Franklin County amends sign rules to align with state law, permits larger billboards and reduced setbacks
Loading...
Summary
The commission updated local sign regulations: set a 15-foot right-of-way setback, measure height from road grade (max 50 ft), increase allowable sign-face area, and reduce spacing between signs to 500 feet. Planning staff and a local sign company owner supported the changes; commissioners approved.
Franklin County commissioners voted to amend county sign regulations to better align local rules with state statutes and to simplify permitting for commercial signs and billboards.
Fred Winger, owner of Winger Signs Company, approached the county seeking changes that would make local rules consistent with the state and easier for sign companies to navigate. Pat, county planning staff, summarized the proposed amendments: reduce the setback from a state or county right-of-way from 50 feet to 15 feet; measure sign height from the grade of the road (instead of land grade) with a maximum of 50 feet; increase the maximum size of an individual sign face from 1,200 to 1,512 square feet and allow up to four faces (two double-faced panels); and reduce the minimum separation between signs from 1,000 feet to 500 feet.
Commissioners discussed federal constraints, with at least one comment noting the Highway Beautification Act can limit where signs are allowed. Staff said agricultural parcels generally remain excluded under state and federal rules and that rezonings would be required to convert agricultural land to parcels suitable for commercial signage.
Planning commission and staff recommended approval; the board moved and passed the ordinance amendment in a roll-call vote.
The change is intended to bring county regulations into closer alignment with state law and to clarify measurement and spacing rules for sign applicants. Staff noted building permits (not special-use permits) will continue to be required for erection of permitted signs, and that the county will continue to enforce applicable state and federal restrictions where they apply.
