with a maximum of two (2) square feet in area.
(2)
Freestanding signs over six (6) feet high may have
no more than two (2) sides; those less than six (6) feet high may
have three (3) or four (4) sides.
(3)
Only one (1) freestanding sign is allowed per parcel
of land upon which there exists a permitted business(es), except that
a lot with frontage on two (2) streets, having three hundred (300)
feet or more of total street frontage, may have two (2) freestanding
signs, one (1) for each street, not less than one hundred seventy-five
(175) feet apart. A lot with frontage on more than one (1) street,
which is not continuous frontage, may have one (1) additional sign
for each driveway entrance. However, only one (1) sign may exceed
sixteen (16) square feet in total area, if allowed.
(5)
In addition to the above, retail businesses selling
automotive fuel may have one (1) additional freestanding sign which
only indicates the price of motor fuel only. The maximum size shall
be twelve (12) square feet with no additional advertising on the same
sign or supports.
A.
Signs shall be illuminated only with steady, stationary,
shielded light sources directed solely onto the sign without causing
glare.
B.
Internal illumination is permitted for up to forty
(40) square feet of area for any sign, except that no internal illumination
is permitted for residential and/or home occupation signs and for
all signs in the Historic Districts other than time-and-temperature
signs, Residential Districts and Agricultural Districts, regardless
of the use of the property. In no case shall internally illuminated
signs cause a glare.
D.
Gas-filled light tubes shall be allowed for indirect
illumination and when placed in such a manner that the tubes are not
exposed to view from any point along the public roadway or sidewalk.
Individual letters or symbols: these may be
attached to an awning, marquee, building surface, wall or signboard.
A.
Letters or symbols shall not project more than twelve
(12) inches from the building surface.
B.
Letters or symbols shall have an aggregate area (per § 184-18) not exceeding one and five-tenths (1.5) square feet for each horizontal foot of building face parallel to a street line or ten percent (10%) of the wall area to which they are affixed, whichever is less. When a lot fronts on more than one (1) street, the aggregate sign area facing each street frontage shall be calculated separately. See § 184-37D.
Landmark sign: an older sign of artistic or
historic merit, uniqueness or extraordinary significance to the Town
as identified by the Falmouth Historical District Commission. The
character of such signs warrants their preservation in original condition
or their restoration.
Marquee sign: a sign painted on, attached to
or consisting of interchangeable copy on a permanent overhanging shelter
which projects from the face of a building.
A.
Such signs may be painted on or attached flat against
the surface of but not extended beyond or be attached to the underside
of the overhang.
B.
Letters or symbols shall not exceed twelve (12) inches
high.
C.
A minimum clearance of ten (10) feet above the sidewalk
level must be allowed for pedestrian clearance.
Movable, portable or mobile signs are not permitted
in any district, except as follows:
A.
Flags.
(1)
Except during national holidays, a maximum of two
(2) governmental flags are permitted, and one (1) additional nongovernmental
flag with a maximum size of fifteen (15) square feet [i.e., three
by five (3 x 5) feet] is permitted for each business. Any flag with
words advertising a business shall be considered a sign.
[Amended AFTM 11-15-2010, Art. 47, approved 12-13-2010]
(2)
Nautical signal flags attached to a yard arm from
a single flagpole are exempt.
B.
Pennants. Exception is granted for pennants and similar
devices intended for charitable or civic event purposes only.
C.
Special events.
[Amended AFTM 11-8-2004, Art. 19, approved 12-30-2004]
(1)
Special events or promotions for thirty (30) days.
A business or community service may have one (1) movable, portable
or mobile banner or sign on its premises, not to exceed sixteen (16)
square feet, not more than two (2) times nor more than a total of
thirty (30) days per calendar year, in addition to other permitted
signs. Such signs shall be required to have permits, but permit fees
shall be waived.
(2)
Special events or promotions for seven (7) days. A
business or community service may have one (1) moveable, portable
or mobile banner or sign on its premises not to exceed thirty-two
(32) square feet for a period not to exceed seven (7) days, not more
than two (2) times per calendar year, in addition to other permitted
signs. Bunting, pennants and flags will be permitted during this time
period. Balloons and other air-filled devices shall not exceed twelve
(12) inches in diameter. A total of three (3) off-premises signs not
exceeding six (6) square feet each are permitted. Such signs shall
be required to have permits, but permit fees shall be waived.
[Added AFTM 11-8-2004, Art. 19, approved 12-30-2004]
D.
Sandwich board signs. A business or community service
may have one (1) sandwich board sign not to exceed eight (8) square
feet in area on each side.
[Added ASTM 4-7-1997, Art. 38, approved 6-27-1997]
(1)
Use of signs.
[Amended AFTM 11-15-2010, Art. 48, approved 12-13-2010]
(2)
It shall be placed only within fifteen (15) feet of
the main building entrance to the business. The sign must be of a
shape to conform with the space it will occupy outside of the business
and it may not block pedestrian traffic on any sidewalk. The sign
must be brought in at the close of business each day.
[Amended AFTM 11-17-1998, Art. 64, approved 2-25-1999]
A multiple or ladder sign may be erected to
advertise several occupants of the same building or building complex.
A.
The display board shall be of an integrated and uniform
design and colors.
B.
The maximum allowable dimensions permitted for a sign that is located within the minimum building setbacks allowed under Chapter 240, Zoning, shall be in accordance with the table in § 184-25A. The sign with the name of the building or office park and all horizontal crosspiece signs shall be included within the maximum allowable sign dimensions.
D.
Signs located beyond the minimum building setbacks are permitted in addition to the signs permitted above in Subsections A and B for properties containing nine (9) or more businesses; however, the maximum sign area permitted is eight (8) square feet for the sign bearing the name of the building or office park and two (2) square feet for the name of each business or office located there. There shall be no limit on the number of such signs erected since they are primarily for informational and directional purposes.
A.
Informational and directional signs containing no
advertising are permitted to direct traffic flow, indicate parking
space, identify points of interest or provide other essential information
to guide vehicular or pedestrian traffic flow and may be erected by
the Town of Falmouth Department of Public Works as a matter of right
or by others with a license from the Board of Selectmen.
B.
Off-premises signs as permitted above in Subsection A shall not be larger than two (2) square feet in area and must be freestanding.
C.
Off-premises directory boards and/or informational and directional signs, for the purpose of locating businesses, may contain identification signs not larger than two (2) square feet for each business and may be permitted along public ways if a license is granted by the Board of Selectmen after complying with § 184-12. The identification signs may be erected below one (1) sign that may not exceed eight (8) square feet.
D.
Off-premise directional signs that do not restrict
visibility, not larger than six (6) square feet, may be displayed
on a public or private way for a maximum of eighteen (18) hours for
such one-day events as yard sales, open houses, road races, etc. These
signs may be erected as a matter of right without the necessity of
a license or a sign permit.
[Amended AFTM 11-17-1998, Art. 64, approved 2-25-1999]
Political signs: a sign designated to influence
the action of voters for the passage or defeat of a measure, or the
election of a candidate to a public office at a national, state or
other local election.
[Amended ASTM 4-7-1997, Art. 37, approved 6-27-1997]
One (1) projecting sign is allowed for each
business property in lieu of a freestanding sign.
A.
The sign must not exceed six (6) square feet in area.
B.
The bottom of such signs when placed over a pedestrian
way must be ten (10) feet above such way.
C.
The sign will not have interchangeable letters nor
be internally illuminated.
D.
All projecting signs must be reviewed by the Design
Review Committee for any recommendations.
Public service sign: a sign located for the
purpose of public information, providing directions towards or indication
of use not readily visible from the street (e.g., rest rooms, telephone,
gas station pump heads, etc.); signs prohibiting trespass, hunting
and the like, and signs warning of danger, such as "High Voltage";
street name signs, and signs erected by the Town, County or commonwealth
for the direction and control of traffic.
Roof and wall signs are defined in § 184-3.
A.
No part of a wall or roof sign, including the display
surface, shall project more than fifteen (15) inches from the surface
of a building at which point the sign is attached.
B.
Such sign shall not obscure architectural features
of the building, not limited to features such as arches, sills, moulding,
cornices and transoms.
C.
Such sign shall not extend above the highest point
of the roof, or parapet if one exists, nor beyond the ends of the
wall to which it is attached.
D.
For walls up to fifty (50) feet in length, wall signs and roof signs above such walls, shall have a total area not exceeding one (1.0) square foot for each horizontal foot of the building face parallel to a street line. For walls between fifty (50) feet and one hundred (100) feet in length, wall signs and roof signs above such walls, shall have a total area not exceeding five percent (5%) of the wall length over fifty (50) feet times ten (10) plus fifty (50) square feet. The following chart may be used to calculate the allowable square footage of the signs. Wall and roof signs shall have a maximum area allowed of seventy-five (75) square feet. The area of window signs shall be deducted per § 184-38B. For walls facing a street, parking lot for the business or water, allowable roof or wall signage shall be calculated as follows: one square foot for each linear foot of contiguous wall or roof, up to 50 square feet for 50 linear feet of the wall; for walls or roofs, between 50 feet and 100 feet additional signage of 1/2 square foot for each linear foot up to a maximum signage area of 75 square feet is allowed. A wall or roof signage calculator is incorporated herein.
[Amended ASTM 4-7-1997, Art. 39, approved 6-27-1997; AFTM 11-8-2004, Art. 20,
approved 12-30-2004; AFTM 11-15-2010, Art. 49, approved 12-13-2010]
|
Wall or Roof Signage Calculator
| ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Length of wall (linear feet)
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10
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20
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30
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40
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50
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60
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70
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80
|
90
|
100
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Area of sign (square feet)
|
10
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20
|
30
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40
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50
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55
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60
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65
|
70
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75 *max
|
E.
A roof sign may be used in place of a wall sign.
F.
Where two (2) or more wall or roof signs are affixed
to one (1) wall or roof, the gross sign area shall be the sum total
area of all signs.
G.
Wall or roof signs shall not extend higher than the
highest point of the roof or top of the parapet wall of the principal
building.
Window and neon signs: See definition of "window sign" in § 184-3.
A.
Window signs shall not exceed more than twenty-five
percent (25%) of the total window area of the wall of each business
facing each street or parking lot in which they are displayed.
B.
The area of such sign(s) in excess of two (2) square feet in area shall be deducted from the total area allowed for wall signs in § 184-37.
C.
A maximum of two (2) (window) neon signs may be permitted
per business.
