§ 17-204. General design and construction.

(a) As in Building, Fire, and Related Codes.

The structural design and construction of signs, including their supports, must comply with the applicable requirements of the City Building, Fire, and Related Codes Article.

(b) Supports and braces.

(1) Supports and braces must be an integral part of the sign design.

(2) Supports and braces must be hidden from public view to the extent technically feasible, unless they are intended as a decorative part of the sign design.

(c) Lettering.

All letters, figures, characters, or representations in cut-out or irregular form, maintained in conjunction with, attached to, or superimposed on any sign must be safely and securely built or attached to the sign structure.

(d) Illumination.

(1) Unless otherwise provided in this title, all signs, including electronic signs, are subject to the illumination requirements of this subsection.

(2) Goose-neck fixtures and indirect spotlights are allowed on awning signs, canopy signs, freestanding signs, projecting signs, and wall signs.

(3) All exterior lighting intended to illuminate a sign must concentrate the illumination on the area of the sign that minimizes glare on the street or adjacent property.

(4) All sign illumination must be designed, located, shielded, and directed to minimize:

(i) casting glare or direct light on adjacent publicly dedicated roadways and surrounding properties; and

(ii) distraction of motorists or pedestrians in the public right-of-way.

(5) Freestanding signs, projecting signs, roof signs, wall signs, and window signs may be internally illuminated.

(6) For the purposes of this title, an indirectly illuminated sign is a sign illuminated with a light that is directed primarily toward the sign and shielded to minimize rays from the light being visible anywhere other than on the lot where the sign is located.