4.10.10 DISTRICT SPECIFIC SIGN REGULATIONS | Aurora Unified Development Ordinance

4.10.10. DISTRICT SPECIFIC SIGN REGULATIONS.

1. Permitted Sign Types and Standards. Signs of the types listed in Table 4.10-3 shall comply with the standards in that table.

Table 4.10-3 Sign Regulations in the MU-OA, MU-FB, MU-TOD, and MU-R Districts
Permitted Sign Types	Standard
Wall sign	Each tenant or business is allowed 1 wall sign for each street and parking lot frontage. Wall signs shall be allowed up to 1 sf. per linear foot of building frontage with a maximum of 70 sf. of sign area. Individual tenants are allowed a minimum of 25 sf..
High wall sign (five stories or greater)	1 high wall sign is permitted on individual building(s) of 5 stories or greater in height. High wall signs shall be allowed up to 2 sf. per linear foot of building frontage with a maximum of 200 sf. in total sign area. The sign must be located in the area between the bottom of the top floor and the top of the parapet wall. Signs above the parapet wall will be considered roof signs.
Grand projecting sign	1 permitted per development on a building located on a corner lot with a street-facing open plaza. Grand projecting signs shall not be a multi-tenant development sign. Sign shall have a minimum clearance of 10 ft. above grade, and shall not project more than 5 ft. beyond the face of the building. A Grand Projection Sign shall be permitted upon an approved Site Plan review.
Canopy sign	Each tenant or business is allowed 1 canopy sign over a public entrance, each with a maximum sign area of 10 sf.
Awning sign	Each tenant or business is allowed a maximum of 3 sf. of sign area placed on the vertical flap of the fabric awning. Backlit or internally lit awning signs are prohibited.
Pedestrian blade sign	Each tenant or business is allowed 1 blade sign per pedestrian entrance, with a maximum size of 6 sf. The sign must be placed within the occupied elevation leased and entirely between 9 and 12 feet above grade.
Monument sign	Only monument-style ground signs are permitted, with a maximum of 40 sf. per face for a total of 80 sf. for 2-sided signs with an 8-foot maximum height. Fabric, pole-mounted, and other types of permanent signs are prohibited.
Multi-tenant development wall sign and/or ground sign	Only wall and ground signs are permitted and must be integrated architecturally, with a maximum of 40 sf. per face for a total of 80 sf. for 2-sided signs. Fabric, pole-mounted, and other types of permanent signs are prohibited. More than 1 multi-tenant development sign is permitted for arterial street frontages in a development covered by a Master Plan provided they have a minimum separation of 150 feet.
Sidewalk sign	1 sidewalk sign may be placed in front of each tenant or business premises, provided they are located to maintain a clear 6-foot wide pathway for pedestrians. The maximum size for a sidewalk sign is 3 ft. by 4 ft. No permit is required for signs located on private property.

a. All monument style signs shall include a base constructed from the same primary materials as used on the main building;

b. All letters and message content on a sign shall be individual 3-D, engraved, or projecting can type. Cabinet signs are prohibited; and

c. All colors used on a sign background shall match the colors used on the main building. All colors and materials used on structures and frames containing the sign face shall match materials and colors used on the main building.

3. Sign Illumination. If a sign is illuminated, all letters and message content on a sign shall be individually illuminated from an internal source, with the exception that wall signs are permitted to be illuminated entirely from downcast architectural lighting fixtures. A uniformly backlighted sign face is not permitted on any sign.

1. Applicability. These provisions apply to signs in the area bounded by 14th Avenue, 16th Avenue, Yosemite Street, and Oswego Street. Where the regulations of Section 146-2.4.4 (Mixed-Use -- Original Aurora District (MU-OA)) conflict with the requirements of this Section 146-4.10.10.B, the regulations in Section 146-2.4.4 shall govern.

a. Except for projecting signs, all sign content shall consist of three-dimensional individual letters or message content of a material distinctive from the background to which it is attached.

b. Cabinet type signs are prohibited.

a. If a sign is to be internally illuminated, each sign letter shall be individually illuminated or "back-lit" from a shielded internal source.

b. Signs with letters or message content applied to an internally lit sign face or translucent internally lit awning are prohibited.

c. Neon of any color or neon accents is allowed.

d. Wall, awning, and projecting signs with opaque style lettering may be externally illuminated from adjacent downcast architectural lighting fixtures.

e. Canopy signs may be "up-lighted" or "halo-lighted" if the light source is not open to the sky or visible from the ground.

f. LED (light emitting diode) lighting is prohibited for sign illumination.

4. Permitted Sign Types and Standards. Signs in the MU-OA district shall comply with the standards in Table 4.10-4.

Table 4.10-4 Sign Regulations in the MU-OA-MS and MU-OA-G Subdistrict
Sign Types	Subdistrict	Standards	Size/Quantity
Wall sign	MU-OA-MS	Individual channel letters or message content only. A wall or canopy sign, not both.	1 per tenant or business per building street frontage up to 30 sf. For properties that exceed 60 linear ft. of building frontage: ½ sf. per linear ft., up to 60 sf.
Wall sign	MU-OA-G	Individual channel letters or message content only.	Size and number per the general sign standards in this Section 146-4.10.
Alley wall sign	MU-OA-MS	1 alley wall sign is permitted up to a maximum of 10 sf.
Alley wall sign	MU-OA-G	n/a	n/a
Projecting sign	MU-OA-MS	Signs may be attached or suspended by a metal bracket or placed beneath a projecting canopy or arcade. A minimum ground clearance of 9 feet in height is required.	1 building-mounted projecting sign is allowed per tenant per each street/alley frontage, not to exceed 12 sf. per sign face.
Projecting sign	MU-OA-G	Prohibited	n/a
Grand projecting sign	MU-OA-MS	A single grand projecting sign is allowed for buildings located at street corners, buildings facing an open public plaza, or buildings occupying at least 1/2 block. The projecting sign shall not extend more than 5 ft. above roof peak or parapet or more than 5 ft. beyond the face of its building. Such projecting sign shall maintain a minimum of 10 ft. clear distance from sidewalk to bottom of the sign. Canopy type signage at the base of the grand projecting sign is permitted. See Figure 4.10-1.	The canopy signage portion of the grand projecting sign shall not exceed 20 sf.
Grand projecting sign	MU-OA-G	Prohibited	n/a
Monument sign	MU-OA-MS	Monument signs are not permitted without an administrative adjustment, which may only be granted if the proposed monument sign meets all the following design criteria: (a)There is sufficient plaza or other landscaped area outside of required rights-of-way on the applicant’s property to accommodate the sign; (b) The sign is designed with a solid base composed of brick or stone matching the materials on its associated building; and (c) The height of the sign does not exceed eight feet.
Monument sign	MU-OA-G	All monument signs shall be placed on a sign base constructed of materials similar to the main building. All message content shall be individual channel letters or shapes and distinctive from the background.	Per general sign standards.
Canopy sign	MU-OA-MS	A canopy or wall sign, not both. Backlighting illumination of canopies is prohibited.	Total area shall not exceed 25 sf.
Canopy sign	MU-OA-G	1 canopy sign is permitted in addition to the overall size and number permitted by this Section 146-4.10. Total area shall not exceed 25 sf.
Awning sign	MU-OA-MS	All awnings shall be constructed from an opaque fabric material. Backlighting of the awning is not permitted. Message content may not exceed 8 in. and may only be placed on the vertical front portion. Up to 3 sf. of message content may be placed on the slanted portion of the awning.
Awning sign	MU-OA-G	Same as MU-OA-MS.	In addition to the overall number and size allowed by this Section 146-4.10.
Sidewalk sign	MU-OA-MS	1 sidewalk sign may be placed in front of each tenant or business premises, provided it is located to maintain a clear 6 ft. wide pathway for pedestrians.	Sidewalk signs shall not exceed 3 ft. by 4 ft.
Sidewalk sign	MU-OA-G	Prohibited	n/a
Banner	MU-OA-MS	Banners are permitted only if attached to street lights. Banners may remain in place for extended periods of time, but shall be kept in good repair and rotated on a seasonal basis or as appropriate for individual events.
Banner	MU-OA-G	Prohibited	n/a
Temporary banner	MU-OA-MS	Prohibited	n/a
Temporary banner	MU-OA-G	Per general sign standards.

1. Purpose. The purpose of this Section 146-4.10.10.C is to permit the preservation of signs that are illustrative of the City's history in the Post-World War II Era and that comply with the requirements provided in this Section 146-4.10.10.C. The term "Post-World War II Era" refers to a popular style of design from that time, also known as exaggerated modern. The style is characterized by the use of exaggerated geometry, streamlined curves, and fanciful literal elements and lighting, particularly in its use of shapes reminiscent of amoebas, stars, atoms, rockets, and flying saucers.

a. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 146-4.10 to the contrary relating to height, area, and setback, the City Council hereby permits the continued display of signs it has designated based upon the finding that each sign complies with the following requirements:

i. The sign is a least 25 years old.

ii. The sign is of design representative of the Post-World War II Era.

b. A list of council-designated signs shall be kept on file in the office of the Planning Director.

3. Compliance. Signs designated by the City Council in this Section 146-4.10.10.C are granted exceptions to the provisions of this Section 146-4.10 regulating sign height, area, and setbacks. All other provisions, including permitted maximum number, shall apply. Nothing in this Section 146-4.10.10.C shall exempt any sign not designated in this Section 146-4.10.10.C from compliance with this UDO, including other signs on the same premises as a designated sign.

a. The exemptions from the otherwise applicable sign code provisions granted in this Section shall cease if:

i. The designated sign is not maintained in the same style;

ii. The designated sign is not maintained in good condition;

iii. The lighting, including neon signage, is inoperative; or

iv. The sign becomes unsightly due to paint peeling.

b. The message content of these signs may be changed so long as all of the criteria and conditions of this Section are met.

5. Board of Adjustment and Appeals Review. The signs designated in this Section 146-4.10.10.C shall not be eligible for variances or exceptions granted by the Board of Adjustment and Appeals. (Ord. No. 2020-37 § 24, 10-05-2020; Ord. No. 2019-49 § 1, 08-19-2019)