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Article 6: Development Standards <br /> Section 6.12: Signs <br /> <br /> <br />Orange County, North Carolina – Unified Development Ordinance Page 6-80 <br /> <br />6.12.2 Outdoor Advertising <br />The provisions of this Article establish standards and review criteria relating to the location, <br />erection, maintenance, lighting, setbacks, and use of signs. This includes regulations pertaining <br />to outdoor advertising (i.e. Billboards). <br />The regulation and permitting of outdoor advertising is also subject to State requirements, <br />including the State Outdoor Advertising Control Act, and Federal requirements. In cases where <br />there is a conflict between County regulations and State or Federal regulations, relating to the <br />location, erection, maintenance, lighting, setbacks and use of outdoor advertising signage, the <br />corresponding State or Federal law shall take precedent. <br />In cases where there is no applicable State/Federal standard, then existing County regulations <br />shall be enforced. <br />6.12.3 General Requirements <br />(A) No sign of any type nor any part thereof shall be erected, painted, posted, reposted, <br />placed, replaced, or hung in any zoning district except in compliance with these <br />regulations. <br />(B) No person shall erect or maintain a sign, and no property owner shall allow a sign to be <br />erected or maintained on his property except in conformity with these regulations. <br />(C) A Zoning Compliance Permit approved in accordance with the provisions of this <br />Ordinance shall be required prior to erecting a sign, unless otherwise permitted. <br />(D) A permit shall be required for change of copy of an existing sign, for any sign when the <br />use of the premises changes, or when an existing sign is altered, however no permit will <br />be required for change of copy on a changeable message or reader board sign. <br />(E) In no case shall decorative features or landscaping at the base of a sign obstruct the view <br />of motorists. <br />(F) Sign Locations <br />(1) All signs shall be located outside the sight visibility triangle (see Section 6.2.10). <br />(2) No sign, including supporting frames or base, shall be located within five feet of a <br />public right-of-way. <br />(3) No sign may be attached, affixed, or painted upon any utility poles, governmental <br />signs, trees, rocks, or other similar natural object within the public right-of-way. <br />(4) No sign shall be permitted on the side street frontage of a corner lot if the lot is <br />located 6within 100 feet of a residential district. <br />(G) 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 />6.12.4 Determination of Sign Area <br />(A) For the purposes of this Ordinance, the area of display surface of a sign shall be <br />computed as including the entire area visible from any one point, within a regular <br />geometric from or combination or forms, comprising all of the display area of the surface <br />and including all of the elements within the display area and the sign frame, including the <br />lattice work, frame, border molding, lettering and display area incidental to the sign’s <br /> <br />6 This language was a holdover from the old zoning ordinance and created confusion.  The regulation is being  <br />modified accordingly to ensure an enforceable standard.  <br /> 104