ORDINANCE NUMBER UDO-13-08
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE BRUNSWICK COUNTY
UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT ORDINANCE
The Brunswick County Board of Commissioners in regular session duly assembled does hereby ordain:
The Brunswick County Unified Development Ordinance is hereby amended as follows:
Item 1
Article 10. Signs
10.4
Definitions
Changeable Copy: Copy that is or can be changed 1) manually in the field or, 2) through mechanical means
(e.g., readerboards with changeable letters), or 3) electronically.
Public Emergency Message/Public Service Announcement: Public Emergency Messages/Public Service
Announcements may include Amber Alert emergency information and information about terrorist attacks,
natural disasters, public infrastructure failures and public safety emergencies. Also included may be
messages that promote programs, activities, or services of federal, state, or local governments or the
programs, activities or services of nonprofit organizations and other announcements regarded as serving
community interests, excluding time signals, routine weather announcements and promotional
announcements. Public Emergency Messages/Public Service Announcements shall be displayed in
accordance with protocols developed by the county in conjunction with the issuing agencies and the qualified
sign owners.
Item 2
Article 10. Signs
10.8.1.M. Requirements for Off-Premises Electronic Changeable Copy Signs (New Section)
1.
The copy content of all Electronic Changeable Copy signs shall be in compliance with Section 10.6
(Prohibited Signs).
2.
All electronic changeable copy signs shall be installed with light sensitive automatic dimming
controls.
3.
All electronic changeable copy signs shall be designed and equipped to freeze the sign in one
position with no more than the maximum allowable illumination if a malfunction occurs.
4.
Signs may not exceed a maximum illumination level of 0.3 foot candles above ambient light,
regardless of the method of illumination. The 0.3 foot candles above ambient light shall be
measured at a distance from the subject sign equal to the following equation:
EXAMPLE: A 378 square foot Off-Premise Electronic Changeable Copy sign’s maximum illumination
level shall be measured at a distance of:
= 194.4 feet
Therefore the sign could not excced an illumination level of 0.3 foot candles above ambient light at a
distance of 194.4 feet from the sign.
5.
Sign copy changes shall be instantaneous without the use of animation, movement or scrolling and
shall not change or alternate displays more frequently than once every 8 seconds.
6.
All electronic changeable copy signs shall be located at least 250 feet from any residential zoning
district.
7.
Prior to permitting, the applicant shall submit a signed letter from the sign manufacturer stating
that the sign is equipped with the ability to comply with these regulations. The applicant shall also
submit a signed letter from the sign owner or operator stating that they have read the regulations and
will not tamper with the manufacturer-preset illumination settings.
Item 3
Article 10. Signs
10.8.2.C. Requirements for On-Premises Electronic Changeable Copy Signs (New Section)
1. Electronic Changeable Copy signs shall be freestanding only.
2. The copy content of all Electronic Changeable Copy signs shall be in compliance with Section 10.6
(Prohibited Signs).
3. All Electronic Changeable Copy signs shall be installed with light sensitive automatic dimming
controls.
4. All digital changeable copy signs shall be designed and equipped to freeze the sign in one position
with no more than the maximum allowable illumination if a malfunction occurs.
5. Signs may not exceed a maximum illumination level of 0.3 foot candles above ambient light,
regardless of the method of illumination. The 0.3 foot candles above ambient light shall be measured
at a distance from the subject sign equal to the following equation:
EXAMPLE: A 96 square foot On-Premise Electronic Changeable Copy sign’s maximum illumination level
shall be measured at a distance of:
= 97.9 feet
Therefore the sign could not excced an illumination level of 0.3 foot candles above ambient light at a
distance of 97.9 feet from the sign.
6.
7.
Sign copy changes shall not change displays more frequently than once every 8 seconds. Public
Emergency Messages/Public Service Announcements may change displays as frequently as once
every 5 seconds only if the entirety of the sign face is comprised of the Public Emergency
Message/Public Service Announcement and no commercial message is displayed.
Prior to permitting, the applicant shall submit a signed letter from the sign manufacturer stating that
the sign is equipped with the ability to comply with these regulations. The applicant shall also submit
a signed letter from the sign owner or operator stating that they have read the regulations and will not
tamper with the manufacturer-preset illumination settings.
BRUNSWICK COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
_________________________________________________
Phil Norris, Chairman
ATTEST:
_____________________________
Debby Gore, Clerk to the Board
First Reading:____________________
Public Reading:___________________
Second Reading:__________________
D:/Comm.Brd/UDO-13-08 (2nd Sheet)