§ 25.5-8. Signs as an accessory use.

Signs are considered accessory uses accompanying and complementing uses of land which are authorized as consistent with the Hernando County comprehensive plan or are otherwise authorized. The intent of this section is to allow for such signs as are accessory to the principal use of the lot or parcel on which they are located and to allow the benefits of such signs; while avoiding unsightly and unnecessary visual clutter, minimizing distractions and hazards to motorists and pedestrians, and providing a medium for the expression of commercial, noncommercial and political expression or speech, as each category of speech may be applicable and accessory to a particular authorized land use.

(1)

Sign area:

a.

The maximum size of a sign shall be determined by the classification of the road abutting the lot or parcel on which the sign is located and by the zoning district in which the lot or parcel is located. The roadway classification map developed by Hernando County is hereby adopted by reference and made part of this section. Official roadway classification maps shall be placed on file at the Hernando County Planning Department. The classification map may be modified by board resolution at any time upon notice of an advertised public hearing.

b.

U.S. and state highways, limited access highways (i.e., U.S. 19, U.S. 41, S.R. 50, S.R. 589, U.S. 98, U.S. 301, I-75), or any new limited access highway, new U.S. or state highway—commercially zoned parcels with less than one hundred (100) linear feet of road frontage will be allowed one (1) sign not to exceed one hundred (100) square feet in sign area. Commercially zoned parcels with a road frontage in excess of one hundred (100) linear feet will be allowed one (1) square foot of sign area per linear foot of road frontage with a maximum of two hundred (200) square feet of sign area.

Other collector/arterial roads (as identified on the roadway classification map)—Maximum one hundred (100) square feet of sign area for parcels zoned for commercial use.

For commercially zoned parcels on all other roads and for parcels within any zoning district other than commercial or residential—Maximum fifty (50) square feet of sign area.

c.

The maximum size for all signs in any district zoned for residential use is six (6) square feet, provided that nothing herein shall authorize any commercial use of any property zoned for residential use, including but not limited to signage thereon; provided, however, that more specific regulations herein for an authorized commercial use on a residential parcel or lot, such as a special exception or conditional use for home occupation or model home, shall control sign size on such parcel or lot.

(2)

Setbacks: The setbacks for signs are dependent on size. Setback distances are measured from the lot line to the closest part of the sign.

a.

Signs up to and including seventy-five (75) square feet in area shall be located at least five (5) feet from all lot lines.

b.

Signs greater than seventy-five (75) and up to and including one hundred fifty (150) square feet in area shall be located at least ten (10) feet from all lot lines.

c.

Signs greater than one hundred fifty (150) square feet shall be located at least twenty (20) feet from all lot lines.

d.

The provisions of the Hernando County Land Development Regulations pertaining to variances shall apply to the dimensional standards herein required.

(3)

Height:

a.

All sign area shall be at least ten (10) feet above the grade of the edge of the street surface if it is located within the clear sight triangle in accordance with the Hernando County Facilities Design Guidelines. There are no minimum height requirements in other areas of the lot.

b.

The maximum height for signs will be determined by the type of road abutting the lot or parcel on which the sign is located and is as follows:

Limited access highways (i.e., I-75, S.R. 589, or any new limited access highways)—Sixty (60) feet above the grade level of the highway within a one-thousand-foot radius of an intersection providing access to the highway and forty (40) feet above the grade level of the highway in other areas.

U.S. and state highways (i.e., U.S. 19, U.S. 41, S.R. 50, S.R. 589, U.S. 98, U.S. 301 or any new U.S. or state highway)—Forty (40) feet above the grade level of the highway.

All other roads—Twenty-five (25) feet above the grade level of the road or twice the height of the building, whichever is less, provided that, except for flags as defined herein, no sign on a lot or parcel zoned for residential use shall be higher than six (6) feet from the ground in which or over which it is mounted.

(4)

Directory type signs: In commercial or industrial centers where two (2) or more activities are located, a directory type of sign display is encouraged so as to avoid visual clutter. These signs may have an additional fifty (50) square feet of sign area when utilized but shall not exceed twenty-five (25) percent above the maximum sign size allowed pursuant to subsection E.8.a. above.

(5)

Number of signs:

a.

Individual firms or activities located on a single parcel or lot may display no more than one (1) sign.

b.

Individual firms or activities located on a corner parcel or lot may display one (1) sign of maximum sign area as determined by the road frontage the lot has, or they may have one (1) sign along each road, provided the combined area of these signs does not exceed the maximum as determined by the road frontage.

c.

Shopping centers, malls, strip plazas and other buildings housing more than one (1) business or activity may display no more than one (1) sign for each two hundred (200) feet of frontage, provided they are at least two hundred (200) feet apart along public streets and provided each sign does not exceed the maximum allowed according to subsection (1) herein.

d.

There shall be no limit to the number of attached signs which may be attached to walls after issuance of a zoning and other appropriate permits. All parts of attached signs shall be at least five (5) feet from all lot lines. The total display area for all attached signs shall not exceed twenty (20) percent of the building facade on which the sign is located. This section is not intended to limit the number of or placement of placard signs in windows.

e.

There shall be no limit to the number of signs which are:

1.

Displayed to persons or customers who are already on the lot or parcel owned or leased by a business or nonprofit entity; and

2.

Which are not intended for display or visibly legible to members of the general public not already on the specific business or entity lot, parcel or leasehold.

For purposes of this limited exception, "leasehold" shall not include any common area shared with and by other lessees.

f.

Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, an individual lot or parcel zoned for residential use may display no more than one (1) sign. No zoning permit or certificate is use is required for such sign.

(Ord. No. 2008-03, § 8, 2-5-08)