St Tammany Parish Ordinance 523

a. Statement of Purpose

The purpose of this section is to facilitate the location and choice of signs to ensure better communication between people and their environment and to avoid visual clutter that is potentially harmful to traffic and pedestrian safety, property values, business opportunities, and community appearance. With these purposes in mind, it is the intent of this section to authorize the use of street graphics which are compatible to the unique environment of St. Tammany Parish, appropriate to the activity that displays them, creative and expressive of the identity of both individual activities and the community as a whole, and legible in the environment in which they are
seen.

b. Definitions

Above-Roof Graphic: A street graphic displayed above the peak or parapet of the building.

Activity: An economic unit designated in the classification system given in the 1987 Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) Manual published by the U.S. Department of Commerce, Office of Federal Statistical Policy and Standards.

Animation: Copy or other images that flash or move or otherwise change at intervals of more than
once each six seconds.

Architectural Detail: Any projection, relief, cornice, column, change of building material, window,
or door opening on any building.

Area, ground and projecting graphics: The total area of the face which is used to display a
street graphic, not including its support structures. If a graphic has two parallel faces that are
supported by the same structure, the area of the graphic is one-half of the total area of the two
faces. If the graphic has two or more faces that are not parallel, but are supported by the same
structure, the area of the graphic is the largest area of all faces visible at one time.

Area, roof and wall graphics: The percentage of the signable area of a building or structure which
may be used for roof and wall graphics.

Awning: A cloth, plastic, or nonstructural covering that either is permanently attached to a building
or can be raised or retracted to a position against the building when not in use.

Banner: A graphic composed of a logo or design on a lightweight material either enclosed or not
enclosed or not enclosed in a rigid frame and secured or mounted to allow movement caused by
the atmosphere.

Building: A structure having a roof supported by columns or walls.

Facade: The side of the building below the eaves.

Flashing Illumination. A light source which, in whole or in part, physically changes in light intensity
or gives the appearance of such change at intervals of less than six seconds.

Ground Graphic: A freestanding sign supported by a sign structure secured in the ground and
which is wholly independent of any guy wire, support wire, building, fence, vehicle or object other
than the sign structure for support. A ground graphic can either be a monument sign or a single
support sign.

Height: The vertical distance measured from grade at the edge of the adjacent right-of-way to the
highest point of the street graphic.

Monument Sign: A ground sign which (a) the sign area of which is constructed or connected
directly on or to a sign support consisting of a concrete slab base or foundation or a base of similar type of construction; or (b) which is of construction in which the sign's base or support is of uniform composition with the material comprising the sign area of said sign and the base or support of said sign is directly affixed in or to the ground. Provided, however, no sign base, foundation or support of which consists in whole or in part of above ground poles, piers, piling
or similar types of supports exceeding twenty-four (24) inches in Height measured above the ground shall constitute a monument sign.

Portable graphic: A street graphic that is not permanently attached to
the ground or a building or designed to be permanently attached to the ground or a building.

Projecting graphic: A street graphic attached to and projecting from the wall of a building and not
in the same plane as the wall.

Roof graphic: A street graphic which is displayed above the eaves and under the peak.

Signable area, roof and wall graphics: An area which is free of architectural details on the
facade of a building or part of a building in which an activity is located.

Single Support Sign: A Ground graphic supported by a single sign structure secured in the
ground and which is wholly independent of any guy wire, building, fence, vehicle or object other than the sign structure for support.

Street Graphic: Any character, letter, number, symbol, figure, design, model, or device or
combination designed to attract, identify, announce, direct, or inform that is visible to any area
outside of a building.

Window graphic: A street graphic applied. painted of affixed to or in the window of a building. A
window graphic may be temporary or permanent.

c. Table of Basic Design Elements.
GROUND SIGNS

WALL AND PROJECTING GRAPHICS

AUXILIARY DESIGN ELEMENTS SPECIAL STREET GRAPHICS

Banners - Permitted for Special Events
Marquee, Canopy, Awning - Permitted
Permanent Display in Window - Twenty-Five (25) Percent of Window Area
Temporary Display in Window - Fifteen (15) Percent of Window Area

DESIGN FACTORS

Flashing - Not Permitted
Flood, Internal Tube, Indirect - Permitted
Movement, Animation - Not Permitted

d. Wall and Roof Graphics

1. Any activity may display wall or roof graphics, or a combination of both as permitted
by the Table of Design Elements, on walls or roofs adjacent to each street or highway on
which it has frontage.

2. The aggregate area of the wall and roof graphics an activity displays may not exceed the percentage of the signable area the Table of Basic Design Elements allows for that
activity.

3. An activity shall determine the signable area by selecting one such area on each facade of the building which has frontage on a street or highway.

a. If a wall or a roof graphic is enclosed by a box or an outline, the total area of the graphic within the box or outline is debited against the permitted signable area.

b. If a street graphic consists of individual letters, the sum of the areas enclosed by an imaginary square or rectangle contiguous to and surrounding each letter is debited against the permitted
signable area.

4. Wall graphics may be painted on or attached to or pinned away from the wall but must
not project from the wall by more than twelve (12) inches and must not interrupt architectural details.

5. If a building has two or more stories, a wall graphic displayed by activities featuring
live entertainment on the premises and by places of assembly seating 200 or more may
extend up to but no higher than the peak of the building.

6. Roof graphics may extend to twenty (20) feet from ground level or the peak of a
building.

e. Projecting Graphics.

1. Commercial and institutional activities authorized to display projecting graphic by the
Table of Basic Design Elements may display one projecting graphic adjacent to each
street or highway on which it has frontage. Projecting graphics must comply with the
area requirements contained in the Table of Basic Design Elements. An activity may
display both ground and projecting graphics if only one of these graphics is more than 6
(six) square feet in area.

2. The following limitations also apply to projecting graphics:

a. Projecting graphics must clear sidewalks by at least eight (8) feet and may not project more than four feet from a building or one-third the width of the sidewalk, whichever is less.

b. Projecting graphics must be held away from the wall at least six (6) inches and must project from the wall at an angle of ninety (90) degrees.

c. Projecting graphics may not extend vertically above the window sill of a second story.

f. Ground Graphics.

1. Any activity may display one ground graphic adjacent to each street or highway on
which it has frontage if the activity is accessible by automobile and has off-street parking on its premises.

2. An activity may display both ground and projecting graphics if only one of these graphics is more than six square feet in area.

3. Ground graphics include monument and single support signs.

g. Table of Auxiliary Design Elements

1. A Table of Auxiliary Design Elements is attached to and made a part of this ordinance.

a. An activity may display a special street graphic as permitted by the Table of Auxiliary Design Elements that also complies with any additional regulations contained in this section.

b. An activity may utilize a design factor as permitted by the Table of Auxiliary Design Elements.

2. The following additional requirements also apply to special street graphics permitted
by the Table of Auxiliary Design Elements:

a. Banners which are temporary may be twice the size of any other projecting graphics permitted for an activity by the Table of Basic Design Elements. Banners require a administrative permit.

b. Awnings, marquees, and canopies may extend to within one foot of the vertical plane of the curb. Only individual letters, numbers, or symbols may be attached to or painted, stenciled, or otherwise placed on these special graphics.

h. Street Graphics Prohibited
The following street graphics are prohibited:

1. Graphics which by color, location, or design resemble or conflict with traffic control
signs or signals.

2. Street graphics attached to light poles or standards.

3. Portable street graphics

i. Street Graphics Exempt
The following street graphics are exempt from the regulations continued in this ordinance and the
Tables of Basic and Auxiliary Design Elements:

1. One graphic advertising the sale or lease of property.

2. One graphic indicating the architect, engineer, project name, source of financing and
contractor when displayed during the construction period on a construction site.

3. Governmental graphics and legal notices.

4. Directional graphics not exceeding 6 (six) square feet in area.

5. Flags of any country, state, or unit of local government.

j. Graphics in the Municipal Overlay Districts
Sign regulations within a Municipal Interface Corridor shall be the same as the more restrictive of
either the regulations for the municipality of the Municipal Interface, the Planned Corridor standards or standards imposed by ordinance for a specific corridor district.

5.03 Signs in the Public Rights-of-Way and Flashing Signs

A. In all zoning districts, private signs are prohibited within the public right-of-way of any street or easement unless specifically approved by a majority vote of the Police Jury after review and approval of plans by Department of Development, Department of Public Works and Department of Permits and Inspections. Any sign erected or placed within the public right-of-way not approved as set forth above may be removed by the Department of Permits and Inspections.

B. No revolving, rotating beam or beacon of light shall be permitted. Internally illuminated signs shall not be used upon the public right-of-way and only upon private property with approval of
a conditional use permit by the zoning commission (with the exception of traffic control lights and those lights temporarily set in place as emergency warning lights)

C. No exposed reflective-type bulbs and no strobe lights, florescent, or incandescent lights exceeding fifteen (15) watts shall be used on the exterior surface of any sign so as to expose
the face of the bulb, light or lamp to any public street or adjacent property shall be approved by the Department of Development. Rotating signs which do flash the time, and temperature, and other are prohibited by this ordinance.

All signs being placed upon the public right-of-way in violation of this ordinance may be confiscated as a danger to the health and safety of the public after notice herein provided for.

D. Computer operated message centers in which light remains constant in intensity and color and which do not flash, blink or change color, shall not be permitted without approval by the
Department of Development.

5.04 On Premise Signage for Conditional Uses and Subdivision

Signs

A. On-Premise Signage

An additional setback requirement for LC and C-1 conditional uses in the R-Rural district may apply. On rural use conditional use permits located on the same block of the R-O-W as
residential premises, the Zoning Commission may require the sign setback to be equal to the distance of any setback line for the adjacent residential use facing the R-O-W within 100 feet from the sign.

B. In all zoning districts, private subdivision signs shall be permitted provided that they meet the following criteria:

1. Signs shall not exceed 40 square feet.

2. All signs must be professionally rendered.

3. Signs shall not be erected in the R-O-W. Signs that are to be located in the R-O-W must receive permission from St. Tammany Parish Police Jury.

4. All signs must be approved by the Department of Development
(Administrative Permit)

5.05 Off Premise Directional Signs

A. Off premise directional signs shall be permitted in all zoning classifications, including all residential classifications, excluding the following districts: Recreation and Conservation District, Planned Corridor Overlay Districts, providing that they meet the following criteria:

1. Signs located within a Right-of-Way, shall require approval of the Police Jury or appropriate governmental agency and shall conform to uniform traffic sign regulations.

2. All signs for temporary exhibits:

a. Shall require an administrative permit.

b. May be erected within seven (7) days of the event and must be removed within three (3) days of expiration of such exhibit.

c. Failure to remove signs shall result in a twenty ($20) dollar per sign assessment for each sign not removed within three (3) days of expiration of the exhibit.

3. Garage sales and yard sales shall not be considered commercial off-premise signs, but still shall be removed within three days.

4. Signs located on private property shall require a conditional use permit.

a. Sign size requirements:

I. Signs in all residential districts shall not exceed nine (9) square feet.

ii. Signs in all commercial districts:

a). Single signs shall not exceed sixteen (16) square feet, provided that there are no other directional signs on the site. For multiple single signs, each sign shall not exceed eight (8)
square feet. There can be no more than three single signs on one site.

b). Monument type directional signs for multiple uses not to exceed forty eight (48) square feet. When two directional signs are back to back, they shall be considered as one sign.

c). Directional signs shall not resemble traffic control signs.

B. All signs must be professionally rendered and approved by the Department of Development. Signs shall not be illuminated nor shall they produce glare or glow in the dark. All signs should be located within one linear mile from the facility to which it is directing the public, but the Department may extend the linear distance as needed.