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Ohio Administrative Code (Last Updated: January 12, 2021) |
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5501:2 Division of Highways |
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Chapter5501:2-6. Specific Service Sign Program |
5501:2-6-04. Business eligibility
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(A) Only those businesses that provide gas, food, lodging, camping or attraction, are open to the general motoring public, are not operated on a "reservation only," "membership only," or "appointment only" basis, and meeting the additional requirements listed in this paragraph may participate in the business logo sign program.
(1) To qualify for a gas logo sign panel, a business shall:
(a) Be located within five miles driving distance of the nearest ramp terminus.
(b) Provide vehicle services to include gas, and/or alternative fuel, oil and water.
(c) Be operated continuously for at least sixteen hours a day, seven days a week, all weeks of the year.
(2) To qualify for a food logo sign panel, a business shall:
(a) Be located within five miles driving distance of the nearest ramp terminus.
(b) Have all required licensing or approval.
(c) Be operated continuously to serve food for a minimum of seven hours per day at least six days per week.
(d) Provide modern sanitary facilities unless the business operates as a drive-thru, take-out, or carry-out only.
(3) To qualify for a lodging logo sign panel, a business shall:
(a) Be located within five miles driving distance of the nearest ramp terminus.
(b) Have all required licensing or approval.
(c) Provide adequate sleeping accommodations.
(d) Provide modern sanitary facilities.
(4) To qualify for a camping logo sign panel, a business shall:
(a) Be located within fifteen miles driving distance of the nearest ramp terminus.
(b) Have all required licensing or approval.
(c) Provide adequate parking accommodations.
(d) Provide sanitary facilities and drinking water.
(5) To qualify for an attraction logo sign panel, a business shall:
(a) Be located within five miles driving distance of the nearest ramp terminus for an attraction located in an urban area or within fifteen miles driving distance of the nearest ramp terminus for an attraction located in rural areas.
(b) Have as its primary purpose the provision of amusement, historical, cultural, or leisure activities for the public.
(c) Have regional significance.
(d) Provide adequate parking accommodations.
(e) If a convention center, have the overall meeting room capacity to accommodate at least one-thousand persons.
(f) If a shopping center, have a minimum of four hundred thousand square feet of gross usable floor space under roof.
(B) If a participating business is sold to a similar service, the new owner shall complete an application. If eligible, the new business may have its logo sign panel displayed on the existing specific service signs.
(C) If a participating business is sold for a different use or withdraws from the business logo program, or no longer meets the eligibility requirements of rule 5501:2-6-04 of the Administrative Code, and has its logo sign panel removed pursuant to rule 5501:2-6-08 of the Administrative Code, participation in the logo program shall be offered to the qualified business nearest the exit ramp terminal of the interchange.
(D) Before any business is permitted to participate in this program, any existing illegal signs pertaining to that business shall be removed. The department's advertising device control shall be contacted to determine the existence of illegal signs. If within fifteen days no answer is received, the program manager shall assume there are no illegal signs in place pertaining to that business.
(E) No business may discriminate or be discriminated against with regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, or national origin. Each business identified by a logo sign panel shall have furnished written and notarized certification of their conformity, with all applicable federal, state and local laws, ordinances, rules and regulations, and shall not be in breach of that certification. Such certification shall be provided before any logo sign panel for that business is erected.
(F) Verification that each business remains in compliance with all appropriate rules, regulations, agreements and other business logo sign program documents shall occur every two years. If the program is being administered by a program manager, the program manager shall furnish written certification of bi-annual verification to the director.
(G) An attraction that would otherwise be eligible to participate in the logo program at a particular interchange shall not have their logo displayed at that interchange if state provided directional signs for that attraction are in place at that interchange. Attractions wishing to participate in the logo program at a particular interchange may request removal of state provided directional signs for that attraction.
(H) Any reasonable variances as to the above business eligibility may be made by the director.