§ 17-206. Special rules.

(a) More than 1 principal building on a lot.

(1) Except for roof signs, any lot with more than 1 principal building on that lot may have signage on each building that complies with the rules of the respective sign type in this title, Table 17-201: Sign Regulations, and Table 17-306: Maximum Cumulative Areas of Signs.

(2) Unless otherwise provided in this title, the aggregate maximum area of signage allowed for each building may not be combined or split.

(b) Freestanding monument signs.

Freestanding monument signs may be installed on lots adjacent to and contiguous with residential developments of 20 units or more if the units are in a single building or part of a major subdivision or redevelopment of contiguous and adjoining lots.

(c) Sign splitting of aggregate maximum sign area.

The aggregate maximum sign area per sign type, as calculated under § 17-306 of this title, may be split into multiple signs and dispersed on a single lot for the following sign types, zoning districts, and uses:

(1) freestanding monument signs and freestanding pylon signs for approved drive-through facilities in the C-2, C-3, C-4, and C-5 Zoning Districts;

(2) freestanding monument signs and freestanding pylon signs for uses in the C-2, C-3, C-4, and C-5 zoning districts where the lot is 10,000 square feet or greater or has more than one principal building on a lot;

(3) freestanding monument signs, freestanding pylons signs, and wall signs where there is more than 1 principal building on a lot in the EC-1, EC-2, OS, H, OIC, and BSC zoning districts. This option must be documented in a signage package;

(4) wall signs above ground floor in the C-1, C-1-E, and C-2 zoning districts may be split into no more than 4 signs;

(5) wall signs above ground floor in the C-3, C-4, C-5, TOD-4, BSC, H, I-1, I-2, and PC Zoning Districts; and

(6) the maximum area of a sign cannot be varied to create more sign area and then split into multiple signs nor can a sign that results from the split be later replaced with a larger sign; and

(7) multi-family dwellings of 50 units or more in the R-8, R-9, R-10, or OR-2 zoning districts that have ground floor commercial uses and are subject to § 14-327 {"Multi-family dwellings - Accessory non-residential uses."}, may follow projecting sign and wall sign requirements for the C-1 zoning district as provided for in Table 17-201: Sign Regulations and Table 17-306: Maximum Cumulative Area of Signs.

(d) Automatic increase in total maximum area.

If sign splitting is used, a 15% automatic total maximum area increase may be applied to the aggregate base maximum area permitted before the sign splitting is used, subject to the following:

(1) the maximum sign area automatic increase under this subsection may not be further increased by the Board of Municipal and Zoning Appeals; and

(2) all signs under this subsection must be permitted at the same time on the same permit and the increase documented on the permit.

(e) Wall signs.

(1) Single-story, single-tenant buildings that are 15,000 square feet or greater in the C-2, C-3, C-4, C-5, and PC zoning districts may use the above ground floor signage allotment for wall signs in Table 17-201: Sign Regulations if the sign type distinguishes the allotment between ground floor and above ground floor.

(2) Ground floor tenants 15,000 square feet or greater in a multi-tenant building with direct street access in the C-2, C-3, C-4, C-5, and PC zoning districts may use the above ground floor signage allotment for wall signs in Table 17-201: Sign Regulations if the sign type distinguishes the allotment between ground floor and above ground floor, subject to the following:

(i) applicable only to uses outlined in the commercial and institutional use categories of the underlying zoning district;

(ii) for the application of this title, Table 17-201: Sign Regulations, and Table 17-306: Maximum Cumulative Areas of Signs for buildings whose main entrance does not front a right-of-way (not including an un-named alley or named alley), the building frontage is designated as the elevation that has the main entrance to the building or tenant; and

(iii) the building frontage or tenant frontage must be 40 feet wide or greater.

(f) Planned unit developments.

The following rules apply for signage within planned unit developments:

(1) Unless otherwise specified in an individual planned unit development ordinance, all existing planned unit developments established or that have had a major change after June 5, 2017 must follow the rules specified in this title, Table 17-201: Sign Regulations, and Table 17-306: Maximum Cumulative Areas of Signs.

(2) Any designated business planned unit development established prior to June 5, 2017 that has an underlying residential zoning and that does not expressly address signage must follow the rules specified for the C-2 zoning district in this title, Table 17-201: Sign Regulations, and Table 17-306: Maximum Cumulative Areas of Signs

(3)(i) Subject to Title 17, Subtitle 5 of this article, Title 15 of this article, and any other applicable portions of this Code, an Area of Special Signage Control may be incorporated in the ordinance of a new planned unit development.

(ii) This paragraph applies only to new planned unit developments or existing planned unit developments that are being repealed and replaced. This paragraph does not apply to existing planned unit developments.

(4)(i) For a planned unit development that does not have an Area of Special Signage Control, either incorporated within the planned unit development ordinance or separately, the aggregate of the maximum allowable freestanding monument and pylon signage may be split among all buildings on that lot, not to exceed the aggregate area allowed by adding the maximum allowable area of each sign by the quantity of signs allowed by Table 17-201: Sign Regulations and Table 17-306: Maximum Cumulative Areas of Signs, unless otherwise provided within this title. This option must be documented in a signage package within the planned unit development ordinance.

(ii) For existing planned unit development where there is a signage package, the signage package may be amended as a minor change.

(5) If there is a conflict between an Area of Special Sign Control and a planned unit development ordinance, the planned unit development ordinance prevails.

(6) If using the sign splitting option, the Board of Municipal and Zoning Appeals may not increase the aggregate area of a sign.