Sign Regulations for Real Time Displays

Any real-time displays will be subject to various sign regulations.

1 In Arlington
    1.1 Requirements
2 In the District
    2.1 Requirements
    2.2 Special areas

#In Arlington

Sign regulations are in [Section 34 of the Zoning Ordinance]. ##Requirements

A "flashing sign or device displaying flashing or intermittent lights or lights of changing degrees of intensity, including electronic message signs, except a sign indicating time and/or temperature" is not permitted; hopefully our type of sign does not count. Signs must be no more than 12 inches thick. These signs can only be in C and M districts. Tenants are limited to 3 total signs, so some may have exceeded their number.

I couldn't find any discussion of video signs in the zoning code, so there are probably more applicable regulations. I've sent emails to try to get more info. -DA

#In the District

Sign regulations are in [Section 2107 of the Building Code].

##Requirements

Each shop would need a permit to install the sign unless it's 18" behind the window (but the 18" exemption may be removed soon). Permit costs $65. Each sign must include lettering listing the permit number for the sign. There are limits on the size: for ground floor businesses, 2 sq feet per foot of width of the building, and 20 feet above the sidewalk. (Probably not a problem.) No more than 50% of the sign can be advertising (not a problem). Any advertising must advertise a permitted business on the premises (except for a "changeable copy sign," see below). The sign is probably a "changeable copy sign," which the regulations note but don't seem to set out rules for when they can be approved. Illuminated signs aren't allowed in residential districts (or Georgetown or Shipstead-Luce areas, see below).

##Special areas

Any historic area will require approval by the Historic Preservation Office and Historic Preservation Review Board.

DC historic districts are mapped in the following KML overlay (load in Google Earth): http://data.dc.gov/Main_DataCatalog.aspx?id=109. A slightly different overlay is here: http://geocommons.com/overlays/105511.kml

The Old Georgetown Act applies to Georgetown, and the Shipstead-Luce Act to areas which "front or abut upon the grounds of the Capitol, the grounds of the White House, the portion of Pennsylvania Avenue extending from the Capitol to the White House, Rock Creek Park, the Zoological Park, the Rock Creek and Potomac Parkway, Potomac Park, The Mall Park System and public buildings adjacent thereto, or abutting upon any street bordering any of said grounds or park."

The regulations seem to prohibit the signs we envision, as illuminated signs must use "freestanding, back-lighted, opaque letters," copy is limited to the name, address and type of the business, and no more than 2 colors may be used. The relevant federal boards could grant exceptions, however.