§ 656.1333. Signs permitted.

(a)

Building identification signs :

(1)

Types:

(i)

Wall signs: Wall signs painted on or affixed to buildings up to five stories in height shall not exceed ten percent of total area of the facade fronting a street or 300 square feet, whichever is less, and buildings over five stories shall not exceed ten percent of the total area of the facade fronting a street or 400 square feet, whichever is less. (See Figure 2, located following Section 656.1336).

(ii)

Projecting signs: Projecting signs shall not exceed 24 square feet in area. Signs projecting into any public right-of-way, except alleys, shall have a minimum clearance of eight feet over adjacent sidewalk or other grade. Signs projecting into alleys shall have a minimum clearance of 14 feet over adjacent grade. No permanent signs shall extend into any public right-of-way to within less than two feet of the curbline, or more than six feet beyond the property line, except that at street intersections, signs which project from the intersecting street property lines may extend to the intersection of the six-foot projection margins on each street. Marquee signs may be permitted, provided that they shall not project more than 12 inches beyond the front of the marquee, nor closer then two feet to the curbline. Marquee signs may not exceed 30 inches in height above the top of the marquee, and the total vertical dimension may not exceed five feet. Only one sign may be placed on or attached to an end face of a marquee. The copy area of marquee signs shall not exceed 80 percent of the surface area of the marquee sign face. No barberpole, including brackets and fastenings for the barberpole, shall extend more than one foot into any public right-of-way. No temporary sign made of rigid material shall extend more than four inches into the public right-of-way. (See Figure 2).

(iii)

Awning signs: The maximum projection over the sidewalk or other grade shall not exceed seven feet. The maximum lettering or logo height shall not exceed 20 inches. Where the sign message exceeds one row of lettering, the maximum height shall be measured by all rows combined, not per row. One square foot of sign size is allowed for every linear foot of street frontage with a maximum signage amount of 300 square feet, whichever is less. All other dimensional requirements as listed under Section 656.1333(a)(ii) for projecting signs shall apply. Awning signs projecting less than 30 inches from the building wall shall be considered to be wall signs. (See Figure 2).

(2)

Number:

(i)

Each building may have one building identification sign per side of street frontage.

(3)

Signs on parking garages shall not be governed by this subsection, but may have the signs allowed by subsection (5) of this Section.

(b)

Ground floor signs :

(1)

Types:

(i)

Multi-Story buildings with ground floor retail sales or services tenants are allowed one square foot of signage per every linear foot of street frontage for additional wall, window, awning, canopy, or projecting signs. (See Figure 2). Multiple signs will only be approved by DRC when it can be shown that multiple signs significantly enhance the creative impact of the signage concept and are not detrimental to the building, the surrounding context or signage opportunities of adjoining uses.

(2)

Number:

(i)

Multiple signs permitted under Section 656.1333(2)(a) are allowed, however the aggregate square footage of all such signs shall not exceed one square foot per one linear foot of street frontage. Multiple signs shall be designed with a unified program of graphics, materials, illumination, etc. Where multiple signs are proposed, a comprehensive sign plan for the entire building shall be submitted to DRC for review and approval. This plan shall indicate how tenant sign allowances are to be allocated among all eligible building uses, approximate designated sign locations, and allowable types of sign construction and illumination. In situations where maximum sign area must be allocated among several tenants, applicants other than the property owner shall be required to provide evidence of authorization from the property owner authorizing the tenant to provide the comprehensive sign plan and to make application for the requested sign area. In addition to other signs allowed under this Subsection 656.1333(2), the following additional signs are allowed:

(A)

Under canopy signs, not to exceed one under canopy sign per tenant and four square feet in area for each such sign.

(B)

Temporary window signs, so long as such signs do not collectively exceed, per side of street frontage, 35 square feet or 20 percent of the total window area, whichever is less.

(c)

Exterior directory signs:

(1)

Types:

(i)

Wall, window, or projecting sign identifying the occupants of the building are allowed, so long as such signs do not exceed six square feet in area per building entrance. (See Figure 2).

(2)

Number:

(i)

One sign per building entrance under the supervision of the building owner.

(d)

Surface parking signs:

(1)

Types:

(i)

Commercial surface parking lots are allowed pylon/pole, or monument signs not to exceed 24 square feet, except as provided in subsection (b), below, and be no taller than 15 feet from top of sign to grade level. Signs erected pursuant to this subsection shall not be required to comply with the setback requirements of Section 656.1303(i), so long as the sign maintains the cross visibility requirements of Section 656.1218. (See Figure 2).

(2)

Number:

(i)

One per surface parking lot, unless the lot has access from more than one street, in which case one sign per street may be erected at a permitted entrance, with a maximum sign area as follows:

(A)

Primary entrance: 24 square feet

(B)

Second entrance: 12 square feet

(C)

Third or fourth entrance: six square feet containing only the universal symbol for parking (white "P" on blue background (See Figure 2)), and a directional arrow.

(e)

Parking garage signs: Parking garages are allowed wall signs, projecting signs or awning signs not exceeding a combined total of 75 square feet in area per side of street frontage. (See Figure 2). Provided, however, if the parking garage has ground floor retail sales or services, the maximum sign area shall not exceed 150 square feet per side of street frontage. In addition to other signs allowed pursuant to this subsection, there may be erected at each vehicle entrance to the parking garage one sign not exceeding six square feet containing only the universal symbol for parking (white "P" on blue background (See Figure 2)), and a directional arrow.

(f)

Pylon/pole, roof, monument signs, and transit shelter signs: Allowed only by special exception approved by the Downtown Development Review Board using the criteria set forth in subsection (2) of this Section, except transit shelter signs. Unless otherwise provided in the special exception, all pylon/pole signs shall meet the setback requirements of Section 656.1303(i). Transit shelter signs shall meet the requirements in Section 656.1333(h) and shall not be eligible for a special sign exception under Section 656.1331(j), but shall only be allowed by special exception following the criterion outlined under Section 656.1333(h).

(g)

Temporary A-frame and message board signs: Temporary A-frame and message board signs shall be allowed only when they meet the following criteria:

(1)

Maximum width of temporary sign structures shall not exceed 24 inches;

(2)

Maximum height of temporary sign structures shall not exceed 30 inches per side;

(3)

Sign message face shall not exceed 4 square feet per side;

(4)

A sign shall only be allowed to be placed on the same block and on the same side of the street as is located the main entrance to the business it is advertising;

(5)

Signs shall only be displayed during the hours of operation of the business it is advertising;

(6)

Only one sign shall be allowed per business;

(7)

All signs shall display the name of the business and the business' hours of operation;

(8)

Signs shall not be placed in a location or manner which impedes pedestrian access or interferes with the public health, safety or welfare.

Failure to comply with any of these regulations shall subject a sign to immediate confiscation.

(h)

Transit shelter signs with advertising : Transit shelter signs with advertising shall be subject to Section 656.1333 (f) and shall only be permitted subject to the following criteria:

(1)

Signs do not exceed 24 square feet in size per transit shelter with a dimension no higher or wider than the size dimensions of the shelter side that the sign is to be placed or attached to, below the bottom of the roofline and the sidewalk, or other surface, the shelter is attached to.

(2)

Signs do not exceed a maximum of two (2) signs on a transit shelter structure.

(3)

Advertisement content is consistent with Jacksonville Transportation Authority's advertising policy dated October 26, 2006, a copy of which is on file with the DIA. Any modifications to this policy that affects downtown shall be reviewed and approved by the DDRB.

(4)

Transit route information signs shall not exceed 6 square feet in size and shall meet the same clear view zone dimensional requirements as universal parking signs pursuant to Section 656.1333(d)(2)(C), and shall not obstruct the minimum 6 feet requirement for pedestrian clearance on the sidewalk or other surface allowing for pedestrians.

(5)

DDRB staff shall be authorized to review changes to advertisement content and design within a previously DDRB approved transit shelter and associated advertisement signage plan provided the location and size of the advertisement signage plan has not changed and the advertisement signage plan is consistent with the Jacksonville Transportations Authority's advertisement policy as approved by DDRB. If DDRB staff determine a proposed advertisement to be changed out is not consistent with the Jacksonville Transportation Authority's advertising policy, then the Jacksonville Transportation Authority shall not place the proposed advertisement on the affected transit shelter until said advertisement is considered by DDRB staff to be consistent with said advertisement policy.

(6)

In the event that any portion of this section, including any exception contained herein, is declared invalid, unenforceable, unconstitutional or void, or is permanently enjoined, or if the existence of any provision of this section would result in any other portion of this Chapter or Chapter 326 or Article 23 of the Charter being held to be invalid, unenforceable, unconstitutional or void, and the court does not sever such invalid portion of this section, then the invalid portion of this section is repealed and invalid and thereafter no signs of the type included within the exemption shall be erected without compliance with the remainder of this Chapter and this Ordinance Code. It is the specific intent that the invalidity of any portion of this section shall not affect any other section, subsection, paragraph, subparagraph, sentence, phrase, clause or word of this Chapter, Chapter 326, Article 23 of the Charter, or this Ordinance Code.

(i)

Sign area computation: For signs erected pursuant to this Section, the area of each sign surface shall be calculated as provided in Section 656.1302(u).

(j)

Special sign exceptions: The Downtown Development Review Board may approve special sign exceptions to Section 656.1333 provided the proposed sign plan shows, in addition to the criteria set forth in Section 656.1335 and Section 656.1303(c):

(1)

An exceptional effort toward visual harmony between the signs, structures, and other features of the property through the use of a consistent design theme,

(2)

Preserves a desirable existing design or siting pattern for signs in the area,

(3)

Minimizes view obstruction or preserve views of historically or architecturally significant structures.

(k)

Other signs prohibited: Any sign not specifically allowed in this Section or exempted under Section 656.1334 shall be prohibited.

(l)

Compliance with Building Codes: In addition to meeting the requirements of this Subpart, signs in the Downtown Sign Overlay Zone shall also meet all applicable requirements of the Florida Building Code and the City of Jacksonville Building Code - Administrative Provisions.

(Ord. 2002-446-E, § 1; Ord. 2007-564-E, § 21; Ord. 2009-401-E, § 3; Ord. 2012-364-E, § 10)