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Article 6: Development Standards <br /> Section 6.12: Signs <br /> <br /> <br />Orange County, North Carolina – Unified Development Ordinance Page 6-81 <br /> <br />(G)(H) Illuminated Signs <br />(1) No illuminated sign shall be so designed or placed that direct or reflected light or <br />glare constitutes a hazard or annoyance to motorists or occupants of adjoining <br />properties. <br />(2) Signs shall be illuminated in accordance with the provisions of this Ordinance. <br />(I) Signage shall comply with all state and county building codes and the National Electric <br />Code. Clearance of signs is required from high voltage power lines and signs shall be <br />located in such a way that they will maintain horizontal and vertical clearance of all <br />overhead electrical conductors in accordance with the National Electric Code <br />specifications, provided that no sign shall be installed closer than ten feet horizontally or <br />vertically from any conductor or public utility guy wire. 11 <br />6.12.4 Determination of Sign Area <br />(A) For the purposes of this Ordinance, sign area includes all lettering, wording, designs and <br />symbols, together with the background, whether open or enclosed, on which they are <br />displayed. The supporting structure or bracing of a sign shall be omitted in measuring the <br />area of the sign unless such structure or bracing is made part of the message or face of <br />the sign. Any backlit area shall be considered part of the face of the sign 12 the area of <br />display surface of a sign shall be computed as including the entire area visible from any <br />one point, within a regular geometric from or combination or forms, comprising all of the <br />display area of the surface and including all of the elements within the display area and <br />the sign frame, including the lattice work, frame, border molding, lettering and display <br />area incidental to the sign’s decoration. This does not include structural members or <br />other support mechanisms not bearing advertisement material. <br />(B) In the case of wall-mounted signs without a border or frame, the surface area shall <br />include such reasonable and proportionate space as would be required if a border or <br />frame were used: <br />(C) Examples: <br /> <br />Figure 6.12.4: Example Sign Size Measurement <br /> <br /> All three of these signs would have the same size sign face, as measured by the smallest rectangle/polygon <br />encompassing the outer limits of the characters and/or images making up the sign. <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />11 This language was originally contained in Section 6.12.12 and the standard was applicable only to On‐premise  <br />and Off‐premise (i.e. billboard) signs.  Staff was concerned some could argue, as currently denoted, other types of  <br />signage would not have to comply with applicable building codes.  By relocating this requirement to this specific  <br />section all signage, regardless of classification or type, will have to comply with denoted standards.  <br />12 Language making specific reference to ‘backlit’ areas of a sign being included as part of the sign area calculation  <br />to address a concern of the Planning Director, specifically existing language did not include same potentially  <br />allowing for a larger sign structure.  <br /> 35